Evening journal., 1905-06-02
FORT CASIMIR SITE WAS
APPROPRIATELY MARKED
SOCIETY OF COLONIAL DANES COMMEMO-
Rate THE OCCUPANCY OF DELAWARE
BY THE DUTCH BY RAISING A ME-
MORTAL STONE AT NEW CASTLE

New Castle was the mecca for mem
bers Of the Society of Colonial Danes.
representatives of the Order Sons Of
the Revolution. Daughters of 1912 and
the Historical Society Of Delaware, and
many prominent citizens. the event be-
ing the unveiling and dedication of a
monument to commemorate the occu-
pancy OF Fort Casimir by the Dutch
in 1851.
The day was beautiful and the his
toric old town presented "A pretty APP
pearance nesting along the banks of
the Delaware and clad in the foliage
of late spring. The large party OF
| visitors left Wilmington on a special
/ train at 3 o'clock arriving az the
Battery" New Castle, half hour
later. There they were met by the To-
ical members Of the society and escort
ed to Second and Chestnut streets
within a stones throw of the river
where the handsome Brandywine gram
lie stone which is to mark the site Of
Fort Casimir stood draped with the
/ American flag and the colors of the
society.
The ceremonies of unveiling were be-
gun when Mrs Charles r. Miller
president OF the Delaware branch OF
the society. mounted a platform and
said:
I'VE are now on the site Of Fort Cas-
/ imir. 1t is not altogether unfamiliar
to many here assembled. On this site
4 we have erected a testimonial to coU-
memorate the occupancy of Delaware
/ by the Dutch. The society which
represent has three seals. Of the date
| of 1898. 1855 and 1852. The society
has planted three great national en-
blems. Two years ago the society
marked the landing of the Swedes with
"a suitable monument I'm Wilmington,
and l hope that the occasion will soon
! take place when we shall mark the
landing of the English In 1888. when
Penn landed. 1t now gives me great
I pleasure to introduce Mr.. Alexander B.
Cooper. To many Of you he needs no
introduction. He is a gentleman suit
ed to the occasion. a gentleman well
versed in the historical lore Of Della
ware"
MR.. COOPER'S ADDRESS.
Mr.. Cooper then took his place on
the platform and began what proved
to be one Of the most interesting and
best delivered historical addresses that
liz has ever been the pleasure Of his
hearers to listen to.
He said in full: Mrs. Miller
thank you for your kind words Of in
PRODUCTION.
Members OF the Delaware Society Of Tho
Colonial Danes of America.
Ladies and Gentlemen. My thanks are
L FIRST due to the Colonial Danes for theii
1 kind Invitation to be present today, ant
TO participate in the patriotic exercises o
this occasion. assure them the distin
gulshed honor which they have thus be
slowed upon me is gratefully appreciated
and I am here in response TO their invi
tation (as best / may) TO lend a wlllinl
and helping hand in the laudable ant
noble work in which they are engaged
IN permanently and suitably marking al
honored and vcnerated spot in the earl.
history of our State and nation.
The Colonial Danes Of Delaware with
in whose jurisdiction it is) have erecte'
and are about to unveil monument o
memorial stone (on the southerly corne
of Market and Chestnut SITS. in this city
in commemoration Of the occupancy b.
the Dutch Of the territory on the western
side of the Delaware river-by the build
ing OF Fort Casimir 1t can scarcely b
conceived. yet it is true. that carly an'
important part Of the history Of thi
great country of ours grew out Of tn
building of this old fort. Washington
Irving has written I'm a serio-comic veii
Chumorously, yet truthfully) that many
of the subsequent and vital events in thl
history Of this country, as we'll as thos
of European countries, can be trace
back to their origin in the building O
little Fort Casimir on the western shor
of the Delaware river
It's, story in detail would be too long an'
too tedious for an occasion like the pres
ent. shall therefore conhne myself L
a brief outline Of it's location and history
Fort Casimir was built by Peter StuN
vestant, the Dutch Director-General o
the whole Of the New Netherlands. in tn
year 1861. and I feel Justified in saying
in the month of June. indeed am so firm
in this belief that I do not think 1t at al
improbable that on this very day Of III
month 25l years ago, and at this yer!
hour. busy hands were busily working
upon its construction.
The causes which inspired its erection
may be briefly stated. In 1922 or 162'
by the authority of its charter. Tn
Dutch West India Company took pos
session Of the entire New Netherlan'
country, which included all the territor.
lying on both sides Of the South tnoV
Delawarel river. It's central government
was at New Amsterdam IN. ". In l62
the Dutch built Fort Nassau Gloucester
n. J) Subsequently under the charter o
the Swedish West India Company an eN
pedition Of swedes for the purposes o
trade and commerce, under the director
ship of Peter Mnuet arrived in tn
spring Of $685. and landed on the northern
shore Of Minqua Creek, as it was thei
called, but afterwards called by III
Swedes Christina Creek, in honor Of thei
young sovereign. It is now called Chris
tiana river. A short distance from IL
mouth they built a fort and still furthe
honoring their queen, named II For
Christina, CWilmington)
Thus they obtained n substantial foot
hold on the soil claimed by the Dutch
The Dutch had no fortihcations on th
side Of the river at that time. The
therefor became alarmed and apprehen
sive Of this TO them) Unauthorized en-
croachment OF the Swedes. Their force
at Fort Nassau were too weak and IN
sufficient to dispossess them. But after
few years Of protest the intrepid, coura
geous. headstrong and self-willed Dutc
Governor. Stuyvosant "ever ready {
r.r.,a atsar From No,