The Roane County Historical Society met on Thursday, April 25, 2013, 7 p.m. at the Roane County Library. President Rick Greathouse called the meeting to order. The pledge to the American flag was led by little Miss Madison Parker, granddaughter of Theresa, and the opening prayer was led by Linda Liss.
The minutes from the March 28th meeting were read by Susan Tucker, Recording Sect’y. They were approved with corrections.
The financial report was presented by Carol Board-Westfall, Treasurer. Ending balance: $18,516.87. Copy filed for audit.
Corresponding Sect’y, Linda Liss, reported that she had remailed the newsletters and directories that had been returned with address changes. She sent cards where needed and as Membership Sect’y she reported that membership is 204 with two renewals and one new member.
Committee Reports:
Book purchases – None
September 2013 Annual Genealogical Fair – No report.
Newsletter: Vol. 20 #3 should have been rec’d by those on mailing list.

Old Business:
A lengthy discussion, continued from our March meeting, regarding the B & O Railroad Museum, owned by the City of Spencer. Theresa Boggs Parker, Museum Caretaker, related that the museum was cleaned by a 4-H group but needs persons for regular cleaning, routine and long-term maintenance and to staff it during “open” times. [1st Saturdays monthly, May-Oct.]. Is this something the society could do as a project? It was still recommended that the Executive Committee meet to see the condition of the museum and report back at the next meeting.

Carol Board-Westfall reported that she had gotten a price, $245. for the commemorative plaque for the Flat Fork Community Baptist Church. She will order the plaque went she gets the consent form back from the church trustees.

Susan Tucker reported that the first order of digitized microfilms of local newspaper reels have been received and that the rest of the microfilms will be sent to the Florida-based firm, Digital Solutions, to be put on CD’s. She has not received an invoice for the first order.

Annual Essay Scholarship: Linda Liss reported that the committee met before this meeting and read the submitted essays. It was the committee’s decision that Miss Katie L. Snodgrass receive the $750. scholarship. Katie’s excellent essay reflected the life & times of her great grandmother. Linda will present the scholarship on behalf of the society at the Roane County High School’s awards assembly on Tuesday, May 21st.

Carol Board-Westfall had copies of two advertisements promoting the society recently published in the Charleston Newspaper “Spencer – Business is Booming & Blooming” section and the 2013 WV Travel Guide. Copies were circulated for those present to see.

New Business:
Carol Board-Westfall announced that the society had received a large book order request from the St. Louis County Library in Missouri. They want approx.. 32 of the society’s different publications for their library. Motion was made and properly seconded to send the requested books at a 10% discount and charge the actual cost of postage. Motion carried unanimously.

Melissa Swisher reported that she had attended the 2013 Hoot Owl night at the History & Archives Library in Charleston on April 5-6. She toured all floors of the library, learned about the inner workings of the facility, and was able to do research of their files at no cost.

Melissa also reported that she has been researching the McKown Burying Grounds in Spencer. She said that in 1899 the Legislature proposed to move the cemetery. Who was buried there and was it actually moved? Some of her information revealed that the cemetery was also called the Old Town cemetery.

Linda Liss reported that society member & WW II veteran Denver R. Gandee was awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal on Sat., April 13, 2013. Articles about this presentation appeared in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel newspaper and in the Roane County Times Record newspaper.
Mr. Gandee has also been nominated by County Delegate Bob Ashley to have a Roane County bridge on Rte. 14, named the “Denver Ray Gandee, Sr. Bridge.”

Meeting adjourned with refreshments being served by Phyllis Counts.

Members present were: Carol Board-Westfall, Rick Greathouse, Brenda Whited, Phyllis Counts, Reva Paxton, Janet Drake Robinson, Linda Liss, Theresa A. Boggs-Parker, Susan Tucker, Melissa Swisher, Hazel Gandee, Mike & Shirley Hill, and guests, Carl Paxton and Madison Parker.

The next regular meeting of the Roane County Historical Society will be Thursday, May 23rd at the Roane County Library, at 7 p.m. Our special guest will be Miss Katie Snodgrass, recipient of the 2013 Essay Scholarship in the amount of $750. Katie will tell us about her family history and her plans for continuing education. All members are urged to attend and as always guests are welcome.

The next regular meeting of the Roane County Historical Society will be Thursday, April 25th at the Roane County Library, at 7 p.m. All members are urged to attend. Reports on the Essay Scholarship, Heritage Park Museum, and State Hospital Cemetery signage will be part of the old business. Please plan to attend, your input and presence is needed.

The Roane County Historical Society held its first meeting for 2013 on Thursday, March 28th at the Roane County Library. There were 19 members and 2 guests present.

Rick Greathouse, president, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Mike Hill led the opening prayer and the pledge to the flag was recited by all.
Susan Tucker, recording sect’y, read the minutes of the November 15, 2012 meeting which were approved as read. [The December 2012 meeting was cancelled due to the weather & bad road conditions.]

Carol Board-Westfall gave the treasurer’s report which reflected a balance of $18,591.15 The report included 4-month’s receipts & disbursements. Copy filed for annual audit.

The Membership/Corresponding Secretary, Linda Liss, reported that she had replied to several inquiries in the past few months which resulted in three new members joining the society. Linda also reported that she sent get well and/or sympathy cards where needed. Several 2012-13 Surname Directories have been returned because of address changes. Those will be remailed. Current membership is 203. Report filed with minutes.

Volume 20-Issue 3 of the "Journal" newsletter will be published soon. Carol Cronin, newsletter editor, was highly commended for the fine newsletters she puts together for the RCHS.

Book Purchase:
“Jackson County, WV History-Past & Present, Book 2” was purchased. A large book “The Crislip Family” was donated to the RCHS’s library.

Old Business:
The circa 1893 B & O Depot Museum located at the Heritage Park is owned by the City of Spencer. RCHS member Theresa Boggs Parker, member of the Roane County Arts & Humanities Council and Museum Caretaker reports that the Museum is in disrepair and needs regular cleaning and upkeep. The building is not climate controlled; the contents of historical value are deteriorating because of the building’s lack of heating/cooling. The Museum is supposed to be open beginning the first Saturday’s monthly beginning in May thru Oct. Persons are needed to clean the building beforehand and staff it during the “open” times. Is there grant money available for such a historical building renovation project? It is suggested that the RCHS Executive Committee investigate the possibility of the society taking over the care of the Museum as a project and reporting back at next meeting.

Essay Scholarship – Linda Liss reported that the guidelines had been distributed in January 2013 by the Roane County High School guidance counselors to interested students. The deadline for filing the application and essay is Friday, April 12th. The $750 scholarship will be awarded to the Senior student submitting the best essay depicting their family history. The scholarship review committee will be Linda Liss, Chairperson, Melissa Swisher and Theresa Parker.

Carol Board-Westfall reported that she has attempted to contact the family who owns the Uriah Gandee log house at Gandeeville. They have not responded.

Susan Tucker reported that the micro-film of the Weekly Bulletin [1898-1905] and some of the Times Record – Roane County Reporter newspapers have been transferred to CD’s. The micro-film reader housed in the society’s library is old and parts cannot be obtained in case of break-down, so the society is backing up these films of the historic newspapers. She has not received an invoice as of this meeting, so could not report the exact price. The 2013 Governor’s Community Participation Grant in the amount $1,000 has been ear-marked to copy the micro-films.

New Business:
Carol B-W reported that she has received a request for the society to advertise in the 2013 West Virginia Travel Guide. The ad will cost $25. Motion was made, properly seconded and passed unanimously to place the ad again this year.

Carol reported that she had received a request for the society to place an advertisement in the Gazette/Daily Mail newspapers on their theme page “Spencer is Booming and Blooming.” Cost of this ad is $45. Motion was made, seconded and passed to place the ad.

Discussion was raised regarding the Spencer State Hospital Cemetery signage. The roadside sign is in need of restoration. Is this something the Society wants to sponsor? The discussion to be continued at a future meeting.

Jack Nida presented an inquiry as to why the over 100 year old Flat Fork Community Church off Clover Ridge had not received one of the commemorative plaques as part of our 2011 project. Carol B-W responded that the church had been on the plaque list, but she was not able to make contact with anyone at the church regarding the project before deadline to turn in the plaque order. Motion was made by Jack, properly seconded & carried unanimously for the RCHS to purchase a plaque for the Flat Fork Community Church. Carol will investigate the cost and if one plaque can be made for a reasonable price and report back at our next meeting.

The next meeting of the Roane County Historical Society will be held on Thursday, April 25th at the Roane County Library at 7 p.m.

Meeting adjourned with refreshments being served.
Notes submitted by Linda Cottrell Liss

Just a little reminder that the Roane County Historical Society will resume their monthly meetings on Thursday, March 28th at 7 p.m. at the Roane County Library in Spencer. We've had our winter break and it's now time to get back to society business. Members are urged to attend and guests are always welcome. Hope to see many of you then... Linda Cottrell Liss, Corresponding/Membership Secretary.