Milford chronicle., 1932-06-10

OPEN HOUSE DAY
AT new CASTLE
Like An Illustrated Page
Torn From Delaware
History.

1
What is more interesting, to low
er of Delaware history, than to see
all the historic things and houses
that have been treasured by the de-
cendants of some of our earliest
Delaware families? Only once a
year for the benefit of the Episcopal
Church are people allowed to view
the many quaint and beautiful bits
of colonial furniture, old costumes,
original manuscripts, and other
charming things that are to be
found at New Castle
And what could begin such "a day
better than eating dinner at the old
Court House? The Court House, as
we all know, is the center from
which the arc forming the northern
boundary of our state is drawn. But
that is not all. 1t is the oldest Court
House in the country, having been
built in 1852. On the very platform,
by which we sat, VIM. Penn received
turf, twig, and water as a sign that
he owned Delaware. Here, too, the
OOAOiAlul ulGL uHLlI IL 20
and all courts convened until 1882.
The first house that we visited was
the residence of Newlin T. Booth.
This house, erected by U. S. Senator
Van Dyke, in 1897, still holds much
of colonial charm. The woodwork
and an old mantle attracted us the
most. In one wing of the house old
paper and pictures were displayed.
One picture, lady pointed out with
pride and told us it was the home of
her grandfather, although, she add
ed, that she never seen It. Here we
were ahead of her for we see the
house almost very day. Yes, you
have guessed correctly The house
was the Holland House and her
grandfather was Governor Rogers.
While we were admiring the papers
and viewing piece of hair from the
head of Washington, quaint colon
ial dame (many of the people were
in costume) struck up the Star
Spangled Banner OF course this
gave us very patriotic feeling.
From this house we went to an
other Van Dyke house erected in
1920. In this house General Lafay-
cite gave Miss DOrcas Van Dyke in
marriage to Charles l. du POnt. I'm
der the beautiful arch, on the very
spot where the ceremony took place,
we listened to charming colonial
dame, describe the wedding.
Quite different from the beautiful
thoughts of the wedding, but quite as
interesting was the next place we
visited. Here, in a house built in
1881 by Chief Justice Kensey Johns,
was an Old-fashioned pitcher. We
were greeted by a typical negro
nanny and were shown the old ket-
ties, tile old oven and an old table.
The negro was careful to explain
that she surely would hate to cook |
in such kitchen.
The next interesting place was the |
home of Judge Richard Rodney. The |
charming home, erected in 1881 by |
George Rodney. contains many old |
papers of the Revolutionary period |
and several portraits of Rembrant |
Peale. Probably the most interesting |
thing was a sheet of coupons. These |
were marked / shilling, and |
we were told. were used for money.
Most of the papers were very hard
to read, but Judge Rodney seemed to
be able to make them out. One letter,
he told us, was a receipt from Sam
uel Adams for money sent by Della
ware for the relief of Boston. An
other was a letter from Mexican to
The Delaware troops. Well. to really
see all these things would take
but we wanted to visited
lther places so had to leave, but
not before we had met the Judge
md his wife.
At the next place was an exhibit
If old shawls and baby dresses. Miss
Barker just fell in love with several
I'D shawls and we had trouble in
getting her to leave. The baby
lresses were very funny. in fact it
was hard to imagine little baby
lressed in any such a fashion.
The old academy building, used
Until recently for school, was the
leXt place listed on our guide sheet.
'he old building, built in 1899 was
ull of old dresses. The wedding
ress of Sara Duval Rodney worn in
S24 was there. The dress which !
vas made of white satin, will soon
,e fashionable if style continues to
all for big sleeves and high-waists,
nut the shoes, well | hope we never
ave to wear such things. They were
cry small high. button shoes made
f satin to match the dress. There
vas worth model created in 1890, {
nd a dress worn at the wedding of
ohm NJ. Clayton in 1922. Besides
hese there were many other old {
resses but time was too short to '
lOsely examine many. However, !
here was one more costume / will |
lention. 1t was the suit in which {
IT.. Duval was married in 1898. The !
Oat and vest seemed quite substan t
al but the trousers looked a little I
ne worse for wear. j
Adjoining this building is the old
Church, erected i'm 1903. c
he strains of organ music hoated c
trough the grave yard. The inte- 9
Or of the church proved to be t
mite as old-fashioned as the eXte- d
ior. The pews were built up from L
lie brick floor. Several slabs down 4
lie aisle marked the buried place of C
)rmer ministers. The music ceased C