HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-08 Historical Preservation Committee
Minutes
January 8, 2007
Call to Order
Chair, Betty Fuller called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m.
Members Present
Jim Gathings, Beth Gathings, Helen Lightbody, Michele Burger, Betty Fuller, Troy Fuller, Boyce
Byers, Bill Byers, Doris Brown, David Massey, Ralph Williamson, Thomas Stover, Helen Payton,
Donna Mickan, Iva Nail, Robert Nail,Norma Lively.
Staff Present
Suzanne Hendrickson, Recreation Manager
Ofa Faiva-Siale, Projects Coordinator
Ana Ahovelo, Building Attendant
Visitors
Mayor Pro Tern Linda Martin
Council Member Leon Hogg
Approval of Minutes
The following corrections were made to the minutes from December's meeting:
a. Under Old Business item number lc, it should say that Weldon Cannon taught college
in Temple, Texas. He did not attend school there.
b. Under Old Business item number lv, Mrs. Fuller received both her degrees from the
University of North Texas and not the University of Texas.
c. Under Old Business item number 12, Troy Fuller worked the Wilshire tour.
Michele Burger made a motion for the minutes to be approved with the corrections. Helen
Lightbody seconded the motion. Motion approved.
Treasurer's Report
Treasurer, Robert Nail, reported a balance of$9,014.88.
Old Business
1. Members report:
a. Weldon Cannon could not attend today's meeting due to surgery.
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b. David Massey reported that Willie Mae McCormick is in the hospital and may
be required to go on Hospice once she is released. Committee members
expressed their regret to hear of Mrs. McCormick's condition. Mrs. Fuller
visited Mrs. McCormick over the holidays and Mrs. McCormick expressed her
appreciation that oral history accountings of her life had been completed prior to
her health deteriorating. She was also thankful to have received copies of her
various interviews, accountings, etc. and to know that her life story will be a
part of Euless' history.
c. Chris Jones has a business conflict and could not be at today's meeting.
2. Fuller House foundation repair work has been scheduled to start on February 19, 2007.
3. The Donna Park Elementary School tour will be on February 8, 2007. Jim and Beth
Gathings, Ralph Williamson, Troy Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Byers, Donna Mickan and Betty
Fuller volunteered to docent on that date. Staff will be available to help as well. Mrs.
Byers suggested that a bell be placed at Heritage Park to give signals of the length of each
tour. Jim Gathings has a bell and he volunteered to loan it to the Museum.
4. Mrs. Fuller made a motion in absentia on behalf of Dan Clark. Mr. Clark came across a
book by George Green called "Hurst, Euless, and Bedford: Heart of the Metroplex: An
Illustrated History". Several people who served on the Historical Committee contributed
to the writing of this book. The motion read as follow: "I move that the Committee buy a
supply of these books and give one copy to each new member of the Historical
Preservation Committee". Mrs. Fuller amended Mr. Clark's motion to read: "I move that
the Committee buy"X" amount of copies of these books and make them available for use
by both old and new Committee members". Jim Gathings suggested that copies of the
book for each member may be unnecessary. He suggested that three copies be purchased
and given to the Library so members can check them out from there to read. Donna
Mickan suggested that a total of six copies be purchased; three for the Library and three for
the Fuller House. Mr. Gathings agreed that this would be a good number. Mrs. Mickan
motioned for the purchase of a total of six books, three to go at the Library and three to be
kept by the Recreation Manager, Suzanne Hendrickson, for the Committee's use. All were
in favor, motion approved.
5. Mr. Fuller, Mr. Nail and Mr. Clark met with Suzanne Hendrickson regarding the "Portals
to Texas History"project. It was discussed during November's regular meeting that further
research would be conducted on whether to give the University of North Texas and/or
Tarrant County College the Committee's photo collection to include in their"Portals to
Texas History"project. As a result of aforementioned meeting, Mr. Fuller stated the
following regarding the project: "The consensus of the Committee is that we should
develop our own material and display it on the current City of Euless website. This should
be done using the PastPerfect and Virtual Exhibit software that the City already owns. This
gives us better control of the material currently owned and better control of the way it is
displayed. This does not preclude adding material to other organizations websites or
offering links to other websites in the future." Troy Fuller made a motion to pursue putting
all information on Heritage Park on the City of Euless' website with Suzanne
Hendrickson's experience directing the project. Jim Gathings seconded the motion. All
were in favor, motion approved.
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6. Mrs. Fuller reported on behalf of Chris Jones regarding the oral history project of the
Tongan Community: Mr. Jones has completed an interview with Mrs. Halatono Naeata
(spouse Siupeli passed away in 1993), the first Tongan couple to move to Euless.
Additional interviews of Reverend Sione Haisila and Ilaiasi (Eli) Ofa still need to be
completed. Tom Stover volunteered to interview Reverend Sione Haisila and Mr. and Mrs.
Gathings volunteered to interview Eli Ofa. Suzanne Hendrickson will make available
copies of questions previously provided by Craig Ward to be used by Mr. and Mrs.
Gathings and Mr. Stover. Mary Ofa agreed to aid in the project as required.
7. The Committee was reminded to proof and return the"red folders"previously distributed
to some of the members. Red folders containing release forms and donor information were
given to various members to proof and/or complete and return to Suzanne Hendrickson.
8. Bill Byers and Weldon Cannon were reminded to update the Calloway Cemetery census as
was previously discussed.
9. It was reported that George Brown recently fell and possibly suffered a stroke. Mr. Byers
indicated that he received a note from Mr. Brown's daughter saying that an interview is
scheduled for the near future.
10. Willie Mae McCormick's scrapbooks are still being worked on. Some of the"stuff'that
came with the scrapbooks has been given back to Elizabeth and Mrs. McCormick to go
through. They will keep what they want and return what they don't want to the Committee.
11. Mr. Massey received a note from Tubby Huffman's daughter, Debbie, saying she will do
an interview of Mr. Huffman on January 14, 2007.
12. Narratives of the Fuller House, Himes Log House and the McCormick Barn still need to be
completed. Mrs. Fuller will tape record a narrative of the Log House during January's
open house. Ana Ahovelo agreed to help Mrs. Fuller with the taping.
13. Suzanne Hendrickson did a PowerPoint presentation of artifacts from Heritage Park which
contained incomplete donor information. The Committee proceeded to identify each item.
Ana Ahovelo will update all the data in PastPerfect.
14. Mrs. Fuller reported that a date and time change has occurred on the taping of the Time
Warner Arlington Public Service Channel historical piece previously discussed at last
month's meeting. Taping of the program was scheduled for February 4, 2007 but now will
be on February 28, at 12:15 p.m. Suzanne Hendrickson, with help from Mrs. Fuller and
Weldon Cannon, will put together the graphics and script for the program.
New Business
1. Council Member Linda Martin reminded the Committee of the Town Hall meeting on
Thursday, January 11 at 7 p.m.
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2. Mrs. Fuller discussed how Euless made national news by appearing on the front page of the
Wall Street Journal in an article about the Trinity Trojan's Haka. The article was circulated
for the Committee's viewing. Mr. Byers and the Display Committee will have the article
placed in the flip chart in the Fuller House. Along the same line, the new Trinity High
School Gatorade commercial has been running on TV as well.
3. Bill Byers and Betty Fuller volunteered to docent during January's open house. Ana
Ahovelo will also help.
4. Boyce Byers reported that Eddie Kelsey with North Main Barbeque passed away on
Saturday, January 10. Mrs. Byers recalled how North Main Barbeque has done so much
not only for the City of Euless but for the church (First United Methodist Church of Euless)
as well. Committee members agreed with Mrs. Byers' sentiments.
5. Mr. and Mrs. Byers reported that Mike Scoma has old pictures of Morrisdale. Donna
Mickan added that she will see about getting a photo copy of the original Paul Huffines
Building Incorporated brochure on Morrisdale. Thomas Stover further added that he has an
original brochure of Morrisdale as well.
6. James and Beth Gathings reported on a tour they took of Fielder House in Arlington. Mr.
Gathings mentioned that docents were dressed in costumes pertaining to the exhibit and it
was very interesting.
7. Doris Brown spoke with the Hurst Euless Bedford Independent School District (HEB-ISD)
about the lack of Heritage Park tours by local elementary schools. She indicated that due to
the high turnover rate among third grade teachers, tour schedules are generally overlooked
as programs are scheduled. Area elementary schools usually visit Fire Stations and the Old
Bedford School rather than Heritage Park. Mrs. Brown will take Heritage Park brochures
to local schools to try and generate more interest in Heritage Park.
8. Michele and Dan Burger volunteered to docent on February 10, 2007.
Adjournment
Chair, Betty Fuller adjourned the meeting at 11:51 a.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Ofa"Mary"Faiva-Siale
Projects Coordinator
Euless Parks & Community Services
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