The Old 'Town of New Castle , Delaware 
TYPICAL DOORWAYS 
NEW CASTLE 
English and the increasing number of buildings 
strengthened this new appearance. Though 
at first a rough outpost, New Castle was soon 
to have a new element introduced into it, and 
was to become a place of distinction. In 
1682, the good ship “Welcome,” cast anchor 
before New Castle, and presented to the town 
no less a personage than William Penn him¬ 
self. He came ashore, and made an address 
to the magistrates, explaining what sort of 
government he intended to establish in 
his new possessions and what he hoped 
therefrom. New Castle and twelve miles 
around it, was contained in the grant that he 
had received from James, then Duke of York. 
Producing his deeds, he demanded possession 
of the land from the attorneys of His Royal 
Highness. They delivered to him the fort; 
and presented him with a bit of turf and a twig, 
to represent the actual land that was to be 
his on the Delaware. A century later the town 
laid claim to considerable gentility, and the 
spacious colonial houses of its aristocracy 
gave it an appearance of importance. 
These residences are excellent examples ot 
early American architecture. Like others of 
their period in the Middle States they are 
built of brick. In many cases this material 
has been painted a gray or a light brown and 
a not unharmonious variety of color has been 
made. The good proportions of these build¬ 
ings, their rich details of white painted wood¬ 
work show the taste and refinement which ex¬ 
isted in these old towns. The Dutch pastors 
who held a strong influence over the colonies 
were Calvinists by profession and were highly 
educated men. Their influence was followed 
by that of a wealthy class and a circle of offi¬ 
cers of the early American government. It 
is, however, only the last one hundred and 
fifty years the architecture of which can be 
seen to-day. Buildings of the time of the 
Swedes have long since disappeared, and the 
last vestige of the Dutch—the “ Idle House ” 
was pulled down about twelve years ago. 
The dilapidated appearance of its walls had 
made some of the citizens fearful of its safety. 
When the pick and rope were applied to 
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