Milford chronicle., 1955-04-15
Housing Shortage Is
Some Handicap TO
GeOrqetOLUn

Continued from first page)
to move here, and which processes
lighter than air units, is the Gen
eral Development Corporation. In
operation in ElktOn, Maryland, this
firm was forced to expand in order
to carry on its work and chose the
Georgetown site because Of its air
port facilities. Another, the ALI
American Engineering Company.
has a test base here, while its larg-
er operation remains at dupont Air
port, Wilmington. This company is
engaged in the design and develop
ment of products that tend to sta
bilize airplane operation and in
crease safety measures,
Another organization, Arrow
Safety Device Company, is engaged
in the manufacturing of safety ma
terial for automobiles, ETC., and a
fourth, the Debrava Company, is
the producer of pearl buttons. This
operation finishes buttons which
are obtained from rough cutters,
who abound in this vicinity as we'll
as in nearby Maryland. Formerly
rough cutters were forced to ship
their buttons to New York City for
finishing.
These buttons are used in mems
wear and ladies blOuses, it is point
ed out, and the Georgetown organi-
zation is one Of the largest com
panies Of its type in the country
The fifth company is a wholesale
lumber organization, Johnson and
Winsatt, specializing in both heavy
and light lumber for building pur-
poses together with allied lines. The
manager of this company when
asked why they selected George
town for their operation said, I'VE
felt after surveying the Peninsula
that Georgetown suited such a
plant better than any other loca-
tiOn, and further the indications
are for a decided growth from Do
yer south to Cape Charles"
These five plants have invested
in their buildings and equipment
some $1,075,000 and at the height
Of employment have an annual pay
roll of $S61,3O
AS noted earlier, housing in the
Georgetown area has not quite kept
pace with other developments, the
survey points out. In the last three
years sixty-six houses have been
constructed in the area, costing
$792,700. This shortage has caused
employees of the above firms, or at
least a large percentage of them, to
find housing in other communities
within a suitable driving distance.
A few civic minded people have
assisted in bringing in industry
and it is hoped, according to Col
Onel c. B. Shaffer of the Develop
ment Department, that they will be
able in some manner to stimulate
the building of more homes. Sew
eral well-knOwn Georgetown citi-
zens have been working relentless
ly for development and are to be
cOmplimented on their assistance
to the community, Mr. Shaffer said.
More than three hundred jobs
have been opened in the area by
the firms mentioned, and with some
contracts already bid on, this num-
Der could easily become doubled.
This could happen before summer
of this year.
As in other communities, local
have been well able to
build up to requirements for the
present, and they also have helped
on the development which has re-
Gently taken place. Congregations
have completed additions or new
buildings to the extent of $225, 900.
Mr. Shaffer points out the fact that
in all communities surveyed so far,
churches continue to lead develop
ment, thus carrying out the leader
ship standards of early Delaware
religious workers.
Georgetown schools are among
the best in the state, it is reported,
but they are also feeling the in
creased population trend of the last
four years and are exerting every
effOrt to meet the situation. In the
last two years the community has
spent or is now spending on addi-
tions the sum of S825,O0O When
completed, this expansion will also
call for more teachers.
State services have called for adj
ditiOnal expenditures on buildings
for total of 100000 at. nearby
Delaware Colony; the State High
way has expended $2S5,OOO on paw
ing Bedford Street and improving
r0Qdg in fhn fu11,7 n1foAo 1f,,.stc 80