Dover & Wilmington – 2 Chicks, 50 States

Arriving at the ferry terminal in Lewes, we headed north towards Dover, specifically to the Dover Green Historic District. The Green in Dover is the city’s central square and is surrounded by buildings, many of which are original structures, some dating back to the 1700s. Of most significance on the Green is the site of the Golden Fleece Tavern where Delaware statesmen gathered to ratify the Constitution in 1787, making Delaware the first state to join the Union.

We did a superb tour with Eric who, complete in costume, colourfully painted Delaware’s history on the Green with stories about the buildings and their occupants. From the suffragette movement to a mysterious murder involving chocolates to the ratification of the Constitution it was a great journey back in time and a tour certainly well worth doing.

The John Bell House, the oldest wooden structure on the Green, dates back to 1787 when the Constitution was ratified in the Golden Fleece Tavern across the Green

Eric, a First State Heritage Park historic interpreter and brilliant storyteller

This was the home of Mr James P Wilds and was built in 1872. It was a mail-order frame house from the Sears catalogue and arrived as a kit which was then put together to create the house.

The home of Mr John Pennington, whose daughters were killed in 1898 by chocolates that arrived in the mail. Three thousand people attended the funeral in this house. Follow this link to read the story of the Poison Candy Murders.
https://whyy.org/articles/100-year-old-murder-case-still-haunts-dover-delaware-video/

The site of the Golden Fleece Tavern, birthplace of the First State, where the Constitution was ratified on 7th December 1787

The Ridgely House, built in 1726. The first occupant was Dr Charles Greenbury Ridgely, a member of the Colonial and State legislative assemblies. The Ridgely family continue to live here today.

Also on the Green is the Old Statehouse which served as Delaware’s capitol building from 1792 to 1932. This beautifully preserved building is open for visitors to go inside and look around.

Legislative Mall with the state’s current capitol building, Legislative Hall, in the background

Just 20 minutes from Wilmington we visited Jessop’s Tavern for a bite to eat. Built in 1674 in Olde New Castle, the building has over the years been a barrel making business, residential housing and various restaurants and taverns. The current owners renamed the tavern after Abraham Jessop, the original owner.

Colonial shepherd’s pie which is going to serve us for three meals

After staying in Wilmington for the night we paid a visit to Nemours Estate to see the mansion and French-style gardens built and designed by Alfred duPont in 1910. The 5-story, 77 room mansion and gardens were a gift for his second wife and was later his home with his third wife Bessie. Alfred duPont rose to prominence through his family’s gunpowder manufacturing company and went on to become an extremely wealthy financier and philanthropist. The estate was named after Nemours, the French town duPont’s family originated from. Today the estate shares the grounds with the Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, part of the Nemours Children’s Health System.

These 18th-century English gates came from Wimbledon Manor outside of London

The gilded ceiling and chandelier in the reception hall

The bowling alley which was originally used by only men but later welcomed the ladies of the house and their visitors, playing in their ballgowns and high heels

The chandelier and tapestries came from France

The Vista (Long Walk) Garden from the front of the mansion looking down at the Colonnade, a memorial honouring duPont’s great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather

Looking up at the mansion from the end of the Vista Garden

The Maze Garden with the mansion in the background

Thank you First State ☺️ Our stay may have been brief but our history lesson here has been rich. Pennsylvania, you’re next!

S&P