Book Description

Claymont, Delaware, located strategically along the Delaware River, the Kings Highway, and the railroad, is a singular small town that, in many ways, has mirrored America's growth from the 1600s to the 1960s. Though an important thoroughfare between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. since colonial times, the essence of the Claymont community has always been determined by the vision of the steadfast people who, for centuries, have made it their home. Within these pages, readers will discover the Claymont of yesteryear, visiting the inns and taverns that sprang up to serve the needs of early travelers, the homes of such famous residents as artists Adolph Wertmueller and F.O.C. Darley, and the summer retreats of Wilmington and Philadelphia's elite families. Readers will delight in views of the early farmhouses along the Post Road, the Delaware River's "gold coast" of the 1890s, the seaplane training facility of World War I, the old-fashioned meat counter at the A&P, and the Green Lantern Theatre. Schools and churches, neighborhoods and thoroughfares, businesses and memorable events, all captured and preserved by early photographers, make this entertaining trip down memory lane a must for Claymont residents, both past and present.