Annual Membership Meeting Scheduled For June 26

MEMBERS TO ELECT CLASS OF 2008 TO SERVE AS DIRECTORS

The annual meeting of the membership of the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation will convene at 2:00 p.m. Sunday June 26 at The Clayton House, 514 North Sixth Street.

All members, contributors and friends of The Clayton House are invited to attend.

President Larry McGowan advises that the afternoon agenda will include a report from the nominating committee that will present a slate of candidates to serve on the Board of Directors for a three-year period from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2008. The President stated that nominations would also be accepted from persons present at the meeting and an election would follow. The new class of 2008 will then join current Board members in electing officers who will serve the Foundation for a one-year period beginning July 1, 2005 and extending through June 30, 2006.

The President notes that the annual meeting also provides members with the opportunity to learn of the activities and projects undertaken at The Clayton House during the past year and to be advised of the goals the Board has set for the coming

President to Name Recipient of Annual Award

Victor Cary Lifetime Achievement Award

A highlight of the annual meeting each year is the naming of the person to receive the Victor L. Cary Lifetime Achievement Award. Presented by the Foundation President, the award goes to a person who has performed outstanding service to the Heritage Foundation and the Clayton House. The award, which carries his name, was first given to General Victor L. Cary in 1997 for his many contributions to The Clayton House, the Darby House and the Belle Grove Historic District.

Subsequent recipients of The Lifetime Achievement Award have been Bettye Moulton (1998), Dr. Art Martin and Coe Koenig (1999): Julia Yadon (2000) and John Lebosquet (2001) received the award posthumously. The plaque was given to the River Valley Master Gardeners in 2002 for the work of its members on the Lucia “Mitty” Hawkins Herb Garden and other Clayton House projects.

In 2003 the award went to Ralph Riley who edits the Foundation newsletter. Two persons received the honor at the annual meeting held June 27, 2004. Franklin Hawkins was recognized for his monetary and other contributions to The Clayton House. Tom Caldarera was also awarded a plaque for serving two years as Foundation President, for his chairing of the Patron’s Fund Committee and for other services performed in behalf of The Clayton House.

Following the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award refreshments will be served in the Victorian dining room.

Members Asked To Help

Crucial Repairs Needed

In response to a letter from President Larry McGowan, members of the Heritage Foundation have made donations of $1,250 toward making some of the structural repairs needed at The Clayton House. President McGowan said he hoped additional pledges would be forthcoming to enable the Board to act on immediate and crucial needs of our Victorian era home. He also called attention to the fact that approximately 70 members had not renewed their membership this year and noted that each membership played a vital role in the operation of The Clayton House.

Lynn Dockery Honored

The women of the Heritage Foundation Board honored former Director, Lynn Dockery, with a surprise luncheon on May 17. The former Director of The Clayton House had resigned several months earlier in order to care for her Mother who resides in Oklahoma. Shown gathered around the luncheon table, left to right are Barbara Taylor, Polly Anna Core, Lynn Dockery, Clara Jane Rubarth

GIFTS OF PERIOD FURNITURE PROVIDE HOME
WITH AUTHENTIC VICTORIAN AIR

(Editor’s Note) Throughout the years The Clayton House has been the recipient of some generous gifts of fine Victorian Era furniture and antiques that have made our Nineteenth Century home a show place for the many hundreds of people who visit the Fort Smith Belle Grove Historic District each year. Most of the period pieces now gracing the spacious rooms of our home were not a part of the household belongings of the WH.H. Clayton family. When Clayton left the area in 1897 and moved to McAlester, Oklahoma he took most of the family’s personal belongings to his new residence. Thus, we are indebted to the contributions made by benefactors such as Miss Agnes Oglesby who donated many of her household possessions to our cause when she closed her home in the late 1970s. We hope to highlight some of the period pieces given by Miss Agnes and others in this and future editions of our newsletter. (See news item and picture this page.)

TEAKWOOD HAND-CRAFTED TABLE & TORTOISE SHELL LAMP

This exquisitely hand crafted table was a showpiece in the Angus MacLeod home at 912 North 13th Street in Fort Smith for many years. The table was commissioned by the government of India as a part of that country’s exhibit at the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1892. Mr. MacLoed persuaded the East India exhibitors to allow him to purchase the table as well as the brass lamp whose shade is made of tortoise shell glass. It became a prized piece in his home and was passed on to his daughter, Ruth MacLeod Irwin and to his grandson Joseph Irwin.

Joseph Irwin donated the teakwood table and lamp to The Clayton House in 1998. He is a past member of the Heritage Foundation having served on the Board of Directors a total of four years. The table and lamp may be viewed in the Carriage Room on the first floor of The Clayton House.

Taking a mid-afternoon break, the serving team awaits the next seating of Red Hat Society clients. Top row, left to right: Jodi Miles and Jason Hess, UA/FS student interns who led guided tours of the home; Mary Lou Pointon, Genia Smith. Bottom Row, left to right; Tennessee Walker, Barbara Taylor, Bettye Moulton, Margaret Thompson and Tommie Thompson. Not a part of the serving crew, T. Thompson, a member of the Red Hat Society, had furnished one of the prizes given away by drawing during the afternoon.

C. HOUSE WEB SITE UPDATED

NEW ACCESS CODE NEEDED

The Clayton House Web Site has been inactive for a number of months but now has been taken over by Jamell Digital, Inc. and will be updated each month to reflect the current activities and happenings at our Victorian home. The change will also require a new access code.

David Jamell who will service our web site does design, programming, network support and graphic design from his office at 2816 Grand Avenue, Suite C. He is also a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.

In addition to featuring the activities taking place at The Clayton House each month, the web will also feature items of interest from the Heritage Herald, the Foundation’s quarterly newsletter. The web site may now be accessed as follows:

ClaytonHouseFortSmith.com

Officers and Board Oversee Clayton House Legacy

Since its inception in 1969-70, the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation has overseen the restoration and maintenance of Historic Clayton House. One of the “crown Jewels” in the Belle Grove Historic District this Victorian home has become a legacy that is supported by yearly memberships and donations from area individuals, businesses and professionals.

Thus, it is that members of the Foundation nominate and elect persons to serve on the board of directors. This action takes place at the meeting of the membership held each year. The Heritage Foundation Board members are elected to serve for a period of three years. There can be as many as 22 members on the Board. The terms are staggered so that members are added and retired each year. However, a member may be nominated and serve for more than one three-year term.

It is standard procedure for the current president to name a chairman and as many as five persons to serve as a nominating committee to nominate a slate of candidates who will be presented to the membership for election at the annual membership meeting in June. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the annual meeting.

In fulfilling its charge, the nominating committee is guided by the following Articles and Sections of the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation, Inc. by-laws:

Subject: ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ARTICLE III, SECTION 5 AND ARTICLE V, SECTION 1, provides that the membership of the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation, Inc. shall meet at least once annually and the voting membership shall have the power and be entitled to elect the Board Members.

ARTICLE IX, SECTION 1, provides that the Board of Directors shall elect a nomination committee from the Foundation membership and that nomination committee shall present at the annual membership meeting nominated candidates for membership on the Board of Directors. Nominations may also be made from the floor.

ARTICLE V, SECTION 2, provides that the officers shall be elected at the Board meeting following the annual general membership meeting and term of office shall be one (1) year.

ARTICLE IX, provides that the Foundation Board shall elect a nomination committee from the Foundation Membership and that nomination committee shall “present candidates for officers at the following board meeting.” The term “following board meeting” means the board meeting that immediately follows the annual membership meeting of the Foundation.

H. FOUNDATION WOMEN HOST HIGH TEA, HONOR
RED HAT SOCIETY AT APRIL EVENT

Barbara Taylor (back to camera) serves tea as Red Hat Society members fill their plates of assorted delicacies from the dining

The women Board members of the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation Board of Directors served as hosts for a high tea to honor members of the various Red Hat Society members in this area. The event was held at historic Clayton House on Saturday, April 28.

Polly Anna Core and Genia Smith served as co-chairs for the committee who conceived the idea and planned the details for the tea. Board members Mary Lynn Cloar, Clara Jane Rubarth, Margaret Thompson, Barbara Taylor, Bettye Moulton and Mary Lou Pointon assisted with the undertaking.

COLORFUL FASHIONS, TASTY DELICACIES ABOUND AT HIGH TEA

It was an afternoon of colorful fashions, tasty delicacies and lively conversations! The occasion was the Victorian High Tea given for the ladies of the Red Hat Society by the women of the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation Board of Directors on Saturday, April 30 at Historic Clayton House.

Red Hat Society ladies from around the Fort Smith area took advantage of a warm spring afternoon to enjoy an old-fashioned High Tea in the Victorian atmosphere of The Clayton House. And, in order to accommodate the large numbers of the Society, two separate seatings were scheduled for the afternoon. One serving was scheduled from 2:00-3:00 o’clock and the second continuous serving was held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Prior to being served, each group was taken on a tour of the house by UA/FS student interns Jodie Miles and Justin Huss.

Women members of the Foundation Board conceived the idea for the High Tea, provided the colorful array of delicacies and, dressed in Victorian finery, acted as gracious hosts and servers for the event. Contributing to the success of occasion were Board members Polly Anna Core, Genia Smith, Betty Moulton, Barbara Taylor, Margaret Thompson, Mary Lynn Cloar, and Clara Jane Rubarth.

Pictures taken at the event for publication in the Heritage Herald can hardly do justice to the array of colors worn by the ladies of the Red Hat Society. All were wearing wide-brimmed red hats with red ribbons and bows, dresses of purple or lavender, white summer gloves and satin sandals. In addition many wore red scarfs or boas that complimented the rest of their fashionable attire.

There was also a colorful array of delicacies served by the women of the Heritage Foundation Board. Dressed in Victorian finery, the ladies had prepared a menu that consisted of: Lemon Basil Chicken Salad, On petit croissant; Silton Grape Pecan Roll, w/Grape Chipotle Glaze; Mini Tarts; Forgotten Cookies; Chocolate Dipped Strawberries; Assorted Mint Dessert Bites and Hot Raspberry Tea.

During the course of the afternoon, several drawings were held for premium prizes donated by the following merchants: Johnston’s Quality Flowers; Expressions Flowers; Inc., Coming Home Interiors, Inc.; Mrs. T’s Hats and Fashions; Grafitti’s; Marty Rickman Home Interiors and Gifts; Suzy’s Arts and Frames.

THE FORT SMITH HERITAGE FOUNDATION NEEDS YOU