History of Wilmington, Delaware, USA

Wilmington, Del., January 10. - Friday night's snow storm caused the most serious block on the railroad track here that has occurred for years, suspending travel for hours. About 7:45 yesterday morning the Wilmington & Northwestern train, which leaves for Reading, Pa., at eight o'clock, collided with two shifting engines that had been sent out from the station with snow shovels to clear the track. Both engines were running rapidly, and the Wilmington & Northern train was also under a good head of steam. Opposite the Hart and Hollingsworth Company's tracks the engine and train came together with a crash. The sweeping engines drove the pilot engine of the train into the baggage-car, telescoping the car for one-third of its length. The rear end of the car was torn into fragments, the cab of the engine broken into pieces, the boiler fractured and the machinery twisted in all shapes. On account of the blinding snow the engineers of the approaching trains were not aware of the danger until...

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 7. - The shock of the explosion at Wilmington this afternoon was plainly felt in many sections of this city. To those indoors it resembled the rumbling of distant thunder or the moving of heavy furniture, and the rattling window frames caused many people to rush to their doors and windows. The shock was also felt at Millville, N.J.; Chester, Penn., and other points, thirty to thirty-five miles distant.

The Dupont Powder Works were established in 1802 by Elenthere Irene Dupont de Nemours, a distinguished Frenchman who came to this country in 1799 to escape Jacobin persecution. Thomas Jefferson was anxious that the works should be located in Virginia, but the Frenchman finally selected the scene of to-day's explosion as being the best adapted for the business. De Nemours continued to condut the works until his death from cholera in 1834, when his sons, Alfred Victor and Gen. Henry Dupont, the latter of whom died last year, succeeded hom in the direction of the...

Wilmington, a port of entry, the capital of New Castle co., Del., is situated on the Delaware River, and on Brandy wine and Christiana Creeks, which unite 3 mile from the river. It is 28 miles S.W. of Philadelphia, and 70 miles E.N.E. of Baltimore. Lat. 39° 41' N.; Lon. 75°28' or 30° W. It is on the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, and is the southern terminus of the Wilmington & Northern Railroad, which connects here with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Wilmington is the chief commercial and manufacturing centre of Delaware. It is built on three slopes of a hill, the summit of which is 240 feet above the level of tide-water and commands an extensive view of the Delaware River and of the city itself. The city is regularly planned, has wide and straight streets, and is generally well built of brick. The streets which are parallel to the Christiana are Water, Front, 2d, 3d, &c., up to 23d street, beyond Brandywine Creek. These are intersected at right angles by Market...

Wilmington, Del., Feb. 12. - MICHAEL RYAN, aged 35 years; his wife, MAMIE, aged 25, and their infant, MARY A., aged 4 months, who lived at 233 Connell street, were asphyxiated by illuminating gas. Policeman BECK, who forced an entrance into the house found the victims lying on a bed in the second-story front room, all three cold and stiff in death. On the floor was a gas stove. It was still burning, but the tube fitted so loosely upon the burner at the pipe that gas was escaping plentifully. MR. and MRS. RYAN were fully dressed, while the baby had been prepared for bed, thus indicating that they had been overcome while preparing to retire.

Their seclusion during all of Sunday, and the fact that a Sunday paper remained untouched on the front-door step, indicated that the tragedy occurred during Saturday night.

PANIC AMONG AUDIENCE PROBABLY AVERTED WHEN MEMBER OF CAST APPEARS ON STAGE AND BEGINS TO SING.

Wilmington, Del., Dec. 11. - (AP) - The roof of the rigging loft of the Playhouse here collapsed tonight during the second scene of a performance of "The Song of the Flame." More than a dozen members of the chorus occupied the stage at the time, were injured, several seriously, and the effects of the company so badly damaged that the company will be unable to continue its engagement.
The seriously injured are:
Madame CHEREKO, a principal of the Russian Art Choir, fractured skull.
NORMAN STENGEL of the Russian choir, possible fracture of the skull.
MISS BLANCHE COLLINS, internal injuries.
Sprains and cuts, less serious injuries were suffered by:
MME. ANDRIEFSKI, MME. TRUITZKAYA, M. DAVIDENKO and BOB LEROY.
Many of the stage employes were also slightly cut and bruised by falling debris.

Damage to property of the company was placed at $60,000.

The play was an Arthur Hammerstein...

It tore most the roof off one house, and stripped shingles from a neighboring house. A TV aerial was toppled, and clothes were blown off clothes lines.

Nemours Mansion and Gardens:

Explore the stunning Nemours Estate, a 300-acre country estate with a French-style mansion and beautifully landscaped gardens.

Brandywine Zoo:

Spend a day at the Brandywine Zoo, home to animals from the Americas and temperate areas around the world.

Hagley Museum and Library:

Discover the history of the DuPont family and American industry at the Hagley Museum, located on the site of the original DuPont powder mills.

Longwood Gardens:

While technically in Pennsylvania, Longwood Gardens is a short drive away. Enjoy the breathtaking botanical gardens, conservatory, and fountain shows.

Delaware Art Museum:

Experience the rich artistic heritage of Delaware and beyond through the diverse collection at the Delaware Art Museum.

Wilmington Riverfront:

Stroll along the scenic Christina River and enjoy the restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions on the revitalized Wilmington Riverfront.

Old Swedes Church:

Visit the Holy...