The monthly meeting of the Clay County Landmarks Commission and Historical Society was held on Wednesday, August 4, upstairs at the Clay County Library. In attendance were Eloise Boggs, Michael Davis, Jeanine Samples, Janette Douglas, Marlene Potasnik, Lydia Parker, Sandra Claybrook, Betty Robinson, Janet Koch, Janis and Dave Derby, Jim Miller, and Jerry Stover.
President Jerry Stover called the meeting to order. The minutes from the July meeting were read by Janet Koch. Sandra Claybrook gave the treasurers report.
The topics of this month’s President report were:
- The announcement of Quincy Potasnik’s art studio grand opening on Friday, August 6 at 6:30 pm in downtown Gassaway. All members expressed happiness and well wishes on her accomplishment.
- Eloise’s latest edition of the “Now and Then” was printed and sent out to our members. We thank you, Eloise, for all the work of the past 31 years that you have put in on the “Now and Then” for the Historical Society.
- Danny Dawson, the website master for the Historical Society, is too ill to come out to teach any of us how to operate our webpage at this time, so we are working on what we should do.
- Several in the meeting have been going out to cemeteries to gather the information we need to go into an update to our Cemetery Book, Volume 4, 2011. Anyone wanting to assist us, please contact Karen Burdette, 304-587-2600. She is managing the project. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
- Jerry is hoping he can get Roger Hanshaw to help in getting a new ceiling for upstairs at the old courthouse since many of the ceiling tiles have fallen out due to the roof leaking.
- The films that were produced by Jim Rutenbeck while living in Clay County during the late 1970s are still available for $25.00, postage included. Two films are on each DVD: “Coming to Town” and “Raise the Dead” are the titles. Contact Quincy Potasnik at greiter@aol.com for purchase information.
- The group discussed some stories that would be interesting to put in the “Now and Then.” Eloise suggested doing a story on Doc Smith. Janette told of a story about the first house in the town in North Dakota that she grew up in. Jerry was wondering “What was the first house built in the town of Clay?” If anyone would like to write a story for the “Now and Then” we sure would love to read it. Send to Historical Society, P. O. Box 363, Clay, WV.
- A discussion of reprinting the “Hickory and Lady Slippers” books was talked about, possibly as a community project for the high school students in the Vocational Class.
New Business:
- We are interested in sitting up a table at the Golden Delicious Festival.
- Roane County Genealogical Fair is set for September 25, 2021.
- Jerry read a resignation letter from Eloise Boggs as the secretary. She has served many years as a volunteer for this group. She has done a fantastic job. Thank you so much Eloise.
- We will meet again Wednesday, August 11, at the old court house to discuss plans for a celebration to honor Eloise.
The next meeting of the Clay County Landmarks Commission and Historical Society will be September 1, 2021.
Meeting adjourned.