Middletown transcript., 1868-01-18
Middletown in the Past and Present

~ ASto~Avh W shC P"se hiocoiy Va Oiiuoic-
town. from which it will be seen that it is
one Of the Oldest towns in the State:
The ancient village of Middlctown we
shall class as the Oldest town in the State,
or indeed upon the peninsula, unless it is
shown by record TO the contrary. The
plat and description of Middletown, which
we have examined, bearing date, 1878,
four years before the coming of William |
Penn, but which up to 1916, ranked but |
little higher than common Delaware |
cross roads, most Of the land on which the
town stands having been purchased for
ten dollars per acre. We have abundant
evidence Of its having been quite busi-
ness place for many branches Of business
long since extinct, such as the remains of
an old brewery; and at least two, If not
three, tanneries. A large brick bark
house Of one Of them still stands, and is
occupied as barn by VIM. Green, ESQ.
one Of the largest proprietors of the plot Of
the town. Wheclwrighting, too, was ex-
tcnsiyely carried on, as early as the begin
ming Of this century. The writer of this
recollects having come up as early as 1901
from near Duck Greek Cross Roads, now
Smyrna, for pair Of cart wheels, the fell
loes Of which were stipulated to be made
Of peach oak, because il held the nails of
the streaked tires better than other wood.
The word streaked perhaps needs some
explanation, for It has become obsolete in
the sense in which it is here used. The
tires were not then made, as now, in one
piece, but in two or more narrow iron
strips running round the wheel, and hence
called streaked tires.
From 1916 the town gradually increased
till 1850. at which time, as shown by the
census. it contained population of 368.
In 1860 the population had increased to
523, and at this time it is little If any
short of one thousand. Thus it will be
seen that the town is rapidly increasing in
population, and enlarging her boundaries,
there having been fourteen dwellings, built
during the past year, besides large chap
el for the parish Of st. AIMS, with pros
pect Of twice as many dwellings in the
present year.
OF the public buildings we may notice
two very handsome and commodious brick
churches, and another within mile of the
corporate limits Of the town. The Meth
odist Church was built some eighteen or
twenty years ago. The Presbyterian,
called the Forest Presbyterian Church,
was built by the congregation Tor those
who were left Of them) which formerly
woFshipped ct the old Forest Church,
which was erected in 1850, and stood
shout one mile north of where the new
Church now stands, and was erected in
1850, just one hundred years after the
original Church was built. OF the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church, St. AIMS, the
memory of man runneth back not faI
enough to approximate the date of its
erection. The writer, however. holds g
paper which seems to be receipt for 9
package of lottery tickets sold for the ben.
eft Of St. AIMS Episcopal Church. The
receipt is written and signed by Johr
Jones. which together with the style o
the edi6ce would justify us in the belle
that one Of It's additions was built not lonl
before, or soon after the Revolution, sa,
about the year 1776.
Next in importance to the Churches ar,
the School Houses. In all our village
which covers one mile in length and half
mile in breadth, we have but one Distric
School House, badly constructed and di
lapidated at that, quite disgrace TO tn
community it is intended to serve. w
have two other Schools-one kept by Mis-
Maxwell. the other by Miss Walker; be
sides the Academy. now kept by Mr.. ]. Z
Newman. The building is cOmmodiou
edifce. controlled by Trustees, who re
ceived their charter soon after 1920. Thi
corporation has Q larger and healthier cas-
endowment than any school In the STATE
outside Of the limits Of Wilmington an
New Castle.
OF the business men Of Middletown, v
mention--Grain and Lime Dealers, HUI
lock q Cochran; Grain, Lime and Goa
Il. 7. Evans; Grain, Jesse Lake; all
the depot. Restaurant, Richard Il. Smitl
Restaurant and Confectionery, Henry Fo
ter. Hotels--Middletown, L. r. Davi
National, j. E. Lippincott. Lumbe
Coal, &c. j. B. Fenimore & Co. Depo
Builders and Carpenters, w. j. HI. Ling
N. French, j. Morrison; Agent Adam
Express, and Book, Stationery and Varie
Store, ID. L. Danning; Stove and I
Ware, 8. w. Roberts; Photographs, J.l
Horning; Dentists. j. Chamberlain, J
rome Hopkins. j. j. Vanderford: Go
fsctionery and Bakery, j. b. DeakyI
Post Office and Stationery, J. z. CIRQUE
Boots and Shoes. Hiram Deal. Dav
Mckee, ]. Ernest, p. Denning; Foundr
w. L. Buckle & Son; Blacksmiths a
Wheelwrights, Joseph Hill, Culbertscn
Elliason; Merchants, John A. Reynol
4 Sons. Scowdrick q Moore, Walker
Gary. Charles Tatman, Naudain Il BI
Druggists, w. H. Barr, II. r.. Chamb,
lain; Clothing Store and Tailors, Clayt
Whildes, Thos. e. Hurn; Mantuamak
Miss A. Street; Millinery and Trimminl
Miss Howell, Miss Arthurs, Miss s.
Hatch. Miss II Cannon; Painting and ]
per Hanging, r. Taroni, j. W. Maker
Painter and Brick Layer, George Fost
Plastercr, A. Green; Plasterer and Br