Evening journal., 1905-06-01
TO MARK SITE OF
FORT CASIMIR
u Unveiling of Monument to
Commemorate Occupancy
of Delaware by Dutch
PROMINENT PEOPLE TO ATTEND

10y IHt AulNn al ANHAf
The stone, which Is OF Brandywine
granite has been erected by the Della
wareSociety of Colonial Damesof which
Mrs Harry A. Miller, OF Wilmington
is president 1t Is two feet six inches
in height, two feet across the top and
one foot six inches I'm thickness. It Is
highly polished on the top, side and
face, while the lower part of the stone
Is IN the rough.
II is located at the Southeast Corner
OF Second and Chestnut streets. at a
point nearest the site Of the old fort.
THE INSCRIPTION.
Upon the monument is cut tho fol-
lowing inscription:
Fort Casimir
Was built by the Dutch
1861
and was recaptured by them from the
swedes
l655
Its site NOW les beneath the Delaware
$50 feet e. n. e. from this stone which
is erected by
The Delaware Society
Of the
Colonial DANES Of America,
1905
to commemorate the period OF
The Dutch occupation OF Delaware.
The address will be delivered by
Alexander b. Cooper, Esq, of New
Castle, a prominent member of the
New Castle county bar. who has pre-
pared an excellent pamphlet on the
early history OF New Castle.
Among those invited are the presi-
dents OF the Colonial Wars. Sons of the
Revolution. Daughters Of the Revolu-
tion. Daughters OF 1912 and the Histor-
deal Society.
Mrs. Herbert Augustus Claiborne, OF
Richmond. Va, James w. BcclQman anc
Robert Stuyvesant, Of New York. will
be guests OF honor. Mrs Claiborne Il
lthe national president of the Colonia
Danes Of America and will unveil th'
monument. During her visit to Della,
ware she will be the guest OF Mrs
Preston Lea, wife Of Governor Lea.
Mr. Bechman Is the governor OF tn
Society of Colonial Wars and Nj
lStuyvcsant viii represent the Hoilan.
Society Miss Edith Wharton of Phiia
delphia, the well known novelist. VIII
is the national historian. also win b
present.
will leave the +. b. a w. station a
8 o'clock this Afternoon and return afte
the ceremonies.
Besides the Colonial DANES there vii
be present representatives OF th
Society of the Cincinnati. members O
the Delaware Historical Society
} Daughters of the American Revolution
Society of 1872. Sons OF the American
cations.
Following the unveiling OF the monu
ment tea Will be served in the histor
Armory building. The dome of thl
building is the centre of the twelve mil
circle which caused so much litigation
between the States OF Delaware an,
New Jersey
The committee I'm charge Is composol
Of Mrs. Ferdinand L. Gilpin. Mis-
Emily p Bassell, Miss Alice Il. John
ston, Mrs. John II. Rodney, of New
, Castle; Mrs. Preston Lea, Mrs. Samue
Bancroft, Miss Anna Lea and Mrs
{ Charles r. Miller.
The Armory has been prettily decor
] ated in buff and blue, the colors of tn
Colonial Danes, by Lieutenant w.
= Meyers of Company II, N. G. D., NeN
! Castle. The stage IS draped wit
/, American flags and above the centr
, of II hangs the coat of arms of tn
society. The emblem is in the shap
of a shield and bears the following in
/ scription. "The Delaware Society Colon
A, ial Danes of America. 165s-1655-16s.
. Virtutes MajOrum Conservant," Gle
us preserve the good qualities of ou
elders.)
3 SKETCH OF FORT CASIAfIR.
5 The following are extracts from IN
pamphlet prepared by Mr.. Cooper an
= which gives a general history Of Fol
; Casimir.
''rhe precise spot on which Fort Cas-
= mir stood is a little obscure, althoug
C the boundaries Of the lot whereon
D was erected are certain. The writer fc
y a long time thought dt was located o
e Front street between Harmony an
Chestnut streets, but after a more car,
n ful examination ne has found an ol
q survey and plot which has caused hin
n to change his opinion.
e 1t was on the northeasterly side {
Y the town. ON the river front or STRAND
I as it then Mas called. 1t went into
% decay and ruin and was abandone
built by the Dutch at New Castle. ]
n 1870 or 1911. while the English were
n possession and after its destruction,
4 block house, to take its place for pui
poses Of defence, was ordered built fai
, ther in and toward the west of the tow
: This block house was built near the sill
!, of the Emmanuel Church and in IS
the people wanted it moved to a moi
central part OF the town, where the
also could have the court house an
J lprison, and IL was moved to a poir
at or near where the old court hou!
> now stands. The bell which now hans
: in the belfry Of the oldl court house va
presented in some way by Queen An
e of England.
I This court house was the identici
I one in which William Penn was 1--WE
Y coined with joy and given the liver
of seisin to the town and territory az
e joining on October 2S, 1852.
The fort was called Fort Casimir b
j. the Dutch after John Casimir. Priny
e Palentine OF the Rhine. 1t was calle
! Fort Trinity while the Swedes occupis
= Ii. having ben captured on Trinity Sun
= day, and Fort Amstel by the Dutl
when retal1en by them. Under the SUI
q sequent English rule. the town was cal
Gcontinued on Fifth Page)