The November 9 meeting of the Clay County Landmarks Commission and Historical Society was held in the Clay County Library and the following members were present: Marlene Potasnik, Lenore Pettit, Jeanine Samples, Sandra Claybrook, Danny Dawson, Jerry Stover and Eloise Boggs.
President Jerry Stover called the meeting to order and read last month’s meeting minutes. The minutes were approved, with Jerry’s comment that the Clay County High School made the Historical Society caretakers of many valuable volumes pertaining to Clay County’s history and other topics.
There was no treasurer’s report. At this point, the need for a new treasurer was discussed and we are asking for a volunteer, preferably someone experienced in paying bills, bookkeeping and other office skills, and a knowledge of grant-writing would be an added asset.
President’s Report
1.Much material was saved from the June flood, in spite of what was lost. Among items saved was material for Tressie Bailes’ book, with photographs.
2. PAWV Jerry reminded us that the Society contributes $100 annually to the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. This organization is helpful in many ways and was instrumental in having the Old Courthouse listed as an endangered building.
3. Jerry gave a brief review of the history of the CCHS publications of Hickory and Lady Slippers and of the beginning of the Historical Society which is a part of the Clay County Landmarks Commission, which is under the auspices of the Clay County Commission.
Committee Reports and Old Business
1. The Tuesday work crew continues to sort and organize materials, including written interviews salvaged from the flood. Concerns were expressed about handling pages of flood water-contaminated papers some of which are now further contaminated with molds. Scanning them into computers and destroying the originals seems to be the best solution at this point.
2. Danny is still working diligently on getting the new Historical Society website up and running. It will incorporate information from and replace the present website.
New Business
1. Sandy brought photographs of bookcases and display cabinets which have been offered to the Society. We will accept these items and we will need some strong men to help get them to the second floor of the Old Courthouse.
2. PAWN: A motion was approved that we allow Jerry to write a check for our annual donation of $100 to this organization.
3. Closing our affiliation with the Mt. Ovis Church, a preservation project: A motion was approved that we close out this special account by donating the remaining funds to the church.
Discussion and Comment Period
1. Collection of newspapers: should extra copies be saved? The consensus: No, one good copy is sufficient. Suggestion was made to ask Clint Nichols for his collection of The Clay County Free Press.
2. It is customary to suspend Historical Society Meetings for the winter months (Dec, Jan, Feb), so ordinarily the November meeting would be our last for the year. However, with the urgency of meeting a deadline for a grant proposal, it was decided that we meet again this month. The date will be chosen when we have reviewed the proposed grant and are ready to fill in details – and when the weather is favorable.
Adjournment
Eloise Boggs, Recorder
