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History
Tom Evans, the Art of Politics and “the most important environmental law nobody has ever heard of”
It takes a special kind of vision and ability to meaningfully influence public policy, and these traits do not always accompany electoral prowess. Scores of successful politicians have come and gone from public life without making much of a dent in the government they were elected to run. Indeed, it…
By: Michael FlemingTSD Q&A: David Farber, Author of “Everybody Ought to be Rich: The Life and Times of John J. Raskob, Capitalist”
Ask most Delawareans about the financier John Jakob Raskob, and many would probably associate him with Archmere Academy, the Catholic high school that sits on his former Claymont estate. It’s likely, however, that far fewer First Staters are aware of the extraordinary scope of Raskob’s influence across business, finance and politics the early part of the 20th…
By: Town Square DelawareArchitecture Matters: Civic Buildings in the Center of Our Lives
Over the course of the next year or so, I intend to blog about the topic “Architecture Matters.” From commercial structures to our homes, I don’t think there has been a more important time to reflect on the importance of good architecture and to push back on form, function, economy…
By: Brian DiSabatinoTSD History Corner: Delaware Takes Flight
Folks, George J. Frebert in his book, Delaware Aviation History, wrote about the exploits of Richard C. duPont {1911-1943}. Richard duPont earned his pilot’s license in 1930. His older brother, A. Felix duPont, Jr. gave his brother, Richard, his first airplane ride. Richard duPont was in his element when he…
By: Town Square DelawareWhispers of Angels (VIDEO)
From ContentDelaware.org: Defiant, brave and free, the great abolitionists Thomas Garrett, William Still and Harriet Tubman, along with hundreds of lesser known and nameless opponents of slavery, formed a Corridor of Courage stretching from Maryland’s eastern shore through the length of Delaware to Philadelphia and beyond — making the Underground…
By: Town Square DelawareLife After Downton?
Perhaps, as millions of others, you are dreading Sunday night, when this season of Downton Abbey ends. Seeing that yellow lab’s swinging tail was a signal to settle in for a relaxing Sunday evening. But alas, after Sunday, we’ll have to content ourselves with the DVDs. Or do we? Viewers…
By: Joanne ButlerTSD History Corner: The First State, Three Countries and Five Centuries
Simeon Selby Pennewill {1867-1935} was the governor of Delaware from Jan. 19, 1909 ’til Jan. 21, 1913. To his credit he advocated efficiency and economy in his administration and operated under a balanced budget, by controlling expenditures. I’m not insinuating nepotism, but he did appoint his brother James {1854-1935} to be Chief Justice of…
By: Town Square DelawareWilmington: How We Got Here and Where We’re Going
Part VI: The Hercules Deal This economic development retrospective covering the years 1945 to 1984 will be serialized as eight parts, running on alternate days on Town Square Delaware. Wilmington officials were looking for a chairman for the new WEDCO organization and asked Hercules chairman and CEO Werner Brown to…
By: Kevin McGonegalA Bit of Delaware… in Colorado
Leadville, Colorado (elevation 10,152 ft) is a genuine, raffish old mining town, sprouting up in the Rockies during the great gold and silver boom that drew scads of hearty fortune seekers westward in the 1880s. And much to the surprise of this recent visitor, this highest incorporated city in North…
By: Michael FlemingWilmington: How We Got Here and Where We’re Going
Part V: Jai Alai, Anyone? This economic development retrospective covering the years 1945 to 1984 will be serialized as eight parts, running on alternate days on Town Square Delaware. Wilmington Mayor Tom Maloney chose to run (unsuccessfully) for U.S. Senate against Bill Roth in 1976 and the mayoralty fell to…
By: Kevin McGonegal