The Meeteer House

The Meeteer House

For the first few posts here, we've stayed on the eastern side of MCH, but the hundred actually stretches all the way west to White Clay Creek on the eastern edge of Newark. So as not to slight the western portion of MCH, we'll now take a drive down Kirkwood Highway.

While traveling west on Kirkwood Hwy, just before Possum Park Road, there sits on the right a shining white, 2 1/2 story Federal-style home. While the house currently serves as the Yasik Funeral Home, its history goes back much, much further. And while you wouldn't think to connect them now, this classy 5-bay, wood-frame house has direct ties to an significant, and recently lost, piece of Newark-area history.

The Harlan-Chandler Mill Complex, Part II

Abram Chandler House

In the last post, we took a look at the 3-story, fieldstone house that turned out to have been built within the shell of the 1815 Harlan grist mill. In this post, we'll turn our eyes to the other house in the complex, the Abram Chandler House. The dwelling is a 2 1/2 story brick structure, with five bays, a centered door, and three dormers. There is also a full-sized ell built onto the rear of the house.

According to the 1987 DelDot report, Abram Chandler purchased the mill and property from the Harlan family in 1852, then conveyed the property the same year to Samuel Chandler, probably his son or brother. Samuel then sold the property back to Abram in 1863. It's unclear whether Samuel operated the mill during that 11 year period, or whether Abram did. It's quite likely, though, that sometime not long after 1863 Abram was looking for a larger, newer home. He built it, right next to his mill.

The Harlan-Chandler Mill Complex, Milltown

For my money, one of the most enjoyable aspects of studying local history is when you experience a "So that's what that is" moment. It might be a place name or street name suddenly making sense, or connecting a historical name with a place, or vice versa. It also can be finally learning the identity of something you've seen many times, but never knew the story behind. I had this experience a few days ago.

The MCHHB Is Back -- Now In Bite-Sized Form!

When I started this blog last year, I had an idea in my head as to what I wanted it to be. Partially due to external factors, but also partially due to that original vision, I was not able to keep up on this site very well (OK, not at all). My original (and still current) idea for this blog was for it to be a clearinghouse of sorts for all things relating to the history of Mill Creek Hundred. To the best of my knowledge, there is precious little on the web right now about our local history. I want to change this. However, I've found that the first thing I've had to change was my way of going about it.

My plan was to put out occasional posts (maybe one a week) detailing the background and history of a MCH site or structure. They would be long, comprehensive posts containing as much information as my grubby little hands could get a hold of. The Mermaid Tavern post is an example of what I set out to do. I think it's a good post, but it took far too long to do, and I ended up getting stuck when I tried to repeat it. I just don't have the time.

So now, here's my new idea -- shorter posts. For anyone who might have read me anywhere else, you'll know that "short posts" are not exactly my strong point. I do tend to ramble a bit sometimes (this would be a good example here). I think, though, that if I set out to write shorter posts, it'll be easier for me to keep up. Instead of doing one big, super-post detailing every single aspect of a site, I'll pick one part of it (or maybe just what I've found so far) and do a smaller post. If I end up doing multiple posts on a certain topic, I will link them and use tags so that anyone interested in learning more can read everything on that subject. Got it?

Hopefully, this new plan will allow me to post more often, as well as have some fun along the way. Check back often for new posts, and as always, feedback is always appreciated. Thanks!

The Mermaid Tavern

The first historic site we'll take a look at is the Mermaid Tavern on Limestone Road in Pike Creek. Located on the same side of Rt. 7 and just north of the Pike Creek Shopping Center, the Mermaid Tavern is probably the closest thing the hundred has ever had to a local meeting hall. Due to its location on a major road and very near the geographical center of the the hundred, the tavern has often been used for public purposes during its long history. Among other things, it has served as a tavern, an inn, a post office, a polling place, and a private residence.

There seems to be some question as to the construction dates for the tavern, but on its National Register of Historic Places nomination form the date of 1725 is given for either the construction of the original log house or its first stone addition. Either way, there was certainly a structure here that predated the log house, as a deed dated 1718 mentions a farm and a hotel license.

To those unfamiliar with the history of MCH, the Pike Creek location for a colonial inn might seem odd, but the secret is the road. The thoroughfare now known as Route 7, or Limestone Road, is one of the oldest in the area. It was used heavily as a conduit for Pennsylvania farmers to bring their crops to market. They would bring their products (mostly grains) down in large wagons, often referred to as "arks" (some of the planks of which were re-purposed as floorboards in the tavern), to Stanton, where they would be loaded on barges and taken down the Christina River to Wilmington and beyond.

Around 1800, the original two-bay (window) stone section was enlarged with a three-bay wood frame addition on the north side. The original liquor license for the establishment was issued in 1746 to James Walker, but is seems the bar was at some point moved to the wood-frame section. As of 1973 (and I don't know if they are still there), the back of the bar, a shelf, three money drawers, and a glass showcase with sliding doors (where the "fancy liquors" were displayed) were still intact.

In addition to being a tavern and inn, the Mermaid also served as the polling place for Mill Creek Hundred from the early 1800's until 1891. This was due mostly to its central location. For the same reason, it did duty as a post office from the mid-1840's until about 1882. The Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company was formed here in 1839.

While the wagoners could see to their food, drink, and lodging needs at the tavern, across the road was a full-service blacksmith and wheelwright's shop to tend to their horses and wagons. Additionally, a shed with stalls for 24 horses kept their teams safe and dry. There is an entire DELDOT archaeology report on just the facilities across from the tavern. In the picture below from 1964, the barn can still be seen to the south of the tavern.

After nearly a century and a half of service, the Mermaid Tavern ceased functioning as a tavern in the late 1860's. It continued a bit longer as an unlicensed hotel, but since about 1880 it has been only a private residence. Its demise as a tavern and inn is due mostly to the appearance of the railroads, which by the late nineteenth century made Limestone Road obsolete as a heavy shipping route. It has been fortunate to stay in the hands of diligent owners, and the Mermaid Tavern, the oldest residence remaining on Limestone Road, stands as a tangible link to to Mill Creek Hundred's colonial past.

And Off We Go.....

This is the debut post here at The Mill Creek History Blog. Although some of this information is covered in the "About This Blog" and the "About Me" sections, I just want to go over and elaborate on a few points. First off, I am by no means a professional historian or archaeologist, no do I claim to be. I am just a born and bred MCH resident with an interest in local history. I have done some light research into some MCH sites and would like to share what I have with anyone who might be interested. I will also provide links when possible, so anyone can view the information for themselves.

Since I am, as I said, an amateur, I know that I don't have all the information and that sometimes I might have incorrect information. I will always welcome input and corrections. I also welcome any suggestions for new sites to explore.

In addition, if any local history-related news events should pop up, I may post on them as well. If , through this blog, I am able to connect with anyone else who shares an interest in the history of Mill Creek Hundred, I may look (down the road) into forming some sort of Mill Creek Hundred Historical Society. That, however, is likely a ways off. For now, I hope we can have fun with this blog. Thanks.