OurTown

November 8 | 4-8 PM
Hometown Holiday Market
November 11
Town offices closed for
Veterans Day
November 11 | 11:00 AM
Burgaw Veterans Day Service
November 12 | 4:30 PM
Board of Commissioners
Meeting
November 19 | 8 AM & 5 PM
Chat with the Chiefs
November 20 | 12:00 PM
Senior Lunch & Learn
November 21 | 5:30 PM
Planning Board Meeting
November 28-29
Town offices closed for
Thanksgiving
UPCOMI NG
Town of Burgaw Weekly Newsletter | November 4-8, 2024
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Our T own
Have you noticed town facilities have turned green at
night? On October 29, 2024, the Town of Burgaw
Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a
resolution showing the town ’s support of Operation
Green Light. By participating in Operation Green Light,
a program sponsored by the National Association of
Counties, the town shows its support for veterans and
honors them for their sacrifice and service for our
freedom. We encourage our businesses and
residences to join in as we shine green lights so
veterans know they are remembered and honored.
Hometown Holiday Market
November 8 | 4-8 PM | Courthouse Avenue
Arts & Crafts - Food - Entertainment - Classic Car Cruise-In
Honoring and remembering our veterans
The next regular Board of Commissioners
meeting is Tuesday, November 12, 2024
at 4:30 PM, with Public Forum and Public
Hearings beginning at 5:30 PM (or
thereabout). This meeting will be held in
the Burgaw Town Center, located at 108
E. Wilmington Street, Burgaw. The
meeting agenda can be found on our
website at burgawnc.gov. All interested
parties are invited to attend. Oral and
written comments welcome.
Notice of Public Hearings are listed on page 2.
Burgaw Veterans
Day Service
Board of Commissioners
meeting to be held
November 12 Monday, November 11th
11:00 AM
Historic Train Depot
The Town of Burgaw and Daughters of
the American Revolution Battle of
Moores Creek Bridge Chapter join to
commemorate the courage and
patriotism of all men and women in the
United States Armed Services.
Remember & Honor
Town offices will be closed November 11, 2024 in observance of Veterans Day.

Our Town | Page 3
November 30 | 5 PM - 7 PM
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
December 5 | 6:00 PM
Christmas Bingo
December 6 | 5:30 PM
Santa’s Workshop
December 7 | 10 AM - 4 PM
Christmas on the Square
December 14 | 5:30 PM
Annual Lighted Christmas Parade
December 20 | 6:00 PM
Community Christmas Caroling
December 21 | 8 AM - 11 AM
Breakfast with Santa
December 31 | 5 PM - 7:30 PM
Annual New Year’s
Eve Blueberry Drop & Fireworks
N O T I C E O F P U B L I C H E A R I N G S
The following items will be heard for consideration at
the Town of Burgaw Board of Commissioners Meeting
on November 12, 2024 beginning at 5:30 PM (or
thereabout) at the Burgaw Town Center, 108 E.
Wilmington Street, Burgaw. All interested parties are
invited to attend. Written and oral comments
welcome.
Agenda Item 1: Consideration of a text amendment to
the Unified Development Ordinance requested by
Planning Staff to amend Section 9.27.3, to modify tree
mitigation requirements and tree removal requirements
of public property. Assigned staff: Ron Meredith,
rmeredith@burgawnc.gov, 910.663.3451.
Agenda Item 2: Consideration of a text amendment to
the Unified Development Ordinance requested by
Planning Staff to amend Section 9.27.3, to modify the
tree inventory requirements. Assigned staff: Ron
Meredith, rmeredith@burgawnc.gov, 910.663.3451.
Agenda Item 3: Consideration of a text amendment to
the Unified Development Ordinance requested by
Planning Staff to amend Section 8.14, to add Auction
Houses (excluding livestock) as a use in the I -1. Assigned
staff: Ron Meredith, rmeredith@burgawnc.gov,
910.663.3451.
Join us for
CHRISTMAS
in Our Town
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
One (1) Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)
Planning Board Member
Must reside within the town’s ETJ.
Visit burgawnc.gov or call the Planning
Department at 910-663-3451 for additional
information
One (1) Tourism Development Authority (TDA)
Member
Please visit the town website at burgawnc.gov
for more information and to download an
application. Applications may also be picked up
at Town Hall, 109 N. Walker Street. Completed
applications should be submitted to the Town
Clerk at 109 N. Walker Street, Burgaw.

Our Town | Page 3
HI STORI CAL FEATURE OF THE WEEK
Burgaw Community House was constructed in 1939 as a federal project
of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a New Deal
agency funded by Congress during the Great Depression to employ the
jobless building public works. Community House, as it was originally
named, quickly filled a need for residents as a place for social occasions.
Construction of Community House was among the last wave of New Deal
projects. World War II ended the New Deal projects as America ’s war
effort created an economic boom putting people to work. The war had a
big impact on Burgaw bringing in a large influx of military personnel. The
new Community House played a significant role between residents and
soldiers.
Burgaw was one of the designated liberty leave towns with the government providing
bus service to and from Camp Davis. Camp Davis, a base for anti -aircraft artillery (AAA)
training, was built in 1941 near the Pender -Onslow county line at Holly Ridge. The base
was virtually a city of 20,000 soldiers at any one time preparing to go to war.
Several battalions of searchlight and gunners camped in the fields and woods around
Burgaw for night-time artillery training. The skies in the countryside lit up at night with
searchlights while gunners fired at targets. WASPs (Women ’s Airforce Service pilots)
flew tow-target planes for AAA gunnery practice.
The quiet and easy-going pace of Burgaw was disrupted as boisterous soldiers filled the
stores, sidewalks and corners of downtown. Residents embraced the incoming soldiers
in the void left by over 1,100 Pender sons and daughters who departed to join the
armed forces.
Burgaw did not have a USO providing a center for soldier entertainment, so citizens dug
deep into their pockets and formed their own which they called Servicemen ’s
Recreation Association (SRO). They equipped Community House with a piano, suitable
furniture, ping-pong tables, juke box, and the ladies of the town ran a lunch bar with special home -made meals on
Sundays. On cold days a crackling fire lent warmth from the huge fireplace as they
gathered around it.
Camp Davis had its own newspaper which ran a 1944 feature article focused on Burgaw
residents and their hospitality that warmed the hearts of servicemen far from their
families and hometowns. Local historian Mattie Bloodworth became the full -time
volunteer hostess at Community House. As the article said, “she came to know them all …
arranged the dances, socials, outings and coaxed more than one bashful Romeo into
meeting a local young lady who had won his admiration. ” Marriages between local
daughters and servicemen even resulted.
With the closing of Camp Davis near the end of the war, Community House once again was
available for town residents as a place for parties, dances, meetings and other events. In
the 1950s through the 1960s residents went there to vote, attend Scout meetings, teen -
age sock-hop dances, art or dance lessons, and wedding receptions before local churches
built fellowship halls.
Burgaw’s Historic community House
Written by Michael Y. Taylor
Continued on page 3

Our Town | Page 4
From the seventies into the first decade of the new century, Community
House appeared worn and tired. Public use declined. The Town of Burgaw
leased it to a non -profit as a secondhand store. In 2008 the town ’s decaying
train depot went through a revitalization into an event center renewing
interest in historic preservation. Attention then turned to Community House.
In 2012 the Town of Burgaw appropriated funds to renovate and restore
Community House creating a smaller event venue than the depot. An ugly
added enclosure at the front door was removed returning it to its original
appearance while the original wood floors were uncovered and refinished.
Once again it is frequently used by the Town and is available to rent by the
public for various occasions.
In 1941 the Camp Davis news reporter wrote, “The little community of Burgaw will live forever in the memories of anti -
aircraft artillery men and the name Burgaw is now known in the far places of the world where they are fighting. To them,
Burgaw was their temporary home. To quite a few others the town will be their haven when they return after the war to
the girls they married in Burgaw.”
The men and women who fought in World War II will always be remembered for their heroic courage and sacrifice. How
town residents opened their hearts to the trainee soldiers extending hospitality at Community House is part of Burgaw ’s
historic heritage. Residents gave them the comfort and warmth of home in the days before they went overseas to fight
and, in some cases, die for freedom. Today Burgaw ’s Community House remains a symbol of this history and a place
where memories continue to be made.
COMMUNI TY HOUSE CONTI NUED
The Burgaw Beautification Committee introduces the official 2024
Town Christmas Ornament showcasing
Burgaw’s Historic community House
Perfect piece of
history to add to your
Christmas tree each
year.
2023 Ornaments of
the Historic Train
Depot are also
available for purchase.
Ornaments are $20 and
can be purchased at
Town Hall, 109 N.
Walker Street, Monday
-Friday, 8am-5pm.
Great gifts for friends
and family this
Christmas!
The annual ornament showcases a different piece of town history each year.
Proceeds go towards beautification projects around town.

Christmas Toy Drive
Now through December 13
Drop off new, unwrapped toys
at Town Hall, Monday-Friday,
8 AM-5 PM
Tuesday, November 19
8 AM - 9 AM | Brown Dog Coffee
5 PM - 6 PM | Burgaw Brewing
Our Town | Page 5
Drop in to visit with the Police
Chief and Fire Chief! Bring your
questions and concerns for an
informal chat session.
Chat with the Chiefs

Mayor
Olivia Dawson
Mayor Pro Tem
James Malloy
Commissioners
Jan Dawson
Bill George
William Rivenbark
Michael Pearsall
Town Manager
James H. Gantt
Town Clerk
Kristin J. Wells
Town Attorney
Zachary Rivenbark
Town Hall
109 N. Walker St.
Burgaw, NC 28425
910-259-2151
mail@burgawnc.gov
www.burgawnc.gov
Office Hours
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday-Friday
PUBLIC WORKS EMERGENCY
RESPONSE NUMBER
PHONE # 910-470-0457
This phone is only answered after
hours, between 4:30 PM - 7:30 AM,
and is for water and sewer
emergencies only . Unless Public
Works has been given prior notice
from Town Hall, Public Works
cannot turn your water on due to
non-payment shut off.
Utilities
663-3445
Parks & Town Events
300-6401
Human Resources
663-3444
Permitting & Inspections
663-3452
Public Works Department
259-2901
Police Department
Non-Emergency
259-4924
Fire Department
Non-Emergency
259-7494
Elected & Appointed
Officials
Board of Commissioners Meetings
Second Tuesday of every month at 4:30 PM
Public Forum/Public Hearings at 5:30 PM
Planning & Zoning Board Meetings
Third Thursday of every month at 5:30 PM
Tourism Development Authority Meetings
First Thursday of every month at 8:30 AM
Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee
Meetings
Second Monday of February, May, August,
November at 5:30 PM
Beautification Committee Meetings
First Friday of every month at 8:30 AM
All meetings listed above are open to
the public; oral and written
comments always welcome. The
meetings are held at the Burgaw
Town Center, located at 108 E.
Wilmington Street, Burgaw, unless
otherwise posted.
Meeting agendas can be found on the
town’s website at BurgawNC.gov.
Notices for cancelations and special
called meetings will be posted on the
town’s website and weekly
newsletter when necessary.
For questions or assistance, please
contact the Town Clerk at 910-663-
3441 or kwells@burgawnc.gov.
CURRENT MEETI NG
SCHED ULE
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Burgaw License Plate
Available for purchase
at Town Hall
$10