HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-13 Historical Preservation Committee
Minutes
April 13, 2009
CALL TO ORDER
Chair. Betty Fuller, called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. The meeting was held at City Hall in
the Pre-Council Chamber at 201 North Ector Drive, Euless, Texas.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Susan Ellis, Dan Clark, Donna Mickan, David Massey, Bill Golden, Tom Stover, Faye Stinneford,
Helen Voss, Shirley Mercer, Mavy Wright, Robert Nail, Bill Byers, Don Martin, Troy Fuller, Weldon
Cannon, Betty Fuller, Sue Stover, Helen Payton, Gary Fieldsend, Joe Cannon, Ralph Williamson and
Norma Lively.
RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
Council Member Leon Hogg
Gillian Broadway
STAFF PRESENT
Ray McDonald, Director of Parks and Community Services
Trish McDonald, Recreation Staff Intern
Michael Davenport, Recreation Superintendant
Ofa '`Mary" Faiva-Siale, Projects Coordinator
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The following were additions to the minutes from March's meeting:
1. Dan Clark passed around a photograph last month for the Committee to help identify, no one in
the Committee recognized the photograph at the time of the meeting. Since then, Mrs. Fuller
recognized the photograph as one of Euless School from around the 1800's, with students and
teachers in the forefront.
2. Mrs. Fuller also made a correction to Mr. Golden's report last month on page 5, item �5 stating
that the folder Mr. Golden donated to the Museum included different types of articles and not just
obituaries. Mr. Golden verified that one folder contained only obituaries as the minutes stated and
another folder contained other articles.
Sue Stover made a motion to approve the minutes with the additions. Helen Voss seconded the
motion. Motion approved.
TREASURER'S REPORTS
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Treasurer, Robert Nail, reported a total balance of$7,368.22 with $847.00 earmarked for the Trigg
tile. There was $1.46 in the Trigg tile donation box. Mr. Nail further reported that Mavy Nell Trigg
Wright has volunteered to pay off the tile balance. In all, Mavy Wright has donated $600 which is
included in the tile balance, with 553 left to be deposited by the Treasurer, Robert Nail. The
Committee expressed their appreciation to Mrs. Wright for her generous donation.
DOCENT'S REPORT/RECRUITMENT
1. Billy Byers, David Massey, Betty Fuller, Helen Payton and Gary Fieldsend worked open house
on March 14, 2009. They rearranged furniture while they worked and placed the Blackie Sustaire
desk in the foyer of the Ruth Millican Center. They reported a total of thirteen visitors.
2. Shirley Mercer, Bill Byers, Betty Fuller and Iva and Robert Nail were docents at open house on
April 11, 2009. Mr. Nail reported twelve visitors that day.
3. Donna Mickan, Don Martin and Joe Cannon volunteered to docent on May 9, 2009. Helen Voss
will also attend and would like to receive docent training. Faye Stinneford may also attend.
STATUS OF CURRENT PROJECTS
1. New Sub-Committee: Tom Stover inquired if there ought to be a committee to document current
historical items and locations that will become history one day. The Committee thought this was a
great idea. A new Sub-Committee called '`Evolving History" was set up, Dan Clark will Chair this
committee and Tom Stover will Co-chair.
2. Euless Today: the Committee reviewed the Spring/Summer issue of Euless Today and was very
complimentary of the historical coverage in the magazine. From the Mayor's article, to the Fig
tree and barn owls on the front and back cover, to the historical trivia section and the donations
and loans section. The Committee was very pleased and complimented the staff for the great
work done on behalf of Euless history.
3. Calloway Cemetery:
• David Massey reported everything is moving along fine with the Board of Trustees.
• Mrs. Fuller reiterated the need to keep the Calloway Board of Trustees functions separate
from the projects the Euless Historical Committee is working on.
• Bill Byers found a piece of a granite grave marker hand carved with the name M.L. Useiton
and the death date of April 16, 1920 at Calloway. The piece of granite is broken and the
second piece is missing.
• Bill Golden has done significant research pertaining to past burials in the area. He came up
with a list of around six-hundred names of people that should be buried at Calloway
Cemetery. The information came from newspaper articles and other documents that he
researched.
• Weldon Cannon displayed the official proclamation naming Calloway Cemetery as an official
Texas State Historical Cemetery; this entitles the cemetery to certain protections under state
laws.
4. City Website Update:
• Dan Clark has the list of all previous and current City Council members. Weldon Cannon
suggested including a list of Council members from the first incorporation of the City.
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Everyone was agreeable to the suggestion and Weldon Cannon will provide Mr. Clark with
the infoiInation to include in the list. A copy of the final draft will be given to the staff for the
records and Mrs. Fuller would also like a copy for herself.
5. Historical Display/s:
• Dan Clark reported that Norma Lively is still researching information for the Ruth Millican
display.
• Mr. Clark is working on the May display to go at the Library.
6. Historical Marker Project:
• Weldon Cannon and the Committee agreed to have the Horticultural Marker dedication on
Sunday, June 14, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. Staff will do a press release for the event, set up tables,
tents and chairs and a speaker and microphone for the event. Weldon Cannon briefly
discussed the short ceremony he plans for the event. He further indicated that parking may be
an issue. Mrs. Fuller volunteered to speak with South Euless Elementary School about using
their parking for the event.
• Weldon Cannon and staff will meet about various aspects of the Local Marker program in the
near future.
7. Labeling Project:
• Mavy Wright and the Labeling Sub-committee will meet at the Fuller House at 1 p.m. on
April 27, 2009 to work on identifying and labeling photos and artifacts at the Museum.
8. Acquisition Committee and Donations:
• Sue Stover purchased a late 1800 Kerosene Can and is donating it to the Museum.
• Mavy Wright donated a dress she had as a small child for display. Mrs. Fuller acquired a child
size, wired mannequin for the dress to be displayed on.
• The Committee is still in need of an old ice box and a candle mold. Staff will include both
items in the next issue of Euless Today. Helen Payton came across two photos from the early
1970's of locations in Euless. She donated the photos to the Museum's collection. Mr. Clark
encouraged the Committee to keep a look out at home for photos like the ones Mrs. Payton
donated. These photos document the evolution of Euless from a fanning community to the
beautiful City it is today.
9. Arbor Daze:
• Gary Fieldsend has put together a great timeline of Euless history for the Arbor Daze photo
display.
• Gary Fieldsend and Dan Clark have met with staff regarding the Arbor Daze display and
everything is ready for the event.
• Mr. Fieldsend suggested that teenagers may be very interested in how their schools might
have looked in the past in comparison to how they look today. He asked for a couple of old
photos of area schools. Staff will provide Mr. Fieldsend with the photos.
• Council Member Leon Hogg gave a brief history about Arbor Daze from its bringing in 1988
until today.
10. Historical "Snippet":
• Bill Golden read an article from the Arlington Journal, dated May 14, 1903 from the `Euless
Items" section of the paper. The article was about the school that used to be located on the
now empty property between Taco Bell and Cullum Drive. At the time of the article, there
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were a hundred and one students in the one-room school with just one teacher. Everyone
thought the piece very interesting.
MCCORMICK BARN / OUTDOOR UPDATE
1. The Committee will provide the text for signs to be displayed with the Tomato Planter, Windmill
and other outdoor farm implements at Heritage Park. Bill Byers will work on the text for the signs
and staff will have them made.
HIMES LOG HOUSE UPDATE
FULLER HOUSE UPDATE
1. Troy Fuller reported that the Player Piano has been repaired. He also mentioned that there's a lid
in front on the piano that can be opened and the volume and speed could be adjusted. He
mentioned that music rolls for the piano have the recommended speed written on them and the
speed on the piano should be adjusted to match the indicated speed as well. Mr. Fuller
volunteered to pay for fixing the Player Piano; however the Committee agreed that Mr. Fuller
should be reimbursed for the amount. Donna Mickan made a motion for the Committee to
reimburse Mr. Fuller, David Massey seconded the motion. Motion approved.
2. Per the Committee's inquiry, Troy Fuller reported an estimate of 51500 to fix the Victrola in the
Fuller House. After a brief discussion about the feasibility of spending the money to fix the
Victrola, Bill Golden made a motion that the Committee not spend the money to fix it at this time.
Troy Fuller seconded the motion, motion was approved. It was also mentioned that Doyle Brown
indicated he may have a working Victrola with the Edison name on it that he may be interested in
donating to the Museum.
3. In the past, various Committee members indicated the need to clean and/or replace the Lexan
around all the windows at the Fuller House. Lexan was originally placed around the windows as a
means of security for the building. Staff approached the Committee for their thoughts on whether
to replace the Lexan or use a different material, etc. A brief discussion commenced regarding the
request, some members felt that the Lexan detracted from the historical authenticity of the house;
others wanted the security it affords, various other materials were suggested as possible
replacements, etc. The Chair requested that staff provide quotes on the various options discussed
by the Committee.
VISITOR'S REPORT
1. Council Member Leon Hogg displayed an interesting photograph showing the hands of five
generations of family members that was taken at his 50th Wedding Anniversary. The Committee
thought the photograph very interesting; Council Member Hogg is proud of the photo as it is rare
indeed to have that many generations of ones family available for a photo to be done.
STAFF REPORT
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
1. Mrs. Fuller reported that Helen Gieghorn, Doris Brown. James and Beth Gathings, Helen
Lightbody and Doyle Brown could not attend the meeting due to prior engagements.
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2. Asked staff to find the name plate that was done for the Blackie Sustaire desk and glue it on to the
desk at the Ruth Millican Center. The Committee moved the desk to the Ruth Millican Center
foyer back in March.
3. Thanked Bill Byers for weeding and turning the garden. Mr. Byers will plant different vegetables
in the garden in the near future.
4. Mrs. Fuller encouraged the Committee to go by the Library and look at all the historical displays.
She also reported that several of Council Member Leon Hogg's donations are on display as well.
5. Mrs. Fuller also displayed a large, burlap, peanut sack that she will use in a display at the Library.
COMIMITTEE/VISITOR REPORTS
1. Ralph Williamson couldn't volunteer to work the Committee's tent during Arbor Daze as he has
already volunteered to work the Lawn and Garden area for Jerry Poteet.
2. Sue Stover reminded the Committee about the Library early bird book sale on Friday, April 17,
2009 between 3 — 5 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
David Massey made a motion for the meeting to adjourn. Faye Stinneford seconded the motion.
Motion approved.
The meeting adjourned at 12:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Ofa "Mary" Faiva-Siale, Projects Coordinator
City of Euless Parks & Community Services
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