MINUTES OF THE DOGTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

May 8, 2004

CALL TO ORDER -- President John Corbett called the meeting of The Dogtown Historical Society (DHS) to order at 10:05 a.m. at the St. James Rectory.

Twenty people were in attendance: Nina Bryans, Grace (Dallas) Caporal, Bob Corbett, John Corbett, Didi Gardner, Henry Herbst, Michelle Kennedy, Rose Kennedy, Tom Leonartson, Virginia Lopez, Lou Macchi, Nola Macchi, Bill Miller, Gerry Miller, Kurt Odendahl, Kay Richard, John Rooney, Sally Sharamitaro, Rachel Storch, and guest, Dorothy Tarne (Didi’s Mother).

MINUTES were read by Sally Sharamitaro. There were two corrections; Henry Herbst’s name was omitted from those in attendance and Ann Patrice O’Shaughnessy’s name was misspelled. The minutes were approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Rachel Storch, the new treasurer, was given the Treasurer’s books and was introduced to the members and guests. Rachel reported that she received $941.00 from Jim Glaser.

GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Speakers Series Committee: Sally Sharamitaro announced a change of date for the July event. The new date is August 22, 2004. Duke McVey and his brother Bob McVey have agreed to be part of a soccer panel monitored by Bob Corbett. The panel will also include Henry Herbst and possibly Irv Schurwan and Frankie Pilla. The panel will present and discuss the History of Dogtown Soccer.
   
   Sally brought the members up to date on the preparations for The Forest Park Highlands presentation. Henry Herbst agreed to contact Schillers to rent a slide projector, which is the last piece of equipment needed. Henry stated that before he orders it, he needs to know if Doug Garner is planning on bringing a carousel filled with his slides with him, or if he plans to fill the projector carousel we rent for him in St. Louis. Sally will follow up with Doug and will let him know that if he rents his own slide projector, the DHS will reimburse him for the cost.
   
   Bob Corbett made a motion that funds be allocated for entertaining Doug Garner while he is in St. Louis next weekend. The motion was passed.
   
   
2. Membership: A membership table will be set up at this and all future DHS Speaker Series Events with fact sheets and applications for membership. Henry Herbst has agreed to speak during the intermission on May 16th about membership in the DHS.
   
   Nina Bryans suggested that we contact the Soccer Hall of Fame and ask for a copy of their membership list, and mail flyers about the event: “The History of Dogtown Soccer” to each member.
   
   Bob Corbett restated that we still do not have a mailing list for the Dogtown neighborhood.
   
   A discussion followed on ways to attract new members. St. James has a Sunday Bulletin, the Clayton Tamm Community Association has a monthly newsletter that is hand-delivered to 1300 residents. They both publish information on our Speaker Series Events and might publish pleas for membership.
   
   John Corbett urged the members to think of ways that we can show what the DHS could offer new members, not just ask for their donation of $10.00. That led to a discussion of those who may not wish to become members but might be willing to make a donation.
   
   
3. Century Home Committee: Bob Corbett reported that there are some complications in the DHS ordering individual Century Home tiles from the Webster Tile Co. They will continue to offer the current version of our Century Home tile for $37.50, until their current stock of 25 tiles is gone. Ordering tiles after that will be more costly as the producer no longer makes that particular tile.
   
   A meeting of the Century Home Committee will be held next week. At which time the committee will discuss the DHS tile purchasing options, the tile mounting options, and finalize the letter to be sent notifying those living in Century Homes that the plaques are available for purchase.
   
   
4. Civil War Days in Cheltenham: John Corbett brought in the six Civil War period dresses, shawls, hats and fans. He announced that they would be given to any of the ladies that would like to have them. The dresses seem to be in small sizes, some may even be children’s sizes. Several are still available to anyone interested.
   
   John also announced that the original contact person for the Civil War Re-enactors has been re-called into military service in Iraq. Tom Haller has the name of the replacement contact person.
   
   John reminded the members that the media will be very important in getting the word out about our Dogtown Civil War Days celebration. And he feels sure that it will be equally important to notify the schools in the area early enough to allow time for the teachers to bring the Dogtown celebration activities into their history lessons.
   
   
5. Living History: John Corbett stated that he purchased a video camera for the Living History Project. He repeated that he would like to see the committee begin interviewing one person a week, possibly on Friday, until all persons on the waiting list have been videotaped. Bob Corbett and Didi Gardner have names to add also.
   
   
6. Donations: Bob and Henry spoke to Jaynelle at the Dogtown Frame Shop. She will have the frame orders ready for next weekend. However, she will need to have the description labels by Tuesday. Bob explained the description labels, and that they would be placed on the matting material under the glass. One label will describe the photo and the other will list the person who donated the cost of the framing with a DHS logo.
   
   Discussion followed on the options and benefits of placing the labels. To have them on the front of the frame might encourage others to donate the framing of their own class photo. However, some thought that putting them on the back might be best, as they might distract attention from the photo itself.
   
   Tom Leonartson stated that Office Depot has plastic labels that could be placed on the front of the glass were we to decide later to place a label. The decision was made that no labels will be placed on the frames for now and that Tom would gather more information on the plastic labels and report at next meeting.
   
   
7. Fund Raising: No Report
   
   
8. New Business:
   
   John Corbett stated that the DHS will need to apply for a new version of the tax exempt status form. John will follow up and send the application.
   
   John reported that permits are on hold for the new Lehman Hardware Building Project. Steve Lehman is currently hoping that his meeting with Mayor Slay will help resolve his dispute over the contractor of his choice. If the situation does not resolve itself, John Corbett feels that more public support from the neighborhood and the DHS might be helpful, and he is willing to draft a letter of support.
   
   
9. Other Business:
   
   Bob Corbett presented the most recent addition to the Dogtown web site, the article on the history of the Icarians by Mabel Squares. He gave the members a short version of their history and how they came to Cheltenham and what happened to disband their group. Virginia Lopez presented a new book about the 1904 Worlds Fair called Beyond the Ice Cream Cone by Pam Vaccaro. Pam spent 25 years compiling the book and Virginia’s daughter, Jean, assisted Pam with the graphics. The book is available at Missouri Historical Society Museum and Left Bank Books.
   
   Kay Richard told the group that she had been invited to view the clay mock up of the new statue commissioned for the Villa Hill area on Tamm Ave. It’s a life sized figure of a boy with his dog. It was sculpted by Rudolph (Rudy) Torrini, the same artist that did the immigrants statue on the Hill and the soccer player out at the Soccer Park.
   
   John Corbett suggested that the DHS consider giving a play based on the Let’ Go that Bob is posting on the Dogtown website. He would like to re-create the church planning meetings that are described in the 1925-1926 issues. Bob joined in the discussion and explained that it could be set as a semi circle of chairs with members sitting at tables with the text in front of them. Each member of the cast would choose a member of the parish, and would know (say) his part. They both felt the play could be kept to one hour. And that it might be fun to hold it on the stage.

Meeting adjourned 11:35 a.m. Next meeting will be June 12, 2004 at 10:00am in St. James Rectory, 6401 Wade Avenue.

Respectfully submitted,
Sally Sharamitaro
Secretary
Dogtown Historical Society