by Brendan Sample

The Gowen Estate House Tour Steering Committee and Historic Germantown have officially reached an agreement to have more than $2,000 returned to Gowen. Since 2014, the two groups had been contesting the $2,229.63 amount, which Gowen had given to HG, then known as the Germantown Historical Society, in 2005 with the intention of the group acting as a holding agent.

HG later claimed that GEHT had given the funds as a donation, which GEHT argued against. With an agreement in place, however, both sides can now move forward.

According to Dr. Arlene Bennett, one of the co-chairs of GEHT, she heard from HG president Loretta Witt on July 26, the day after the Local published an article about GEHT, potentially taking legal action to retrieve the funds.

Though it took several months of negotiating, HG ultimately agreed to transfer the full amount back to the committee, having now already written the check. In exchange, the GEHT members had to sign an agreement stating that the matter had been officially resolved.

On the GEHT side, the next step is to officially determine how the funds will be used. The committee members have had specific intentions for the money since they tried to withdraw it in 2014, and with the funding officially secured, the organization should finally be able to complete its plans.

“I’m preparing now for the Steering Committee to meet to officially determine how we want to disperse these funds,” Bennett said. “The two things that we’re all in agreement with are setting up memorials for Kathleen Pierson and Anne Snyder, two former committee members who passed away. If there are any funds left, the committee will decide what to do with them.”

With this agreement in place, both sides are able to avoid further months of pending litigation, as GEHT had been prepared to take legal action against HG if the funds had not been returned. Though Witt could not be reached for comment, Bennett expressed her gratitude that both sides were able to work together on a favorable outcome.

“All the feedback I’ve gotten so far from committee members has indicated that they’re all very pleased and satisfied with this outcome,” Bennett said. “Loretta and I parted in a positive manner … and it’s just been very rewarding to know that we ended all this on a positive note.”

Brendan Sample can be reached at brendan@chestnuthilllocal.com