The Historic City of Jefferson is under new leadership.
Stacy Landwehr was elected president of the historic preservation group Sunday during its annual meeting. She said she’s interested in growth.
“I definitely want to grow,” Landwehr told the News Tribune. “We lost a lot of members during COVID and I want to continue to grow our membership.”
Landwehr said more members and volunteers would help to expand HCJ’s Reclaim Salvage Shop, which sells architectural and building materials sourced from historic buildings that are demolished.
The shop started about three years ago and is taking off, said Donna Deetz, the former HCJ president.
“We surprised ourselves this year and made over $10,000,” Deetz said, “which is really good.”
Landwehr and her husband, Eric, have been chairing the committee overseeing the shop. She said more hands would help it continue to exceed expectations.
Landwehr was elected president along with a slate of other officers. Gary Rackers was elected vice president, Holly Stitt moved from vice president to treasurer, and Janet Gallagher was elected corresponding secretary. David Van Syckle, Tami Holliday, Amy Griffith and Debra Green were added to the HCJ Board of Directors.
About three dozen people attended HCJ’s Sunday meeting. In addition to electing officers and board members, the group approved a 2024 budget and revised its bylaws. Members were also brought up to speed on events that happened in 2023 and what to expect in 2024.
HCJ has a 2024 budget totaling $54,800 and expects to take in the same amount, according to the proposal approved Sunday. Last year, the historic preservation group took in about $50,400 and spent about $36,600.
Landwehr said she plans to continue HCJ’s popular historic homes tours and search for more ways to offer educational programs in the community and local schools.
HCJ is hosting a free author presentation focused on Lincoln University students who became Tuskegee Airmen at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 29 at Inman Page Library. In April, the group will host a cemetery tour.
Restoring the Tweedie House, the HCJ’s home at 601 E. High St., will also be a priority for the next year, Deetz said. The group is working to restore the home to its 1880s glory, complete with tin ceilings, its original fireplace mantel and other vintage architecture.
Deetz, who reached her 10-year term limit on the board of directors, said she’ll still be involved with the group but is looking forward to seeing where the new leaders take it.
She said she was proud of the community connections HCJ established over the past year. The group hosted its historic homes tour at Lincoln, a historically Black university, and is working with LU students to perform oral histories of Lincoln’s homecoming events. It also worked with the city on historic preservation ordinances.
“I’m glad we got done what we did. It was challenging, being president during COVID,” Deetz said. “But we have recovered past that, and we’re going on to bigger and better things.”
Ryan Pivoney/News Tribune
Stacy Landwehr, newly elected president of Historic City of Jefferson, listens to the group Sunday during its annual business meeting. Landwehr said she’s interested in growing the historic preservation group, which lost membership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ryan Pivoney/News Tribune
Donna Deetz, former president of Historic City of Jefferson, reviews the group’s 2024 budget with members Sunday during its annual business meeting. The historic preservation group approved a $54,800 budget for 2024.
Ryan Pivoney/News Tribune
Kay Craig helps a couple check in to the Historic City of Jefferson’s annual business meeting on Sunday. About three dozen people attended the meeting, where the historic preservation group elected new officers and board members, approved a 2024 budget and altered its bylaws.
Ryan Pivoney/News Tribune
David Van Syckle, a new member of the Historic City of Jefferson’s Board of Directors, speaks about his interest in preserving history during Sunday’s annual meeting. Van Syckle was one of four new members elected to the board.