HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 9-28-09

 

Those present:  Lee Freeman, Iva McClure, Betty Champion, Carolyn Waterman, Kitty Cox, Judy Tiffin, Brett Wood, Bob Torbert, Ashley Winkle, Laura Connolly, Hester Cope, Charlotte Dean, Amanda Perry, Billy Warren

 

  1. Betty Champion made the motion that the minutes of the 8-24-09 meeting be approved.  Carolyn Waterman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

  2. Billy Warren presented this financial report:
    1. Checking Account Balance                            $2,523.73
    2. Forks of Cypress Account Balance                $3,234.78
    3. FDR Fund Balance                                         $5,000.00
    4. Bailey Springs Account Balance                    $7,455.80

Charlotte Dean made the motion that the financial report be approved.  Bob Torbert seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

  1. Billy Warren reported that the bronze plaque has been installed on a concrete base in the shrub bed next to the 4’ x 6’ granite map of Florence which is embedded in the sidewalk on the southwest corner of Court and Tennessee Streets.  The plaque explains the map and notes that it was presented as a gift of public art to the citizens of Florence by the Design Committee of Florence Main Street in honor of Hester Cope.  With the installation of the plaque, the project is now complete.

  2. Billy Warren distributed copies of a letter from Mayor Bobby Irons to the HPI Board in which the Mayor thanked HPI for donating the prints of the three Lauderdale County Courthouses and of a montage of historic buildings in Florence.  These framed prints are now hanging in the Mayor-Council chambers in the city-county government building.

  3. Charlotte Dean and Amanda Perry gave this report on the work in progress at the Sweetwater mansion:
    1. Marcus Olive, a local contractor, has been hired to do the restoration work.
    2. The side porch has been rebuilt, and the columns have been restored.
    3. Melanie Betz, a member of the Alabama Historical Commission staff, has visited the house and declared it to be “in surprisingly good shape.”
    4. Contact has been made with a local company to get an estimate on a new roof.
    5. An electrician has checked out all of the electrical infrastructure.
    6. The foundation of the former dairy barn has been located.
    7. The big spring has been located.
    8. The pond in front of the mansion, which at one time featured a fountain within it, appears to be in very good condition.
    9. Plans are being made to host a series of walking tours, with storytellers stationed at various spots on the grounds, beginning on Friday, October 9.

  4. Bob Torbert gave this report on the cemetery at the Sweetwater mansion:
    1. There appear to be six graves.
    2. People in the Geography Department at UNA are searching for the report that was done following their use of ground-penetrating radar to locate graves in the cemetery.
    3. Contact has been made with three marble works to obtain estimates on restoring the gravestones in the cemetery.
    4. Because of the size and weight of the gravestones, a crane will be required to move them around in the cemetery.
    5. Three trees inside the cemetery must be removed.

  5. Bob Torbert reported that he has now created coverings for the remaining box-type grave markers in the Wilson Family Cemetery.  He did this with 2’ x 6’ treated lumber; then he placed the broken pieces of stone atop the lumber.

  6. Lee Freeman and Amanda Perry made this report on the downtown walking tour entitled “Walkin’ With Outlaws”:
    1. It was held Monday and Tuesday evenings, September 7 and 8.
    2. It was very well attended and received fine reviews, even though Monday, September 7, was Labor Day.
    3. It featured the legendary Tom Clark, along with some of his gang of outlaws and certain people in Florence who were his victims.

Carolyn Waterman added this interesting note:  Some Australian guests at her B & B attended the walking tour and declared it to be a highlight of their travel across America!

  1. Billy Warren distributed copies of a letter which he wrote to Frank White, Executive Director of the Alabama Historical Commission, declaring the houses at 403 and 405 Ironside Street to have no historical significance.  This letter was designed to give the Methodist Conference the go-ahead to demolish these two houses which are very near the Brandon Center.  Billy noted that copies of the letter were mailed to Bob Torbert, a member of the Board of the Brandon Center, and to Gary Williamson, Head of the Building Department of the City of Florence.

  2. Billy Warren reported that he had been asked by Trevor Stokes, a reporter for the Times-Daily, to supply details on historic districts in Florence:  the number of districts that exists, the process for getting a district accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places, etc.  Billy distributed copies of his response to Trevor so that:
    1. All Board members would know exactly what he said to Trevor; and
    2. Board members – and others present in today’s meeting – might add the information to their files if they wished.

Billy then displayed a copy of the article that Trevor wrote based, in part at least, on the information described above.  The article, entitled “Movin’ on Up,” appeared in the August 31, 2009, issue of the Times-Daily. 

  1. Ashley Winkle gave this report for Florence Main Street:
    1. UNA’s Homecoming is this weekend, with the majority of the festivities on Saturday, October 3.
    2. Businesses and artists who are participating in First Friday on October 2 have been invited to compete in contests featuring UNA’s theme for the week, “Purple Reign.”
    3. The UNA band will perform at First Friday on October 2.
    4. The former Stephano’s building on North Court Street will become Art Hive, an art school/studio/co-op/non-profit organization.
    5. Karen’s Corner, a clothing store for girls and women, has opened in the space next door to Guns ‘n Such on North Court Street.
    6. High Maintenance Nails has returned to downtown Florence.  It is now in the former Book Shoppe location on East Tuscaloosa Street.
    7. Kevin Knight has purchased the building on North Court Street that formerly housed Florence Clothing Company.  He is refurbishing/restoring the building for probable resale.
    8. Plans are in the making for a music hall to open in the building on the southeast corner of the alleyway on Mobile Plaza.

  2. Billy Warren reported (per Dick Jordan) that work on the restoration of the fountain in Wilson Park is firmly set to be completed no later than Tuesday, October 27.

  3. Billy Warren distributed copies of information from Charles Rose, a member of Shoals Environmental Alliance, in which Mr. Rose asked that HPI support the drive to have the local TVA Reservation listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  (Portions of the Reservation and certain structures located on it are already listed.)  Billy asked everyone to read the information and think carefully about it between today and our next meeting on Monday, October 26 – at which time we will determine the stance that HPI wishes to take.

  4. After the Board discussed the issue of a replacement for the unexpired term of the late Board member Bill McDonald and considered each of the nominees, Betty Champion made the motion that Ashley Winkle be added to the Board to complete Mr. McDonald’s unexpired term.  Brett Wood seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

  5. Laura Connolly announced these events scheduled at the Shoals Theater:
    1. “Little Foxes,” a play written by Alabamian Lillian Hellman, will be performed on October 22, 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. and on October 25 at 2:00 p.m.
    2. A wine and cheese pastry/fashion show featuring clothing styles from “Little Foxes” is set for Sunday, October 18, at 2:00 p.m.
    3. A costume sidewalk sale (just in time for Halloween) will take place on Saturday, October 10, and Saturday, October 17, from 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon each of the two days.