HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-13 Historical Preservation Committee
Minutes
February 13, 2006
Call to Order
Chair, Betty Fuller called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.
Members Present
Helen Payton, Thomas Stover, David Massey, Betty Fuller, Ralph Williamson, Glenn Walker,
Michele Burger, Troy Fuller, Dan Clark, Weldon Cannon, Bill Byers, Craig Ward, Chris Jones,
Robert Nail, Iva Nail.
Staff Present
Suzanne Hendrickson, Recreation Manager
Ofa "Mary" Faiva-Siale, Projects & Events
Visitors
Council Member Leon Hogg
Council Member Linda Martin
Approval of Minutes
The following addition was made to January's minutes:
a. Under Old Business Item #16, it should state that Pattie Benoit took the photo of the
Committee in front of the barn.
Weldon Cannon motioned for the minutes to be approved with the addition. Michele Burger
seconded the motion. Motion approved.
Treasurer's Report
Treasurer, Robert Nail, reported that the Committee has a balance of$9,087.07. It was agreed that
a sub-account would be kept on Mrs. McCormick's $5,000 donation.
Old Business
1. Mrs. Fuller welcomed visitors to the meeting.
2. The following was discussed regarding Troy Fuller's presentation on the Incorporation of
Euless:
a. Betty Fuller thanked Mr. Fuller for the great job he did on his presentation.
EHPC Mtg. 021306
b. Weldon Cannon expressed his appreciation and enjoyment of the personal stories
and eye witness accounts Mr. Fuller included in his presentation.
c. Mrs. Fuller thanked Suzanne Hendrickson and Ofa Faiva-Siale for providing
refreshments and their help with the program.
d. Mr. Fuller will give the same presentation to the Genealogical Society on May 4 at
6:30 p.m. at the Library. Suzanne Hendrickson will tape record the presentation.
3. Robert Nail will conduct the next quarterly program on the history of the Euless Post
Office. Mr. Nail was the first postmaster of Euless starting on February 1, 1949 and
retiring on November 14, 1980.
4. Mrs. Fuller thanked David Massey for setting up and conducting a recorded interview with
Margie Massey.
5. The following was mentioned with regards to upcoming tape recorded projects:
a. Recordings and/or interviews of various members of the Committee and other key
people in the City are being compiled. Recorded interviews are being transcribed
by "Mary" Faiva-Siale and will be included in the docent packet being worked on
by Suzanne Hendrickson.
b. Evelyn Himes, Billy Byers, Robert and Iva Nail and George Brown are on the
agenda to complete tape recorded historical narratives for the Museum's records.
c. Mr. Cannon was asked to complete a recording on the tractor he donated to the
Museum. It was also indicated that Mr. Cannon would record a narrative on Elisha
Adam Euless.
d. Bill Byers and Troy Fuller will record a narrative on the Audie Murphy Rodeo.
6. Suzanne Hendrickson displayed the photo plaque of the Committee in front of the
McCormick Barn. The plaque was very nicely done and committee members were
appreciative of it. Suzanne will complete a thank you letter to go with the plaque.
7. Dan Clark reported on the Acquisition Sub-Committee:
a. The Sub-Committee has decided that donations will continue to be accepted as long
as there is room in the Museum.
b. The Committee requested that donation forms be completed for all items donated
and accepted into the Museum's archives.
c. Suzanne Hendrickson provided additional copies of the aforementioned donation
form for the Committee. Copies will be kept at the Fuller House inside the
sideboard buffet.
d. Donation forms and Museum inventory will be maintained and updated by City
staff members Suzanne Hendrickson and Ofa Faiva-Siale.
e. Mr. Clark named several items that were donated in the last several months that still
need to have donation forms completed for them.
8. The following items were donated by Donna Sullivan to the Museum:
a. A Borden milk bottle with original stopper.
b. A Waffle iron.
c. A Glass refrigerator dish.
d. A set of Bone China from England.
EHPC Mtg.021306
9. The following items were mentioned as future donations by Iva Nail:
a. Spoons that were given away at the store.
b. A train case.
10. Betty Fuller donated a 1939 Edition of "Who's Who Among High School Students in
Texas" to the Museum. Iva Nail is mentioned in the booklet.
11. David Massey donated an old cream can.
12. McCormick Barn:
a. The Committee was agreeable to allow Mr. Harvey Little to purchase items off of
Mrs. McCormick's "list" and be reimbursed later from the $5,000 sub-account
being kept on her donation.
b. Mr. Byers indicated that Mr. Little owns some of the items on Mrs. McCormick's
list. Mr. Little expressed a willingness to donate such items to the Museum.
c. Mr. Byers would like to acquire old lumber to use to build shelves, pegs, etc. for the
purpose of displaying artifacts in the McCormick Barn.
d. Ofa "Mary" will re-send Mrs. McCormick's master list of items for the barn to the
Committee.
13. Bill Byers was asked to give an update regarding Calloway Cemetery. Mr. Byers reported
that the five hundred dollar matching grant application he previously submitted to the
Tarrant County Historical Commission was granted. Mr. Byers reported on the dilapidated
condition of Mr. Calloway's gravestone and his plans to upgrade the grave site.
14. Suzanne Hendrickson reported on the following:
a. Is currently working on the local marker program for review by the City manager's
Office.
b. Currently working on obtaining Historical Preservation Committee stationery for
the Committee.
c. Spoke with Gary McKamie regarding the Committee's wish for a security system at
Heritage Park. Mr. McKamie indicated that there is a need for security upgrade at
the facility. Council approval is required due to the size and scope of the project.
The project will be presented to Council in next year's budget.
d. Reported that Chris Thames has been promoted to General Manager at Softball
World and Mark Long was promoted to Athletics Supervisor.
e. Approximately 300 people attended the Valentine's Dance on Friday, February 10.
Bill and Boyce Byers were thanked for their help during the event.
f. Gave a reminder of the Town Hall meeting on Thursday, February 16 at 7 p.m. at
City Hall.
15. Chris Jones and Robert Nail volunteered to docent on March 11. Ralph Williamson and
Troy Fuller will docent on April 8 and Bill Byers and Helen Payton will also help that day.
The Mosier Valley Historical Marker rededication ceremony will be this Saturday at 11:15
a.m. to noon. Reception will follow at Raven's Grille. Mayor Mary Lib Saleh will
welcome the group at Raven's Grille.
16. Weldon Cannon and Betty Fuller were docents during open house on Saturday, February
10. Nine people visited the Museum.
EHPC Mtg. 021306
New Business
1. Bill Byers was asked about Randy's recovery. He reported that Randy is doing good and
he no longer has to use a walker. He has therapy for the next twelve weeks and is
improving daily.
2. Troy Fuller reported that Ginger is doing well and she also has therapy.
3. David Massey reported on costs for display signs to go on various locations at Heritage
Park. Suzanne Hendrickson provided samples and quotes of signs currently used at the
Preserve. The Committee agreed that David Massey, Bill Byers and the Display Sub-
Committee would oversee the project.
4. Suzanne Hendrickson was asked to report on the guidelines for appointment of new
Historical Committee members. Suzanne indicated that new members do not have to live
in Euless. Interested individuals may complete the required form and turn it in to Susan
Crim, City Secretary, at any time. New members may be appointed at any time during the
year. Blank applications will be left in the Museum in case anyone needs a copy. The
Committee is hopeful that younger members can be recruited to serve on the Committee.
5. Helen Payton and Boyce Byers were appointed to a Scrapbook Committee. They will
obtain and maintain a folder of newspaper articles pertaining to the area. Suzanne
Hendrickson gave Mrs. Payton a folder containing articles she received from the City
Secretary's Office. The Committee agreed that the scrapbook would be turned over to the
Library for filing and storage at the end of each year. It was further discussed that Betty
Fuller would act as liaison between the Committee and the Library.
6. The Committee received a thank you card from Brownie Troop #1721. The Troop
indicated an interest in helping the Committee in the future. It was discussed that they
could be offered the opportunity to participate in the Adopt-A-Park/Trail program for
Heritage Park. Ofa"Mary" contacted the group about adopting Heritage Park. Linda Lux
mailed the Troop information on the program.
7. Council Member Leon Hogg encouraged the Committee to keep up the good work.
8. Mr. Fuller briefly added a story about property on Mosier Valley Road that was donated to
the City of Euless. It was mentioned that there have been discussions about drilling for
natural gas on the site. Mr. Fuller discussed a new procedure being used to drill for natural
gas. David Massey pointed out that Troy Fuller is a geologist with some background in
physics explaining his extensive knowledge in the field.
9. Council Member Linda Martin expressed her appreciation in being able to work together
with the Historical Committee. She also expressed her disappointment in missing Mr.
Fuller's presentation on the Incorporation of Euless.
10. Weldon Cannon reported on the following:
a. Reported that the First United Methodist Church of Euless will be holding a
meeting where they will discuss the Marker Dedication Ceremony for the Texas
Historical Marker the church received.
EHPC Mtg.021306
b. Passed out copies of an article about Willie Mae McCormick as a 1929 graduate of
Mary Harden Baylor College. Copies of the article were left at the Fuller House
and offered to the Committee. The original magazine will be given to Mayor Mary
Lib Saleh.
c. Displayed a postcard with the erroneous spelling of Euless as E-n-l-e-s-s. Mr.
Cannon explained that the card was sent by Eva Himes, who was the spouse of
Lavoy Himes. Lavoy and Emmett Himes were brothers whose father was Andrew
Jackson Himes. Andrew Jackson Himes bought the Himes Log House from Mr.
Elisha Adam Euless. The Committee enjoyed Mr. Cannon's historical expertise.
d. Displayed an original post card sent from Euless on February 1, 1949, the opening
day of the Euless post office. The post card is signed by Robert Nail, first Post
Master of Euless. Committee members were delightfully surprised and thrilled
about Mr. Cannon's display. Copies of the post card were given to interested
committee members. Mr. Cannon presented Robert Nail with a framed original
post card and donated a second framed post card to the Museum.
e. Mr. Cannon read a very interesting 1923 Texas State Historical Association article
regarding the preservation of history(see attached). Thomas Stover suggested that
a copy of the article be made into a sign and displayed somewhere at Heritage Park.
Committee members were agreeable to Mr. Stover's suggestion.
Adjournment
Chair, Betty Fuller adjourned the meeting at 12:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Ofa"Mary"Faiva-Siale
Recreation Specialist, Projects & Events
Euless Parks & Community Services
EHPC Mtg. 021306
PRESERVING OUR HISTORY
The•time has'surely;come when the people of Texas should take
More care'in preserving"the evidences of their own history. Every
day old landmarks -are destroyed; every day valuable papers which
record the deeds and manner of living of early Texans are swept
into the rubbish pile and burned; and every -day the newspapers
record the passing away of pioneer Texans in whose memory alone
was recorded certain valuable information of the days of our
fathers and grandfathers. So much is already irretrievably lost
that,.we._shQuld bestir ourselves to collect•and preserve as much as
possibly .of.'what is left before it is too late.
From the report of a Committee appointed by the Texas State Historical Association in
May, 1923.
by
Weldon Cannon
City of Euless Historical Preservation Committee
February 13, 2006
•