newarking

Another snippet from the book Newark, Delaware Past and Present, written by Egbert G. Handy and Jas. L. Vallandigham, Jr. in 1882.

My last Newark History post from the book was on Newark Delaware’s First Charter, and this one looks at some local laws created a few years later establishing some laws for Newark’s official marketplace area. It appears that the marketplace was right by the Newark Academy building, on the side where the Stone Balloon had be located at for the last few years.

In 1772 “An Act for establishing a market in the town of Newark and for regulating the same,” took effect.

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I’ve been slowly going through the book Newark, Delaware Past and Present, written by Egbert G. Handy and Jas. L. Vallandigham, Jr. in 1882.

I published the preface to the book a few weeks ago, with some notes about some of the people and events appearing in that. The book then continues to talk about the first Charter of the City, as granted by King George II:

To an Englishman, or indeed to all foreigners, the claim of antiquity in behalf of almost any city or town in the United States, would seem perfectly ridiculous. Yet as our ideas of age or duration of time are mainly controlled by comparison with those places and things most familiar with us, a village over 200 years old is considered by Americans generally as entitled to be called ancient. As Newark, Delaware, is above 200 years old, in a new world chronology it can well be termed an old town, though “hoary centuries” have not watched over its gradual growth and improvement.

The early settlers were from Great Britain — English, Welsh, and Scotch-Irish, with a small sprinkling of the “raal sons of the sod.”

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I saw the label below yesterday, and wondered about how many buildings I’ve actually seen that exhibited such pride in their manufacture. As it says, “In our line we lead the world.”

The title of this blog post gives away which building this is, at least if you’re from Newark. If you are, take a look the next time you enter the Korner Diner from the Haines Street side above the door. This is about as close as a diner gets to an engraved cornerstone.

I realized while looking at it that I don’t know much about diners. They’re something that I’ve really taken for granted - I’ve been in more than a couple of them in New Jersey. I decided to investigate a little to see if I could learn more about diners, and about Jerry O’Mahony, Inc., the maker of this diner.

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I am going to be presenting the following book in bits and pieces over the next month or two, and try to find some links to people and places and events contained in the passages that I post.

Newark, Delaware Past and Present
by Egbert G. Handy and Jas. L. Vallandigham, Jr.

Preface

In preparing this little work we are indebted to so many sources for the facts stated, that it is impossible for us to give all the credit due for their assistance. A considerable part of what has been written has been obtained by conversations with men and woment of advanced age, who were familiar with the events spoken of; but it is proper that we should acknowledge an indebtedness, also, to “Vincents History of Delaware,” to Col. Wm. G. Whitely’s address on the Revolutionary Soldiers of Delaware, to Johnson’s admirable “History of Cecil County, Maryland,” and to the centennial sermons of Reverends George J. Porter, William D. Mackey and Dr. J.L. Vallandigham.

The account of the murder of J. Edward Roach is condensed from a nearly verbatim report of the evidence taken in the case, and it may be relied upon as correct.

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I’ve been meaning to learn a little more about the architecture of some of the older buildings in town. The first building I decided to look at was one of the churches in town that has a historical marker which tells a little about its history.

Text from the marker is indented below:

St. John the Baptist Church

In 1858, the original Old Village Presbyterian Church which stood on this location was purchased by Charles A. Murphey. The property was donated to the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, and the church was named St. Patrick’s. It became a mission of Church of Immaculate Conception in Elkton, Md.

On the morning of December 25, 1880, the floor collapsed, and a decision was made to raze the church. While a new church was being built, Sunday Mass was held in the Newark Grange Hall.

Because of the monies contributed by Father John A. Lyons and his family, the church was renamed in honor of his patron, St. John the Baptist. The cornerstone of the present building was laid on June 24, 1883, and construction was completed in December.

The Church’s website provide’s a little more information about the history of the Church. I’m not certain if there was any significance to the choice of St Patrick’s, except that I know that the Inn that stood where the historic Deer Park Tavern now stands was the St. Patrick’s Inn.

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A book is being created to celebrate Newark’s 250th anniversary, and you can be in it.

Planned to be around 300 pages, long, the book will contain information about the City as well as pictures of people who live or work in Newark. Wall Flowers Press is working on putting together this Histories of Newark book.

According to the City’s Web site:

Photos will be taken on Fridays and Saturdays, starting March 30 through May 5, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the former CVS building at the corner of Main and Academy Streets.

Just walk in. Bring your family, friends, or team. Come as you are, wear a hat or a uniform, ride a skateboard or walk the dog in front of the camera.

They are going to supposedly use photos on every page of the book, and plan on taking a minimum of 3,000 photos.

The book index is online, and it looks like it should be a pretty interesting look back at the history of Newark. If you would like to be part of it, make sure that you get to down town sometime on Fridays and Saturdays and get your picture taken.