All right. >> Recording in progress. >> There we go. Welcome everybody to um today's historical preservation board meeting. Um first we will start with invocation and I will do that and then we'll have the pledge of allegiance. Um
so if I everyone would please stand. Dear heavenly father God, thank you for bringing us here today. And Lord, please allow us to have the wisdom to be able to vote and to see these things in the best interests of our community and our
um fellow citizens. Lord, please give us the calmness to lead this meeting and to be prepared for everything that comes at us. As all this in Jesus Christ's name, amen. >> Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, y'all are going to have to bear with me. This is the first time I've done this.
So, can we go ahead and have roll call? >> Certainly. Elizabeth Van Rinsburg, excused for the record. >> Brianna Pierce, >> present. >> Megan Bevville, >> present. >> Patty Vo, >> present. >> Tim Jefferson, excuse for the record.
>> Chris Hollister, >> present. Mary Jane Rosa, excused for the record. We have Corum. >> Perfect. Um, So, meeting purpose disclosure.
>> Okay. >> You'll have to point me to it. I'm so sorry. >> It's on the >> Is it the section? >> It's on the >> Okay. So, it is E. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, appeals and procedures and expert communication. Um,
has anybody No. Okay. So, the purpose of the historical preservation board is to steward the architecture of purposes in our city's historic districts and apply the guidelines of the sec secretary of the interior standards for historic
preservations. All right. All right. So, now we have the approval of the minutes. >> I'll make a motion. All right, >> everybody in favor?
>> All right, so motion carries. >> All right, so now we have public comments. Do we have any public comments? All right, seeing no public public comments, we'll close that. So now we'll go to new business.
So we have so do I need to read the >> uh HPB 2529 request for historic designation to the St. Mary's Episcopal Church local historic structure. Presenting we have Renee Brown.
>> Good afternoon everybody. This is request for approval of the nomination of St. Mary's Episcopal Church application for the National Register of Historic Places. The church is located at 809 St. John's Avenue in
the downtown business district. On behalf of the church, the applicant is Mrs. Diane Taylor. The property is owned by the Episcopal Church in the Dascese of Florida, Inc. Our MUN code includes criteria to
designate historic districts, but no set criteria for registering historic sites. The National Register of Historic Places provided this by the state of Florida does have criteria in their designation.
This information is in the agenda and it's immediately following the staff review. And if you have any questions, the applicant is here to answer. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> All right. So, do we have any questions for the applicants?
>> We can get to. >> Okay. So, if you guys would please come to the podium, state your name and address for the record. >> Yes, my name is Diane Taylor. >> Is the button on >> the green light? >> Thank you very much.
>> Now we can hear you. My name is Diane Taylor and I live at 261 West River Road, J um Palatka, Florida 32177 and I'm here on behalf of St. Mary's
application for the historic register. >> All right. And I believe we have a question for you. >> The question I have is um what are you seeking from this board? just a an a approval to go forward or do we need need to approve it?
>> That's correct. The procedure is I filed a preliminary questionnaire with the state of Florida division of historic resources with just a brief outline and also the permission of the dasis for us to go forward. We had to have that because they own the property. And so
the division of historic resources assigned a young man to us, Andrew Wabber, WAB-ER. And um he responded that we met the criteria, the three criteria, architecture, an important persons and a significant consequence to a community.
But he said he wanted to hear more. And the man who built St. Mary's Church was a an esteemed African-American from Winssboro, South Carolina. and he built the church in conjunction with St. Mary's Church with James Bert who
platted Palatka and George Bert his brother who was a merchant in St. Augustine gifted the lot to uh Mr. PCEL and we have in the audience Carol Milton who's Mr. Purcell's great great great granddaughter >> and she went she went up to Winssboro
and researched about her her her great greatgrandfather and um helped me a lot in writing the the history. So um Mr. Wabers said I want to hear more about civil rights and more about New Town, more about Purcell, more about Mr.
Butler. And I wrote back and Mr. um received all of that package and the history and Renee Brown guided me about how to present it to y'all today. And part of the package is our community and Robbie Koreah, Mayor Koreah said that um
Palaca has to approve an application to the National Register in a formal meeting like this. And next, what will happen is Mr. Wayel will either approve us and we're good to go to the federal level or I'll go to Tallahassee and meet
with him and see what else I can provide. >> Okay. >> If I can add just just to that is that uh I think your role today I think is to make a recommendation to the city commission. >> Okay. >> For for the approval of the designation
>> so that can then go back. >> That's right. >> Send a letter to Mr. Waver. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. So, do we have any other any further questions amongst the board? >> No, it's not really a question. Um, would the grand great great
granddaughter like to come up and tell us anything or >> I mean it's really this is a great church. I've been looking at it for 30 years and >> super neat. >> I think this is real special. So, I think you need a little time.
>> Yeah. Um, >> so please state your name and address. >> Yes, my name is Carol Nolton. I live at 5590 Ortega Park Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida. I am a native of Palaca. >> Um, graduated class of 1982
along with Johnny Williams and some other infamous football players. Um, >> it was a good good year, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Good year. Uh, so how do I summarize this? Um it I started my ancestry research in 2018.
Um and it was on behalf of my grandmother who was 94 at the time 90 in her 90s. And so therefore I um sought out uh history just looking at my grandmother's death certificates and all
the other family members. and it led me to uh Fairfield County, Winssboro, and uh John Purcell uh name popped up and I um sought him out, but his son Isaac
Lawrence Purcell, I had already had information about him because he was a well-known black attorney um in the 1800s and he won several civil rights lawsuits and cases and he was also a member of the Supreme Court. Um,
and one case is in Jacksonville. So, going back to find his history is where it led me to his father. So, my son and I traveled to Winssboro to the genealogy office there to do some gathering facts about him. And he was a farmer. He had quite a bit of land. Um, he sold
products to the Confederate Army. Um, and I got receipts. Um, his carpentry skills were outstanding. Um, and so he was well known for his contributions there in Winssboro. And his um he was very well off. He was very comfortable.
And uh his wife passed away. Her name was Jamie Williams. Um he actually had five kids, three boys, two daughters. And then the daughters as I think it was kind of a tradition. The daughters would go with another family member. Um and then he uh when his son got uh I guess a
lot of the segregation stuff came about in um a institution there in Winssboro, he wanted to finish school um and that led him to come to Palaca. That's how they ended up here. >> Okay. >> Um so um a couple of facts about my
uncle Lawrence, Isaac Lawrence, which is his son. He and his brother John Pcell. John Purcell was actually the clerk of Palaca. And I have that data, that fact. Um Isaac was on the city council of Palaca in the 1800s. They're also in the
um record of governmental officials. Okay. >> Um and I that was something I didn't know. Um but I came here to city hall and I can't remember her name that I met with and I went and pulled records. Um and I see them in the meeting notes, etc., etc. And it's just it was just an
emotional period for me to find all this information out. But even more so importantly, did not know that John John PCEL and his sons were all buried here. >> We discovered that. >> Okay. Wow. >> Um when I grew up it was called the white cemetery.
>> And it's over there where the under Yep. That's what we called it, the white cemetery. So for you to be buried over there meant you were someone. >> You were someone that was um acknowledged, well respected, and um so we actually went over. My aunt and I
went there after we left here city hall went to the burial area and we took videos etc. Um but what how I got involved with the church and finding out about that was someone was researching the book about the Gothic churches
>> and uh I can't remember her name but she reached out to me in ancestry when she saw I was researching John as well and that's when we just compared notes and I had no idea uh about him building the church
>> until we had that exchange and from that point on. I have been extremely engaged in the process of understanding all of the history, the facts, and I actually met with the author Jonathan >> Rich, >> Jonathan Rich, who wrote this book about
all of the Gothic churches and um woodframe churches in the state of Florida. And I went to one of his speaking engagements in Jacksonville to meet the author upfront and personal. And he actually gave me an autographed book. and I saw my grandfather's name and all of his history summarized in it.
So, it was a very emotional experience. And so, now I'm just all in. Um, >> yeah, of course. >> 100%. Yeah. Just to to follow through, I think is um the facts about the church having the oldest uh glass stained windows and
just all of the facts that have come out of this research. I just want to see it through. Um, which I think is welld deserving of a national um, historic place. And um, I'm also looking at joining the Palaca Putham County Historical Society. Yes.
>> Um, I actually uh got the application everything and I can't remember the gentleman's name that sent it to me. This is in 2021, but the pandemic kind of put me in a parking lot for a minute. Um, but I do want to join because there's a lot of I just want to follow through and make sure that my
grandfather's um contributions to the the county as well as my second greatgrandfather um Joseph PCEL who was a city clerk >> um that there's an awareness of that that that fact is raised as well as my um uncle Isaac PCEL that his
contributions to the community are recognized and there's an awareness of it. So I hope that helps. >> Yes. You will be seeing my face around quite often. >> Awesome. >> I want amaz I mean I love the history. I love it. I'm part of the historical
society as well. So we'll we'll talk afterwards. I'll get we'll get we'll get you. Um >> can I >> Yeah, go right ahead. M >> I'm not sure. But isn't um somebody doing a museum trying to put together a museum or something? >> Um isn't it Terrell Hill or something?
So over in Jenkins, uh they're working on creating an AfricanAmerican history museum. So you might want >> you need to contact them. >> Eddie cut over in community affairs. >> Okay. Because that would be really good for you know us and for that.
>> Yes. Okay. >> So and I'm actually kind of shocked that it's not already on the historical places. I always I always thought it was. I mean, I've always looked at this building and just in awe of it. I had the privilege of
going into the building during one of the home tours and just fell in love with it because it is so beautiful. It's so quaint. It's the architecture inside is just spectacular. I mean, it I mean it it blows you away when you walk in. I mean, for it to be normally you see that
grandeur and larger churches, but when you walk into the that church is just it's breathtaking. Um, so we'll go ahead and move forward. Do we have a motion? >> I'll make a motion, and I consider it an honor to do so, for this uh church, the
St. Mary's Church, to be put up for the nominated uh for the register for historic designated houses or churches, excuse me. >> Oh, >> sorry. Like I said at the beginning,
this is my first time. I'm so sorry, Mr. Algra. So, Mr. Algra, would you like to come up and speak? >> I fully support >> name and address. You know the You know how this goes. I don't >> I don't know either. I've never been
here before. >> Yeah, I know, right? >> Go ahead, Miss Le Kitchens. 1027 South 12th Street, Palaca, Florida. I'm very excited for the the church to make the application to get onto the National Registry of Historic Places. is very historic and I was just tickled pink
when I heard all the history extra history that I didn't know today. So I I fully support it. It's a great church. I too am want to historical society said let's get her signed up. >> I know right. >> And but please approve approve their their application because this is a very important building >> even without this wonderful history
which also is tied into Palatki history. >> Uh this building is wonderful and it's one of our prime historic buildings that we need to save in Palka. Thank you. >> All right. Do I have to re do I have to redo or >> does she need to redo her her motion or >> No. Did they have a second?
>> We did not have a second. No, we >> Okay, so now we have a motion and a second. >> Any other discussion? Okay. All in favor? >> I >> I >> All right. Motion carries.
>> And no opposed. I'm sorry. All right. So, moving along. Do we have any other >> I guess discussion of um preservation color palette. So we do have that
>> right >> I think. Yeah we just have that that one other thing. So if you guys y'all are welcome to leave. I mean >> unless y'all want to stay and >> thank you for your attention. >> Thank you very much. >> Yes. Thank thank you for coming. Thank you for the the history.
>> Well the story goes on and on. It's fascinating. And New Town. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you for doing, Miss Taylor. Thank you for doing that. And there's a lot I know it's a big job to to get these
properties registered to do this. So, if you there's any other ones you have in mind. >> Yes. >> I No, but seriously, we have a lot and they're not protected. That's right. and these need to be protected. So, thank you for all your work. >> Appreciate it very much.
>> All right. So, board, we are moving forward with our color palette. >> Okay. So, >> do we have any discussion? >> If you if I may. >> Yeah, you you may.
Thank you. If you recall, you know, you continue this item. There was a workshop that at the last meeting and you wanted to >> take another look concentrated two cities and making suggestion for amendments to yes to the code. >> Um since we don't have a full board
today, I just want to put your consideration where you want to wait to the next meeting until we have a full board at least with the chair and Mr. Jefferson of course. Yeah, I would um >> I would agree with that. I think we should have a full board for that.
>> Yeah. And that will give us a little bit more time for continue reviewing. >> Yeah, that's true. That's true. So, do we need to have a motion to table the item, >> Miss Jane? >> Yeah. >> To the next meeting. >> Okay. So, do I have a motion to table? >> I'll make the motion to table to the
next meeting. >> All right. Second. All right. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. All right. Motion carries. So, moving on to number five. Do we have any other business? All right. Seeing no further business, board members, do y'all have any other
comments or >> concerns or anything? All right. Staff comments. Anybody from you guys? >> No. Not >> Well, this is going to be like my shortest meeting ever. >> We need to to work on recruiting some members that fit the criteria.
>> So, how many vacancies do we have? >> Um, two. We got seven. >> I think it's two. >> We currently have seven members. We need u I have to double check, but I believe it's like two vacancies. >> I think so too. Two vacancies. So, the
members shall include an architect, a property owner within the North Historic District, a property owner within the South Historic District, a representative of the Putnham County Historical Society, a contractor, a real estate broker, and an attorney.
>> Okay. All right. So we have if you know anyone. >> All right. So two so is it just vacancy or is it just like the um I guess the fillins when people are absent would be the vacancy positions or >> I do believe you don't have
>> you don't have vacancies on this board. >> We got seven members and seven members >> that are qualified. Okay. Gotcha. >> We don't have an architect and we don't have an attorney. Okay. >> But we do we don't have vac.
>> Okay. So we do not have vacant. Sorry. >> Okay. Ignore me. >> Ask me about the number of of members. >> Well, that's what I was asking too. I mean, don't we have um alternate? >> It's an alternate is >> Okay. So, we only have one alternate here either. Yeah.
>> Mary Jane. >> Okay. >> So, do we need two alternates or >> so you have Elizabeth Tim Jefferson. It's just the members that we do have aren't meeting the criteria. So
>> that's okay. >> Which I I didn't even notice until you asked me how many members there were and I saw it in the code. So ignore. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. >> So we'll just bring that up when we do our revotes later in the year.
>> All right. So any anything further from staff? >> I was going to bring it up at the next meeting when we have a full let from now on going to be taking care of the meetings.
>> Okay. >> So from now on >> All right. Okay, Alex, >> he looks very excited. >> What about this packet from last month? I was asked to bring it back table next month. >> Yes.
>> Sorry. >> No, I didn't bring >> I I dissected mine at home and I watched you so I didn't bring all my papers. So, >> but um so seeing nothing further, do we have a motion? There we go. >> All right. We'll see everybody at the
next meeting. Thank you.