The Clay County Landmarks Commission and Historical Society meeting for August was held in the courtroom of the Old Courthouse on August 3. Present were Eloise Boggs, Frances Boggs, Jim Miller, Jeanine Samples, Ronnie Hamrick, Sandra Claybrook, Jerry Stover, Neva Adams and Marlene Potasnik.
President Jerry Stover called the meeting to order. The minutes of the July meeting were approved as printed in local newspapers (both the Clay County Free Press and the Clay Communicator). Jim Miller gave the treasurer’s report.
Discussions during this meeting were focused on the effects of the recent flood, in terms of loss, salvage, and possible restoration of items that were stored in the lower level of Jerry’s home on Main Street.
LOSS: a complete assessment of what was lost has not been made.
SALVAGED: (much was saved, but only the following were discussed.)
1. Boxes and folders containing many pages of materials pertaining to Clay County history. These were brought up to the old courthouse where diligent volunteers spent many hours separating pages, blotting with paper towels and spreading them to dry and then returning them to folders, as needed, and boxing and labeling the boxes. Many black and white photographs and some colored ones were included in the drying-out process. (Colored photos were more prone to permanent damage.)
2. Thornton Bird poetry.
3. Approximately 800 cassette tapes containing interviews, oral histories, made by the CCHS Arts/Culture students for the Hickory and Ladyslippers series years ago.
RESTORATION: the cassette tapes
1. The principal question: are the tapes, once wet with flood water, salvageable? A reputable company for restoration has been contacted and Jim will package and ship a random sample of tapes to the company for assessment. Neva will take samples to a different restoration company for their opinion.
2. If restoration is possible, the cost will be $20-$25 per tape, so it will be necessary to be selective in having tapes restored. Application has been made for a $2,000 grant for restoration from flood damage and some of this, if granted, could be used on the tapes.
3. A suggestion was made to ask members of the families of the interviewer or of the person interviewed if they have a copy of the tape.
PROGRESS REPORTED (and observed)
1. Additional shelving units have been placed in the courtroom to accommodate some of the salvaged materials and family histories recently donated.
2. File boxes have been added also and labeled properly so that flooded materials and other collections can be identified.
3. Much extraneous material has been removed; a beautiful large glassed-in display cabinet is now very visible and very much in need of being cleaned up (a project waiting for the right person). It could hold and display a lot of museum pieces.
OTHER BUSINESS
1. Ronnie reported that he is ready to start typing the final copy of his book on World War II veterans from Clay County. He has over 800 pages and 1,500 names. A final plea is being made for additional names and their service information.
2. The Summer Now & Then is at the printer’s. The question as to where it will be mailed came up since the Procious Post Office, which has our permit, is still closed because of flood damage. Jerry will check with the Clay Post Office.
3. The subject of protecting family records also was discussed. Ronnie cited an example wherein a book of family history belonging to his mother was loaned and is now in the possession of a person who knows the rightful owner but won’t return it. Also mention was made of cell phones being used to copy pages of family history, without permission. Is it an ethical problem?
4. Generous monetary donations have been made recently and a “Thank-you” list will be published later. We do appreciate your generosity because we have expenses beyond what our membership dues cover. If the tape restoration is successful, the price for restoring 800 tapes is beyond our budget. Printing of our publications, such as “Clay County Cemeteries,” is another expense. Donations are especially appreciated just now, with the need to organize and store the recent donations of large family history collections and the purchase of additional shelving and boxes to store these and the material salvaged from Jerry‘s basement.
5. Also needed are more volunteers to join our Tuesday crew. Sandy, Jeanine, Jim, Marlene, Karen B. and Lenore are the “regulars.” Not all of them work every Tuesday, but between them, and spending extra days, a tremendous amount of progress has been made in restoring flood-damaged items and organizing the boxes and shelves in the old courtroom. We were fortunate to have Karen Walker come up from Florida and spend a week or more, helping to clean and organize flood-damaged materials, and to make recommendations concerning these and storage of other collections. Karen is an archeologist with the University of Florida.
6. Jerry reminded us of our purpose for being by reading the vision statement of the Clay County Landmarks Commission and Historical Society.
7. Adjournment.
NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at 1 p.m., old courthouse
Eloise Boggs, recorder