Georgetown at the Turn of the Millennium

By Terry Crawford Palardy

Georgetown is located 35 miles north of the City of Boston. It is in Essex County and has a number of historical seventeenth century neighbors. Unlike its neighbors, Georgetown has its own K-12 public school system, and is the home of "Erie Four," the oldest still operating privately owned fire company in the United States, funded primarily by donations. These are some of its citizens' stories:
A Thanksgiving Thought on North Street;
Fast Away the Old Year Passes;
Beyond Old Windows, In Honor of our Elders;
The Growing Season: a Small Town's Sports Culture;
The Colors Unfurl: A Patriotic Tribute;
Theo's ... A Small Town Spot;
He Called it Fifty-six;
Recognizing a Gift: In Memory of Patch;
Warm Hearts, Willing Hands;
Georgetown Today and Tomorrow.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terry Crawford Palardy
• Release date: Dec 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301440351

Terry Crawford Palardy

Retired public school teacher, 30 years, Andover MAPast Columnist, Phi Kappa Phi Forum 2000 - 2006Current Sole Proprietor, Terry's Thoughts and Threads, Quilters' Quarters

Book preview

Georgetown

At the Turn of the Millennium

Terry Crawford Palardy

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2011 Terry Crawford Palardy

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 978-1466339354

ISBN-10: 1466339357

DEDICATION

To the citizens of Georgetown, past, present and future, and to their family members and friends who have enjoyed spending time in the small town atmosphere. This is a book celebrating the town’s people.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

1 A Thanksgiving Thought on North Street, 1996

2 Fast Away the Old Year Passes

3 Beyond of Windows, In Honor of Our Elders

4 The Growing Season: A Small Town’s Sports Culture

5 The Colors Unfurl: A Patriotic Tribute

6 Theo’s … A Small Town Spot

7 He Called it Fifty-six

8 Recognizing a Gift: In Memory of Patch

9 Warm Hearts, Willing Hands

10 Georgetown Today and Tomorrow

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to honor the memory of Charlie Flanders, who had written of Georgetown’s history, and whose stories I shared with children of Georgetown as a student teacher at Perley School long ago. Charlie used to walk a paper street, an extension of Park Street that, on the old town maps, continued from Pleasant Street to the Perley parking lot, now obliterated by the lawns of homes there. One day we may ask the town to name that narrow piece of land the Charles E. Flanders Memorial Walkway.

And I would like to honor Dr. Lew Skeirik, who for years was our town moderator, holding the reins at town meetings steadily during decades of change in our town.

And while thanking these men, I would be remiss in not thanking the women of Georgetown, who have in greater numbers stepped up to serve in many ways: politically, economically, and as firefighters and police officers. Our first female Town Moderator, Beverly Enos and our first female Town Clerk, Jan McGrane, are just a few of those citizens who dedicate time and initiative to our town.

Chapter 1

A Thanksgiving Thought on North Street, 1996

The first frozen flakes of snow swirl past the panes of the old windows, catching the citrus color of the new street lights, just dusting the dark sidewalk out front.

Georgetown Square is barely visible through the glass, yet alive with flashes of headlights, red and green traffic signals, amber blinkers, and a halogen haze. Dark skies force the lights earlier each day, approaching holidays hasten the pace. The calendar is now between Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving, and the season of family and friends is here. A time to slow a bit, to gather and warm each other with good stories and good food, remembrances and plans.

As I look toward the square, I wonder who before me watched out of these old windows. This house was built in the Era of Good Feelings, following the War of 1812. Georgetown was still part of Old Rowley then, but change was in the air. Agriculture and ice fishing were prevalent, but mills and shoe factories were gaining. Indoor occupations would soon outnumber outdoor jobs, and more people would be looking out at the town, through glass windows steamy with the heat of hard working men and women. Horse and carriage traffic would