MINUTES OF THE DOGTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

November 8, 2003

CALL TO ORDER

Dogtown Historical Society meeting was held on November 8, 2003 at St. James The Greater Rectory.
President Nina Bryans called the meeting of the Dogtown Historical Society at 10:10 am. The meeting was held at St. James the Greater Rectory with fourteen members in attendance: Nina Bryans, John Corbett, Dedi and Greg Gardner, Tom Haller, Mildred Hefele, Henry Herbst, Betty Hodapp, Michelle Kennedy, Rose Kennedy, Peggy Koch, Tom Lenartson, Virginia Lopez, And Sally Sharamitaro.

Minutes were read by Virginia Lopez. Tom Haller corrected the minutes in New Business, Donations. “The St. Louis Evangelical Church” should read: “St. Louis German Evangelical Church on the development of an order of women who attended the sick.” Tom stated that in 1954 it became the United Church of Christ; then later the Memorial Church of Christ.

Treasurer’s Report – There was no report for this month.

General Business

1. Century Homes – There was no report.
   
   
2. Speakers Series
   
   Sally Sharamitaro reported the presentations for the Speakers Series for the coming year as follows:
   
   January 2004 – 1904 Worlds Fair, the presenter will be from the St. Louis World’s Fair Association; April 2004
   
   The Forest Park Highlands, Speaker Doug Garner Speaker; July 2004 to be announced;
   
   October 2004 – Founding of Forest Park, Speaker Peter Puleo.
   
   All 2004 Speaker Series presentation will be held on the third Sunday of the scheduled month at 7:00 pm in the St. James School cafeteria, 1360 Tamm Avenue. Dates have been arranged with Bill Kennebeck of St. James.
   
   
3. Membership Drive
   
   Henry Herbst announced that the membership drive would begin in November. Letter will go out to DHS members and to Speaker Series attendees. Bob Corbett will be asked to announce the membership drive on his email list.
   
   Henry suggested that Tim Vezeau, who made a generous donation to DHS last year, be made DHS’s first lifetime member. A motion was made and seconded, and the motion carried.
   
   
4. Reenactment of the 1864 Raid on August Muegee’s Store and Post Office.
   
   Tentative dates for the reenactment will be Saturday, October 9th, and Sunday October 10. Preparations for the Special Event will be discussed at the committee meeting on November 13. Committee members include: Chair John Corbett, Tom Haller, Tom Lenartson, Bob Corbett, and Nina Bryans.
   
   
5. Thomas Mine Area and St. Louis Landmark’s Association
   
   Tom Lenartson reported that Father Johnson gave a very interesting and informative lecture on the St. James Church. Father identified the figures pictured on the mural behind the altar. He also discussed the building materials used in the interior of the church. The group lead by Bob Corbett visited the homes in the Thomas Mine Area. John Corbett said the tour of the century homes was an added highlight to the tour.
   
   
6. Genealogy
   
   Sally Sharamitaro and Kay Richards have completed the 1860 census. There are 1154 names. Sally and Kay will undertake the 1910 census Next.
   
   
7. Fund Raising Henry had nothing to report

New Business

1. Bill Vorbeck, via email, made the suggestion that the DHS should be collecting current information on Dogtown activities. It was suggested that pictures be taken of the new business that have opened in the neighborhood in the last ten years. Nina said that she would ask Bill Vorbeck to take the pictures as he did for the Century Homes.
   
   Didi Gardner stated that she had researched statistics on St. Louis before buying property here. She stated that crime rates were the lowest in the St. Louis area, although real estate values have gone up considerably.
   
   
2. It was suggested that DHS produce a calendar remembering significant dates important to Dogtown history. Henry Herbst will research his sample calendar he did about 18 months ago.
   
   
3. Tom Lenartson presented a brochure illustrating a map of Dogtown that is used by businesses in the area as an advertisement.

Meeting adjourned 11:26 am

Next meeting will be December 13, 2003 at 10:00 a.m., St. James The Greater Rectory, 6401 Wade Avenue entrance.

Virginia Lopez
Secretary
Dogtown Historical Society