Milford chronicle., 1931-01-16

vested in Caesar Rodney, Charles
Ridgely, Samuel Chew, William Kill
len and Jacob Stout as trustees. In
1776 the treasurer paid Caesar Rod
ney out of the county funds "for
building Court House 800 pounds"
4 Not long thereafter, the portrait
of George III was torn from the
wall, and burned with appropriate
/ ceremonies. Caesar Rodney led the
group of jealous citizens and pro-
nOunced the following words: Com
PEELED by necessity, thus we destroy
even the shadow of that king who
refused to reign over a free people"
When the legislature ceased to
meet at New Castle, and Dover
was made the capital in 1777, the
building was put to the service of
the State and the county, but prov
ed too small to house the courts and
the assembly. When larger quarters
were needed for these two bodies,
the legislature passed an act deVot-
ing all tavern and marriage license
receipts to the building fund. The
legislature of 1889 passed a bill
providing for the raising of 1000
pounds by lottery, when the States
quarters were needed.
In November, 1890, a bill was pre-
sented for labor and materials by |
Eleazer McCOmb and Nehemiah Til |
ton which ran over a period of |
years and amounted to 1000 pounds,
or about $4,000. 1t is interesting to
note that at that time, brick work.
ers received less than Sc q month
for their services, and lumber was
sold for $40 per 1000 feet.
Trouble soon arose between the
Levy Court of Kent and the Assem-
bly, of Delaware. Although many
quarrels ensued and there were hu-
morous and dramatic occurrences,
the building was used by both
groups until 1873, at which time the
General Assembly bought in Kent
county's interest in the building for
$4,000. The State Immediately de-
stroyed the beautiful details which
adorned the building. The Palladian
window was removed, the exquisite
stairway was torn out, the beautiful
.ower demolished, and clumsy and
irrelevant details were added
New Wing Authorized
In 1909 it was necessary for the {
legislature to authorize the build
ng of a new wing and to make
,ther necessary changes in the old {
because the business of the {
State had Outgrown its old quarters.
A committee was formed at this ]
ime of interested citizens to work
or the restoration of the historic
Although the legislature t
opposed these plans when c
they consented to COM {
The old State House was !
reserved, the old mansion, south of
he State House which the other S
ommittee wished to preserve, was c
estroyed,, the facade was restored, A
nd a new south wing was built
he group of citizens wished to as S
ume the full cost of the alterations, /
ut the legislature of 1911 author S
led the addition expenses.
Those who were active in bring t
ne about the restoration passed to il
future generation the happy duty d
making this building again beau
ful within and without. C
OF the many historic dates with F
lhich this, building is associated, J
nat which stands out above the rest e
!; December Z, 1887, when it housed
lie Representatives who ratified the S
giving Delaware her Il
eniority and present standing as 7
le First State. @ra
Many Delawareans believe that s,
lie fabric of the old building is S
recious, because it was not built in ii
ne year, nor at one period, and be-
luse the history and the life of the o.
eOple were knit into it. There is no A
1idence of grandeur and the build CT
lg is not large, but it is a fair G.
ructure, soundly built, appropri- ci
e and dignifed. CT