"This spring in Georgetown there is more physical activity going on than there has been for many years,"said Chairman Matthew Skeen at the annual meeting of members on June 21. And he noted that Historic Georgetown, Inc., is a partner in much of this activity, offering financial and grant-writing assistance.

The Visitor Center is the most visible project, set to transform the highway pull-over into a place in which to linger and to learn more about what Georgetown has to offer. After the ground-breaking, which was held on April 26, 2003, the old gasoline station was leveled. The temporary quarters, set up kitty-corner from the new structure where the Dairy King used to be, have proved that increased floor space yields more retail sales. Sales have increased from $40,460 to $59,637 in the period of one year. Visitors in 2001 totaled 101,756; that number increased to 154,281 in 2002.

Taos Square, another burned-out eyesore since a disastrous fire in 2000, has been stabilized and re-roofed. The owners, Pete and Penny Landau, have acquired a grant from the Colorado State Historical Fund for the rehabilitation of the two oldest buildings in the complex. HGI provided the non-profit sponsorship of the grant application and obtained a conservation easement on the property. The owners expect the rehabilitation phase of the project to begin this summer.

The ground-breaking for Hamill Park, just west of the Hamill carriage house, is scheduled for August 24, 2003, to coincide with William Hamill's birthday. The project is not yet fully funded, and thus will be completed in stages. A bequest by Alice B. Moore, deceased mother of HGI member Katherine Wilson, will provide for the maintenance of the park. Mundus-Bishop Design, landscape architects, will consult with HGI on the timing of the staged development.

HGI is working with the Historic District Public Lands Commission to manage the Silverdale lands owned by HGI, the Town of Georgetown, and the U.S. Forest Service. The HDPLC maintains a non-motorized recreation district. HGI is also responsible for the Notch Trail between Georgetown and Silver Plume. Members are urged to hike the trail and to give HGI suggestions for improvements to it.

Bricks and boards were not the only focus this year. Social events, historical scholarship, and corporate restructuring also occupied the minds of HGI members and staff.

Hamill House was the site of numerous events during the past year, some new and some traditional. Local business owners were feted at a lawn reception in the summer. KOA radio aired a Halloween program from the Hamill House in October, featuring Scott Hastings from the Sports Zoo and HGI staff members John Calhoun and Dana Abrahamson. A reception for Barbara Froula, creator of the new Christmas Market poster, allowed purchasers to obtain an autographed poster. Christmas at the Hamill House included the traditional wassail receptions, plus a party for over sixty children (who behaved well and took home treats and memories). A book-signing in March featured author and HGI Board Member Sandra Dallas, who entertained a group of her fans with details about the writing of her latest effort, The Chili Queen. And music lovers were treated to a selection of light opera pieces performed by two singers from the Central City Opera.

Off-site social events included a Scotch-tasting and silent auction at the Red Ram in April and sponsorship of the annual Christmas Market in December.

Historic Georgetown, Inc., will be the beneficiary of all royalties from the as-yet-unnamed history book conceived by Dr. Liston Leyendecker prior to his death in 2001. Christine Bradley and Duane Smith have finished the project, which has been approved for publication by the University Press of Colorado. HGI is the co-publisher. The book will be released in the spring of 2004, and will span the years 1859 to 1893.

Frank Young and retiring Board member Ruth Rosenfeld enjoy music on the lawn of the Bowman-White house after the annual meeting.

HGI Members enjoyed a picnic on the lawn of the Bowman-White House after the annual meeting. Pictured above are board member Lee Behrens, bartender/ HGI curator Deirdre Baldwin, and newly elected board member Karen Dean. Shown below are, board member Pauline Marshall, Executive Director Dana Abrahamson, and Visitor Center project coordinator Cindy Neely.

The Devil's Gate History Club completed its eighth year under the guidance of Board Member Bill Wilson and his committee. HGI accepted the prestigious Stephen H. Hart award from the Colorado Historical Society for its work in restoring the Mahany Building. Georgetown was named a "Distinctive Destination" for the year 2003 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

During the year, HGI will be restruc-tured with the aid of its attorneys at Holland and Hart. The Georgetown Trust will operate the Visitor Center and other properties of a more commercial nature. The museum properties, open lands, and collections will remain in Historic Georgetown, Inc. One reason for creating a separate entity is to move some of the non-traditional activities out of HGI into the trust, thus protecting HGI¹s museum properties from unnecessary liability. The primary historic-preservation functions will remain the paramount goal of HGI.

HGI honored three retiring board members this year: Peggy Moore, who has volunteered for many years on the membership committee; Ruth Rosenfeld, who will continue to operate the web site from her new home in Guate ala; and former co-chair of the Board of Directors, Salley Smith. New board members elected at the meeting were Karen Dean, Georgetown; Barbara Leyendecker, Fort Collins and Georgetown; Mickie Newman, Georgetown; Matt Schmalz, Georgetown; Berkeley Vogelsang, Golden; and Herb Wanderer, Georgetown.

Life memberships were awarded to Pauline Marshall, Ruth Rosenfeld, Matt and Cynthia Skeen, Christine Bradley, and Peggy Moore.