Georgetown: Fromforgottenfieldto . centerof everything
WhenHenryHudsonsailed uptheDelawareBayin1609, heglancedatwhatwould laterbecomeSussexCounty, claimeditfortheNetherlandsandkept moving.
eDutch triedtostakea morepermanent claiminpresentdayLewes,with the1630Zwaanendaeltrading postand1659’s Hoerenkil(also Horekillor Whorekill)settlement.
ButEngland helpedthemselves tothesettlement duringtheAnglo-DutchWars,andaround1681, WilliamPennofPennsylvaniawasgrantedthe“ree LowerColonies”fromhisfutureking,theDukeof York.
Philadelphiawasn’tideal,especiallywhentheQuakergovernmentdidlittletoprotectthe colonistswhenpiratesattacked downstate.Finally,thethree lowercountieswereallowedtoseparatefrom Pennsylvaniain 1704andforman autonomous colonyof Delaware(under Englishrule).
A1924postcard featureseCircle andtheBrick Hotel.
ButamappingerrorledLordBaltimore(Cecil Calvert)tochallengePenn’sclaimoverthefutureSussexCounty.ePennstookadvantageofthefaulty maptoclaimatleast700moresquaremilessouthof Lewes,whichisthebulkofSussexCountytoday. Otherwise,today’sGeorgetownwouldhavebeenin Calvert’sMaryland,assumingthetownwouldeven havebeenfounded.
ButforSussexCountians,governancefrom
Postcardcourtesy DelawarePublic Archives
Hello, Georgetown
eoriginal SussexCounty seat,theoceansidetownof Lewes,islocated atleast35miles fromsomecornersofthe county.Delegatescouldonlytravelbyhorseand buggysooftenbeforethetimeandcostofthemultidayworktripscaughtupwiththem.Accordingtothe Town,SussexCountiansfilledtwopetitions,with979 signatures,beggingtheGeneralAssemblyforamore centralizedcenterforitsgovernment.
eStateLegislaturepassedanactonJan.29, 1791,approvingthemovingofthecountyseatfrom Lewestoanewsiteat“JamesPettyjohn’soldfield,” neartheundevelopedcenterofthecounty.ere,10 commissionerswereinstructedtopurchase100acres andbuildanewcourthouseandjail.
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atspring,theynegotiatedthepurchaseof50 acresfromAbrahamHarris,25acresfromRowland BevinsandanacrefromJoshuaPepper.Withthose76 acresreadytogo,RhoadsShanklandbeganplanning thetown’scentersquarethatveryday.
OnOct.26,1791,theseatofjusticewasofficially dedicated,andtheareawasnamed“Georgetown,”for commissionerGeorgeMitchell,whowasinstrumentalinthetown’sfounding.
epublicsquaresoonbecamee Circle,and peoplebeganbuyinglotsacrossthetown.
Althoughitwasacountyseat,thenewtown
A1954festival billboardispicturedwithbeauty pageantcontestants NancyWheatley, ConnieEwingand SandraDavis.e long-runningfestivalbeganin Georgetown.
Photocourtesy DelawarePublic Archives
neededauthorityforitsownsake,such asimprovingthepark,sidewalks,sanitationandpoliceregulations.
Originally,theBroadKiln(now, Broadkill)Hundred(“hundreds”area Britishsubdivisionofland)wassplitin halfin1833tocreatetheGeorgetown Hundred.Governmentalpowerswere granted,expandedandthenflummoxed. Finally,in1863,theoriginal1833act wasrevivedtoallowtheGeorgetown Hundredtoactasanofficialseparate politicalentity.
eTownofGeorgetownwasofficiallyincorporatedonMarch2,1869, andtowncouncilmembershavebeen leadingthetowneversince.
Townplannersdidn’tthinkoutside theboxwhenitcametobuildinganew SussexCountyCourthouseoneCircle.Itwas“designedtomeettheexactdimensionsoftheformercourthousein Lewes,”andthenewcourthousewas completedby1793,accordingto Delaware’sDivisionofHistorical&CulturalAffairs.
Afterabout40years,theold woodencourthousewasdeemedtoo smallandtooflammableforthemodernday.Soalotterywasheldtofundraiseforareplacementbuilding madeofbrick.
e“new”1839courthouseisstillusedtoday. eupstairsservedasacourt,whilethedownstairs housedCountyofficesuntil1996,whenthenewSussexCountyAdministrativeOfficebuildingopened nextdoorintheoldpostoffice.
Nottobeforgotten,thatoldwoodencourthouse wasmovedtoS.BedfordStreet,tobecomeaprivate residenceandprintingshop.Itwastransferredtothe Stateandrestoredforthe1976Bicentennial.It’snow administeredbytheGeorgetownHistoricalSociety.
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eoriginallandlords
ButtheGeorgetownarea’shistorydoesn’tbegin onlywhenitbecamethenewcountyseat.Justafew milesnorthofGeorgetown,archaeologistshavefound proofthatprehistoricpeoplehadbeenonthemove there.
AcampsitenearReddenhadbeenusedrepeatedlybyprehistoricgroups,asearlyas6,500B.C. OtherDelawaresitesbackto12,000B.C.PaleoindianslivednearbyattheendofthePleistoceneera,or IceAge,throughthestartofthepost-glacialperiod. OtherNativeAmericanslivedintheregionthrough theArchaicandtwoWoodlandperiods,toseeEuropeansarriveinthe1600s.
ButEuropeancontactwasjarring,andunfamiliar diseaseswereruinous.Overthecenturies,Native
Acampsitenear Reddenhadbeenused repeatedlyby prehistoricgroups, asearlyas6,500B.C. OtherDelawaresites backto12,000B.C.
Americansweresubjecttounfairlanddealsandharsh treatment,whichledmanytoleaveDelawareforthe westornorth.DelawarewashometotheLenni LenapeandtheNanticoke,thelatterofwhomarestill basedinnearbyOakOrchard.
ASouthernspinonaNorthernally
Historically,whitesettlershadlittleregardfor othercultures,andDelawarewasaslavestateheading intotheCivilWar.In1861,theDelawareStateLegislatureboldlystated“asDelawarewasthefirsttoadopt, sowillshebethelasttoabandontheFederalConstitution.”
Butthatdoesn’tmeaneveryonewasrootingfor theUnion.
BeforetheCivilWar,SussexCountyheldmore thanhalfthestate’sslavepopulation,although Delaware’soverallslavepopulationhaddefinitely dropped—fromabout9,000in1790tolessthan
itsneighbors.AlthoughGov. WilliamBurtondidn’tfeelsecession wasthebestoption,hewastorn,fully recognizingSussexCounty’sSouthernsympathies.
Somepeoplewholeheartedly supportedsecession,andleft DelawaretojointheConfederate Army.efederalgovernmentactuallyneededtoactivelykeepaholdon Sussex,aslocalSouthernsympathizersintendedtoderailtheUnioneffort.
Ontheotherhand,aneditorial intheGeorgetownMessengernewspapersuggestedthatsecessionistsbe hangedtopreservethegovernment andfreeinstitutions.Georgetown’s ownA.T.A.Torbertservedasa UnionbrigadiergeneralinGettysburgandwasamajor-generalbythe war’send.
AgatheringspotforNorthern sympathizers,Georgetown’sBrick Hotelbecamenicknamedthe“Union Hotel.”Meanwhile,acrosseCircle,SouthernsympathizerswereusuallyfoundattheEagleHotel,noted Ryan.Plentyofdrunkenbrawls crossedthestreetsofGeorgetown lateatnight.
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2,000justbeforethewar,accordingtohistorianTom Ryan.
SussexCountywasrural,agriculturalandvery cutofffromKentandNewCastle.
Mapcourtesy DelawarePublic Archives Past
“Culturally,ithadalotincommonwiththeDeep Southstates,suchasAlabamaandMississippi,”Ryan wrote.
But,beingsurroundedbyPennsylvaniaand Maryland,Delawarewassomewhatatthemercyof
Anundatedmap showstheregional railroadsystem fromPhiladelphia, Pa.,toNorforlk, Va.
But,mostly,it’sbelievedthatthe everydaySussexCountiandidn’tapproveof anationatwaragainstitself, wherevertheirsympathiesmightlie.
Ultimately,in1865,withthesmokeclearedand thetreatiessigned,Georgetownrangthechurchbells signalingtheendofcivilwaruntiltheywereheard8 milesintothecountry.
Georgetownbyroadandrail
UnlikealmosteveryothertowninSussexCounty, Georgetownwasn’tnearanymajorbodyofwater.(In fact,it’sperfectlysituatedatthecornerofthreedifferentwatersheds,leadingeasttotheDelawareBayand
AtlanticOcean,orwesttotheChesapeakeBay.)
Georgetownmighthavebeenthecenterofeverything,butnotallroadsledtotheproverbialRome.So, in1796,theStatebegancuttingthroughfieldandforesttobuildthreenewcountyroads,connecting GeorgetowntoMilford,Lewes,thesouthernstateline andwesternSussexCounty.
Butthetrainwhistlewascoming.Peopleinbig citiesdreamedofarailroadstretchingacrossthelength of Delaware,whichwasaccomplishedwiththe DelawareRailroad.
AlthoughitwasdelayedbytheCivilWar,the Junction&BreakwaterRailroadfinallybranchedfrom HarringtontoswingthroughMilfordandGeorgetown,enroutetoLewes.By1878,therailswerecarryingpassengers,mailandfreightacross14stationson the44-mileline,fromHarringtontoRehoboth.Other lineslaterconnectedGeorgetownsouthtoFrankford andMaryland.
Whentherailroadarrivedin1868,Georgetown’s industryreachedouttomeetit.Manufacturingbecamebigbusiness.etownhadcarpenters,black-
Butthetrainwhistle wascoming.Peoplein bigcitiesdreamedof arailroadstretching acrossthelengthof Delaware,whichwas accomplishedwiththe DelawareRailroad, despitesomedelays fortheCivilWar.
smiths,carriage-makers,millsforgrindingbarkinto dye,brickyards,lumberyards,afoundry,hatmakers, tanneries,canneriesandmuchmore.
WhenaFrankfordwooden-warescompany boughtaGeorgetowncanneryin1883,theC.H. TreatManufacturingCompanysoonemployedseveralhundredpeopleinaplantseveralacresinsize. CharlesH.TreatalsobecamepresidentoftheSussex ManufacturingCompany,whichbuiltbaskets,barrels, casks,lumberandmore.
Asawhole,thecountyhadbeenslowtomodernizeitsagriculture.eyprimarilystuckto“cerealcrops,” suchascornandwheat.Butwithoutfertilizerorcrop rotation,thefieldsweregaspingfornourishmentand woreout.
erailroadchangedeverything.Finally,aregion sowell-suitedtogrowingberriesandfruitcouldship suchdelicaciesquicklyandwithoutspoilage.Itwas saidthatacarloadofpeachesloadedat5p.m.insouthernDelawarewouldarriveintimefortheNewYork marketthenextmorning.
We’ll see
erewassomemoneytobemadeindairyand livestock,butthefocuswasonsmallfruits.In1900, SussexCountygrewmorethan9millionquartsof blackberriesandstrawberries.Farmerswerepicking thefruitsofsome1.5millionpeachtrees.
WiththerailroadlendingweighttoGeorgetown’s importanceasaregionalcenter,thetownsuddenly stoodoutasapolitical,shoppingandsocialhub.
“Georgetownwasquiteaplaceinthelate1800s, early1900s,”saidlifelongresidentCarltonMooreSr., 89.“eybuiltquiteatrainstation.”
An1868directoryofferedafavorable,ifblasé,de-
Photocourtesy
DelawarePublic Archives
scriptionofthetown:“esurroundingcountryisnot soattractiveasinthevicinityofmanyothertownsin Delaware,andithasmuchlessbusinessthansomeof them,butthereisalargenumberofprofessionaland educatedmenhere,thesocietyisunusuallygood,ithas afairamountofgeneralprivileges,andnowthatthe Railroad…hasconnectedGeorgetownwiththerest of theworld,itisamuchmoreconvenientanddesirableplacethansomeothers.”
By1888,DelawarehistorianJ.omasScharf wasabitmorecomplimentaryofthetown’stwonewspapers,twosocietyhalls,stores,park,hotelsandmore. AlthoughGeorgetownwasnowamajorplayer,it wasn’tthecountysuperstar.Itwasonlythefourth towntogetelectriclights(in1905)andwasgenerally
thefourth-largestinpopulation.
Itmadeprogress,though.Ithousedthecounty’s firstnewspaper,theSussexLuminary&PeninsulaAdvertiser,printedin1831.Georgetownwasalsoalocal bankinghub,asruralfarmerscametotowntodobusinesswiththeFarmers’StateBank,whichopenedin 1807.
ByWorldWarI,streetswerebeingpaved,sidewalksinstalled,andwaterandsewerplantserected,accordingtohistorianHaroldB.Hancock’s1976“e HistoryofSussexCounty,Delaware.”
en,intheearly20thcentury,awealthyengineerfromaprominentfamilymadeanofferthat seemedtoogoodtobetrue:T.ColemanduPont wantedtobuildacentralhighwaythatwouldlinkthe entirestatefromnorthtosouth—andtoday,thatroad isRoute113,alsoknownasDuPontHighway,in honorofitsbenefactor.
Butinthosedays,suchaschemewasunheardof. eroadwaymaybethefirstexampleoflarge-scale philanthropythatsouthernDelawareanshadseen,and someevenquestionedduPont’smotives.
GroundwasbrokenfortheprojectinSelbyvillein 1911,andGov.JohnG.TownsendJr.jubilantlydedicatedthefirst20milesofroadinGeorgetownin1917. Comingfromdownstate,Townsendknewtrucking wouldbenefitlocalagriculture.
“Noonething,sincethebuildingoftherailroad, hasdonesomuchforthedevelopmentofthissection ofourcommonwealthastheconstructionofthisroad,” hesaid.eroadfinallyreachedWilmingtonin1923.
InSussexCounty,DuPontBoulevardwaslater dualizedintofourlanesanddesignatedRoute113.It’s stillamajorgatewayformuchofsouthernSussex County’straffic.
Butgoodroadsweretherailroad’sdemise.e lastrailpassengershadtheirticketspunchedin1949, thoughsomefreightservicecontinuesontheline,and thestationwasrevivedintoamuseuminthe1990s.
e200-year-oldparty
Intheearlydays,allelectionballotswerecastin thecountyseat.atmeantGeorgetownwasahubof activityonElectionDay—andtwodayslater,on
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seat,somewalking,othersonhorseback,andstillothersinwagonsandcarts,drawnbyoneormoreoxen,” wroteScharf.
Peopleaddedtothefunbydressinginmotleyor decoratingtheircarts.
“Booths,stallsandstandsareerectednearthe courthouse,whereallkindsofedibles,suchasopossumandrabbitmeat,fishandoysters,canbeprocured.”
ReturnDay,whichcameaboutbecauseelectionresults weren’tavailableinstantaneously,orbyTV,phoneor radio.SoSussexCounty resultswerereadtwodayslater, fromthecourthousewindow.
Peoplefloodedthestreetsinafestival,to heartheresultsandwatchopposingpolitical partiesliterallyburyaceremonialhatchet—a traditionthatcontinuestothisday.Inthatspirit, theReturnDayparadealsoinvitesopponentsto ride togetherincarsorcarriagesandtoputa friendlyendtoelectionseason.
Bandconcerts,cockfightsandfunfollowedinto theafternoon.
Crime,punishmentandcustody
In1882,whenGeorgetown’sownCharlesStockleywaselectedgovernor,hewasinvitedrideafloatresembling“OldIronsides,”theU.S.S.Constitution, whichwasdecoratedwithDelaware’sBlueHen,ribbonsandadriedcoonskinatopthemast,wrotehistorianCarolE.Hoffeckerin2000.
NooneknowswhenReturnDaybecamesuchan officialevent,butitwaspossiblyin1792,rightafterthe townwasfounded.Fromthere,itgrewintoawell-documentedfestivalbythemid-1800s.
“Peoplefromallpartsofthecounty,andeven fromMaryland,maybeseencomingtothecounty-
Winnersfromlocal electionswereannouncedatReturn Day,whichisstill celebratedtoday.Top, visitorsenjoyafree oxroastin1958,and apublicgatheringin eCircle,above, dateunknown.
Photoscourtesy
DelawarePublic Archives
Georgetown’sfoundingfatherswouldn’tbuild anewtownwithoutafewjailcells.eprisonwas builtimmediatelyonthenewMarketStreetand expandedandreplacedovertime.Inthose days,crimeand punishmentweren’tjustfinesorjailtime.Whipping wascommon,too.
“Eachcountyhadapostintheyardofthecounty jail…usedonaregularbasisforavarietyofcrimes,”accordingtotheDelawareStateArchives.
Delawaremadewhippingpostslegalin1717, about60yearsbeforetheDeclarationofIndependence.AndwhenGeorgetownbecamethecountyseat, theGeneralAssemblyspecificallyremindedthemto bringthewhippingpostandpilloryfromLewes.
Althoughthepillorywasabolishedin1905,the FirstStatewasthelaststatetostillusethewhipping post,and1,600peoplewerewhippedbetween1900
and1945.elastrecorded whippingwasin1952,andthe lawallowingthatformofpunishmentwasabolishedin1972.
Asaregularprison,Sussex CorrectionalInstitution(SCI) openedin1931alongduPont’s newroad.Itisnowoneof Delaware’soldestcorrectionalfacilities.
Inthe1800s,anyoneinjail thoughttobea“lunatic”orinsane couldalsobemovedtothecounty poorhouse,latercalledthe “almshouse.”
In1917,theDelawareGeneral Assemblycreatedacommission (womencouldonlybethreeofthe ninemembers)tobuildahomefor peoplewithdevelopmentaldisabilities. SouthofGeorgetown,theStockleyCen-
staff
The of H u Saalutes e m
To The Ocean Town o s of View
The Town of Georgetown
terhasprovidedtraining,healthcare,familyservices andresidentialservicesfornearlyacentury.Overthe years,it’sbeencalled“DelawareColonyfortheFeeble MindedatStockley”and“HospitalfortheMentally RetardedatStockley.”
Growinguponanearbyfarm,RosalieWalls,83, saidherfathersometimeshiredafewresidentsofthe facilitytohelpwiththecrops.
Firedup
FireprotectioninGeorgetownstretchesback to1831,whenthetown’sfirstfireapparatuswas purchased.ButwithGeorgetown’sthrivingindustry,businesspeoplewantedanactualfirecompany tohelpprotecttheirbusinessesandlowertheirinsuranceratesinthemidstofmanyruinousfires.
Avolunteerfirecompanywasformedin1903. efirstfirehousewasbuiltonSouthRaceStreet, behindtheoldjail.Beforeautomobileswerecommon,horsesorhumanshadtocarryfireequipment.First,thecompanygota20-year-old hand-drawnladderwagon.Later,thevolunteers musthavebeendelightedtoseetheirfirst1922 AmericanLaFranceType75Pumperdeliveredby railroad.
eGeorgetownFireCompanyformallyincorporatedin1922.In1926,theymovedintoa largebrickbuildingoneCircle’seastside,then
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expandedagainin1966totheircurrentbuilding onS.BedfordStreet.
Georgetownlearning
Foralongtime,Delawareschoolswereapatchworksolutiontothestate’seducationalneeds.It seemedthatalittlewoodenschoolhousepoppedup oneverycornerorateverycrossroads,eachwithanindependentboardandteacherforjustahandfulofkids.
By1905,nationalnewspapersmournedthestate ofDelaware’spubliceducation:Delaware’shodgepodgeof265tinyschoolhouseswasdisjointed,betweentheirownisolationandthestudents’irregular attendanceschedules(afterall,theyhadtohelpwith harvesting).
eGeorgetownAcademyhadmadeitswayinto theworldin1812—aprivateschoolattractingpupils fromacrossthecounty,sharingabeautifulbuilding
Oneofmanypublic schoolhousesthat servedlocalchildren, theStockleySchool circa1934.
Photocourtesy
withtheMasons’FranklinLodgeNo.12in1842.
Otherthanthat,theGeorgetownregionalone hadatleast20tinycountryschoolhouses.Concerned, theStateconsolidatedthedistrictsseveraltimes,buildingtowardtheGeorgetownSpecialSchoolDistrict’s familyofschools.
Bornin1934,WallswenttothelittleStockley School,aboutamilefromherhouse:“Ionlyhadthree otherstudentsinmyclassforthefirstsixgrades,”she said.SheattendedthecomparativelymassiveGeorgetownSchoolafteragingoutofthelocalschoolhouse.
GeorgetownPublicSchoolwasabeautyofa downtownbuilding,erectedin1929andexpandedin 1934, amongthewaveofnewtwo-storybrickschools openedduringthatperiod.Caucasianchildrenenjoyed thefullfacilities:classrooms,cafeteria,auditorium,officesandgymnasium.emascotwastheGolden Knight.
“efirstdayofschool,Icouldn’tfindtheschool buses[togohome],becauseitwasthelargestbuilding Ihadbeenusedtoseeing,”saidWalls,whoneededa
friendtohelpher.
Startingin1961,high-schoolerscouldalsoget workforcetrainingatSussexCountyVocational& TechnicalSchool.Originallyjustapart-timeprogram inGeorgetown,administratorsgottiredofscheduling conflictswithalltheotherdistricts.Soin1991,itbecameafulltimechoiceschool,todaycalledSussex TechnicalHighSchool.
Betweentheschools,whitechildrenreceiveda freeeducationthrough12thgrade.
RichardAllenSchool
Inthe1940s,Georgetown’s“ColoredSchool”was valuedatafractionofthewhitepublicschool.Itwasa two-roombrickbuildingwithelectricity,butheatwas furnishedbydrumstoves.Namedforaformerslave andministerwhohadservedintheRevolutionary War,theRichardAllenSchoolwasacenterofhope andlearningintheAfrican-Americancommunity.
ebuildingwasoneofDelaware’smanypublic schoolsbuiltinthe1920sbyphilanthropistPierreS. duPont.Atthetime,Delawareschoolswerealready amongthenation’sworst,butAfrican-American schoolswereevenworse.
eRichardAllenSchoolservedblackchildren untilsegregationended.
ItlaterbecamethealternativeschoolfortheIndianRiverSchoolDistrict.Havingbeenofficiallyrelievedofduty,thedecommissionedschoolbuilding livesoninthecareoftheRichardAllenCoalition,a nonprofitgroupthatisseekingtorestoretheschoolas acommunitycenterandmuseum.
eJasonSchool
Foralongtime,SussexCounty’sblackstudents hadsmallsegregatedcountryschools,butnorealhighschoolopportunity.Iftheywerelucky,theyattended tuition-basedhighschoolsfarthernorth,suchas DelawareStateUniversity.
Georgetownbecameacenterofopportunityfor themin1950,whentheall-blackWilliamC.Jason
ComprehensiveHighSchoolopened.
BeforetheU.S.SupremeCourtdecidedin1954 thatthe“separate-but-equal”policy“hasnoplace,”the Jasonschoolhadbeenbuilttobea“newstate-of-theartschooldesignedtowithstandanyplaintiff’scontentionthatlowerDelaware’sschoolsforblackswere separatebutunequal,”wroteHoffecker.
“Itamazedmethatweseemedtohavethebetter buildings.ItwasalotmorethanIexpected,coming fromatwo-roomschool,”saidKevanGaines,who graduatedintheschool’sfinalclass,in1967.Hehad grownupattendingasegregatedcountryschoolhouse nearDelmar.
enewschoolwasnamedforDr.WilliamC. JasonSr.,ablackMethodistpreacherandthesecond presidentofDelawareStateUniversity.Philanthropist H.FletcherBrownhadsetaside$250,000tohelp buildthis“Negrohighschool”downstate.
eJasonschoolwasspecialformanyreasons. Notonlydidstudentshaveanewbuildingcloserto home(despitegettingstuckwitholdbooksandmaterials),buttheyenjoyedacommunitywithteachersand rolemodels.
“Mybiggestfearwasthatitwouldbetowns againstothertowns.But…yougottomixwithdifferentgroups,”saidGaines,whosegraduatingclassexceeded100students.
“Backthen,wegottomeetpeoplefromallover thecounty,andformethatwasathrill,becauseyouget verynarrow-mindedifyouonlytalktopeopleinyour neighborhood,”saidGaines.“Itbroadenedmyhopes anddreamsandaspirations,becauseyougottosee whatotherpeopleweredoing.”
eschoolopenedwithgradesninethrough12, butaddedseventhandeighthgradesin1953.Some studentsspentalongtimeonthebus,sincetheywere travellingfromallcornersofthecounty.
“Ileftinthedarkandcamehomeinthedark.It madeitdifficultifyouwantedtodoextracurricularactivities,”saidGaines,whowasabletoruntrackinhis senioryearonlybycarpoolinghalfwayhomethen walkingtherestofthewayonfoot.“Iwouldneverleta childdothatintoday’sworld.”
ButotherschoolsinSussexCountywouldn’t competeagainsttheJasonSchoolontheathleticfield. eymightagreetoscrimmageagainstthePioneers,
butduringtheregularseason,Jasonathleticteams drovelongdistancestocompete,fromWilmingtonto AccomackCounty,Va.Itmightbeinconvenientand theresultofclosed-mindedness,buttherewasasilver threadtowardenlightenment:thestudentsgotto travelbeyondSussexCounty.
“ImetkidsallovertheEasternShore,”Gaines said.
Highschoolsusuallyofferedtwoeducational tracks:collegepreporvocational.
“Iwentto[DelawareStateUniversity]aftersenior year,andthenIgotdrafted.Butbackinthosedaysyou couldn’tgetadeferment—Icouldn’tgetadeferment,” Gainessaid.“Ifawhiteguywasincollege,hecouldget defermentorgointotheNationalGuard.”
ButAfrican-Americanscouldn’tserveintheNationalGuard,andtherecruiterwasunsympathetic (andabitunkind,Gainessaid),soGaineswentto Vietnam.Heservedinthemilitaryforabout24years, thenanother25yearsatDelmarvaPower &Electric.
Delawaretookitstimeintegratinganddidn’t phaseouttheJasonSchooluntil1966.ButGainespre-
ferredtofinishatJason.“Tobefrankwithyou,in’67, thingsweren’tverynice,andI’mjustnotsureIwould havefitin”atthelocalhighschool,hesaid.
Segregation
Atthattime,justabouteverythingelsewassegregated,too.
“erewerenoracerelations.Youdidn’ttalk aboutracerelations,”saidCarltonMooreSr.Peopleof differentcolorshadseparatechurches, schoolsand movietheaterentrances.“Neverthetwainshallmeet.”
Mooresaidthathistorycan’tbeavoided.
“It’snotaprettystory,butifyouknowanything abouthistory,youknowbacktoman’searliertimes, manhadslaves.”atdoesn’tmakeitright,hesaid,but ithappened.
SussexCountyhasalwaysmirroredthedeeper South,especiallyinpolitical,economicandracialmatters.atincludessegregationofcommunityspaces. Tothisday,Gaineswon’tdineattherestaurantsthat
refusedtoofferatabletominoritycustomers.Heremembershavingtoorderrestaurantmealsfromthe backkitchenentrance,orbeingforbiddenfromthe boardwalkandbeachatOceanCity,Md.
“WhenIwenttoGermany,Iwasaboutthehappiestpersonyoueverknew,”Gainessaidofhistime withthemilitary.“ItwasthefirsttimeinmylifethatI wasjustaman,andforme,comingfromwhereIcame from,thatwaslife-changing.Itreallywas.”
NowhappilyretiredwithhomesinGeorgetown andSalisbury,Md.,Gainessaidhefeels“fortunatein thewaymylifeturnedout,soIcan’tcomplain.But mostofthatwasbecauseofJason.Itreallywas.ey actuallycaredaboutyougettinganeducation.…ey wouldteachyouthewayoftheworldandwhattoexpectifyouweretosurviveintheworld.…osedays, theyhadthetimetoteachyouthat.”
iswasahome economicsclassroom atWilliamC.Jason ComprehensiveHigh School,whichserved blackstudentsinthe 1950sand1960s.
Photocourtesy
DelawarePublic Archives
efirstcommunitycollege
Inthe1960s,theIndianRiverSchoolDistrict Past continuedfrompage21
AsJason’sfinalbusesdroveintothesunset,the buildingwasalreadyturningtowarditsfuture.
Delawareansneededeasilyaccessiblehighereducationandcareertraining,sothedoorsopenedto DelawareTechnicalCommunityCollegeinSeptember of1967.
ecollegewasdelightedthat367studentswould enroll“inthefirstyear,encouragedbytheslogan,‘Ajob foreverygraduate,agraduateforeveryjob.’Enrollment doubledinthesecondyear,anditsoonbecamenecessarytobeginconstructiontohousemorelaboratories andclassroomsatthe‘SouthernCampus.’”
e campuswasrenamedtheOwensCampusin 1995,foritsfirstcampusdirector,JackF.Owens.
emainbuildingisstillnamedafterJason.
Amodernschooldistrict
pulledtogetherfivemajorschoolstoform thebiggestregularschooldistrictinthestate.
Consolidationbeganin1968,inthe south,toformIndianRiverHighSchool. GeorgetownandMillsboroschoolsjoined thedistrictforthe1969-1970schoolyear. eyformedSussexCentralHighSchool, whichtookoverGeorgetown’sbrickbuilding andmascotfordecades.
Infallof2004,SCHSleftGeorgetown forabrand-newbuildingsouthofMillsboro, neartheStockleyCenter.(Today,GeorgetownMiddleandElementaryschoolsshare theoldbrickbuildingonW.MarketStreet withGeorgetownKindergartenCenter.)
Werepeopleupsetaboutconsolidation? Itwasn’teasy,butlifewenton.Familieswere possiblymoreupsetaboutthelackofathletic opportunities.Forexample,thestudentshad fieldedmultiplefootballteamswhentheyattendedmultiplehighschools,butnowthere wasonlyone.Moreintramuralgameshadto beorganizedsoeveryonecouldplay.
Findingitswayforward
Localagriculturetookaturnin1923, whenOceanView’sCecileSteeletookadvantageofashippingerrortoraiseandsell 500broilerchickens.Withthatincome,she ledSussexCountytobecomeanationalleaderinthe broilerchickenindustry.
MissGeorgetown, 1954.
Moore’sfatherhadseveralventures,includinga candyandtobaccostore;sellingheadstonesatthemarbleyards;andraisingchickens.Backthen,poultry housesweresmaller,morelikeshedsthantoday’slong, extendedstructures.
Moorewasgivenhisownhousetomanageand profitfrom.
Whenthechickenswereready,thegrowerscalled afewfriendlybuyersuntilsomeoneagreedtocomesee them,makeanofferandcarrythelotaway.
Withsomanychickensandproducesoldonthe DelmarvaPeninsula,therewasagoodindustryinmanufacturingwoodencrates.
eGreatDepressioncertainlydidn’thelpany-
Photocourtesy
DelawarePublic Archives
one,althoughthemostruralpartsofSussexCounty weren’thitashard,simplybecausetheywerealready growingtheirownfood,buttheyneverhadmuch moneytobeginwith.
Whenthefederalgovernmentputpeoplebackto workintheNewDealprograms,Georgetownhosted oneofDelaware’seightCivilianConservationCorps camps.Althoughtheysometimesstruggledtokeepthe youngmendedicatedtothejob,theysucceededindiggingdrainageditchesformosquitocontrol,planting trees,andbuildingpicnicandcampingareasstillused today,accordingtotheDelawareStateArchives.
Ruralfamiliesknewthebestwaytostayfedwasto growtheirownfood.eyhadbiggardensfullofpeppers,tomatoes,stringbeans,cucumbers,squash,mel-
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continuedfrompage23
onsandanythingelsethatwouldsurvivetheMid-Atlanticgrowingzone.
Halfoftheirgrocerylistwasgrowninthegarden, sogrocerystoresprimarilyfilledthegaps.Onbustling Saturdaynights,Walls’motherwould“dothedealing” andtradefarm-laideggsforgroceriesatGeorgeW. Lynch’sstore.
Besidesfarming,herfatherhadasmallbarber chairandsinkinthehouse,charging50centsforahaircutandshave.
“Icanstillseehimsharpeningthatrazoronthat le atherstrap,”shesaid.“Veryprimitive,butwewere probablyjustashappyassomemillionaire.”
Farmerswerebusyallyear,butWalls’parents madetimefortheNationalGrangeoftheOrderofPatronsofHusbandry(“eGrange”),anagricultural civicorganization.Herfatherhadhelpedbuildthe clubhouse,whilehermotherhelpedwiththemonthly chickendinners.
NotonlydidWallslovetheMidlandGrange,but shemetherhusbandthere.
“eyhappenedtobehavingasquaredancein GeorgetownwhenImetmyhusband[Carl].…Iwas justsittingthereonthesidelineswatchingthemsquare
eoldhighschool forwhitestudents featuredinan undatedpostcard.
Postcardcourtesy
DelawarePublic Archives
dance.Hecameoverandasked ifIwoulddancewithhim,” Wallssaid.“Hedidn’tevenask myname;hewassobashful.I thinkwewere13or14—that’s howyoungwewere.”
Carlhadcomewiththe HenlopenGrangebutwasn’t oldenoughtodrive.Butthey stayedintouchandmarried soonafterhighschoolgraduationin1952.
Actually,theyelopedin Salisbury,Md.(“Istronglyrecommendyouelope;itdoesn’t costnearasmuchmoney,”she said.)BuilderMelvinJoseph signedforthemtobuyacar:a Studebakerwithabulletfront.eyfollowedhertelephonecompanyjobtoNewark,butlongedforSussex CountyandcamebacktoGeorgetown.
Backthen,phonesweredoneonpartylines.Severalhouseholdssharedasingleline,soetiquettedemandedeachpartyonlyansweraspecificring,and everyonehadtowaitforthelinetoclearbeforeplacing a call.
Infact,whenWallswentintolaborwithhersecondson,shepolitely(butagonizingly)waiteduntilher neighborhungupthepartylinebeforecallingherown mother.
Herdoctorcametothehouse,“tookonelookat me,said,‘Ohno,wedon’thavetimeforanambulance,’ andhescoopedmeupputmeinthefrontseat,”she said.
Growingup,childrenmightjointhe4-Hclub, playbaseball,learntohunt,playhouse,ridebikesand runaroundoutside.Butthat’sonlyiftheyweredone withtheirchores.
Manykidshelpedtopickcrops,eitherearning moneyforastrugglingfamilyoraspartoftheirregular unpaidchoresonafamilyfarm.
Andforgetaboutaskingforpaymentforregular chores.
“Ican’tevenimagineaskingmymomtopayme… tocutwoodandpumpwater.…osewerejustthings
See Past page26
Pastcontinuedfrompage24
youknewyouneedtodo,”Gainessaid.
WorldWarII
WorldWarIIdidn’tleaveanycorneroflifeuntouched.Whileyoungmenjoinedtheservice,women steppeduptogetworkdoneathome.erewasan aeriallookoutnearGeorgetownwhereciviliansvolunteeredtopatrol.Wallsandhermothercarefully watchedtheskies,keepingnoteofeveryairplanethat flewby,itsmarkingsanddirection.
“Everybodyhadtohavetheir[car]headlights paintedblack,”sothelightswouldn’treflecttellingly intoeyesofpotentialenemypilots,saidWalls.
Asmallairfieldwasbuiltin1943,justeastofthe downtown.Duringthewar,theU.S.Navyuseditfor training,youngrecruitspracticingnight-flyinganddivebombing.
Ontheground,foodwasrationed,andfamilies
FieldDaywasa thrillingeventfor schoolchildren around1920.Many schoolssentkidsto competeingames thattookplaceaftera bigpicnicandparade oneCircle,,with bannersidentifying eachtown.
Photocourtesy DelawarePublic Archives
weregivenbooksofcouponsandstampsthatthey couldredeemfortheirallotmentofitemsthathada limitedsupply,suchassugar.Peoplewerecanningand pickingvegetableswithfervortomakethebestuseof theirgardencrops.
Becauseofthegasolineshortage,highschool sportswereoftenreducedtointramuralgames.Gasolinewastoomuchofaluxurytodrivebackandforthto otherschools,Mooresaid.
erewasamilitarypresenceintown,astheW. PineStreetarmoryhousedanencampmentofsoldiers duringWorldWarII.eyplayedabaseballgame againstGeorgetownHighSchool,whichwasexpected tobeaslaughter.ButMooresaidtheteenagersheld theirown,leadingtoamorerespectableloss.
ingswillbegreatwhenyou’redowntown
Afterahardworkweek,Saturdayswerethenight togetcleanedup,gooutandseewhowasdowntown.
“Itwasaverythrivingtown.erewasalottodo,” Mooresaid.“Ifyoudidn’tgointotownSaturdaynight, youwereill.”
erewereseveralgrocerystores,andmen’sand women’sclothingshops.Nightlyentertainmentwas foundatShort’sPoolHallortheAyerseatre.e ChevroletandBuickcardealershipstemptedpeople withfreedomonwheels.
GeorgetownAntiqueswasthefive-and-dime store,whichsoldprettymuchanyitempeopleneeded.
Familiesrarelytravelledveryfar,forshoppingor vacation.Infact,Wallsdoesn’tevenremembershoppingexcursionstobiggertowns,suchasMilford, DoverorSalisbury,Md.
PeopletookdrasticmeasurestovisitGeorgetown onSaturdaynights.Mooreknewoftwobrotherswho pushedtheirotherwisedeadcarintotowneveryweekend,“SotheirmothercouldrideupinthetruckonSaturdaynight,andsitandentertain,”Mooresaid.“Iknow theydidthis52weeksayear.
“Butthat’showimportantitwas.Saturdaynights, everybodycametotown.”(Helaterlearnedthattheenterprisingyoungmenhadlightenedtheloadbyremovingthevehicle’sengine.)
Neighborswereclose,andpeopleseemedtoknow
everyone.Kidsknewwhattoexpectiftheyactedout. Parentsdidn’thesitatetoscoldtheirownchildren,or thechildren’svisitingplaymates.
“‘Doesyourmomknowyou’reouthere,actinglike afool?’”Gainesrememberedhearingwhenhemisbehaved.“IalwayswonderedhowitgothomebeforeIdid …andwedidn’thavenophone!”
IntheSt.John’sneighborhoodjustoutsideof town,Moore’sfamilywasamongthefirstwithatelephoneandelectricity(aDelco-Lightsystemrequiring gasolineandabatterycharge).KidsflockedtoMoore’s hometohearradioshows,including“DickTracy”and “LittleOrphanAnnie.”
“ebigthingwouldbeforpeopletocomedown andlistentobigprizefights.JoeLewiswasfightingat thattime,”saidMoore,whosefatheropenedthewindowsduringthefightssoneighborscouldhearthe broadcastfromthefrontyard.
Moore’sbigbrotherkeptasmallbarbershopinthe backofthehouse,encouraging13-year-oldMooreto
learntheskill.“Whenhefoundouthewasgettingready tobedrafted,Ihadtotakethatbarbershopover,”which wassomewhatexhaustingforthehigh-schooler,Moore recalled.
Betweenhischickenhouseandbarbering,Moore raisedenoughmoneytobuya1940Chevrolet.Butalas, theWorldWarIIgasolineshortagescausedMooreto thumbhiswayintotown(youcouldn’tmissaSaturday night).
“Anybodywouldstoptopickyouup,becauseyou kneweverybody,”hesaid.“erewasn’tmuchtraffic,so youmighthavetowaitfor30minutesforacartopass, butthefirstcarwouldstop.”
Beforecentralizedtrashcollection,peoplemight feedoldfoodscrapstothehogsandburnthetrashoutdoors.
DowntownGeorgetownmayhavegottensewer serviceearly,butruralhomesweremorelikelytohave outhouseslongerintothe20thcentury.Butthetoilet
paperwasdeliveredtothehouse,intheformofMontgomeryWardandSears&Roebuckcatalogs.
“Onceyourollitup,itwasactuallykindofsoft,” Gainesrecalled.“Ijustdidn’tlikegoingoutbecausespidersdidn’tappealtome.”
Religionandchurchcommunitieswereimportant topeople.Inparticular,SouthernDelawarecouldn’tget enoughofProtestantism,andsomeofGeorgetown’s churcheshaverootsbacktothe1700s.Churchesbuilt community,andpeopleespeciallylovedwhentheirdistrictsheldsummertimeworshipcamps.
Photographby TylerValliant
Communityandfriendshipswerealsobuiltaround formsofentertainment.Anyonewhofelttheneedfor speedcouldenjoytheGeorgetownSpeedway,builtby locallegendarybuilderMelvinL.Josephin1949,ayear afterNASCARwasfounded.Andathleteswere thrilledwhenGeorgetown’sLittleLeaguewasfounded around1957,thenexpandedovertheyears.CommunitytheatergotabigbreakwiththePossumPointPlayersin1973.
ethrillsofcommunity,plusthechallengesof countrylife,havebroughtGeorgetowntogetheroverthe years.Sometimesitwasforced,aswiththeintegrationof theschools,oreventhefoundingofthetownitself.And sometimesithappenednaturally,whenpeoplemetin eCircle,toiledinthefactoriesorvolunteeredinthe firecompanytogether.
Justlikethosecenturies-oldbricksbuiltthegrand oldhomes,governmentbuildingsandtrainstation, Georgetown’shistoryisthefoundationleadinguptoits present. v
StorybyLauraWalter
Georgetownthrives‘16milesfromanywhere’
Georgetownis,asthesayinggoes,“16 milesfromanywhere.”Itworksasa sloganforoneofthetown’snewest employers,andasSussexCounty’spopulationand economygrows,it’sjustagoodplacetobe.
TownManagerEugeneDvornikhasbeen atthehelmoftheTown’sadministrationfor10 years,andhehasseenthetownreboundfrom theeconomicstallof2008.
“WhenIfirstgothere,youcouldn’t approvehousingapplicationsfastenough,” Dvorniksaidofthehousingboomthatstretched fromaround2005 through2007.“In2008, thatcametoanend.”
roughstateandfederalfunding,theTown’s watersystemreceivedupgradesincludingreplacementsofservicelinesandthereliningofpipes,bothof whichresultedinimprovementsinwaterquality, Dvorniksaid.Inaddition,thetown’swatertreatmentplantonKingStreetreceivedcrucialup-
Currently,Dvorniksaid,townofficials are“lookingatcurrentprocessestoseeif herearenotwaystoimprovethese”— citingmanagementofthe town’svehiclefleetasone example.“Weareconstantlylookingathowwe spendmoney.”
Whenthehousing marketstalled,Georgetown—likeanumberof townsthatrelyonrealestatetransfertaxforincome—felttheimpact. Manyprojectsthatwere inthepipelinesimplydied, Dvorniksaid,addingthattheyhaveyettoberevived.
Commercialdevelopmenthaspickedup,hesaid, pointingtothenewRedner’smarket,SUNBehavioralHealth’spsychiatrichospitalandBeebeHealthcare’smedicalpavilionprojectsasexamples.eU.S. DepartmentofVeteransAffairshasalsoaddedafreestandingbuildingtoreplaceitsformersmallerfacility inanearbyshoppingcenter.
eTownitselfisexpandingitsfootprint aroundeCircle,addingnewadministrativespace andrenovatingitscurrentspacetoserveasmeeting spaceforthetowncouncil.
Whilevisitorscan’tseeitwhentheydrive throughorattendoneofthemanyeventsoneCircle,Dvorniksaidanimportantprojectintownhasresultedinimprovementstoitsdrinkingwaterandto thewaterplantitself.
TheTownitselfis expandingits footprintaround TheCircle,adding newadministrative spaceandrenovating itscurrentspace.
etownisalsoin themidstofdevelopingits DowntownDevelopment District,inwhichcertain areasoftownarebeing targetedforthedevelopmentofmixed-usebuildings—inthetraditionof historicdowntownareas whereresidencesareoften foundabovefirst-floorbusinesses.
EastMarketStreetandNorthRaceStreetare thecurrenttargetareasforthedevelopmentdistrict, Dvorniksaid.
“Wewanttoincreasecommunityactivity,”in thoseareas.
Oneofthenewesteducationalfacilitiesinthe town,SussexAcademyofArts&Sciences,isanexampleofhowcreativeproblem-solvingcanbenefitthe community.Fouryearsago,representativesofDelmarvaChristianSchoolandSAASbegantalking abouthowswappingbuildingscouldbenefitboth schools.
eresultisthatDelmarvaChristianSchool hasnowsettledintotheformerSAASfacilityonSussexPinesRoad,whichfitsitssmaller-than-anticipated enrollment,andSAAShas
See Present page30
Likeabulls-eye,thisfour-layerfountainmarksthecenteroftheGeorgetownCircle. PhotobySusan Lyons
reacheditsgoalofaddinga highschooltotheexisting middleschoolandhasfinishedconstructiononimprovementstotheformerDCSbuildingonAirport Road.
SAASDirectorPatriciaOliphantsaidtheswap cameatatimewhenSAASwasdueforacharterrenewalandwaslookingtowardexpandingtoaddthe highschool,butthequestionwas“wherearewegoing tobuild?Onthatsiteoronanothersite?”
DelmarvaChristianapproachedSAAS officialswiththeproposalofswitchingbuildings and,Oliphantsaid,sheandtheSAASboardof directorsfelt“Itwasagood idea.DelawareChristianhas beenabletoblossomfurther, andsohavewe.”
SinceSAASstudentslive alloverthecounty,theschool’s centrallocationinGeorgetownhasbeenbeneficial, Oliphantsaid.Inrecentyears, theschoolhasreachedoutto theTownwithserviceprojects includingatowncleanupand participationinthesemi-annualReturnDaycelebrations thatbringthousandstothe countyseatforauniquecelebrationofthedemocratic process.
“
“ Ican’tthinkofanother placeI’dratherlive. Ithinkwe’reso blessed here… –RosalieWalls
withtheweatherandthatkindofstuff.Ilikethelittle small-towncharmandpeople—everyoneknows everybodyelse,almost.”
Althoughshestaysoutofthesometimes-heated politicalarena,Wallssaidshelikesknowingthose whoareinit.
“Ican’timaginelivinginastatewhereyoudon’t knowthepeoplewhomakeyourrulesandgovernment,”shesaid.
Georgetownofficialsinrecentyearshave seenthetown’sdemographicschangequitea bit,asitsHispanicandLatinopopulations havegrownconsiderably.Dvorniksaidthe town’sHispanic/Latinocommunityhasbecome“oneofthelargestcomponents”ofthetown.
Someonewhoknowsathingortwo aboutReturnDayisRosalieWalls,whodirectedtheeventfor26years.
“I’mnotreallyapolitician,”Wallssaid, “butthat’sasfarinpoliticsasI’dliketobe.”She addedthatsheisonafirstname-basiswith manyDelawarepoliticiansandhasa photographofherselfandformer VicePresidentandDelawareU.S. senatorJoeBidenhanginginherlivingroom.
epercentageofresidentsofHispanicethnicityhas definitelyincreasedinrecent years,from32percentofthe totalpopulationin2000to47 percentin2010,accordingto U.S.Censusfigures.
Toptobottom,inthisrelativelyquietcounty,somepeoplefeeltheneedfor speed,kickingdustintotheskyatGeorgetownSpeedway.SussexCentral HighSchoolisoneofabout10schools,publicandprivate,servingGeorgetownstudents.Asmallregionalairportcutstraffictimeforprivateplanes headingforthebeach. PhotosbyTylerValliant
Walls,whowillbe83inDecember,isalifelong residentofGeorgetownandsaid,“Ican’tthinkofanotherplaceI’dratherlive.Ithinkwe’resoblessedhere
egreatestareaof growthhasbeeninyoungchildren,9oryounger,andin adultsintheir20sand30s,accordingtothe2010U.S.Census.Soitshouldnotbea surprisethatDvorniksaidthe schoolbuildingsinthetown areservingmanymorestudentsthanadecade ago.Lookingforward,theIndianRiver SchoolDistrictplanstobuildanewHoward T.EnnisSchoolforspecialneedsandadd32 newclassroomstoSussexCentralHigh School,bothinthesouthernoutskirtsoftown. Oliphant,whoisaSussexCountynative, said,“Peoplewhoaremovinghere aremovinghereforotherreasons thanwhyIlivehere,”andqualityeducationisconsistentlyatthetopof whatnewresidentsseek.
Citingthe“16milesfromeverywhere”tagthat thenew16MileBreweryinGeorgetownhasmadeit partofitstrademark,Oliphantsaid
See Present page33
OpenApplication November6,2017-January10,2018 Apply-www.schoolchoicede.org/Apply/SussexAcademy
SchoolToursfor 6thand9thgrade November14,15,16 9am,9:30am,10am,10:30am nopre-registrationarrivetomainlobby
MiddleSchoolInformationNight November14 6pm
HighSchoolInformationNight November15 6pm
Publiccharter,tuitionfree schoolservinggrades6-12. SussexAcademypractices aprojectbasedlearning approachandallgrade11and 12studentsparticipateinthe International Baccalaureate program.
TheSussexAcademydoesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofrace,color,nationalorigin,sex,disability,orageinitsprogramsandactivitiesandprovidesequalaccesstotheBoyScoutsandotherdesignatedyouthgroups.
Fromtop,clockwise:GeorgetownPublicLibrarywas foundedin1899bytheGeorgetownNewCenturyClub, beforemakingitswaytoWestPineStreet,whereit becametoday’slargeinformationandjobcenter;although Delawarecriminalshaven’tfearedthepillorysince1905, thewoodenstructurestillstandsinGeorgetown; ‘Telephonepioneers’WillardWicalandRosalieWalls keephistoryintheforefrontattheMarvelMuseum. PhotosbyTylerValliant. Inthebackground,theNutterD.MarvelCarriage MuseumprovidesanidyllicbackdroptotheGeorgetown HistoricalSociety’svastcollection. PhotobySusanLyons
Georgetown’sfirstimportant buildingwasbuiltin1791to mirrortheexactdimensionsof theformercountycourthouse inLewes.Itwasretiredin 1837andrestoredin1976.
PhotobySusanLyons
Presentcontinuedfrompage30
servicesand,increasingly,forbusinesses.
CarletonMooreSr.,alongtime communityleaderwhohasalwayslivedinornearGeorgetown, saidhebelievestheinfluxofHispanicandLatinoresidentsis crucialtothesurvivalofareabusinesses.Withoutthem,Moore said,“Idon’tknowwhere[workers]wouldcomefrom,”particularlyinthearea’spoultryplantsandindustriessuchasconstructionandlandscaping.
Dvorniksaidpublictransportation,whichisoftenkeyto attractingworkers,hasmadestridesinGeorgetownwiththedevelopmentoftheDARTFlexbussystemandtheDelawareAvenuetransportationhub.
Heisalsoenthusiasticaboutanothermodeoftransportationthatwillgetaboostwithaprojectthatisintheworks.Plans foraGeorgetown-to-Lewesbiketrailarejustnowgettingunder way,Dvorniksaid.ehope,hesaid,isthatthetrailwillbea boosttothecounty’sblossomingeco-tourismefforts.
Walls,forherpart,saidsheishappytostayinGeorgetown, nomatterwhat.
“etownhascertainlychanged.Istilllikeit,”shesaid, addingthatshedoesn’tseewhysome“putuptheirhousesupfor saleandmoveout.”Walls’threesonsarestilllocatedinthearea, shenoted.“Ilikethesmall-townatmosphere.” v
—StorybyKerinMagill
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Georgetown poisedfor growth
Duetoitsgeographiclocation,perfectlysetin thecenterofSussexCounty,Georgetown hasgreatpotentialforgrowth.
“We’realwaysentertainingnewbusinessesand talkingtodeveloperstoseewhat’savailable,whatpeople aretalkingaboutwantingtocometoGeorgetown,”said GeorgetownMayorBillWest.
West,aGeorgetownnative,hasseenthetown growinhistimeasaresidentandcouncilmember.
“WhenIwasyoungandgrowingupthere,the townwasacompletecircle.Itwasonequarter-mile
SussexCountyCourthouse hasservedjusticeone Circlesinceitwascompleted in1839,withporticoand cupolaaddedin1914.
PhotobySusanLyons
aroundtheCirclethere,waswhatwerethetownlimits. Nowit’sexpandedtowherewe’vegotcloseto6,000 peoplelivinginGeorgetown,”hesaid,notingthegreat diversityofresidentswithinthetown.
“We’vegotrestaurantsthathavealmosteveryethnicfoodyoucanthinkof.It’sbeengreattobeabletogo tosomeoftheseandtrythedifferentfoods.ingsare good.”
Westhasservedasmayorsince2014,afterjoining thecouncilin2012.
“Inthattime,we’veopenedcloseto50businesses
andbroughtinanexcessofjustabout$2millionfrom water,sewer,businesslicensesandthingslikethat.e Townhasreallymaturedalittlebitoverthepastthree years—notjustbecauseofme,butbecauseofthe councilthatwehave.We’reabunchthatworkstogether andagreesonjustabouteverything,ordisagreesonjust abouteverything,together.”
etownisthehubofSussexCountyCourts, SussexCountygovernment,aChamberofCommerce, aregionalairportandnumerousbusinesses.
Onelargefuturedevelopmentcould betheSussexCountySportsComplex, locatednorthofRoute9onSandhill Road.A70-acrepropertywasdonatedto theSussexSportsCenterFoundationby JoeSchelltobuildplayingfieldsforsoccer, lacrosse,fieldhockeyandinformaltouchfootballgames,aswellaswalkingtrails, pickleballcourtsandplaygroundequipment.
andrestroomfacilities.
“We’regettingreadytobuildeightsoccerfieldsand abigcomplexforkidstoplay…at’sgoingtobring closeto700kidstothetownanygivenweekend.With that,they’llneedfood,restaurants,placestostay.We’re reallylookingforwardtothisexcitingthing.”
efoundation—whichwasintheprocessofgettingapprovalsfortheprojectinSeptemberof2017— isalsointheprocessofseekingfundingtopaytheprojected$4millioncost.
Asplannedinthefallof2017,thecenter willhaveeightregulation-sizesoccer/lacrosse fields,pavedparkingforapproximately350cars
Ifthefoundationisabletogetthefundingitis seeking,organizersanticipatethefacilitybeing openforplayinthespringof2019.
Itcouldeventuallybecomeapartofa futureSussexCountyparksandrecreationdepartment,iftheCountychoseto takeitover.
“Atsomepoint,furtherdownthe road,ifyouallwanttogetintotheparksand-recbusiness,you’llhavetheoptionto buythefacilityfromthefoundationfor$1,”Joe
Townleaderssaw thepotentialforfuture developments,abusiness park,publicpark,walking paths,roadimprovements andmoreinthis2010 Comprehensiveplanmap (revised2013).Thereisroom todoublethetowninsize, throughannexation,ifall partiessodesired.
CourtesyTownof Georgetown
AsAdoptedbyTownCouncilonJanuary13,2010; RevisionAdoptedNovember13,2013.
TownofGeorgetownComprehensivePlan
EducationandCommunityFacilities
ExistingGolfCourses&PrivateRecreationSite
Commercial
Commercial/Medium-HighDensityResidential
LimitedCommercial/AirportApproach
DowntownRevitalization-HistoricPreservationEmphasis
LightIndustrial&Airport
NeighborhoodBusiness
FutureLowDensityResidential(PromoteClusterOption; MoreIntensiveZoningMaybeConsideredinFuture DependinguponRoadandSewageImprovementsandPossibleUseofTransfer ofDevelopmentRights)
MajorProposedDevelopmentsinAnnexationArea
FutureTrafficSignals
State-DesignatedAgriculturalDistrict
MediumDensityResidential/Office MediumDensityResidential
MediumHighDensityResidential
AreaofProposedCooperativeSub-RegionalPlanning
(withsomeNeighborhoodbusinessallowed)
PermanentlyPreservedLands(TemporarylimitsonnumberofnewhomeseligibleforPermanentPreservation) (IncludesStateForestsandLandPreservedbyEasements)
PotentialNew2LaneRoads ProposedTrails
2007TownBoundaries
FuturePotentialAnnexationBoundary
Ditches(approximatelocations)
ConservationBufferAlongWaterways
PermanentlyPreservedLandsunderDelawareLand-WaterConservationTrustFund.
SchelltoldtheSussexCountyCouncil—oneofthree publicentitiesfromwhichthefoundationisseeking funding—inSeptember2017.
Alsoendeavoringtomeettheneedsofitsgrowing community,atwo-story,93,000square-foothospital runbySUN(SolvingUnmetNeeds)Behavioral Health,isexpectedtoopenforpatientadmissionsin Mayof2018.
e$18millionfacilitywillemployapproximately 150people;willprovidetreatmentforchildren,adolescents,adultsandseniorsthroughintensiveinpatient treatment;andoutpatientcareandspecialtyprograms forwomen,veteransandsubstanceabuse.
Westsaidthat,asaretiredDelawareStatePolice trooperwhospenteightyearsintheDrugDivision,he sawfirsthandthenegativeeffectsdrugusecanhaveon usersandtheirfamilies.
“Icanalsorememberhavingtotransportpeople whoweredisturbedcleartoWilmington—atwo-hour drivewithadisturbedpersoninthecarwithyou.
“OncewefoundoutSUNwaslooking,wewere morethanwillingtohelpthemwithanythingwecould. isisaresourcefamiliesneeded.Whenyoutakea personfromSussexCountythathassomemental problems,andyouhavetotransportthemtwohours awaytobetreated,andyou’retakingthemawayfrom theirfamilies—andmanyoftheirfamiliesdon’thave transportationtogetupthere...”
efacility,whichhelditsgroundbreakinginNovemberof2016,willhave10primary-careexamrooms, twowomen’shealthrooms,eightmedicalconsultoffices,twospecialtyprocedurerooms,threetele-health examrooms,aprivateinterviewroom,aradiologysuite, receptionarea,lobbyandmore.
“isnewfacility—itgivesthemtheresource,and somethingtheyneed:theirfamiliestobetherewith them.”
eTownisalsoworkingonupdatingitsfacilities, witharenovationofanewtownhall,directlynextto thecurrenttownhall,underwayinthefallof2017.
“It’sfantastic,thenewtownhall.We’reonschedule to,hopefully,beinitinthebeginningofNovember.
Onceit’scompleteandwemoveeverythingfromtown hallintothenewbuilding,thenwe’regoingtostartremodelingtheoldbuilding,whichisgoingtobethe Chamber’s,”saidWest.
“We’regoingtomakeitextremelyniceforthepublic,andsomethingthepeopleofGeorgetowncanbe proudof.Whenweputthisouttothefolks,theysupportedit100percent.”
AnotherbigprojectcomingtoGeorgetowninthe futureistheU.S.Route9TruckBypass,alsoknownas the“ParkAvenueRelocation.”
“ParkAvenueismainly,rightnow,atruckroute.It’s unsafe.Itrunsbehindtheairport.”
eproject,whichisintheDelawareDepartment ofTransportation’sbudgetsforthe2017-2023fiscal years,willupgradetheroadwithturnlanes,shoulders andintersectionimprovements.DelDOTinthefallof 2017washostingworkshopstoinformthepublicof theplansandgetpublicfeedback.
In2013,theTowninstalleditsfirstplayground,
Toreducetrafficcongestion, thereareplanstowiden Route113intothreelanes eachway,eliminatealltraffic signals,replacemajortraffic intersectionswithgradeseparatedinterchanges, eliminateunsignalized mediancrossoversand widentheshoulders.
PhotobyTylerValliant
andtheyhavealsobeengrowingtownevents.
“Weputourfirstplaygroundin,andit’sbeena hugesuccess.We’relookingatdoingmore,”saidWest, notingtheConcertsintheParkseries.“Onursday nights,wehostatwo-hourconcertthat’sfreetothe public.It’sallkindsofmusic—country,rock’n’roll, oldies…ecommunitycomesout.We’vehadanywherefrom300to1,200peopleattheseconcerts.
“WehaveagreatNewYear’seventwhereweclose offeCircleat9o’clockonNewYear’sEve.We’llhave abandplayfromaround9:30to12:30[a.m.];we’llhave foodvendors.Wemakeitfamily-friendly,soyoucan bringthekids.Oneyear,wehadhorse-and-carriage ridesforthekids.We’relookingatmaybebringingsome carnivalgamesuptherethisyear.”
Westsaidthat,eventually,theywouldliketoexpandthingsfurther,withapermanentstageandconcessionstand“sowecanreallyentertainthepeopleof Georgetown.”
eeventsareagreatwaytohearfirsthandfrom thepeopleofGeorgetown,saidWest.
“isisawayforourcounciltofindoutwhatpeoplelikeandwhattheywanttoseemoreof,andhow
theywanttoseethetown grow.Wecan’tjustgohouseto-houseandtalktoresidents. Butwhenyouhostanevent likethis,itgivesyoutheopportunitytowalkaroundand talktoallthepeople,andthey cangiveyouquickideasand quickthoughts.It’soutstandingtohearwhatthepeoplein thecommunityhavetosayaboutGeorgetown.”
eTownalsohasalotofhands-onhelpfromresidentsandbusinessownersalike.
“Wehavehangingbasketsfullofflowersdownon MainStreet—that’stheArts&Flowersgroupwho doesthat,”saidWest.
“ForOctober,wehaveascarecrowcompetition wherewegivethebusinesseseverythingtheyneedto buildascarecrow,buttheycanmakeitlooklikeanythingtheywant.Wefastenthosescarecrowstothelight poles.It’sabeautifulthingtoseewhenyoudrivedown andseeallthedifferentbusinesseswiththeir differentideasonhow theywantedtodotheir
scarecrow.”
eTowniscurrently workingonupdatingits ComprehensivePlanandis beingproactiveinmaintainingitsinfrastructure.
“We’reprettygreaton ourinfrastructure.Wejust spentsomemoneytoput newwellsin,fixupourwastewatersystem.WhenIwaselectedmayor,ItoldthemI wantedtodotwostreetsayear,paving,andthat’swhat we’vedonesofar…etown’slookingreallygoodwith alotofthestreetsbeingrepaved,”saidWest.
WhiletheTownwasnotconsideringanyannexationsinlate2017,Westsaidtheyareopentoitforfutureexpansion.
“We’realwayslookingfornewadventures.Ifthings keepgoingthewaytheyare,we’reprobablygoingto havetolookatannexing,becausewe’rerunningoutof room,thewaysthingshavetakenoff.”
Westsaidhe’sthrilledtoservehisfellowresidents asmayorandisexcitedtoseewhatthefuturehasin storeforGeorgetown.
“PeoplesaythisTownissomethingtheyhaven’t seeninalongtime—it’sfriendlier,peoplearewanting togetinvolvedandhelpnon-profits,they’rewantingto helpmeandthecouncilwithprojectswewanttodo,” saidWest.
“istownhasreallychanged.Peoplearegetting involved,peoplearehappy,andIseenothingbutpositivethingsforGeorgetown.”
