Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 05/26/2011 MINUTES DECEIVED CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI DEC 20» LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS ant SECRETA MAY 26, 2011 OFFICE MEMBERS PRESENT: Dr. Craig Thompson, Chairman Ms. Kim Charba Ms. Laura Commons Ms. Anita Eisenhauer Mr. Anthony Gavlik Ms. Marie Guajardo Ms. Karen Howden Dr. James Klein Mr. Herb Morrison Mr. John Olson Ms. Susie Rucker MEMBERS ABSENT: Ms. Mary L. Berven (Excused) Ms. Kris Cardona (Excused) Mr. Leo Rios (Excused) Dr. Mark Robbins (Excused) STAFF PRESENT: Mr. Andrew Dimas, City Planner Ms. Linda Williams, Recording Secretary The meeting was called to order at 4:35 p.m. by Mr. Craig Thompson, Chairman. The roll was called and a quorum was declared. ACTION ITEM: Approve April 28, 201 1 Minutes: The April 28, 2011 minutes were approved as distributed. Motion to approve the minutes was made by Ms. Anita Eisenhauer and seconded by Mr. Dr. James Klein. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Presentation on Historical Cemeteries within the City of Corpus Christi (Nuecestown, New Bayview & Old Bayview): Mr. Thompson stated he first heard the presentation given by Ms. Howden on the Old Bayview Cemetery at the last cemetery tour hosted by the Nueces County Historical Commission. Mr. Thompson continued that he found the presentation to be very educational and interesting and he thought the commission would also like to hear it. Mr. Thompson continued that he spoke with both Ms. Howden and Ms. Eisenhauer about putting together a presentation on the historical cemeteries in the city and county and they agreed. After Mr.Thompson's comments, the floor was turned over to Ms. Howden and Ms. Eisenhauer. Ms. Howden stated she since was unsure how detailed and long the presentation was to be, the power point presentation provided a brief pictorial overview of the three cemeteries. Ms. Howden continued that Ms. Sally Robeau, who was very well-known in the historical community and active with the Nueces County Historical Commission, was the person that could really provide more in-depth information regarding the cemeteries, but she was ill. SCANNED A Landmark Commission Meeting May 26,2011 Page 2 Nuecestown Cemetery: Nuecestown Cemetery was the first one featured in the presentation. Ms. Howden stated she went to the location and did a walk-through of the cemetery. Ms. Howden continued that this area was a location for many immigrants who came to the area under Colonel Kinney. This location is between Violet Road and Calicoatte Road. It was at this location that the first ferry traveled across the Nueces River. This cemetery was not only used for prominent families of the area, but it was also used as a burial site for the indigent. Ms. Howden commented that a lot of the headstones were in great shape. Because of the close proximity to Nueces River, the lower end of the cemetery flooded. Some of the families buried in the cemetery included: Edward Harney, Harney Road was named in his honor, Donald Mclntrye, the Frank Family, Hart Family, Seana Canning Wright, mother of the Wright Family, who.came from England in 1853), Elizabeth Wright Casidy Crosley, daughter, and Caroline Wright along with their children and husbands. A question was asked regarding who maintained the cemetery and it was answered that Nueces County maintains it. New Bayview Cemetery: Ms. Howden stated this cemetery was like the step-child in Texas cemeteries. There were markers for the graves. Signage was created in 1879 by Edward Oliver. The cemetery is burial site of veterans of three wars, Seminole Indians, Texas Rangers, and confederate soldiers. The cemetery is located across from Crossley Elementary School in the Hillcrest Subdivision. The cemetery was segregated and had three separate burial sections. Each racial group had its own section-White, African-American and Hispanic. The cemetery is cornered by three roads and a lot of the bodies have been relocated to Rose Hill Cemetery. Old Bayview Cemetery: Ms. Howden stated this cemetery is much more well-known than the other two cemeteries. The cemetery is located off Interstate Highway 37 bounded by West Broadway, Waco and Ramirez Streets. Ms. Howden continued her eighth grade American History students participated in a walk- through of the cemetery as part of their history class. Ms. • Howden continued she felt by the class actually seeing for themselves and experiencing the walk-through was much more educational. Ms. Howden continued that the cemetery has been well maintained and a lot of the historical markers have been replaced and the overall appearance of the cemetery is well-maintained. A historical marker has been installed because of the significance of the people buried in the cemetery. The Old Bayview Cemetery is known as the oldest federal military cemetery because veterans from the War of 1812, the Texas Revolution, Mexican-American War, Civil War, Indian War, and the Spanish-American War along with Buffalo Soldiers, who are buried there. The Old Bayview Cemetery received its designation as a Historic Texas Cemetery from the Texas Historical Commission on December 21, 2001. The application was submitted by the Nueces County Historical Commission. Ms. Howden concluded her presentation by stating she would love to see the Old Bayview Cemetery listed on the National Register. According to THC staff, the cemetery meets the established criteria, the next step would be to write the narrative which would be presented before a panel. Ms. Howden stated she will talk with the history department at Texas A&M University to see if they would be interested in doing the needed research and write the narrative for the nomination. Ms. Eisenhauer stated that Dr. Charles Ward Brooks wrote a book on the cemeteries which was in the central library. Ms. Eisenhauer continued that many people have been interested in the Old Bayview Cemetery and making sure it stayed on the forefront of the city and county. Mr. Doyle Willis, former member of the County Historical Commission, was responsible for the installation of the black fence around the cemetery. Ms. Rosa Garza at one time began working on compiling information to begin the nomination process, but because of health problems, she was unable to continue working on it. Ms. Howden encouraged commissioners to walk through the Old and New Bayview Cemeteries to really see and appreciate the history associated with both cemeteries. Ms. Howden continued that even though the Old Bayview was on the list, it was not protected. Landmark Commission Meeting May 26,2011 Page 3 Mr.Thompson asked when Rose Hill Cemetery officially opened and it was answered that the cemetery opened between 1924 and 1929. Sunshine Cemetery: Owned by Seaside Funeral Home and its location was within a community at one time. The cemetery was located in the black portion of town off Comanche Street. Hebrew Rest Cemetery: Located on Brownlee Street. Ms. Howden stated she was unable to walk through the cemetery because you have to know someone with a key to get inside. Ms. Howden commented that Richard King donated the property for the cemetery and a lot of Jewish people lived in the neighborhood at that time by Temple Beth El. Mr. Thompson stated he would like to see the New Bayview Cemetery on the THC list of Historic Texas Cemeteries. Ms. Eisenhauer stated that the property was deeded, but just starting the process and going through the hoops were tedious. Ms. Eisenhauer continued that this cemetery was so important because it's so close to the location for the new Harbor Bridge. Ms. Howden stated the nomination for the cemetery would require detailed information and requirements for consideration of the Historic Texas designation. After the presentation concluded and all comments were addressed, Mr. Thompson expressed thanks to Ms. Howden and Ms. Eisenhauer for their presentation and requested them to consider heading up a committee to begin working on the process for the nomination. Update on Friends of Heritage Park: Ms. Berven, President, stated she had nothing to report since the committee's last meeting. Awards Committee Update: Mr. Thompson stated that at the last meeting, Mr. Olson, Dr. Robbins, Ms. Guajardo, and Dr. Klein volunteered to serve on the Awards Committee for this year and Ms. Berven volunteered to contact Art Zeitler to confirm a meeting date the commission could hold their awards as part of their monthly Rotary meeting. Mr. Thompson continued he received an email from Ms. Berven confirming that the meeting would be September 15, 2011 at the Ortiz Center. Dr. Klein stated he had several recommendations he would like the committee consider as potential honorees: • Sherman Building; • Carol Wood as an individual for her effort in presenting the application on behalf of the Memorial Coliseum; • Blucher House; and • An award in honor of Bunny Tinker for her continued work in historical preservation. Mr. Thompson stated he went to THC's website to find out more information regarding the criteria and submittal deadlines for a CLG grant proposal. Mr. Thompson continued he would like for the commission to submit a grant proposal in updating the Landmark Commission site survey and getting it digitized for the website. Mr. Thompson stated he placed a call to THC staff to find out if the grant money could used for GIS purposes and he was told that the money could be used to update the survey, but it could not be used for GIS purposes. The deadline for the formal submission was in November. Mr. Thompson stated he would provide more information at the next meeting. • A Landmark Commission Meeling May 26,2011 Page 4 Ms. Eisenhauer stated that before initiating a grant for the survey, the survey should be thorou,ghly reviewed to ensure it is accurate and if the structures were still on site and had not been demolished. Mr. Morrison presented an email that he received from PATCH, the non-profit group that has been working on restoration of the old Ritz Theatre. The email was part of their newsletter for upcoming events scheduled during the summer. • May 6, 2011 - "ArtWalk & Ghost Hunt" from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. • June 1 1, 201 1 - Ritz Cleanup; • July 1, 2011 - "Remember the Ritz Event; " and • July 14, 2011 - Dine with the Ritz and Famous- huge night of entertainment at the Ortiz Center Mr. Dimas stated he would be working on a Facebook and Twitter page for the Landmark Commission; and it should be ready by the next scheduled meeting. Mr. Dimas stated there would be in-house training on the Unified Development Code (UDC) on June 14, 2011 for City Council and Planning Commission members. Mr. Dimas extended an invitation to Landmark Commissioners. The UDC becomes effective July 1, 2011. Mr. Dimas continued that any needed text amendments will be done within the next three years. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m. ' J � • 64--')„(_A,T) Lina Williams Andrew Dimas, City Planner Rec•rding Secretary Staff Liaison to Landmark Commission •1 (H:PLN-DIR\LINDA\WORD\LANDMARK\MINUTES\2011\MAY261 I.MNS) A SUMMARY SHEET LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING MAY 26, 2011 1. Ms. Karen Howden and Ms. Anita Eisenhauer presented a power point presentation on historical cemeteries in the City of Corpus Christi. 2. Landmark Commission Annual Awards Recognition is scheduled for September 15, 2011 at the Solomon Ortiz Center. The awards recognition will be a part of the Rotary Club's monthly meeting.