About 30 county and city officials, friends and family members presented an 86-year-old man with a new house on Friday.
The Georgetown Housing Partnership (GHP) dedicated Georgetown County's fifth Elderly Transportable Cottage to Johnny Drayton and his son at the biggest ceremony yet, according to GHP Director Dan Nesbitt.
It cost about $30,000 to complete, according to Nesbitt, but the city and county donated much of their time.
Drayton's original house had a roof-leaking problem that was beyond repair, and consequently, much of his furniture and the inside of his house were ruined.
Very Excited
Drayton, who had lived in his home on Page Lane in Pawleys Island since 1950, couldn't hide his excitement about the new house.
He shrugged his shoulders and smiled broadly at everyone who congratulated him and was almost speechless in his gratitude.
Janice Drayton, Johnny's daughter and next-door neighbor, recalled his enthusiasm from the night before the dedication.
“He wanted to stay in the house last night, but he had to wait until today,” she said.
Immediately after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Johnny went into his new two-bedroom house, settled comfortably into his new recliner, and explained that he couldn't wait to read his Bible there every morning.
Partnership
The Georgetown Housing Partnership, which consists of the city, county, Bunnelle Foundation and United Methodist Relief Center, along with the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, collaborated on the project.
The cottage, which is a stick-built home constructed on a mobile home chassis, was built in front of City Hall by city and county volunteers.
County Administrator Sel Hemingway said the Elderly Transportable project was an attempt to strengthen the relationship between the city and county.
“I have enjoyed the relationships that have developed through the effort,” he said.
County Council Chairman Johnny Morant was also pleased with the collaboration and the overall outcome of helping a neighbor.
“By working together with different entities, you can accomplish so much more,” he said.
City Councilman Brendon Barber agreed with the county members.
“During these hard economic times we're going to have to continue to build partnerships,” Barber said, “This project is everybody working together to do the right thing.”
The county coordinated construction and provided most of the labor, and the city conducted a furniture drive, collected gently used linens, and inspected the building.
Badcock Furniture also made considerable donations to the house.
‘House on wheels’
Nesbitt called the Drayton's new house a “house on wheels,” as opposed to a mobile home, since “it is a house built the same as any other house - it has electricity and plumbing built in, and it meets all codes,” he said.
Robert Cox, Georgetown building official, emphasized the stability of the house.
“This house will be around when we're not around,” he said.
Because GHP owns the house and it is movable, it can be recycled and given to another person in need once Drayton no longer lives there.