Historic Commission

Minutes of the City of Wheaton Historic Commission DRAFT July 21, 2015 Meeting Convened: 7:05 pm Held at City Hall, Wheaton, Illinois Attendance Present: Barbara Dutton (Vice Chair), Emelie Engling, Nancy Flannery (Chair), Maureen Fogerty, Tom Kay, Steph McGrath (Secretary), Greg Morrison, Frank Principe and Bob Shuster. Absent: No one Public Comment None The meeting was called to order by Nancy at 7:05 p.m. Minutes of the June 16, 2015 meeting were approved unanimously following a motion made by Bob, seconded by Tom. Old Business -Landmark Status Certificate/Vendor Update Nancy passed around an example of the Certificate of Designation being sent to property owners for new additions to the Wheaton Register of Historic Places. They are printed on archival paper. Maureen asked if owners of previously marked properties had received certificates and Tom and Emelie said they both had. Maureen asked if she could get a replacement copy as hers had not been left by the previous property owner. It was agreed a replacement copy will be provided upon request. Steph suggested adding a note regarding this option in next year’s Preservation Week mailing to property owners. Nancy said since we are printing these ourselves, the wording can be tweaked if we deem necessary. Nancy said no information has been sent to property owners about the plaques yet because she has been waiting to receive color samples. She passed around two from the selected vendor. The colors were sand and chocolate. Sand was thought to be close to the plaques put up under the old program, provided by another, unknown vendor. Discussion ensued regarding the two colors and their relative merits. While there was some interest in continuity with existing plaques by using sand, it was noted using chocolate could demark the new program. Since the plaques on properties would not be side by side, it may not even be noticed if the old and new colors differed, and since the plaques were not from the same vendor as before and the samples had not been compared directly to any old plaques, there may still be variability between sand and the old color as well. The use of chocolate would allow for a higher contrast with the brass, aiding in readability for those trying to read them from nearby sidewalks. When the two colors and their coordination with house color schemes was brought up, it was reiterated that the commission would have to choose one color, that giving property owners a choice was not an option. Steph moved to select chocolate as the color for the plaque, for readability’s sake. Maureen seconded it. Nancy called for an individual voice vote. The motion passed unanimously. -Bollards Nancy related that the Masonic Temple bollard installation has been corrected at a cost to the commission of $225. She had contacted an organization in West Chicago regarding a 3rd image for the downtown railroad bollard. Steph noted that it was the West Chicago City Museum that held the appropriate archives and Nancy said she would double check where she sent her request. -WHPC Nancy provided an update on the Center for History/Wheaton Historic Preservation Council’s current situation with the court. -WHPC FOIA Nancy shared the reply sent to the City regarding the commissions’ FOIA request for copies of the past landmark applications. A copy is attached. While Alberta Adamson said she believed the materials were inadvertently discarded during their hastened move, she did not note searching all the storage locations she has referenced on other occasions, so the commission holds hope that the records may surface at a later date. Since Steph has been leading the years-long effort attempting to secure copies to be kept at the Wheaton Public Library, she offered to draft a response if Nancy would provide a copy of the WHPC letter. -Wheaton Register of Historic Places nomination forms Following up on last month’s discussion of the confusion over and inconsistency of application formats, Steph contacted Trent, as he was the main creator of the nomination form, for his view. In an email reply Steph paraphrased, Trent said the intent was to have applicants submit narrative answers to the questions, that checking off a box for a particular designation should only be the start, and that the onus should not be on the commission to explain or defend how it meets the criteria, but on the applicant. He also would like to see "Research Log" retitled "Optional Research Log." There was general consensus the forms needed more review and adjusting, but whether or not this required council approval was unclear, so Nancy said she would look into it. Nancy and Steph offered to work on revising the forms and/or creating some type of instructional or interface document to clarify the process and requirements. New Business -Financial Report Nancy reported the commission currently has $3,355.13 remaining, which should cover our anticipated project costs. These include a new bollard sign. Bob and Emelie both voiced a desire for the Jesse Wheaton house to be marked with an interpretive bollard sign. Emelie and Steph mentioned other possible sign topics discussed in the past and Steph said she would provide a list. Bob asked that it be sent around before the next meeting for review. Commissioner Comments -Maureen had several ideas about future commission projects. A photo review of Wheaton parks, with summer and winter views, which led to a discussion of Barb’s bicycle tour project with the Environmental commission. And a holiday historic house tour, with homes decorated inside and out, possibly as a fundraiser. She and Barb also revisited last month’s idea of a business theme project. -Bob shared copies of a 1950 DuPage Historical Reviews published by the DuPage County Historical Society he had found doing research. -Steph noted in the DuPage Historical Review there was the misuse of the “name” DuPazhe, an error found in about half the local history books. The original source, Rufus Blanchard’s 1882 History of DuPage County, provides that as the original pronunciation, not the spelling. -Frank reviewed the program he attended at the Wheaton Public Library about the Eastland disaster. He said there is an upcoming program on family archives being offered by the COD archivist. He also had prepared a list of potential speakers for future commission events. -Greg brought up the correct pronunciation of “the road Main Street turns into north of town” i.e. Schmale, which Steph said the family and their local neighbors asserted the family pronounced Shh- male, not Shh mall ee. -Emelie referenced the many pronunciations of Danada. She also reviewed the upcoming music program and book sale at the Wheaton Public Library. -Barb remarked she was looking forward to working with Maureen on her park project idea. She said she had heard no update on the bike tour map. Greg moved to adjourn, Tom seconded, the motion was approved by vote, and the meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m. The next meeting will be held on August 18, 2015.