By Gerald M. Berry, Chairman DHSF
Dillon Historic School Foundation held its regularly scheduled meeting on August 2. Since then, August has been a “month-of-meetings” for DHSF. There have been three workshop sessions (on August 9, August 17, and August 25) with the singular purpose of discussing the very best ideas for sponsoring fund-raising activities. All combined, more than five hours were spent in these workshops, and the attendance for all three sessions totaled twenty-five participants.
DHSF has long realized that the Dillon community must be kept informed of our activities as regularly published in The Dillon Herald and that its members must be seen at work outside the meeting room’s walls. For that purpose, the Foundation is seriously considering sponsoring a barbeque supper and auditorium tour in the next couple of months—probably in early to mid-November. Tentative plans include musical entertainment featuring several local performers. More information about this event will appear in later editions of The Dillon Herald.
While touring the 1936 auditorium, the guests will hear about specific plans for the facility. And, since the community has expressed an interest in learning more about DHSF’s general purposes and long-term goals, they will be invited to ask any questions about plans for the entire historic site. [Examples: DHSF has already given serious consideration to soon reopen the Graded School (West Elementary) for use as offices and meeting rooms, and there have been several discussions considering the best possible uses for the 1936 gymnasium which remains in very good condition.]
Near the close of the August meeting, Chairman Berry drew attention to an article that had just recently appeared in the July 28, 2016 edition of The Dillon Herald. Some discussions of that article’s topic have surfaced among members throughout the month. The article, “City Council Sees Potential For Real Growth In Dillon,” was written by Editor Betsy Finklea. It echoed a serious concern expressed at DHSF monthly meetings—preparing for the population growth that is predicted for our town and county.
Often, DHSF members have voiced their concern about whether the City of Dillon has seriously studied ways to revitalize downtown and bring back reputable businesses and professional agencies to refill so many empty spaces and whether new enterprises, specialty shops, and restaurants have been given consideration or invited to relocate on Dillon’s Main Street and in the downtown area.
Of equal concern to Chairman Berry is whether or not the City of Dillon has considered identifying and studying the cultural environments these predicted new citizens will have left behind them if they decide to move their families to Dillon. If their former communities offered them a wide variety of activities and cultural experiences for their families, then these newcomers may be in for a cultural shock. Right now, Dillon reflects a state of being culturally and economically depressed, discernible by a drive through downtown.
To everyone’s advantage, Dillon does have the Wellness Center, the Sports Complex, high school games (in season), the Dillon County Theatre, and Sunday afternoon golf. However, there is little else to replace the genuine quality of life that so many newcomers must have grown accustomed to in their former hometowns. Dillon County’s schools and churches provide relevant activities, but they alone cannot offer much to fill the open hours of a week, a weekend, or a summer. Dillon must discover ways of providing these new citizens comparable shopping experiences, as well as offering them the interesting, enriching leisure pastimes  within town without their needing to travel away from town to find what they once enjoyed and may have taken for granted in communities where they have lived.
The City of Dillon has to address this situation now. These newcomers will soon work here. Some might choose to live here. But, unless this town acknowledges its current, untapped resources and creates a more attractive and welcoming environment and unless this town develops a blue-print for revitalization, then these new citizens will have few, if any, avenues open to them–avenues allowing them to become contributing, involved citizens enhancing this  community’s life with the infusion of new blood and new ideas. Dillon must prepare for some major changes and must draft precise plans ensuring positive growth.
Dillon Historic School Foundation has remained fully involved in actions that will preserve and reopen forgotten buildings to offer everyone opportunities and experiences that compliment their individual interests and that will effectively supplement those barest of elements that now characterize our town.
At the July meeting of The Dillon City Council, Mayor Todd Davis announced that he and a city employee had recently visited Florence and Hartsville, S. C. to observe and study those cities’ progress in restoring their once-blighted downtown areas.  His comments broke through some dark clouds and offered a bright ray of hope. He, and hopefully others on the City Council, will see the need to take intelligent, immediate, and appropriate actions to reinvent Dillon’s image, repair her weakened structures, and prepare her for a bolder, stronger, and fully revitalized future.
Dillon Historic School Foundation meets on the first Tuesday of every month. The next meeting will be September 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Dillon County Chamber of Commerce. Please plan to join DHSF in its ongoing efforts to reclaim Dillon’s past and proclaim Dillon’s future! Your support will be very much appreciated.