Doug Gelbert

How Delaware Happened: A Story of the First State in 100 Buildings Doug Gelbert

Imagine a group of settlers arriving in an undeveloped location. First come shelters in which to live and then structures in which to work and shop. There are buildings for worship and education. As the community grows government buildings are required. With prosperity comes places in which to spend leisure time. And each step along the way builds a story only Delaware can call its own.



That story is all around you in the work of those who came before you. In these pages you'll learn the explanations behind the quirks, the traditions and the secrets that make Delaware uniquely Delaware. The origin of the highball? Solved. Green serpentine stone? A mystery no more. The nation's oldest serving church building? Identified. The oldest golf course in Delaware? Revealed.



Swedish souvenirs... Blue Hen football...the "Penman of the Revolution"...iron horses...kissing bridges...illustrious illustrators...cast iron architecture...steamers...the CCC...sweet potatoes...horse racing...kit houses...the golden age of motoring...broilers...early aviation... the rise of suburbia...peaches... Sears Kit Houses... This book will have you telling stories like a native in no time.



Almost all of the selections within are open to the public, or at least visible from public spaces. So, if you haven't seen these landmarks in person, fire up your GPS and get out and see the story of the First State standing in plain sight on Delaware streets!