HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 6-23-08

 

Those present:   Betty Champion, Hester Cope, Mary Peck, Iva McClure, Jerry Dowd, Jim Ingrum, Vince Brewton, Charlotte Dean, Lee Freeman, Dick Jordan, Billy Warren, Bob Torbert

 

  1. It was noted that item #8 in the minutes of the 5-27-08 meeting should say that the article appeared in the May 7, 2008, issue of the Times-Daily.  With that correction, Jim Ingrum made the motion that the minutes be approved.  Jerry Dowd seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  2. Billy Warren made this treasurer’s report:
    1. Checking Account balance                             $ 4,366.53
    2. FDR Fund balance                                             5,000.00
    3. Forks of Cypress balance                                   3,234.78
    4. Bailey Springs Cemetery Project                    12,791.74

 

Vince Brewton made the motion that the report be approved.  Charlotte Dean seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

  1. Lee Freeman distributed copies of the brochure advertising the Family History and Genealogy Conference which is set to take place from Thursday through Saturday, June 26-28.

     
  2. Bob Torbert reported that the Florence Marble Works is now in business on Highway 43 in Greenhill under a new name:  Beckman Marble Works.  Now that the business has reopened, Bob will begin the work on the Wilson Family Cemetery near the Blackberry Trail Golf Course.

     
  3. It was noted by more than one person at today’s meeting that the Florence Cemetery is not being mowed on a regular basis.  After discussion of the issue, it was agreed that any city-owned property should be maintained by the city.  Lee Freeman made the motion that Billy Warren write a letter to Mayor Irons, with a copy to City Clerk Bob Leyde, asking that this situation be rectified.  Jim Ingrum seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  4. Billy Warren:
    1. Expressed gratitude publicly to Libby Watts who provided lemonade on her lawn and a tour of her house to the people on the walking tour on Saturday, June 7;
    2. Also expressed thanks to Michelle Farris who provided refreshments and a tour of her house to the people on the walking tour on Saturday, June 14; and
    3. Invited everyone to go on the walking tour of upper North Court Street which he will direct at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, June 27.

       
  5. Jerry Dowd returned the three portraits by G. W. Landrum found under the linoleum on the second floor of the former HyTech building on East Tennessee Street.  Jerry stated that Bill McDonald was not able to identify the people in the portraits.  Betty Champion will see if her mother, Liz Gerber, can identify them.

     
  6. Billy Warren reported that HPI has placed the following book in the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library in memory of Terrye Sledge Terry:  Under Live Oaks:  The Last Great Houses of the Old South by Carolyn Seebohm and Peter Woloszynski.

     
  7. Vince Brewton made the motion that Billy Warren write a letter of appreciation for the replica of the Shoals Theater sign to Trent Butler, owner of General Sign Company who created the replica, and ask Trent to pass the letter along to the anonymous donor.  Hester Cope seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  8. Dick Jordan announced that the Frank Lloyd Wright/Rosenbaum House is featured in the current issue of Preservation magazine, the official publication of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

     
  9. Jim Ingrum announced that the Martin-Bounds House is officially on the market.  Since it has been restored to National Park Service Standards, it is a very important house.  (It was built by the Martin family who owned the earlier textile mills in Florence located at the extreme end of Cypress Mill Road.)

     
  10. Two HPI Board members figured prominently into the unveiling ceremony for the historic marker at Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church on Sunday, June 22, and received applause in today’s meeting:
    1. Lee Freeman made the dedicatory speech.
    2. Hester Cope reviewed her role in assisting the church with its major restoration project.

       

Billy Warren noted that Bethel Cumberland will be featured in the 2009 Historic Downtown Houses of Worship calendar to be published by the Design Committee of Main Street.

 

  1. Billy Warren stated that some interest has been expressed by certain residents of North Cherry Street – which is already on the National Register of Historic Places – toward starting a movement to get all of the houses on the street restored.  Representatives from the street will attend the July meeting of the Board/Officers of the Walnut Street Historic District Neighborhood Association to get pointers on starting the process.  Vince Brewton suggested that photographs of the houses on North Cherry Street could be added to HPI’s website at no charge to the residents.

     
  2. After a fairly lengthy discussion of the matter, Vince Brewton made the motion that HPI explore the possibility of leading an effort to restore the fountain in Wilson Park.  Jim Ingrum seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.  These further agreements were reached:
    1. Hester Cope will talk with Mayor Irons about the proposed project and will, if possible, secure information about the restoration of Wilson Park (including the fountain) which had been proposed a few years ago through the City’s work with Ross-Fowler Architects.  If appropriate, she will talk with Todd Nix after her conversation with the Mayor.
    2. Jim Ingrum will talk with Joe Ware about the possibility of the Kennedy-Douglass Trust working with HPI on the proposed project since Rev. Hiram Douglass donated the fountain to the city in memory of his parents.
    3. Billy Warren will research the substance that was used in the restoration project at the Forks of Cypress as well as the company in Nashville that is certified to apply it.

       
  3. Lee Freeman announced that Mr. Lee Gibbs, a local historian, will present a program on the historic Martin’s Textile Mills.  It will take place at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library on Sunday, July 6, at 2:00 p.m.

     
  4. Bob Torbert announced that he is now staffing Restore (the store on Royal Avenue that sells all kinds of donated items to benefit the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity) on a full-time basis.