HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 5-19-03

 

Those present:  Lee Freeman, Tom White, Judy Tiffin, Betty Champion, Iva McClure, Jerry Dowd, Bill McDonald, Lindsey Stricklin, Billy Warren, Vince Brewton

 

  1. Tom White made the motion that the minutes of the 4-28-03 meeting be approved.  Bill McDonald seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  2. Lindsey Stricklin made this treasurer's report:
    1. Checking account                     $1,542.22
    2. Savings account                          5,099.28 + 11.40
    3. Forks of Cypress account              223.38

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

 

  1. Billy Warren reported that the May 13 meeting at City Hall of the Florence Alive! Group went extremely well.  The decision was made at that meeting to fold all of the proposed subcommittees into the three major committees:  Economic Development, Design and Infrastructure, and Promotion.  There will be a third meeting of the Florence Alive! Group at some point in the month of June.  Printers and Stationers provided 100 3-ring binders free of charge for the group, and Beverly Absher provided several pages of information for the binder, most of which was generated at the first meeting in early April.

     
  2. Billy Warren distributed copies of these documents:
    1. Letter to Governor Riley asking him to release the $10,000 in grant money for the continued restoration of the Shoals Theater
    2. Resolution proclaiming the Shoals Theater as worthy of historic preservation
    3. Historic Preservation Tax Incentives (a document provided by the Alabama Historical Commission)
    4. African-American Businessman of Old Florence (research by Lee Freeman for the History of Florence video)
    5. African-American Pastors of Old Florence (research by Lee Freeman for the History of Florence video)
    6. Bill McDonald's column from the 5-18-03 issue of the Times' Daily
    7. Walnut Street Walking Tour brochure

       
  3. In the absence of Hester Cope, Billy Warren reminded everyone that the Upstairs in Downtown tour will take place on Saturday, June 21.  Billy asked if any additional people would be able to help with the tour.  Iva McClure volunteered.

     
  4. Billy Warren reported that he conducted these walking tours:
    1. Gifted students from Hibbett School – the quadrangle surrounding Wilson Park
    2. History Club members from Bradshaw High School – Walnut Street

       

He further stated that he will conduct walking tours of upper North Court Street (part of a promotion of Florence sponsored cooperatively by the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau and the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel) for the general public on these dates:  May 24 and 31; June 7, 14, 28; July 5.

 

  1. Vince Brewton stated that Patsy Riley, the wife of the Governor, is to be in Florence soon.  He suggested that we might schedule her to take a tour of the Shoals Theater so she can see firsthand the need for its restoration. Vince will call Billy Warren when he learns the exact date that Mrs. Riley will visit.

     
  2. The group engaged in a discussion regarding the need for an expanded walking tour brochure to include all existing historic districts.  Billy Warren will report on various options (an expanded brochure, other brochures in addition to the existing one, a booklet format) at our June meeting for the group to consider.  Tom White suggested that the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau might pay for the publishing of the final product.

     
  3. Vince Brewton suggested that we might, in addition to new/additional brochures/booklets, add a virtual tour of local historic districts to the web site of the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau.

     
  4. Bill McDonald and Lee Freeman made this report on the progress of the creation of the History of Florence/Lauderdale County Video:
    1. The targeted audience of the video will be schools and libraries.
    2. Thus far, $25,000 toward its creation is in a special bank account.
    3. Four bids by video producers have been received at this point, with the lowest bid being approximately $33,000.
    4. The length of the video will be approximately 60 minutes.
    5. It is hoped that the video will be completed within one year or less of its actual starting time.
    6. Mary Jane McDaniel is writing the script for the video, with help from Lee Freeman and others.
    7. The contents of the video will be organized chronologically as follows:

1.      Early history (Native Americans) to the Civil War

2.      Civil War to World War I

3.      World War I to the present

    1. The next meeting of the video committee will take place in the conference room at the public library on Wednesday, May 21, at 12:00 noon.

       
  1. Iva McClure:
    1. Reported that the wagon train composed of restored wagons from the old Florence Wagon Works arrived in Waterloo on Friday, May 16, but that the big event on Saturday, May 17, was cancelled because of rain; and
    2. Distributed flyers advertising Waterloo Heritage Days on Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25.

       
  2. In the continuing work on the compilation of a list of local craftspeople, the group submitted these names:
    1. Joel White – faux painting
    2. Greg Hart – installing, refinishing hardwood floors
    3. Coleman Kimbrell – restoring reed organs
    4. Kelly Long – interior design
    5. Denny Price - painting (interior/exterior)
    6. Mickey Price – painting (interior/exterior)
    7. Name unknown – restoring pianos (business next door to Coldwater Books)
    8. Jerry Lard – restoring pianos