Selbyvillee story
of DELAWARE
It was a good life. We all worked on the farm a little bit. At that time, people had big gardens and things like that.
Mayor Clifton C. Murray
DELAWARE
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COVER: e1942mural,"ChickenFarm"by WilliamH.Calfee,stillhangsintheSelbyvillePostOffice.Strawberrytickets(courtesyDonaldWard)and tomatotoken(courtesyD.StephenParsons.) e
rivingthroughdowntownSelbyvillecan spuremotions.ere’sthefeelingthatyou haveslippedthroughaportalintimeand comethroughtheotherendinasimplertime.Atime whenMainStreet,U.S.A.,wasthehubofathriving community,andonecouldeat,gotochurch,dosome shoppingandminglewithhisorherneighborssimply byheading“downtown.”
Ofcourse,thingsdohaveawayofchangingover time.ehustleandbustleofRoute113hastransferredmuchofthecommercetothehighway,but there’sstillsomethingalmostmagicalaboutdriving throughdowntownSelbyville.erearestilllovely Rockwell-esquehomesthatstandstatelyalongMain Street,anduniquebusinessesandrestaurantsscattered aboutdowntownthatcancreateanicedaytripforjust aboutanybody.
Yes,Selbyvilleissmall-townAmerica.Andthatis agreatthing.
somewhatalteredthefaceofthetown.
ButwekeptcomingbacktoSelbyville’ssenseof communityasthestaroftheshow.
Aswedoveintothepastofthetown,therecurringthemewashowpeople’srecollectionsoftheirpersonalhistorieswithSelbyvillewerebasedonhow peopleinteractedwithoneanother.Weheardabout racerelationsinSelbyvilleatatimeofgeneralracialunrestthroughoutthecountry,andhowitwasabit smootherinSelbyville.Weheardaboutpeoplegetting togetheratthemovietheaterortogorollerskating.We heardpeopletalkabouttheirneighbors,andtheir neighborstalkaboutthem.
AswetalkedwithpeopleregardingthepresentdayclimateofSelbyville,thatdiscussioncontinued. Selbyvilleofficialsarenotknownforfightingamongst themselves,orwithresidents,astheyappeartomake decisionsthatbenefitthattown,ingeneral.
111AtlanticAve.,Suite2 ❖ OceanView,DE19970 302.539.1788 ❖ coastalpoint.com
Aswewereplanningthisbooklet,wediscussed Selbyville’sheritage—fromthe“StrawberryCapitalof theWorld”toitsmodernperceptionasathriving hotspotforthelocalpoultryindustry.Wediscussed howitistheunofficialnervesystemoftheIndianRiver SchoolDistrict,andhowachangingpopulationhas
Andwhenwetalkedtheaboutfuture,guess what?Everyonewantstoseedowntowngetbacktoits rootsasthehubofthetownsoneighborscanco-exist andworktogethereasily.
Basically,welearnedthatSelbyvilleisatownthat takescareofitsown,andwantstocontinuetodosofor yearstocome.Andthatmadethisaneasybook. ❖
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Farming,freighttrains &fondmemories
Selbyville’squietRailroadStationMuseumisa microcosmofthetownitself:atinyplacethat couldtellstoriesfordays.
Imagineatownthatissmall,butvibrant:Ruby strawberriesglowamongthedustofhorse-drawnwagons.Menhaggleberrypricesinanopen-airmarketas trainseagerlywaittopulltheloadnorth.Doorsjingleas residentswalkfromshoptoshop,alllocatedwithinafew blocks.
Forcenturies—evenbeforethetowngotitsname— agriculturehasflowedthroughtheveinsofmostSelbyvilleresidents.
Modernrecordsofsettlementintheareabeginin 1778,whenfourmenpurchasedafinestreamsidetobuild asawmillandgristmill.SandyBranchcontained250 acresnearthecrossroads,andwater-powerwaseverything.emillpondsprocessedflourandlumber.
Accordingtotownhistory,thenamecamein1842, whenSampsonSelbybeganmarkingpackagesin Philadelphiafordeliverytohiscountrystoreat“SelbyVille.”
Officiallyincorporatedin1902,Selbyvillehad grownslowly,hoveringjustnorthoftheMarylandline,in themiddleofDelaware’ssouthernmostboundary.
“Eveninthe1880s,manylegaldeeddescriptionsdid notevenmentiontheplacebynamebutreferredinstead to‘thepublicroadfromFrankfordtoBerlin,’”wrotehisto-
Horse-drawn wagonscarry strawberrycratesto marketonMay26, 1925.Selbyvillemay havebegunas“e StrawberryCapital oftheWorld”around 1871whenDavid Longbought6,000 strawberryplants,all ofwhichdiedinthe field.Butheand otherfarmershad moresuccessthe next year.
Courtesy:Delaware PublicArchives
rianRichardB.Carterinhis2001re-releaseof“Clearing NewGround:theLifeofJohnG.TownsendJr.”
Butinthe1880s,whentheJunction,Breakwater& FrankfordRailroaddroppedtrackssouthtoSelbyville, peopletooknotice.
at’swhenfarmersreallysawtheopportunity— notjusttoprovideforthemselves,buttoenhancetheirexportswithoutrelyingonthewaterwaysofBishopville (limitedtosmallboats)andthechoppyIndianRiverBay.
Strawberriesarestillpopularonthefewfarmsthat producethemtoday.But130yearsago,inthemid-1880s, Selbyvillewasonitswaytobecomingthe“Strawberry CapitaloftheWorld.”
Atfirst, localgrowerssoldberriesinhomemade60quartcratesfor$3to$4each,andtheypaidlaborers about1centperquart,Carterwrote.
Soon,brokersgotapieceofthepie.Asberrywagons rolledontoChurchStreeteachday,freshfromthefarm, brokersbought,soldandshippedthegoodstomerchants andconfectionariesallovertheEast.Withanauction pavilionestablished,workersloadedthefreightstraight ontowaitinglocomotives.
Refrigeratorcarscameintoplayaround1899,when D.C.Williamspavedthewayforlong-rangestrawberry shipping.Originally,thecarswerejustwell-ventilated,but thewholeballgamechangedbypackingberrieswithice
SeePastpage7
cutfromlocalmillpondsand storedinsawdust.)
Withthestrengthofthe strawberryeconomy,Selbyville hadadiverseportfolio.Manufacturingandbankingindustries grewonthebackofmillpower.
BaltimoreTrustCo.wasjokinglycalledthe“Republicanbank” forthepoliticalpartyofits founder,JohnG.TownsendJr., andseveralofficers.Diagonally acrossMainStreet,the“Democrat bank”washeadedbyWilliamR. McCabe,whoopenedSelbyville NationalBankin1903,justweeks beforeBaltimoreTrust.
“Selbyvilleisathrivinglittle town,”wroteHenryC.Conradin his1908“HistoryoftheStateof Delaware.”“ebusinessinterests oftheplaceareitsmillingindustries....Itscitizensareactiveand energeticbusinessmen,andtheaggregatebusinessofthe placeisincreasingyearly.”
Surelytheberryindustry’sdeclinemadepeopleexcitedabouta newagriculturalindustry:therise ofthebroilerchicken.
OceanView’sCecileLong Steele isusuallycreditedwithstartingtheindustry,aswhenawholesalerdelivered500chickens insteadofherrequested50,she wentwithit.AndSelbyvillefollowedsuitafterseeingherpositivelyspinthat1923gaffe.
ePepperbrothersfilledthe silenceofSelbyville’snow-vacant auctionpavilionwiththerumbleof afactory:H&HPoultryCo.
Canningwasnothingnewtotheshore,butwhen JohnG.TownsendJr.broughtittoHosierStreetin1915, hemadethestrawberrysalesayear-roundventure.
Whoyoucallin’chicken?
Butthestrawberrymarketbegantosourinthelate 1920s.Carterwroteofa“devastatingpestknownasthe redstelefungusdisease.”Growingpracticesamongthe farmersdidn’thelp,andtheWorldWarIIlaborshortage finallysquashedthebruisedindustry.
AllOutSports
InSelbyville’sheyday, abusystrawberry auctionblockwas builtnextto Selbyville’ssix railroadtracks, asshownin thispostcard, mailedin1937.
Courtesy:Selbyville RailroadStationMuseum
Jobsmovedfromtheopen fieldstotheHosierStreetfactory walls,whichwereownedbyvariousbrothers,includingHomer, owardandHoracePepperSr. By1970,whenMaryJohnson was18,sheworkedinachillypackingroomalongsidemanyother blackfolkswhoearnedaliving there.(eindustrymorerecently hashiredHispanicandLatino workersinlargenumbers.)
Buttheworkpackingchickenswasgenerallyconsideredbetterthanprocessingthem.
“Ididn’tworkintheotherpart.Ididn’tthinkIcould stomachit,”Johnsonsaid.
Shedidn’tworklongatthefactory,becauseshesoon hadseveralchildrentoraise,althoughhermotherhad helped.Daycaresweren’tasprevalentnearlyahalf-centuryagoastheyarenow.
Whenthefactoryownerssoldthebusinessin1977,
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Hardware • Plumbing Farm & Building Supplies Poultry & Masonry Supplies Metal Sales & Fabrication
101 Cemetery Rd. P.O. Box 170
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itwouldtakeonanow-familiarname:MountaireFarmsofDelmarva. enewownersincreasedproductionandhaddoubleditby 1992.
“Prettymucheverybodywasassociatedwith somekindofagriculture,”currentMayor CliftonC.Murraysaidofthetown’sresidents.
Besidesowningracehorses,Fred Stevens’fatherquithisjobasassistantpostmastertoopenahatcherynearthemovie theater.
“Hegotoutbecauseeverybodywas makingmoneyonchickens,”Stevenssaidof themoveawayfromthepostalservice.
EvencurrentTownCouncilmanRickDuncanspenttimeatthepoultryplant.Hisfatherhad37 yearsthere,includingworkingintheadministration.Mike Doyle’sfatherdidtruckmaintenance.
Selbyville’sweeklynewspaper,theDelmarvaNews,hadasection devotedentirelytopoultry.
ChickensofficiallybecameanindustrywhenthePepperfamilyfounded H&HPoultry. Courtesy:Doyle’srestaurant
Inthewinter,womenwerehiredtobuildhollywreaths,dippedin shellactopreservetheirfreshnessforshippingnationwideandabroad. WithpilesoffoodshippeddailyfromtheDelmarvaPeninsula, businessessprangupjusttocarryitall.Severalstoragecompanies boughtandsoldbags,whichwomenoftenkepttomakeinto homegoods.
Withalloftheirbirds,thePeppersopenedKozy KoopKompanytobuildwooden-framedcrates. AndwhenDocDoughertyboughtthebuilding latertoopenCabinetryUnlimited,hefoundan oldreceipt:arecordofwoodsalesfrom1942.
Selbyville’sgreatestadoptedson Withaneyeforthefuture,acommon threadamongSelbyville’sturnofthecentury successwasthe“StrawberryKing.”
U.S.Sen.JohnG.TownsendJr.wasthereason SelbyvillehostedEleanorRoosevelt(foravisitfocused onpoultry)andVicePresidentRichardNixon(for Townsend’sbirthdayparty)onseparateoccasions,ashispersonal guests.Hewaselectedgovernorin1916,asDelaware’sU.S.senatorin 1928andlaterbecameanalternatedelegatetotheUnitedNations GeneralAssembly.
Butbeforeallthat,hewasayoungSelbyvilletransplantfromjust south,inMaryland.Hisbusinesssensenotonlymeantgreatpersonal success,butencouragedSelbyville’simprovement.Hejumpedonthe newideasthatwouldgrow,fromlumbertostrawberrygrowing,brokeringandshipping.Heco-foundedSelbyville’sfirsttelephonecompany,aswellastheBaltimoreTrustCo.,eventuallyraisingthousands ofchickensatTownsend’sInc.
Keepontrucking
Attheturnofthecentury,Selbyvillewasgroundzeroforthe DuPontdream:acentralhighwaythatwouldlinktheentirestate.AlthoughT.ColemanDuPontdidn’tgetthemassivehighwaydesigned tocarryautomobiles,cablecarsandbuggieshehadenvisioned, Delawarestillgotafreeroadwaythattraversedthestate.
Asperhapsthefirstexampleof large-scalephilanthropythatsouthernDelawareanshadseen,some questionedDuPont’smotives.
ButgroundbrokeonthehighwayprojectinSelbyvillein1911, andin1917,then-Gov.Townsend dedicatedthefirst20-milestretch.
AndsoSelbyvillerodetherailroadandatwo-lane highwayouttomeettherestoftheworld.
“eprofoundisolationthathadcharacterizedlifein southernDelawareforgenerationswasendedforever,” Carterwrote.
Emergencyplanning
Afterthehighwayreplacedcargoandpassenger trains,severaloftheoldtraintrackswerefilledin.Butthe ticketdepotstillwatchesoverthecurrentrailroad.And longafterthelastticketsale,theTownofSelbyvilletook overtheformerdepotasitstownhall.
WhenVirginiaPepperbecametownclerkin1970, shehadrecentlycometoSelbyvilleasanewcomeranda newlywedfromMaryland.Sheandthepolicedepartment sharedthesmalldepotofficebeforeTownHallmovedto ChurchStreetinthe1980s.
WhentheSelbyvillePoliceDepartmentwascreated in1931,itssingleofficerhadavariedjobdescription.Besideskeepingthepeace,thepolicechiefalsooperatedand maintainedthetown’swatertreatmentplantuntilthe 1960s.
Aroundthen,theCollinsdynastybegan,whenChief Ward“Junior”Collinswasswornin.(LarryHolladayremembershimoncesprintingoutofthetownparad torespondtoaviolentcrimenearthelibrary.)
Whenheretiredin2001,hepresentedtheinsigniaofpolicechieftohisownson,W.Scott Collins,whomcouncilchoseashissuccessor andwhohasremainedinchargeofthetown’s lawenforcementtothisday.By1997,thedepartmenthadincreasedinsizetosevenofficers.
Selbyville’scolored schoolwasreplacedin withthistwo-room schoolhouse, photographed in1921.
Courtesy:Delaware PublicArchives
thatHarringtonreceived itsfirstmotorizedpumper (a1916 Model-T Ford),fireofficialsthere shippedthe carbyrailroad tohelpsave Selbyville.Still,oncetheflameswereextinguished,Selbyvillefaced$100,000indamage.
reeyearslater(attheurgingoftheTown’sinsuranceadjuster)the towncouncilboughtSelbyville’sfirst fire-fightingequipment:twohand-pumpedchemical tanks,hosesandafirebell.esewereloadedontoatwowheeledcartthatfirefightersdraggeduptheroad.
eSelbyvilleVolunteerFireCompanywasofficially organizedin1923andincorporatedin1929.
“ManyofthesemenwereWorldWarIveteransand hadpreviousfirefightingexperienceswhileinthearmy maintainedfiredepartments,”today’sSVFCstates.
WhenTownwatercamein1923,the company backedawayfromthechemicaltanks,buyingtrucksthat carriedequipment,andwateritself,tothefires.
istypewriterwas writingchecksaslate as1973atBaltimore TrustCo.
Courtesy:Selbyville RailroadStationMuseum
efirecompany’shomebasebouncedaround town:agarage;apigeonhouse;anewbrickbuildingon DukeStreetthatlaterhousedagymnasticsstudio;and thecurrentlocationonnorthMainStreet.
Differentschoolsofthought
Longbeforedesegregation,SelbyvilleHighSchool wasbuiltin1933forwhitechildren.Locatednextto H&H,thelandwasaPepperfamilygift.etown’schilrenattendedthatschoolforall12yearsoftheirschooling,althoughout-of-townersstillhadtheir elementaryschoolattheRoxanaand Williamsvilleschoolhouses.
Onemajoremergencyisallthatisneededto startpeoplethinkingaboutfireprotection.
InSelbyville’scase,itwasthefireof1916,a blazethatdemolishedthedowntownbusiness districtatChurchandMain,includingBaltimoreTrust.
Selbyvillehadlittleinthewayofequipment toputintothefirefightingefforts,andonthesameday
“Wehad30-somekidsinourgraduatingclass,”Murraysaid.“Itwassolocalyourparentsknewallyourclassmates’parents,soyou didn’tgetawaywithmuch.”
Meanwhile,“Selbyville210C”wastheState’s nameforthelocal“colored”school,whichserved grades1to8.ItwaslaterrenamedPhillipC. ShowellElementary,forthemanwholivednext doorandhaddonatedtheland.
Startingin1950,blackhigh-schoolersattendedWilliamC.JasonComprehensiveHigh SchoolinGeorgetown.Jasonwasphasedoutin
1967,asminoritieswerereturnedtotheirlocalschools.
“Whenintegrationoccurred,everybodywason needlesandpins,”saidformerteacherDawnLeKites. “Wehadsomewonderfulstudentsthatfirstyearwe integrated.”
Shesaidshecouldn’trememberanyproblems, although“I’msuretherewere.eremusthavebeena segmentthatdidn’twantit.”
eIndianRiverSchoolDistrictwasformedin 1968,consolidatingtheLordBaltimoreandJohnM. Claytonschools.Selbyville,MillsboroandGeorgetown joinedthedistrictin1969.
“Yougottomeetalotofnewfriends,”Doylesaid,although“someyougraduatedwith,youdidn’tevenmeet.”
SelbyvilleMiddleSchoolremainedatHosierStreet until1994,whenitmovedtotoday’sRoute17location.
Althoughsomehadquestionedhavingaschoolnext toanindustrialfactory,theIRSDeventuallyfoundause fortheemptyspace,astheSouthernDelawareSchoolof theArts,in1997.
Segregation
Historybooksarefilledwithunfairandsometimes frighteningstoriesaboutracerelations.
Butthings“werenottense.Evidently,weknewour
Jayne’s
“Ilikedtohear‘em sing.Theycouldsing theharmony.Itwas lively,youknow.They putenthusiasmintheir singing.Ilikedit.”
—WarrenMumford onhearingtheblackchoir atChristmas
limitations.Forracerelations,Ididnothaveaproblem growingup.IknewwhereIcouldgo,”saidRaymondL. Moore,borninthemid-1930sintosegregatedsociety,in whichheandotherblackshadrulestofollowthatdidn’t restricttheirwhitecounterparts.
MinoritieswereonlyallowedonOceanCity’s Boardwalkonthreespecifieddayseachyear.
“Youcouldn’tgoonthebeachanytime—notinthe water,notonthebeach,”saidMoore.eymightswimin thebaysinstead.
Whites“couldgowherevertheywantedtogo,”he said.“erewasnorestaurantswecouldhangoutin.… Youcouldgotoabackdoorinsomeofthem.
“Hastings’[drugstore],youcouldgoinandgetyour drinkinacupandgoout.Youcouldnotsitdownata counter,”Mooresaid.“Whitaker,youcouldsitdownina boothorthecounter.Hedidnotsegregateracesinthe ’50s and’40s.”
Minoritiesweremostlylimitedtoblack-ownedbusinessesandhotels.
However,thegrocerystoresacceptedeveryone,becausetheyhappilyacceptedeveryone’smoney,hesaid.
“Lateron,justacrossfromtheschool,wehadstore runbyAfrican-Americans,justcalled‘eShop,’”which
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48 W. Church St. (at Davis Avenue) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 95 Selbyville, DE 19975
(302) 251-5500
Fax: (888) 251-5129
www.oceanviewcpa.com david@oceanviewcpa.com
Member Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce
haditsownannualreunionsupuntilabout20yearsago.
“We’djustvisitandreuniteourselves—peoplefrom thecommunitywhogrewuptogetherandusedtogoto eShop,”Mooresaid.“eyhadajukeboxinthere.e kidswoulddance.”
emoviesalsohadaseparatesideentrance.
“We’dgointothebalcony.Caucasianswouldsitin thebottom,”hesaid.
PublicLibrary.Littlehouseswerelocatedtowardthe woods,justeastofPCS.
“eyputuphousesbecausetheyworkedforhimat thechickenplant,”saidFredStevens inhisoralhistory. “Anditwasrough,but…itwasjustroughbackthere. eydidn’tbotherotherpeople.
“eyhadalittlestoreoverhere.…at’sthewayI gottomeetsomanycolored”folks,hesaid.“Whenmy brothergotkilledonaponyoutatMumford’s…they broughthimbackhereinthishouse,inthefrontroom. Andthere’dbelinesofcoloredcame,becausetheyall knewus.”
“Mypersonalself,Ididn’thavetoomuchproblem,” saidJohnson,bornintheearly1950s. “Iwastaughttoget alongwithallkindsofpeople.People waspeople.”
ButSelbyvillecouldseetherage50milesawayin Cambridge,Md.,whereracerelationswereheated.en, inthesummerof1967,Cambridgeburned.Blackactivist H. RapBrownriledupthecrowdsandsoon,arsonists struck,andfiresweptthroughthattown.
Selbyvilledidnotwantthat,andMooresaidhe nevertrulyfeareditwouldhappen.
“AsherCareywasmayor.Heformedacitizencommitteewithblacksandwhites,…andthingsstayedcalm,” saidMoore,whoservedonthecommittee.
“Itwasascaryyear,but…IguessCambridgewasa littlewaysfromus.emayordidnotwanttoseeithere,” idMoore,especiallysincehegrewupwithoutacar— onlyhisfeetorabicyclefortransportation.
atdoesn’tmeaneveryonewantedintegration,either,henoted.Moorerecalledatimewhenagroupof peoplearguedagainstitatatowncouncilmeeting.
atmightmakehis1981victoryintheschool boardelectionallthemorepoignant.
Yearslater,sheandherhusband wouldtaketheirchildrenfishingat theOceanCitypiers.
e“colored”neighborhoodwas called“PepperTown”becauseitwas ownedbyHowardPepper,saidGeraldine StevensinheroralhistoryfortheSelbyville
“Itwasanunheardof:ablackbeingelectedto anyofficehereinSussexCounty,orSelbyville,atone time,”butheserved10years.
Somepeople believedinsegregation,Mooresaid,but,overall,Selbyvillehadgoodpeople.
“erewereveryfew,ifany[Hispanics].Iwouldsay thatstartedtogrowinthelate’60sand’70s.atwas whenBuntingNursery,forone,startedtobringthemin, andchickenfactorieswouldbringthemin.”
Funandgames
“Ienjoyedmychildhood,”Mooresaid.“Didn’thave anymajorproblems[although]Ididn’texactlyenjoysegregationonceIrealizedwhatitwasabout.”
ZoarUnitedMethodistChurchusuallyhadsomethingto“keepusoutoftrouble,”Mooresaid,likechoir practice,Biblestudies,gamesorfeasts.
“Myfondmemorywasplayingbaseball.Ijustenjoyedthefactthateveryweekendwewouldhaveabaseballgamewithsomeonesomewhere,”Mooresaid.“ere wasn’tmuchelseyoucoulddo,becauseyoucouldn’tget transportationanywhere.”
Butthekidswerecrafty.eyplayedineveryempty field:atthedairyfarm,schoolyardsorbackyards.
“Oncewewereableto drive,we’dgoto[a diner].Ifyoudidn’tfind thepeopleyouwanted tosee,youwentto anotherone.Oryou waiteduntilthey showedup.”
—GardnerBunting
“Itdidn’tmatteraboutraces.Youplayedwithwhoeverwasouttherethatday”andhadaball,saidDoyle, growingupwiththeballgamesstillgoingonyearslater.
Sometimesparentsandyoungerchildrenjoinedthe ballgame,too,untildusk.
Footballdidn’tevencometoSelbyvilleHighSchool untillater.SoccerwasSelbyville’sfallsportuntiltheschool beganpreparingforanewteaminthelate’50s,Gardner Bunting’ssophomoreyear.
“Everybodywasusedtorunning,”hesaid,butthey hadtolearnnewplays.
Someteenagersfoundworkintown.“Gasstations, restaurants—whereveryoucouldgetajob,”Buntingsaid.
MoorewentintotheArmyforthreeyears,sothe G.I.Billwoulddowhathisfamilycouldnot:payforhis educationatDelawareStateUniversity.Hecamehome andgotajobteachingphys-edatPCSandinFrankford.
HehadalsoworkedatH&H,makingboxestopack thechickensorsortingchickenpieces.
Anyoneluckyenoughtohaveacaroracottagein FenwickIslandcouldworkatthebeach.
GeraldineStevenslovedroughingithergrand-
mother’scottage,withkerosenelamps,ahand-powered waterpumpandiceboxwithregularicedeliveries.
“Butwedidhaveagasstovesowecouldcook.at wastheonlyup-to-datethingthattheyhad,”shesaid.
FredStevenshadbegunalifetimeofpranksatthe beach,armedwithaJeep.
“Itwasn’tnice,Iguess,but…peoplehadouthouses inbackoftheircottages,andweusedtohookupstuffand pullthemover.”
Asagirl,Johnsonmostlystayedinherbackyardto playhide-and-seek,jacksandbaseball.
“Ihadalotofbrothers.Ididalotofwrassling,too,” Johnsonmused.“Itwashorrible.”
Murray’sfamilywentcrabbing,fishingandhunting.
TeenagerscruisedtotheDel-Airdrive-in(thelocationtodayoftheStrawberryCenter)orDagsboro’sS&J.
enayoungteacher,LeKitesrememberedacommunitytheatergroupinthemid-tolate1960s—similar totoday’sPossumPointPlayers—butwithshowsheldat SelbyvilleHighSchool.
“Canyouimaginealittlecommunitylikeoursacting inaplay,andpeoplewouldcome?”shesaid.“Wewere calledtheMasonDixonPlayers.”
Cardskillswereanecessity,too.
“Wehadbridgeclubs!Four,five,sixcouplesthat
wouldgettogetherontheweekendandplaybridge,” LeKitessaid.“Youhadtoknowhowtoplaybridge.… at’showIgottoknowmostofthepeopleintown.”
OceanCityandSalisburyheldthekeystoabitmore nightlife.
etownswimmingpool—originallyfundedby theSelbyvilleCommunityClub—wasahugetreat.
“Kidsdidn’tknowhowtoswim,andherewelivedby thewater,”saidRitaHollada.
eclubdoveintofundraising,andsoon,children weredivingintothesparklingwatersofanunderground pooloffofHosierStreet.
Hollada,LeKites,VirginiaPepperandotherparents sawtheirchildrengrowupinthewater,eventeachingthe nextgenerationtoswim.
Butoverthedecades,insuranceandmaintenancerequirementsgrew,butfewer childrenwereswimming.Finally,theirunderwaterplaygroundclosedaroundthenew millennium.
Bishopvillerenderingplant
Courtesy:Delaware PublicArchives
VolunteersmadeSelbyvillewhatitistoday,including theSelbyvilleCommunityClub,whichis99yearsoldin 2015.Inadditiontofundingthetownpool,thegroup
wenttobatforSelbyvilleafterpassageoftheCleanAir Act,inthe1960s,pressinglegalactionagainstaBishopville,Md.,renderingplant.
“[It]boiledallthestuffyoudidn’twanttoeat,boiled downintofat.eysaiditwassickening.…Itwouldburn youreyes,”Holladasaid.
“Yousayhogmessisbad—thiswasworse,”Doyle said.“[Itwas],dependingonwhichwaythewindblew, whogotit.Icanrememberinthehouse,becauseback thenyouhadnoair conditioning.Itwas hardtodescribe.It wasjusthorrible.”
Bythe’60s,environmentalperspectiveshadchanged greatlyfromwhen JanetScottwasagirl.
Bornin1933,she grewupwithH&H rightbehindherparents’house.
“Weusedtoplay inacanalthatwent undertheschoolyard fromtheswampand that,asitwentdown, itdrainedthebloodandgutsfromthechickenslaughteringhouseintothatcanal…andwentout,Iguess,intothe Bishopvillepondandoutintheocean,”Scottsaidinher 2002 oralhistory.“atwasbeforeanysewer-typething wassetup,andweusedtomakelittlebridgesacross.is isweird,butthisisthewayitwas—verybasic.”
wereagainstdevelopment.Wejustwantedresponsibledevelopment.[Apoorlymanagedneighborhood]canbea negativeissuewiththeentirecommunity.”
AccordingtoHollada,thethen-mayorwouldhaveto makethetie-breakingvoteonthedevelopmentbutwas notpreparedtoalienatehalfthetown,soheresigned,and residentHolladaeventuallyfilledthegap.(Later,oneof thefourcouncilmemberschangedhisvotetoanay,soit turnedoutHolladadidn’thavebreakthetie anyway.Years later,thenextsubsidized-housingproposalwasahit,and ShadyGrovewasbuilt.)
Shopperscouldfind everythingfrom clothingtobuggy harnessesatshopslike McCabe&Davis. Courtesy:RitaHollada
Doylerememberedwhenpoultryprocessors shippedbloodawaybythetruckload,whichhesaidbicyclistswouldregretiftheygottooclose.
“Ispentalotoftimetalkingaboutwastewater,”said formermayorLarryHollada.
Workingfivedaysaweek,Mountairekeptallofits wastewaterina holdingpond,whichitpre-treatedandrele asedtothetownsevendaysaweek.EventuallyMountaire,theEPAandSelbyvillewouldcollaboratetobuild thetown’sfirstmajorwastewatertreatmentplant.
Holladawasarelativelynewresidentwhenhewas askedtobemayorintheearly1980s.Adeveloperwanted tobringsubsidizedhousingtotown,but“Ihadconcerns withhowitwasgoingtobemanaged,”andthedevelopers’ answersweren’tencouraging,hesaid.“Itwasn’tthatwe
Alittlelibrary
With22booksanda prayer,theSelbyvilleCommunityClubalsoopenedthefirst Selbyvillelibrary,in1932atRed Men’sHall.Townspeoplecould perusethecollectionforone houronFridayafternoons.
eSelbyvilleFreePublic Librarybeganin1939,with Statefunding,1,000newtitles andaSunday-schoolroomat SalemUnitedMethodist Churchtohouseit.Some people stillremembervisitingthe two-roomlibrary.
AfterSen.Townsenddied in1964,hisfamilymadeamemorialofhis“StrawberryMansion”bydonatingitasthe current,historicallibrarybuilding.eDr.AsherB. CareyWingwasdedicatedin2004,thankstoCarey’sreal estatedonation,providingextralandandcapitalforexpansion.
etiesofvolunteerism
atspiritofvolunteerismkeptthetownmoving andupdatingoverthedecades.
“IjustthinkIjustflourishfrombeinginvolvedin things.I’mnotonethatlikestosithome,”saidLeKites, whohadthesamefriendsinchurchpew,teachers’lounge andSelbyvilleCommunityClub.
MembersoftheoppositesexjoinedtheImproved OrderofRedMen.eservicegroupclaimedrootsin theBostonTeaParty(theirnamereflectingthosepatriots whodressedasNativeAmericans)andlaterclaimedthe membershipofillustriousSelbyvillians.
FredStevens,oneofthelastremainingmembersof WissahickonTribe#20oftheImprovedOrderofRed
SeePastpage19
Past continuedfrompage16
Men,recalledthatthegroupwas “realactive,wayback.Youalmost hadtobeaRedMentoget started,fromwhatI’veread,in politicsandstuff.Infact,later, JohnTownsendjoinedit.We’ve gothispicturesandstuffin there.”
egroup’sclubhouse waslocatednearSalem UMC,andasoneofthe largermeetingspotswithastage,itevenhosted plays.
RedMen’sCemeteryopenedin1887,servingasalegacyandrevenue-makerfortheclub.
Holyrollers
Since1948,SalemUnitedMethodistChurchhashostedroller skatinginthesocialhallonFridaynights.
echurchrentedoutskates,whichweren’tthekindcommonly seentoday,withtheshoebuiltin.Skaterswhorentedtheirskates wouldattachthewheeledaccessorypiecetothebottomoftheirshoes andtightenitinplacewithakey.
“Peoplewerepoorbackthen—alotofuswere,”butafewchildrenhadtheirownboot-styleskates,Doylesaid.
GeraldineStevensdidn’tevenattendSalem,butshecouldbe foundthereonFridaynights.
“IcanrememberthatIwastheonlygirlthathadaskatingskirt.It wasblackvelvetontheoutsideandredunderneath.IthoughtIwas something,”shesaid.
Peoplecouldbuysnacksandhavefun,andeachnightattheend, “youplayedspin-the-bottle,”Doylesaid.No,notthatkindofspin-thebottle.
Everyoneskatedwithapartneruntilthemusicstopped.Like MusicalChairs,theyallrushedtoonecornerofthehall.Someone wouldspinabottle,andwhereitpointed,thatgrouphadtoleavethe floor.Finally,twopeoplewouldskatesolo,rushingintocorners,until thebottlenamedawinner.
Manyresidentspeppertheirstorieswithfondmemoriesof SalemUnitedMethodistChurch,whichcanbetracednearlytothe AmericanRevolution.
Foratleast225years,theMethodistshavemet—firstoutdoors andineachother’shomes,andtodayonChurchStreet.
By1790,theSandyBranchSocietywasmeetingregularly,and e ventuallybuiltitsfirstlocationinnorthernSelbyville.econgregationmovedtoitscurrentlocalein1884,whilethecurrentchurchand parsonagewerededicatedin1912.
Swampthing
Waitingatthewestoftownlimits,the“Burnt Swamp”wasknownforitspeatfires,recordedasearly asthelate1700s.
eGreatCypressSwampmayhavemadethe perfecthideawayforbootleggersduringProhibition. But,formany,theswampheldsomethingmoresinister: heSelbyvilleSwampMonster.
“WhenIwasyoung,peopleusedtotalkaboutit.… Itusedtomakeyoukindofscaredtogothereinthedark,” Johnsonsaid.
Childrenhidtheirheads,whileparentsandoldersiblingsattemptedtofindthegrizzly,hairybeastthatpurportedlytrampedthroughtheswampontwofeet.
elegendwas,infact,amassiveprank,ledin1964 bysomenormallystalwartseekersofthetruth:thelocal newspaper.
Aone-timeprankwaspickedupbyRalphGrapperhaus,editor of DelmarvaNews.Delightedbytheideaofaswampcreature,GrapperhausenlistedthecostumingskillsoflocalpranksterFredStevens.
SeePastpage20
RUNNINGREBELSSussexCountyalwayshadabitofasouthern streak.e“Rebels”wereSelbyvilleHighSchool’smascot.
Courtesy:SelbyvilleRailroadStationMuseum
Starting Our 10th Season of Creating Art for Coastal Delaware
Stevenshadalreadymarchedinthe1963Halloween Paradeasthemonster,havingpairedhisAuntDorothy Pepper’soldraccooncoatwithafierce,beastlymask.
Heandtheeditoronlydidahandfulofphotoshoots alongthedark,windingroadthroughtheBurntSwamp. Butpeoplereportedmonstersightingsforyearsafterward.
Ofcourse,heandhisfamilyknewthetruth,which wasn’trevealeduntilGrapperhaus’sdeath.ButStevensfamouslyattendedswampmonsterraids,silentlychuckling thathisfriendssoughtamonsterthatwasrighttherein thecarwiththem.
Whensearchpartiesstartedcarryingguns,“Ihadto quit.Ididn’twanttoget shot,”Stevenssaid.“God— thatwas50yearsago.”
Partytime
Howlargeofafrying pancancook800chicken quartersatonce?According toMumfordSheetMetal Works,one10feetindiameterand8inchesdeep,with ahandle8feetlong.
Withalltheirworkto raisechickens,Delmarva wantedtocelebratethem, too,so theDelmarva ChickenFestivalbeganin 1947.emassivesteelpan(anditsidenticalreplacement)wascookingnearlyeveryyear.
“Itreallywasnotthe beachthatwascalling me....Ijustfellinlove withtheareathe people.Itwasquiet. Ihadnotlived inanythingso quietasthat.”
—DawnLeKites
Peppersaid.“eyreally lookednice,too.”
Othereventsdidnotcatchonsoeasily.eSouthernDelawareRenaissanceFestivalisasoresubject,Doyle said.Aloftyplan,itstilloperatedintheredinlate2000, andpeopleweren’teagertoretryit.
Fortheloveof…
OriginallyfromNorthCarolina,LeKitesfellinlove withtheEasternShorewhilespendingasummeratthe beachwithhercollegegirlfriendsinthe1960s.
“Itwasasmallruralcommunity,andyettheywere verywelcoming,andIfeltverycomfortableattheschool andaroundthepeople,”saidLeKites.“Italwaysfeltlike home.”
Beforemeetingherhusband,LeKitesworkedwith hismotherandlivedinaRoxanaapartment,nearhis otherrelatives.Shejoked thatshecouldn’tescape, butit“workedoutbeautifully.”
Until2014,thefestivalrotatedannuallybetween municipalitiesacrossthepeninsula,includingSelbyville, bringinggames,rides,paradesandliteraltonsoffried chicken.
WarrenMumfordrecalledbuildingthemonstrous paninjustthreedaysin1950.Helaughedtothinkthat theyhadoriginallyattachedanormal-sizedhandle!After lengtheningthehandle,theydonatedthepantoDelmarvaPoultryIndustryInc.,whichorganizedthefestival.
ButSelbyville’smostenduringlegacyisOldTimer Days,whichdrewshoppersandfestivalgoerstotown eachMay.ButthesalesfromursdaytoSaturday weren’teventhebestpart.
“estoresandmerchants—theywouldbringsome racksofstuffoutandputthemonthesidewalkandlower prices,andtheydressedupintheoldercostumes,”Virginia
In1950,downtown Selbyvillehadtwo drugstoresflanking themovietheater.
Courtesy:Selbyville RailroadStationMuseum
Raisedonafarmjust outsidetown,Murray,70, andhissiblingswereall borninthesamehouse andhelpedthefamily business.
“Itwasagoodlife. Weallworkedonthe farmalittlebit.Atthat time,peoplehadbiggardensandthingslikethat,” hesaid.
Farmsweresmaller, butchoresweremorelabor-intensive.Farmersraisedand soldtheirownchickens,asopposedtoraisingthemfora companysuchasPerdueFarms,whichhestilldoeswith hisbrothers.
GardnerBuntingknowsallaboutfamilybusinesses. HisgrandfatherbeganBuntings’Nurseryandcatalog serviceathisWilliamsvillefarm,afterhearingenoughrequestsforstrawberryplantsandfruittrees.efamily alsoownedPeninsulaNursery.
“[Weshippedto]Pittsburgh,Buffalo,Nantucket— allthetruckdriverslovedthat,becausetheygottospend twodaysonNantucketIsland,”sincetherewasonlyone ferrycrossingeachday,Buntingsaid.
enurseryshippedtruckloadsofplantsdaily,and strawberryplantsalways“camefromSelbyville,ifyou bought’emfromBurpee.”
FredStevens,77,remembersthemanylittlestores justonChurchStreet:Dr.Whitaker’sdrugstore,the
Army-Navysurplus,Diamondeatre,Dr.Hastings’ drugstore,abighardwarestore,theQuillens’grocery, floristandmuchmore.
“eyhadmorethantheyhadnow,”Mooresaid.
Overtheyears,thetownhashadbarbers, florists,knickknacks,men’sapparelandSeaView women’sapparel.emovietheaterwaslocatedbetweenthedrugstores,perfectlyplacedforanyone whowantedtogetasodaonmovienight.etheatereventuallyclosedandbecametheSilcoshop— similartoadollarstore,withalittlebitofeverything forless.
AftertheSilcobecameapoolhallandreccenter,afiredestroyedthebuilding,andtheneighboringcoffeeshopwaslatertorndown.
SoSelbyvillewasleftwithanugly,trash-filledlot, RitaHolladarecalled.Butthefutureofthesitewasbright. atspotoflandwouldlaterbecomeapark.
“Itwasaverynicelittletown.Wehadprettymuch everythingthatanyonecouldwantinthe’50sand’60s,” Buntingsaid.“erewasamovietheater,severalgood restaurantsandclothingstores.”
Driverscouldlonggetvehicletune-ups,fromcarriageshopstothegasstationwhereGeorgiaHousenow stands.
J.ConnScottfurniturestillholdsitsplace,while Scotty’s—amen’sclothingstore—haschangeditstrade butstayedinthefamily,nowoperatingastheNextStep LearningCenter.
Overtheyears,Selbyvillealsohadahotel,Selbyville Manufacturing,ZareBrasure’soldhardwarestore(and formerpostoffice),themoremodernMcCabe’sBlueberry FarmandeBeeHivecafé.
Atonetime,fourlittlegrocerystoresweredoing goodbusiness,withfullmeat-cuttingsectionsandall.
ButthearrivalofAcmewasabigdealdowntown, andthenFoodLionchangedtheentiregrocerydynamic forever.Soon,grocerieswerebarely—ifever— foundoffthehighway.
All-Americanand SussexCountycookingwereastapleof Woody’sDiner,which livesontodayas Doyle’srestauranton Route113.
PhotoCourtesy: DelawarePublicArchives PlayingcardsCourtesy: Doyle’srestaurant
ButasSelbyvillelearned toblossomoutward,everydaylifeleftMainStreetand “migratedtothehighway,tomakeiteasiertogetto,” Buntingsaid.
Ray’srestaurantandPomeroy’spubgotanearlystart onRoute113,attractingpeopleonthesouthernhighway.
Someresidentsstillrememberatownwithunpaved roads,wheredoorsdidn’tneedtobelocked,andwhere everyonekneweveryoneintown.Eachmorning,milkwas delivered,kidsgatheredcoalandfirewood,andpeople lookedupwhenararecardroveby.
Perhapstheold-townvibeisbestdescribedbythe lateJeanneWilliamsLong,whosharedanoralhistoryin 2003.FreshfromNewJersey,sheappliedforateaching jobinSelbyvillein1939.Afterlunchingwiththeprincipal,shewasinterviewedbythethree-manschoolboard:
“eyaskedmetwoquestions.efirstthingthey askedmewas:DoIsmokecigarettes,and…whatreligion Iwas.eysaidIcouldstepout,andinfiveminutesthey calledmebackinandsaidthey’dliketohavemeasthe first-gradeteacher.”
“Youcoulddomostofyour shoppingrightintown,”Bunting said.“Ofcourse,notanymore. eydevelopedonthehighway,sothedowntown kinda driedup,forlackof abetterdescription.”
Asinmostgrowing towns,businessmigratedto thehighway.DuPontneverwanted tobuildahighwayrightthroughthe downtowns,soheshiftedittothewest.
So,afteranentirelifetime,whydopeopleremainin Selbyville,stillsharingtheirmemories?
ForMurray,it’sthefamilyfarm.
“at’sallIeverwantedtodo,andthat’swhatI endedupdoing.Myheritagehasbeenhere.Inever antedtogoanywhereelse,”evenwhenstudyingagricultureatUniversityofDelaware.
AfterFrancesEichnermovedtoSelbyvillein her70s,shebecamepresidentoftheCommunity Clubandrejectedherhusband’ssuggestiontoreturntoMaryland.
“Nope,I’maDelawareannow,”RitaHollada recallshermothersaying,layingclaimtothelegacy thatislifeinSelbyville. ❖
StorybyLauraWalter
DrivingdownChurchStreetindowntown Selbyville,onecouldbeforgivenforthinking they'vetraveledtoMayberry.Tuckedawayatthe southernmostpointofthestate,thetownhasmanylarge,old homes,includingsomenotableVictorianhouses,anda downtownreminiscentofsmall-townAmericaofthepast. Selbyvilleisahiddengem.
“Selbyvilleisaplaceyououghtabe,”saidSelbyvilleTown CouncilmanRichardDuncanSr.,alifelongresidentwhohas servedonthecouncil since2000.“Wemaintainthatsmalltownimage.Wehavealottooffer.Wekeepourtaxeslow.We haveprobablyoneofthebetterwastewaterfacilitiesthere. Wedon’thavetomakesubstantialcostlyimprovements.”
AccordingtoSelbyvilleTownAdministratorBobDickerson,thetownhasapopulationofapproximately2,100 people,andapproximately200businesses.
DickersonsaidtheRoute54corridor,wheretheTown hasannexedareasincludingresidentialdevelopmentsLighthouseCrossingandLighthouseLakes,couldaddupto400 additionalhouseholdswithinthetown.
“[Route]54isanaturalgrowtharea,”hesaid.“Right
“I’veneverwantedto liveanywhereelse. Ilikethefactthatyou cangoanywhere intownandsee somebodyyouknow …andtalktothem.”
—RichardDuncan
now,we’reinapositionwherewealreadyhavewaterand sewertoHudson’sCrossroads,whichisalmosttotheLighthouseLakesdevelopment…andChesapeakeUtilitiesputin gaslineoutthere.Itmakesitverynicetohaveanaffordable heatingsource.Itshouldbeprettyattractive.”
Hesaidthecouncilseesthatcorridor primarilyasaresidentialarea,whereasRoute113isitscommercialcorridor.
“isclosetothebeacharea,Ithinkitallowspeopleto liveinasmall-townenvironmentandstilltakeadvantageof theresortareawithoutbeinginitallthetime,”saidDickerson. “WehavealotofpeoplefromtheFenwickareauseourshoppingareas.It’snice.”
LookingtoRoute113,Selbyvillehasabustlingbusiness corridor,completewithmultipleshoppingcenters,from mom-and-popstorefrontstonationalchains.
“I’veneverwantedtoliveanywhereelse.Ilikethefact thatyoucangoanywhereintownandseesomebodyyou know…andtalktothem,”saidMikeDoyle,ownerofDoyle’s Restaurant,whichopenedin1983.“Youdon’thavetobe
See Present page24
lonesomeinthistownifyoudon’twanttobe.Peopleinthistownare friendly.Peoplecomeinhere,theywelcomethem—samewithMcDonald’sorArby’s.Youcomein,andtheyknowyou’renew.ey’llcomeup andtalktoyou.”
Doylesaidthetownhaschangedalotovertheyears,andmanyof thesmallerbusinessesarenolongerinexistence.
“It’salotmorepeople.Notthatthat’sbad.Iusedtoknow"everyone, headded,thoughnotsomuchnowadays.“It’sgrowing,withalotofnew population.[at]helpsallthesmallbusinesses—andthelarge.Ithink wehaveagoodtowncouncil.Wehaveagoodteamandcouncil,"hesaid, notingalackofcontroversyinatownwherethecouncilmakeuphasbeen unchangedforwelloveradecade."It’sthewaytheycarrythemselves.”
“It’sgotmoreopportunitiesandmorevarietyofplacestogoandeat, insteadofbeingstuckatoneplace,”saidMaryJohnson,alifelongresident andowneroftheJohnsonFamilyRestaurant.“eDollarTreeisnice.”
DickersonsaidtheTownhashadagreatworkingrelationshipwith allofthebusinessesthatchosetooperatewithinitslimits.Forinstance, MountaireFarmshasbeenoperatingintownforthedecadesithasbeen there,althoughtherehavebeensomeolfactoryissuesovertheyears.
“Whenwegetreports…IcallMountaire.ey,mosttimes,come outandcheckwhatthey’redoing—checkintheirprocesses,theirfans, odor-controlprocedures,this,thatandtheother.Itisanongoingissuethat wejusthavetostayontopof.
“ey’reagoodeconomicdriver,”addedDickerson.“eywanttobe goodneighbors.Iftheywerelivinghere,theywouldexpectnottohavea problemaffectingthequalityoflifelivinghereintown.Westayincommunicationwiththem.”
etownstillhasastrongfarmingcommunity;however,astimehas passed,thefaceoffarminghas,aswell.
“It’schangedalot,justlikeeverythingelse,”saidlifelongresident MayorCliftonMurray.“Grainfarmersarestillindependent.ey'renot integrators—theyjustfarmforthemselves.Technologyhaschanged.e sizeofthefarmorsizeoftheequipment—theydosomuchmorethan whattheyusedtodo.Alotofthesmallerfarmersquit,forwhateverreason.”
MikeTirrell,vice-presidentofhumanresourcesand businessservicesatMountaireFarms,saidthecompany’s Selbyvillelocation,whichincludesproduction,accounting,andsales,employsapproximately2,000people.
“Mountaireisveryproudtobeapartofthetownof Selbyville—Wehaveahistorythatgoesbackalongtime. Wehaveworkedtogetherformanyyearstomakethe townofSelbyvilleabetterplaceforMountaireandthe residentsofthetown.Ourdesireistobeagoodcorporate citizenthatiswantedbythetown,andwehaveagreat workingrelationship.”
ItisalsothehomeofthreeschoolsintheIndian RiverSchoolDistrict—PhillipC.ShowellElementary School,SelbyvilleMiddleSchoolandtheSouthern DelawareSchooloftheArts(SDSA)—aswellasthe district’sadministrativeoffices,overseenbySuperintendentSusanBunting,whowasbornandraisedinthetown, aswell.
“eSchooloftheArtsisreallyneatforkids,”noted Johnson.“Itgivesthemanopportunitytobeabletouse theirtalents.Anditmakesalotofdifference.Before,youjust wenttoonebasicschoolandthatwasit.”
DaveMaull,spokesmanfortheIndianRiverSchool District,saidthatthemostrecentenrollmentnumbersshow SelbyvilleMiddleSchoolhaving731students,aswellasapproximately80staffmembers.ShowellElementaryhasastudentenrollmentof359,alongwithapproximately47staff members,andSDSAhas446studentsenrolled,withanother47staffmembers.eadministrativeoffices,which sharespacewithSDSA,houseapproximately60schooldistrictemployees.
“Youhavealotofpeoplelivinghere,workinghereand goingtoschoolhere.Wehavethreeschoolshere.eIndian RiverSchoolDistrictisaverywell-runschooldistrict,”said Dickerson.“Whenyouthinkaboutit,ourpopulationtriples everyday,betweentheteachersandthestudents—allthose peoplecomingintotown.”
Maullsaidthedistrictexpectsenrollmenttoincreasein
futureyears,asithasalreadybeenonanupwardtrend.
"Wedoseethosegrowing.…Wedoanticipatethose numbersgoingupinfutureyears.at'sthetrendright now."
In2012,district-wide,thetotalenrollmentwas 9,147students.In2014,it’s9,842,hesaid.“We’vegoneup 700studentsjustintwoyears.”
Infact,toaddressthegrowingstudentpopulation, someoftheschoolsinthedistrictwillbegettingadditionalclassrooms.
“IncludingPhillipC.ShowellandSelbyvilleMiddle,” saidMaull.“oseprojectsaregoingtostartinthespring.”
SelbyvilleMiddlewillhavetwoadditionalclassrooms,whichwillbereadyfornextschoolyear,and Showellwillhavefouradditionalclassrooms,slatedforan Octobercompletion.
MaullsaidtheTownandtheschooldistricthave hadalongandpositiveworkingrelationshipandthathe believesitwillcarryonintothefutureastheTownand districtgrow.
“Goingbackdecades,theTownhasalwaysbeenvery supportiveoftheschools.Ithasbeenareally,reallygood workingrelationshipovertheyears,”hesaid.“Whenyou thinkback,thingshavechanged,withtheschooldistrictconsolidation,buttherehasbeenaschoolinthetownofSelbyvillesince,Ithink,beforetheturnofthecentury.Ithink therehasalwaysbeenaschoolhere....etownhasbeen verysupportiveofus,andwe’reveryappreciativeofthat.”
Dickersonsaidtheschools’studentshelpmakethe Town’sannualevents,suchastheSelbyvilleHalloweenParadeandSelbyvilleChristmasParade,asuccess.Henoted thatthe58thAnnualOldTimer’sDay&CarShowwould beSaturday,June20,2015.
“Isn’titamazinghowmanykidsthereare?”heasked, alsonotingthepopularityoftheSelbyvillePublicLibrary’s Children’sArtMonth.
“elibraryisalwaysbulgingoverwithparticipation.
continuedfrompage25
Youseethosekindsofthingsandyougo,‘Youknow,this iskindofasmalltown,family-orientedlittleplacetolive andraiseyourchildren.”
“It’safriendlyneighborhood,”saidDuncan.“My wholefamily—myfatherwasraisedthere;mykids,I’m raisinghere.Selbyville—you’rebornthere,soyoutakea lotofpride.”
oselivingandworkinginthetownhaveagreat manyamenitiesavailable,includingwater,sewer,natural gas,high-speedInternetandpublicworks.
“Wehavealowtaxrate,andwe’repro-businessand controlledgrowth,”saidDickerson.“Whenyouputall thosefactorstogether,youcouldsay,yeah,we’redoing whatwecantomakesurethetowngrows.”
“Ithinkit’sagoodplacetobe,”addedMurray.“I thinkourtaxratesaregreat.Ithinkourservicesaregood; gotalltheinfrastructureyouneed.Ourtown,whenyou drivethrough—comparedtosomeoftheoldtowns—looks asgoodorbetter thantheydo.”
eTownalsoboasts24/7coveragefromitspolicedepartment,whichhassixfull-timeofficersandtwopart-time employeeswhohandlecomplaints.
Born and raised in Delaware, Winnie’s career has encompassed professional and managerial experience in private industry, Delaware State Government and non-profit organizations. She has done everything from determining proper protocol for State events at the Governor’s House to coordinating the opening of the State Visitors’ Center in Kent County. She worked as a coordinator for Volunteers for DE Hospice and Read Aloud.
Winnie and her husband, Bob, have lived in Ocean View since 2002. In her spare time she enjoys antiquing and reading.
As a licensed REALTOR® since 1994, she knows real estate, and is dedicated to finding the right property for her clients. Her clients will tell you, you can expect patience, honesty and integrity when working with her. She is truly a REALTOR® who cares.
She is a Certified Second Home Specialist, and a member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS
Winnie Talemal / Gallo Realty 33292CoastalHwy.,Suite1
BethanyBeach,DE19930 Office:302-537-2616
wtalemal@GoToGallo.com www.GoToGallo.com
“We’vegrownfromoneguy,”saidMurrayofthedepartment'shistory.
“We’refortunatemostcallsarenon-criminal,and thathelps,”saidSelbyvillePoliceChiefW.ScottCollins— whosefatherheldthejobpreviously,andwho’sdone everythingfromlocatingdeadbodiestotrackingmissing personstoputtinghalf-road-killedanimalsoutoftheir misery.
“It’scriticaltokeepyourfull-timestatus,”heemphasized,notingthatotherwisethedepartmentcouldloseits fundingandstatusasSelbyville’s“primary”law-enforcementagency."isisourjurisdiction.”
eSelbyvilleVolunteerFireCompanycurrently has68members,whichincludesactivemembers,associatemembers,lifemembersandjuniormembers.
“efirecompanyisarealgoodassettothistown,” saidMurray.
“etownmayor,aswellasseveralmembersofthe council,arelifemembersofthedepartment,”saidFire ChiefMattSliwa.
“Weworkhand-in-handonalotofdifferentthings. Anytimethere’salargefire,we’reusingtheTown’swatersupply,soweworkcloselywiththem.Withsnowremoval,we workcloselywiththem.eycheckinwithus,‘Isthereany-
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Just 12 miles from the Totem Pole.
thingyouneed?’Wecheckinwiththem.Wehaveagreat relationshipwiththem.…Whilewearen’tdirectlytiedto thetowngovernment,it’safantasticworkingrelationship.”
efiredepartmenthasatotalof10apparatuses, includinganaerialtruck,tankertruck,andtwoambulances.ItalsohasoneofthefewdiveteamsinSussex County.Sliwapraisedhisvolunteersfortheir“incredible job”providinglifesavingservicesto theSelbyvillecommunity.
Intakingamoreactiverolewithgettinginvolvedin thecommunity,Sliwasaidthedepartmentin2015 startedhostingbreakfastbuffetsthefirstSundayofevery month,from7to11a.m.,for$8perperson.
“We’vebeendoingthatfortwomonthsnow,and we’restartingtoseemorecommunitymemberscome.We wanttogetmoreinvolvedinthecommunity,andwe’re hopingtodothatwiththesebreakfasts.”
Sliwasaidholdingsuchabreakfasthelpsthecommunitygettoknowthedepartment,aswellashelpingthedepartmentfinancially.
“Onaverage,ittakesabout$4,000tooutfitafirefighter,” henoted.“Justrunningthedepartment,anygivenyear,issev-
eralhundredthousanddollars.”
edepartmentdoestwospecificmailerfundraiserseachyeartohelpoffsetcosts.Moniesraisedfromthe firefunddrivegointothegeneralfund.edepartment’s ambulancesubscriptionservice,fora$50donationper year,giveshouseholdsthe opportunitytosubscribefor service,andontheoffchancetheyneedtobetransported inanambulance,theywillnotbechargedfortheservice. emoniesraisedfromthesubscriptionsgotooperating thedepartment’sambulances.
Sliwasaidfullambulancecoverageforthedistrictby careerstaffisprovidedfrom6a.m.to6p.m.Mondays throughFridays.
“Saturdaynights,wedohaveapart-timemember whocomesinfrom6p.m.to6a.m.onourcareerstaff. eneveryothernightoftheweek,from6p.m.to6a.m., it’sstaffed100percentbyvolunteers.Wehaveavolunteer EMTandvolunteerdrivereveryothernightofthe week…eyarethereifthecommunityneedsthem.”
AccordingtoSliwa,ingeneral,thefireservicehas seenasharpdeclineinthenumberofvolunteerscomingout.
“We’vebeenluckythatwe’vestayedrelativelylevel,”he said,notingthatheunderstandsthedecline,with108hours oftrainingrequiredtotakethebasiccoursesthrough
Professional Installation
DelawareStateFireSchoolonweekends.“Foralotofpeople,that’salotoftimetogiveupjusttogetupinthemiddleofthenighttogodothis.Ithinkthat’swhatmakesour memberssospecial.eygivealotoftheirtime.”
Headdedthatmanyofthemembershave400to 600hoursoftraining,alljustsotheycanthenvolunteer theirtimetoservethecommunity.
Asofearly2015,thedepartmenthasthreeactive juniormembers,whoarebetweentheages15and17.A juniormembermaybecomeafullactivefirefighterwhen heorsheturns18.
Hesaidthefirecompanywelcomesthosewhowant tobecomejuniormembers;however,theymakesurethe juniormembers'studiescomefirst.
“Fromthejuniorperspective,ifyouwanttogetan exposuretoit,seewhatit’sallabout,getanunderstanding ofit—we’dbemorethanhappytohaveyou.”
Inthefirsttwomonthsof2015,Sliwasaid,thedepartmenthasrespondedto30calls.
“at’sareallystrongstarttotheyear,”hesaid.“I wouldsaythatthatisanincrease…Lastyearwehad about112callstotal.”
Ofthetownitself,Sliwasaidit’saspecialplacethat he’sproudtoserve.
“eycallit‘thepearloftheEasternShore.’I’mnot fromthetown,butIwouldsaythat’sprettydarnaccurate. ere’salottothesmall,littletownofSelbyville.Wehave theSchooloftheArts,whichisafantasticschool.You havetheindustry,withMountaire,butthenyouhavethis tight-knitcommunity…It’slikesmall-townAmerica.You don’tgetthateverywhere.
“epeopleiswhatmakesSelbyvillejustincredible.”
Withthecommunityamixoflongtimeresidentsand retireesmovingintothearea,themakeupofthetownis changing.
Oneofthetwowater towersinSelbyville servesasapopular landmark.
“Nowthe[SelbyvilleCommunity]Clubismadeof alotofpeoplewhohavemovedintothedevelopments,” saidresidentDawnLeKites,notingthesamewastrueof thelibraryboard.“WhenIfirstwentonthelibraryboard, Iwastheonlyonewhowasn’tbornandraisedinSelbyville…NowIreneBunting’stheonlyonewhowasborn andraisedinSelbyville.”
“Ithinkwe’vestillcertainlymaintainedabaseoflocals.eirfamilieshavebeentherealongtime,”saidMurray.“Somenewfaces,peoplethatdecidedtoretirehere.Of course,you'vealwaysgotsomeHispanicsherethat weren’therealongtimeago.…Agoodmixofdifferent people,andeveryonegetsalonggood.”
Duncansaidhehasseenanincreasein community interestinrecentyearswhenitcomestohowtheTownis run,andhowitwillgrowinthefuture.
“epeoplearegreat.It’sfunny—whenIfirstgot oncouncil,youhadoneortwopeopleintheaudience. Nowyouget20or30peopleintheaudience.…People wanttogetinvolved.We'vegotgreatpeopleintown. Somethinghappens,youcanalwayscountonthelocals pitchinginandhelping.
“Ienjoylivingintown,enjoymeetingnewpeople. [Everyonehasthe]sameideals…Wewelcomethatas councilpeople:commentandconcerns.Youcan’tmake everyonehappy.Butwetry.”
Withastrongfocusoncommunity,andwiththe hopeforfuturegrowth,Selbyvilleappearstobepoisedfor aprosperousfuture,allwhilemaintainingitssmall-town charm.
“It’sanicetown.Italwayshasbeen.I’veloveditsince I'vebeenhere.…at'swhereIstarted.at’swhereI’m gonnaendat.WehavesomegoodpeoplefromSelbyville —alotofgoodpeople.I’veknownthemalongtime…We’re maintainingsomeofthat,”saidMurray.
Althoughsomethingsmaychangeastimegoeson,“it’s justnatural.” ❖
StorybyMariaCounts
Rely on the healthcare specialists with heart.
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• Atlantic General Health System Outpatient Infusion Center
Townwell-situatedforsteady residentialandcommercialgrowth
ThetownofSelbyvilleisuniqueintermsoflogisticallandscape.Ononeend,alongRoute 54,theareaisprominentlyresidential.Onthe otherend,towardRoute113,it’sjusttheopposite:with aregionthat’salmostcompletelycommercial.Inthe middleliesacombinationofthetwoandamorenostalgicsectionoftownthatdisplaysitsrichhistory.
Whilethatformuladoesn’tlooklikeitwillever change,thepopulationofthetown’svastlydifferingregionswillalmostcertainlyseeaspikeinthenearfuture, asSelbyvilleappearswell-situatedforsteadygrowth, bothresidentiallyandcommercially.
“Ithinkyou’regoingtostartseeinggrowthcoming back,thebuildingindustrycomingback,”saidCouncilmanRichardDuncanSr.“TheRoute113corridor businesses—youstarttoseeinterestthere.”
“It’sgoodtohavegrowth,”addedSelbyvilleTown
“Ithinkwe’restarting toseemoreinterested peoplewanting toretirehere.”
—BobDickerson
ManagerBobDickerson.“It’dbephased inoveralong periodoftime.Eventually,itwouldhelpwithourtax base.Youwantagrowingtaxbase,becauseyoudon’t wanttokeeptaxingthesamepeopleoverandover.”
Membersofthatnewtaxbasecouldbearriving sooner,ratherthanlater,astwonewhousingdevelopmentsonRoute54arecurrentlybeingconstructed. TheBuntingConstruction-ledprojectsconsistofan estimated400single-familyhomes,100ofwhichwill belocatedinLighthouseCrossingandaround300in LighthouseLakes,whichwillincludesomeduplexes.
Thecommunitiesareappropriatelynamed,consideringtheirlocationonaroadpermittingaccesstoresortbeachessuchasFenwickIsland.Dickerson considerstheareaidealforretirees,althoughwiththree
Future
continuedfrompage33
schoolsintheareaitisunsurprisingthatyoungerfamilieswouldconsidertheneighborhoodsofSelbyville,as well.
“Ithinkwe’restartingtoseemoreinterestinpeoplewantingtoretirehere,”saidDickersonregardingthe region.“Ithink,asfarasthetown’sconcerned,that’s mostly[a]residentialarea.”
“Proximityiscertainlyinourfavor,”addedSelbyvilleMayorCliftonMurray.“We’reclosetothebeach. Aloto fthenewcomerswanttobearoundthebeach. We’rereallyinaprimeareaforthat.”
Whiletownofficialssaidtheyareconfidentthat futureresidentswillbedrawntoSelbyville,they’re equallyasconfidentinthetown’sabilitytoaccommodatethoseresidents,thoughpreparingforthatfuture expansionhasn’tbeeneasy.
“There’salottoit,”explainedDickerson.“It’snot easytodevelop.Youhaveatonofregulatoryissuesthat youhavetoaddress.Ittakesyearsandcon siderable moneytodevelopapieceofland.”
Someofthoseissuesinvolvesettingupinfrastruc-
“Wewanttopromote business.Wewantto dothingsthatdon’t standinthewayof businessesthatbenefit thecommunity.”
—BobDickerson
tureincludingwaterlines,gaslinesandsewersystems —whichhasbeenanongoingeffortonthepartofthe Town,makingforasituationinwhichthedevelopmentsthatcouldfollowontheheelsofLighthouse CrossingandLighthouseLakeswouldbeeasiertoimplement.
“Wealreadyhavesewerandwater,soitwouldn’t takemuchtogoalittlefartherdowntheroad—not evenaquarter- miletotapintotheLighthouseLakes project,”Dickersonnoted,“especiallysincewealready havetheinfrastructurethere,withouthavingtoputout alotofcapitaltoservicethatarea.”
Asresidentialdevelopmentssprout,increasingdemandforservicebusinessesandothercommercial growthcanbeexpected,aswell.Whilesomeofthe needsalongRoute113willlikelyincludedoctors,dentistsandothermedicalspecialistsaimingtocatertoretirees,theTownis readyforandreceptivetonearlyany kindofbusinessesthatwouldbeusefultoresidents.
“Wewanttopromotebusiness.Wewanttodo thingsthatdon’tstandinthewayofbusinessesthat benefitthecommunity,”emphasizedDickerson.
“Weneedalittlebitmoreretailhereintownfor
See Future page37
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Future
continuedfrompage34
thecommercialarea.Ithinkthat’lleventuallycome.Wehavehighspeedfiber-opticInternetatourbusinesspark.Ofcourse,wehave theelectricalgrid.There’splentyofpowerhere.Wehavegood availabilityforsewerandwater,naturalgas,alowtaxrate.”
“Weneedsomemorebusiness.Yougetsomegrowth,andthat comeswithit—ifyouhaveademandforit,whichIthinkwedo,” Murrayadded.“Ithinkoneattractstheother.”
Whiletownofficialsarefocusedoncommercialg rowthalong thehighway,somelocalresidents—includinglifelongSelbyvillenativeRaymondL.MooreSr.—wouldliketoseesomenewbusiness downtownaswell,expandingcommercialoptionsforresidentsina waysimilartoothersmalltownsintheregionthathaveseenarevivalinrecentyears.
“Tome,thetowntodayisnothinglikeitwasthen,because there’sverylittleintowntoday,”Mooresaidofthedowntownarea anditshistory.Thepriorweekend,whilehewasdrivinghomelate atnight,hesaid,“TherewasnothingthereexceptDollarGeneral
“Iwouldhopetoseethetownreviveitselfand
reallygetmorebusinessesagain,sowereallyhave adowntownSelbyville,suchasBerlin,Md.”
—RaymondL.MooreSr.
thatwasstillopen.Iwouldhopetoseethetownreviveitselfandreallygetmorebusinessesagain,sowereallyhaveadowntownSelbyville,suchasBerlin,Md.”
MaryJohnson,alifelongresidentandownerofJohnson’sFamilyRestaurant,isalsoonboardwiththegrowth,butisquickto considerthepossibleconcernsthatcomealongwithit.
“Sometimesitcangetoverlypopulated—yougetalotofst uff goingon,crimeandstuff,”sheexplained.“Itcanhappenintheremoteareas.Intheschoolsnow,they’rehavingmoreproblemswith kids.Iwouldlovetosee—thisismydream—tohaveayouthcenterfortheyoungpeople,sotheywouldhavesomewheretogo.A lotoftimeskids[getintrouble]becausetheydon’thavenothingto do.”
Otherconcernsrelatedtofuturegrowthcouldincludetraffic alongRoute54,especiallyduringthesummermonths,aspeople trytomaketheirway tothebeach.However,Dickersonsaidhe isn’toverlyconcerned.
“It’sonlynatural.Youseeanythingfrom113goingtothe beach,youseeitbackingupgradually—54’sanaturalgrowtharea leadingintothebeacharea,”heacknowledged.
See Future page38
However,evenifthatparticularaspectoflocal trafficdoesn’tendupmakingmuchofanimpact,there’s alsothepossibilitythattrafficcouldstilllookvastlydifferentinthenot-so-distantfuture—astheproposed Route113bypasscouldverywellshakethingsup.
Itcouldbedecadesfromnow,butthenewhighway,asmostrecentlyproposed,wouldspliteastward fromtheexistingRoute113,connectingtotheexisting highwayjustnorthofMillsboroandsouthofFrankford.The“BlueRoute”isthepreferredoptionofthe DelawareDepartmentofTransportation,thoughithas beencontroversialamongresidentsandbusinessownersalongtheimpactedarea.
OtherpossibleRoute113improvementscouldincludean“on-alignment”improvementplan,which meansthehighwaywouldstaywhereitis,butsome sideroadswouldbere-sculpted,somehousesandbusinesseswouldbetorndown,andtherewouldbesome overpassessocarscouldgetdowntheroutefaster.
Whileneitherdefinitiveactionnoraconcrete
“Good,solid,attractive
timetableforeitheroptionhasbeenputinplace,regardless,suchasprojectwouldbeamajorchangefor thetownofSelbyville—whichseemstoechothe themeofdesiredandexpectedgrowthfortownofficials andresidentsalike.
“We’repro-businessandwe’repro-controlled growth.We’redoingwhatwecantomakesurethe towngrows,”Dickersonsummedup.“Ithin kithasalwaysbeenprettystrategicallylocatedtobeinlinefor growth.Ifyou’restagnantorgoingtheotherway,things likethatwouldgoaway.Butifyouhaveagrowingcommunity,withgrowingpostalneedsandstufflikethat, that’swhatkeepsthosekindofbusinessesalive.”
—CliftonMurray
“Good,solid,attractivegrowth—that’swhatwe’re lookingfor,”saidMurray.“It’ssadseetothingschange, butthat’sprogress.”
ProgresscouldbringmanynewthingsforSelbyville,thoug hitisdifficulttopredictexactlywhatnew businessescouldendupeventuallycallingthetown home:Amovietheater?Abig-boxstore?Butit’snotso difficulttoseethat;notonlyisSelbyvilleatownready forprogress,it’satownthat’smakingit. ❖
Story byTrippColonell
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