The Clay County Landmarks Commission and Historical Society met July 12, 2017, in the home of President Jerry Stover in Clay. Present were Jerry Stover, Jeanine Samples, Lenora Pettit, Betty Robinson, Frances Boggs, Sandra Claybrook, Marlene Potasnik and Eloise Boggs.

 Prior to the official proceedings, Jerry showed some of the large books that had been saved from the flood:  the King Family Bible (from early 1800s)*, old, old dictionaries, Cox’s Book of Martyrs, and others. These will be placed into a display cabinet in the Old Courthouse. Also presented for filing in our offices was a copy of the index to Byrne’s Tales of the Elk, prepared by Ella May, and copies of photos of the “end of the world” area showing very early buildings and other features.

The meeting was called to order by President Jerry Stover and the minutes of the June, 2017 meeting were approved as printed in the local newspapers. Sandra gave the treasurer’s report which was approved.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

1. Our web site (claywvhistoricalsociety.org) is up and running but is still being “fine-tuned.”
2. Hiram Lewis continues to work on preserving the Elkhurst swinging bridge. He still believes that it can be saved.
3. We should acknowledge those who donate to the society. A suggestion was made to send a “thank-you” note and the comment was made that we already had notes on hand for that purpose. Another service for a volunteer?

OLD BUSINESS

1. Request was received for a copy of Keeney’s book of Paxton family history. We do have several copies available for purchase.

NEW BUSINESS

1. The Apple Festival: this will be a topic for the August and September meetings.
2. Sandra suggested that we should be diverting some money each month to the preservation fund. A motion was made, seconded and approved to transfer $10.00 each month from the general fund into the preservation fund.
3. A motion was made, seconded and approved that the computer tower currently in use in our office be paid for from the general fund.
4. A motion was made, seconded and approved that we grant permission to Quincy Potasnik to arrange a painting party as a fund raiser for the benefit of the Historical Society. Jerry suggested that the Lions Club building may be available for the event which would be in October.
5. Annual picnic: the September meeting will be moved to August 30 and will consist of a short business meeting and our annual picnic – at Jerry’s house.

 NEXT MEETING:  Wednesday, August 2, 2017, 1 p.m. – Clay County Library

ADJOURNMENT

 * More about the King Family Bible:  The story of our serendipitous acquisition of this book is told in two editions of Now & Then (Vol. 25, No. 1 and No. 2). The book was purchased at a yard sale in Parkersburg by a Mr. & Mrs. Little who promptly made contact with some Clay County Kings, and Mike King and Jim Miller bought the book for the Clay County Historical Society. We were able to trace ownership of the Bible to Charles King, recently deceased, son of G. W. (Wash) King, well-known Clay County farmer of the Porters Creek area. Charles lived in Parkersburg and had no heirs. His one remaining sibling, Mary King Lawrence, verified that Charles had owned the family Bible and further stated that it should remain with the Historical Society.

Eloise Boggs, Recorder-