Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-31
STORY OF DELAM ERE PLACE
THE BISTORIr ON MANSION IN
THE WESTERN sUBURB.
HOME OF SECRETARY BAYARD
REBITTBD FOR tn Il RECEPTION OF
ITS OWHER'5 BRIDB.
a Brilliant Washington Lady win
Soon Preside Over the stately NAM
siOn-Built by Col. Davis and Inc
Home of Myra CLARK Gaines

q
TINES on Sunday gives the following In
seressing sketch OF DelameEo Place;
The marriage of ex-seeretary of State
Themes F. Bsyard to Miss Mary W.
Clymer Of Washington, is announced by
authority to take place at the home of
the bsida on Ihntsday, November h,
and after the wedding tour the bride and
groom will take up their residence at
DelsMere Place, the charming homestead
now occupied BY MIR, Baysrd and his
family in this city.
Deiamere Place Is mot only an ideal
suburban residence, but it is famous by
reason of its personal and historical ASSOC
Citations. It ia large roomy manson,
with spacious surroundings and eet in the
midst Of q charming grove of stately
6sees. Originally it was the centre OF q
considerable tract of farm and wood
land, but the advance of the city cur
sailed the dimensions Of the property.
and it now comprises square bounded
by Clayton, BEoome, Linden and Maple
streets, the ample grounds affording
plenty Of room for stable, carriage house
and other accessories. The house faces
the east, with high steps and portico
'eaching to the roof and supported by
massive pillars. From here is obtained a
magnificent view of the entire city, with
Che broad Delaware In the distance. From
this commanding portico Mr.. Bsyard, il
the gray dawn Of the morning following
the Presidential election Of 1876, adj
dressed an immense throng Of his fellow
citizens who swarmed over the extensive
lawn and called him from his slumbers to
rejoice with them In their firm belief that
Samuel j. Tiden had been elected Presi.
dent OF the United States.
1t was on account of the grand sweep
of vision over city and river that ths
founder of DeIamere Place bestowed this
name upon 1t when he erected tine stately
structure that is now the Baysrd home
The east front has been seldom used OF
late years, as the advance of city streets
on all sides has rendered the other
bounds Of the tract more easy OF access,
and door in the west front, under u
aheltering portieo, has become, by prso.
teal use, the main entrance. From door
to door extends wide hallway Of the
kind that marked the generous oharac.
teristics of old-time architecture. On one
side are the library and drawing room
and on the other the parlor. Through
out the house the rooms are large and
comfortable, while the improvements
made by the. present owner have added
the many modern oonveniences which
were unknown to home life when Della
mere Place was built. In the southwest
corner Is an apartment used by Mr.
Bayard as an office, end where much OF
his time is spent " len at home. Adioin,
ing Is the library, which he recently
enlarged by irtllH7g within its limits
the major portion u o wide portioo that
extended along the south front of the
dwelling.
Delamsre Place dates back to 1920,
when II was erected by Colonel Samuel
b. Davis, famous Delawsrean, who was
horn in the town of Lewes in 17GG. He
Was ieutenant-colonel in the Forty,
fourth United states Infantry during the
second war with Great Britain, and while
marching through Wilmington with his
regiment encnmped for the night on the
hill to the west OF the city. SO entranoed
was he with the beauty of the location
that On his retirement from the army, il
1919, he purchased the tract, erected the
imposing dwelling, and bestowed upor
his home the appropriate and eupnonioat
name which has chung to it ever since
Here Colonel Davis spent his summers
going south during the winters in ofdel
to attend to several plantations Of which
ests in New Orleans, in which he WIS az
sociated with Daniel CLARK. IL was hi
connection with CLARK that subsequent,
associated him in one Of the most mar
yelous instances Of protrSc ad litigation
ever known in this or any other country
Finally no disposed OF his southern busi
mesa affairs, and af or brief residenc
N Phi ieIphia, during which tins Il
was elected TO the legislature ia 49,
1882, 1888, and was defeated for Coz
grass in 1884, he returned TO Delawal
and settled permanently ct Dalamel
Place.
Col. Davis wnB a strikinyiy handson
Fan, tail and of magnificent proportion
Ead his portraits ia military uniform
resent him IS the model 7oidltr OF /.
Old regime. He was iiefy Jackar
Democrat, and his active interest j ucl
tics made him one OF the leaders Of II
Delaware Democracy, SO that 10 was
familiar fi2rra At She nation convention
Of the parry and q standing Dame lrat
nominee for Prs 9idential electcr in Il
shen atsunGh l,;tle Wig State. Thoul
Of g !9eful and coGrteous bearing,
was of . tiesce'v passionate nature,
there is q trad IN thRt one Of Lis violh
ebullitiIns OF temper was the cause
starting Myra CLARK Gaines upon L
wonderful legal battle for the possesii
Of millions OF dollars worth CT psope,
In the city OF New Orleans
As MYra Davis, Mysa C,ark Gair
passed her ri-lhood day. At Delatn'
Place she vas tho ward of Color
Davis, but var raised AZ his anght
and sneW mot TO the contrary until, il
at Of anger ore day, he declared to
chat he was nc h.. father aui wa al
OF it. II WIS t.is remark that put her
thin King, aud the possession Of &c
papers that she subsequently procul
fIum hsr gua-dian'a desk led her to
lisya That ste wai Daniel ClRiEs d1u
ter aud entitled to his valuable posI
eipnR. From Dslamera Place she
one dR:s aud stormy light and AZ
taking rsfuge at tue house OF Nicho
williamson, then the worthy mayor
shs little city, went 70 New CASTLE
next morning and there met yoI
Whitnr government engineer, y
whom SOS wa Infatuated, aud the t.
were Immediately married, Az n
Whitney she started her famous lit
sion, bat Whitney died and q second
band was a..o buried before tile Aigt
judicial tribunal IN the conntry ssi
lished the validity of her clsim
Colonel Davis died September
1SJt,spi an imposing monument marks
grave and commentaries his public
Woes, in tie Wilmington Rn1 Brandy
cemetery in this city. Delanete ]
became the property OF his son,
ware Davis, who resided there for sev
wears and then moved 70 Virginia, vi