Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/15/1989 - Regular Minutes - Historic Preservation Committee HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1989 CENTRAL PARK CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Gary Halter, Chairman; Lois Beach; Joan Lamkin; Les Hawkins; Norma Teets MEMBERS ABSENT: Maggie McGraw and Larry Ringer, Council Liaison STAFF PRESENT: Steve Beachy, Virginia LeBlanc, Charlie Szabuniewicz, and Gracie Calbert VISITORS: Margaret Donaldson, Lucy Garcia and Leslie Shueckler I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairman Halter at 7:03 PM. II. REORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEE : Dr. Halter asked that everyone introduce themselves. Steve explained that the College Station Parks Department will assist the committee by handling the mechanics of the meetings. Dr. Halter explained that the committee will be appointing a new chairman in May 1990. He asked for volunteers. There were no volunteers at that time. Steve asked that if anyone has anything for future agendas to contact the College Station Parks Department. The Parks Department will compile and send out packets for the next meeting prior to the meeting. Telephones calls will be made prior to the meeting to remind everyone. III. DISCUSSION OF HISTORIC MARKERS : Dr. Halter turned the meeting over the Margaret Donaldson and Lucy Garcia to explain the work accomplished on the A &M Consolidated Historic Marker. Margaret stated that they had hoped to have a marker for the first public school established by and residing on a State supported institution. Soon they discovered that specific proof was required in order to have a "first." That proof is not available. Gary asked what it would take to prove that Consolidated was the first in the State. Margaret said that all the State Colleges and Universities would have to be contacted and it would have to be determined that we were the first State college to have a public school established on the premises. Lucy stated that a historical marker can be obtained without being the first. All that is required is to prove that the school is 3/4 the age of the community. The school was started in 1920 and College Station was not a city until 1938. Margaret introduced the narrative for the marker. Lucy stated that the narrative must be at least three pages. Margaret stated that the narrative was almost complete with the exception of the location of the marker. She asked the committee to make that decision. Margaret gave the potential choices for the location of the marker. The school was originally located on campus in three separate buildings. Those building are no longer standing. The marker could be placed near the original site or on the Community Center which used to be the high school or at the present location on Welsh Street. This subject marker should not be confused with a building marker. Building markers must be on the original building and subject markers can be at any relative location. Lucy asked for the Committee's suggestions for the location of the marker. Steve stated that he spoke to Dr. Chancellor about placing the marker at the present school location on Welsh St. Dr. Chancellor sent Leslie Shueckler to be the spokesperson from the Historic Preservation Committee Meeting Wednesday, November 15, 1989 Page 2 school district. She stated that Dr. Chancellor's first choice would be on Welsh St. near the new athletic stadium. This would be a highly visible spot to all the fans going to the games. Les suggested that the site be landscaped. Steve stated that the marker at Richard Carter Park was incorporated into the entrance of the park. The post mounts are sometimes vandalized as well as the building mounts. Steve stated that the markers for the parks have been either damaged or stolen but they are not as large as the historical markers. Les asked what the markers are made of and Steve answered that they are made of cast aluminum. People steal them and sell the aluminum to recycle. Les suggested that the new marker should have adequate lighting to deter thieves. Steve suggested that the area be included in the adopt -a -spot program. Lois stated that she felt strongly that the marker should be in College Station instead of on campus. Dr. Halter stated that the Community Center will be probably receive its own marker later. Lois moved that the marker be placed on the A &M Consolidated Campus. Les seconded the motion. Dr. Halter asked for further discussion. Lois clarified her motion by stating that the marker should be at the new athletic complex. Margaret stated that a good area probably would be by the ticket office and the locker rooms. Joan stated that the exact location can be decided later. Lois stated that she doesn't want to see the marker on a building but it should have a place of its own. Dr. Halter asked for a vote and motion passed unanimously. Dr. Halter recommended that we work with the school district for the exact location. He asked Leslie if the school district was planning to help pay for the marker. Leslie stated that they plan to contribute around $800 for the marker. Margaret said that the $800 would cover the cost of the marker and Dr. Halter stated that there will be additional expenses of mounting, landscaping, etc. He stated that the City could help with these expenses. Joan stated that there are some people that would like to make donations for the historic markers. Lucy stated we should remember that the committee plans to have other markers and not to spend all the money on one marker. Dr. Halter commended Margaret and Lucy on their hard work. Lucy asked for additional questions concerning the marker. She stated that there are several additional markers to consider for the City. One is at Lincoln High School, another is for Shiloh Community and /or the Cemetery, and one for City Hall. Dr. Halter stated that one he would like to consider is at the Railroad Station. Les asked about the airport. Lucy stated that she hasn't seen anything about trying to get a marker at the airport. Dr. Halter stated that A &M is the only University in Texas that has its own airport. Lucy asked how long the airport has been in existence. Dr. Halter stated the airport was used in World War I as a training area. Les stated that he believed that the airport was there before World War I. Dr. Halter stated that there is a provision that states that A &M can keep its own planes (they do not have to go into the State Airplane Pool) as long as they operate their own airport. That is the major factor in keeping the airport. Dr. Halter stated that there are many potential sites for the markers. He asked the committee to develop a list and prioritize them for the next meeting. Lucy stated that once the application is submitted, the process can take up to a year to complete. Les motioned that the narrative be accepted and that the narrative be submitted to the County for the November 28th meeting. Joan seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. IV. DISCUSSION OF COLLEGE STATION HISTORIC HOMES PARK/MUSEUM: Dr. Halter stated that Les had information about this idea. Les stated that the main idea is to save the old original faculty homes by moving them to a central location. He said that this could be a tourist attraction. In some of the homes there could be arts and crafts. Les stated that many people in the area that collect historic relics could put them on display in these old homes. Many of the homes are approaching 100 years of age and many of the people that own them will probably tear them down. Dr. Halter agreed and stated that many people are buying the houses in order to get the lots. Some of the houses are completely rebuilt and no longer resemble the original house. Dr. Halter stated that if the City had a potential site to relocate the homes, the owners may donate the houses. Les suggested that possibly using some area in Wolf Pen Creek Park. Steve stated that the property currently owned is not enough but, future plans include purchasing additional land. Steve stated that the CIP Committee is now meeting to discuss the scope of the bond issues. One of the Historic Preservation Committee Meeting Wednesday, November 15, 1989 Page 3 issues is Wolf Pen Creek. Steve suggested that contact with the CIP Committee would probably be the best approach. Dr. Halter asked about the date for the bond election. Steve stated that he thought the election would be held in May of 1990. Les stated that the critical part of the program is to acquire the land to put the houses. Steve asked about the amount of land required. Les stated that probably fifteen acres. Lois added that another city had the same idea. At first they acquired the houses before they were torn down and put them on a piece of land. She stated that the houses stayed there for several years without anything being done to them. Finally, when the city had the money, the houses were restored and a pioneer village was created. She added that the houses were donated. Steve said that there is a place like that in Round Top, Gary stated that there is one in Spring, and Gracie said that Nacodoches also has one. Lois stated that the faculty houses were in several groups of design. Several houses were built with the same plan. She suggested that a representative house from each group be the objective. Dr. Halter stated that several people have access to the original owners of these old homes. The Committee studied the proposed Wolf Pen Creek Park and thought that the museum should be included with this project. Both the park and the museum will serve as a tourist attraction. Steve stated that the land should be relatively inexpensive because it was repossessed by a bank. Les offered to meet with the CIP Committee. Gary stated that a concrete plan should be reached before approaching the committee. Copies of the CIP Committee members were handed out for reference. Les suggested that the Historic Preservation Committee plant the seed in the CIP Committee's mind and let them come up with the ideas. Gary asked that Les contact Pat Boughton before the next CIP meeting. Les felt that Gary should contact Pat and he would be glad to talk to her. Charlie stated that the 1989 -1990 budget for historical markers is $4,000. Dr. Halter stated that sale of the Railroad Station prints should be reconsidered. Gracie said that she will set up a table to sell the prints and videos during the Annual Community Center Open House in December. Gracie asked that someone bring a framed print for display at the Open House. Dr. Halter stated that the prints cost around eighteen cents to reproduce and they are sold for $10. Charlie stated that instead of having the items for sale, the committee should ask for donations for the continuation of historical projects. V. OTHER BUSINESS : Les introduced another idea for the Committee to consider. The development of a play or musical of the early days of College Station. This would be another tourist attraction. Les got his idea from the one at Palo Duro Canyon. They started small and eventually became huge. Norma said that she loved the idea. Steve stated that the purpose of the amphitheater is for musicals and performances. Steve said that the amphitheater is budgeted for $300,000 or $400,000 so it should be quite substantial. Gary asked if the current Parks and Recreation programs will be moved over there? Steve answered yes, along with Stage Center and other local organizations. Steve stated that the goal of the whole Wolf Pen Creek Project is to draw tourist in and give people something else to do. The completion goal for this project is September 1991. That would provide time to find someone to write and organize the play. Lois said that the material is available and it would be easy for an author to take the material and write the play. Les offered to talk to Kitty and Earl about initiating the play. Steve stated that the size and dimensions of the amphitheater have not been decided. Joan recommended Jane Pulley be contacted to help organize the play. VI. ADJOURN : Lois moved that the meeting adjourn. Norma seconded the motion. Motion passed at 8:55 PM..