Members of the Seaford Historical Society met at the Ross Station Event Center on Jan. 22 to elect their 2026 board and learn about some historical happenings in the community.
President Gigi Hastings and Secretary Aileen Watkins started the meeting by recognizing Jean Collison as the organization’s Volunteer of the Year. For the last two years, Jean identified, photographed, and cataloged hundreds of objects at the Governor Ross Mansion using the society’s new Catalog-It Collections Management System. This monumental task, along with parallel efforts at the Seaford Museum and the Ross outbuildings, gives the society an invaluable visual inventory of its possessions.
President Gigi Hastings recognized the outgoing members of the Seaford Historical Society Board of Trustees at the society’s annual dinner. Pictured are Spencer Coulbourn, Lori Westcott, Hastings, and Clark White. Submitted photo
Hastings next recognized the five society trustees who vacated their positions. Mike Mulvaney and Marcus Wright stepped down due to conflicting time commitments, while Spencer Coulbourn, Lori Westcott, and Clark White completed their three-year terms on the board. Westcott will continue as the chair of the Ross Mansion Committee and Clark will stay on as chair of the Accessions Committee.
To replace the departures, the society installed five new trustees.
Coulbourn returns to complete the final year of a vacated position. During his previous tenure, he served on multiple committees and represented the society in the development of Nanticoke Low Tide Oyster Stout, produced by Bear Cult Brewing.
Jim Bowden, the local historian known for the “Seaford Delaware: A Look Back in Time” page on Facebook is also joining the board to fill a vacated seat. Jim’s encyclopedic knowledge of our town’s past will be an invaluable resource for the organization.
The society also elected three outstanding candidates for three-year terms.
Yvette Bourne returns to the board after many years, though her service to the organization never waned. As chairperson of the Seaford Community Fall Festival, Yvette oversees the society’s most popular public event.
Jim Cave is the only truly new member of the Board of Trustees. The principal of Seaford Middle School has a keen interest in history and a deep dedication to enhancing educational opportunities for the children in our community.
Seaford Historical Society president Gigi Hastings welcomed five new trustees at the historical society’s recent meeting. Pictured (l to r) are Jim Cave, Spencer Coulbourn, Hastings, Mike Lambert, and Jim Bowden. Absent was Yvette Bourne. Submitted photo
Mike Lambert is also making a return to the board. Best known for his books, “Eastern Shore League,” and “Eastern Shore League, Extra Innings;” Mike is a historian and speaker with historical interests far beyond the ballfield.
Retiring trustee Clark White led the re-election of the historical society’s officers for 2026 terms: President, Gigi Hastings; Executive Vice President, Bill Collison; Vice President for Ross Mansion, Pat Sigler; Vice President for the Seaford Museum, Chris Black; Secretary, Aileen Watkins; and Treasurer, Donny Dickerson. Teresa Wilson will continue to hold her seat as Immediate Past President.
The meeting concluded with Seaford Museum Curator Jim Blackwell giving a presentation about the Nanticoke Heritage Byway, taking listeners on a photographic trek around historic sites in western Sussex County. You can learn more at NanticokeHeritageByway.org.
Everyone involved with the Seaford Historical Society is proud to continue their mission to Preserve, Protect, and Present our area’s history.
To find out what is new in the town’s history, visit SeafordHistoricalSociety.com.