Past Events
Historic Preservation Conference – “Appreciating the Past: Building for the Future”
The recent local historic preservation conference entitled “Appreciating the Past:
Building for the Future” that was hosted by the Roebuck Springs Historic Preservation Society held at Gabrella Manor received universally positive evaluations by the participants. The conference held on April 12th as a preservation community service enjoyed the attendance of approximately 40 individuals for all or part of the day including an individual who drove from Atlanta because he owns property in the East Lake area and wanted to see what was going on in Birmingham!
Topics at the conference covered subjects such as local historic district designation, architectural style and diversity, landscape and greenspace, researching your home, adaptive reuse of historic structures, and website design for historic districts and neighborhoods. In addition, local historic preservation consultant Pam King got the conference started with a look at Birmingham’s Lost and Almost Lost historic structures and Chip DeShields from the Alabama Preservation Alliance provided closing comments on the importance of historic preservation.
The conference also brought out several city officials in the Department of Planning, Engineering, and Permits including William Gilchrist, Victor Blackledge, and Karla Calvert who lead the discussion on the local historic district designation. Birmingham City Councilor Valerie Abbott from District 3 and her assistant Martha Espy were present as well during the entire course of the day and were welcomed by members of the Society at the networking reception that followed.
The members of the Roebuck Springs Historic Preservation Society would like to thank all those who participated and attended the conference and look forward to assisting in coming years to make this an annual event for the preservation community here in Birmingham!
Jump, Jive and Swing Fall Gala Tops Expectations
Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, the first ever “Jump, Jive and Swing in Roebuck Springs” event was a huge success. Hosted by the Roebuck Springs Historic Preservation Society on a frosty 2000 November evening, approximately 150 people were welcomed out to Gabrella Manor to see what this area is all about.
A wonderful evening of food, dancing, a silent auction, and networking raised over $7,000 for future preservation efforts in this area.
Thanks again to the committee comprised of Brenda Jones, Rodney Tucker, Tracy Ormond, Billy Connelley, Jill Clesi, and John Persons which delighted everyone with a night that surpassed expectations. And three tables were sold for next year, even before the night was over!
Again, many thanks to the volunteers for the evening for hosting, smiling, and representing the area so well. The corporate and patron sponsors for the event included Gabrella Manor, Bayer Properties, Councilor Bill Johnson, Anna Lu Hemphill, Rodney Tucker and Billy Connelley, Steven Lee Johnson and Mary Preston, Neonatal Practitioner Services of Alabama, Eastern Health Systems, Gorham & Waldrep and the Crowne Plaza. Also many thanks to our neighbor attendees, silent auction donors, and Susan Bowen Photography, Sherry Merrifield catering, Botanicals, the Blue Savoy Combo, Infinite Events, and especially Fred Astaire Dance Studio for their exhibition. Everyone’s contributions made the evening very special.
