Daily Republican., 1880-01-28
BROOsI srREET.
The Phropheiic BoaIevard of
Fashion what II Has Been I'm
the Past-EOme Historic Remint.
seeuce-A Leaf from tine NattooaI
Romance - Tho ThorOughfa
Prnanarss

| Neeuce-A Lear from tn0 ~ ntnOOa
R0mAnc Tho ThoF0ug b fase'l
Prospects.
The improvements that are beipJ
made ON Broom street indicate the fac
that 1t Is destined at no future day L
be la rue de la vile. It's elevated posi-
tion secures Advantage usly a health,
atmosphere and prospect as full 0
grandeur as the heart Of the most as
thetio could wish, and soon we will 30
the ridge lined with magnificent resi-
dences and the thoroughfare re. schoin1
the quickening sounds Of the teams o
the wealthy. For a century back wha
Is now Broom street has reared distin
CUES by the score. A record Of i'll
past proprietors is not only local bu
is Of national import.
SOME RRMIEIsGENcRs.
Broom street Ia named after James N
Broom, ESQ.,, who having erected tn
mansion which stands back from tn
street, known as Tusculum, after Cice
ro's famous villa, lived here and wa
Dslaware's representative in framing th'
constitution OF the United States. Tus
culum now occupied by DR.. Read J. Nj
Kay, was purchased by DR.. Martin, an
adopted son OF DR.. 7. Reed, the frs
Presbyterian Missionary in the lowel
counties Of Delaware.
Just previous to the removal Of tht
National Capitol to Washington, tn,
q uestion OF securing an eligible site
agitated the members. The next ia
vorable spot reported to Congress was
that on the highest elevation ON Broom
street, then known as Judge Ways
property. From the top OF this hill the
view is fine one, 30 geographically
situated that with ease the eye can
take in the borders Of four Of the most
important states in the Union. The
spot for its natural fitness recommend.
ed itself to Congress, but unfortunately
for Wilmington, the influence OF Gen.
eral Washington was thrown in opposi.
tion, and the measure was lost by one
vote, thus deciding in favor site
along the Potomac.
Judge Way who offered to give the
property to Congress, iss Of the family
Of Edward L. Rice, architect of this
city. He lived in large yellow house
back from what was continuation ofthe
Old Kings Highway known az Lovers
Avenue. 1t was grand old structure
whose walls, for the surrounding copse
and overhanging oedars, were never
pierced by sunray. 1t had massive
columns, old and ivy covered, and the
general style was that of Elizabethan
architecture.
After the Judges death the property
was sold and the old structure was torn
down and the large Norris mansion was
erected Just above.
Below the Norris property now occu-
pied by Joseph Hart is Bellevue, prim-
itively known as Federal Hill, now
owned by Charles W. Rowland. 1t
was early the residence of DR.. James
Tilton, Of whom it was stated that he
was so patriotic that he would wear
nothing but home made fabric, even in
the halls of the nation. During the
war Of 1872 he was United States Sur
geon General, and was also surgeon
during the revolution. He was also a
of Congress. One day it is re-
lated while in Washington he dined
with President Madison.
1t was q state occasion, and all the
officials were dressed in the most con-
ventional costumes. "Why Doctor"
said they, "you dent seem to feel the
heat" was the remark made to him,
''Neither would you'd you, If you were
dressed as you should be " said he
tossing up the tail of his coarse linen
coat. This radical spirit on his part
arose from his belief that Americans
should wear material OF their own
rather than depend upon
.he imports from hostile nation.
Opposite Cool Spring Reservoir, is On
I'D stone house, called in the early
lays of this century "Cool Spring"
rom which, in connection with the cool
'pots from which the borough formerly
obtained its water, the name of our
arge reservoir is taken. This house
vas the country seat of Cesar A. Rod
ley, Esq, a nephew of the Cesar who
igned the Declaration of Independence.
dr. Rodney was member Of Congress,
md was United States Attorney Gener-
il. He was entrusted with several
lelicate commissions for the govern
nent, the last of which was as min
ster to Buenos Ayres in which position
le died. He was Attorney General
Vhen Aaron Burr was arraigned for high
reason. The residence is yet in the
possession of the Rodneys, and is on
Broom street, the only land mark: stand
ng as a head stone over dead gener-
tiop.
On Broom street lived John Dickin-
on, author of the famous "Farmer's
,etters," whose sentiments it is said
i'd much towards prscipitating the
'ar of 1872. He afterwards became
Governor of Delaware.
Opposite the aims house was the es I
ats of Hannah stalcup, the descend ant .
q wealthy Swede, whose name ap.
ears on many of the old title deeds Of
ur best families. Hannah was rich,
cry rich, and being Of a weak intel ,
'ct, her riches turned her brain and :
40 became demented. Part of her
roperty came into the possession of
ev. S. M. Galley, Presbyterian min
ter, who started a classical school.
hich was the means of turning s
ut some of the most eminent thsolo. q
ans. II was and Is now called Man o
Ia but the property is now occupied L
! the handsome residence of Mr.. Phil. Y
} Plunkett. II
Delamors Place with long sloping u
wn is here, once the home of the "
'autiful and cultured Myra Clark, now
,aur auaeuwhar Muo hx.. rlnsJ-