Update on the American Heart Association banquet November 6 in Jefferson City. Pat Todd reports it was an elegant affair. She and her spouse and the mayor and her spouse represented the Cole family and Boonville at the event. The table sponsor for the association was ill, but his son was there and accepted the No. 8 First Woman poster on behalf of the family from the mayor.
Outdoor Arts
Project
Emergency Operations Center meeting room
November 16, 2004
Attending:
Jim Painter, Maryellen McVicker, Toni Covington, Carmen Jones, Gary Nauman,
Dorothy Whitten, and Art Schneider.
Hannah Cole Plaque and Donor Plaque at International
Bronze update---Art Schneider reported that the Hannah Cole story
plaque is being corrected without charge and is being shipped to Boonville this
week. Also, the donor plaque is being shipped to Boonville this week. Gary
reported that it will be set behind Hannah Cole in front of the brick wall. His
staff will be putting 36 inches of concrete under the monument/plaque. It will
weigh more than a ton! He hopes to have the site ready by the first week of
December—weather permitting—and it may be that all will be installed by the end
of December holidays. Gary also has talked with the monument company for
directions on removing the original bolts.
Status of Outdoor Arts Project recommendations for
final three busts at Morgan Street Park: George Caleb Bingham, David Barton, and
Joseph Kinney--Gary Nauman just left the Park & Recreation Commission
meeting. He said they have approved Bingham and Barton, but have delayed action
on Joseph Kinney until next month’s meeting at 5 p.m. Dec. 21. at City Hall. The
commission will not forward approval of Bingham and Barton until either next
month or when some decision has been made about Kinney. The concern about Kinney
was that he moved to Howard County and Rivercene. However, it was noted during
discussions most of the honorees at some time or other lived elsewhere or moved
elsewhere. Governor Lon Stephens was discussed at the Park commission. However,
Maryellen noted that Kinney had the greatest direct impact on Boonville,
stimulating the riverboat trade that essentially field the growth of the
community in the early mid 19th century. She also noted his wife was from
Boonville and that his business was in Boonville.
J. Milton Turner Fundraising Update-- Carmen
Jones and Toni Covington brought great news. Toni said that there is $6060 in
the bank after the first payment to the sculptor. This includes $100 from George
Harper. Also, Art brought a check for $100 from Vernice Givens & Family. Also
Caterpillar has sent a check for $300. The funds should pay all the
bust/pedestal expenses and plaque expenses. If there are funds over the amount
donated, the donor will be asked if s/he wishes the funds back or to donate them
to the J. Milton Turner scholarship fund.
It was noted that CCBC had pledged $500, but those funds will not be needed. Art
said that CCBC as the lead agency on this effort will be acknowledged for
services at the bottom of the plaque and suggested that the pledge money be put
toward the Milton scholarship fund. Toni and Carmen will discuss this with CCBC.
At the end of this e-mail is a proposed donor plaque. This will need to be
finalized in January so it can be ordered.
Script for J. Milton Turner bust plaque--Brett Rogers’ has a child ill tonight
and he called Art before the meeting. He has not located the name of Turner’s
wife. Immediately below is the proposed script for the J. Milton Turner plaque.
Linda Potter noted that freedman in second paragraph should be freedmen. After
this meeting we will be sending this to the sculptor to have the plaque made.
JAMES MILTON TURNER
James Milton Turner was born a slave in St. Louis County, Missouri, on August
22, 1839. By the time of his death, on November 1, 1915, he had devoted a
lifetime to the betterment of humanity and above all, to the education of his
own African American race.
Freed in 1843, he became an outspoken advocate of abolition and the rights of
other freedmen. After the Civil War and Emancipation, he worked tirelessly for
black suffrage and other civil rights. First and foremost, he passionately
believed that education was the key to freedom.
In 1868 he and his wife (her name) came to Boonville and established the first
African American school in the area, where he taught with his wife. In 1869 he
began the greatest project of his life, as a field agent for the Freedmen’s
Bureau and a representative of the State Superintendent of Schools. From his
home base of Boonville, Turner fought racism and helped establish thirty-two
African American public schools in Missouri. He also played a major role in the
founding of Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City—a college that would train
generations of African American teachers.
Sadly, the importance of Turner’s contributions was never fully recognized
during his lifetime. His tremendous and visionary efforts were a bold early step
toward a racially free and equal United States.
Bas Relief Sombart family ancestors—Art
reported that he had talked with the Cooper County GOP chair about a fundraising
roast of outgoing rep. Larry Crawford for freestanding plague in front of the
Frederick Hotel that would honor the Sombart family. The hotel is named for a
Sombart. The Sombarts also built it. He has visited with Sabra Tull Meyer. She
has not done a plaque on a free-standing pedestal. Art took pictures of a free
standing two-posted monument at the Boonville Correctional Center on the Battle
of Boonville and also of a one posted monument at the roadside park on
Interstate 70p between Highway 87 and Highway B.
The twin-support plaque may be of wood with a galvanized metal covering. The
single support pedestal plaque is not the original pedestal, according to
Maryellen. The plaque is held in place by a concrete pedestal. Art sent the
photos to Sabra and International Bronze. No reply has been received.
City of Boonville Funds for arts: Art asked the members to come to a consensus
on applying for gaming funds. He noted that the city is putting together its
budget and with a new city administrator, it probably is best to submit early
while he is in the early phase of project development. He noted that it is
particularly difficult without any cost figures for the Sombart plague.
After considerable discussion, it was agreed not to seek funding for the Sombart
plaque from the city. The Frederick has agreed to donate $500 and if the GOP
roast reaches funds, it may be that the Sombart family would chair or co chair
an effort to raise funds.
Sabra did a Bingham bust several years ago for a private collector and contacted
the collector to see if permission would be given to make a mold of the bust.
The collector is agreeable. This would cut cost by about $2000 less
Art suggested that the project seek $4000 to complete the Bingham bust. Little
has been heard from the Kemper alumni since Art met with them a couple of month
sago. He did receive a request for a brochure so that information could be
placed in the Kemper alumni publication. The Friends of Kemper also has
expressed interest in donating to a Kemper bust. The Extension Center has agreed
to be the receiving agency for these funds.
It is possible that if the city was agreeable and the project could stay on
target that it would be able to dedicate the Bingham sculpture in June, the
Turner sculpture in August and the Kemper bust during the Kemper alumni meeting
in September.
1% for the Arts—There was some discussion
about encouraging the city to set aside 1% of gaming funds for the arts. No
action was taken.
Next meeting at 6:30 p.m.
January 11, Cooper County Emergency Operations Center meeting room
TURNER DONOR LIST
$5000
City of Boonville
$500
Randy, Linda & Hannah Potter, Potter Transport Inc.
Boonslick Historical Society
$250
Citizens Community Bank
Bank of America
Boonville Women’s Club
State Historical Society of Mo. Brownlee Grant
$100 or more
Anonymous
M. U. Extension of Cooper County
State Rep. Larry Crawford
Nancy Drew
Dale & Phyllis Reesman
Mrs. Hirene Williams
Stumph Dentistry
UMB Bank
Danielle and Dick Blanck
Virginia D. Wilson
Wade Tisdale Jr.
STOMP (Starting Today On Making Progress)
Larry & Betty Sieckmann
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Connor
Charles Sumner Alumni—Boonville
Vernice Givens & Family
George R Harper
Special thanks for professional services donated by: Concerned Citizens for the
Black Community, Boonville Parks & Recreation and Street departments, Brett
Rogers, and M. U. Extension of Cooper County.
Donations under $100 that will be acknowledged on the program, but not on the
plaque are:
Hillard Selck
Kempf Storage
Mr. & Mrs. John Chipley
Florence Friedrichs