THE BEGINNING !
In early 2007 Historic Georgetown Association will be fourteen years old. We were born with only a three year life expectancy but didn’t someone say “keeping busy is the secret to a longer life”? Obviously, as the following shows, we have kept busy.
After a series of meetings held in the winter and the spring of 1993 by Mayor Booth, councilpersons Mabel Givens and Sue Barlow, Chamber members Steve Pepper, and, Rosalie Walls, Georgetown Business Association members Frank Perdue, Toby Givens and Wayne Meluney and a group of townspeople all joined together by one common thread – their love and concern for the county seat.
A Chairman was chosen with the immediate task of forming a non-profit and choosing a group of officers and directors. The committee’s mission was to provide guidance and resolve problems during a time of change being experienced in most small towns. In few towns was this change more dramatic than in Georgetown. An almost overnight influx of immigrants unable to speak our language or quickly adjust to our ways and customs created huge problems but their willingness to work and the protective arms of the churches helped ease the strain.
The priority events and issues are noted with asterisks according to their contribution
In the nearly fourteen years since those meetings in early 1993 Historic Georgetown Association:
►* Has held 149 directors meetings
►* Has held 826 workshop and executive meetings
►** Has made 59 presentations to church and civic groups
►** Has held well over 120 meetings and conferences with local and state officials, poultry plant owners and reps, church social and health workers concerning immigrant issues.
►*Has met with Housing Authorities and groups regularly in Delaware but also in Baltimore and Salisbury.
►*Have published, printed and distributed thirty-six reports and brochures (over 13,000 copies)
►**The first “Care Awards” were presented in November 1994 at Wesley Church hall. The purpose of this meeting was to exhibit a show of unity during extremely troubling times. Over one hundred fifty attended with extra chairs being placed in the aisles to accommodate the overflow crowd
►* Through HGA’s Care Awards we have recognized ninety-two of the county seat’s greatest workers and donors – many of whom have received little or no previous recognition.
►Produced a “house by house” survey to determine housing conditions and then made both long and short terms recommendations.
►* Wrote and lobbied for passage of two ordinances regarding codes and code enforcement. Both ordinances received Council support and passed.
►* Sought out and located funding for properly trained code enforcement officers.
►Established a blue print for future growth and direction for the county seat via encouraging the growth of tourism, retirement villages and the long list of spin-offs that come as a result.
►Assisted, met with and regularly worked with the Mayor and the University of Delaware in the early stages of producing a comprehensive plan for the county seat.
►Were involved with the efforts to lay the historic brick sidewalks downtown
►Director Gary Tonge (after an exhaustive nine month study) produced and presented a comprehensive plan for much needed charter changes. 
►** Rescued and restored the circa 1890 “Satterfield House” on E. Market Street.
►** Purchased the “Old Railroad Station” in 1996 which had fallen into a state of disrepair and would have soon been lost forever. It soon became the most used meeting place in town.
►** In December 1997 established a board of directors and funded Sister Margaret’s “La Casita” during a period when previous funding sources were no longer available. 
►* HGA director Helen Kruger as a one person committee championed a strong “white lites” (candle) campaign appealing to homes, businesses and especially the municipal buildings around the “circle” to display white lites during the holidays and year round.
►* Met with numerous office holders and state leaders in a successful effort in conjunction with the “Historical Society” to save the “Old Brick Hotel”. 
►**Made a formal request that council place a moratorium on regressive impact fees in order to encourage growth.
Council reacted immediately with very positive results.
►**Worked to remove the opposition to the county’s plans to build their new Administrative Building on the “Circle”. 
►**Made recommendations to the town in regard to HGA’s concern for the well being of the “old mansion homes” on W. Market Street in a successful effort to preserve their integrity by allowing controlled professional uses. 
►Strongly supported the Historical Society’s “Herculean” task leading to a successful effort with the Marvel Museum.
►Vigorously supported the rezoning and construction of the “Cheer Civic and Senior Center”
►**Met with the principals and went before council in a successful effort which involved moving the “Old Thompson Building” which eased the way for the construction of the new Chancery Court to be built on the “Circle” when it appeared the “court” was about to be built out of town.
►Supported the developers efforts to build a much needed “Walmart” on Rt. 113.
►Hosted an “Appreciation Breakfast” at the Marvel Museum, September 13, 2000 honoring Lt. Governor Minner and twenty-seven others with over 180 in attendance. 
►After three years of grant applications HGA received approval for a Transportation Enhancement Grant to restore the old train station.
►Contributed over 9,000 man hours to the train station restoration.
►On December 9th, 2002 – The Delmarva Rail Passenger Association honored the efforts of Historic Georgetown by presenting HGA’s president with their “Golden Spike” Award.
►** After nearly eight years HGA finally completed the train station in the Fall of 2003. In the first full year (2004) 129 groups and 3983 persons visited or had meetings at the station. At least 19 different “non-profits” are using the station regularly. In 2005 there were 306 meetings with 4922 persons visiting or using the station. In 2006 we expect to have well over 300 meetings and nearly 6,000 guests. 
►Provides office, meeting space and utilities to the GCOC as a part of HGA’s commitment to the community.
►** Strongly supported Dave Baird’s Circle committee and provided our assistance when it was needed and requested.
►* HGA, through the efforts of Governor Minner and the offices of Norfolk Southern Railroad was able to secure the Norfolk Southern’s “Hospitality Train” to visit Georgetown and play host at the 2002 “Return Day” celebration. The Hospitality Train was the first passenger train to stop in Georgetown in nearly fifty years. This “Hospitality” train was usually available only to events like the Kentucky Derby, the Masters, the Preakness and other national events.
►Amtrak/Dart’s “Rails to the Fair” has hosted a sizable contingency of both out of state and instate riders to view (in 2004 & 2005) the newly restored Georgetown Train Station. 
►** Nearly fourteen years ago HGA made a pledge to the people of Georgetown to do whatever was needed to turn around the fortunes of an area on the “other side of the tracks” known as Kimmeytown. Eleven years later on March 25th, 2004 HGA signed a contract with Nutter Associates, a consulting firm specializing in urban renewal or planning as the first step to formalize HGA’s eleven year old plan for Kimmeytown.
►** On Tuesday, July 13th, 2004 HGA took the next major step in the Kimmeytown Revitalization plan by hosting a “Kimmeytown Revisited Kickoff” meeting. The special guests were Governor Ruth Ann Minner, Secretary of State Harriet Windsor along with several local, county, state and university officials totaling well over 150 that were in attendance. A bus tour of Kimmeytown preceded the meeting. (See Kimmeytown Revisited (some background)
►* On November 4th, 2004 again through the efforts of Governor Minner and the railroad, HGA hosted the Norfolk Southern “Hospitality Train” at Georgetown’s Return Day celebration. Over five hundred guests were in attendance when Governor Minner dedicated the restored Georgetown Train Station and Floyd and Gail Megee were honored for the longtime service to Sussex County’s young people.
►* On November 1st, 2005 HGA hosted an “Appreciation Breakfast” honoring all the “many” who had assisted us in the Train Station restoration. Again an overflow crowd attended with a total a forty-four presentations. Former Mayor- Representative Booth made the presentation to many of his colleagues.
►** Gerald Hitchens and Lisa Hershelman are now completing their third full year of HGA’s educational programs for the school children of Sussex County. The Seaside Model Railroad Association have played a vital role in these programs as they have in all the educational and children programs sponsored by HGA.
►** “Christmas at the Train Station” programs Gerald and Lisa have conducted for the past two Christmases have been extremely successful with several hundred children attending. The Christmas programs are also attracting almost as many adults as youngsters but we dare not forget Gerald and Lisa’s year round programs for the older population.
►Their tours and luncheons are also very popular but the supply of sufficient tour guides and program directors are limiting the number of schedules.
►* Luis Rodriquez El Mercado (market) across from the restored train station is just one more example of “when good things happen – good things happen” we are proud to call “El Mercado” just one more step in our “Kimmeytown Revisited” program. 
►HGA has long supported additional shopping facilities on the East Side of town. This is soon coming to pass……
►* Another part of our “Kimmeytown Revisited” plan has also gotten off to a successful beginning. When a “Farmers Market” became part of our revitalization efforts this was a perfect fit for Gerald, who as director of operations at the Lewes Ferry Terminal, had hands on knowledge of their operation.
►HGA’s Georgetown Farmers Market is located on Market Street adjoining Givens Florist. Toby Givens and Lit Dryden are providing Gerald with excellent management and advertising skills for the market which is open with live entertainment each Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM until the end of October. 
►As long time supporters of programs for young people with direct “hands on” involvement in Georgetown Little League for twenty nine years we voice our concerns as to the future of the Little League complex on East Market Street
►** In the past several months (April 2006) Historic Georgetown has purchased the “old Calhoun Store and Academy Annex” on the corner of Cedar Street and Railroad Avenue across from the train station. Present plans call for a full restoration with the downstairs having an inside and outside façade as a country or general store of the 1880s to mid 1950’s. The upstairs will be true to its history and have an inside façade depicting grammar schools of that same era. Both floors will be kept open for meetings and children and adult tours and educational programs. 
►** At this point (June 14th, 2006) our most ambitious project (Kimmeytown Revisited) (see progress report) is moving forward. As of today we have purchased, have under contract or have encouraged other purchasers or other participating parties to purchase properties that will eventually yield well over eighty new homes, offices or new businesses. PICTURE 15
Add the train station, (2306 groups and 4922 visitors in 2005) the El Mercado market and the improvements to Bamdad Bahar’s property (both a result of the work HGA is doing). Also add the Calhoun Store and Academy Annex along with the new HGA’s Farmer’s Market next to Givens Florist.
The “Satterfield house” on E. Market Street and Sister Margaret’s LaCasita (now funded by Bernice Edward’s First State Community Action) were both early phases our overall Kimmeytown objectives.
HGA has always maintained that few things just occur. Something or someone must make them happen—Luis Rodriquez’s new market (Mercado) on Race and Layton Avenue across from the newly restored Georgetown Train Station is a prime example
We strongly believe the work we are doing in
Kimmeytown will have the same effect