Old New Castle, Delaware, founded in 1651 by Peter Stuyvesant, was a port on the Delaware River, a center of commerce and a transfer point for travelers during colonial times. William Penn landed at New Castle in 1682, when Delaware was part of Pennsylvania. A National Landmark Historic Area, Old New Castle comprises several blocks of wood and brick buildings dating from the early 1700s.
Buildings open to the public
The Court House built in 1731 was the meeting place for the assemblies when the town became the colonial capitol and later Delaware's first state capitol. Its cupola is the center of the arc that was drawn to designate the boundary between Pennsylvania and Delaware. The building has been restored to its colonial appearance, and docents provide free tours.
A tour of the George Read II house on The Strand, the street that parallels the riverfront, is worth the admission fee. Designed in 1801 to be the largest and finest mansion in Delaware, the 22-room brick Read House and its gardens show how a wealthy 19th-century family lived. Read's father, George Read I, also of New Castle signed the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution for Delaware and served as Delaware's governor during the American Revolution.
George Washington is believed to have attended a wedding in 1784 at the Amstel House, when it was owned by Delaware's 7th governor. One of three museums operated by the New Castle Historical Society, the Amstel house commands attention for its large size. Two other museums, the tiny and possibly oldest house in town, the Dutch House, and the hexagonal Old Library Museum, built in 1892, offer insights into the Early American life of the town.
Immanuel Episcopal Church, founded in 1689, was the first parish of the Church of England in Delaware. A walled cemetery surrounds the gray stone building on the town green. The New Castle Presbyterian Church was built in 1707 and holds regular services.
Restaurants
The Arsenal was built to house ammunition in the early 1800s, when war with England threatened. It now houses a fine-dining restaurant, the Arsenal on the Green. Jessops Tavern, a 1724 colonial tavern and restaurant, provides pub-type fare, and Jack's Bistro offers American dining inside or alfresco in a tree-shaded courtyard.
Events
New Castle residents annually open their gardens to the public during "A Day in Old New Castle" in May, and one day during the Christmas season they open their beautifully decorated homes for tours. In June the town celebrates Separation Day, the day in 1776 when Delaware declared its independence from England.
If you'd like an Alexandria, Virginia experience on a smaller scale, visit Old New Castle. A stroll on the tree-shaded brick sidewalks past the historic buildings, of which many are occupied residences, will relax you and show you some authentic colonial architecture. At New Castle's Battery Park on the riverfront, you can watch vessels sailing on the Delaware and walk the path by the river.
Pamela Crowe - Pamela Crowe
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