The QQA Chronicle: 1st Quarter, January 2024
Vol 1 | January 2024 QQA Chronicle
Education
Preservation Conversations
Grants from The Arkansas Humanities Council enabled us to have three authors as guests in Preservation Conversations. Our September meeting featured Dr. David Montague and Paige Bowers presenting their book, Overnight Code: The Life of Raye Montague, the Woman Who Revolutionized Naval Engineering. This presentation took place at the historic Dreamland Ballroom to a full house. Pyramid Books was also in attendance with books available for sale.
Pictured, left to right: Ryk St. Vincent and Dr. Montague.
We closed out the year with Dr. Brock Thompson as our guest of honor for our December Preservation Conversation. Dr. Thompson presented his book The Un-Natural State: Arkansas and the Queer South and discussed the importance of saving spaces of the built environment belonging to diverse groups. We were delighted to have another full house of members present. Wordsworth Books was also in attendance with books available for sale.
5H Clubs
Our final 5H Club meeting was another successful sold out event at Isbell Rose Hall. Homeowners, Doug Mitchell and Kennon Bednar, welcomed ticket holders to view their elegant and extensive collection of antiques.
Pictured, left to right: Doug Mitchel (homeowner) and Ashli Ahrens.
Development
2023 Annual Membership Meeting
Philander Smith University
The QQA Annual Membership Meeting and Greater Little Rock Preservation Awards were held on October 30, 2023 at Nugent Auditorium in the Harry R. Kendall Health and Science Center on the campus of Philander Smith University. Master of ceremonies was Ian Beard. Ian and Patricia Blick presented the following awards:
To Mrs. Amber Haugen, the 2023 Peg Smith Award. Instituted in 1980, the Peg Smith Award is given to a QQA member whose volunteer work on QQA projects and programs has been particularly exemplary.
To Mr. John Chandler and Mr. Barrett Austin of Austin Construction, Inc. a 2023 Richard C. Butler Award of Merit for the rehabilitation of 315 N Main Street, North Little Rock.
To Lynn Boyd of AB Property Holdings and Angela & Bobby Mathews, a 2023 Richard C. Butler Award of Merit for the rehabilitation of Chester Nests at the corner of Chester & Charles Bussey.
To Mr. Ross Toyne, Mr. Terry Burruss, Ms. Amber Jones, and Ms. Lakresha Diaz, a 2023 Richard C. Butler Award of Merit for the rehabilitation of the Woodruff School.
To Kelly Curran & David Kelley, a 2023 Richard C. Butler Award of Merit for the rehabilitation of 4805 North Lookout, Hillcrest.
To Jillean & Adam Fogleman, a 2023 Richard C. Butler Award of Merit for infill construction of the duplex at 1920 & 1922 Commerce Street in Pettaway.
To Ms. Melinda Glasgow and Heather Harmon & Jeff Franklin, a 2023 Richard C. Butler Award of Merit for the rehabilitation of Woodrow Craft at 704 Woodrow, Little Rock.
To Jill Judy & Mark Brown of Downtown Dwellings, a 2023 Richard C. Butler Award of Merit for the rehabilitation of the apartments at 1107 Cumberland, Little Rock.
We also welcome Amber Haugen, Myranda Grulke, and Mark Stodola to the 2024 Board of Directors.
Photos from the event can be found here.
QQA's 55th Anniversary Dinner and Holiday Social
The Holiday Social was a great success and a festive time was had by all. Three beautifully decorated historic homes were on tour followed by a delicious dinner and silent auction held at the historic Capital Hotel. A very special thank you to our homeowners, Marcella & Marvin Dalla Rosa, Jay Barth & Chuck Cliett, and Kate & Tom Schranz for opening their lovely homes for the event.
Photos from the event can be found here.
A Look Forward
Change in Leadership
QQA Welcomes Brian Minyard to the team
We are delighted to have Mr. Brian Minyard join the QQA as Interim Executive Director effective December 13, 2023.
Mr. Minyard comes to the QQA with a background in Historic Preservation and Urban Planning. He was employed at the City of Little Rock Planning and Development Department for 24 years before retiring in 2021. He was the primary staff for the Historic District Commission from 2005-2021 focusing on the MacArthur Park Historic District. He worked with additional historic districts in Little Rock (Hillcrest, Central High, and River Market) through writing, editing, and monitoring Design Overlay Districts.
Mr. Minyard also served as the Interim Director for the Capitol Zoning District Commission in Little Rock from July 2022 to September 2022. He was a Commissioner as the City of Little Rock’s representative on the Capitol Zoning District Commission from 2015 to 2021.
Mr. Minyard has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 2005. He won multiple state and national awards for his Historic Sites App located on the City of Little Rock Planning and Development’s map page.
As the Board of Directors is very busy filling the calendar with exciting events for 2024, you can look forward to more 5H Club meetings, Preservation Conversations, and many other events. Please stay tuned and make sure you mark your calendar for the QQA Annual Spring Tour of Homes May 10-12, 2024.
We wish you all a very Happy New Year.