Henry Clay Village formed near the textile mills north of Wilmington in the early 1800s. As domestic textile production declined following the War of 1812, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company absorbed failing mills into its powder-making operations. Workers from Ireland, France, Italy, and elsewhere joined Delawareans in seeking opportunities in the powder yards and settling in the community. Mill owners built semi-detached bank houses along the Brandywine for rental to workers. Henry Clay Village supported churches, stores, taverns, hotels, a post office, and a rail station. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

NCC-257: Installed in 2021.

Location:

Near Breck’s Mill Wilmington 19807

 

Links to more resources:

• Henry Clay Village from Hagley Museum
• Breck’s Mill Area from DBpedia
• Henry Clay Village Finding Aid
• Henry Clay Village National Register of Historic Places Nomination
• Henry Clay Village National Register of Historic Places Nomination Photos
• The Workers World at Hagley