CALL TO ORDER: – – In the absence of President John Corbett, Bob Corbett called the meeting to order at 10:08 a.m. in the St. James Rectory. Ten people were in attendance: Bob Corbett, Tom Haller, Henry Herbst, Virginia Lopez, Bill Miller, Gerry Miller, Kay Richard, Sally Sharamitaro, and guests Dan Prindible and Tim Watkins.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2006 meeting. A vote was taken and the minutes were approved
TREASURERS REPORT –Bob Corbett, interim Treasurer, gave the treasurers report for September. The beginning total for the month was $7,650.24, deposits were $1,120.00, expenses were $7,507.70. The largest deposits and expenditures have been for the bench project.
Kay Richard asked if the benches are paid for before the DHS orders them. Bob assured her that yes, before benches are ordered, the DHS has a check in hand for that bench. At present, funds for four more benches have been received, but they need locations and permission granted by the owner of the property.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the treasurer’s report. A vote was taken, motion passed and the report was approved.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Archives/Donations – Bob reported that since the DHS was created he has been gathering and collecting various items for the archives. But just recently he has taken time to number and log each item, whether news article, photo or CD. Bob hopes by the end of November to be finished logging and numbering everything he now has on hand.
Lucy Owen, a student in Library Science and a Dogtown resident has his library program on her computer and when all items are logged she will begin creating bibliographies of the archives. Bob hopes that when the bibliographies are posted on the website folks will want to begin doing historical research and writing bibliographic essays that could possibly be used for future Speaker Series.
Bob also announced that he plans to work with Virginia Lopez, DHS Vice President and video librarian, to enter all the Living History taped interviews and Speaker Series videos into the DHS archives.
Tim Watkins informed the members that he plans soon to begin working on a 45 minute video tape program on Dogtown. If approved, his video could be shown on KETC Channel 9. Tim will keep us informed.
Century Home Committee - Bill Miller reported that he is ready to place an order for more plaques soon. Plans are to give enough lead time that plaques could be given as Christmas gifts. Bill calculates that over 50 plaques have been purchased to date.
Discussion followed on the wording and placing of the plaque for the Dogtown Frame Shop, the date of the building and the research that was done at various offices at City Hall. Bob and Henry will follow up.
Living History – No Report
Membership Update – No report
Speakers Series – –Bob reported that he is willing to serve as interim chair of the Speakers Committee. He realizes that we can’t go forward with the Committee or the series without a chairperson.
The activity checklist was again passed around and Bob asked that each member take some time to read over the list and let him know which of the activities they would be agreeable to perform.
Bob said he will create a list and fill in names for each activity as members let him know which they choose as their responsibility. By the end of this year, he says, we should know whether it will be possible to continue the Speaker Series.
Tom Haller asked if we had any speakers lined up. There are two possibilities at this time. Doug Garner for his second Forest Park Highlands program and Henry Herbst for his Taylor City Belt Railroad program.
Bob said that he himself would be agreeable to do the first program, as a trial to see if this new “shared” program would work. He offered to give a retrospective overview of Dogtown as his program. And he mentioned the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day as a possible date.
A motion was made and seconded that an interim Speakers Committee be formed. A vote was taken and the motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS
Bench Project Report – No Report
Ghost Sign Restoration Project - – Henry Herbst reported that the sign is completed and it looks great.
The project was well documented with Tim Watkins taking color photos and videotaping the restoration project. Tim taped an interview with Henry and our ghost sign painter, Lonnie Tettaton on Monday and he plans to videotape the Alpen Brau program tomorrow night.
Bob reported that the DHS has received $1300.00 to date in donations, and that will be matched by one of our very generous members. There is still a possibility too that the DHS will receive funds from the City to help pay for the moving and covering of the wires.
A discussion of more ghost sign projects followed. Henry showed the members a photo of another Dogtown ghost sign on his laptop computer. It’s quite readable and there is information online about the flour company and the flour sack that is pictured on the sign. It is half the size of the Alpen Brau sign and is located on a building at the corner of Central and Wise. This location would also give the DHS the opportunity to place more emphasis on historic signs that are away from the business (Clayton/Tamm) area of Dogtown. In the near future Bob plans to contact the owner of the building at Central and Wise for permission to restore the ghost sign there.
Several other Dogtown ghost signs were also mentioned, ie., Miss Catherine’s Dry Goods Store sign (which unfortunately is not nearly as readable) is located at West Park and Tamm. There is also a portion of a ghost sign on the brick wall facing East on the Pat’s Bar and Grill building for Griesedick Brothers Beer. And a “Feed & Seed” ghost sign along Manchester near Sublette. Bob and Henry will follow up.
NEW BUSINESS
Bob reported that John Corbett is working with Bill Waterhouse, Alderman for the 24th Ward on replacing the current Dogtown flag/signs.
The Hall of Fame plaque was taken to the Tile Library Company. They agreed to first fasten it to cement board and then, using special glue, fasten it to the brick wall at St. James School. No date was set for this installation.
The meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m. The next meeting will be Saturday, November 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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