The Clay County Landmarks Commission and Historical Society held its first 2017 meeting Wednesday, March 8, in the Clay County Library. Those present were Jerry Stover, Danny Dawson, Sandra Claybrook, Jeanine Samples, Lenore Pettit and Eloise Boggs.

Stover, as president, called the meeting to order. Claybrook gave the treasurer’s report.

The business of the meeting went directly into a discussion of the group’s new website. So far, Dawson has done an excellent job in getting the website started. A list of suggestions as to what information the historical society needs to display was presented in writing from Elaine Austin, who could not attend the meeting. Dawson will continue to develop the website following these recommendations. Mention was made of a present website which is not up to date and does not reflect adequately what the historical society has to offer.

The members who work on Tuesdays in the old courthouse reported that during last Tuesday’s rainstorm a very bad leak was noticed on the side of the building facing the fire department. Documents and other items were promptly moved from the affected area before severe damage was done. However, the damage to that side of the building, windows, etc. and vulnerability in future storms is a worry. Members of the county commission, owners of the building, were informed. The courtroom has sustained damage from leaks in the cupola, such as loss of ceiling tiles. This leakage was reported to the commission two weeks ago and apparently repairs were made since there was little or no leakage noted in that area during Tuesday’s storm.

Boggs e reported on a project proposed by the trustees of the White Family Cemetery on Oak Hill Ridge at Bomont, to collect and preserve stories and history and photographs of persons buried in the cemetery. Stover mentioned the story of Jonathan Rashaw Walton, a sick stranger who came to the home of Lewis Jackson White, was taken in and cared for until he died soon after. He was buried on the knoll above the White residence, the first person buried there. This was in the fall season of 1858. The story was printed in an issue of Goldenseal a few years ago.

A recommendation was made and approved to reduce the number of copies of the newsletter printed from 400 to 325. Around 300 copies are mailed to members each quarter.

The meeting adjourned.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 5, at 1 p.m. in the  Clay County Library.