HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 9-22-03

 

Those present:  Iva McClure, Bill McDonald, Susan Hargett, Jim Ingrum, Margaret Taylor, Betty Champion, Vince Brewton, Lee Freeman, Charlotte Dean, Lindsey Stricklin, Mary Peck, Judy Tiffin, Billy Warren

 

  1. Board members expressed their great pleasure to Susan Hargett for hosting today's meeting in her handsome house at 801 N. Wood Avenue.

     
  2. After changing the recorded web address to florencehistorical.org, Bill McDonald made the motion that the minutes of the 8-25-03 meeting be approved.  Margaret Taylor seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  3. Lindsey Stricklin presented this treasurer's report:
    1. Checking account balance                     $1,728.59
    2. Savings account balance                         5,104.31  +  11.40
    3. Forks of Cypress balance                       3,223.38

       

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

 

  1. Bill McDonald reported that the history video project is progressing well.  Lee Freeman added that he and others have previewed some of the clips.  He added that the final edition of the film will be available on both video and DVD.  It should be ready by December 15 if not before.  Bill McDonald stated that, at some point, we must give proper credit to Nelson Starkey, Bobby Denton and Lynn Greer for securing the funds for the project.

     
  2. Vince Brewton reported that HPI's web address is:  www.florencehistorical.org

It contains information on HPI (e.g., accomplishments in 2002, goals for 2003, etc.) and a photo gallery that features each house in the Walnut Street Historic District.  Vince stated that the site will promote the Shoals area's quality of life and will contribute to economic development as well. He invited everyone to visit the web site and to send him suggestions by e-mail for improving it.

 

Bill McDonald suggested that, at some point, the web site should feature a close-up photograph of the approximately 60 historic markers in Florence and Lauderdale County.

 

Lindsey Stricklin made the motion that HPI add pictures of houses and buildings from all historic districts in Florence to the web site.  Susan Hargett seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

Susan Hargett and Mary Peck volunteered to make digital photographs of all houses in the Wood Avenue Historic District and to give a CD containing the photographs to Vince Brewton so he can add them to the web site.  When pictures of houses in this district have been added to the site, we will start the same process for another district.

 

  1. Billy Warren reported that Jimmy Neese, Hester Cope and he spoke at the "Smart Growth/Green Spaces" symposium sponsored by the Shoals Environmental Alliance on 8-25-03.  He stated that the evening went quite well and that the session was very well attended.

     
  2. Lindsey Stricklin reported that no further action has been taken toward developing an expanded Walking Tour brochure.

     
  3. Iva McClure and Bill McDonald reported an extremely successful Trail of Tears commemorative event during the past weekend.  Bill called it "a great show."  Everyone applauded the efforts of Iva, Lindsey, Bill and others who were involved in this huge undertaking.

     
  4. Billy Warren distributed and reviewed copies of an article from the September, 2003, issue of Preservation Report which boasts this headline.  "Executive Order Launches New Preservation Initiative."  He noted that President Bush has signed an Executive Order requiring all federal agencies to inventory and promote greater use of historical sites in partnership with state tribal and local governments.  This is an exciting development at the federal level and represents a 180 degree shift in policy. Hooray!

     
  5. Billy Warren reported that the Design Committee of Main Street is publishing a 2004 calendar featuring a historic residence on each page and on the cover.  It will also have a photograph of an architectural detail of each house, with all such photos grouped on one page.  The person looking at the calendar will be asked to match the details with the appropriate houses.  (Correct answers will be listed.)  The finished calendar should be available for purchase ($5 each) on November 1.

     
  6. Billy Warren distributed copies of a picture of Bo and Diana Osborn's Cherokee, Alabama, house – Barton Hall – from the September, 2003 issue of Preservation Report.  The article notes that the Osborns have granted a scenic and preservation easement to the Alabama Historical Commission for this National Historic Landmark property.  Good for Bo and Diana!  And good news for historic preservation efforts in the Shoals. . .

     
  7. Billy Warren circulated an article from the 9-3-03 Times-Daily which featured an interview, with pictures, of Mr. Houston Cobb in Leighton.  Much of the article focused on the "Green Onion," a fine old house now owned by the Mauldin family.  HPI has been involved in past years in attempts to locate a proper buyer for this house.

     
  8. Now that the Appleby gymnasium was razed today – within a few weeks of the demolition on the SAE fraternity house on Pine Street – members of the HPI Board expressed concern that demolition of historic properties can occur without a public hearing.  After some discussion, it was agreed that HPI should petition the City Council to adopt an ordinance requiring such public hearings.  This matter will be discussed further at the October meeting.

     
  9. Bill McDonald reported that local members of the Habitat for Humanity organization volunteered their time to clean and restore the Bradley Price cemetery on Belview Road.  It is now in great condition.

     
  10. Betty Champion made the motion that Vince Brewton be invited to Board membership to complete the unexpired term of Tom White.  Bill McDonald seconded the motion. With no other nominations forthcoming, the vote was taken and it was unanimous; therefore, Vince is now officially a Board member.

     
  11. Billy Warren:
    1. Distributed copies of the letter which he wrote to Tom White on September 3, thanking Tom for his service on the Board;
    2. Distributed and reviewed copies of a document which states that now all records on file in the Alabama Department of Archives and History may be accessed on the web (a great boon to history aficionados, genealogists, etc.); and
    3. Distributed copies of the updated spreadsheet of local craftspersons and stated that further work will be done on this listing at the October meeting.

 

HPI