Let's Celebrate Delaware Day!

Since 1933, the governors of Delaware have proclaimed December 7 as Delaware Day in honor of that day in 1787, when Delaware became the first state to ratify the Federal Constitution, thus making Delaware the first state in the New Nation.

The Delaware signers of the Constitution were:

George Read (1733-1798)                    

Gunning Bedford, Jr. (1747-1812)

John Dickinson (1732-1808)

Richard Bassett ( 1745-1815)

Jacob Broom (1752-1810)

Thanks to the efforts of a wise Delaware educator and legislator, Mr. E. Paul Burkholder along with the Rotary Club of Georgetown, a statewide effort was made in 1933 to have December 7 established as Delaware Day. He and this Rotary Club secured more than 6,000 signatures on petitions, which were presented to the Governor and to the legislature. As a result, a House Joint Resolution was passed and approved on November 29, 1933. The first Delaware Day celebration was held December 7, 1933, by proclamation of Governor C. Douglass Buck.

This day in history has been presented to you by Carolyn Roland, your Delaware Older and Historic Homes Specialist.