HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 4-28-08

 

Those present:  Lee Freeman, Iva McClure, Bob Torbert, Judy Tiffin, Betty Champion, Mary Peck, Mike Pretts, Bill Kraemer, Brett Wood, Hester Cope, Vince Brewton, Doris Grimes, Billy Warren

 

  1. Vince Brewton noted that the minutes of the 3-24-08 meeting should have reflected that Ashley Winkle, Executive Director of Florence Main Street, is to be asked to meet with the HPI Board each month to give a Main Street report since Main Street and HPI share common goals.  With that addition to the minutes, Vince made the motion that the minutes be approved.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.  Billy Warren stated that he will extend the invitation for Ashley to meet monthly with the HPI Board.

     
  2. Billy Warren presented this financial report:
    1. Checking Account Balance                                        $3,901.53
    2. FDR Fund Balance                                                       5,000.00
    3. Forks of Cypress Project Balance                                 3,234.78
    4. Bailey Springs Cemetery Project Balance                       185.74

       

Bob Torbert made the motion that the report be approved.  Betty Champion seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

  1. Billy Warren reminded everyone that the annual Cemetery Stroll will take place on Saturday, May 3, at 10:00 a.m., with the rain date set for Sunday, May 4, at 2:00 p.m.  Bob Torbert reported that the porta-john will be delivered in time for the Stroll.  Brett Wood will lend the use of his tent, though he is scheduled to appear at the Strawberry Festival in Moulton.  Carolyn Waterman will be in charge of collecting money at the gate ($5.00 entry charge per person).  The following agreed to assist with the Stroll:  Hester Cope (Saturday only), Betty Champion, Mary Peck, Doris Grimes, Lee Freeman, Iva McClure, Bob Torbert, Billy Warren.  It was agreed that, if bad weather prevents the Stroll from taking place this weekend, Billy Warren will talk with the director, Amanda Perry, to set a new date.

     
  2. Lee Freeman reported that the annual conference of the Alabama Historical Association which took place in the Shoals – primarily in the Richards Education Center building – on Thursday through Saturday, April 17-19, was a huge success.  Billy Warren made this report:  Milly Wright, quoting acclaimed Alabama historian Wayne Flynt of Auburn, said that communities across Alabama would love to have a video like “Follow the River” to record their area’s history.  Billy Warren stated, and all agreed, that this is a great compliment – especially since it was offered by Dr. Flynt!

     
  3. Billy Warren called attention to these walking tours which he has directed/will direct in the name of HPI:
    1. Tuesday, April 1 – Delta Kappa Gamma (Walnut Street)
    2. Saturday, April 19 – Alabama Studio Weekend (Upper North Court Street)
    3. Saturday, June 7 – Florence-Lauderdale Tourism (upper North Court Street)
    4. Saturday, June 14 – Florence-Lauderdale Tourism (Walnut Street)
    5. Thursday, September 18 – Alabama Board of Realtors (upper North Court Street)

       
  4. Billy Warren distributed copies of a thank-you letter that HPI received from Burt Rieff, treasurer of the Alabama Historical Association (AHA), for the $250 donation toward expenses related to the annual conference of the AHA.

     
  5. Bob Torbert made this report::
    1. He is still waiting to hear from the owner of Florence Marble Works so he can begin work on repairs at the Wilson Family Cemetery.
    2. A Lauderdale County family is very interested in getting a Boy Scout, as an Eagle Badge project, to “adopt” a cemetery that it owns.
    3. Paperwork is being completed to add the Florence City Cemetery to the Alabama State Register of Historic Cemeteries.

       
  6. Betty Champion stated that a letter to the editor in today’s issue of the Times-Daily was written by a young Boy Scout from Rogersville who is looking for information on a cemetery in Center Star.  Bob Torbert stated that he will read the letter and perhaps make contact with the young man.

     
  7. In the absence of Jerry Dowd, there was not a report on the portraits by G. W. Landrum that were found under the linoleum in the East Tennessee Street building owned by Dr. and Mrs. Charlie Mao.

     
  8. Billy Warren made this brief report for Main Street:
    1. Proposed guidelines for art in public places (i.e., on publicly-owned property and in public spaces of publicly-owned buildings) have been developed by the Design Committee and presented to the Mayor and City Council members for adoption.
    2. Proposed guidelines for the restoration of exteriors of commercial buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (very similar to the guidelines for private residences on the National Register which were adopted by the City Council in 1996) have been developed by the Design Committee and presented to the Mayor and City Council members for adoption.
    3. The original 1852 map of Florence has been photographed by Chris Rohling.  It will be tweaked so a good 4’ x 8’ copy can be given to the stonecarving company to create the granite map.

       
  9. Billy Warren reported that a replica of the 21-foot-tall sign that used to sit atop the marquee at the Shoals Theater is being fabricated at a local sign company.  It will feature the cascading lights to simulate the spillways at Wilson Dam (just like the original sign).  It will be installed soon!

     
  10. Betty Champion, Iva McClure and Lee Freeman reported that the Walk of Honor at River Heritage Park will open officially at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9.  Sixteen people from Florence or Lauderdale County who have achieved at the national and/or international level will be honored.  (After this initial year, four people will be honored annually each succeeding year.)  This opening ceremony is for the honorees and their family members only.

     

The River Heritage Park opens to the public in an all-day celebration on Saturday, May 10.  There will be food, music, etc. for this gala opening.

 

  1. Lee Freeman distributed copies of a very attractive flyer which he created to advertise the Cemetery Stroll.  He also circulated copies of a tentative program for the day which will be duplicated and distributed at the Stroll.  He will finalize the flyer and email it to Billy Warren for duplication as soon as he receives the official cast list from Amanda Perry.

     
  2. Billy Warren distributed paper copies of an email from Louise Huddleston, one of the curators of the archival collection at Collier Library.  UNA will host the state meeting of the Society of Alabama Archivists on September 25-26.  Louise’s email is a call for papers that might be presented during the two-day meeting.

HPI