Cafe Huntington

Project Description:
Background research for an independent film project and/or novel, based on the life of Huntington-native Mary Smith McClain, aka “Diamond Teeth” Mary or “Walking” Mary. The goal of the project is to include Mary on the City of Huntington’s “Wall of Fame,” as well as make the life and accomplishments of Ms. McClain known to all Huntingtonians, West Virginians, and the rest of the country through a popular medium–i.e. a film and/or novel. Travel for intensive research will begin April 1, 2011, and will conclude by May 31, 2011. This research will include archival study at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in Washington, DC, and interviews with friends and former bandmates in St. Petersburg, FL. The Cafe Huntington grant would help to cover travel, lodging, and writing expenses for these destinations, as well as copying expenses (i.e. audio, visual, and/or print) as applicable. Web-based research is ongoing.

Project Importance:
“Diamond Teeth” Mary Smith McClain serves as shining example of both the creative power that exists within Huntington, and the commitment the citizens exhibit for their fair city.

Mary left Huntington in 1915 at the age of 13, to set out on the minstrel and medicine show circuit. She went on to perform in nightclubs alongside act such as: Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Howlin’ Wolf, Big Mama Thornton, and her step-sister Bessie Smith, just to name a few. Clubs from Boston to Miami billed her as the “Queen of the Blues,” and she lived with baseball great Satchel Paige. Once she recalled an evening in Memphis when a young boy from the neighborhood named Elvis Presley “would bring Howlin’ Wolf and me liquor from the liquor cabinet.”

Her name “Diamond Teeth” came from the diamonds that she had embedded in her front teeth to create a dazzling stage presence. She is mentioned in the last verse of The Band’s hit song: W.S. Walcott Medicine Show – “Mrs. Brier Foxhole, she’s got diamonds in her teeth. She is pure gold down underneath. She’s a rock and roll singer and a true dead ringer, for something like you ain’t never seen.” When her step-mother became ill with cancer, Mary pawned the diamonds to help pay for the medical bills.

Mary never stopped considering Huntington to be her home. Even after a career that spanned nine decades, her last wishes where to for her ashes to be spread at Heritage Station where she first set out on the road.

She performed at the Cotton Club, the Apollo Theater, and the White House for President Reagan’s 1980 inauguration. She starred in an off-broadway show, a Smithsonian documentary called “Free Show Tonite,” toured Europe 3 times with the USO, and was remarried; all after the age of 80.

How Money Will Be Used:
The Cafe Huntington grant will help to cover travel, lodging, duplication, and writing expenses for research about Huntington native Mary Smith McClain (“Diamond Teeth” or “Walking” Mary) to be compiled for induction in the City of Huntington’s “Wall of Fame.” Copying expenses will be required for authorized duplication of media. These include audio, visual, and/or print, as well as digital conversion where necessary.

3 Month Goal:
A large community of former medicine show performers exits in the Tampa Bay, FL, area where Mary retired in 1960, and many of her friends still live there. I plan to make a trip to Florida to meet with as many of these performers as possible and document their experiences with Mary.

Additionally, a considerable amount of the footage and recordings of Mary and her medicine show cohorts were documented by the Smithsonian for their archives. This footage has been cataloged but little else and, therefore, would need to be edited into some usable format. I plan to make a trip to Washington, DC, to research and condense as much of the information from these archives if possible. Copying expenses will be required for authorized duplication of media. These include audio, visual, and/or print, as well as digital conversion where necessary.

Project Description:
There is nothing better than a good tree in the right location and nothing worse than a bad tree in the wrong location.  Occasionally progress through new construction or expansion dictates the removal of a valued tree.  In the past this has resulted in it being sent to a landfill or burnt.  Both of these options results in unnecessary pollution.  Jerill Vance Woodworks LLC, dba WV ReLeaf, can harvest the tree and recycle the wood into heirloom quality products resulting in a “green” building technique.  The final products are marketed with the client to help defer the costs of expansion or new construction.  This can result in a client venture to solicit and raise funds that normally would not exist and the customer obtains a quality product with a known history.  With the assistance of the client WV ReLeaf will work with the demolition contractor.  The designated trees will be safely harvested and loaded through a joint effort of the demolition contractor and WV ReLeaf.
After transporting to a local sawmill, the material will be converted to usable lumber.  The boards will then be kiln dried or “air” dried.  Time and cost shall dictate the method used to dry the boards.  Because this process can take substantial time the heirloom quality products are not ready to market until after the completion of the construction process.  Some pieces may be used direct from the job site by the artist to make custom art.  Each step of the process shall be captured and documented with a certified copy accompanying each product marketed.  WV ReLeaf with the input of the client will decide what to build and the final market price.  The true profits of this venture are shared by the client and Jerill Vance Woodworks, LLC.   WV ReLeaf can designate what material to harvest prior to the start of any demolition.  Since publicity is a major part of the marketing process it is best handled by the client.  Because of the limited quantity of the final product
marketing should target those interested in the history of the final piece.    Give WV ReLeaf the opportunity to recycle demolition waste, raise money for the client, increase employment, and provide patrons with an heirloom quality product with a known history.

Project Importance:
WV ReLeaf is an important venture for the local economy, the local art community, as well as, the local environment.  By converting construction waste into heirloom quality art with a history while stimulating the local economy all the concerns of local citizens are met.  This project will leave a lasting impression on the building industry by identifying unnecessary wasteful demolition practices and identify potential sources of revenue.  Jerill Vance Woodworks, LLC, dba WV ReLeaf can assist with identification of wood waste and convert it into heirloom quality product to raise money for the client.  This is also a great way to incorporate part of the old structure, history or environment with the new building or addition.
So Give WV ReLeaf the opportunity to recycle demolition waste, raise money for the client, increase employment, and provide patrons with heirloom quality products with a sense of history.

How Money Will Be Used:
If WV ReLeaf is chosen as the recipient of the Café Huntington grant the money will be used for exposure.  Because most jobs of this caliber require a large contractor and uses government funds I will promote WV ReLeaf directly to area contractors, as well as, several county, state and federal agencies.  This will be through personal contact, direct mailings and email.  A web site, business cards and pamphlets are an example of the use of the grant money.

3 Month Goal:
Because WV ReLeaf started at the end of January, 2011, the next three months will be spent introducing myself to the local business leaders and government agencies.  Huntington and the tri-state area are experiencing an upswing in the building industry.  WV ReLeaf needs to be involved in the initial phase of a project to be successful.  Time spent identifying wood waste and how to convert it to a marketable product is essential to the successful completion of an expansion project by raising untapped funds.  Many individuals, local groups, local businesses and government agencies are interested in preserving a part of the local history without impeding progress.  WV Releaf can accomplish this!