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.
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