Nov. 18, 2003
Boonslick Outdoor Arts Meeting Report
Cooper County Courthouse Annex

 

NEXT MEETING: 7 p.m. Dec. 15, 2003, Cooper County Courthouse Annex.


ATTENDANCE: Bob Dyer, Gary Nauman, Carolyn Cole Eichelberger, Carolyn Sharp, Jim Niederjohn, Jeff Oberhaus, Winky Chesnutt, Betty Bowen, Dorothy D. Whitten, and Art Schneider.  

Morgan Street Landscaping Layout:  Jeff Oberhaus of Vintage Farm presented a landscape plan for the park design prepared by Gary Nauman. We have put the design on the web under the Hannah Cole maquette revisions.

http://mo-river.net/Arts/outdoor_art/park/main_street.htm  15 seconds to download

http://mo-river.net/Arts/outdoor_art/park/design.htm  46 seconds to download

There would be an open lawn area. On the northeast corner of the park, three viburnum pragense evergreen would be planted and south of them a small multi-stemmed magnolia. A sweeping curve would outline the area with colorful annuals.

 Jeff suggested that along the park’s eastern Main Street line a border with limestone from the same quarry as the rock on which Hannah Cole stands form a retaining wall. Cobblestone also could be used. 

It was noted that the Friends have cobblestone being stored near where the aquatic center is to be located and that it would need to be move this coming year when construction starts on the center. There was uncertainty as to whether sufficient cobblestones existed. Also, the Friends own the cobblestone and would need to be contacted to see if they would permit its usage on the east wall. (Art contacted Maryellen McVicker, Friends executive director, after the meeting She said the Friends have all the cobblestones that it needs. She said the city is welcome to take about 12 cobblestones that are in the yard at the friends right now). 

The back wall (north side) would have two sets of three arborvitae uprights for vertical interest against the wall, central would have two sets of three boxwood vardar valley to frame the wall plaques. 

The northwest corner would keep the five existing Norway spruce. In front of them would be three flowering crabapple. 

The walkway would be brick and sweep around the Cole statue.  None of the lines in the park would be straight. The brick walkway wings that sweep east and west from behind the Cole statue would have pedestals and busts on the north side of the walkway. The south side of the walkway would have a solid hedge of informal boxwood vardar valley. These also would sweep along the east and west sides of the Cole statue. Lighting would be hidden in the boxwood. The front of the boxwood have large colorful annuals that would add dramatic color.  Similar colors would be together.  He noted, “Color is important and grabs the eye.” 

Jeff said the variety of boxwood hedge he is recommending would only grow about two feet over 10-year period, so it would be low maintenance. 

He suggested a running bowl pattern for the brick sidewalk. The brick design would be perpendicular to Morgan Street for the Cole sculpture and somewhat parallel to the street for the walkways in front of the pedestals and bronze busts. 

Jeff also presented a second landscape view showing the park being viewed from Main Street. He noted that the design frames the view into the park. 

For the annuals, he suggested title wave petunias. He said they spread out very quickly, can take spring frosts and fall frosts and expand and grow throughout the summer. 

Gary asked if Jeff had an estimate on the cost. Jeff said he thinks it will be between $3,000 and $3,500.  He said the slow growing elder are more expensive, but the low maintenance is an important consideration. 

Gary said that the University Outreach/Extension Master Gardeners class wants a community project and that the plantings and landscaping work might be something they would be strongly interested in pursuing. 

Asked if he would be agreeable to meeting with the park board next month to outline the plan, Jeff said he would be willing and able to do so.  Gary will arrange for Jeff to be on the agenda. 

Heritage Days: Jim Niederjohn and Carolyn Sharp attended to update the project on Heritage Days.  There was strong consensus to schedule the Cole dedication at a time convenient to the family and with minimal disruption of family plans or the Heritage Day program. 

June 4th and 5th are heavily scheduled with a parade on June 5.  The day of the dedication there will be a noon shooting contest and a horseshoe contest at 1 p.m.

The DAR will be serving the Lewis & Clark re-enactors breakfast on June 8 at Rosalyn Heights. 

Jim noted there are a considerable number of events that are being planned this year---Heritage Days actually will go over two weekends from June 4 through June 15. 

The keelboat with re-enactors will arrive the day after the statue dedication

On June 13-15 there will be a tent of many voices exhibit that is primarily for children, but also would be attractive for families.  The Heritage Days’ delegates said the tent would be in Cape Girardeau, St. Charles, Jefferson City, and Boonville and then near Independence. 

At the park a disc jockey will be playing music the afternoon of the dedication, so it should not compete with dedication festivities. Carolyn Eichelberger and Art noted that Cole family members are concerned about the shelter space and also about a tight schedule with picnic and annual meeting and then rushing to the dedication.  Consensus to move the dedication from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

There was some discussion about picnic tables, restroom needs, parking and bus transport.  The high school commons and the new LSE eating area were discussed as alternatives. LSE School was especially seen as viable since it is much closer to the park and also has an extensive parking lot.  Gary said he would check into the availability of LSE. 

Art asked if the Heritage Days Committee had made a decision on including Hannah Cole on the tee-shirts they will sell. Jim said the committee decided to concentrate on Lewis and Clark. 

Financial Report: Maryellen McVicker provided Art with a report as of Nov. 10, 2003.   Cash received now totals $26,903. After the first $22,000 payment that laves $4,903. In addition, there are pledges of $27,150 in pledges from the city, county, and local organizations. The second payment will be due upon completion of the statue molds, expected to be some time in December. 

Victory Poster: Bill Mathis has visited with the committee. Bill accompanied Harry Weber to Boonville when Harry spoke to the Boonville women’s Club.  Bill  offered the Victory poster as a fundraiser for donors to the statue. (The poster depicts M. U. fans tearing down the goalposts after defeating Nebraska’s football team.) 

At the time, Art did not know how much interest there would be the poster. But the considerable publicity it brought led to a reassessment and 100 were ordered. The local news media announced their availability and more than 60 have been sold as of the meeting. 

Hannah Cole Raffle tickets: Some still have raffle tickets and there are possibly 150 to 200 that are still unsold.  Art cautioned that the raffle might need to be delayed, as it is imperative that all 500 tickets be sold to be successful as fundraiser. There are only six months until the dedication and $12,000 needs to be raised plus additional funds for the plaques. 

Carolyn will contact Wal-Mart for Art to accept donations for tickets from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. November 28 and Betty Bowen from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. November 29. 

Hannah Cole Play: Dorothy Whitten reported that she had been contacted by John Biesmeyer, Fayette English teacher, and he is interested in developing a play in conjunction with the Hannah Cole dedication.  

Bob Dyer offered to assist in putting historical materials together so that John would have sufficient information to develop the play. This would be a world premier! 

Earlier, Art had talked with the Blackwater players about forming the cast of players.  However, members discussed the possibilities that John’s may be interested in working this out with his students. Also, Bob Dyer suggested that here are many community theater people in the Boonville area that also might have such an interests.  Dorothy will invite John to meet with the project members Dec. 15 and Bob will bring background materials. 

Frederick T. Kemper and J. Milton Turner: Group reaffirmed support for Kemper and Turner to be two of the pedestal busts at the Morgan and Main streets park.  Earlier, Gary Nauman arranged for a discussion on the two pedestal-busts to be placed on the Boonville Parks & Recreation Board agenda Nov. 18. Concurrence that Betty Bowen would be asked to present the request to the city and request that the commission approve two plaques on the wall to the north of the park to acknowledge donors and the story of Hannah Cole.  (Betty contacted Art the next day and she reaffirmed that she would present the proposal to the board.) 

There was some discussion about other possible honorees to be noted in bronze, such as George Caleb Bingham, Lon Stephens, and David Barton.  At some point a short list will be developed and discussed.  

Frederick T. Kemper: Earlier, Bob had initiated contact with the Kemper School Foundation about a bust recognizing Frederick T. Kemper.  This negotiation has now been passed to Sarah Gallagher, city economic developer. Earlier discussions suggested the foundation had a sculptor from Rolla in mind. Art contacted Sarah prior to the meeting.  She does not have a more current update. She will pursue this so that t can be discussed at the project’s next meeting. 

J. Milton Turner: Art visited with CCBC after the last meeting to discuss the possibility of CCBC working with the project to secure funds for the J. Miltoin Turner pedestal bust.  Earlier, Art had contacted Sabra Tull Meyer to get an idea of how much a pedestal bust would cost. She suggested that the cost would be about $8,500.  In meeting with CCBC,  Art suggested that if CCBC wishes to collaborate with the project on this effort, the CCBC 501 (c) 3 would be utilized and CCBC responsible for tracking the funds.  He suggested that the city could be approached for a match leaving the outdoor arts project and CCBC with $4250 to raise.  Between private donations, possible raffle of another Cole maquette and a fundraising dinner or two, Art suggested the funds could be raised.   

Carolyn Eichelberger expressed concern about competition with the Cole fundraising and Dorothy noted that a respite from fundraising would be welcome when the Cole statue is completed.  

Art responded that   a decision by CCBC in collaborating was necessary at this time so that the city administrator could be approached on placing it in the 2004-2005 budget. Art said he would not encourage active fundraising to begin until the August 2004 Sumner reunion with a target dedication date of August 2005. Consensus that this was sufficiently far in advance that it would not be an obstacle. 

Hannah Cole Posters, Possible Plates, Mugs, and Maybe Tee-Shirts:  Winky brought several beautiful plates and mugs that she had designed for other events in Boonville.  She displayed multicolored plates and a mug plus several single color plates. Winky also had a draft design for the Hannah Cole plate. It identified Hannah Cole as the first woman in Boonville.  Discussion about female indigenous peoples already populating the area and decision to note she was the first Pioneer Woman to settle here. Dorothy noted that “pioneer” was a phraseology that was commonly used to identity early Euro-American and African-American settlers. 

Winky will create a formal design for a transfer that can be colorized. She will determine pate costs and also decal costs. She has a kiln. Price will be set after these costs are taken into account. 

Art Schneider suggested a special limited edition of multicolor plates that would be high-end in cost and value because of the additional steps and skills involved. Winky will bring formal proposals to the next meeting. Consensus to go with plates, not tee shirts or mugs. Size or sizes yet to be determined. 

As to posters, Art said that Pat Hannah has received the Hannah Cole photos taken by Bill Mathis. The photos were on CD-ROM. 

Art also has been pursuing the First Woman poster idea. Pat was not interested in such a project.  As of the meeting, Darlene Boehm and Judi Moriarity had provided photos for the First Women project. Through State Rep. Larry Crawford’s office, efforts have been initiated to contact Speaker Catherine Hannaway and the state’s first woman auditor, Margaret B. Kelly. 

Efforts have been unsuccessful so far in reaching Mary Gant, Missouri’s first women state senator. Initiatives have been begun for Missouri's First Woman Lieutenant Governor Harriet Woods (1985-1989), Missouri's First Woman Missouri Supreme Court Justice (1989 to 2001) and Chief Justice Ann K. Covington and Missouri’s First Woman U. S. Senator Jean Carnahan.  City Administrator Tracy Walkup and Mayor Danielle Blanck also have been contacted, but photos for both of them have not arrived. 

Plaques:  IB International has submitted a proposal for a plaque. A 24 inch by 24 inch bronze plaque with 3/8 inch lettering without a liner drawing for a cost of $976. A 24 by 28 bronze with a flat relief of Hannah Cole State would cost  $1400. 

This plaque would be installed in time for the dedication. The donor plaque would be after the dedication for two reasons: 1) A list of all donors will be in the program and posted at the park.  The group is concerned that the spellings be accurate and the format be accurate.  2) After the dedication, the names will be sent in and the plaque made. Cost will depend on number of lines and size of typeface.  It is not possible to alter a plaue.  Errors would require reproduction. 

Street Names and Historic Figures and Events: Art brought a copy of the Wall of Fame names that Bob Dyer had proposed early in the Boonslick Outdoor Arts Project.  There were 72 entries (some with multiple names). 

Art asked the group what is view would be in contacting the city to begin a process of naming streets after historic figures.  Strong consensus that this should be done. Bob volunteered to establish a priority list or to provide thumbnail information about the names to the city.  Art will arrange with City Public Works Director M. L. Cauthon to be placed on the street commission’s agenda. If approved, this may need to go before the city council. 

Hannah Cole Court: Art noted west of the park at Morgan Street there is an alley. He discussed the possibility of naming the alley after Hannah Cole in conjunction with the dedication. Most members of the group did not favor naming the alley Hannah Cole Alley. Dorothy suggested Hannah Cole Court. Consensus that this would be fitting. Question was raised about whether just the segment o the alley next to the park is named Hannah Cole court or the entire alley. 

Art suggested the naming of the alleyway as “Hannah Cole Court” is brought to the streets and alley commission and a decision on the point be made by the commission. 

Campgrounds: Mo-River.Net has added a campsite web page to Mo-River.Net. This should be very helpful for those looking for camping facilities during Heritage Days, the Lewis & Clark re-enactment and the Hannah Cole statue dedication in June 2004. The URL is:  http://mo-river.net/Arts/campsites.htm 

First Christian Laura Redmon Fund Proposal: Art said official notification has not been received, but that he has unofficially received word the application was turned down. A large number of community needs and the fund’s performance has been severely affected by the economy, so there was much less money available. 

Ameren-UE Proposal: Maryellen McVicker and Art Schneider have submitted a $1000 community grant proposal to Ameren UE for a donation toward the statue. 

Barbara Bush: Hillard Selck has been notified that Barbara Bush will not be available for the June 6 dedication. Catherine Hanaway and Jean Carnahan had been mentioned as co-speakers and this will be pursued. 

Meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m.

 

 



Mo-River.Net is Provided by Unlimited Data Systems as a Public Service