Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-04-10 Historical Preservation Committee Minutes April 10, 2006 Call to Order Chair, Betty Fuller called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. Members Present Betty Fuller, Nell Hicks, Michele Burger, Weldon Cannon, Bill Byers, Iva Nail, Boyce Byers, Robert Nail, Dan Clark, Glenn Walker, Troy Fuller, Chris Jones. Staff Present Suzanne Hendrickson, Recreation Manager Ofa"Mary" Faiva-Siale, Projects &Events Visitors Council Member Leon Hogg Judy Knight, Mid Cities Genealogical Society • Approval of Minutes Robert Nail motioned for the minutes to be approved, Glenn Walker seconded the motion, motion approved. Treasurer's Report Treasurer, Robert Nail, reported that he purchased the shop vacuum discussed at last month's meeting for $39.97. The Committee's current balance is $9,047.10. Old Business 1. Betty Fuller thanked Michele Burger for chairing last month's meeting. 2. A reminder was given about Troy Fuller's presentation at the Library on Thursday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. It was further mentioned that the Euless Library Board voted to change their regularly scheduled meeting time in order to accommodate the Mid-Cities Genealogical Society's program that evening which includes Mr. Fuller's presentation. 3. Committee members were also reminded of Robert Nail's presentation on the History of the Euless Post Office on Thursday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber. 4. Jean Whitener's collection of photos will be picked up today. EHPC Mtg. 041006 5. The First United Methodist Church of Euless' historical marker dedication is still scheduled for Sunday, May 21 at 2:30 p.m. 6. Troy Fuller and Ralph Williamson were docents on Saturday, April 8. Mr. Fuller reported that only one person visited the Museum that day. Mr. Fuller expressed concern about the lack of visitors and inquired about advertisement of the museum's open house hours. The following suggestions were made: a. Bill Byers suggested that signs could be posted at the Parks at Texas Star due to the large volume of activities and people at the complex. b. Michele Burger suggested that open house hours could be posted on the City's cable channel. Suzanne Hendrickson has included this information as suggested. c. Dan Clark suggested that locations where signs are posted, (i.e. Library, Home Depot) could be asked to take down the signs and store them for the Historical Committee as this would eliminate the need for members to transport signs in his or her vehicle. It was further discussed that many of the current open house signs are of poor quality and are easily damaged. Many of the signs are beyond repair and the need for new signs was addressed. Mr. Fuller along with various other Committee members suggested that Mrs. Fuller approach the City for monies in the budget to purchase new open house signs. 7. Troy Fuller also talked about the need for additional docents to give tours. He indicated that it is extremely difficult for two Committee members to conduct a proper tour and keep an eye on the facility at the same time. He expressed his desire that Betty Fuller approach the City for additional funds to hire three more docents to help during open house weekends. 8. Willie Mae McCormick's twenty-two scrapbooks are now stored in the Library. It was mentioned that over the years, some of the newspaper clippings in the scrapbook have become adhered to the backing of quite a few pages. Scrapbook Committee members, Boyce Byers and Helen Payton, will work on restoring the scrapbooks. 9. Mrs. Fuller thanked Patti Benoit and Dan Clark for working on Mrs. McCormick's "Committee at the Barn" appreciation photo. She further reported that the photo had been delivered and Mrs. McCormick was thrilled with the gift. 10. Mrs. Fuller thanked Robert Nail for purchasing the shop vacuum. 11. Dan Clark read a list of people who still need to fill out donation forms for items they've donated to the Museum. Committee members were encouraged to complete these forms so the inventory could be updated regularly. 12. Bill Byers reported that he and Harvey Little took the tractor's tires to Republic Tire and had them fixed. Mr. Byers further reported that the owner refused to take payment for working on the tires. A"thank you" card was sent to the owner in appreciation of his EHPC Mtg. 041006 donation. Mrs. Fuller thanked both Mr. Byers and Mr. Little for their hard work and dedication to the Museum. 13. Mr. Byers reported that Mr. Little donated quite a few items to the Museum which are currently located in the barn. Mr. Byers & Mr. Little will complete donation forms for these items soon. 14. Mrs. Fuller indicated that oral history recordings still need to be obtained from the following Committee Members: Bill Byers, Evelyn Himes, Willie Mae McCormick, Iva and Robert Nail, Troy Fuller, Nell Hicks and Jimmy Payton. 15. Mr. Byers will be working on display shelving and other display items at the Museum as he has time. 16. Bill Byers passed around photos of the work he is currently doing at Calloway Cemetery. Mr. Byers described the process and the material he is using to correct the damages done to Bernie Fuller's gravestone. Mr. Cannon indicated that he has sandstones at his residence on 606 South Main Street that is of the same kind as the stones Mr. Byers is using. Mr. Byers is interested in incorporating the stones from Mr. Cannon's in the restoration project. 17. It was reported that the Mosier Valley marker rededication ceremony was held and nine members of the Historical Committee attended. On behalf of the Committee, Mrs. Fuller thanked Mayor Mary Lib Saleh and Council Member Veva Lou Massey for their presence. Bill Ridgway, Lloyd Austin and his wife, Benny Tucker, Billy Owens and Ginger Fuller were also thanked for attending. Mrs. Fuller stated that the Tarrant County Historical Society was very impressed with the turn out. 18. Bill Byers, Boyce Byers, Robert Nail and Iva Nail volunteered to docent on May 13. New Business 1. The following report was given for absent Committee Members: a. Helen Payton had foot surgery. b. David Massey had a church function to attend. c. Evelyn Himes was having carpet work done at home. 2. Judy Knight discussed the fact that original records stored in the Fort Worth archive room are currently being destroyed due to lack of storage space. These original deeds, titles, leases, etc., dating as far back as the late 1700's, have been saved to microfilm while the originals are being destroyed. The Mid Cities Genealogical Society's goal is to bring awareness to this critical situation and to ask Historical groups who have room to store these important records to do so. 3. Ms. Knight also indicated that the Genealogical Society is considering doing mug shots of the founders of Euless. The Committee was agreeable to the Genealogical Society proceeding with this project. EHPC Mtg. 041006 4. Mrs. Fuller thanked Jeff Towne, Suzanne Hendrickson and Ofa "Mary" for their diligence and help with the logo project, committee stationery, Heritage Park brochures and transcription of the oral history project. 5. Donna Park Elementary will be touring the Museum on April 20 at 11:30 a.m. Boyce and Billy Byers, Betty Fuller, Robert and Iva Nail, David Massey and Chris Jones volunteered to docent that day. If available, Dan Clark may volunteer as well. 6. Wilshire Elementary will be touring the Museum on May 11 at 12 noon. Docents are needed to work on this day. 7. According to the new City of Euless Board and Commissions Handbook, it states that "A Secretary shall be appointed by the Committee to handle required correspondence. The minutes of the meetings and attendance records shall be recorded by a staff member." Mrs. Fuller asked the Committee to recommend someone for the position of Committee Secretary. David Massey was nominated and Mrs. Fuller will confirm the nomination with Mr. Massey. 8. The Committee discussed setting up a Sub-Committee and/or a roster of contacts to help the Chairman in an emergency situation where Committee Members need to be contacted within a short period of time. Nothing definite was decided regarding the subject. 9. In September 2004, Jimmy Beck wrote a brief history on the Fig and Magnolia trees located at Heritage Park. The statement was passed around for additions and/or corrections by the Committee. A copy of the draft will be retyped and returned to the Committee. Iva Nail made a motion for signs to be made with Jimmy's historical statement and have them posted under each tree. Chris Jones seconded the motion. Motion approved. 10. It was brought to the Committee's attention that Hazel Eden Himes recently passed away. Photos of Mrs. Himes with various family members were passed around for the Committee's viewing. 11. Judy Knight informed the Committee of an opportunity for the group to have a table of information regarding Heritage Park and Euless' historical program at the Texas State Genealogy Society 2006 Conference. The conference will be held at the MacGorman Conference Center in Fort Worth on October 27 and 28. It's $20 per table and volunteers would be needed to man the table. A brochure of information was passed out. 12. Mrs. Fuller and Kate Lyon, Library Administrator, recently spoke regarding the prospect of allowing a section of a wall at the Library for the Committee to use as a way to honor special occasions,people, places, etc. It was discussed that tiles could be made up of various matters and mounted on the wall to commemorate things of historical significance. The Hurst and Grapevine Libraries both have such a wall dedicated to the history of the cities. The Committee was asked their opinion of the idea. Various ideas were discussed and nothing definite was decided. 13. Weldon Cannon reported that he recently bought twelve postcards from a lady who was selling family postcards dating as far back as 1906. The lady seemed unbothered when Mr. EHPC Mtg. 041006 Cannon suggested that the postcards are priceless heirlooms of her family's history. Mr. Cannon further talked about a letter he recently found from his mother dated May 1955. Mr. Cannon went on to recall when he returned home from college in the 1950's, he threw away over a hundred letters that his mother wrote to him while he was in college. Letters included mundane information like the weather, family gossip, local news, etc. Mr. Cannon has regretted throwing away his letters for the last 50 years now. Additionally, Mr. Cannon wrote "A History Meditation"pertaining to this experience (see attached). 14. Council Member Leon Hogg was asked about the progress on the gas drilling going on in Euless. Mr. Hogg briefly updated the Committee on its progress. 15. Suzanne Hendrickson reported on the following; a. A security company has been out to Heritage Park and they've suggested an infrared security system for the facility. b. A meeting with a foundation company has been scheduled. c. Termite tubing was found at Heritage Park. A contract with Myers Pest Control has been signed for treatment of the infested areas. Adjournment Chair, Betty Fuller adjourned the meeting at 11: 50 a.m. Respectfully submitted by Ofa"Mary" Faiva-Siale Recreation Specialist, Projects &Events Euless Parks & Community Services EHPC Mtg.041006 A HISTORY MEDITATION I had two experiences last week that caused me to pause and think about the records people create and what then happens to them. First, on Thursday I visited a lady in Belton who is moving from her home and disposing of as much "stuff" as she can, including two boxes of old postcards. She had heard that I collect postcards and invited me to look at them. Some of the cards fell into subjects that I collect, so I bought t a dozen. I also read a the messages on a few of the car ds—corr CJp 1dC1 It,e of her parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors, going back more than a century. I suggested that these are an important It part of her heritage, but she seemled unconcerned. 'What a shame it is to loose such a collection of documents about her family and community. Then, on Saturday I was going through a box of old papers that I had taken from a corner of an attic. They were papers from my university days, 1951 to 1955--class notes, college catalogs, term papers, etc. From the middle of the stack fell an envelope, a letter to me, postmarked Euless, May, 1955, in my mother's handwriting. My mind flashed back to the summer of 1955. I had just finished university and moved back home. I brought all the letters mother had written to me, perhaps 100 to 150. Topics were quite mundane and routine—what was happening with the family, in Euless, the weather, health matters, and such. Since I was now home, I considered the letters useless and threw them all away. Mother died two and a half years later. I soon realized what I had done, and have regretted my hasty actions for more that fifty years. There was a priceless record of our family and Euless activities, gone forever. This is why finding that one letter was so precious to me. Weldon Cannon April 10, 2006