HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 4-27-09

 

Those present:  Hester Cope, Lee Freeman, Bobby Gibson, Bill Kraemer, Ashley Winkle, Amanda Perry, Kitty Cox, Dick Jordan, Bob Torbert, Laura Connolly, Billy Warren

 

  1. In the absence of a quorum, no action could be taken on approving the minutes of the 3-23-09 meeting or today’s financial report.

     
  2. Billy Warren distributed copies of the program for the Cemetery Stroll conducted on Saturday, April 25.  All agreed that the Stroll was a great success.  The group expressed thanks to Amanda Perry for directing such a successful event.  Billy Warren thanked the following:
    1. Lee Freeman – for researching the lives of the featured personages, for creating the printed program, and for leading one of the groups on the Stroll;
    2. Betty Champion – for serving as a gatekeeper and as a guide for one of the groups on the Stroll;
    3. Hester Cope – for directing traffic and for serving as a guide for one of  the groups on the Stroll; 
    4. Kitty Cox – for serving as a guide for one of the groups on the Stroll;
    5. Brett Wood – for providing a canopy and tables for the Stroll;
    6. Bob Torbert – for providing a porta-john for the Stroll; and
    7. Iva McClure – for serving as a gatekeeper for the Stroll.

       

As is evidenced from the above, the Stroll was successful because it was truly a group effort. Also, the actors were well prepared and were dressed in appropriate attire.

 

  1. Bob Torbert reported that he has appeared before the Lauderdale County Commission requesting financial assistance for the restoration of the Wilson Family Cemetery.  The commissioners responded that they had to seek counsel to see if it is legal for them to allocate funds to the project.

 

Bob also reported that he has talked with a member of the Plantation Springs community seeking funds for the project.  That person responded that the community is currently focused on another project that it is funding.

 

Finally, Bob stated that he plans to go forward with the restoration of one of the box-type grave markers so all interested groups may be able to see exactly what the project entails.

 

  1. Dick Jordan reported that he viewed the APT program on 12 Bed and Breakfasts in Alabama (including Limestone House in Florence) which aired on Sunday evening, April 12 (Easter).  Dick complimented the program and stated that the segment on Limestone House also included other local sites such as the Rosenbaum House.  Billy Warren suggested that everyone “google” APT to learn the date and time of the next airing.

     
  2. Billy Warren:
    1. Distributed copies of an article about Masonic-related antiques entitled “Keeping Secrets” which appeared in the February, 1999, issue of Art and Antiques;
    2. Distributed copies of the official certificate from the Alabama Historical Commission which states that the Florence City Cemetery is now on the Alabama Registry of Historic Cemeteries and reported that he presented the original certificate to Mayor Bobby Irons;
    3. Announced that Mrs. Karl Tyree and other members of the Tyree family planted a gingko tree in the Florence City Cemetery in mid-March in memory of Dr. Willingham, an early 20th century president of UNA and grandfather of Karl Tyree; and
    4. Reported that residents of Walnut Street Historic District have restored a shuffleboard court in the neighborhood and will use the original shuffleboard equipment which was purchased by a resident at the 2007 auction of the J. O. Johnston personal property – so a neighborhood tradition will be restored also.

       
  3. Laura Connolly:
    1. Reported that the section of the Shoals Theater roof that covers the rental spaces has been replaced (Hooray!); and
    2. Announced that a program (to benefit Shoals Community Theater) entitled “A Man and His Music” starring Edsel Holden, Alan Flowers and others will be staged at the Shoals Theater on Sunday, May 3, at 2:00 p.m.

       
  4. Billy Warren distributed copies of a Times-Daily article that was published on April 1, 2009.  It announced that the Shoals has now been named part of a National Heritage Area which includes Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan Counties.  This project was spearheaded by Nancy Gonce and has been several years in the making.  The group agreed that Billy should write a letter of congratulations and appreciation to Nancy.

     
  5. Dick Jordan reported that the restoration/repair of the fountain in Wilson Park is supposed to begin this week.  Projected completion date is two months.  Great news!

     
  6. Lee Freeman circulated a copy of a new scholarly biography entitled W. C. Handy:  The Life and Times of the Man Who Made the Blues by David Robertson.  Billy Warren added that Lee is officially acknowledged in the book and appears in some of the footnotes for his assistance to Mr. Robertson in the research on the life of Mr. Handy.

     
  7. Lee Freeman reported that Alice Yeager has recently produced three DVD’s:
    1. Harry Wallace narrating a tour of the Florence City Cemetery;
    2. Tom Hendrix narrating the background and a tour of the locally-famous wall that he created, and
    3. A tour of the Coon Dog Cemetery.

 

Billy Warren agreed to talk with Alice Yeager about her experiences with the videographer, anticipating the possibility of HPI’s creating DVD’s on historic downtown walking tours.

 

  1. Based on the group’s agreement at the 3-23-09 meeting that HPI should host quarterly meetings of organizations interested in promoting the continued restoration/revitalization of downtown Florence, Billy Warren will send a letter to such groups (e.g., Florence Main Street, Downtown Florence Unlimited, Florence Historical Board, Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau) asking that each group send a representative to a gathering on a certain day at a certain time so conversations may begin on topics of mutual interest/concern.

     
  2. Ashley Winkle:
    1. Reported that restoration/renovation of Billy Reid’s new headquarters (i.e., the former Anderson’s Bookland building on North Court Street) is moving forward at a good pace;
    2. Reported that Mr. Glasscock is in the process of repainting and repairing the front façade of Ye Olde General Store;
    3. Stated that a new, intimate café will probably open in the former Book Lion space on East Tuscaloosa Street;
    4. Hopes to be able to make an announcement soon of a new retail establishment opening in downtown Florence;
    5. Stated that an unpaid volunteer is now monitoring Florence Main Street’s social networking (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, etc.); and
    6. Reported that the final copy of the template for the 4’ x 6’ granite map of Florence as it was in 1852 has been approved for Atkins Stoneworks to begin to create it.

       
  3. Because of time constraints, there was no further discussion of the posting of photographs of historic homes/districts on HPI’s website.