Carolyn's Blog

I am going to share a statement from National Trust for Historic Preservation
President Stephanie Meeks 

Washington, D.C. (January 26, 2011) - Wal-Mart today announced that it has withdrawn its proposal to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter at a location within the boundaries of Wilderness Battlefield - the site of one of the most important battles of the Civil War.  The company instead plans to work with the local community in Orange County, Virginia, to identify an alternative site for development in the County.  The company's development proposal at Wilderness - at a location described by historians as the "nerve center" of the Union Army during the 1864 battle - prompted the National Trust for Historic Preservation last year to list the battlefield as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.  Orange County's approval of the development also became the subject of a legal challenge brought by local citizens and preservation organizations.  The case was originally scheduled to go to trial this week in Orange County circuit court. 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation applauds Wal-Mart's decision, joining with our partners in the Wilderness Battlefield Coalition, a group including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Civil War Trust, the Piedmont Environmental Council, Friends of Wilderness Battlefield, the National Parks Conservation Association, Preservation Virginia, and a number of other conservation organizations. (Photo is of a preserved site in Delaware.)

Poet Robert Frost may have said "Good fences make good neighbors," but I say good neighbors with snow blowers are more precious than gold.

I have been working at clearing my driveway in spells today, not looking forward to trying to get through the 4' high wall left by the snowplow. Just as I was approaching the "wall," not even considering shoveling the long sidewalk to the north, the sound of a snow blower was heard.  There was a neighbor from 4 houses down steadily chugging down the block clearing sidewalks. Most people had already gotten through to the street and its wall of snow. He could see I was dreading this job, and miracle of miracles, he worked on the wall and its icy contents until the way was clear.

I can at least get out of my driveway now, and am hoping the snow predicted for tomorrow amounts to nothing. (fingers crossed!)

Mr. & Mrs. Seller, I have been in the Real Estate business for over 20 years, helping buyers and sellers. But don't call me IF:

.You don't want to be honest with me about your motivation or finances

.You don't want to disclose the condition of your home, roof leaks, appliances that don't work, plumbing problems, water in the basement, problems with your well or septic, mold in your attic, or pest infestations

.You don't want to keep your home clean, neat, and fresh every day it's on the market

.You only want showings on certain days and a limited time range, with 2 days advance notice

.You have cats and dogs that either endanger visitors or keep the house smelling bad and you are not willing to manage the situation

.You are not willing to work with me on staging and removing clutter

.You feel that your home is worth what you paid for it 3 years ago and won't listen to any lower offers

Please call my competition, and ask them to list your home, and while they are at it, to give you a break with the commission.

While you are doing this, I will be working with my clients trying to present their homes in the best manner and with the utmost honesty, and accepting offers from buyers who recognize a truly good value.

This graph is an update on the number of homes for sale and sold in the last 6 months in Brandywine Hundred. As you can see, the number for sale has held relatively steady, while sales have ebbed and flowed. Presently, at the end of January, 2011, there are 290 homes on the market from $200-999,999, 57 pending sales, and 262 homes in this category have sold since July 10, 2010.

 Downtown Newark, Delaware will be hosting  a culinary celebration, the Fifth Annual Restaurant Week, January 24-30. It will highlight fabulous restaurants and their offerings -- diverse enough to please any palate, and at prices to suit any purse! Say hello to a new restaurant, or come back to an old favorite. Everyone can eat downtown!

    From Monday, January 24th through Sunday, January 30th, twenty outstanding downtown Newark restaurants will offer specialty menus highlighting the best they have to offer at the right price. So well-priced, in fact, you will be tempted to sample all of them -- and you can because they are all located within a few steps of each other in downtown Newark! 

    The event features seasonal decorations, in-restaurant entertainment, and retail specials!

     Three tiers of fabulous prix fixe meals are offered, with some restaurants offering more than one tier during the week!  Each restaurant develops specific menus for the week.

Get ready for a culinary experience you will not soon forget.  Look for menus and more information in the January 21st edition of the Newark Post or visit http://www.eatdowntownnewark.com/Events.htm#LETTER.BLOCK6

The 2011 Victorian Lecture Series presented by the Friends of Rockwood Museum in Wilmington, Delaware, will begin with "Victorian Postcards" presented by Rachael Baitch, John Sweeney Fellowship recipient. It will take place Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 2 PM in Bessie's Parlor, at the Museum.

The series will continue March 20, with "Servants at Rockwood", April 10, with Social Aspects of Hatpins, and September 18, with Victorian Jewelry.  And don't forget, you can dress up in Victorian fashion at the Victorian Style Costume Ball, Saturday, February 26, 2011. For more information, see http://www2.nccde.org/rockwood.                             

Congratulations to the Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society (KATS Inc.) for their always fun presentation and Tenth Anniversary performance of a pantomime tradition dating back to 1814. This last weekend, Dick Whittington and His Cat continued a British tradition deriving from several sources, including Commedia dell'Arte, Harliquinades, Slapstick, and Music Hall (vaudeville) skits.

Presented traditionally in the post-Christmas period, this presentation follows the tradition of several standard parts: a young male lead (the "principal boy") played by a girl, the cross-dressing role of the Dame, an animal (in this case, a cat), a nasty villain, villagers, and a plot line from a fairy story or folk tale. There is a silly song (sung by cast and audience), daft children's jokes, and lots of audience participation (hiss the villain, cheer the hero) egged on by cue cards from the sidelines, i.e. "Oh no you aren't, Oh yes you are!" Following tradition, the Dame changes costume and wig following each appearance. The music and songs are original (except this year the silly song was "Yellow Submarine"). The KATS believe they have the longest continuously running pantomime society in America. The presentations are held annually at the Kennett Square, Pennsylvania High School (in background).

To learn more about KATS, see http://www.callkats.org/    and watch for next year's production!

If you have only been to Rockwood Park and Museum to hike the grounds in warm weather, you might consider a visit when the grounds are covered with snow. This 150 year old estate is now a New Castle County, Delaware public park. Being located on hilly terrain, from which the original owners could once see the Delaware River, there is plenty of good sledding, as these pictures illustrate.

For information about visiting the Rockwood Park and Mansion, see http://www2.nccde.org/rockwood/default.aspx

The park is open dusk to dawn daily, and is located near the intersection of Marsh Rd. and Washington St. Extension, north of the City of Wilmington. And here are more pictures of those fun-loving sledders.

If you are interested in Delaware history, Naval history, or silver from the early 20th century, you will find an interesting exhibit at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover, Delaware.

There were 6 ships named Delaware, starting with the first Delaware, a frigate, built under the 13 December 1775 order of the Continental Congress in the yard of Warwick Coates of Philadelphia, Pa.

The second Delaware was built in 1794 as the merchant ship Hamburgh Packet in Philadelphia, Pa., and purchased by the Navy 5 May 1798. Captain S. Decatur, Sr., was appointed to command and outfit her for sea.  

The third Delaware, a ship-of-the-line, was laid down at Norfolk Navy Yard in August 1817 and launched 21 October 1820.

The fourth Delaware, a side wheel steamer, was built in 1861 at Wilmington, Del.; purchased by the Navy 14 October 1861, Lieutenant S. P. Quackenbush in command.

The fifth Delaware Piscataque, a screw-steamer, was renamed Delaware 15 May 1869.

The sixth Delaware (BB-28), the one whose accoutrements we see in the Archives exhibit, was launched  February 6, 1909 by Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.; sponsored by Mrs. A. P. Cahall, niece of the Governor of Delaware; and commissioned 4 April 1910, Captain C. A. Gove in command.

After visiting Wilmington, Delaware, from 3 to 9 October 1910, to receive a gift of a silver service from the state, the Delaware sailed from Hampton Roads 1 November with the First Division, Atlantic Fleet, to visit Weymouth, England, and Cherbourg, France.  This gorgeous silver service includes the 2 pictured pieces, a punch bowl, and a centerpiece.  It's hard to imagine a present day crew having a reception on a ship with their libations poured with a silver ladle on a table with a centerpiece overflowing with flowers and lit with candles (but then I don't know a lot about what goes on in present day ships). Anyway, go see the exhibit and enjoy!!

A visit to the Delaware Public Archives, which is the new home of the Visitor's Center, introduced an exhibit of model trains by the Delaware SeaSide Railroad Club. The Club website is http://delawareseasiderailroadclub.com/  It ties in with a new collection in the archives from the Jackson and Sharp company, which built railroad cars and ships in Wilmington from 1863 to 1950.  There are more than 4000 images and documents in the collection.

Although the Jackson and Sharp collection is available during regular Archive Library hours, the model trains are only on exhibit January 5 through 8. The 2 posters with Delaware railroad schedules are exhibited next to the model trains, and show schedules from 1857 and 1863 for 2 railroads which once operated in Delaware. Further details about the Archives and its exhibits are at its website, http://archives.delaware.gov/