Sandie Gerken, Dagsboro resident, is proud to announce the publication of her new book, STORIED SUSSEX: A collection of historical events and stories that have shaped Sussex County, Delaware.
Written originally as history articles for the local newspaper, High Tide News, Sandie offers these varied narratives of Sussex County because local history matters to her. Local natives and newcomers, alike, will enjoy reading and learning about events, places, traditions, industries, people, and pastimes that chronicle Sussex County’s past. Indeed, Sussex has a storied past!
Sandie Gerken is a Dagsboro native. Growing up in Sussex, she learned the local lore from her parents while riding the back roads in search of graves of ancestors. As a result, she has had a lifelong love of history and a passion for genealogy. Now retired, she devotes her time to genealogy research, painting watercolors, and soccer for kids with special needs. As part of fundraising for the Clayton Theatre’s conversion to digital projection in 2013, Sandie wrote the book, Memories of the Clayton Theatre. She gives tours of historic Prince George’s Chapel by appointment and speaks to local groups about local history. She began exploring her writing skills for High Tide News over four years ago.
Sandie feels that her genealogy skills have given her a fresh angle for her meticulous research. Searching records for a distinctive human aspect or flavor is what she calls her “secret sauce”. Included are chapters about lost traditions or industries, such as button making, wreath making, scrapple making, basket making, and others about illustrious Sussex County characters. Sandie thinks it is important for us to learn about the past, busy as we are today with our technological world. Her greatest hope for her book is that: “my articles encourage people to ‘read more about it’. I hope readers will be inspired to search just a bit further to learn more about these Sussex stories or to become excited to research their own storied pasts.”
Visit www.StoriedSussex.com to order by mail ($19.99 plus $8.95 shipping and handling). The book will also be available at local bookstores and various other locations in Sussex County. Storied Sussex can also be purchased directly from the author for $19.99. For information, contact Sandie Gerken at 302-732-6835 or gerkensandie@hotmail.com
