HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 7-27-09

 

Those present:  Lee Freeman, Hester Cope, Betty Champion, Charlotte Dean, Carolyn Waterman, Ashley Winkle, Mary Peck, Bob Torbert, Andy Betterton, Billy Warren, Iva McClure, Kitty Cox

 

  1. Carolyn Waterman made the motion that the minutes of the 6-22-09 meeting be approved.  Mary Peck seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  2. Billy Warren presented this financial report:
    1. Checking Account Balance                                                    $3,538.13

-   400.00

$3,138.13

 

                        Expenditures:  Florence Main Street (McGraw’s)                  $   200.00

                                                Florence Main Street (Cherry Tree Lane)            200.00

                                                                                                                        $  400.00

 

    1. Forks of Cypress Account Balance                                        $3,234.78

       
    2. FDR Fund Balance                                                                 $5,000.00

       
    3. Bailey Springs Project Balance                                               $4,261.90

+   100.00

$4,361.90

- 1,152.00

$3,209.90

                        Deposit:  $100.00

 

                        Expenditures:  Dale Dobbs $1,152.00

 

  1. Billy Warren reported that the HPI Board has placed the book, American Country Churches by William Morgan, in the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library in memory of the late Bill McDonald.

     
  2. Billy Warren circulated a note from Dorothy McDonald, widow of the late Bill McDonald, thanking the HPI Board for placing a book in the public library in Bill’s memory.

     
  3. Billy Warren announced that the 4’ x 6’ granite replica of the 1852 map of Florence – commissioned by the Design Committee of Florence Main Street – was installed in the sidewalk on the southwest corner of Court and Tennessee Streets on Friday, July 17.  It is a gift of public art by the Design Committee in honor of Hester Cope, the first executive director of Florence Main Street.  Along with the Design Committee’s first gift of public art, the beautiful marble medallion in the floor outside the used bookstore in the public library, this granite map helps to set the standard for gifts of public art in Florence.

     

Billy Warren gave special thanks to David Koonce, Head of the Public Works Department for the excellent job that he and his staff did with the installation of the map.  (Billy sent David a thank-you note, with a copy to the Mayor.)

 

Carolyn Waterman suggested that a photograph of the map should be included in brochures about Florence produced by the city and by the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau.  Billy Warren stated that he will pass that suggestion on to both the Mayor and to the director of the Tourism Bureau.

 

  1. Bob Torbert made this report on work at the Wilson Family Cemetery:
    1. For $1,100, Atkins Stone Works in Russellville created and installed a new stone covering for one of the large box-type grave markers in the cemetery.
    2. Using 2’ x 6’ treated lumber, Bob created wood coverings for two more of the box-type markers.  He then placed the original (broken) stonework atop the wood.
    3. Bob is considering the repair of four additional box-type markers.

       

Bob suggested that an email be sent to Mr. John Horton, president of the Plantation Springs Neighborhood Association, informing the Association’s members of the progress toward the cemetery’s restoration and asking their assistance in “keeping an eye out” for any potential vandalism in the cemetery.  Billy Warren agreed to send the email.

 

  1. Billy Warren distributed and reviewed copies of the letter he wrote (in behalf of HPI) to Sen. Richard Shelby and of the letter that HPI received from Mr. Shelby – both on the topic of the proposed Historic Homeownership Assistance Act.

 

Since Mr. Shelby’s letter made reference to his having been a sponsor of the proposed Historic Homeownership Act in the 1990’s (which was never enacted into law), Carolyn Waterman made the motion that Billy Warren write another letter to the Senator asking him to sponsor it again, to include Representative Parker Griffith as a co-sponsor, and to emphasize its huge benefits for small towns and downtowns across America.  Mary Peck seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

  1. Billy Warren distributed and reviewed copies of a letter which he wrote to Mr. Frank White, Executive Director of the Alabama Historical Commission.  In the letter, Billy asked Mr. White to be the guest speaker at the annual meeting of HPI on Sunday, January 17, 2010.

     
  2. Bob Torbert reported that Habitat Restore has recently acquired four large, framed prints:  one each of the three Courthouse buildings that have served Lauderdale County through the years and one of a montage of significant historical buildings in Florence.  Habitat Restore is asking $50 each for the four.  Betty Champion made the motion that HPI purchase the four prints for a total cost of $200.  Carolyn Waterman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  3. Ashley Winkle made this report for Florence Main Street:
    1. The W. C. Handy Music Festival was a huge success, from the opening parade on Friday, July 16, and the Midnighters playing in Wilson Park immediately thereafter, to the closing program on Saturday evening, July 25.
    2. The front façade of Ye Ole General Store has now been repainted.  It looks great!  (HPI contributed $200 toward this project.)
    3. The black awnings against the taupe exterior walls of the Help Center make a perfect combination of colors.  (HPI contributed $200 toward this project.)
    4. Dish, the restaurant on West Mobile Street, is planning some interior renovations that will enhance the atmosphere of this popular spot.
    5. One Luv (with a nod to the late Bob Marley) is a new shop on West Mobile Street next to Dish.
    6. Addictions, the ladies’ clothing store on East Tennessee Street, has opened under its new owner, Irma Wilson.
    7. A new clothing store (to be named) will open on Court Street next door to Gun’s ‘n Such.

       
  4. Billy Warren reported that he has asked the Florence Historical Board to purchase a historic marker for the Florence City Cemetery now that the cemetery has been accepted for listing on the Alabama Register of Historic Cemeteries.

     
  5. Billy Warren suggested that we consider filling the unexpired term on the HPI Board of Directors of the late beloved Bill McDonald.  All agreed that we should give this serious thought and come to the next meeting on Monday, August 24, with some suggested names.

     
  6. There was a discussion regarding the appropriate way for HPI to offer assistance to the Mayor and City Council in the selection of the successor of the late Bill McDonald as the City Historian.  Betty Champion made the motion that Billy Warren write a letter to Mayor Irons and City Council President Mr. Barnhart offering whatever assistance might possibly be needed for this process.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  7. It was noted again that a Bill McDonald Archival Center for Florence and Lauderdale County would be a fine way to honor his service to our community.  Billy Warren stated that he will make sure that Mr. Dewey Mitchell, Chairman of the Lauderdale County Commissioners, has been apprised of HPI’s wish for such a center to be established.

     
  8. There will be further discussions at future HPI meetings on these topics:
    1. Photographs of historic homes on HPI’s website,
    2. Virtual walking tours, and
    3. Bill McDonald Day in May, 2010.

       

Andy Betterton suggested, and all agreed, that the city of Florence and First United Methodist Church be involved in planning and executing the Bill McDonald Day.

 

  1. Lee Freeman and Kitty Cox distributed and reviewed copies of a brochure advertising “Digging Deeper,” a genealogy and history conference sponsored by the Natchez Trace Genealogical Society, the Tennessee Valley Historical Society and Bluewater Publications.  It is scheduled for the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library on Friday and Saturday, August 21 and 22.   Featured speaker is nationally-known genealogist/historian J. Mark Lowe.