Smyrna times., 1963-08-22
Bombay Hooks Old Alice
House To Be Preserved

The Bureau OF sport Fisher
les and Wildlife of the Depart
ment of the Interiors Fish and
Wildlife Service has announced
the issuance of a permit TO re-
store the buildings and grounds
of what is known as the Old
Alice House, situated in the
Bombay Hook National Wildlife
Refuge near Smyrna.
The formal language of the
Bureaus Special Use Permit
describes the purpose of the
permit as, - ''reconstructing,
maintaining and exhibiting the
properly to the public as an
American antiquity. The is
suance of the permit is In line
with government policy to aid
In the preservation of import
ant local historical structures
whenever the opportunity pre-
sents itself.
The story behind this unique
18th century home is rooted
deep in the early history of
Delaware. The Alice House de-
rives its name from the French
iugueIot family of the Reverend
Pierre de Allie who fled France
to escape religious persecution.
His son, John Alice, In l706
purchased Woodstock Bow
er", a 900 acre tract of land
on the southwest branch of Duck
Greek near Smyrna, Delaware.
In I'LL John purchased els
lington", a nearby tract of land
upon which the Alice house was
built. Just when the house was
built is not known, although fam
lily tradition places the date
around 1888. A map of 1892
shows two houses at the site
and the date l7o5 is carved In
to the brick of the house.
The Alice family became re-
lated by marriage to number
of families we'll known In Nor
thern Kent County and Southern
New Castle County - among
these are branches of the Ca
hoon, VanWinkle, Vangasco,
Killen, Tilton, Conner, Liston,
Comegys and Raisin families.
This sample of the States
cultural heritage consists of
-wo-story brick home which
contains 5 rooms and a one
story brick kitchen ell. Also
there are ut-buildings, a brick
smoke house and hand hewn
plank shed.
The original 18th century
architecture has survived the
successive waves of moderni-
zation which have spoiled so
many old homes. Although the
entire house is of great his
toric interest, the living room,
with its big fireplace, butterfly
china closets and priceless
wood paneling, is pure 18th
century Delaware.
The State Archives Commis-
sion plans to carefully restore
the building. repairing exterior
brick-work and strengthening
the floors and other bearing
surfaces. Interior rehabilita-
ton will include expert atten-
don to the woodwork, floors,
walls and ceilings. The install
lation of a modern heating plant,
bathroom, lavatory, kitchen and
the necessary electrificadon,
will be accomplished so as not
to disturb the 18th century ap-
pearance and decor.
Visitors to the Alice House
will see 1t restored In a set
ting ofgrounds and gardens such
as flourished 200 years ago.
Future citizens of Delaware
will be grateful to those who
had the vision and foresight
to preserve this fine old speci-
men of Old Delaware.
The State Archives Commis-
sion will repair the exterior
brick work. Inside, the wood
work, floors, walls, and cell
ngs will be repaired. install
lation of a modern heating plant,
bathroom, lavatory. kitchen and
necessary electrification will
be done so as not to disturb
the 18th Century appearance and
decor.
The gardens also will be re-
stored so that the building will
appear In much the same set
ting as it did In the days before
the Revolution.
The house is on Dutch Neck
Road just off Route 9 on a
tract purchased by the govern
ment several years ago as an
addition to the Bombay Hook
Wildlife Refuge.
The Duck Greek Historical
Society asked the US. Wild
Life Service to preserve and
restore the house, or If the
service was not interest, to
turn 1t over to the state.
Later the society, already
credited with saving The Lin
dens and the Plank House In
Smyrna, interested the State
Archieves Commission In the
project and formal request
to permit the commission to
restore, maintain and exhibit
1t was made to the Department
of the Interior.
Known until recently as the
McClements house because of