Results of the Phase I Archaeological Survey

Supplemental Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Lochmeath Way to Puncheon Run Connector, Kent County, Delaware Parent Agreement 1777, Task 6a

Bill Liebeknecht and Curtis McCoy

Prepared for

Delaware Department of Transportation P.O. Box 778-800 Bay Road Dover, Delaware 19903

Prepared by

Dovetail Cultural Resource Group 721 Philadelphia Pike Wilmington, Delaware 19809-2539

Dovetail Job #18-081 February 2020

February 11, 2020 Bill Liebeknecht, Principal Investigator Date Dovetail Cultural Resource Group This page intentionally left blank

ABSTRACT

The goal for the investigations was to identify any archaeological sites or above-ground resources associated with archaeological sites such as building foundations, wells, etc. that are listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) within the project’s supplemental archaeological project area. Based on the topographic position, environmental setting, and the results of previous archaeological investigations adjacent to and slightly overlapping with this area, the project area was judged to have moderate potential for prehistoric and historic resources. According to Delaware’s Cultural and Historical Resource Information System (CHRIS), no previously recorded archaeological sites or above-ground resources are located within the supplemental project area.

As the present document serves as an addendum to the original full Phase I report (Klein and Liebeknecht 2019), the cultural context and background review sections have been abbreviated as presented here to present relevant data not covered in the previous report. The current survey and report were completed in compliance with Secretary of the Interior (SOI) guidelines on cultural resources. These services are designed to comply with the criteria set forth by the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office (DE SHPO) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its regulations (36 CFR 800).

The Phase I archaeological fieldwork was conducted between August 12 and 23, 2019. The archaeological survey recovered 318 artifacts across the project area dating to the late- eighteenth through the first-half of the nineteenth century. Examination of the historic maps indicates that the artifacts were likely related to the farm/plantation known as Maple Grove, owned by the Jackson family. As such the DE SHPO assigned a single CRS number, K08079, and site number, 7K-C-470, to the entire site. Mapping the locations of artifact classes suggests an older and stronger signature on the northern portion of the field.

The possibility that additional work at 7K-C-470 will produce important new information about local, regional, or Delaware history is moderate to high. Therefore, Dovetail recommends that the Maple Grove Site, 7K-C-470, is potentially eligible for NRHP listing under Criterion D and Phase II investigation, focused on the historic component, should be undertaken to fully evaluate that eligibility.

Three dwellings (K03347, K03348, and K03349) formerly located in the northeast corner of the project area date to the 1940s. These dwellings were removed from the project area prior

to 1997. The sites of these three mid-twentieth century houses do not contribute to the potential eligibility of the site. Although there is a small prehistoric component to this site, the limited quantity of prehistoric artifacts found across the project area suggests that this component also does not contribute to the potential eligibility of the site.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ...... i INTRODUCTION ...... 1 PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION ...... 5 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ...... 9 Geology ...... 9 Hydrology ...... 9 Soils...... 9 CULTURAL CONTEXT...... 11 Early Industrialization (1770–1830) ...... 11 Industrialization and Capitalization (1830–1880) ...... 12 Urbanization and Suburbanization (1880–1940) ...... 13 Suburbanization and Early Ex-urbanization (1940–1960) ...... 15 RESEARCH DESIGN AND PROJECT METHODOLOGY ...... 21 Background Research ...... 21 Archaeological Survey ...... 21 Laboratory Methods ...... 22 Research Design...... 22 RESULTS OF THE PHASE I ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY ...... 25 Results of Pedestrian and STP Survey ...... 25 Site 7K-C-470 Description ...... 27 Site 7K-C-470 Evaluation and Significance ...... 34 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS...... 35 REFERENCES ...... 37 APPENDIX A: SHOVEL TEST CATALOG ...... 43 APPENDIX B: ARTIFACT CATALOG ...... 71

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List of Figures

Figure 1: Map of Kent County Showing the Location of the Project Area...... 2 Figure 2: Location of Project Area on the United States Geological Survey 7.5-Minute Digital Raster Graphic Mosaic of Kent County, Delaware...... 3 Figure 3: Location of Project Area...... 6 Figure 4: View Northwest Showing the Overgrown Fallow Field in the North Half of the Project Area from the Central Hedgerow...... 8 Figure 5: Partial 1859 Map of Kent County, Delaware, Showing the Project Area Indicated with a Pink Star ...... 13 Figure 6: Partial 1868 Map of the Atlas of the State of Delaware, Showing the Project Area Outlined in Pink...... 14 Figure 7: Partial 1899 Map Showing a Building at the Intersection of Rising Sun and West Lebanon Roads within the Project Area...... 16 Figure 8: 1926 Aerial Image Showing the Project Area Outlined in Pink ...... 17 Figure 9: 1937 Aerial Image Showing the Project Area Outlined in Pink...... 18 Figure 10: 1954 Aerial Image Showing the Project Area Outlined in Pink...... 19 Figure 11: Representative Soil Profile from K-15...... 26 Figure 12: Map Showing Site 7K-C-470 Site Boundaries Outlined in Pink...... 28 Figure 13: Percentages and Counts of Artifact Classes from 7K-C-470...... 29 Figure 14: Location of Project Area Showing Shovel Test Locations...... 30 Figure 15: Site Map Showing the Locations of Architectural Artifacts Recovered from STPs...... 31 Figure 16: Site Map Showing the Locations of Domestic Artifacts Recovered from STPs.. . 32 Figure 17: Site Map Showing the Locations of Creamware, Pearlware and Redware Recovered from STPs...... 33 List of Photos

Photo 1: View North Showing the Overgrown Fallow Field in the South Half of the Project Area from the Southwest Corner...... 5 Photo 2: View Northeast Showing the Overgrown Fallow Field in the South Half of the Project Area from the Southwest Corner...... 7 Photo 3: View East Showing the Overgrown Fallow Field in the South Half of the Project Area from the Southwest Corner...... 7 Photo 4: General View North Showing Eastern Shore Gas Line Marker Along the East side of Northbound U.S. 13...... 25 Photo 5: General View Northeast Across Site 7K-C-470...... 26

List of Tables

Table 1: Soils in the Supplemental Project Area ...... 10 Table 2: Site 7K-C-470 Ceramic Assemblage Composition...... 29 Table 4: Archaeological Resources in the Project Area...... 36

INTRODUCTION

On behalf of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), Dovetail Cultural Resource Group (Dovetail) conducted a supplemental Phase I archaeological survey within the United States Route 13 (U.S. Route 13) Lochmeath Way to Puncheon Run Connector project in Kent County, Delaware. The project is designed to alleviate problems associated with the peak traffic volumes which currently exceed the existing capacity of the four-lane, divided U.S. Route 13. A Phase I archaeological study was conducted by Dovetail of three stormwater management ponds, labeled as Areas 1 through 3 for the purposes of archaeological survey, associated with the project in 2018 (Klein and Liebeknecht 2019). Since that time, DelDOT determined that the project area needed to be expanded to include an additional 28.7 acres (11.6 ha) (as augmented on May 24, 2019). The present document thus serves as an addendum to the earlier report and presents the results of a Phase I archaeological survey conducted on the additional area that has been added to the project.

The goal of the investigations was to identify any archaeological sites or above-ground features associated with archaeological sites, such as building foundations, wells, etc., listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) within the project area, defined as the proposed limits of disturbance of the additional 28.7 acres (11.6 ha) examined in this report (Figure 1 and Figure 2, pp. 2–3).

Because the present document serves as an addendum to the full Phase I report (Klein and Liebeknecht 2019), the cultural context section has been abbreviated to present relevant data not covered in the previous report. The original Phase I report should be consulted for details on this report section and for the results of the previous surveys within and adjacent to the project area and the background review (Klein and Liebeknecht 2019). The current report provides a synthesis of the supplemental Phase I archaeological fieldwork. It is organized to present the results of the fieldwork and to evaluate the need for additional work within the project area.

The Phase I archaeological fieldwork was conducted between August 12 and 23, 2019. Fieldwork was conducted by Bill Liebeknecht, Curtis McCoy, Jonas Schnur, Tim Hitchens, and Jeff Phillips. Bill Liebeknecht and Curtis McCoy both exceed the standards set for Archaeologists by the Secretary of the Interior (SOI) and Bill Liebeknecht served as the Principal Investigator.

Figure 1: Map of Kent County Showing the Location of the Project Area (Esri 2019).

Figure 2: Location of Project Area on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5- Minute Digital Raster Graphic Mosaic of Kent County, Delaware (USGS 1993).

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PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION

The supplemental project area is situated immediately adjacent to Area 2, as defined by previous reporting, and consists of 28.7 acres (11.6 ha). The supplemental project area is north of the intersection of U.S. Route 13 and West Lebanon Road (State Route 10) and extends east to Cataldi Lane east of the town of Camden, Kent County, Delaware.

Environmental conditions within the supplemental project area consisted of two overgrown fallow farm fields split by an east-west hedgerow and bordered by paved roads (Photo 1; Figure 3, p. 6; Photo 2–4, pp. 5–7). Dense weeds in both fields exceeded 6 feet (1.8 m) in height in numerous places across the fields. The fields currently are mowed three times a year as part of a managed habitat for bees and butterflies.

Photo 1: View North Showing the Overgrown Fallow Field in the South Half of the Project Area from the Southwest Corner.

Figure 3: Location of Project Area (Firstmap 2017).

Photo 2: View Northeast Showing the Overgrown Fallow Field in the South Half of the Project Area from the Southwest Corner.

Photo 3: View East Showing the Overgrown Fallow Field in the South Half of the Project Area from the Southwest Corner.

Figure 4: View Northwest Showing the Overgrown Fallow Field in the North Half of the Project Area from the Central Hedgerow.

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

The supplemental project area was historically part of rural Kent County, with large tracts of farmland and currently consists of fallow farmland. The fields are surrounded by a suburban landscape which exists due to development related to the expansion of Dover within the last several decades, including the creation of Dover Air Force Base in the 1940s and the construction of Dover Downs in the late 1960s. Improvements to U.S. Route 13, including adding two new north-bound lanes to create a divided four-lane highway, have also spurred development. In addition, the recent completion of SR 1 (Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway), a four- to six-lane highway built to interstate standards directly west of U.S. Route 13, has made access from central Kent County to the urban areas of northern Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania much easier. As a result, large housing subdivisions, as well as commercial and industrial developments, have sprung up on the outskirts of Dover, where the project area is located.

Geology

The project area is in the Lower Coastal Plain physiographic zone in the Mid-Drainage management zone subdivision. The Lower Coastal Plain physiographic zone covers the entirety of Delaware south of the Smyrna River (Custer 1984; Custer et al. 1986; Hodny et al. 1989). The Columbia formation characterizes the sediments of the southern Delaware Coastal Plain. Columbia sediments comprise sands, primarily composed of quartz and feldspar, as well as coarse sandstone, quartz, and chert gravels deposited by watercourses from the north during the Quaternary Period (Custer 1984; Jordan 1964). Movement and reworking of the sands over time created a relatively flat landscape with elevations ranging up to 30 feet (9.1 m). In addition, the long gradual slopes that define the area make the small elevation differences less drastic. Despite the flat topography, the area is home to a variety of environments as a result of riverine and coastal marsh systems attractive to both wildlife and humans (Custer 1989). The project area consists of open ground with a bay-basin like feature located in the center on the south side of the east-west hedgerow.

Hydrology

Tidbury Creek drains the project vicinity flowing east into the St. Jones River. The St. Jones River flows southeast to empty into Delaware Bay near the mouth of the bay. As a result of the low-relief topography of the area, portions of this stream are bordered by wetlands which may have been resource-rich areas attractive to prehistoric populations. The St. Jones and its tributaries likely served as transportation routes into the interior from the Delaware Bay, which joins the Atlantic Ocean between Cape Henlopen and Cape May, southeast of Dover.

Soils

Fertile, well-drained soils attracted both humans and game over millennia. Moreover, the wild grasses, fruits, and seeds consumed by people both before and after the adoption of

CULTURAL CONTEXT

The complete area historic context section was presented in the previous report produced for the original U.S. Route 13 Lochmeath Way to Puncheon Run Connector project (Klein and Liebeknecht 2019). As a result, only specific context components were expanded and augmented during the current study, inclusive of maps and aerial photographs of the supplemental project area, to better understand the expansion area and evaluate resources recorded within the expanded project boundaries.

Early Industrialization (1770–1830)

The American Revolution brought disarray to the region, and social and political unrest in Delaware further heightened an already tense atmosphere. Strong family and political ties to Pennsylvania resulted in support for the Revolutionaries. Only one Revolutionary War battle was fought in Delaware, at Cooch’s Bridge near Scottsborough in 1777, during the campaign that led to the Battle of Brandywine. After the Battle of Brandywine, British troops occupied Wilmington and threatened the state capital at New Castle. The capital was moved to Dover, which became Delaware’s permanent capital in 1781.

While the War of 1812 is most often associated with sites along the Great Lakes, the Mid- Atlantic region was still an important part of the war. The Delmarva Peninsula, especially, was a center for naval activity and troop movement, because of its strategic location with access to Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. The British fought hard for control of the Delaware River and Bay, as Philadelphia was the economically most important city at the time (Lewes Historical Society n.d.). With the legislative seat at Dover, Kent County was inevitably involved on a political level long before war was declared on June 18, 1812 (Scharf 1888:278). With the British bombardment of Lewes in Sussex County on April 6–7, 1813, and the memory of the 1777 invasion by the British during the Revolutionary War, Delawareans were on guard throughout the War of 1812. However, after the attack on Lewes British forces turned their attention to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, thus sparing Dover and Wilmington from direct hostilities (Hagley 2013).

The series of embargoes leading up to the War of 1812 negatively affected trade in Delaware. At the same time, Delaware’s major farms were suffering from depleted soil quality and competition from new lands in the West. From 1800 to 1830, agricultural productivity in Delaware decreased markedly and many farmers were forced to sell their land and move to the state’s economic centers to find employment (Frederick et al. 2006:59). To fight decreased soil fertility and improve agriculture, the farmers of New Castle County established the state’s first agricultural society in 1804 (Frederick et al. 2006:59). Kent County farmers would not form their own agricultural society until 1835, since declining soil fertility did not become a major problem in that part of the state until slightly later. Meanwhile, manufacturing and commerce prospered as the state’s population increased. During this period, Kent County produced a variety of agricultural products focusing primarily on grains.

The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D Canal) was opened to traffic in 1829, connecting the Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware River and providing improved market access for area farmers and industrialists (Frederick et al. 2006:62). Overland transportation routes were also constructed at this time and improved to accommodate increased numbers of travelers and trade. The economic depression of 1819, brought on by the low cost of wheat and other grains, further decreased the value of agricultural land and crops across the state. During this period, the most successful agrarians became part of central Delaware’s rural elite farming class, and diversified their interests by purchasing urban properties, investing in banks and manufacturing facilities, and supporting the growth of transportation networks (Siders et al. 1991). Members of this elite class promoted scientific farming and agricultural reform, advocating for the enclosure of farmland and use of new machinery, construction of new farm buildings, increased livestock production, and controlled patterns of land tenancy (Siders et al. 1993:10).

Industrialization and Capitalization (1830–1880)

In northern Delaware, the Industrial Revolution led to significant advances in transportation, urbanization, and industrialization. This industrialization, coupled with declining soil productivity in Kent County led to a decline in the population of that area in the mid- nineteenth century. In the 1840s, the Pennsylvania, Washington, and Baltimore Railroad connected Newport to Wilmington, and a branch line connected New Castle to Delaware Junction. Rail service began in Dover in the 1850s. The Delaware and Pennsylvania Railroad connected the Delmarva Peninsula with markets in Wilmington and Philadelphia. It was completed to Dover and the small town of West Camden or Camden Station by