Historic Georgetown Inc.

DOUBLE DUTY: Tour guide Janet Bernardyn serves wassail at a Christmas at Hamill House reception.

: At the time she was considering job opportunities in the area, Janet had a choice between HGI and another offering. She says she chose HGI because she loves Georgetown and its friendly people. Now after nearly a year, she still feels that way and looks forward to many years of association with the organization. "It is truly a privilege to work here," she says with genuine enthusiasm. When you get a chance, please introduce yourself to Janet, but be forewarned that her enthusiasm is contagious!

That blur you may see at the Hamill House or Visitor Center is likely to be Janet Bernardyn, a non-stop bundle of energy and enthusiasm. Although she has been working mostly as a tour guide for HGI, she prefers to describe her job under the broader term of "guest relations," because her duties encompass a wide range of services. These include offering a cheery welcome to weary travelers, providing visitors with a variety of information and support, and actively promoting the Historic District and its historic-preservation efforts. Janet, who has been with HGI since April 2003, brings considerable experience and knowledge to her job. Before moving to Colorado with her husband, Steve, she worked in banking and for a security firm in Philadelphia, and for four years was in‹yes, officially‹guest relations at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. At the Biltmore, she learned much about Victorian architecture, arts, and lifestyles, knowledge that she has put to good use in Georgetown. Janet grew up in the Pennsylvania coal-mining town of Haddock. She confesses that from the age of seven she longed to live in Colorado. At 17 she made her first visit to the state when she spent a summer month helping to build trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. Her long-time dream was finally realized in 1998, when she and Steve quit their East-coast jobs and moved to Golden. Four years later they bought a mining claim and built a house at the head of York Gulch (el. 9,658 ft.), where they now live with their dog "Wootzer Tyler."	DOUBLE DUTY: Tour guide Janet Bernardyn serves wassail at a Christmas at Hamill House reception. : At the time she was considering job opportunities in the area, Janet had a choice between HGI and another offering. She says she chose HGI because she loves Georgetown and its friendly people. Now after nearly a year, she still feels that way and looks forward to many years of association with the organization. "It is truly a privilege to work here," she says with genuine enthusiasm. When you get a chance, please introduce yourself to Janet, but be forewarned that her enthusiasm is contagious!