Great Neighbors Make Great Fences!

Family-Owned McGee Fence Company Restores Historic Georgetown Mansion Courtyard Perimeter for Christian Grace Recovery Home

In Robert Frost’s 1914 poem, “Mending Wall,” two neighbors work together to repair a fallen stone fence separating their properties. One is keen to rebuild and repair the gap in the wall; the other fails to see why the wall is needed in the first place. Frost’s poem is a metaphor for the walls we build that keep people out and keep people apart. Walls that keep us from being hospitable. One man poetically questions the need, while the other oft repeats, “Good fences make good neighbors.”

But in Georgetown, one great neighbor makes great fences — and this story flips the old saying on its head. Here, a fence isn’t about separation, but connection. A boundary rebuilt not to keep people out, but to help hold something good together.

One New Street has been a sober living transitional house under different ownership for nearly half a century. Today, the historic mansion serves as Christian Grace Sober Living’s flagship property, one of five recovery homes for men and women in Georgetown, DE.

For Christian Grace, a company that provides safe affordable housing for people in recovery, the fence surrounding its Zen garden has a different meaning as a symbol of protection and new beginnings — but the old blue and white fence, perhaps one of the most recognizable landmarks in town, had fallen into disrepair.

Thanks to the generosity of McGee Fence Company. The local, family-owned business recently donated both time and materials to rebuild the perimeter fence at Christian Grace Sober Living home in the heart of town.

Now its fresh structure stands tall once again — not just as a physical boundary, but as a renewed sign of safety and support for those inside.

“McGee Fence Company showed up with their crew, their equipment, and their heart,” said David Forman, founder of Christian Grace, LLC. “They didn’t ask for recognition. They didn’t send a bill. They just asked how they could help.”

“The decision to take on this project was easy,” said Jason McGee. “It presented an opportunity to provide for the community and help others. Recovery affects nearly all of us, whether directly or through someone we love.”

Christian Grace Sober Living provides safe, affordable housing at five locations in Georgetown for individuals actively rebuilding their lives after substance use or incarceration. The restored fence was one of the final finishing touches needed at the original location — a home known in the community not only for its architectural history, but for its role in hundreds of personal transformations.

“This home has seen lives turn around, families reunite, and people find their way back to themselves,” said Forman. “What the McGees did is more than build a fence. They helped us keep hope standing strong.”

The project was completed over the course of two days, but the impact, say residents and staff, will last for years to come.

“It’s amazing what a difference something like this makes,” said one resident. “It’s not just about the fence. It’s about feeling cared for by your community.”

 If you need a fence or deck built or replaced, reach out to your great neighbors who make (and install) great fences (and decks!). Visit McGeeFence.com in person at 34425 DuPont Blvd, in Frankford, DE;  or call 302-321-9157

Need Help or Want to Help?
If you or a loved one are looking for a safe, affordable space in a sober living environment — whether during early recovery or as a long-term lifestyle — contact Christian Grace at 302-500-3881 or apply online at Christian-Grace.com.