HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-14-2022 Historic Preservation Committee Meeting MinutesFairhope Historic Preservation Committee
Monthly Meeting Notes (approved 10/12/22)
September 14, 2022 9:30 a.m.Fairhope History Museum
Attendance: Gary Gover, Mara Hunter, Skip Jones, museum liaison Gabriel Gold-Vukson
(Museum Liaison). Guest: Amy Molyneux, Holly Palughi
Not Present: Jay Robinson, Andrew Ousley
Call to order: Gary Gover, 9:31
Old Business
1) Approve August Minutes
2) Introduce new/prospective members and guests
Amy Ford Molyneux—Worked for the United States government, has a love for
historic preservation. Sees a lot being lost;,
Holly Palughi-4 years of architecture school, worked on multiple preservation
projects at state and local levels.
3) Lewis House / 309 Ingleside - SJ’s son in law is developer of the property. Developer
has agreed to create a memorial on the site. If the house can be moved, the developer
supports it.The original house is a long 2 rooms with a third room to the side
(t-shape).The porch surrounding it may be original, but over time the porch was built on
a slab. To move it some deconstruction will take time. 2 brick chimneys would need to be
taken down. Spoke with Corey Martin who believes he can identify a place for the house
to go. Expenses include moving and establishing on new foundation [$100,000]
●Need a 501 c3 for historic preservation.
●Our bank account could pay to have a 501 c3 formed.
●Skip will look into the 501 c3.
4) Close Encounters House - a 4,600 member nation-wide group is interested in
*exploring* preserving the house. Read the email from Gregg Martini. Will contact Mary
Riser [Follow up: Film Festival interested in participating in any initiatives but not able to
sponsor any initiatives for the house]. House address 2250 state highway 181. [Follow
up: Confirmed with Planning Department that the house is at 22148 State Hwy 181 and
no building plans have been submitted. Subsequently contacted Kleban to introduce
Close Encounters group; MK draft and GG approved, see attached].
5) Make decisions about which events and set some targets:
Potential events discussed last meeting
● K-1 History --- tie into city activity
● African American History --- tie into Lewis House
● Land Use Plan --- go to the October 3 and 4th meetings.
● History Day Student Contest ---Alabama Humanities Foundation Date is March
3, so our deadline must be before that.Student submissions must go into our
committee with a January deadline.
Other Event Ideas proposed:
●Art Walk
●House Tours
●Close Encounters / Cinematic History / Team up with Fairhope Film Festival
[Follow up: contacted city about spending FHPC money toward the contest. City Treasurer saw
no obstacles, but asked for confirmation from city clerk. Still waiting on that confirmation].
Meeting Ended: Gary Gover 10:32
Appendix A- Kleban Correspondence
Dear Mr. Kleban,
The Fairhope Historical Preservation Committee (FHPC) has been contacted by a
representative of a 4,600 member Close Encounters facebook group after they learned of your
involvement in rezoning the parcel at 22148 State Hwy 181. As you undoubtedly know, the
house on that property was used in the filming of Close Encounters. Now we are learning that
the house is extraordinarily cinematically and culturally important such that people travel from
across the country to view it as well as other Close Encounters filming sites in Mobile. Further,
many residents of Mobile and Baldwin counties have fond memories associated with this
property and, like the Close Encounters group, would be pleased to see the house preserved or
marked in some fashion.
We understand you have not yet submitted plans regarding the property, and subsequently,
opportunity exists for productive conversation about preservation. We also understand that the
Close Encounters group has a range of ideas about what preservation might look like, from
incorporating the house into the planned development, to moving the house, to salvaging
artifacts from the house should their ideal preferences not be achievable.
Please expect a member of the Close Encounters group may soon contact you. Meanwhile, our
committee will be grateful to learn your thoughts about preserving the house.
Sincerely,
Mara Hunter, Secretary FHPC
cc: Gary Gover, Interim Chair FHPC