Historical Commission

Sterling Heights Historical Commission June 2, 2022 6:00 p.m. Meeting Meeting held at the Upton House Museum Minutes I. Call to Order Meeting was called to order by Bryan Wojciechowski at 6:02 p.m. II. Roll Call Present: Cynthia Appleton, Nicholas Cavalli, John Connor, Geoff Hoerauf, Meghan Mott, Bryan Wojciechowski, Tammy Turgeon Excused: Douglas J. Harvey III. Approval of Agenda Item VII.D. Next Meeting Date was added to the Agenda. Motion to approve the agenda as amended was made by Appleton, supported by Connor. Motion carried. IV. Minutes of April 7, 2022 Motion to approve the minutes of April 7, 2022 was made by Hoerauf, supported by Appleton. Motion carried. V. Communications/Reports/Correspondence A. Written report from Suzanne Hathon, Library Intern - Archives Visitors in April and May were 30. Received donation of Sterling Heights HS varsity sweater from 1980, catalogued and displayed in the community life room. Received, catalogued, and hung painting that was donated. Received and catalog donation of books. Catalogued kitchen donations and put them on display in the kitchen. Catalogued coffee grinder and serving fork, also put on display in the kitchen. Searching for and contacting textiles restoration specialists for work on the Upton clothing items. Howard Sutcliffe, by way of the DIA, has agreed to take on the project. Applied for the Save Michigan History Grant Program. Meghan had 7 participants in her Zoom digital tour of the Upton House on 5/17. Reference question about 2 potential historic homes from the fire department Reference questions about the Women in Military memorial. Continued work on the newspaper digitization project. Gave tour to a group from an adult special needs care business on 5/25. 12 visitors including 2 staff members and 10 special needs adults. Bryan spoke at May 17th City Council meeting regarding the activities of the Commission. VI. Unfinished Business A. Historical Marker Program Fire Chief asked for research on two older homes across from two of the fire stations. B. Upton House Tours – June, July and August Volunteers June 12th – Harvey and Connor July 10th - Wojciechowski and Hoerauf August 14th – Turgeon and ? C. Historical Display Case in Community Center Connor put in a display of Michigan license plates. Mott sent an email to Turgeon regarding displaying Holcombe Beach pictures from UofM. Turgeon will work on this. D. May History Program at Library 50 people registered for the program. Everyone liked it. Commission suggested holding it every three years. E. Gravestone Cleaning Program This program will be held on July 23rd at 10am for Historical Commissioners and up to 10 members of the public. After lunch, commissioners can go back to the  cemetery with the professor and volunteers to learn more about gravestone repairs. Turgeon will let the Commissioners know when registration opens. F. Holcombe Beach Historical Marker Director Clark is working on the revised text and should have something to Turgeon by the end of the month. G. Sterlingest Appleton and Cavalli volunteered for Friday 1-4pm and Bryan and John volunteered for Saturday 1-4pm. One more volunteer is needed for each day. VII. New Business A. Accessions Acquired school items, jacket, books and kitchen items as mentioned in the written report earlier in the meeting. B. Fundraising Commissioners want to focus on fundraising next year. A meeting needs to be set up to review all of the items in the closet to determine what can be sold at the Treasure Hunters Market next May. Appleton will work on a flower sale in conjunction with the Beautification Commission’s plant exchange. We would have Victorian meanings of flowers to display and could purchase them from Eckert’s. Wojciechowski will work on the photography option later this summer. The Commisson’s budget has $70 left for supplies. Turgeon will let Suzanne know. C. Upton House Clothing Restoration Suzanne is taking the Upton clothing to the DIA to have it worked on. $1,000 will be spent from this year’s budget and the remaining costs will be covered with next year’s budget. D. Next Meeting Date The next meeting date will be changed to Wednesday, August 3rd at 6pm due to the Music in the Park concerts held during the summer on Thursday evening. Motion to change the date was made by Mott, supported by Connor. Motion carried. VIII. Communication with Citizens None IX. Adjourn Motion to adjourn was made by Cavalli at 7 p.m., supported by Mott. Motion carried. Next meeting: August 4, 2022 at 6pm