Episode Transcript
Speaker 1 00:00:05 Hi, I am Amy Welsh, and welcome to Open House where we celebrate who we are and what we do as a community. And it is my great pleasure today to have with me Jill Sellers, who is the president and c e o of Main Street. Gettysburg. Thank you so much for being with us today.
Speaker 2 00:00:22 Oh, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 00:00:23 I am very excited to find out some of the specifics of what you do, but can you give us a quick brief of who you are and what is Main Street Gettysburg?
Speaker 2 00:00:33 Sure. Main Street Gettysburg is considered the economic development arm of the Borough of Gettysburg. So we do all things in partnership with, uh, downtown businesses, other organizations and partners to deliver economic strength to our, our historic district. Uh, we work on infrastructure projects. We work on events, anything that is gonna make sure that we have a vibrant and welcoming downtown for now and generations to come.
Speaker 1 00:00:58 How long have you been in your current position? Two
Speaker 2 00:01:01 Years.
Speaker 1 00:01:02 And that's how long you've been with Main Street Gettysburg? Correct. Two years total,
Speaker 2 00:01:05 Yes.
Speaker 1 00:01:06 So it sounds like not only are you working with bringing people to Gettysburg from outside, it's, it sounds like one arm of it. You're creating this vibrant city, you're encouraging destination and guests to come. And then the other side, you're also maintaining a community for the locals to keep that vibrant as well. How do you manage those two different arms of your job?
Speaker 2 00:01:32 Uh, part of it is, uh, community engagement and being, uh, being available to people as much as possible for businesses. Like, uh, right now, uh, we're working on different programs that, uh, benefit our downtown businesses and, uh, working with, uh, volunteer organizations, uh, within our own organizations and, and outwardly to make sure that people are connected with the things that are happening here. So that's how we, we build that. It's kind of a grassroots things in a, in a lot of ways. Um, it, but it continues to involve locals and, uh, and as people come here, and certainly as people retire here, we find more and more people wanting to get involved.
Speaker 1 00:02:09 I agree. There are a lot of people in the community that want to be a part of Gettysburg and everything you do. So I'm gonna start asking with, um, bringing people in from the outside. I know there's a visitor setter that's gonna happen on Baltimore Street. Yes. Can you talk about, I know it's been going for a couple years and there's maybe a 10 year goal or plan. Correct. Where are we at with that?
Speaker 2 00:02:30 Okay. So the Visitors Center is actually gonna be called a welcome center. And, um, so it's not confused with the Museum and Visitors Center that's operated by the, uh, the National Park Service and the Gettysburg Foundation. Uh, so this is a, this is a public facility that we're working on that would be in the heart of downtown on Baltimore Street. The goal is to be able to provide transportation information and tourism information, as well as public restrooms in the heart of downtown. Uh, the goal connected to that is to create a very walkable downtown district. So it's, it's got several, um, you know, objectives related to it. The property was donated to the borough several years ago for the purpose of, of this project. And this year we're looking to, uh, to, um, achieve a certain level of local grant dollars so that we can apply for a grant for the construction of it.
Speaker 2 00:03:24 So we're at a point that we have the architectural drawings, it's ready, it's, it's gonna be scaled in a way that it's really gonna fit in with our downtown infrastructure, but it's gonna create a focal point for people coming to visit a place to start their visit, to ask for information directions. Or if they're already in town and they're strolling, you know, from Steiner Avenue up to the square or vice versa, you know, they can stop and, you know, uh, for, uh, there's be a bottle filling station, uh, changing stations for families, uh, and just get the information that they need so that they can in, you know, increase their time downtown. And, uh, really looking forward to, to, uh, when we can, we can add that. And I'm hoping that that timeline, uh, it started in about 2017 mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So, um, this, this, I want to be, um, you know, a success in the next couple of years so that it's not quite a 10 year project.
Speaker 1 00:04:14 Perfect. Yeah. Here's what I'd love about that project where you say it's positioned on Baltimore Street, it's in between the square of Gettysburg Yes. And the cemetery down the way. Yes. So it's perfectly positioned Yep. To come from either side, so it can really serve Yes. All the visitors in the community as well. And I saw you light up when you said, and it will have a public restroom, so that must be something that has been Yes. Missing for a while for our guests.
Speaker 2 00:04:44 There, there are facilities downtown, um, in the, in the parking garage behind the hotel mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, and a lot of businesses are really generous to, uh, and, uh, the library is a public restroom, but those facilities get really overwhelmed mm-hmm. <affirmative> and, and, and really can't handle the volume of people that we have visiting here. So Gettysburg is home to 3 million or more visitors a year. That's a lot of usage. That's why we need a public space that can support that kind of traffic. So, um, really excited about the studies that were done showing that that is a major need downtown. Uh, it would provide, no pun intended, but it provide relief for our local businesses who don't wanna say no to people coming in and asking to use the restroom.
Speaker 1 00:05:28 So that's interesting. With your job, you have your focus on what the guests need and what they're looking for mm-hmm. <affirmative> and also you're very connected to the community and what the businesses need Yeah. And how to support them. And just this one small thing is going to, no pun intended, alleviate both of these needs Right, sure. From the community and give our guests and visitors just an open space to go and start the journey. Absolutely. Also, um, you were part of some infrastructure and I think it was Stein Wear Avenue that you did Yes. Some lighting and things. That is incredible. Yeah. And are you gonna continue that on other streets?
Speaker 2 00:06:06 Yes. So Main Street works off of, uh, strategic planning. So we have long-term objectives. Uh, a lot of the things that will be, will happen over many, many years. So Steiner Avenue was started as a concept, uh, in 2007. And that was achieved, uh, in, uh, in about 2015. So that was a seven plus million dollar, uh, overhaul of the street scape, sidewalks, crosswalks to, uh, lighting, uh, historic benches and things that were installed to make that the comfortable space that it is now for, especially for people to be able to walk that avenue. And, uh, we've been working since 2018 on the master plan that would do the same thing for Baltimore Street through the square, and that would connect, um, the, uh, the cemetery, uh, to, um, to Lincoln Square where the train station is and where the Wills house is. So that's working to connect the Lincoln pathway.
Speaker 2 00:06:59 So Lincoln arrived on, at the train station, he walked down Baltimore Street to the cemetery to deliver the Gettysburg Address. So that is, that is the route that's planned for this project. And again, it would be an overhaul of that whole street scape, uh, from the bottom that you don't see, like stormwater and all those things that are important that support that infrastructure to safer crosswalks for the kids that go to school in that district, uh, wider sidewalks so that you have more pedestrian space for when we have events or people strolling downtown, um, level sidewalks so that, you know, moms can push strollers or, you know, some of, um, uh, people with walkers or, or, uh, other disabilities can really, uh, access that space a little bit more, uh, easily. And then having the welcome center in the middle of that makes it all travers for everybody so that they can,
Speaker 1 00:07:45 And it's beautiful. Yeah. What Steiner Avenue looks like. It's absolutely gorgeous. So moving that up and, um, taking that road, that Lincoln Hunt Yep. Is another huge part of Gettysburg that I love. So it costs a lot of money. It
Speaker 2 00:08:01 Does.
Speaker 1 00:08:02 Let me ask you about one way that people can help support. Its the Bricks. Correct. Tell us about that project.
Speaker 2 00:08:10 So the engraved historic, uh, brick program has been in existence since about 1993. So this will be the 30th year. There's about 7,500, uh, engrave bricks installed in downtown Gettysburg. And it's a program that helps support Main Street Gettysburg and helps us, uh, keep our doors open so that we can do these infrastructure grants, work on different programs, but so people can invest in a brick that they can decide what they'd like that brick to say so in, in memory or in honor of someone, or, uh, just maybe in memory of a visit that they made here, but so they can purchase that brick and it will be installed. We do installations annually, so, you know, they can buy a brick and then come see it, uh, later in the same year. So. So
Speaker 1 00:08:51 You purchased the Brick by September? It's installed annually around November?
Speaker 2 00:08:56 No, actually it's, uh, deadline is July 15th. Okay. And then they're installed in September, so. Okay. Yeah. So getting ahead of the, the bad weather.
Speaker 1 00:09:04 So you were telling me a really cool story one way that somebody used the Brick <laugh>. Do you wanna share that?
Speaker 2 00:09:10 Sure. Uh, we had a really special couple. So they were, uh, they had been together for a long time and so, you know, and an, uh, an engagement was, uh, was forthcoming. So they bought a brick that, uh, uh, said, will you marry me with their names on it? And that he, he presented that brick to her, um, as a surprise. And then she said yes. And then after they were married, they had another brick, uh, purchased that said, she said, yes, with the date that they got married.
Speaker 1 00:09:35 So that is such a great
Speaker 2 00:09:37 Story. Some really creative things that people, so there's some really special ways that people can commemorate why it's important that they, that they put their name in the sidewalk here at Gettysburg.
Speaker 1 00:09:46 I heard, um, one woman I met has her name, um, in a brick, and she doesn't live here, she's not local, but she visits quite a bit and said that having her name in Boston and presented makes her feel a part of this community. And she even said, I feel like I'm part of history as well, because I'm gonna be represented here. That's, so there's many ways that people can feel connected, whether they come a lot, they're local, um, they can send it in for somebody. Absolutely. And it can be anything from, um, a memory, an engagement, or just their name.
Speaker 2 00:10:23 College graduation is a great memorial for that is a, for, you know, a great really permanent marker for somebody to, uh, to, to mark that milestone in their, in their son Daughter's Love life.
Speaker 1 00:10:33 I love that program. Yeah. I think it's a very catchy and interesting and a great way to donate mm-hmm. <affirmative>. It is, it's something for yourself and donate to your community. Um, you also take on really big projects like the Christmas theme each year. And this year was extra special cuz it went a little longer due to a movie production. So tell us a little bit about first, how do you start getting ready for Christmas? I think it starts right after Thanksgiving.
Speaker 2 00:11:01 Um, we're actually, we've already had five meetings this year for this year's Christmas festival. So it starts right after the last one ends. Wow. We start again. So it, the, the festival has grown over the last five years mm-hmm. <affirmative> to be just an incredible downtown offering. The goal with that is really to open up our community at, at the holiday season to be, um, an economic driver at the end of the year and to really showcase downtown Gettysburg for the holiday season. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, because it's lovely. Uh, we have a lot of volunteers that help with the decorating the businesses go all out. Um, and then we provide activities and, um, entertainment downtown, uh, for free. So that beckons people to come and stay with us, to frequent our, our shops and our restaurants and really hopefully make a weekend out of it. Um, the movie this year is, was, was an exciting extension of that, and we're very excited to, uh, announce that the movie will premiere in the first night of the, uh, Christmas festival this year. So, very excited to be sharing information about that as it comes. But, uh, that is a, is a major, that is our one major event that we do every year, and we're really delighted to host that. And, uh, excited about all the stories and
Speaker 1 00:12:11 People from all over the country come Yes. Everywhere to Gettysburg, just experience Christmas. Yes.
Speaker 2 00:12:16 A lot of locals come. I encourage more locals to come because it's really a, an just an enchanting, uh, you know, evening or afternoon to be downtown with your family. Uh, we have people that come and they meet here from all points. They use it as a family reunion site. People come for the, for that as well, or they just come bring their kids to see the live reindeer or to, you know, be on the bounce house or play, you know, human foosball or all the really unique things that we've tried to create that make it special for here. Um, and, uh, we, we again, we make that offering and we're so excited that it's become such a staple of our calendar
Speaker 1 00:12:50 And that businesses go all out.
Speaker 2 00:12:52 Absolutely. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:12:55 I loved it. Yeah. Good. It looked amazing. Night, nighttime in Gettysburg at Christmas is magical. So it makes sense that a Christmas movie would be filmed mm-hmm. <affirmative> in Gettysburg as well. Yes. That's excellent. Um, in Gettysburg, people probably typically think about history and the battlefield, but everything that we've been talking about is kind of extrapolating that out to what the community has to offer in addition to that. And the Christmas festival is definitely one of those things. Yes. Um, how many visitors a year come to Gettysburg? You mentioned it earlier.
Speaker 2 00:13:35 Probably. It depends, you know, year to year, but I mean, anywhere from three to 4 million people will come and visit the Greater Gettysburg area. So from the battlefields to downtown to, uh, things that happen out in the county, uh, you know, we are definitely tourism driven here. Andre really excited to welcome visitors. Um, the Christmas festival sees as many as 10,000 people over the weekend, and they come from, as far as you know, uh, you know, New York and beyond. And, you know, they'll travel a hundred or more miles to just to come visit our festival. This
Speaker 1 00:14:05 Is excellent for businesses and locals to create jobs. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and more opportunity. And then to, of course, the infrastructure. It used to be back in the day, July one, two, and three. That was your, that was your time. And now the whole year is really building out to an experience Yes. For the visitors to come and create something really special. Yes. For everyone. What if somebody wanted to volunteer or be a part of this, whether it was Christmas or an another project that you're doing? How do people get involved?
Speaker 2 00:14:37 Um, we always are welcoming people to get involved because, uh, obviously these programs are growing and that's exciting, but it also means that it takes, it takes more people to, uh, to, to manage, uh, the, the, the size of them. Especially the Christmas festival, Christmas Festival, um, this past year had a hundred plus volunteers and, uh, either we would certainly welcome more. It's a fun activity. And, um, so getting in touch with me at the office, uh, we can provide the phone number or on our website. Uh, we also have other volunteer programs that are, that are very vital to downtown. So, uh, there's lots of different ways to get involved. It's not a huge time commitment. We can certainly work with anybody if they've got a little bit or a lot to give. Uh, it would just be great to have another smiling face, you know, show up and really see what we do and how, how it promotes our community overall.
Speaker 1 00:15:25 And that's exactly it. You're connecting with the community. So if you live here, if you're local and you wanna be a part of this great Christmas festival or anything else that you do Yep. They're welcome to reach out Absolutely. And do that. So, um, we know how people can get involved. Um, what other projects are we looking for in the next couple years that people can get excited about? We have the Baltimore Street, the Welcome Center, expanding out on the holiday, the Christmas movie. I think that will be at Majestic. Correct. And then anything for this summer, is the 160th gonna be a part of anything?
Speaker 2 00:16:04 There is. There is a one 60th committee that's working right now, so there are events that are coming together for that. Uh, and uh, so that will be over July 1st, second, and third. So watch for announcements of that. We're also gonna be doing another, uh, movie commemoration in October. So the 30th anniversary of the movie Gettysburg is Wow. Coming here. And we're doing an event weekend for that where, uh, the director in the cast will be here to, she'll have a special screening and to be able to do autographs and, and other question and answers, uh, opportunities with, with those stars.
Speaker 1 00:16:36 You have a lot on your plate this year, so it does sound like you might need some volunteers or anybody to jump in and support. Yeah. Which is always, always welcome. Awesome. Um, was there anything else you wanted people to know specifically about Main Street Gettysburg, what you do and why you're so passionate about Gettysburg?
Speaker 2 00:16:56 I love what I do because of how it incorporates so many different partners and organizations downtown and beyond. Uh, we don't do anything. Our small organization can't get anything done without those partnerships. It's really an opportunity to communicate, communicate across those, uh, complicated, uh, um, uh, projects and, uh, make sure that it's an opportunity for all ships to rise. And, um, I appreciate the chance to serve my community in a way that is effective now, but will also be effective in generations to come. We're leaving something behind that's, that's a legacy for historic Gettysburg and beyond.
Speaker 1 00:17:35 Since you have come into your position, you have been building and building for future, just like you said mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So this isn't a job where you're maintaining, you're constantly looking at the future and how to revitalize not just the local infrastructure, but to bring more people in to create those jobs, to create the businesses Yeah. And the wonderful things. Yes. Well, I am extremely excited for everything that you're doing. Um, I will be at all the movie premieres. I will have a brick coming Excellent. Soon. And anything I can do to jump in and volunteer, I will go to your website and make sure I join up. So, Jill, thank you. Well,
Speaker 2 00:18:14 Thanks for having me. No, this has
Speaker 1 00:18:15 Been great. Very excited to have you because what you're doing in the, the vision is everyone gets to be a part of that and it's really remarkable. So thanks for being here. Good. And taking on this really huge project, but I think the community will step up. We're gonna support you.
Speaker 2 00:18:32 All right. Thanks so much. Thank you. Awesome. Great.
Speaker 1 00:18:35 Thank you again for joining us at our open house. And again, as a community, we could not do this without you. So join us in celebrating everything. Main Street, Gettysburg.
