HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 8-23-04

 

Those present:  Jim Ingrum, Susan Hargett, Betty Champion, Mary Peck, Iva McClure, Charlotte Dean, Lee Freeman, Bill McDonald, Hester Cope, Billy Warren

 

  1. Bill McDonald made the motion that the minutes of the 7-26-04 meeting be approved.  Charlotte Dean seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  2. Billy Warren presented this treasurer’s report:
    1. Checking Account balance                    $6,813.78
    2. Forks of Cypress Account balance       3,223.38   +  11.40

 

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

 

  1. Billy Warren reported that Margaret Taylor suggests that HPI not invest in the market until the election is over in November.  After some discussion, it was agreed that HPI’s investment be limited to the bond market.  Hester Cope agreed to explore that avenue in behalf of the Board and report at the September meeting.  Jim Ingrum made the motion that Hester be authorized to explore the bond market; Bill McDonald seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  2. Billy Warren reported that HPI has received 150 DVD’s of “Follow the River” from MPL Video in Nashville (the same company that duplicates the VHS of the same video).  The disclaimer about the possibility of the DVD not working on older players has been affixed to all copies.  Jerry Dowd has distributed copies to be sold at Pope’s Tavern, the Main Street office and Kennedy-Douglass Art Center.  Bill McDonald suggested that copies of the CD, the VHS and the DVD be placed for sale at Coldwater Books in Tuscumbia and at Pettus Museum in Killen.

     
  3. Hester Cope and others present at the breakfast in Wilson Park on Saturday, August 7 (co-sponsored by HPI, Main Street and the Mayor’s office) was a huge success.  The food was spectacular (especially Charlotte Dean’s muffins and the fruit cobblers from Backyard Burgers), the conversation was congenial and the presentations by the following were excellent (and well received):
    1. Dr. Jerry Haggstrom – Wilson Park Medical Center
    2. Marcus Thompson – Three commercial buildings  to be constructed across the street from the Post Office
    3. Michael Clemmons – Phase #2 of the Streetscape Project (on Court Street from Dr. Hicks Boulevard to O’Neal Bridge)
    4. Hester Cope – Restoration of Coby Hall

       
  4. Lee Freeman reported low attendance at the public library for the African-American Genealogy program in late July.  It was incorrectly advertised under the library’s reading programs.  A better, clearer announcement will be done for the 2005 program.

     
  5. Billy Warren distributed copies of the form completed by Jerry Dowd when he submitted the “Follow the River” video to Alabama Public Television (APT), along with copies of the letter which Jerry received from Tommy Wier at APT.  Hester Cope will make a follow-up call to Mr. Wier.

     
  6. Billy Warren distributed copies of the letter which he wrote to Camille Bowman.  In behalf of the HPI Board, the letter thanked Camille for the excellent workshop she recently conducted in Florence on the preservation/conservation of grave markers, outdoor statuary, etc.

     
  7. Billy Warren shared a copy of an e-mail from city employee Frank Chaney whoexpressed sorrow over the recent death of Lettie Region and stated that he had arranged meals on wheels for her just before her death.

     
  8. Susan Hargett suggested that historic districts should have columns marking their boundaries.  Billy Warren stated that Walnut Street Historic District is in the process of constructing such columns.  He will send copies of the architect-designed sketches of the proposed columns to Susan.

     
  9. Hester Cope made this exciting report for Main Street:
    1. Michael Cole’s new art gallery has opened on Court Street two doors south of Anderson’s Bookland.
    2. Boll Weevil Soaps, a store that sells handmade soaps and other body products, will open in the former Bill’s Shoe Store building on Tennessee Street.
    3. Sheepy Yarn Shop will soon open in the building on the corner of Court and Tuscaloosa Streets.
    4. Metropolis Music will open soon at the former location of Sallie Cassell Photography on Court Street.
    5. Stephano’s has opened a sandwich shop next door to its former location on Court Street. The building that houses its former location is now for sale.
    6. The Pepito’s building on Tennessee Street recently sold at auction for $285,000.  It will reopen as a restaurant designed to appeal to college/university students.

       
  10. Charlotte Dean reported on the recent sale of the railroad depot in east Florence.  Hope was expressed that the depot will be restored.

     
  11. Billy Warren stated that Owen Lilly has requested assistance from HPI.  Owen says that the Post Office has plans to require streetside mailboxes to replace front porch mailboxes in an area surrounding Woodland Road, Lorraine Parkway, etc.  However, according to Owen, this won’t happen if HPI will write a letter to Ricky Brewer, the local Postmaster, telling him that some of the houses in the targeted area are already listed on the National Register and that the remaining structures are eligible for listing.  Betty Champion made the motion that Billy Warren write the letter in behalf of the HPI Board.  Susan Hargett seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.  (The area defined by Owen Lilly is as follows:  West-Pine Street; East-Wood Avenue; South- Hawthorne Street; North-Cypress Mill Road.)

     
  12. Jim Ingrum stated that UNA is organizing a celebration in honor of Wesleyan Hall’s 150th birthday in 2005.

     
  13. Billy Warren noted that Lee Warner has resigned as Executive Director of the Alabama Historical Commission and expressed hope that any disruption caused by his resignation will be short-lived.

     
  14. Billy Warren suggested that HPI revive its plan to add books on housing styles, historic preservation and related topics to the collection at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library by donating such books as memorials.  Bill McDonald made the motion that HPI order up to $100 worth of the books from Dover Publications.  Charlotte Dean seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  15. Bill McDonald:
    1. Reported that he is working with Mrs. Karl Tyree to transfer her late husband’s papers to UNA’s archival collection; and
    2. Stated that he is working with a local person to determine the appropriate disposition of some family papers that cover a period in the early years of the 20th century.

       
  16. Billy Warren reported that volunteers in the Local History/Genealogy Room at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library are reviewing the papers that HPI purchased from the University of North Carolina.  (No copies will be made of the papers, and the papers themselves will remain in the possession of HPI.)