Evening journal., 1922-01-17
WOULD EXTEND
new boulevard
Holmes Jones Wants Church
And Bennett Streets
Merged Into One
SUGGESTS NAME OF
GOV. PRINTZ HIGHWAY

homes Jones TINS Hofhihb a.
meeting OF the Street and Sewer
Directors suggested the name Gov
ernor Printz Highway for the pro-
posed Ninth ward boulevard, sug-
gested that Church and Bennett
streets be united into one as con-
tinuation OF the boulevard from the
Brandywine to Fourth street, and
offered a block OF land facing the
Brandywine to the city as gift
providing the Street and Sewer Di-
rectors commit themselves to the
project he outlined within 80 days.
Mr.. Jones submitted the following
letter;
Wilmington, Del,
Jan. II. 1922.
street and Sewer Department,
"City Hall.
Wilmington, Delaware.
"Gentlemen-There Is not the
slightest doubt. in the minds OF
anyone who will study what the
Street and Sewer Department and
the Mayor have done. in laying
down the boulevard (to be named
1ater), and now proposed TO be
called the Governor Printz High
way that you are wisely remalking
the map OF Wilmington, and that
this city will lnaugurate the fourth
century since the first charter was
given (1626) 20 colonize in the pres
ent State OF Delaware (and Penn
sylvania) by the completion OF the
greatest civic project Wilmington
has ever undertaken. There is no
secret now that 1t will presently be
the industrial highway to Philadel-
phia.
THE work will not be completed
until IL is extended from Fourth
street TO the Brandywine river; and
you are urged to meld Church street
and Bennett streets into one. making
them and the intervening blocks q
real industrial highway II will be
pitifully small way OF erecting a
monument 10 the stout hearts OF ths
courageous Swedes who finally. In
1888, landed a few feet easterly OF
the southerly terminus (essenfia
both from the traffic and Industrial
viewpoint Of the Governor Print,
Highway extended as suggested
There the Swedes maintained their
identity and the village governmen
Of Christinehann between tn,
Landing Rocks and Church street,
for one hundred years.
Ninety-seven years later. william
shipley settled in wellington, located
between French and Shipley streets
Fourth and Water streets. and with
In three years Shipley had unite,
Christinehann and Wnlingtown
into the Borough OF Wilmington il
1899.
"One hundred years later tn,
borough government was outgrowr
and the legislature gave Wilmington
It's first city charter It's norma
growth has brought into existence
municipality with many civic advan
lages-and room for more.
The extension suggested mean,
taking nine city blocks The north
erly one. facing the Brandywin,
river, is mine; II is my pleasure {,
Dffer IL TO The Mayor and Council o
Wilmington, as a gift, conditioned
npon this department committing
the city to this project within thirt!
days.
Very truly yours.
HOLMES JONES"
In advocating the name Cover
nor Printz Highway" for the pro
posed boulevard. Mr.. Jones said Il
part:
Thomas willing Balch. a vice
president OF the Historical Societ
OF Pennsylvania. has published
booklet THE Cradle OF Pennsy1
vania." the object OF which is I
name the main highway from Wi
mington 10 Philadelphia in honor q
Governor Johan Printz, the hrs
Swedish Governor in America. Il
also planned TO secure the tw
Tinicum Islands, just south OF Ho
Island in the Delaware River; tur
those patches OF land into a publ
park. to be named after GovernC
printz.
THE Swedish settlers touche
American shores first at a poii
near Lewes; but the low, marsh
reaches were so utterly differer
from their beloved Sweden th'
they turned into the waterway gi'
ing access thereto. and using n
Landing Rocks" quickly built
fort. a storehouse and a church.
1888.
They were without Governo
and were frequent in their losses, Z
Judge Conrad speaks OF them
"skin games" when the Indial
passed the select hides to the Dutc
from the north and the Englis