HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 8-22-05

Those present:  Mary Peck, Susan Hargett, Charlotte Dean, Hester Cope, Betty Champion, Vince Brewton, Jerry Dowd, Lee Freeman, Billy Warren

1. Vince Brewton made the motion that the minutes of the 7-25-05 meeting be approved.  Susan Hargett seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
   
    
2. Billy Warren presented this treasurer’s report:
   1. Checking Account Balance                                           $6,125.27
   2. Forks of Cypress Account Balance                                 3,223.38  + 11.40
   3. Riverview Historic District Balance                                    137.00

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

 

3. Following a discussion of the upcoming Cemetery Stroll, Jerry Dowd made the motion that the event be postponed.  Mary Peck seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.  Lee Freeman agreed to talk with Kyle Weir to see if Saturday and Sunday, November 18-19, would be a good date for the Stroll or whether we should wait until the spring of 2006. 
   
    
4. In a discussion regarding the possible revival of the Lindsey Stricklin Silver Pen Award, Charlotte Dean made the motion that the award be given annually to the most deserving writer in the Freshman class at the University of North Alabama.  The motion further stated that the award should be a silver pen and $100 cash.  Betty Champion seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
   
    
5. Hester Cope reported that another walk-through of the Shoals Theater was done by a group from the University of North Alabama.  The group also included a person whose background is in environmental issues.  Genuine interest is being shown by the Music Department toward the possibility of UNA’s owning the facility. She hopes to hear a report from the group soon.
   
    
6. Billy Warren exhibited a set of six audio CD’s prepared by Martin Dean from the two reel-to-reel tapes of Bill McDonald interviewing the late Rev. Hiram Douglass.  Billy reported that Martin spent a minimum of six hours transferring the tapes to the CD’s.  Betty Champion made the motion that HPI pay Martin an additional $200 (for a total of $300) for his time and expertise.  Susan Hargett seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.  Billy agreed to discuss with Martin details of the format of the six CD’s, with an eye toward the possibility of Martin’s duplicating the CD’s for HPI to sell to the public.
   
    
7. Billy Warren reported that the walking tour brochures have been delivered.  He noted that 500 copies have been given to the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau.  He distributed copies to all members of the HPI Board of Directors.
   
    
8. Billy Warren distributed copies of a letter which he wrote to Mr. Ricky Brewer, U. S. Postmaster in the Florence Office, requesting that the postal service not require streetside mailboxes in downtown historic districts.  The boundaries delineated in Billy’s letter include:  west – Pine Street; south – Tuscaloosa Street; north - Hawthorne Street; east – Cherry Street.
   
    
9. Lee Freeman distributed copies of a brief history of the old railroad bridge which he had compiled for a lady who sent him a request by e-mail.  He thought members of the Board would enjoy having the information for their files.
   
    
10. Hester Cope gave this report for Main Street:   
    1. Rosie’s Cantina is scheduled to open in late August or early September on North Court Street.
    2. David Martin, owner of Rosie’s Cantina, plans to renovate the Shootin’ Irons Emporium building across the street from Rosie’s and make it available for retail space.
    3. Legends Steakhouse Restaurant is scheduled to open in the former location of Court Street Café on North Seminary Street.
    4. Hospice of the Tennessee Valley has purchased the former Lauderdale County Health Department building (corner of Pine and Tennessee Streets) to renovate it as a residential hospice facility.
       
        
11. Regarding the possible acquisition of the Shoals Theater building by UNA, Betty Champion made the motion that Billy Warren write letters to Dr. Roosevelt Newson, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Dan Howard, Vice-President for Administration and Advancement, to thank them for their support of the building’s purchase.  Mary Peck seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
    
     
12. Billy Warren distributed copies of a letter which he wrote in behalf of the Board to Dr. William Cale, President of the University of North Alabama, requesting that UNA expand its archival capabilities so it can become a repository for archival documents and other historical items related to the region served by UNA.
    
     
13. Hester Cope stated that she is in desperate need of a cadre of volunteers to assist with events that are held in the Shoals Theater.  She asked Board members to help her spread the work about this need.

HPI