John Bell House Dark Dover Lantern Tour - October 7, 2011

While working with the Division of Historic & Cultural Affairs, I found out about the new "First Weekend" programming. It definately sparked my interest. One of the fun programs was the Dark Dover Lantern tour.

A few DNREC buddies and I met at the Bell House and witnessed firsthand the chilling true stories of gruesome murders, and encounter spirits whose legends have left their sinister imprint on The Green. The victim of the 1940s Lonely Hearts Murders is just one of the many specters we met. Unusual twists include an unexpected retelling of the Poison Candy Murder tale from the point of view of the victim’s deceitful husband. The historical rein-actors did a wonderful job telling their individual tales keeping it all the more suspensful.

The John Bell House dates back to the mid-1700s and was owned by three generations of the Bell family. It was newly recently restored and opened to the public on April 2, 2011. DNREC was really excited to promote the newest and oldest wooden structure in Dover. It now serves as the interpretive center for our First State Heritage Park, Delaware first urban "park without boundaries" linking historical and cultural sites in the state capital. The park is a partnership of state agencies, with city and county government, non-profit organizations and the private sector.

When the park was first established, the structure was in danger of being lost, due to severe termite damage and several centuries of wear and tear. In order to save it, the Department of State purchased the building in 2005. The John Bell House was certainly on The Green when the U.S. Constitution was ratified at the Golden Fleece Tavern in 1787 and was also quite possibly already standing during the events of the Revolution. The Ridgely House is the only other surviving building that would have been on The Green at that time.

A Christmas Miracle!

This season, I have been touched by several coworkers that are in ill health, struggling financially, and mending by a miracle. My work family is very important to me. I've worked with most of them for 20 years. We've seen each other through marriages, children, heartache, devastation, celebrations, retirement, and even death. They have become my pseudo-brothers and sisters. Sometimes, we may not like each other but together we can move mountains! The following life-event has touched my heart and I continue to be amazed by everyday miracles.

I have changed the names to protect their privacy.

Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Mrs. A got a call that her husband, a City of Dover employee, was critical injured by an electric-flash from a generator he was working with as part of a reconstruction project. He was immediately flown by helicopter to the Crozer Chester Burn Center. The next day, we learned that he had 30% burns, a low white blood count, chemical pneumonia in both lungs, and on a ventilator doing all the breathing for him.

Immediately, a website was created about Mr. A for the family members, City of Dover and DNREC employees, and friends. Updates throughout each day kept their family in our hearts and prayers. Monetary contributions poured in for Mrs. A's daily two hour travel and meal expenses from Lower Kent County, DE to Chester, PA. Donated sick and vacation time from employees allowed Mrs. A to be at her husbands side and still receive a full salary.

We were all aware that the hospital only allowed three daily visitations for two hours at a time. The A's also have a teenage daughter attending school, and live-in mother who needs part time elder care. From time to time Mrs. A would stop by at work very emotional thanking us for our love and support. She and her family were overwhelmed from the generosity of her coworkers and strangers that became aware of their struggle.

Everyday, we'd search each other out to find out the progression or setbacks of a coworker's spouse. We all adopted their family and gave them hope, love, and faith as we posted prayers and good thoughts to support him and their family. At times, Mrs. A would ask for continued prayers as she read each posting to her husband and family. Many times, she would post how the prayers were working and how quickly he was healing.

To many, Mr. A became a living breathing miracle as he continued to heal after skin graft surgeries, scary high blood pressure surges, blood counts, and ventilator oxygen percentages. We were amazed at Mrs. A's tireless worry and days without sleep. It was December 1, when Mrs. A finally received a kiss from her husband, 21 days after his accident. In the next days he was moved to a physical therapy location in Philadelphia where his wife was able to stay with him round-the-clock. On December 12, Mr. A was able to go home.

Mr. A still has a long way to go. He will continue with more skin graft surgeries at Crozer Chester. Also, he will be travelling to Chestertown, MD for rehabilitation to help them stretch grafts on his hand, armpits and shanks . His organs have to readjust after laying down without movement for 22 days. He is very dizzy and slow going, but his body is rejuvenating.

During a recent visit, buddies from his work had him laughing for the first time. She said it was music to his wife's ears. As she posted, "Prayers really work!! We thank you for your continued prayers through this difficult time in our lives. It brings tears to our eyes every time we talk about it. It's amazing that he got a second chance at LIFE, and I get a second chance at LOVE.

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10/1/2011 "Keeping Up With The Loockermans"

On the first Saturday of October, at a First State Heritage Park Program, I was excited to learn more about the family name "Loockerman" which is the name of a street that runs through the business section of Dover. Dover had a family in the 1700s, who gained significant wealth through real estate and as merchants. Researching the family was tricky considering the lack of documents. In 18th century Dover, the well-heeled family might have a cupboard of rum and sugar and a closet of quilted petticoats and silk gowns. Not only would Vincent Loockerman’s have all those luxuries, but he was likely the person who brought the goods up the St. Jones River to the citizens of Dover. I felt so surprised when I got a rare look at the Loockerman family through artwork, furniture, clothing and documents .


"Meet the Loockermans” Under the tent on The Green
Visitors should start here to meet this family of 18th-century merchants who left their mark on Dover’s history. They will encounter two key living-history characters – Vincent and Elizabeth – on this journey of discovery.

“What Elizabeth Wore” The Old State House
This was a rare, one-day-only opportunity to see dresses and accessories worn by Susannah and Elizabeth Loockerman in 1750 – 1810, now in the collections of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. From silk ballgowns of the late 1700s to the Napoleonic looks of the early 1800s, the Loockerman women stayed fashion forward. Two standouts from the collection are a rose silk gown paired with a rose quilted petticoat and red damask slippers and a cream colored, wool empire style gown from about 1810. Very few clothing collections exist from this time period, or at least collections this complete. Others may have one dress or one male ensemble; the Loockermans left eight complete looks. I felt as though I was looking at Cinderella's gowns.....only, I was inches away without glass. The dresses and shoes had not been displayed since 1976. I was so happy to be part of this one day event!

“Where Vincent Sat” Biggs Museum of American Art
The furniture owned by Vincent Loockerman was displayed along with his 1750 portrait on loan from the State of Delaware. By looking at their furniture, their items and their houses, Vincent was successful, and it showed. When you’re probably one of the wealthiest men in the U.S., you’re going to want luxury goods, you’re going to want to look the part and not just in your own person but in your family.




“What Dover Bought” John Bell House
Dover residents of the 18th century were eager consumers. These people where connected and knew what the trends in Philadelphia were. The kinds of goods that merchants like Loockerman imported from Philadelphia and the world via the St. Jones River were on display to see and touch.

The John Bell House was just recently renovated and dates back to the mid-1700s and was owned by three generations of the Bell family. The Bells owned and operated a series of 18th-century taverns around The Green, and it is believed that the structure originally served as a workshop. In the mid-19th century, two notable Delawareans – Nathaniel Smithers and George Valentine Massey – maintained law offices in the building.

“What Words Reveal” Delaware Public Archives
Surviving Loockerman family papers, ledgers, deeds, wills and inventories reveal 18th-century Dover’s world of merchants and consumers. When viewing these ledgers and accounts, I was not only looking at what Vincent Loockerman was able to purchase from Philly, but also what the market was in Dover.

12/16/2011 First State Heritage Park

Part of Delaware's (DNREC) Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control is the First State Heritage Park. It is located in and around the Capitol of Dover. There are free walking tours of The Dover Green led by historical interpreters in period dress! Building tours are free on the first Saturday of each month including: Legislative Hall, Johnson Victrola Museum, First State Heritage Park Welcome Center & Galleries, The John Bell House, The Old State House, and the Biggs Museum of American Art.

I'm assigned to this part of our Parks Division as a computer network technician. I love working with this particular group because of the creative programming for the public they do each month to share the history of Kent County and the state. This fall has been especially fun for me. I was introduced to many of the historical interpreters who create, write, direct, and portray historical people and events. I was invited to participate in their programs in 2012. I felt very honored and am looking forward to represent a person of interest in the history of Delaware. Recently, I've attended three historical event programs: two in Dover, and one in Smyrna.

I hope you will enjoy reading about the history of Delaware as I learn and blog more about what I've experienced, enjoyed, and find interesting.

Threatened Green Sea Turtle Mother in Delaware

One of the highlights working at DNREC this fall, has been following the story of a green sea turtle found on Delaware's Cape Henlopen Beach. Since the nest’s discovery by a Delaware State Parks ranger, who observed the green sea turtle mother laying the eggs near a jetty on Aug. 18, high tides, predators, hurricanes and tropical storms have threatened its survival. He found it around 2-3am, thinking it was someone sleeping on the beach. To his surprise, he found the amazingly large turtle.

It was against all odds that the mother was way far north and a month late dropping her eggs. The nest was first protected from the encroaching tide by moving it to higher ground, and then protected from predators by erecting an enclosure around the site and posting 24 hour guard. A week after the first move, Hurricane Irene deposited a heavy14-inch layer of sand on top of the nest. After being carefully excavated by hand from the effects of Irene, volunteers were faced with the same task after Tropical Storm Lee.

Sea turtles usually lay their eggs on beaches in warmer climates, and the sand temperature was getting too low for them to survive. A clutch of nearly 190 eggs laid was successfully moved on Oct. 5 to a climate-controlled room at the University of Delaware's College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment. The move marks the latest in a series of actions to help the nesting – the first of its kind recorded in Delaware – and ensure the safety of the eggs.

Since the nest was laid, DNREC worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Florida office and with North Carolina Wildlife Resources, who has experience with nesting. A special temperature module sent from North Carolina was buried in the sand at the same depth as the eggs, and helped make the determination that the eggs would have to be removed from the beach to have a chance of hatching. Our staff joined a group of 15 volunteers from MERR (the Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute), and spent more than an hour moving the ping-pong-ball-sized white eggs one by one into specially-prepared 22-quart styrofoam boxes. With a Fish and Wildlife Enforcement escort, the eggs were transported by car – very slowly, so as not to jostle their precious contents – to the nearby University of Delaware campus. In the climate-controlled chamber, under the watchful eyes of MERR volunteers, temperatures were gradually raised by 2 degrees every three hours with the goal of reaching optimal hatching temperature of about 80 degrees.

On Dec. 6, the first three (3) baby green sea turtles hatched and made history as the first ever documented sea turtle nest in Delaware. As the other eggs continued to hatch the lights stayed low and the noise to a minimum. A total of eight (8) hatched. The rest of the eggs were put in an incubator and transported to North Carolina's Duke University Marine Lab to be assessed. The recent and soon-to-be hatchlings will go to the Pine Knolls Aquarium to make sure they are properly hydrated and wait for arrangements to be released into the ocean.

Video of the little guys!http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20111208/NEWS08/112080344/8-baby-green-sea-turtles-190-eggs-sent-N-C-?odyssey=tabtopnewstextHome

That's Show Biz for Ya!

Well, after 2 good months of practices "Holiday Spirit" were canceled at the Smyrna Opera House. The musical was scheduled for Dec. 2-4. Just three days before opening night, two of the actors have fallen very ill and a third had to drop-out unexpectedly, said David Keller, Opera House executive director.

The Smyrna production was directed by Barb Bigelow, a veteran of the opera house stage. The actors include Steve Hailey as Father; Valorie Hailey as Mother; Frank Gavas as Man; Niki Hodgson as Woman; Amanda Tusio as Big Sister; and Katie Loftus as Little Sister.“We are enjoying the rehearsals for ‘Holiday Spirit,’ which is about a homeless couple that fortunately finds shelter the night before Christmas,” Ms. Bigelow said.“The story unfolds through laughter, song, tears, and joy. David Keller has written a beautiful heart-warming story with both original and familiar carols. It has a clear message of hope and love that represents what Christmas is all about.”

The Smyrna Opera House did not think it would be fair to our paying customers to have three new actors walking around the stage with scripts in-hand, Keller said. Keller apologized for any inconvenience. Christmas concert planned instead Dec. 4

The Opera House is pleased to announce that David Keller and his good friend Paul Kranz, who has performed at the Opera House in the past, are going to step in and perform a Christmas music concert on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 2:30 p.m.

The music is a mixture of classic hymns, contemporary tunes and original songs, mostly played on acoustic guitar with some piano pieces. Also, the remaining "Holiday Spirit" cast members will be singing some of the tunes from the show interspersed with the guitar music.