CALL TO ORDER: – President, John Corbett, called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. at the St. James Rectory. Fifteen people were in attendance: Bob Corbett, John Corbett, Nina Bryans, JoAnn Emmerich, Tom Haller, Henry Herbst, Geraldine Kaegel, Rose Kennedy, Virginia Lopez, Bill Miller, Gerry Miller, Kurt Odendahl, Kay Richard, Sally Sharamitaro and guest, Bill Waterhouse.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the November 10, 2005 meeting. A vote was taken, the motion passed and the minutes were approved.
Treasurer’s Report - Sally Sharamitaro in the absence of treasurer, Didi Gardner, gave the treasurer’s report. There was no activity recorded for the months of November or December. The ending balance for the year ending December 31, 2005 was $2,555.91.
Sally informed the members that Didi is in Denver, Colorado this week as her father, a DHS member, Verne Tarne, passed away last week.
GENERAL BUSINESSSpeakers Series – Sally presented the Speakers Series report.
2006 DHS Speakers Series Schedule:
*Please note that the original date suggested for the Forest Park Highlands program, April 16, 2006, turned out to be Easter Sunday. We are in continued discussions with Doug Garner about a new and agreed upon date.
Furthermore, Doug has been contacted by the management/builders of a new hotel on Oakland, to be called “The Highlands @ Forest Park”. Per Doug, they are interested in hanging some of his photographs of the Forest Park Highlands in the lobby of the new hotel. And when he told them about the DHS invitation to give a second presentation on the Highlands, they asked Doug if he/we might be interested in his giving the presentation at the new Hotel as part of their grand opening. At this point, Doug isn’t sure of the actual date of the opening.
Sally will be in email contact with Laura Peters Reilly about her February program, and will be working with her on the press release and flyer.
Discussion followed regarding the Highlands program, the date and the location. Several suggested we call the Hampton Inn to obtain the name and speak with the manager for the new hotel. Sally will follow up.
Speaker Series Videos received
Three videos have been received from Autumn Eakin. All three have been viewed and approved. Didi Gardner, DHS treasurer issued the check for $648.39 which covers not only the cost of having the three programs videotaped, but also the purchase of the necessary DV and VHS tapes. All nine tapes, the three VHS as well as the six DV tapes were given to Virginia Lopez, DHS video librarian, to be filed with the DHS Video Archives
The three videos are:
Several members voiced interest in having our VHS tapes converted to DVD. Ideas and prices were discussed, but will need to be researched.
JOHN CORBETT’S REPORT –
Ghost Sign - The Ghost Sign project can now be addressed. First steps will include; acquiring the funding, getting the proper permits, contacting the painter, and meeting with the owner of the building regarding the preparations and plans. The preparations could include tuck pointing and the moving of electric/phone wires. Henry and John will follow up.
Benches along Tamm Avenue – The members discussed putting benches in various locations at the intersection of Tamm and Clayton. Before locations are decided, city permits will be required as will donors, though the project will be sponsored by the DHS. John will follow up.
Route 66 Designation Signs –Last week in the South Side Journal there was an article on Scenic Byways. John distributed sheets to the members with information about the program. After discussion, a motion was made, seconded and passed that the DHS be active in nominating area roads for submission to the Scenic Byways Advisory Committee. John will follow up.
NOMINATIONS 2006 –
Nominations for Officer/Board Positions - 2006 - Bob Corbett announced that nominations are now open for officer and board members whose terms expire in 2006.
THE CURRENT OFFICERS OF THE DOGTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Thus both John Corbett and Sally Sharamitaro's positions are up for election. NEITHER of the two agreed to re-run, so we will need to elect active folks to these two very important positions.
Discussion followed on the board members whose terms expire in 2006. Of the 9 board members listed there may be only three in question, the other 6 have agreed to be re-nominated.
Questions from the members: Do we need nine board members? And do we need a Bylaw change if we change the number of board members?
The two members nominated as replacement for board members are: Tom Haller and Gerry Miller. Bob will contact Tom Lenartson.
There were no nominations for the President or Secretary positions.
MEMBERSHIP – Henry Herbst is preparing 2006 membership letters to be mailed to members this month. John has stationery, envelopes and stamps. Sally will email the current membership and guest list spreadsheets to Henry and John.
CENTURY HOME - Bill Miller reported that there are 34 homes that qualify for Century Home status and letters will be mailed to each owner.
NEW BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR
Listing of Standing Committees – Bob presented to the members his list of the current Standing Committees and their Chairperson: Century Home - Bill Miller, Chair; Speakers Committee - Sally Sharamitaro, Chair; Living History - Nina Bryans, Chair. Ad-hoc Committees (no chair): Ghost Signs and Membership.
Bob asked if there were any other Committees that were currently active.
Fund Raisers - Bob and John discussed the shirts that the DHS will sell on St. Patrick’s Day. Bob will count the shirts left from last year and he and John will make the decision as to how many and what size shirts to order for 2006.
Archives/Donations– Bob reported on the new Acadia Publishing Co. book “The Forest Park Highlands” by Doug Garner. Doug was kind enough to send free copies for the DHS and several of its members.
Bob told the members that Doug’s book can be purchased at the new Highlands at Forest Park Hotel and at the Missouri Historical Society on Lindell.
Century Home Committee - No Report
Living History - No Report
Membership Update - No Report
Lecture Series - Bob reminded the members about the upcoming Speakers Series Lecture to be held on the evening of December 9th, at 7:00 pm, in St. James School Cafeteria.
The title of this new lecture, the first of the re-formed Speakers Committee is: “19th Century Cheltenham-Dogtown: Economic and Social Development”.
Bob will send another email out to the members as a reminder as it gets closer. John will activate his phone log program, as there will be no flyer printed or mailed.
Future speakers will include, Henry Herbst, who will present his lecture on the Taylor city Belt Line Railroad and possibly Doug Gardner who will present his second lecture on the Forest Park Highlands. Bob hopes to have another Dogtown lecture prepared for 2009 using his ongoing research and Father O’Connor’s “Let’s Go” essays on Catholic Communism and how capitalism caused the St. James parishoners such suffering during the great depression.
Archives/Donations– – Bob reported on the new Acadia Publishing Co. book “The Forest Park Highlands” by Doug Garner. Doug was kind enough to send free copies for the DHS and several of its members.
Bob told the members that Doug’s book can be purchased at the new Highlands at Forest Park Hotel and at the Missouri Historical Society on Lindell.
Century Home Committee - No Report
Living History - No Report Membership Update - No Report Lecture Series - Bob reminded the members about the upcoming Speakers Series Lecture to be held on the evening of December 9th, at 7:00 pm, in St. James School Cafeteria.The title of this new lecture, the first of the re-formed Speakers Committee is: “19th Century Cheltenham-Dogtown: Economic and Social Development”.
Bob will send another email out to the members as a reminder as it gets closer. John will activate his phone log program, as there will be no flyer printed or mailed.
Future speakers will include, Henry Herbst, who will present his lecture on the Taylor city Belt Line Railroad and possibly Doug Gardner who will present his second lecture on the Forest Park Highlands. Bob hopes to have another Dogtown lecture prepared for 2009 using his ongoing research and Father O’Connor’s “Let’s Go” essays on Catholic Communism and how capitalism caused the St. James parishoners such suffering during the great depression.
OLD BUSINESS
Bench Project - John reported that the DHS is still waiting for the permits for our 3 new benches. He said that our paperwork has been lost by the City Hall. John hopes that it is found soon.
Ghost Sign Restoration Project – No Report Route 66 Signs – No Report. Historical Markers - No ReportNEW BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR
Listing of Standing Committees – Bob presented to the members his list of the current Standing Committees and their Chairperson: Century Home - Bill Miller, Chair; Speakers Committee - Sally Sharamitaro, Chair; Living History - Nina Bryans, Chair. Ad-hoc Committees (no chair): Ghost Signs and Membership.
Bob asked if there were any other Committees that were currently active.
Fund Raisers - Bob and John discussed the shirts that the DHS will sell on St. Patrick’s Day. Bob will count the shirts left from last year and he and John will make the decision as to how many and what size shirts to order for 2006.
The members discussed the results of the sales for the past two years and the types and sizes of shirts sold. Several customers requested children’s sizes, but the smallest size we could get last year for the long sleeve shirt was Adult-small.
One member asked whether the DHS could sell the shirts at more than one location. Bill Miller suggested that Jim Glaser be contacted as he works closely with the parade organizers and vendors.
Local Alderman – Bill Waterhouse, newly elected alderman for the 24th Ward, attended the DHS January meeting and offered several helpful comments. Mr. Waterhouse offered to investigate the current Dogtown banners which are said to be in poor condition, and agreed to investigate the possibility of a grant to replace them. Tom Haller suggested that the new banners be green.
Archives – Tom played one of the songs on the CD titled “The Last Missouri Exit” that he will be donating to the DHS archives. The song, written by Tom’s brothers John and Charles Haller, is called “The Highlands is Burning Down”.
The meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m. The next meeting will be Saturday, February 11, 2006, at 10:00 a.m., St James Rectory 6401 Wade Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139
Respectfully submitted
Sally Ryan Sharamitaro
Secretary, Dogtown Historical Society
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