By Cynthia Skeen

Thanks to many donors and the work of the Georgetown Trust, the citizens of Georgetown now stand poised to honor the dreams of past residents who, in expressing their value for education, set the stage for today's commitment to local schooling. The purchase of the Old Georgetown School at Eighth and Taos streets from the Buckley estate marks a major development in the quest to preserve Georgetown's cultural heritage. The school, built in 1874, has long been a major landmark in the town.

The closing occurred on January 12, 2007, just one day before the first anniversary of the passing of Ronald J. Neely, former Executive Director of the Georgetown Trust and long-time President of Historic Georgetown, Inc., who had worked tirelessly to achieve this goal. The State Historical Fund provided $281,250 of the funds needed for the acquisition of the building and $123,000 for its stabilization. Major foundations and local residents contributed matching funds for the total acquisition cost ($400,000) and the projected stabilization bill ($165,000).

Work will begin in the spring on stabilization of the roof, the sagging northwest corner, and the area on the south side where garage doors were cut into the foundation.
The Save America's Treasures Fund of the National Park Service has pledged $150,000 for the subsequent restoration phase, which will include the repair of the exterior masonry and the eaves and gutters. This grant was one of only forty two that the Park Service issued out of 362 applications.

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