By Jim Miller
Photos provided by Delaware Historical Society
The Delaware Historical Society has found a fitting home among some of Wilmington’s oldest landmarks
This year, as locals and visitors make their way to Wilmington’s downtown theaters, restaurants, music venues and shops, many may be unaware of all the history they pass by — particularly in the section of the 500 block of Market Street.
There, one can find a small block of some of Delaware’s oldest buildings as well as the site that was chosen to commemorate one of the most respected heroes of the American Revolution.
Appropriately, the 500 block is also where one can find the Delaware Historical Society, next door to a cozy area called Willingtown Square.
The Buildings that Moved — And Still Move
“Named Willingtown Square in honor of Thomas Willing, an early settler in the area in the 1730s, the Square is not original to the block but was created when four historic Wilmington buildings were rescued from demolition and relocated in the late 1970s,” says Ed Richi, the curator of printed materials at the Delaware Historical Society.
“These buildings represent part of our mission to preserve and promote Delaware’s history to educate, inspire, and empower people and communities,” Richi adds. “The Square provides green space, leisure and peacefulness along a busy commercial corridor and integrates the city’s past into the present day.”
Of the four relocated historical buildings, the most recently built is called the Coxe House, which was actually two side-by-side homes. The Coxe House was originally constructed in 1801 at 107 and 109 E. Sixth Street on land granted by the Duke of York to the family of Thomas Coxe, a brick yard owner. In 2021, in a collaboration between the Delaware Historical Society and Jewish Federation of Delaware, the building was renovated to become the home of the Delaware Center for Jewish History.
Built in 1778, the Cook-Simms House was originally located at 101 E. Fourth Street. In the mid 1800s it served as the residence and pharmacy for Dr. John Simms, who with the help of his son, created botanical medicines there for their clients.
Another example of side-by-side houses, the Dingee Houses were originally the homes of two carpenters and joiners. Jacob Dingee built his house in 1771 at 105 E. 7th Street, and two years later his brother built the connecting house. After the Dingees, craftspeople continued to live in the homes: a bricklayer and an ironmonger, then a contractor and builder.
Craftsmanship can also be found in the fourth and final building, the Jacobs-Ferris House, which dates back to 1748. In a peculiar design, the front wall displays the year the house was built and initials of its original owners, Job and Mary Jacobs. Today, the building is known as the Jacobs-Ferris House.
The Revolutionary War Hero From France
Across the street, stands Old Town Hall, which was one of the tallest buildings in Wilmington when it was built in 1798. For nearly a century, the building was the center of all things political and social, being used for elections and town meetings.
In 1824, Town Hall was Delaware’s chosen location for a commemorative dinner held in honor of its special guest, Marquis de Lafayette. Forty-seven years earlier the French war hero had defied the orders of King Louis XVI and set sail aboard his ship, La Victoire, with soldiers, arms, and his own money to assist the colonial forces in the America Revolution.
“My heart was enlisted,” Lafayette would later write. In July 31, 1777, shortly after Lafayette’s arrival, Benjamin Franklin urged Congress to commission him as a “Major General without pay.”
In the month that followed, Lafayette became fast friends with George Washington and helped him establish his headquarters in the Quaker Hill section of Wilmington — just five blocks away from the site where French general would be celebrated in person 47 years later.
Next door to Old Town Hall, one can visit the Delaware History Museum, operated by the Delaware Historical Society. For those looking for more clues about Delaware’s past, the museum is a treasure trove of information.
— For more visit DeHistory.org
Above: The original 1860 photograph of Old Town Hall is likely the oldest photo of the building in existence. Photo provided by Delaware Historical Society
In celebration of Delaware 250, this monthly series will spotlight historic sites
unique to our state.
Presented in partnership with Delaware Senator Elizabeth Lockman (District 3)
and Wilmington Councilman-at-Large James Spadola.
