Michael Churchville grew up in a small town in Massachusetts, where his father was a typical country doctor who sometimes accepted vegetables as payment from his patients.
After graduating from high school, Churchville took a position at a telecommunications company, whose primary contract was with the Saudi Arabian government. In 1981, he was sent to Saudi Arabia to help install 17 weather stations throughout the country.
“I was living among the people in Saudi Arabia,” said Churchville. “And, it was absolutely incredible.”
Churchville was in charge of the logistics for the weather stations, so he often traveled in the field with the technicians, who went from village to village to work. They traveled with a letter from the king of Saudi Arabia, which notified the prince of each village that he must cooperate and allow the technicians to work.
One year later, their work was done and at age 23, Churchville left Saudi Arabia. But, he didn’t go home. He purchased an around-the-world plane ticket and decided to travel. The ticket allowed him to go anywhere as long as it was east or north, which meant he headed toward the Far East. At one point he found himself heading into China.
“When I went into China, I was told not to use my passport because it was very soon after they started allowing Westerners into the country,” said Churchville. “So I entered the country without the passport getting stamped.”
Churchville traveled throughout the Far East for one year, visiting exotic places, including Thailand. He re-entered the states through Hawaii and headed back to Massachusetts. But, he wasn’t ready to stop traveling yet. He still had his plane ticket and decided to travel to England, Scotland and Wales before returning home to stay.
“I was really lucky,” said Churchville. “I got to get around the world at such a young age, without joining the military. It was just an amazing experience.”
Back in Massachusetts, Churchville felt semi-retired, until a friend asked him to help paint a ceiling at a printing factory. Churchville became so interested in the airless-spray painting equipment he decided to start his own painting company.
“We painted primarily new construction and private residences,” he said. “I transferred the company to the Poconos and built it into two companies.”
After 20 years, he was ready for a change, so he sold the business to his foremen. He had worked closely with a mortgage company run by his sister and her boyfriend.
“I referred a lot of business to them from my painting company,” said Churchville. “And, one day my sister’s boyfriend said either I would have to learn the mortgage business or I would have to stop sending them so much business.”
Churchville studied at the mortgage company for three months as an apprentice and then decided to join the company.
In 2002, Churchville arrived in Lewes, to work at a branch of the mortgage company located on Route 1. He now manages the company. “I took over corporate operations and in 2004 the company generated $75 million in mortgages,” he said.
The company moved to a new office by Nassau Vineyards in August. Churchville now has two employees at First Source Funding.
“The people here are fascinating,” said Churchville, who feels right at home in Lewes. “I’ve met people from all over the world right here.”
Besides his business ventures, Churchville is also an avid harmonica player and has played with several local musicians. He started playing when his mother gave him a harmonica when he was very young. He got even better at it at 18, when he hitchhiked across the country. And, he’s been playing ever since.
“There is a very large artist contingent down here,” he said. “And, I’ve been able to meet and play with a lot of them.”
Churchville said he gravitated to Lewes, even when he had only been in Sussex County for a couple months. The small town atmosphere reminds him of growing up in Massachusetts, he said.
“I’ve always liked oceans … I have always been drawn to oceans,” said Churchville. “I will probably end up living on an island. But the great thing about here is that even amidst the beach resort area, Lewes retains its small town feel.”
