Holy Trinity Church
NC-A1: In 1368 a colony from Sweden landed at “The Rocks” nearby. There they built Fort Christina, worshiped therein until 1667, and then built a log church at Cranehook on south side of Christiana River. In 1698, inspired by their Pastor, Eric Bjork, they erected Holy Trinity Church. The tower was added in 1802. The […]
Village of Montchanin
NCC-185: Settled at the triangular intersection of three roads in the early 19th century by workers from the nearby DuPont Black Powder Mills, this village consisted initially of only 2.4 acres. The Wilmington and Northern Railroad established tracks through the vicinity in 1869, leading to a period of sustained growth in population and area. The […]
The Delaware Continentals
NCC-161: On December 9, 1775, the Continental Congress resolved that a body of troops be raised in Delaware “for the defense of American Liberty.” Commanded by Colonel John Haslet, the Delaware Regiment consisted of more than 500 battle-ready troops when they marched northward to join the Continental Army in August 1776. After expiration of enlistments […]
Mount Lebanon United Methodist Church
NCC-132: This congregation was organized in 1812. For a number of years services were conducted by Methodist “circuit riders” in members’ homes and local schools. On March 7, 1834, Thomas and Hannah Aldred donated land at this location on which to build a church. Constructed of Brandywine granite, the building was completed later that year. […]
Pencader Presbyterian Church
NC-124: On October 15, 1701, William Penn granted 30,000 acres of land to William Davies, David Evans, and William Willis “in behalf of themselves and Company of new Welsh Purchasers.” Known as the Welsh Tract, this expansive holding attracted large numbers of settlers who had immigrated from Wales to Colonial America. The settlers soon established […]
Frank E. Schoonover Studios
NC-113: The Frank E. Schoonover Studios were constructed in 1905 by Wilmington philanthropist Samuel Bancroft, Jr. Plans were provided by architect E. L. Rice, incorporating a Queen Anne design with four contiguous units. The original occupants were Frank E. Schoonover, N. C. Wyeth, Henry Peck, Harvey Dunn, and Clifford Ashley. All were former students of […]
Old Claymont High School
NCC-099: Constructed 1924-25. Also known as the Green Street School. Prominent in United States history as the first public high school in the 17 segregated states to be legally integrated. In January 1951, eight black students applied for admission. Due to the “separate but equal” education system in place at that time, the Claymont Board […]
St. Joseph Church
NC-94: The cradle of African-American Catholicism in Delaware, St. Joseph Church was organized in 1889 by Father John A. DeRuyter of the Josephites. Services were first held in the basement of St. Mary’s Church on 6th and Pine Streets. Incorporated as St. Joseph’s Society for Colored Missions on March 4, 1890, the first church structure […]
South Wilmington – Cradle of African American Political Leadership
NC-86: William J. Winchester, after serving 16 years on Wilmington City Council, became the first of his race elected to the Delaware House of Representatives. He served from 1948 until his death in 1952. Herman M. Holloway, Sr., became the first African-American elected to the State Senate in 1964. Henrietta Johnson was the first African-American […]
Gravesite of Bishop Peter Spencer and His Devoted Wife, Annes
NCC-84: Born a slave, Bishop Peter Spencer was the father of Delaware’s independent Black church movement. In 1813, he founded the Union Church of Africans, presently known as the African Union Methodist Protestant Church. The mother AUMP church stood on this site from 1813 to 1970. The Union American Methodist Episcopal Church (UAME), formally organized […]
