MAY 2017

2017 OFFICERS OUTREACH & WELCOME NEW AND DIRECTORS SPECIAL EVENTS BOARD MEMBERS The following Society Officers Spring, summer and fall are It has been said that if you need were elected for 2017 at our An- busy times for your Society. someone to take on additional re- nual Meeting: President David P. You are always welcome and sponsibilities, choose a person Price, Vice President Edith K. encouraged to participate. Con- who is already busy. Such is the Mahoney, Secretary Roberta L. tact any Board member to vol- case with our two new Directors. unteer. We need you! Steele-Wilkins, Treasurer Thom- George K. McDowell should be a as M. Smith, and Board Chair- Vice President Edie Mahoney familiar face to those of you who man William G. Robelen, 4th. and Secretary Bobbi Steele saw him in Dave Price’s Civil Re-elected to serve as Directors wish to remind all Society War play at our Annual Meeting for 2017 were Leroy Hathcock, members of the following im- two years ago. In addition to a Carolyn Raniszewski, R. Hugh portant dates and events. busy schedule with community Simmons, Ruth Walters, and May 28th: Memorial Day Ser- and education related activities, Tracy Walters. Elected for the vices, 10 AM at Mt. Salem George’s love of history is evi- first time to serve as Directors Methodist Church, Rockford denced by his volunteer work as were George K. McDowell and Park, Wilmington, DE. Free past President Wilmington Civil Glenn B. Pusey. lunch will be served. War Roundtable, current member Continuing as Directors Emeritus Central Civil War June 4th: Spring General Mem- Roundtable, crew member USS are William E. Craven, Jr. and bership meeting at 2711 Staff Catherine C. Keenan. Lehigh Civil War Reenactment Lane, 1 to 4 PM. and Living History Group, and June 10th: Kids Fest, Fort Dela- Senior Vice Commander, Appo- NEW 5th STREET ware State Park, noon to 3 PM. mattox Camp #2, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. BRIDGE A BEAUTY July 15th: Delaware City Day Glenn B. Pusey, BS, CE, UDEL August 5th: Camden-Wyoming Was it worth all the added miles is also a familiar face having at- Peach Festival and extra fuel expense? You’ll tended every Society function for have to see for yourself. Certain- August 19th: Middletown the past three years. A licensed ly, no one will miss all the extra Peach Festival P.E., Glenn retired as Deputy Di- time needed to reach our head- rector of Operations at DELDOT quarters via the round-about- September TBA: Port Penn Wetlands Festival. after 36 years of service. He is a detour across the Reedy Point founding member and past Presi- Bridge, particularly with the ad- dent of the Pencader Heritage As- vent of Daylight Savings Time 2017 PARK sociation, current President of the and early dark hours. But now SUMMER SCHEDULE Delaware City Heritage Associa- it’s done, and we can all rejoice. State Park will tion, and a board member of the The residents of the Port Penn begin summertime operations, Hale-Byrnes House. Glenn is a area surely won’t miss all the Wednesday thru Sunday, on member of the Sons of the Ameri- traffic caused by the construction June 14th. The Park will be can Revolution, the Society of the detour from Delaware City. open from 10 AM to 5 PM. For , and the Sons of Thank you DELDOT for a job more details, call the Park Of- Confederate Veterans. well done!! fice at 302-834-7941. Please welcome both of them!

Fort Delaware Society 2017 Annual Meeting

Dr. William T. Campbell “Fatal Diseases at Fort Delaware”

Christiana Hilton Members and Guests

Members and Guests Door Prize Drawing

Society Activities

Fort DuPont Entrance Sign 2711 Staff Lane

Society Flags & Memorial Cards Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, NC

St. George’s Cemetery, Bear, DE Presbyterian Cemetery, Delaware City, DE Fort Delaware Society P.O. Box 553 Delaware City, DE 19706

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE In our 67 year history, we have ex- 16 single family homes including single family dwellings averaging perienced many changes which the 4 remaining original buildings. 1700 square feet per unit. were recounted in the 2011 issue of How this will affect the parking A Marina District is planned con- the Fort Delaware Notes. Many of for us and our guests is not known. sisting of retail shops with 2nd you have witnessed the physical Our new address is now 2711 Staff floor apartments, a hotel, a pedes- changes over the past few years Lane. The existing theater will be trian bridge over the canal to Dela- including moving our headquarters redesigned and transformed into a ware City and 120 boat slips. more than once. However, nothing Performing Arts Center with asso- can come close to the monumental ciated support structures. Also contemplated are pedestrian changes we are about to undergo in pathways and horse trails through- A total of 15 lots will be construct- the next two years. out the property. For a color render- ed in what we know as Officer’s ing of areas to be developed, please Jeff Randol, Executive Director, Row. Eleven non-historical build- refer to the FDRC’s website at Fort DuPont Redevelopment and ings there will be demolished. Re- http://fortdupont.org. Preservation Corporation, present- maining structures will be restored ed an overview of these changes at as close as possible to original The Fort Delaware Society will the May Board of Directors meet- condition based on extensive study definitely continue its 67 year mis- ing. Fort DuPont State Park as we of architectural records and using sion, even with all the changes. know it will cease to exist. Our reclaimed items. Planned construc- A special thank you is due to Socie- current headquarters building on tion includes a Canal District of 95 ty Secretary Bobbi Steele for her Staff Lane will be surrounded by residential lots for townhouses and invaluable help with this article. (Continued in next column) (Continued in next column)