Burying the Hatchet for Two Centuries
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200 YEARS OF SUSSEX COUNTY TRADITION Return Day There is no doubt it's one of the most unusual events in the nation: people gather two days after the election to listen to returns, support the winners and console the losers. Burying the hatchet – literally – is the overriding theme of the event. People wait in line for a piece of roast ox in the 1960 Return Day. Russell Peterson, who served the state as governor from 1968- PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUSSEX COUNTY RETURN DAY 72, waves to a crowd lining The Circle in downtown George- THIS IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST known photographs of Return Day. Even in 1908, it's easy to see the day was a festive one. town. Peterson changed from Republican to Democrat in 1996. Festivities start the night before around The Circle with entertainment and food Many happy returns: Burying vendors, and revelry continues through- out Return Day into the night as busi- nesses and lawyers host open houses. Over the years, entertainment, vendors the hatchet for two centuries and an oxen roast have been added to the event. By Ron MacArthur the date can't be confirmed. and bury it in a box of sand brought in State law in 1791 moved the county seat [email protected] There are two accounts about early Re- from Rehoboth Beach specifically for the from Lewes to a town later named turn Days published in an 1860 New York event. Georgetown; that law also required all ith an event as steeped in Tribune newspaper article and in an 1888 Winners and losers ride together in voters to cast their ballots in the county tradition as Return Day, al- book about the history of Delaware. Rare carriages and antique cars in one of the seat on Election Day. Many voters re- most no history about the 1900 and 1908 photographs show The longest parades seen in the county. By turned two days later by horse, cart, car- event survives. Most of the Circle filled with people. tradition, winners face forward, and los- riage and on foot to hear the results. In W 1811, voting districts in Sussex County's stories about its history have been passed There is no doubt it's one of the most ers face backward. down by word of mouth. unusual events in the nation: people gath- On Return Day, always the second day hundreds were established, but election Many people even mistakenly call the er two days after the election to listen to after the election, The Circle is closed off, results were still announced two days lat- event “Returns Day.” returns, support the winners and console schools are closed or close early and er in Georgetown. Although 2012 is considered the event's the losers. Burying the hatchet – literally many businesses shut early. In 1965, the In the early days, a gathering of 2,000 200th anniversary, there's a slim chance – is the overriding theme of the event. Delaware General Assembly declared Re- to 3,000 people, including politicians, the first Return Day took place in Lewes, Leaders of each party grab the hatchet turn Day a legal half-day holiday. Continued on page 110 the former county seat, back in 1792, but INSIDE: Delaware tradition has deep roots Page design by Jen Ellingsworth 108 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012 SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE SECTION Cape Gazette RETURN DAY: CELEBRATING TWO CENTURIES Remembering In their own words Jim Bowden, president of Georgetown Historical Society, also serves as a director of Return Day. Georgetown history "My favorite Return Day was 1968. I was a junior in high school, and I was let out of school for the day. I remember how much fun I had and it was just the smell of the ox and the Robinson family steeped whole pageantry. That was probably my first taste of Return in Return Day tradition Day." By Rachel Swick Mavity Angie Townsend, Georgetown town clerk, has attended [email protected] Return Day many times. As a town employee, Townsend also helps organize varied facets of the event, which partners town Retired Judge Battle Robinson and her resources with Return Day committee preparations."It's a husband, retired newspaperman Robert wonderful tradition that brings people to town," Townsend Robinson, have lived in the Judge's House said. "We are the only town left in the United States that does in Georgetown since 1979. it, and I think that's important." The couple moved into the home of Robert’s mother, who still lived there. They opened the doors to residents and friends Former Georgetown councilman and owner of Chardon on for the Return Day parade that year. The Circle Charlie Koskey has had a front-row view of Return “We really didn’t have a choice to have Day festivities for decades. While he enjoys each parade, people in on Return Day,” said Battle with Koskey's favorite memories are of the night before."All the a chuckle. “It was almost self-defense be- locals come into town. It gives us a chance to catch up and cause you knew they would show up any- RACHEL SWICK MAVITY PHOTOS RETIRED JUDGE BATTLE ROBINSON and news- you really get a feeling of camaraderie," Koskey said. "We all way.” paperman Robert Robinson stand on the front porch listen to the bands and stand around the ox roast." “Every year has been different, but we of the Judge’s House on West Market Street in like to treat it as an open house for our Georgetown. The house has hosted many Return Day friends,” said Battle. “We try to serve local parties over the years. food, including Brunswick stew and pear Did you know... cake.” Robert. The pears are usually picked and pre- When the Robinson children were • The Return Day Office is located at he Nutter Marvel Carriage Museum. For pared by another local couple, Ronnie and teenagers, they would sit on a small sec- information, go to returnday.org or call Rosalie Walls at 302-855-9660. Becky Dodd, who help put on the Return ond-story roof while the adults would sit • The Marvel Museum features not only carriages, but also many historic Day party at the Robinson home. below on the West Market Street porch. buildings such as the Ellis School, a one-room schoolhouse built in 1833. The The Robinson family founded the Sussex Battle recalls one year when former Gov. two barns on the grounds house carriages from Nutter Marvel's collection, Countian in the late 1800s. Robert’s moth- David Buckson was sitting on the porch such as the Queen's Carriage, the Disney Carriage, a peddlers wagon and an er, Mary H. Robinson, was known as the with Mary, Robert and Battle. A horse in 1800s horse-drawn hearse carriage. Other treasures are a collection of ‘militant lady editor’ by many residents, he the parade spooked and was rearing up. Victrolas, ephemera, photographs, telephones and furniture. The museum is at said. “Buckson walked out into the street and 510 S. Bedford St. in Georgetown. For information go to marvelmuseum.com. “We have many great memories of sit- quieted the horse,” Battle said. ting on the porch with my mother,” said And, so the show goes on. RETURN DAY: A TIMELINE 1791 1811-1812 1936 • The state Legislature requires Sussex to move the county • Delaware Legislature creates voting districts, with results • Historical records show this year is a particularly large seat from Lewes to Georgetown, a more central location, announced two days after the election on The celebration as Franklin D. Roosevelt wins the although not much of a town exists at the time. Circle in Georgetown. It doesn't take long before presidential race in a landslide, and the Georgetown is considered no more than 16 miles from hundreds and then thousands assemble to Democrats carry the state for the first time in everywhere in the county. All voting takes place in one hear election results, and the event soon many years. location. becomes a festive celebration. • The county government hires 10 commissioners to purchase land, build a courthouse and jail, and sell lots in 1942 an area at "James Pettyjohn's old field or about a mile from 1860 • Because of World War II, Return Day is where Ebenezer Pettyjohn now lives.” • Earliest known newspaper story about suspended. Return Day is published in New York Tribune. “It has become an institution of the county, and is inseparably connected with its history; it is essentially the 1792 big day, and cannot be approximated, in point of interest for numbers and notoriety, by any other.” 1952 • Some historians think the first • A group of Return Day could date back to the Republicans and 18th century, but this can't be Democrats gathers to verified. 1888 revive the event. • Into the mid and late 1880s, the event takes on even more of a festive air. According to the “History of Delaware” by J. Thomas Sharff, Return Day is "one of the customs peculiar to the people of Sussex, from time 1965 immemorial...holding a high carnival on the day when the • State Legislature results of the election are announced. Booths, stalls and passes bill making stands are erected near the courthouse, where all kinds of Return Day a legal half- edibles, such as opossum and rabbit meat, fish and oysters, day holiday for Sussex. can be procured.” Cape Gazette SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE SECTION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012 109 RETURN DAY: CELEBRATING TWO CENTURIES early as 1791, when the county seat moved from Lewes to more than the others.