May 2016 Historic Homes Newsletter

May 2016 Historic Homes Newsletter

Have Fun with History in Delaware and Pennsylvania this month!

You are invited to a free symposium on current research dealing with African American communities in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and neighboring regions during the Era of Conflict and Resistance,1800-1865, and Beyond.  This symposium is an opportunity to bring together researchers and writers to discuss and share research findings, research questions and puzzles, research methods and their effectiveness, and, potentially, to build collaborations. Sponsored by the Kennett Underground Railroad Center (KURC) Saturday, May 21, 2016, 9:30 am—4:00 pm at the Mary Dod Brown Chapel at Lincoln University, 1570 Baltimore Pike, Chester County, Pennsylvania 19352. Attendance at the symposium is free.  However, if you wish to purchase lunch, we ask that you contact us at the email address or the phone number below.  The cost of the box lunch is $10.00,  reservations at info@kennettundergroundrr.org   or 484-734-0079.  

Hagley Museum and Library presents “From Main Street to the Mall, The Rise and Fall of the American Department Store” presented by Vicki Howard, Assoc. Professor of History , Hartwick College, Thursday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Soda House at Hagley Museum, Wilmington, DE. Admission is free and open to all. Reservations are requested; call (302) 658-2400, ext. 243 or email clockman@Hagley.org.  For access to the Soda House use Hagley’s Buck Road East entrance off Route 100 in Wilmington, Delaware. 

Bring the whole family out to Pottstown PA to welcome spring at Pottsgrove Manor's Annual Colonial May Fair. See something new and different at each year's fair. Enjoy a variety of 18th century entertainments, including magic shows, music, puppet theater, and the traditional dance around the colorful Maypole. There are games, contests, and activities for young visitors. Early American crafters give demonstrations of historic trades and sell their wares, and food vendors offer tasty treats. Cost: $2 per person suggested donation.

“Taverns, Taprooms and Tippling Houses” will be the theme of the May 21, 2016 A Day in Old New Castle.  A 92-year tradition of home and garden tours in New Castle, Delaware will be presented by the Community of the City of New Castle Saturday, May 21, 2016, 10 am to 5 pm For more information, please call (302) 322-5774 . “Taverns, Taprooms and Tippling Houses” will be the theme. In addition to tours of New Castle’s many historic homes and gardens, an exhibit  and related programs will help people rediscover the long-lost taverns of New Castle, and become acquainted with the establishments that continue to carry on the tradition of hospitality in New Castle today as well as the art and history of brewing. 

Agricultural Roots: How We Grew What We Grew, will be presented by Catherine Quillman at the annual  Kennett Township Historical Commission talk on May 19, 2016 at 7:00 P.M. at the  Kennett Township Building at 801 Burrows Run Rd., Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania 19317. For more information, call 610-388-1300.

Friday, May 20, 2016, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m  the Delaware Historical Society will hold an Untapped History: Game Night at the Delaware History Museum. Come to game night - a fun way to learn about the history of board games with a peek at some games from the Society's collection. Stay and play modern board games with fellow enthusiasts (21 years and older). Enjoy light snacks and beverages.  Click here for details and to register for this program.

Visit the Hale Byrnes House on May 14 for a program by the American Revolution Round Table of Northern Delaware-- “Black Patriots of the American Revolution” presented by Joe Becton. Well-behaved children always welcomed. $5 at the door includes coffee & dessert. Books available for signing & autographing. Hale Byrnes is located at 606 Stanton-Christiana Road, Newark, Delaware 19713.

The Chester County Historic Preservation Network has just issued its Spring Newsletter. I would be happy to send it to you, just click the email address. The website is currently being updated.

The Bayard Taylor Library in Kennett Square PA Home & Garden Day Tour will take place Saturday, June 4 from 10-4, rain or shine. “Chadds Ford and Beyond,” includes a mix of old houses and new ones, grand properties and cozy ones. You’ll enjoy a farmhouse built in 1844, a Brandywine Country estate, and collections from around the world. Tickets are available online.

The Woodlands and its cultural landscape will be discussed in a program presented by David Hewitt and Frank Sherlock on Tuesday, May 10th from 6:00PM - 8:00PM at The Woodlands, 4000 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19104. Tickets $10/person.  After their talk, Hewitt and Sherlock will lead the group on a tour of the grounds. Tour will be rain or shine, so come prepared in case of rain. Light refreshments will be served. If you are unfamiliar with this estate and cemetery in University City, Philadelphia, I highly recommend a visit either May 10 or some other time. The 18th C. house (in need of repair the last time I was there) is beautiful, and the grounds and cemetery have rare plants such as a Caucasian Zelkova tree!

Architectural Tours available: Lewes, Delaware has multiple architectural styles and building eras. An hour long tour introduces the historic district and various styles, plus homes of important historic personalities. From April 25 through the end of June, this tour will take place Mondays and Saturdays beginning at 1 p.m., and in July tours will increase.

Our historic home inventory has been seeing increased activity during April and several more sellers are working hard to get their homes on the market in May and June, so make sure you watch my website to keep current with the Older and Historic Homes presented by your Older and Historic Homes Resource, Carolyn Roland.