HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 6-26-06

 

Those present:  Betty Champion, Mary Peck, Jim Ingrum, Lee Freeman, Bill McDonald, Bob Torbert, Cathy Myers, Brett Wood, Charlotte Dean, Billy Warren, Hester Cope

 

  1. Bill McDonald made the motion that the minutes of the 4-25-06 and 5-22-06 meetings be approved.  Jim Ingrum seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  2. Billy Warren presented these treasurer’s report:
    1. May 22, 2006:

                                                               i.      Checking Account Balance                                           $5,028.73

                                                             ii.      Forks of Cypress Account                                              3,223.38  + 11.40

                                                            iii.      Riverview Historic Account                                                127.43

 

    1. June 26, 2006:

                                                               i.      Checking Account Balance                                           $5,028.73

                                                             ii.      Forks of Cypress Account                                              3,223.28  +  11.40

                                                            iii.      Riverview Historic Account                                                124.43

 

Bill McDonald made the motion that the treasurer’s reports be approved.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

  1. Billy Warren reported that Terry Pace and his theater group, Pillar of Fire, cannot stage the Cemetery Stroll for us.  Billy further reported that he has placed a call to Keith Hager but has not yet talked with him.

     
  2. Billy Warren distributed copies of a letter from Dr. Dan Howard in which Dr. Howard thanked HPI for the contribution toward the restoration of Rogers Hall.

     
  3. Bill McDonald, Betty Champion and Billy Warren reported on the Wall of Fame project.  It will:
    1. Honor people who have lived in Florence/Lauderdale County if they have achieved distinction at the national or international level;
    2. Honor people from all categories:  business, education , law, politics, the arts, etc.;
    3. Be located at a site accessible to everyone, including the disabled; and
    4. Be designed in such a way that names can be added for years to come.

       

The next meeting of the Wall of Fame Committee is Thursday, July 6, 12:00 noon, in the Mayor’s office.

 

  1. In the absence of Robert Redd, there was no report on the proposed statue of FDR.

     
  2. Bob Torbert made this report on the Florence City Cemetery restoration project:
    1. A total of 23 gravestones that were lying on their sides have been set up.
    2. Some stones are broken and will be repaired where possible.
    3. Work in the cemetery resumes the week of July 10.

       
  3. Bob Torbert suggested that HPI might work toward getting signs mounted in Lauderdale County cemeteries like those in Florence cemeteries which warn would-be vandals that violating a cemetery is covered by state law.

     
  4. Bob Torbert reported that attorney Lindsey Mussleman Davis has begun to distribute Mary Jane McDaniel’s archival materials to the agencies indicated in her will.

     
  5. Jim Ingrum agreed to arrange for the HPI Board to visit the Florence Masonic Hall on Monday, July 10, at 12:00 noon.  He will call Billy Warren to confirm the date and time; in turn, Billy will notify all Board members.

     
  6. Billy Warren distributed copies of an e-mail that lists the web address of the Alabama Historic Cemetery Preservation Alliance:  www.alabama-cemetery-preservation.com.  He thanked Vince Brewton for adding a link to this site from HPI’s website.

     
  7. Billy Warren distributed copies of a letter from the Alabama Historic Cemetery Preservation Alliance dated 6-6-06.  It notified young Davis Faulkner that, because of his work on his Eagle Scout project, the Bailey Springs Cemetery (i.e., Camp Westmoreland Cemetery) is the first cemetery in Lauderdale County to be added to the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register.

     

Bill McDonald made the motion that HPI go on record in support of efforts to add cemeteries in Florence and Lauderdale County to the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register.  Jim Ingrum seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

  1. Charlotte Dean distributed copies of an advertisement for the sale of Sweetwater!  It is listed with her company, Cypress Realty.  She stated that there is 930 feet of frontage on Florence Boulevard; she also said that the interior of the house is amazingly intact.  She stated that the property is listed on Cypress Realty’s website.  Hester Cope volunteered to call Chloe Mercer at the Alabama Historical Commission to let her know that the property is for sale.  Billy Warren said that he will look through files to attempt to locate the names and phone numbers of descendants of Gov. Patton who live in Birmingham and who, in the past at least, have shown a real interest in purchasing Sweetwater.  Charlotte asked everyone to send potential purchasers to her.  All agreed that the possibility of Sweetwater’s sale and restoration is one of the most exciting events for HPI in recent years.  Billy Warren distributed copies of an e-mail by Lee Freeman describing the collection of materials related to Sweetwater that the public library owns.

     
  2. Billy Warren stated that the house on East Tuscaloosa Street next door to the antiques store which is located on the corner of Tuscaloosa and Cherry Streets is available at a very low price.  After he described the situation, Charlotte Dean stated that she knows someone who will probably restore the house for residential use.  Billy Warren agreed to call the owner and ask him to call Charlotte.

     
  3. After discussing the issues regarding the proposal by Marcus Thompson to construct two buildings on Seminary Street across from the Post Office, Betty Champion made the motion that Billy Warren write a letter to Mr. Scott Carrier (with a c.c. to Marcus Thompson) asking Mr. Carrier to support the project.  Her motion further directed Billy to list the names of all HPI Board members in the letter.  Jim Ingrum seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  4. Hester Cope made this report for Main Street:
    1. The City Council has rejected Marcus Thompson’s proposal for the construction of two fine buildings on Seminary Street.
    2. All HPI Board members are encouraged to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hampton Inn on Court Street on Tuesday, July 18, at 10:30 a.m.
    3. The Old Chicago Café will open soon in the former location of Halter’s Shoe Shop on Mobile Plaza (behind Grogan’s Jewelers).
    4. Michelle Farris is doing an excellent job on the restoration of her recently-purchased home at 520 North Walnut Street.

       
  5. Lee Freeman circulated original photographs of family members at Sweetwater.   The public library now owns these, thanks to the recent purchase by the Natchez Trace Genealogical Society.

     
  6. Lee Freeman circulated a packet of documents related to the visits to the Shoals by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

     
  7. Lee Freeman reported that a meeting of interested parties occurred recently to discuss the establishment of a Lauderdale County Archival Center.  He said that the decision was made for members of the group to visit archival centers in Moulton, Russellville and Huntsville.  He further stated that a meeting on this subject was held with Mayor Irons who expressed real support for the project.

     

  8. Billy Warren distributed copies of the article from the 5-28-06 Times-Daily regarding HPI’s role in “saving” the Oak Street house.

    HPI