Although 2007 was a little quieter than 2006, a lot has gone on concerning Hale-Byrnes.
We have continued to upgrade wherever we’re able. This has meant a major outlay from our treasury to replace all the wooden Venetian blinds with new ones of the same style. We have a new lawn service, which is dependable and reasonable. The contract includes fall and spring clean-up plus gutter cleaning in the fall. We have a pay-as-used contract for snow removal, but it was not needed this past winter. The contractor will also do power-washing of the parking lot if we have any flooding.
Hale-Byrnes was the subject of the first New-Journal Delaware Backstory column, which brought a contact from Winterthur asking to try a propagating procedure, hopefully to get a clone of our historic sycamore tree. We don’t yet know if this was successful.
The monthly open afternoons have gone surprisingly well. We had from 6-18 visitors each time.
Our tenants asked for a 9 months lease and will be leaving in June. New tenants with strong historical interests are waiting to sign a lease and anxious to move in.
Under new IRS rules tax-exempt organizations [501(c)(3)] must e-file an annual financial report at the end of the calendar year. This was done in March 2008.
A new avenue of publicity is being utilized. We now have a lovely web-site, worked up pro-bono by Frank Romanelli.
Our Christmas Open House was well received as always. Our guest was Bettie Scott who played Christmas carols on the hammer dulcimer. Fifes and Drums of the Delaware Militia played period martial music outside. If you haven’t heard them, please be sure to come to this years open house, when they will again entertain us. Details on back of newsletter.
In Memory
Our beloved Truxton Boyce who was born in H-B and on our Board for a number of years passed away in April. We miss his wit and memories immeasurably. He was buried at Old St. James church in Stanton which he had attended as a boy. As a fitting good-bye we held a reception in the house after his funeral. The family suggested memorial gifts to H-B in lieu of flowers and his friends and family were very generous.
Shortly before his death Trux gave us an 1840s bookcase/secretary desk which had been owned by an ancestor of his, who had used the desk in his grocery store in Wilmington. From Trux’s estate we received several other lovely things, some of which had been used in the house in his boyhood.
An active search for funding to replace the windows is under way. Grant applications have been filed with several organizations, but it takes some time to receive an answer. This is a major expense which our treasury cannot handle alone, although we have set aside $10,000, a portion of which is the memorial donations in memory of Mr. Boyce. At this time, it is most unlikely that the State can contribute to the fund. We ask that you be very generous in your contributions this year.
Do you have a few hours a year to donate to Hale-Byrnes? Under IRS rules, we’re required to have a certain number of people on the board and at this time need a couple of new members, but don’t worry….. the burden of work is very light! Call President Barbara White to volunteer. You’ll find it rewarding to be involved in the preservation of this small jewel in Delaware’s history and in making it available to the public.