of Delaware estoryof Delaware
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COVER: DagsboroughHundredmappublishedbyPomeroy&Beersin1868,Courtesyof AntiquePrints,Inc.Alsopicturedaretownhall, theClaytoneatreandPeppersCreek.
Wepresenttoyou...Dagsboro WhendrivingthroughdowntownDagsboro,it’snearly impossiblenottogetswept awaybyfeelingsofnostalgiaandsmalltowncharm. Thereisaquaint peacefulnessabout someoftheolder buildingsonMain Street,therailroad trackscuttingthroughtownandthebright marqueeoutsidetheClaytoneatregreetingthosedrivingdownthepeacefulstreetat night.Itisatownthatisseeinggrowth,both inandarounditsborders—yetit’smanaged toclingtightlytoitsprouddaysofthepast. Ithasbeenapleasureforallofusheretodive deeperintoDagsboro’spastbylisteningto storiesdirectlyfromthosewhohavecalled
Pointof NoReturn DarinJ.McCann
Dagsborohomeforgenerations,talktoofficialsandplannersonwhatishappeningnow anddiscussjustwherethetownisplanning toheadinthefuture.
Dagsboroisuniqueto theothertownsin thisarea,andprobablyuniquetotowns acrossthenation,in general.Itisoneof thosetownsthatmanydrivethroughon theirwaytoandfromthebeach,andadestinationforthosewholiveinneighboring towns.
And,formanyothers,Dagsboroissimply theplacetheywillalwayscall“home.” We’velearnedsomuchaboutDagsboro whileputtingthistogether.Hopefully,allof yougetthesameexperiencereadingthis.
MainStreet e Rear View DrivingdownMainStreetonthewaytothe beach,thetownofDagsborocanbeeasyto miss.ere’sabank,apolicestation,a movietheaterandafewinterestingshops.Butthose inahurrytothrowouttheirbeachtowelandgettheir feetinthesandmightnotevennotice.
And,ifthatgleamoflightthatreflectsoffthe storefrontsandshinesintotheireyesastheypassbyis theonlythingthatcapturestheirattention,theyprobablyhaven’theardthe storyofatownwitha richandextensivehistory, headlined bywar-tested generals,Secretariesof Stateandgood-hearted familiesthathavealways calledDagsborohome.
Onlandoriginally occupiedbyNative Americantribesknown astheAssateaguesand “IndianRiverIndians,” thequainttown,aswe knowit,wasformedin thelate1700sand namedafterGen.John Dagworthy,whoserved withGeorgeWashingtonduringtheRevolutionary War.Originally,thetownunderwentabitofanidentitycrisis,beingcalledBlackfootTown,Dagsburyand Dagsboroughbeforefinallysettlingonthename Dagsboro.
believe,wereoriginallyknownastheAssateagues,” notedlocalhistorianDickCarter,whochairsthe DelawareHeritageCommission.“eEnglishsettlementwasgettingpressurefromthesettlersand movedintothegeneralvicinityofDerrickson’sCreek. And,bythe18thcentury,ithadmovedintotheIndianRiverarea.eywereknownastheIndianRiver Indians,whichisnotatribalname,butthat’swhat theywereknownas.”
Courtesy SandieGerken
Likemanynative tribes,accordingto Carter,theAmericanIndianswhooriginallyinhabitedtheDagsboro areastruggledtomaintaintheirculturalheritage.
“erewasaneffort onthepartofthewhite communitytoobliterate theNativeAmerican heritage,basicallyfor legalreasons,”Carterexplained.
Dagworthy,who wasthefirsttobringthe newsofthefallofFort DuquesnetoBaltimoreTown,wasawarded alarge tractoflandinwhatwasthenWorcesterCounty, Md.,bytheAssemblyofMarylandasasignofgratitudeforhisservices.
“eIndianswhoinhabitedtheDagsboroarea,I
“HewasprobablybestknowninU.S.historyfor havinggotteninaverynastyfightwithGeorgeWashingtonintheFrenchandIndianwar,”saidCarter. “GeorgeWashingtonwasthecoloneloftheVirginia Militiaandwasverysensitiveabouthisrank.Itcreatedquiteastink,andWashingtonharboredagrudge againsthim.”
Atthetime,Dagworthywasthecommanderofa Marylandcompanyandclaimedtobethehighestrankingcolonialofficer.Washington,whowasa colonelatthetime,defendedhisrankagainstDagworthy’sclaim.
Washingtoneventuallywonthedisputeafter travelingfromVirginiatoBostontoconsultGen. WilliamShirleyregardingthecontroversy.Shirley, whowasGen.EdwardBraddock’ssuccessor,reversed Braddock’sinitialrulingofrankingDagworthyhigher thanWashington,puttingWashingtonincommand.
“ItisabundantlyclearthatDagworthypickedthe wrongguytopullrankon,”Carterstatedofthe18th
JohnM.Clayton, oneofDagsboro’s famousnatives, servedasaU.S. Senatorandeven SecretaryofState underPresident ZacharyTaylor.
Imagecourtesy theU.S.State Department
“Upuntil1775,everythingsouthoftheIndian Riverandwestofwhatisnow[Rt.]113wasconsideredMaryland,”Carterexplained.“Dagsborostarted outbeinginWorchesterCounty,Md.,andendedup inSussexCounty,Del.”
OnOct.24ofthesameyear,Dagworthywas commissioned byWilliamPennasajusticeforSussex County.Alawwasthenenactedthatajusticeshould ascertaintheboundaries,andDagworthy—along withWilliamEllegood,WilliamHolland,William PolkandJonthanBell—wasappointedacommissionertoconductelectionsforinspectionsandassessors.
AfterthedisagreementwithWashington, DagsworthyservedasbrigadiergeneraloftheSussex CountyMilitia,whichwasestablishedbytheState and,accordingtoCarter,wastheequivalentofthe modern-dayNationalGuard.
“Hisprimaryjobwastokeeptheloyalistsin check,”CartersaidofDagworthy’sresponsibilitiesas brigadiergeneral.“Itwasestimatedthatmorethan halfoftheSussexCountypopulationwasproBritish.”
Untilhisdeathin1829,Dagworthycontinuedto spendtimeinDagsboroat“DagworthyMansion.”
Dagworthywasawarded forhisservice,lyingatthe headofPepper’sCreek,wasdeterminedtobepartof Delawarebyboundary-linesurveysin1767.In1774, the20,393acreswerere-surveyedunderJohnPenn anddeemed“Dagworthy’sConquest.”
Apostcarddepicts PrinceGeorge’s Chapelinthe1900s.
Imagecourtesy SandieGerken
“Itwasabeautifulhome,fromthepicturesI have,”saidDagsboronativeSandieGerken,whose familyowned theClaytoneatreandwhoauthoredthebook“MemoriesoftheClaytoneatre: ALookBack.”
“Itwasalowone-storyshinglebuilding,made ofcypressshingles.ItsatbacktowardPepper’s CreekandfacedsouthtowardPrinceGeorge’s Chapel.”
Dagworthywaseventuallyburiedatthe chapel,whichisoneofthetown’soldestlandmarksandoneoftheoldestchurchesinthe UnitedStates.
Builtin1755,thechapelwasreceivedbythe WorcesterParishoftheChurchofEnglandonJune 30,1757—whentheareawasstillconsidered tobea partofMaryland.NamedafterPrinceGeorgeof England,wholaterbecameKingGeorgeIII,the chapelwasestablishedontwoacresofland.e
See Past page8
continuedfrompage6
churchwasoriginallybuilttocatertoresidentswho weren’tabletomakeittoSt.Martin’sChurchin WorcesterCounty,Md.
“[It]servedthoseresidentswholivedalongway fromSt.Martin’sandcouldn’tgetthereonSundays,” Cartersaid.
Lessthan100yearsafteritwasbuilt,however, thechapelbegantodeterioratesosignificantlythatit putanendtoregularservices atthechurch.Itinstead begantobeusedprimarilyas ahistoricalsitebytheEpiscopalDioceseofDelaware, withtheoccasionalservice held.
“Ithadafireintheearly 1800s,andaportionofthe originalbuildingwasdestroyed,”Carterexplained. “eydidtheirbesttorestoreittoitspre-fireappearance.”
Itwasn’tuntil1928that theSussexCountyLaymen’s Leaguelaunchedacomplete restorationproject,andon June30,1929,thechurch wasrededicated.Morerenovationswereimplementedin 1967,whentheStateof Delawarepurchasedthe property,andin1971the chapelwaslistedontheNationalRegisterofHistoric Places.
Aneraofmovies, drive-insandfamily
Manyoldfamily namesarestill foundinDagbsoro, decendantsofthose whoownedhomes inthis1925map ofdowntown Dagsboro. Imagecourtesy
DelawarePublic Archives
etheaterwasstartedbyAlvin“Skeet”CampbellandElwood“Pete”Hancock,whowereencouragedtogetintothemoviebusinessbyReese Harrington,whoownedatheaterinHarrington,Del. Originally,ticketscost50centsforadultsand20 centsforchildren,increasingto60centsforadultsand 40centsforchildreninthelate1960s,andcontinuing torisewithinflationthroughouttheyears.
etheateralsoputonlivestageshowsinthe 1950s.Itonceincorporatedasodafountaincalledthe ClaytonCutRateLuncheonette,whichwaslocated inastorefrontconnectedtothetheaterandoffered milkshakes,candy,chips andothersnacks.
Anothertreasuredandwell-knownlandmarkof thetownistheClaytoneatre—asingle-screen movietheaterthatopenedonFeb.2,1949,withthe film“OneTouchofVenus”featuringAvaGardner.
“eClaytoneatrewasalwaysbigon FridayandSaturday night,”recalledattorney andlifelongDagsboro residentSteveParsons. “SkeetCampbelland PeteHancockwere brothers-in-law.ey usedtotellus,‘Youboys gonnaberowdytonight, youcanjustkeepwalkingrightoutthedoor.’”
etheaterwas namedafteroneofthe town’smorenotablehistoricfigures,JohnM. Clayton,whoservedasa UnitedStatessenator andasthe18thUnited StatesSecretaryofState, fromMarch81849to July22,1850.
Amemberofthe DelawareWhigParty, Claytonwasconsidered askilleddebaterandis wellknownforhis speechdeliveredintheSenateonJune,15,1854,vetoingtheBillfortheBenefitoftheIndigentInsane, whichwouldhaveusedpubliclandtoincorporatean insaneasylum.HealsoproposedtheKansas-Ne-
braskaActof1854, whichdividedtheterritoriesofKansasandNebraska.
etownalsoused tohaveitsowngrocery store,theHudsonBro’s Grocery,whicheventuallybecameBud’sIGAin 1985.
“Itwasaplacewhere alotoftheadultsintown wouldhangoutandsolve alltheworld’sproblems bytalkingaboutthem overthepicklebarrel,”recalledChancellorWilliamB. ChandlerIII,whosegreat-grandparentswerethefirst generationtoliveinDagsboro.
ebuildingthatisnowDagsboroAntiques Gallerywasoncehometoaduckpinbowlingalley andpoolhall,andthereevenusedtobeadrive-in restaurantlocatedneartheintersectionofIron
BranchandMainStreet, calledtheS&J,thatwas startedbyElmerLayfieldin1956.
“Itwasahoppin’ place,”Parsonssaid,describingthedrive-in.
“ereusedtobea crowdofpeopleinthe heydayofrock-n-roll.” AccordingtoParsons, LayfieldnamedtheS&J afterhiskids,Jack,StanleyandJimmy.
“Everybody,ona FridayorSaturdaynight,wasdrivingtheirhotrods aroundandaroundtheClaytoneatre,pullingup totheS&J,”Chandlerrecalled.“Waitresseswould comeoutandputitonatrayoutsideofyourcar,and you’deat.”
BessieHitchens,whohaslivedforthepast62
yearsinthesamehomeonthehighwaynearthecurrentSavannahSquareShoppingCenter,remembersa timewhenshewasoutsidetownlimits.
“Whenwemovedhere,wedidn’tpaytaxestothe town,”Hitchens,whohadawellandcesspoolatthe time,explained.Eventually,shesaid,“Wehadtohook uptotownwaterandsewerandpaytowntaxes.”
Chandlerremembersthosedaysfondly,aswell.
“Everyonekneweveryoneand,more,everyone wasrelatedtooneanother,”herecalled.“Asaboy,I
Aflyerfora HarvestHome Dayeventat PrinceGeorge’s Chapelfrom1936.
Imagecourtesy
SandieGerken
anddownMainStreet,unsupervised,onthestreet,in themiddleoftheday,doingfigure-8s.attellsyou somethingaboutwhatthetrafficwaslike.”
Inthe1980s,Chandlernoticedachangeinthe town,however.Aftergoingawaytolawschool,clerkingforafederaljudgeandteachinginAlabama,hereturnedhometofindachanginglandscape,more trafficandnewhomesbeingbuilt.
“Ithought,‘Wow—thingshavereallychanged heredramatically.’Suddenly,whereIthoughtthere wasafarmbeforeandI’dhunted onit,nowtherewere abunchofhouses.”
Chandlerattributedthegrowingpopulationto retireeschoosingDagsboroforitslowtaxrate andrelativelylowcostofliving.
emainindustryintownusedtobesupplyingchickensandfeed.StandardSupplyCompany,Daisey&Tingle,C.W.Steen’sFeedStore andE.P.WestweresomeofthebusinessesrunningtheshowuntilFrankPurdueshowedupin thelate1960s.
“It’sgenerallyagreedthatheputthepoultrybusinessintothebig-time,”Parsonsacknowledged.“DagsboroandFrankfordand surroundingareasusedtobeknownasthe poultry-providingplace.”
Newhighschoolcreatescohesion, legacyofathleticsuccess
Today,DagsborolieswithintheIndian RiverSchoolDistrictandishometoIndian RiverHighSchool.edistrictwasestablishedin1968,afteraconsolidationof smallerdistricts,includingtheSelbyville, Frankford,Dagsboro,LordBaltimore, MillsboroandGeorgetowndistricts.
IRHSwasestablishedbytheconsolidationoftheJohnM.ClaytonandLord Baltimorehighschools—housedthenin schoolbuildingsthatnowservesolelyas elementaryschools.Formedinthelate 1960s,thehighschoolneverencounteredracialsegregation.
“erewasanintenserivalry,” Chandlerrecalledofthesituationbeforetheconsolidation.“Icanremember
backwhenIwasin11thgrade,whenthenewswasmadeknown thatthesetwoschoolsweregoingtobeconsolidated.erewasa lotofangstamongmyfriends.Wewererivals.Wewerecompetitors.
“WelikedtodatethegirlsfromLordBaltimore,butwe didn’tcareathingabouttheguys,”hecontinuedwithalaugh.
efirstgraduatingclassoftheJohnM.Claytonschoolin 1934.SandieGerken’sfather,PeteHancock,seatedfirston theleft,andmother,Marian,isfifthfromtheleft,weretwo ofthe16graduates.Gerkengraduated30yearslater, withaclassof32students.
CourtesySandieGerken
Sandy’s DocksideFootwear MEN’S & LADIES’ SHOES continuedfrompage11
DuringhisjunioryearatJohnM.Clayton,Chandlerserved astheeditorfortheyearbook.Aftertheschoolsmerged,hewas joinedinthatrolebythepreviousyearbookeditorforLordBaltimore,GayleLynch,andthetwoservedasco-editorsfortheIndianRiveryearbookintheirsenioryear.
“Imetmywifeasaseniorinhighschool,”Chandlerdescribedofhowthehighschoolconsolidationnotonlyimpacted thetownbutimpactedtherestofhislife.“Weputtheyearbook togetherandputourselvestogether—gotmarried eventually, wenttoschooltogetherandjustcelebratedour40thweddinganniversary.”
In2006,theschoolmovedfromitslongtimeClaytonAvenuelocationtoabrandnewfacilityonArmoryRoad,toallow foranexpandingstudentbody.
eschoolhaswonsixDelawarestatesportschampionshipssinceitsinception,mostrecentlywinningthefirst-ever DIAADivisionIIstatechampionshipforsoccerin2013.Indian River’sfirst-everstatechampionshipcamein1980,inbasketball,
withtheirsecondchampionshipcomingjusta yearlater,forbasketballagain,in1981.ey alsowonasoftballchampionshipin1998.
IndianRiver’sfootballprogramoriginated in1963,whentheschoolworepurple-and-gold astheJohnM.ClaytonBears,butthey wouldn’twinastatechampionshiponthegridironuntil1988.WhentheteamofficiallybecameIndianRiverin1969,however,notonly didtheybegintowinfootballgamesunder theschool’sfirst-everheadcoach,Graham Dill,buttheybecamethecatalystthat broughttogetherthetworivalhighschools duringChandler’ssenioryear.
“Whatgalvanizedtheschoolsand broughtthemtogetherwasthefootballteam,”Chandlerexplained.“esetwomediocreteamscametogetherandplayedasoneteam,andwewonthe HenlopenConferencechampionship.
Aphotographof PrinceGeorge’s Chapelintheearly 1900s.
“Wewereundefeatedfortheentireseason.e spiritintheschooltookoff—itwasignitedbythe footballteambeingsosuccessful.Ithelpedthetwo
Photocourtesy DickCarter
Jayne’sRELIABLE dentsgetovertheirrivalry andbecomeunitedasIndianRiverIndians.”
Parsons,whoattendedJohnM.Claytonfrom firstto12thgrades,alsorememberstheoldteambeforeitwasabsorbedbyIR.
Dagsboro here &now the Althoughitmayhaveasmall-townfeel, thetownofDagsboroispoisedforgrowth.
“It’sgrowingagain.It’sgrowingnow,”saidMayorBrad Connor.“ebusinessesarecoming.eeconomyisgettingbetter. ere’stheshoppingcenteroutsideoftown.erearethingshappeningeveryday,peoplecomingin.Alotofnewdevelopmentsarecoming back.Developersarelookingatthetownagain.Andwehavetheinfrastructuretomakeithappen.”
AccordingtotheUnitedStatesCensusBureau,in2010,the townhadatotalareaof2.3squaremiles,with805residents.Butinthe 10yearsbetweenthe2000and2010census,thetown’spopulation grewby55percent,andcontinuestogrow.
“WhenIfirstcamehere,thetowndidn’thaveanyinfrastructure,” saidConnor.“erewasnowaterorsewer.atwasveryneeded. atwasthebiggestchangeandallowedfordevelopmentandalotof thechangesintown.”
Connorsaidthetownsewersystemwasinstalledin1998,followedbyitswatersystemin2005.
“Itwaslotsandlotsofveryhardwork.Wewereabletoget97percentfederalfunding,whichkepttheratesdown.Wewereabletowork withFrankfordtocreatetheDagsboro-Frankfordsewersystem,”he said.“Itallowedforgrowthandallowedforpeopletohavequality waterandsewer.”
Inordertomeettheneedsofthegrowingpopulationofthetown, theDagsboroPoliceDepartmenthasalsogrowninrecentyears.
Asignmarks
Routes20and26 astravelerspass throughDagsboro.
Photoby LauraWalter
“WhenIcameonsevenyearsago,therewereonly twoofficers,”saidPoliceChiefFloydToomey,noting thedepartmentcurrentlyhasfourfull-timeofficersand acanineofficer.“Ithinkthepastandcurrenttowncouncilshavebeenveryproactiveinprotectingtheircitizens andencouraginggrowthofthepoliceforce.”
“Wehaveaverygoodpoliceforcethatdoesan excellentjob,”addedConnor.“Weprovidealot ofgoodservices.”
enewfirehall,locatedonClaytonStreet,hasbeenalongtimecoming,accordingtoDagsboro VolunteerFireCompanyPresident AlTownsend.enewlocation, whichcanholdupto20apparatuses—sevenmorethanthedepartment’scurrentfleet—leavessubstantialroomto growfromtheformerWaplesStreetlocation.
“It’safabulousbuildingandsomethingeveryone canbeproudof,”saidConnor.“Itjustamazedme.It’sall thelatesttechnology.eyhaveallthelatestgeothermal.It’ssomethingtobeproudof.”
Astained-glass windowabove thedoorofthe currenttownhall. ebuilding originallyservedas thetown’spost officeandlater bank.
Photoby MariaCounts
Townsendsaidthedepartmentstartedraisingthe fundsforthenewhall28yearsagobecausethemembersknewtheywouldeventuallyoutgrowtheWaples Streetlocation.
“[I]hopewedon’thavetorebuildinmylifetime,” saidTownsendwithalaugh.
enewhallwillbecompletedinmid-March, andthedepartmentplanstomoveintothefacility inApril.
MattGajdos,publicinformationofficerandsecretaryfortheDVFC,saidthat, inrecentyears,therehasbeensubstantial populationgrowthbetweenthetownand thedepartment’sfiredistrict.
“We’reinapositionwherethere’sa fairamountofinfrastructure,”hesaid, addingthat,onaverage,thereisa13percentincrease eachyearinthenumberofambulancecalls,withfire callsstayingsteady,averagingapproximately150calls annually.
See Present page16
TownAdministratorStaceyLongsaidthat,currently,thetownhasapproximately45businesses,with about10ofthosebeingrunoutofaresident’shome.
thebusiness,theywereveryreceptivetousandhave beennothingbutreceptiveovertheyears.Ithinkthat’s whatmakesitsogreat.It’ssuchawonderfulsmall-town atmosphere.”
Ithinkit’sa beautifulquaintlittle townthatisgrowing andprosperous. —Chancellor BillChandlerIII, lifelongresident
isyear,theClaytonupdateditsfilmequipment, anditwillnowshowfilmsusingdigitalprojection, ratherthan35mmfilm,followingayearlonggrassroots fundraisingcampaign.HowesaidthatitwasthegenerosityoftheresidentsofDagsboroandneighboring communitiesthatmadethetransitionpossible.
“Ifyouneedhelp,peoplewillbendoverbackward tohelpyouout.It’shardtofindplaceslikethat.People pickyouup…andcelebratethegoodtimes,”saidGajdosofDagsbororesidents.
outgoing,”said Claytoneatre HoweaddedthatDagsboroistheperfecttownfor suchatheater,notingthatsomanypeoplehaveembracedtheClaytonovertheyears.
“Dagsboroissuchagreatlocation.Wegetpeople fromOceanView,Selbyville.Wegoasfarnorthas LewesandasfarsouthasBerlin(Md.).Weevenhave peoplewhocomeinfromtheSalisbury(Md.)area. Everyonethatcomestothetheaterhasreceiveduswith
openarmsandhasbeensogenerousandsupportive overtheyears.It’sjustahappyatmosphere.”
“Ijustthinkit’saverysmall-townatmosphere,” addedConnor,notingthatthetownisjust10minutes fromthebeach.“Everybodyknowseverybody.Everybodyworkstogether.Everybodyisfriendly.Youhave thesmallmovietheater.Whenitwasinneedoffunds togodigital,everybodypulledtogethertodofundraiserstohelpgettheequipmentforittohappen.”
RetiredDelawareCourtofChanceryChancellor WilliamB.ChandlerIII,whowasbornandraisedin Dagsboro,saidthetownhaschangedovertheyears, withfewerresidentsknowingoneandother.
“etownhasgrownsinceIwasaboy,butnot dramatically.Ithasgrownandexpanded,”hesaid.“It’s notascloseatowninthesensethateveryoneknows everyone.Istillknowafewpeopleandafewpeople knowme,butitdoesn’thavethatsameclosefeelas whenIwasgrowingup,whenliterallyeveryonewould drivebyandtootthehornandsay,‘Hi,Billy!How’s yourmomanddad?’osedaysaregone.
“It’salsomoreofatransitroute,”hesaid.“It’ssome-
—MarjorieEckerd, councilwoman
wherepeoplegothroughgettingwheretheyreallywant tobe,whichisOceanCity,Md.,orBethanyorMillsboroorDover.ey’reontheirwaysomeplace,sothey gothroughDagsboro.Itjustaddstothesenseof:it’snot astoppingpoint—it’smoreofa‘Youhavetogo throughDagsborotogettoFenwick.’etownhasless ofafeelofcommunity.”
Connorsaidthecharmofthetownisinitssmalltownfeel—whichmanypeopleareseekingout.
“It’sjustaquainttown,”hesaid.“Evenwiththedevelopment,anditsfuturegrowth,peoplewantthe small-townatmosphere.eydon’twantthehugecity life.eywantthesmall-townatmosphere,whichthe downtownareadoesprovide.Ithinkwe’reontheright path.Allareaswentthroughsomeroughtimeswith theeconomy,andit’sstillnotthegreatest,butit’sall comingbacknow.”
Asidefromitsgrowingnumberofbusinesses, DagsborohasKatieHelmPark,whichboastsapproximately2.3acresthatincludeawalkingpathandplay-
Tomorrow’stown: ‘Bigopportunitieswithsmall-towncharm’ Dagsborohascastitseyeexpectantlytowardthe future,walkingatightropebetweencontrolled growthandcontinuedcharm.
“Ithinkwe’reinanabsoluteperfectspottogrowina verysmartway—nottoobig,nottoosmall,”saidMayor BradConnor,“tobringprosperity…withoutchanging thedynamicsoftheclose-knitcommunitythatwehave.”
Dagsboroispoisedtogrow,inpartbecausethe beachpopulationisslowlymovinginland.Whilethe oceanremainsinBethanyBeach,SouthBethanyand FenwickIsland,thewavesoftrafficpassoverDagsboro, andnewresidentsseekhomesneartheshorebutwith moreaffordability.
“GrowthwithinandaroundDagsboroistobeexpected,”readsthe2009DagsboroComprehensivePlan. “However,theresidentswouldliketomaintainthesmalltownatmospherewhilegrowthoccurs.”
Dagsborocouldeventuallydoubleinsize,with782 acresofpossibleannexation.In2009,the900-acretown haditseyeon560newresidential acres,155commercially-zoned acresand67acresforinstitutionaluse.
After28yearsof planning,the
Dagsboro VolunteerFire Departmentgets roomtogrowas theircoveragearea expands.Oncethe siteofatomatopackingplant,the ClaytonStreetsite hasquickhighway access,althougha potentialRoute 113bypasscould somedayextend drivingdistances.
Photoby MariaCounts
Butwhatgoodisnewhousingifthewatersupply can’tkeepup?Howdoesatownpayfornewroadsif businessdoesn’tflocktoit? Dagsboro’schallengewillbe tomanagegrowthwithoutleavinganyonehanging.
“Keepingupwithgrowthisalwaysachallenge, beingaheadofthatcurve,”saidPoliceChiefFloyd ToomeyJr.“Youdon’twantthegrowthtohappentoo soonandyou’renotpreparedforit.
“ere’sabalancethere,butIthinkweknowhowto doit,”saidConnor,“andareintheprocessofdoingitaswe speak.”
Whilesingle-familyhomesaremoretraditional, townhouseswilllikelyfillmoredevelopmentsinthefuture.
“Forlackofabetterterm,they’rejustwaitingfora breakintheeconomy,”saidToomey.
“Iwouldlovetoseeusgetmorebusinessesintown.I knowthenewtowncouncilisgoingtohelppushfor that,whichIthinkisareallygreatthing,”said
JoanneHowe,owneroftheClaytoneatre.“It’djustbe nicetohavesomevarietyinthetown.”
Fromofficebuildingstootherservices,agrowing businessdistrictattractsevenmoreentrepreneurs.
“We’retryingtocreatejobsandbringinfamiliesand showwhatithasalwaysbeen:agreatfamily-centered townwhereeverybodyworkstogether,”Connorsaid.
DinnertimeonMainStreetcanbeachallenge,since manyofthedowntownrestaurantsofthepasthave closed.ResidentslongforauniqueMainStreeteateryor acafécushionedonthesmalltwo-laneroads.
“Wewanttogivepeopleareasontostop.Wegeta lotoftrafficthroughtown,butIthinkwekindofneedto doabetterjobofgivingthemsomeplacestostop,”said CouncilmanBrianBaull.
“Ifanythingnewcomesin,itreallyneedstofitwith ourhistorictown,”saidCouncilwomanMarjorieEckerd, whowantstocarefullysculptanactivehistoricdistrict, withclassicbusinessesandpreservedsites.osekinds ofguidelinesareintendedtoensureDagsborowon’tlose itsidentityasasmall,friendlyneighborhoodwithaccess toothernearbytowns.
“IhopethetowntobealittlelikeBerlin,Md.,and St.Michaels(Md.).IhopeDagsboroturnsouttobea placelikethat,”saidEckerd.
“Ithasthesmall-towncharmoftheMainStreet areathere,butitalsohasthemodemconveniences,as well,”Baulladded.
“Wewalkeverywhere,ratherthantakeourcarto thepostoffice,…tothebank,”saidEckerd,describing Dagsboro’swalkability.
TownHallitselfneedsroomtostretchitslegs, squeezedonMainStreetnexttotheDagsboroPolice Department.Inthefuture,Dagsboroofficialssaidthey
hopetomovethoseofficesandPublicWorkstoalarge facility,perhapsinthe(soon-to-be)formerfirehallon WaplesStreet,withroomtohostcouncilmeetingsonsite.
“atbuildingwastheoldbank,yearsandyears ago.It’sahistoricspot,”saidConnor.
Ithinkit’sanicetown. It’sasafetown. Ithinkit’sbetterthan someother[options alongthehighway]. Thetownhasbeen verysusceptibleto thingswe’vewanted todoattheshopping center.Ihopetoadd morethingsthatwill makepeoplewantto cometoDagsboro.’
—SteveDoyle, ownerofSavannah SquareShopping Center
Grantmoneyhashelpedpayforsometownprojectsandcouldhelpwiththatone,too.
Meanwhile,peoplemightwelcomefast-foodor chainrestaurantsonthehighway.
SteveDoyleperchedhisSavannahSquareShoppingCenterattheedgeoftownonRoute113.He,of course,hopestofinishfillingtheunitsbutsaid,“ere hastobecontinuedgrowth”formorebusinessestocome andthrive.
BessieHitchens,wholivesbehindtheshoppingcenter,cangrabbasicgroceriesattheDollarGeneral.
“Iwashopingtherewouldbeagrocerystore,butit wouldn’tdomuch[business],soIdon’tblamethem”for notbuilding,shesaid.Dagsborohascomealongway frombeingatownwithfivegrocerystores.
Residentswouldalsoliketoseealibrary,medical centerandmoregreenspace,suchasparksorbikepaths.
Botanicgardenbringingartisticagriculture
Anemptychunkoflandmayholdthekeyto Delaware’sgreenestgrowth:theDelawareBotanicGardensatPepperCreek.Delaware’sfirstflagshipbotanical gardenwillbelocated1.5milesdownPineyNeckRoad, whichstretchesquietlytowardPepperCreek,awestern tributaryofIndianRiverBay.
“isisgoingtobeaworld-classbotanicgarden,”
We’re ready to grow! Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek will celebrate nature’s beauty, delight & educate visitors, and preserve Delmarva’s natural ecosystems. With your support and help we will create a unique, sustainable, accessible world-class botanic garden for Delaware. Join us now as we start to grow. For more information please visit us at www.delawaregardens.org facebook.com/delawaregargens
efutureis bloomingat
saidSherylSwed,executivedirectorofthenonprofit SouthernDelawareBotanicGardensgroup.
eSussexCountyLandTrusthadpreserved37 acresasopenspacebutwillleasetheminserviceofits aimto“createaworld-class,inspirational,educationaland sustainablepublicbotanicgardeninSouthernDelaware forthebenefitandenjoymentofthepublic.”
“etopographyisuniqueforSussexCounty,”said RaySander,SDBGboardmember.
Ararehillwithhardwoodforestslopesdownto wetlandmarshand1,010feetofwaterfrontonPepper Creek.LocatedbetweenthewarmerclimeofRichmond, Va.,andcoolerenvironsofLongwoodGardensinPennsylvania,Dagsborohasroomtogrowinterestingplants —specifically,10,000treesandshrubs,150,000perennialplants,600,000bulbsand100,000nativeplants.
enonprofitgrouphopestoofferpublicclasses thereforchildrenandadults,aswellasmultiplegardens,
DelawareBotanic Gardens.issite planshowsthe gardensand waterwaysthatwill boostDagsboro’s futureforlocals andvisitersas adestination location.
ponds,avisitorcenter,theater,naturecenterandmore.
Withayear-roundindoorconservatory,thegardens andDagsborocouldblossominto“afull-servicestopfor families,vacationersandfull-timeresidents.Ithinkitwill bearealattractiontothosewholiveherefulltime,” Sandersaid.
enearestbotanicalgardensareatleasttwohours away,inKennettSquare,Pa.,MontgomeryCounty,Md., andNorfolk,Va.
“Touristsandalotoflocalsarelookingforwardtoit. It’sgoingtodonothingbutenhancethetown,”Connor saidoftheproject.
“IfyoudrivethroughDagsboro,there’stheClayton eatreandsomewonderfulantiquestores…”butthe gardenscouldbethestickingpointforpassingmotorists, Sandernoted.“IthinkthiswillmakeDagsboroadestination.PeoplewillbegoingtoDagsborotogotothegardens.Peoplewillbestoppingontheway,”hesaid, expressinghopesthatpeoplewillmakeafull-servicetrip tonewrestaurantsandamenitiesintown.
See Future page22
egroupestimateshiringmorethan100people toworkonthegardensinthenext10years,withthepotentialtocreateanother345indirectjobs(construction, maintenanceandplantorfoodvendors).
Eventually,84,000visitorscouldinject$33million annuallyintothelocaleconomy.(Althoughthey’re “prettyconfident”aboutthosenumbers,Sandersaidprofessionalanalystsarenowofficiallystudyingthegarden’s potentialimpactonDelaware.)
Rightnow,thegroupistweakingitssiteplansand fundraising.
enextstepisOperation“OpentheGarden Gates.”e$7millionpricetagwillallowforgroundbreakinginautumnof2014andapartialgardencompletedin2016.
Visitorsmayseeathirdofthegroundsopenasearly asJune20,2016,(thesummersolstice),whenthefirst phaseofgardeningiscomplete,includingacanalwith
Ofcourse,peopleare alreadyinterested. Onepersonhas alreadyaskedtohost aweddingthere. (Theymighthaveto waitafewyearsfor theflat-bottomedboat tours,boardwalktrails andwaterfalls.
freshwaterplantsandtemporarybuildings.
“Weneedtoshowpeoplethebenefitofhavinga botanicgardenandgetthemexcited,”Sandersaid.
Ofcourse,peoplearealreadyinterested.Onepersonhasalreadyaskedtohostaweddingthere.(ey mayhavetowaitafewyearsfortheflat-bottomedboat tours,boardwalktrailsandwaterfalls.)
enonprofitisalsoinvitingothervolunteersto join,andtheythankedthecommunityforexistingsupport.
“esefolkshavejustbeenterrific,”Sandersaid.“It’s justenabledus,withaverysmallbudget,todowhat we’vedonein[just]twoyears.”
“atgrouphasatonofenergy.It’sagreatfind,and everybodyseemsveryexcited,”Connorsaid.“Ican’tsay anythingbutpositivethingsaboutthewholething.”
“It’salegacyproject.It’sgoingtotake10years,” Sandersaid.“We’reveryhappytobedoingthistotryto makeourstateandSussexCountyanevenbetterplace.”
Bypassingthetraffic
Buteverynewbusinessandfamilybringsmoretraffictothearea Plus,asamainroadtothreebeaches,
Dagsboroalreadyfiltersadailyaverageof18,000cars thoughMainStreetat25mph,accordingtothecomprehensiveplan.
estreetswerenotdesignedtobemajorthoroughfares—justaccessroadstohomesandbusinesses —sobeach-boundtrafficsometimesclogstheroads, makingittoughforlocalstoaccesstownservices.
WhilesomepeoplehavebeenconcernedthatMain StreetwilldiewithaproposedtrafficbypassforRoute 113,thecomprehensiveplansaidsuchheavytrafficactually“discouragesmanypeoplefromstoppingtofrequent businessesintown”becausethey’rejusttryingtopassthe congestion.
eBlueRoute
Dagsboro’sbiggestchangebeganin2001andmight arrivein30years,50yearsorperhapsnever.Aquestion markhoversoverthepotential“BlueAlternative,”anew highwayroute“preferred”byDelawareDepartmentof Transportation.eproposedRoute113bypasswould splitfromtheexistinghighwaynorthofMillsboro,swing eastward—eastofDagsboro—andrejointhehighway
It’snosecretthat Sussexroadsare swampedwith summertimetravelers, especiallyasthe beachseasonlasts longereachyear. Dagsborocanseem likeacontinuousriver ofcarsanddelivery trucksatsometimesin thesummer.
justsouthofFrankford.
It’snosecretthatSussexroadsareswampedwith summertimetravelers,especiallyasthebeachseasonlasts longereachyear.Dagsborocanseemlikeacontinuous riverofcarsanddeliverytrucksatsometimesinthesummer.DelDOTexpectstrafficvolumetoincreasedramatically,sotoday’ssummertimehighcouldbethe year-roundnormby2030,andthensummervolumes couldincreaseitasmuchas35percent.
Tohelp,in2000,then-stateSen.GeorgeBuntingJr. calledonDelDOTtodeterminethefeasibilityandcost ofanewnorth-southlimited-accesshighwaybetween MilfordandtheMaryland-Delawareborder.
In2013,DelDOTreleasedaDraftEnvironmental ImpactStatement(DEIS),shiningaspotlightonthe preferred16.5-mileBlueAlternative,whichwraps aroundMillsboro,DagsboroandFrankfordandalso givesfaceliftstoRoutes24,26and54.
eDEISstudiedfivepossiblealternatives,plusa no-buildoption.
ES Motors Future Specifically,thenewbypasswouldbeginjustnorth ofMillsboro’sRoute20;swingsoutheastacrossRoute 24,aroundtheMountairepoultryplant;crosstheIndian RiverintoDagsboro,almostparalleltoPowerPlant Road;crossRoute26aboutathirdofamileeastofthe PrinceGeorge’sChurchintersection;wrapslightly aroundtheArmoryandIndianRiverHighSchool;and cutaroundFrankfordtotheeast;andrejointheexisting highwayjustsouthofLazyLagoonRoad.PartofSelbyville’sexistingroadswouldalsobecomelimited-access.
Someroadswouldbereshapedtobetterfitunder thefreeway,includingPineyNeckRoadandArmory Road,sometimesleavingdeadendsbehind.Biggerroads wouldneedon-andoff-ramps.
AnewRoute26
LocatedbetweenMillsboroandDagsboro,theintersectionofRoutes20and113hasactuallyreceiveda
So,aRoute26bypass wouldavoiddowntown Dagsboro.Thebrand new2.3-mileroad wouldswingsouthof town,crossingtheexistingRoute113just southofwhereClayton Streetdoesnow.
gradeofD,whichwasbarely“acceptable”in2003,but trafficisgettingworse.
IftheBlueRoutewasconstructed,Millsboro’s Route113to24bypasswouldbefirsttobecompleted, followedbyaRoute26bypass.(Everythingelsewould bedonefromnorthtosouth,asfundingisavailable).
So,aRoute26bypasswouldavoiddowntown Dagsboro.ebrandnew2.3-mileroadwouldswing southoftown,crossingtheexistingRoute113justsouth ofwhereClaytonStreetdoesnow.Acrossthehighway,it wouldrejoinNineFootRoadashortdistancein.Large circularon-rampswouldtransfercarsbetweenthehighways.VinesCreekRoadwouldbecomeadeadendjust outsideoftownlimits,nearthenewRoute113overpass.
“Itispossiblethatitwilldeterthetouristtrafficfrom usingthesmallerroadstogettothesouthernbeachareas andmovethemontothelarger,lesscongestedroads,”itis notedinthecomprehensiveplan,whileprovidingroom downtowntobuildapedestrian-friendlydistrict. econcerns
Justbecausethetrafficwouldbediverteddoesn’t meanpeoplearehappyaboutit.
eoverallBlueAlternativeimpacts71totalproperties(52residential,10commercialandnineagricultural).at’sonthelowside,residentiallyand commercially,comparedtotheotherproposedroutes, butonthehigherendforagriculturalimpact.
Peoplesharedtheirfrustrationwiththeideaat publichearingsinlate2013.
“Youcan’treplacefarmland.DelDOT’snotgoing topayusenough,”saidfarmerPaulParsonsofDagsboro.“IfGeorgetownandSelbyvillecangeton-alignment,whycan’twe?”
Severalofhisfamily’sfarmswouldbeshreddedby thebypass,hesaid,whileotherpartsofSussexjustgeta widerhighwayinsteadofabypass.
Hisrelative,BlairParsons,saidaDelDOTemployeehadtoldher,“‘Whenwemakethesedecisions, we’rejustlookingatlinesonamap.Wedon’tknowthat thesearefamilyfarms.’Wearenotjustlinesonamap,” Parsonssaid.“esearehomes,farmsandbusinesses, manyofwhichhavebeenpassedonfromgenerationto generation.Andwhenyoustartrunningroadsthrough themiddleofthem,youareruiningpeople’slives.”
FirefightersAllenTownsendandMattGajdossaid thebypasscouldalsoaffectemergencyresponsetime, becausetheirentireserviceareawouldbecut“right throughthemiddle”byalimited-accesshighway.With longerdrivingdistances,Gajdossaidhewasworried “We’llgethithardest.…Whatwillourresponsebe like?”
“IfBluegoesin,Icomeout,”saidDagsbororesident ChrisBrandt,whowouldlosehisSelbyvillebusinessat thenewRoute54interchange.HesaidtheStatewillre-
locatehimbutnotreimbursehimforanylossofbusiness.
“IfIknewthiswasgoingtohappen,Ineverwould havemovedthere.Ijustmovedawayfrompollution, noise…andwe’regoingthroughitagainwith113,”said EllenMoreikoofDagsboro.“It’sfortheconvenienceof thetourists.Ilearnedmywayaround.Weshouldnot havetodealwiththisbigbehemothofaproject.…ey don’thaveenoughmoneytopayformaintenanceof roadsnow.”
efirstBluesteps Iftheplanisapproved,Millsborowouldbeconsideredthefirst“priority”forbuildingbecausetrafficbottlenecksheavilyfromRoute113toeastboundRoute24.
ButsouthofMillsboro,avocalgroupwantsnothingmorethan“on-alignment”improvementstotheexistinghighway.
efederalgovernmentwouldpayfor80percent ofthemajorhighwayproject,buttheyrequireDelDOTtocompleteaDEIS(whichwassubmitted), publichearingsandFinalEnvironmentalImpactStatement(FEIS)beforethey’llconsideranything.Ifanythingistobebuiltwithfederalfinancialaid,the documentmustbecompleted.
Afterthat,anythingelseisuptothepeople.Each legoftheprojectwouldneedapprovalandfundingfrom thestatelegislature.
“I’mhearingthereisadireneedforMillsboro,[especially]Route24,”stateSen.GeraldHockersaidinthe past.“WehavebeenassuredbythegovernorandSecretary[ShailenBhattofDelDOT]”thatthebypass wouldnotprogresssouthofMillsboro.ereisno fundingsouthofMillsboro.”
AlthoughlegislatorshavecautiouslywatchedDelDOTmoveforwardwiththeplan,theyareconcerned abouttheswordthatmaybehangingoverhead.
“Millsboro-Southisoneproject,”saidDelDOT’s AndrewBing.“Someareasarehigherpriority;someare lower.ForMillsborotogoforward,theenvironmental impactstatementmustbefinished.It’sallornothing.”
Ifthereisnopoliticalsupportforabypasssouthof Millsboronow,theStatecouldreconsidertheissuein 20years,or20yearsafterthat,butofficialshaveexpressedreliefthatatleastthecorridorwouldbeprotectedforthepossiblefuture—anotionthathasruffled feathers.
“Youplantodayfortomorrow.Nothinggetsbuilt today.Todayisnottheissue,”Bingsaid.“Historyshows, inDelaware,[ifyou]donotplan,donotprotectthings, theimpactbecomesgreaterandgreater.”
“ere’sstillacorridor,”PaulParsonsargued, addingthatpropertyvalueswoulddecreasewiththe threatofapossiblebypass.“Whataboutmychildren andgrandchildren?”
“It’salways[achallenge]dealingwithaprojectthe sizeofaBlueRouteproject[because]anythingthatbig impactssomanypeople,”saidBryanBehrens,DelDOT projectmanager.“It’sabigproject.Everybodyshould rightfullybeconcerned.”
eDEIShasbeensubmittedtofederalofficials. DelDOTwillincorporatepubliccommentsandfederal recommendationsintotheofficialplan,theFEIS.After that,designingthehighwaycouldbeafive-yearprocess.
Afterthat,itcouldbeanother10yearsbeforethenorthernbypassisconstructed.AnyworksouthofMillsboro seemstobe“when”and“if.”
Inthemeantime,Behrenssaidthereis“internaldiscussionofhowitgottobewhereitisnow.”
Stillfrustratedabouta“study”thatseemedtohave gottenoutofhand,locallegislatorsmetwithheadsof DelDOTandtheDepartmentofNaturalResources andEnvironmentalControl(DNREC)inDecember of2013.
SomeMillsboro-arearesidentswouldrathersee thehighwaycutthroughtheDoeBridgeNaturePreserve,ratherthanovermultiplebodiesofwater.
DelDOTagreedtoaskifthefederalgovernment wouldallowthebypasstocutacornerofthepreserveif protectedlandwassetasideelsewhere.
“Everyacreyoudestroy,youbuildtwo.Canyousee if[thefederalagencies]wouldentertainthat?”suggested stateRep.JohnAtkins.
DNRECnotedthatwildlifespeciesareat-risk.
“at’sthedisconnect.…Onceyouloseafarm, youloseitforever.Onceyouloseahouse,youloseitfor-
Ifthereisnopolitical supportforabypass now,theStatecould reconsidertheissuein 20years,or20years afterthat,butofficials haveexpressedrelief thatatleastthecorridorwouldbeprotected forthepossiblefuture —anotionthathas ruffledfeathers.
ever,”Atkinssaid.“Myjobisnottobuildhighways.My jobistoprotectmyconstituents.I’mhearingthatthey don’twantitoverMillsboroPond.…We’renotallin agreementonthecurrentpath.”
SodiscussionscontinuewiththeFederalHighway Administrationaboutalternativestothealternatives.
“Everyoneshouldstayawareandstayinformed aboutU.S.113-South,”Behrenssaid.“Idon’twantpeopletothinkDelDOTisnotlisteningtothem.Ifthey havequestions,Iencouragethemtoask.”
However,thereareconcretetrafficplansforthe nearfuture.OnRoute113,Dagsboro-boundtraffic backsupwhenturningleftontoRoute20,sothatturn lanewillbeextendedinautumnof2014.Route20may alsobewidenedtohelppreventbackupsontoRoute 113.
Outoftheclassroom Asfortheoverallfuture,“It’swhatyoumakeofit,” saidGajdos.“Ifyoudotherightplanningandresearch,
continuedfrompage27
youcanprettymuchturnanysituationintoagood thing.”
eDagsboroVolunteerFireCompanywasfortunateenoughtohaveplannedaheadbyseveraldecadesin buildinganewheadquarters.Butthey’llstillhavetraffic challengesinthe21stcentury.
Agrowingpopulationandbusinesscommunity meansmorecallsinthefuture,especiallyontheambulanceside,foranagingpopulation.
Aslighterrooftopconstructionreplacesheavy woodenbeams,firefighterscannotsafelylandontopof buildingsanymore.efiredepartmentmayaddanaerial(ladder)trucktothefleetthatwillprovideaplatform abovetheflames.
efirecompanybudgetsahead10yearsand brainstormsaheadby30years—andnotjustfinancially, saidDVFCPresidentAllenTownsend.
Recruitmentandretentionisachallengeformany firecompanies,saidGajdos.Dagsborohasbeenfortunateinattractingnewmembers,buthehopesSussex Countywilloffermorejobstokeeplocalkidslocal.
Juniormembers,“hopefully,gotocollegegetaneducation,”andthey,hopefully,alsohave“somethingtocome backto,”Gajdossaid.
“at’sthefuturedepartment,”saidTownsend, addingthatthefirecompanyalwayswelcomesvolunteersforfirefightingorauxiliarysupport.
Dagsboro’syouthalsohaveabiggerparttoplay throughoutthecommunity.Morethan900teenagers attendIndianRiverHighSchool—forsome,alsotheir
Whatalotofpeople likeaboutIndianRiver HighSchool andthedistrictisit’s acommunity-based school.Youcancome hereonaFridaynight tofootballgames.
—BennettMurray, IRHSPrincipal
parents’almamater.
“WhatalotofpeoplelikeaboutIndianRiverHigh Schoolandthedistrictisit’sacommunity-basedschool,” saidIRHSPrincipalBennettMurray.“Youcancome hereonaFridaynighttofootballgames,”andit’snotjust peoplewhohavechildrenontheteam.
IRHSofficialsalsowantmoreadultsintheclassroom,tappingintotheknowledgelocalpeoplehave— especiallyinthecareer-techdepartment.Somestudents wanttoopenarestaurant,becomeanurse,gointoagriculture,theynote.
“Arewepreparingthemthecorrectway?”Murray asked.“isareaisgrowinguplikewildfire.”
Withadvisorycommittees,businessprosmightinspireorguidestudentswhowanttobecomeentrepreneurs.IRHSalreadywishestheirgradswell,butthat kindofguidancecouldgivethemastrongerconnection totheircommunityandtherealworld.
“Iwouldliketobuildonthat,”Murraysaid.“Iwant toseeourorganizationsbemorepartofourcommunity, aswell.”
GroupsincludingtheHonorSociety,LeoClub, JROTCandtheIRHSbandarejustafewthatalready makeappearancesaroundSussexCounty,buthehopes communityservicewillbeatwo-waystreet,fromschool tocommunityandbackagain.
“We’vebeenfortunate.We’vealwayshadagood bond,butIthinkwecanmakeitevenbetter,”Murray said.“Wejustwanttoreturnthefavorbecausethecommunityhasdonesomuchforourschoolhere.”
Keepingtheclassicatmosphere
TheClaytonTheatre Theopeningofamodern movietheaterinDagsboro causedquiteastirand,in theeffortto‘packthe house,’patronsnearlytore thedoorsoffthehinges.
Builtin1948bybrothers-in-law
Alvin“Skeet”CampbellandElwood “Pete”Hancock,theClaytoneatre hasbeenshowingfirst-runmoviesinceits openingnightofFeb.2,1949.efirstmovie shownwas“OneTouchofVenus” starringAvaGardner.
eopeningofamodernmovietheaterin Dagsborocausedquiteastirand,intheeffortto “packthehouse,”patronsnearlytorethedoorsoffthe hinges.Hancock’swifehadherbrandnewalligator shoesruinedbytramplingfeet.
etheaterwasbuiltintheart- decostylepopularintheconstructionofmoviehousesinthe1930s and1940s,withthefrontexteriorfacedwithformstone,amasonrytechniquethatsimulatedactual stoneblocks.e“movies”becamethespottogofor familiesandyoungpeople,asavenuenotonlyfor movieviewingbutasasocialgatheringplacefor
Anearly photographofthe Claytoneatre andadmission tickets.
Courtesy SandieGerken
onthesouthendofthebuilding.iswasthetypical sodafountainoftheday,servingfood,fountain drinks,milkshakesandicecream,butalsopatent medicinesandsundries.
Moviegoerswouldpurchasetheircandyand drinksintheCutRate,sincethemovielobbyonly hadaself-servepopcornmachine.Teenswouldmeet afterschoolandsocializeovercolassippedwithtwo strawsbycouplesintheboothsthatlinedthewalls.
eClaytonhashadfourotherownersoverthe courseofits65yearsofcontinuousoperation.After
See Clayton page30
severalupgradestolighting,soundsystemanddécor, thetheaterstilllooksmuchthesameasitdidin 1949.
ecurrentowner,JoanneHowe,hassuccessfullybeenabletobringthetheaterintothedigital agewiththepurchaseofnewdigitalprojection equipmentnecessarytocontinuetoshowfirst-run movies.Grassrootsfundraisingmadetheconversionpossible.esurroundingcommunities continuetosupportDelaware’sonlyremaining single-screenmovietheaterstillinoperation.
Moviegoersofthepastdecadesrecall fondlytheirchildhooddaysofwatchingthe “cowboy”movieseveryweekend.Teensremembertheirfirstkiss,firstdateandthefun ofwatchingmovieswhilegiggling,socializingand,sometimes,gettingcaughttalking tooloud,throwingpopcornorothermischiefbySkeetCampellandhisflashlight.
Theoriginalprojectorsfrom1949havebeenin continuousoperationatthetheater,withonlyafew upgrades.Theseprojectorsarenowobsolete,asthe movieindustryhasgoneentirelydigitalasof2014. But onewillremainoperationalintheprojectionbooth,to showtheoccasional“film.” announcing theopening ofthenew Claytoneatre.
Parentsandkidsrememberdropping offthekidsonaFridaynighttobe“babysat”bySkeet andPeteforacoupleofhours.elobby“PopCorn Sez”self-vendingpopcornmachine,whichdispensed paperbagsofpoppedcornfor10cents,hasbeen mentionedasoneofthefavoritememoriesbymany, manypeoplewhohavepatronizedtheClaytonas kids.Today,theseyoungstersofthe’50s,’60s,and ’70sarenowtakingtheirgrandkidstoseemoviesat theClayton.
eoriginalprojectorsfrom1949havebeenin continuousoperationatthetheater,withonlyafew upgrades.eseprojectorsarenowobsolete,asthe movie industryhasgoneentirelydigitalasof2014. Butonewillremainoperationalintheprojection
Courtesy SandieGerken
toshowtheoccasional“film.”
epopularityoftheClaytoneatreasasingle-screenmoviehousecontinues.Touriststothe beachesfrequentthetheaterinthesummer.Inadditiontothenewestfirst-runmovies,theClaytonnow showsclassicmoviesfor$4onMondaynightsand WednesdaymatineesfromLaborDaythroughMemorialDayforthosewhoenjoythose“oldiesbut goodies.”
StorybySandieGerken,SpecialtotheCoastalPoint GerkenisthedaughterofPeteandMarianHancock. GerkensharesmoreongrowingupinDagsboro,readthestory atcoastalpoint.com/story_of_dagsboro.
groundequipment.
“Itgetsalotofuse,andpeopleliketouseit,”said Connor,addingthattheparkisdecoratedforthe FourthofJulyandhasanannualtree-lightingceremony inthewinter.“Peoplelovethat.”
“WiththeKatieHelmPark,wehavealovelywalkingpaththatsurroundsthepark,”saidCouncilwoman MarjorieEckerd.“We’rehopingthatwecangetsome restaurantsintotown,tostayintown,andwe’rehoping togetridoftheabandonedplacesinDagsboro.”
DagsbororesidentandaformermayorSteveParsonsnotedthatthetownhasbecomealocalhubofantiqueshopping,withsuchstoresasJayne’sReliable, DagsboroAntiqueCenterandBeachUniques.
“Ithinkthetownismoresusceptibletoaccepting growth.Yearsago,peoplewereagainstbiggrowth,”said SteveDoyle,ownerofSavannahSquareShopping Center,whichisattheedgeoftownlimitsonRoute
See Present page32
BeachUniquesinDagsboroisoneofthetown’s manyantiquestores.Inpreviousyearsthe buildingwasknownasChandler’sStore, whichhadthefirstrefrigerationunitintown todisplaymeat.
PhotobyMariaCounts
continuedfrompage31
113.“Asowneroftheshoppingcenter,Isawgrowth comingtotheareawithpotentialnewresidentialsubdivisions.”
Eckerd,whoservedonthetown’sPlanning& ZoningCommissionforsevenyears,saidthecommissiontriedtoimplementcontrolleddevelopment,sothat itwouldfitintothetown’shistoricatmosphere.
“WiththeexceptionmaybeofCea-Dag,Royal Farmsandthenewfirecompany,nothingelsehas changed.We’regoingtochangethat,”shesaid.“We’re hopingtoputinmoreconstructivedevelopment.We haveChapelCrossingandPepper’sCrossing—they areverymuchcontrolled;theylookniceandobserve thetreeordinances.”
KarenJayne,whoownsJayne’sReliablewithher husband,David,saidthattheychoseDagsborofor theirbusinessbecauseofitssmall-towncharmandits proximitytothebeach.
“It’sjustaquaintlittlefriendlytown.Wethoughtit wasagatewaytothebeachfrom113,andwefigured wewerealittlewayfromthebeachenoughtoservelocals,aswell,”shesaid.“Youcomeoffthehighwayfor yourtriptothebeach…Ithinkit’sagreattown.”
“It’snevergoingtobeametropolis,butit’sgoingto beaverysmalltownwhereeverybodyknowseverybodyandwithservicesthatwillprovideforeverybody,” addedConnor.“Everybodyisfriendly.Ifyouneedhelp fromanybody,they’llhelp.Yougointothebarbershop, everybodyknowsyou.Justthecommunityspiritisthe bestwayIcanexplainit.Iloveit.
“You’djustneverthoughtyou’dseeallthisgoing on…isisDagsboro,”hesaid.
“It’sbeenagreattown,”addedParsons.“Iwouldn’t wanttoliveanywhereelse.”
Tofutureresidentsofthetown,CouncilmanBrian Baullwouldliketosay,“Welcome.”
“‘Welcometothetown.It’sagreatplacetolive,and wehopeit’saplaceyouwanttoputdownyourroots,as well,”hesaid.
ByMariaCounts
“eJohnM.Claytonfootballteampracticedat acowpastureatmyhousetwoyearsbeforewegota footballfield,”herecalled.
InanothermilestoneforIndianRiverHigh School,in2011,theIndians’currentheadcoach,Ray Steele,tookoverandimplementedahurry-upoffense thatwasrunbyquarterbackJamieJarmon,who wouldgoontobecomeaMajorLeagueBaseball prospect.Jarmonranforthreetouchdownsandinterceptedtwopassesondefensetosolidifya35-13 championshipwinagainstCaravelAcademyandlock inaperfect 12-0seasonfortheIndians.
“Itwascertainlyanhonortobeabletofollowin thefootstepsofgreatcoacheslikeGrahamDill,Dale SteeleandJimBunting,”Steelestated.“esemen taughtmethatcoachingisnotallaboutwinningbut rather,moreimportantly,itisaboutdevelopingyoung menwithcharacterandintegrity.IonlyhopethatI
haveinsomewayhelpedtoaddtothegreatlegacy thatcoacheslikeDill,SteeleandBuntingcreated.”
“AtIndianRiver,weliketosay,‘Youplayfootball togetthechancetoplayinbiggamesforchampionships.’In2011,weearnedthatchance,andourkids steppedupandunitedacommunity,andthatresulted inastatechampionship,”Steeleadded.“esupport andenthusiasmfromthecommunitywasoverwhelmingandsomethingthattheteam—especially thekids—willneverforget.Wecanneverthankthe fansandentirecommunityenough.”
Today,Dagsbororemainsaquiet,family-oriented communitywithopportunityforsimilarlyorientedbusinessestoattractlocalsandongoing beach-boundtraffic.
enameDagsborohasstuck,ashavemanyof theprominentfamiliesthatoriginallysettledinthe area.AndIndianRiverHighSchoolcontinuesto growanddevelop,asdoestheproud,long-standing traditionofitsathleticprogram.
StorybyTrippColonell
Future Whateverhappens,Dagsboroofficialshopethe townstaystruetoitself.
“Iwouldonlyhopethat,withthegrowth,remains thatsmall-townattitudeandphysique—thatwemaintainthatatmosphereandattitude,”Toomeysaid.
ey’retakingastepintherightdirection.Town policehavefootandbicyclepatrolsinsummer,allowing officerstojustpopinandvisitbusinesses.Afewyears ago,theirbikepatrolevenarrivedatarobberyscenebeforethesquadcar.
“Ilikethesmallenvironment.Iliketogoout[driving]inmypolicecar,andpeoplearewavingandI’m wavingback,”Toomeysaid.
Hesaidhealsohopestoseethepolicedepartment accreditedasalaw-enforcementagency.
Dagsboromightseeamoreexcitingcalendarinthe future,too,asbrainstormingbeginsforaHalloweenor Christmasparade.
Dagsboromightseea moreexcitingcalendar inthefuture,too,as brainstormingbegins foraHalloweenor Christmasparade.
“We’reworkingonbringingbacksomethingsback fromyearspast,”Baullsaid.“Itbringspeopleintotown andletsussay,‘Hey—thisiswhatwe’reallabout.’”
“Myhopeisthetowncanbeprosperousandthe peoplelivingtherecantakeprideinlivinginasmallcommunity,”saidChancellorWilliamB.ChandlerIII.
“Ihopeitstaysjustlikeitis,”SteveParsonssaid.
Chandlerstillremembersthecharmofsleddingin Dagsboro.
“Aboutayearortwoago,wehadabigsnow.Itold mywife,‘I’mgoingtotryit.I’mgoingtogetmyoldsled andtryit.’Iwentdownthehillthreetimes,”hesaid.“It wasn’tasmuchfun,becausethey’dputsomedirtand saltontheroads,anditslowedthesleddown,”heacknowledged.
“MaybeIcanconvinceDelDOTnottoputso muchsaltanddirtonthishill,andwecandomoresleddingonsnowday,”hesaidwithalaugh.“Myhopeisthe townjustcontinuestohavegoodpeoplelivingthere whoarekindtooneandotherandtothetown.”
StorybyLauraWalter
