Join historian Peter Dalleo, Ph. D. at 7 P.M. on January 10  for an illustrated exploration of Civil War sailors of African descent who served aboard Union Navy tugs, sloops, and gunboats. At least 348 African-American Delawareans from the state's three counties served on U.S. naval vessels, some of which were built in the First State. Hear the stories of Delawareans who assisted the Union Army on inland waters, captured blockade runners from the Bahamas, and chased Confederate raiders at sea.  These sailors also assisted formerly enslaved "contrabands" freed or self-emancipated during the Union's military engagements in the Confederacy. After the war, follow the civilian careers of former mariners such as Moses America, Peter Blake and Elzy Russ, and the continued fight to achieve eco... 01/07/2013

On Saturdays, February 9 and 23 and March 9, full-day workshops in Open Hearth Cooking will be held at the George Read II House in Old New Castle. Prepare an everyday meal or tea while learning about the history and traditions of “tea”.Working in the historic kitchen of the Read House, you will be provided with recipes, hands-on instructions, cooking equipment, and the techniques of the 19th century. Sign up for class. Open through February 3, 2013 “100 Years of Picturing the Nation’s Business: Photographs from the Collection of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America.” Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington celebrates the 100th anniversary of the United States Chamber of Commerce with this exhibition of photographs that show business in the United States in the twentie... 01/02/2013

Happy New Year!   > Happy New Year to All. Thank you for the past year and I look forward to what 2013 will bring. I hope everyone has the chance to enjoy the first days of the New Year with family and friends before returning to work and school! = To a Healthy and Prosperous New Year  = David HenkeLong & Foster Real Estate Inc – Wilmington, DE/Devon, PAOffice: 302-834-3431/Direct: 610-618-0808www.DelawarePAHomes.com     01/01/2013

A must-see for visitors to the Wilmington area is the spectacular O-gauge train display assembled every Christmas at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. It fills an entire gallery and took 7 people 6 days to assemble (you can watch this on the museum's website.) As many as five of 150 locomotives and 300 freight cars run simultaneously on more than 2,000 feet of track, winding past a village, stone quarry, oil refinery, mountains, and running waterfall, as Santa and his sleigh fly overhead. A “rail cam,” mounted on a snowplow, gives visitors a view from the perspective of a miniature locomotive driver. The museum is also noted for the "critters" made of natural materials by volunteers, who use them to decorate trees in the museum and also sell them in the gift shop... 01/01/2013

South Graylyn Crest Holiday Decorations judging was last night and here are some of the winners.  The announcement of the top 3 winners is coming soon, so watch our website. UPDATE; First Place winner: 1005 Crestover (in center of collage)              Second Place winner: 1023 Graylyn Rd.               Third Place winner: 1208 Faun (center bottom) Note: winners have to be DUES PAID members of SGCCA, which is why some of the attractive houses missed out on the cash prizes.      Search for homes for sale in South Graylyn Crest here. 12/21/2012

I promised you more pictures from the Yuletide at Winterthur tour, and here they are. The first picture is of a party inspired by the Hudson River Valley tales of Washington Irving. The staff has changed the look of this room and added an early court cupboard from the early period rooms at the museum.   A room that formerly held New York furniture features a table set à la Russe. Service à la russe (French, "service in the Russian style") is a manner of dining that involves courses being brought to the table sequentially. It contrasts with service à la française ("service in the French style"), in which all the food is brought out at once in an impressive, but often impractical, display. And my last picture is from their current exhibit "Uncorked," all about mostly wine and other spirit... 12/19/2012

This fall the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the death of architect Frank Furness (1839-1912) began. Wilmington’s  Friends of the Furness Railroad District and the Historical Society put together an exhibit at the DelawareHistorical Society illustrating the railroad stations Furness designed for the B & O Railroad between Baltimore and Wilmington, as well as some of his Delaware buildings.                                             The exhibit presents a brief look at Furness’ career with a focus on local buildings and his work for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. A few artifacts from the Aberdeen, Maryland station and the Water Street station are also on display.  Exhibit hours are at  Delaware Historical Society's website. Questions? www.FriendsofFurness.org    A full fall ... 12/19/2012

Are you up to the Faithful Friends $100,000 match challenge? From now thru February 15, 2013, some generous donors at Faithful Friends animal society will be matching, dollar for dollar, any financial contribution made up to $100,000.  For those that don't know, Faithful Friends is a no-kill animal shelter located at 12 Germay Drive in Wilmington, DE.  Having volunteered at the shelter, I can attest first hand to the dedication of the staff and the wonderful care of the animals that unfortunately call the shelter home.  Faithful friends is ALWAYS in need of help - whether it be financial contributions, volunteering time, items from the shelters Amazon wish list, or even something so simple as old towels, sheets, and blankets.  You can reach the shelter at 302-427-8514 or stop by the she... 12/12/2012

         It should not take long for you to figure out where we were this week.  The country mice visited the Big Apple and it was over the top, just as we expected it to be. The Christmas decorations were fantastic in the store windows (these pics were taken several months ago and I didn't have my camera with me this time) and we found a new (to us) museum, The Museum of Arts and Design on Columbus Circle. There were 6 floors with different exhibits on each, including one whole floor of artworks made either of solid pieces of gold (which glowed as though there were lights inside) or studded with thousands of diamonds.  And to top it off, there is a restaurant, Robert, on the 9th floor which is very elegant and which gave us a table at the wall of windows overlooking all of Central Park... 12/07/2012

  This weekend was the annual open house at Rockwood Museum and Park on Washington Street Extension in New Castle County, Delaware. The first floor of the Victorian Rockwood Museum was open, Santa attracted scores of kiddies and their parents, trees all around the park were lighted and the Carriage Barn offered hot chocolate, and cookies. Local performing arts groups, including the Concord H.S. Madrigals performed (I’m still wondering how they managed to do this lovely A capella singing without any sign of a conductor!) If you are looking to buy or sell a property in Wilmington, contact Carolyn Roland. 12/02/2012

December 2012 Historic Homes E Newsletter The Historic Odessa Foundation presents its 2012 Holiday Tours, A Story of Old Christmas Nov. 14 to Dec. 30, 2012. At all of the Historic Odessa Foundation’s properties, • Candlelight Tours, every Friday in December — experience a special candlelight tour of the holiday exhibit.   Festive Foods/Hearth Cooking Demonstration, Dec. 8 and 15. • Lecture, Dec. 9, 1 to 2:30 p.m. – The View from Sunnyside: A Sketch of Washington Irving, presented by Michael A. Lord, Amherst College. • Storybook Trees Exhibit, a festive display of Christmas trees  reflecting storybooks.For information on the Historic Odessa Foundation’s Christmas Holiday Tours call 302-378-4119, or visit their website. The Women's Club of Odessa's 48th annual Christmas in Odessa tour of... 11/29/2012

Yuletide at Winterthur-  A Feast for the Eyes is now on view at this historic lovely former home of Henry Francis duPont, just north of Wilmington, Delaware. Having been a volunteer guide there in the distant past, I like to see what changes they make every year to keep this tour fresh. The tour starts in the courtyard, which hosts a marketplace surrounded with exteriors of historic buildings in what was once a badminton court, when it was a family home. Then, for a reversal of past tours, the first interior is the duPont Dining Room. And instead of a table set for a meal, the designers were inspired by an old drawing showing gifts piled on the table. Above, you see some of the Christmas trees on display. The first is a butterfly tree (notice the blue butterflies hovering over the tree)... 11/26/2012

The window salesman who stopped by the 1917 Dutch Colonial home of Ann and Gary Linley probably has no idea that he was the inspiration for a sixth-grade science fair project. But after 12-year-old Daniel Linley of Elkhart, Ind. overheard his father turn down the salesman’s pitch to replace his historic sash-and-storm windows with new double-paned windows, he had an idea. “I asked my dad why he didn’t buy the new windows, and Dad said our old windows were better,” says Daniel. “I didn’t believe him, so he challenged me to prove him wrong.” With his father’s help, Daniel set out to compare the energy efficiency of windows in their home. They looked at three types: historic storm and sash windows, installed in 1926; single pane, installed in 1952; and double pane windows, installed in 200... 11/22/2012

  I received this letter with a link to click on to support a National Park for Delaware: With the election behind us, we are now in the homestretch of establishing Delaware's first National Park on the Woodlawn property along the historic Brandywine.  We are also running out of time.   The decision to include Woodlawn in Delaware's first National Park must be made between now and the end of the year when the property will transfer. We need your help to make one final push urging the President to seize this amazing opportunity before the end of the year.  Thanks to the incredible generosity of Mt. Cuba Center, all the funding is in place to acquire the property and donate it to the National Park Service.  Please click on the link below and push the button to submit a letter to the Presi... 11/20/2012

November 2012 Historic Homes News The Delaware Historical Society presents The DuPont Highway: Propelling Delaware's People, Produce, and Poultry into the 20th Century, an illustrated talk given by Jonathan Russ, Associate Professor of History at the University of Delaware at the Milton Historical Society 210 Union Street, Milton, Delaware Friday, November 9, 2012 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. FREE to all! Registration is required - call (302) 295-2388 or kpeterson@dehistory.org (photo DE Hist.Soc.)Tours of the Auburn Heights Mansion and Marshall Steam Museum in Yorklyn, Delaware are now available on select dates without a minimum group size requirement, but you must preregister. Friday, Nov. 2, Saturday, Nov. 10, Friday, Nov. 16, and Wednesday, Nov. 21: The next Steamin’ Days will be Sunday, Novemb... 11/01/2012

There was lots of good news to balance the bad as far as Hurricane Sandy is concerned for my North Wilmington neighborhood of South Graylyn Crest. The power stayed on until about 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, went off, and came back on about 10:30 a.m. That doesn't mean that it wasn't scary hearing the wind last night--I couldn't fall asleep for all the noise it was making, which is why I was awake when the power went out and all my electronic stuff started beeping. So who needs light in the middle of the night anyway? And all it took was a match to light my gas range and make a pot of tea this morning, so that was good. And I had a chance to try out my new solar powered Red Cross radio this morning. It works really well and has a flashlight and outlet for a cell phone charger (but not to fit... 10/30/2012

Inventories steady and activity rises as home prices remain at a more sustainable level in North Wilmington and throughout New Castle County. Since the last update in April covering the first quarter, activity and pricing have continued to remain strong. In all of New Castle County DE the average sales prices year to date rose from $195,000 in April to $212,000. The average Days on the Market (DOM) fell from 95 days to 86 days. The below updated data show the trends for both all of New Castle County and the Brandywine/North Wilmington Areas. New Castle County:For 2012 through September:Year: Homes Listed | Homes under Contract | Homes Sold2012: :      6285                   4273                        3912 Average Home Sold for $212,000 in 86 DaysFor the entire Previous Years:2011: :   ... 10/26/2012

I was down at Wilmington’s Riverfront the other day and could not believe all the action going on that had appeared in the last month.  First, the main entrance to the Chase Center, which had the Home Show this weekend, was totally blocked off, with access through a side set of doors.  Why?  It looks like the long talked about Westin Hotel is under construction, and will be attached to the Center.                                 Then, I wandered towards the train station to see how the new Imax theater is doing.  It is scheduled to open Nov. 8, coinciding with the release of “Skyfall,” the first James Bond movie filmed for IMAX.  So sleepy and “nothin’ happening” is definitely not a good description for Wilmington Delaware’s Riverfront.  And I say, “Bring on James Bond,” in IMAX, no les... 10/15/2012

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow, October 13, is the last day to register to vote in Delaware for the November election. October 13 is the last day to register to vote in the Tuesday November 6 General Election in Delaware. You have multiple options to register so please be sure to check out all your options here at the Delaware State website. Also, please remember that the last day to mail in absentee ballots is November 2nd. If you are not going to be able to vote on election day, be sure to stop by the County Department of Elections to fill out an absentee ballot.  You will need to have a form of valid ID with you (drivers license, utility bill, bank statement, etc including your physical address). The County Department of Elections in New Castle County is located on the 4th floor... 10/12/2012

Historic Homes News--October, 2012 Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012,  Delaware's three downtown Dover museums will be presenting  "First Saturday in the First State," a monthly series of events sponsored by the First State Heritage Park. Admission for all programs is free and open to the public. At 1 p.m., the Johnson Victrola Museum, located at 375 S. New St., will present a living-history program in which historical interpreter Bill Sparke portrays Eldridge Reeves Johnson, founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company.  In celebration of the 330th anniversary of the landing of William Penn in America, The Old State House, located at 25 The Green, will be conducting special tours between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on the theme "William Penn: The City He Envisioned"which explore Penn's laying out of th... 10/02/2012