July 2016 Historic Homes E-Newsletter

First of all, if you are wondering where to celebrate July 4 in Delaware, check out Delaware Today’s list. Then, in Dover, the First State Heritage Park is celebrating July 4 Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. There will be walking tours, children’s games, a film about Caesar Rodney’s historic ride for independence at the Old State House, and the National Bell Ringing at 2 on the Fourth.

The Bells will also be rung at Immanuel Church on the Green in Old New Castle at the same time.

A big celebration is being planned on the Wilmington waterfront in Tubman-Garrett Park starting at 3 on the Fourth, complete with fireworks at dusk.

Enrollment is open for Winterthur’s decorative arts Institute in September. This is for serious students and uses the museum’s collections for study. 

After 10 years, Fort Christina has re-opened. Due to safety/security concerns and financial resource constraints, the landmark had been padlocked and closed to the public for over 10 years and had only been open for special events. In December 2014, this historic site became one of seven components of the First State National Historical Park. With its re-opening for the summer of 2016, one of the cornerstones of Delaware history is again accessible. It is open to the public every Tuesday-Saturday from 10-4.  The park memorializes the landing of the Swedes in 1638 and the establishment of New Sweden. (It also brings back the memory of taking my boys to hear the Hooters to a summer concert in the park with bats flying from tree to tree at dusk.)

Fun events at the Hale-Byrnes House in Stanton in July include Sat. July 16, 2016 from 4:30-6 p.m. Bring your kids to meet Ben Franklin (featuring Mike Kochin) and see his science experiments! $5 per family includes  a make your own Ice Cream Sundaes event! For those wishing to stay for the evening Round Table, you can join the covered dish dinner, just bring a dish to share. Then, from 7:300-9:30, the American Revolution Round Table of Northern Delaware presents Learning About Ben Franklin with Bob Stark. $5 at the door includes coffee & dessert.

Also at Hale-Byrnes on Sun. July 17, 2016 from 4-6 p.m. the This Place Matters: Preservation 50 Speakers' Series presents "Newark's Woolen Mills" with Syl Woolford. $5 at the door includes coffee & dessert.

Wednesday, July 13 at 7 p.m., the New Castle Court House Museum, located at 211 Delaware St. in historic downtown New Castle, will present “1776—Independence Declared,” a lecture by historic-site interpreter Bob Vander Decker. The lecture is part seven of “The Founding of America in One Year,” a year-long series that examines important local and national events that led to the founding of the United States.

Another State sponsored event will be Saturday, July 23, 2016, “Movie Night on the Lawn.” Screening of the film “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” plus live music, food trucks, outdoor activities and a photo booth. Buena Vista Conference Center, 661 S. Dupont Highway (Route 13), New Castle. 6–10 p.m. Admission $3 per person. 302-323-4430.

And don’t miss through mid-April, 2017 “The Old State House: A True Restoration 1976-2016.” The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. This display explores preservation work that has been conducted since Delaware’s first state capitol building was restored to its original appearance in 1976(exciting--I was there the day they cut the ribbon!).  

Please join Joe DiBello and Julie Bell of the National Park Service Monday July 18 at 1-3 PM at the Darley House, Darley Rd. and Philadelphia Pike (U.S. 13), Claymont, DE for the third workshop for Delaware's section of the nine state W3R-National Historic Trail. In 1781, General Rochambeau’s French Army joined forces with General Washington’s Continental Army to fight the British Army in Yorktown, Virginia. With the French Navy in support, the allied armies moved hundreds of miles to become the largest troop movement of the American Revolution. The effort and cooperation between the two sides led to a victory at Yorktown and secured American independence. Read more about this project. National Chairman Emerita is Kim Burdick.

Historic homes in the news: If you have been following that great Queen Anne in North Wilmington, the Chambers Mansion is currently under contract!  And for reallly big news, we have a new 18th C listing and from the research so far, ownership goes back to the Janvier family of New Castle. Once called "Rolling Prairie," the property was a neighbor to the old Bear Tavern (from which Bear Delaware got its name.) 5 Lake Drive is on a small lake and from the water table and brick belt courses on the outside to the beehive oven inside, it's quite an impressive property, and in move-in condition. Also on the current menu is the W. G. Phillips house in the Greenbank Historic Area. With 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths, plus original fireplaces, this immaculate home is a showplace. Our last featured property is 200 N. Cass St. in Middletown, Delaware. With 4 bedrooms, pine floors and 10'+ ceilings, this large and gracious 1850's home is the oldest on the street, which is part of a historic district. This makes it eligible for State grants and tax credits for future repairs.

Don't forget: for Historic Homes in New Castle and Kent Counties in Delaware and Southern Chester County, Carolyn Roland is Your Historic Homes Resource.