Boonslick Outdoor Arts Project
March 25, 2004
Cooper County Courthouse Annex
Attending:
Jim Painter, Gary Nauman, Bob Dyer, Betty Bowen, Amalie Duvall, Dorothy Whitten,
Carolyn Eichelberger, Carmen Jones, Judy Shields, Maryellen McVicker, and Art
Schneider.
Meeting
convened at 6:07 p.m.
Financial
Report: Maryellen McVicker reported
$21,367 in the bank—including $250 additional (making $500) from UMB Bank and
a $400 pledge from the DAR. This
includes $5103 from poster sales and $1440 for maquette raffle and $1300 from
maquette sale after expenses.
Art
noted the report does not include the expense of $1000 for the Hannah Cole story
plaque nor the $250 for 50 additional posters sold and to be paid to
Mathis-Jones Communications. Art also noted that there are additional expenses
for the donor plaque and base that have not yet been calculated. These
additional expenses would come from poster and souvenir sales and not from
donations for the statue.
Bob
Dyer reported that Caterpillar would contribute $1000 to the project!
In
kind donations of $600 for printing posters by Mid-Missouri Printing and $500 by
Vintage Hills for landscape design services are acknowledged separately. We are
awaiting the value of photo services and poster design.
Article
in Missouri Life and Cole Family Newsletter. Art distributed a copy of an article to run in Missouri Life that
mentions the Cole statue and noted the extensive coverage given the dedication
event and the Lewis and Clark Discoverfest activities that will precede and
follow the dedication.
Jim
Painter noted that the newsletter has generated several more significant
donations by family members and that it has generated a larger number of
out-of-state inquires about the project and interest in being in Boonville for
the annual reunion and dedication. He asked about the number of dedication
brochure being printed. Art noted that originally 300 copies was in the budget
request submitted to the Boonslick Tourism Commission, but that the commission
shifted funds for posters to the brochure so that additional brochures could be
printed. It is uncertain how many additional will be printed at this point.
J.
Milton Turner bust/pedestal: Carmen
Jones presented a comprehensive six-page outline of efforts and plans for the J.
Milton Turner sculpture. The first
page was a copy of her Feb. 6 presentation to the Boonville City Council, which
resulted in a $5000 contribution towards the $8500 cost of the bust/pedestal.
She
has scheduled the kickoff for August 4, 2004, with the annual Sumner School
Alumni meeting at CCBC. The theme
of the drive will be:
“Teach
Us to Lead….Leave a Legacy. J. Milton Turner.”
T-Shirts
and cups sales and possible raffle tickets for household appliances, quilt a
charcoal portrait are among ideas presented.”
The
effort will continue the next day at Harley Park.
In
September alumni will be contacted and businesses and churches. She also
suggested a J. Milton Turner collector’s plate.
Judy
suggested that a Sumner School plate also be sold in conjunction with the event.
Carmen’s
plans call for a gospel concert for August 7, 2005, the same day as a possible
unveiling of the bronze bust.
Judy
said she would contact the Missouri Arts Council to get a list of
African-American sculptors in Missouri. She also suggested that the minority
arts program of the council might be able to provide financial assistance.
In
January 2005 she suggested a history of J. Milton Turner be submitted to the
Boonville Daly News.
Judy
Shields and Bob Dyer will talk with Gary Kremer, Westminster University history
professor, about writing the article.
She
suggested that the CCBC education department work with the local school during
February 20045 Black History Month.
Dorothy
Whitten said that Missouri National Education Association has a history
curriculum that was written by a woman from Boonville that could be passed along
to teachers.
In
March-April 2005 catering for the August 6 banquet will begin and Thespian Hall
reservation confirmed for Thespian Hall.
May
2005 will include planning for a June 2005 Barbeque and Fish Fry at CCBC, Harley
Park or the IGA parking lot.
June
2005 unveiling ceremony planning talked lace, final letter sent to donors and
alumni. Community invited.
July
2005 Gospel ticket sale will begin.
August
6, 2005, the banquet will be held and speaker selected, August 7 the J. Milton
Turner Bust unveiled, and that evening the Gospel Concert held at Thespian Hall.
She
also included the Mo-River.Net web page on Sumner School.
Carmen
put in tremendous time planning the event. The Outdoor Arts Project reaffirmed
that CCBC would be the lead agency on this project as Friends of Historic
Boonville as on the Cole statue and Walter Williams bust.
Thomas
Jefferson Birthday Dinner: Dorothy
Whitten said tickets for the event are $35 each and that sales will be limited
to 120 tickets. Mailing just went out this week and orders already have arrived
for the birthday dinner. She noted “Thomas Jefferson” would be there in the
presence of a descendant. The event will be held in Turner Hall. It is designed
to be a more intimate gathering rather than a several hundred-person event so
that planned festivities will have a personal and social richness. Dorothy said
wine as well as non-alcohol beverages would be served. The DAR has made an
effort to develop and extensive mailing list that encompasses a broad population
base.
This
may be the social event of 2004.
Dorothy
reported there is a Hannah Cole web page sponsored by the DAR. The URL is: www.mssdar.org/hcole
Art
went to the site and to the link http://mo-river.net/history/hannahcolehistory.htm
they have created on Hannah Cole. It is quite interesting! Please g visit.
Dedication
Ceremony Arrangements: Art submitted
a draft for the program. Carolyn Eichelberger noted he had moved the time an
hour early (obviously too early anticipating fall Central Standard Time).
The
results of the discussion are as follows:
3
p.m. Gray Nauman, City Parks & Recreation Director, to serve as Master of
Ceremonies.
3:05
p.m. Welcome by Boonville Mayor Danielle Blank and presentation by State Rep.
Larry Crawford of Missouri House of Representatives Hannah Cole Day Proclamation
to the mayor.
3:10
p.m. Invocation: Rev. Bob Bohnenstiehl
3:15
p.m. Remarks from the Cole Family: Pat Todd, president, Cole Descendants
Association.
3:20
p.m. Hannah Cole and the Founding of Boonville: Bob Todd, editor and publisher
of River Hills Traveler. (Have
since learned he will not be available so will need to discuss with the project
members and the Cole family).
3:30
p.m. Remarks form Sculptor Harry Weber
3:35
p.m. River Woman poem: Written and read by Laura Cooper, Granddaughter of Ida
Cole Crosswhite.
3:40
p.m. Recognition of contributors: Dr. Maryellen McVicker
3:45
p.m. Former U. S. Senator Jean Carnahan (invited)
4
p.m. Unveiling of "Breaking
New Ground.”
Closing:
Gary Nauman
Benediction:
Rev. Farie Cole
Art
noted that the appearance by Mrs. Carnahan has not been finalized. Judy Shield
suggested that Mary Pat Abele be contacted to intercede. Betty Bowen said she
would contact Mary Pat. Bob Dyer
noted that Dale Reesman was Mel Carnahan’s roommate at M.U. while they were in
law school and also suggested that Dale be contacted.
Art
agreed to contact Rep. Larry Crawford about attending for the House
proclamation.
Dedication
brochure: Art provided an initial
draft of the copy for the Cole Dedication brochure. Pages six and seven would
list donors and Page 8 perhaps include a line drawing of the proposed sculpture
from the artist’s portfolio.
First
page of the dedication program approved except that he erred with the park name
of Hannah Cole Park. Dedication will note 70th family reunion plus note that
this is the dedication of the Hannah Cole Sculpture.
Page
2 of dedication brochure will have quote from Col. J. B. Barnes. Bon Dyer noted
that there oftentimes are questions when one suggests that an individual is the
“first” for a broad expanse of land. He suggested the initial two sentences
of the colonel’s quote read: “It seems superfluous to extol the greatness,
the hardiness and the indomitable spirit of this woman—the forgotten Pioneer
Mother of Missouri…. A number of monuments…are being erected at various
points in the United States to commemorate the deeds of our early women
pioneers…”
Art
noted that he was uncertain about the citation as he noted the source document
footnote notes two sources, the Jefferson City Democrat Tribune and the Short
Sketches of Boonville and Vicinity.
The
citation will read:
Quotation
from Col. J. B. Barnes, 1928 “Short Historical Sketches of Boonville and
Vicinity” and cited in “Living on Hominy and Sweet Milk,” Part II
(Conclusion) by William H. Lyon and Eleanor Leitner Vallieres, Boone’s Lick
Heritage, Boonslick Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 1, March 1999,
Cole Family History edition, Page 11.
No
further adjustments to the brochure at this point.
Information and picture of Harry Weber will appear on Page 5.
Dedication
Invitation: Art submitted a draft
invitation that made the invite on behalf of the tourism commission and outdoor
arts project. It also noted the
Lewis and Clark Bicentennial June 6-7.
Members
agreed that the invitation should be on behalf of the City of Boonville and the
Outdoor Arts Project and Judy noted that reference to Lewis & Clark should
read “Discoverfest: Explore
Boonville with Lewis & Clark.”
The
bottom of the invitation will note, “Funding provided by the Boonville Tourism
Commission.”
Missouri
House of Representatives Proclamation:
Jim Painter prepared a draft on the proclamation content. Most of the content
(which follows a house approved structure) was accepted as presented by Jim. The
only changes were:
Reason
for resolution: To note dedication of the statue plus Hannah Cole. The project
deleted first women of Boonville for “true pioneer mother of Missouri and
Boonville.
Awards,
accomplishments, etc…: Modified first women south of Missouri River to first
to settle in the unsettled upper Louisiana Territory.
Names
of Children. Jim noted there is a reference to a tenth child, variously spelled
“Phebe” and “Phoebe,” who died very young. Because historical references
offer nine children, the names of the nine children will be listed.
Other
Pertinent Information: Jim had four paragraphs. One was altered to read: Hannah
Cole’s fort was the largest of 2 forts on the South Side of the Missouri River
and became the First County seat of Howard and Cooper counties, and site of the
first church services and school along with the best protection against Indians
and the wild animals.”
Estimate
for red granite base and plaque for donors’ names: Art said last week he submitted the list of donors plus an additional
10% increase in names to secure an estimate on the size of the plaque and the
required red granite base. He has not received an estimate at this time.
Hopefully an estimate will be available for the April meeting. He said that it
if a plaque size is known, the red granite base could be ordered and perhaps
installed by the time of the dedication and a listing of the names be placed on
the base.
Status
of Posters: Art reported that 250
posters have been printed. Harry Weber will sign the posters when he comes to
Boonville to set up the sculpture in April. Art said he talked with Bill Mathis
nine days earlier and Bill was to send his a proposal seven days ago.
Art said that this is going to allow very little time to get the
signatures of the First Women and he is concerned that it will be difficult and
stressful to get this worked in to a period of just four weeks.
Conductor
sculpture: Art reported that efforts
are being initiated to contact Mrs. Ted Edwards. The late Ted Edwards was a major benefactor for the KATY
Railroad Trail. Wayne Lammers has researched and secured a picture of a
conductor at the old Boonville Railway Depot. Efforts will be made to contact
Mrs. Edwards about a possible donation of the sculpture as the caboose is along
the trail and near the midpoint of the trail.
Harry
Weber concept sketches: Harry Weber
had donated four pages of sketches to the project t sell as part of the
fundraising effort. Arts suggested the size was 81/12 by 11 inches. (However,
the measurements actually are 12 inches by 17 inches. He suggested that a silent
auction be held at different times for each of the sketches.
Gary
Nauman will contact Dennis Rainey about frame donation for each sketch.
Art
noted one of the sketches has some sculpting mud on it from being used by Harry
for the model.
After
much discussion it was agreed that one sketch should be reserved for sale to a
Cole Family member. So one sketch will be offered for bid when the family meets
June 6.
One
sketch will be given to the city. One sketch will be given to the Friends of
Historic Boonville. One sketch will be auctioned later. Judy will arrange for
that sketch to be displayed at Ed Scrivners and at Peacock Manor.
Potential
Donors: Peckham and Wright, MECO,
Irvinbilt and Wal-Mart: Art said he has sent letters to Peckham and Wright, MECO
and Irvinbilt—all companies that have done a significant amount of business
with the City of Boonville-seeking donations for the statue. He also reported
submitting a grant application on behalf of Downtown Boonville Incorporated for
a$500 fro Wal-Mart. At this time no word has been received.
Maquette
Raffle: Members aid they have been
asked by raffle ticket holder when the raffle will be held. The original date
was to be in December. Raffle sales have not been as great as hoped. Some
members said that people some have said that of they did not win the raffle they
would be interested in buying a maquette. After discussion a consensus to
approach Danielle Blanck to draw the winning raffle ticket just prior to the May
3 Council meeting so that it could be televised on Cable.
All
are reminded that Carolyn Eichelberger and Dorothy Whitten are scheduled to be
on Paul Pepper April 1 and will display the maquette at that time. Maryellen
said it would be okay if callers used the Friends 80 number to order raffle
tickets.
It
was suggested that the maquette be displayed during the Big Muddy and raffle
tickets sold at that time.
Souvenir
sale arrangements: Art asked where
souvenirs would be sold during the Discoverfest and the statue dedication. It
was noted that Boonville economic developer Sarah Gallagher said the P.N. Hirsch
Building would be staffed during the June 3-14 celebration and that it could be
used. It also was suggested that the Friends of Historic Boonville booth also
would be an excellent vehicle for marketing souvenirs.
Souvenirs also will be brought to the Cole Family Reunion meeting.
George
Caleb Bingham: Bob Dyer noted that
there had been strong support for the fourth bust at Morgan Street Park be that
of George Caleb Bingham. He said there is currently a bust of Bingham in
Columbia—either at City Hall or next door and that it may be possible a cast
can be made from that piece. He
suggested it would be less expensive. Concurred to request the Park and
Recreation Department to approve recommending to the city that the fourth bust
be that of Bingham.
Bob
asked if anything had been heard about a Frederick T. Kemper bust. Apparently
nothing has been done on this. He will follow up with the Kemper Foundation.
Audio
Tape at Art Project: Neither Danielle
Blanck nor Julie Thacher could attend. Judy said that they hope at some point
audio stations be established so visitors could push a button and hear a
recording. This is still in the
discussion stages.
Paving
Stones: Gary said that Vintage Hills,
the park landscape design consultant, had suggested that the paving stones be
red or neutral, not the terra cotta discussed earlier.
Consensus to go with red.
ADDITIONAL
DISCUSSION: Bob Dyer said that the
land at the old hospital off Morgan Street and the site of the second Battle of
Boonville was in private hands. (In fact. A developer owns it whose sister,
Amalie Duggan, attended her first meeting tonight. Bob said it would be a
magnificent site for a historic interpretation center. “It is about as close
as you can get to where Hannah settled,” he said. It offers a great potential
for tourism and has a magnificent view that would be very attractive for such an
interpretive site. The land has been cleared.
He
suggested that it could be purchased for $250,000.
Members
in the city agreed to contact their council representatives to initiate an
effort for such a center.
Meeting
adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Next meeting will be at 6 p.m.
April 29 at the Cooper County Courthouse Annex.