Walking Tour of Historic Georgetown, Delaware |
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| Georgetown was
established in 1791 by an act of the Delaware General
Assembly removing the Sussex County Seat of government
from Lewis on the coast to a more central location. The
site of the town was purchased on May 9, 1791, and
surveyed into 60 x 120 foot lots, which were sold to
defray the cost of the land purchase. The town was eventually laid out in a circle one half mile in all directions from The Circle and it was governed directly by the legislature until the mid 1800s. The circular boundary was broken in 1986. Although relatively young for many communities in Sussex County, Georgetown has some of the finest homes and unique architectural styles in Delaware. Enjoy your tour through our historic County Seat. |
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| 1. The
Circle. Or Public Square designed by Commissioner Rhoads
Shankland following the purchase of 76 acres for the new
Sussex County seat on May 9, 1791. Legend has it that a
slave girl named Liz was responsible for plowing the
center of the Town Square and planting the trees there.
The Circle is on the National Register of Historic
Places. [Back To Map] |
2. New
Sussex County Court House. 1 the Circle. Designed by
renowned architect William Strickland, the structure was
built between 1837-1839 on the same location as the Old
Courthouse. The portico and cupola were added in 1914. [Back To Map] |
| 3. Town
Hall. 39 The Circle. Formerly the site of a Tavern built
in 1820 and called the "Rising Sun," the brick
structure was built in 1921 for the Delaware Trust
Company. The building was donated to the Town in 1965 by
Wilmington Trust Company. [Back To Map] |
4. Old Fire
Hall. 37 The Circle. The first fire apparatus was
purchased in 1831 and the Georgetown Fire Company was
organized in 1903. The company moved to the old firehall
building on The Circle in 1930 and to their new building
on South Bedford Street in 1966. [Back To Map] |
| 5. The
Mansion House. 28 The Circle. The Greek Revival style of
the front section of the structure dates to 1830-1866.
The older back portion is believed to have been
constructed in 1799. The home was once owned by Charles
Sudler Richards, who served as Delaware Secretary of
State and Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. [Back To Map] |
6. The
Paynter House. 26 The Circle. Constructed in the early
1800s, the house was occupied by the Paynter Family,
which owned Clayfield Farm for a time. The Paynter Family
included physicians, a bank president, and a Delaware
Supreme Court Justice. [Back To Map] |
| 7. Dr.
Joseph B. Waples House. 4 West Market Street. Constructed
in the 1800s, the house was home to the Town's dedicated
physician. His office was next to his home adjacent to
Sussex County Family Court. [Back To Map] |
8. The Brick
Hotel. 18 The Circle. The inn was constructed in 1836 and
served as the Sussex County Courthouse during
construction of the new Courthouse. [Back To Map] |
| 9. Old
Farmers Bank. 13 The Circle. Farmer's Bank was chartered
in 1807 and a fine brick structure built in 1852. The
present Georgian-style structure was constructed in1971.
Farmers Bank was sold in 1981. Mellon Bank acquired the
bank in 1983. [Back To Map] |
10. Old
Georgetown Post Office. 2 The Circle. After 33 separate
postmasters and post offices scattered throughout the
Town, the cornerstone of the old post office was laid on
June 4, 1932 and cost $63,452. The structure was acquired
in 1994 by the Sussex County Council as meeting chambers
and councilmen offices. [Back To Map] |
| 11. Old
Sussex County Court House. 10 South Bedford Street.
Constructed in 1791-1792 to meet the exact dimensions of
the former County Courthouse in Lewes and moved from its
original Circle location in 1837 to make way for the
present courthouse. The structure was restored in 1976
and is the oldest wooden Courthouse still in use by the
court system (on occasion). The building is open for
public tours on the first Wednesday of each month and by
appointment. For tour information call 855-9660. [Back To Map] |
12. New
Century Club Building.10 West Pine Street. Constructed in
1926, the building now houses the Georgetown Library. [Back To Map] |
| 13. The
Sorden-Rollins House.103 West Pine Street. The Greek
Revival style structure was constructed between
1791-1801. [Back To Map] |
14.
Clayfield Farm. 228 South Front Street. The home was
built in 1841 by the son of U.S. Senator William Wells
and once owned by Judge James M. Tunnell, Jr., a Delaware
Supreme Court Justice. [Back To Map] |
| 15. The
Benton Harris House.14 South Front Street. The front
section of the house was constructed in 1795 by
Georgetown's first storekeeper. When he became postmaster
in 1799, the home became the post office as was the
custom of the time. [Back To Map] |
16. Dr.
Stephen Green House.8 South Front Street. The oldest
section of the house dates to before 1810 and in about
1868 had a three-bay section added. Dr. Green was a
physician and served as Justice of the Peace in 1836 and
1851. [Back To Map] |
| 17. The
Judges. 104 West Market Street. Built in 1809 by Judge
Peter Robinson, the Early-Georgian structure has served
as the home of several judges, State Supreme Court
Justices and two Delaware Secretary's of State. [Back To Map] |
18. The
Peter S. Faucett House.11 West Laurel Street. An
excellent example of joining two separate 3-bay houses,
the oldest section was believed to have been constructed
about 1830. [Back To Map] |
| 19.The
Alfred Robinson House. 112 North Bedford Street.
Constructed on The Circle before 1800, this grand
residence was moved to its present location in 1857. The
giant Magnolia tree is said to have been a gift of a sea
captain in the late 1850s. [Back To Map] |
20.Wesley
United Methodist Church. 10 North Race Street. It is said
that Francis Asbury preached in what would become the
Town as early as 1779, although no edifice was
constructed until 1802 on West Pine Street near the
Church cemetery. Two church buildings later, the present
sanctuary was constructed in 1896. The parsonage was
added in 1907. [Back To Map] |
| 21.Masonic
Lodge.151 East Market Street. Constructed in 1843, the
Masonic Hall was called the Georgetown Academy and was
built with funds raised through a lottery approved by the
Legislature for construction of the school on the first
floor. The Academy closed in 1885 and the portico was
added in 1920. [Back To Map] |
22. St.
Paul's Episcopal Church. 122 East Pine Street.Organized
in 1794, a wood frame structure was built in 1804. The
brick structure was constructed in 1844. A fire in 1987
destroyed the parish house inn the rear. It was rebuilt
in 1990. [Back To Map] |
| 23. The Old
Academy.104 East Pine Street. Private school instruction
began in Georgetown in 1812 and its first building was
constructed in 1836, it was so named to distinguish is
from the Masonic Hall, called the New Academy. Near St.
Paul's Church, Georgetown School was constructed in 1885. [Back To Map] |
24. Nutter
D. Marvel Museum. 508 South Bedford Street. A collection
of unique structures displaying memorabilia and
photographs of old Georgetown and Sussex County and
several historic horse drawn carriages assembled by Mr.
Marvel and donated to the Town of Georgetown after his
death in 1988. The Museum is operated by the Georgetown
Historical Society. For tour information call 855-9660. [Back To Map] |
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