“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com.
Sept. 29, 1925, The Evening Journal
Monument dedicated to Delaware naval hero
In honor of Commodore Thomas Macdonough, a Delaware naval hero of the War of 1812 with Great Britain, a memorial monument costing $20,000 and erected by the War Department, was dedicated at Vergennes, Vermont on Sept. 11 with elaborate ceremonies.
Congressman Robert G. Houston of Georgetown, Del., made an address at the exercises on “Macdonough’s Victory on Lake Champlain,” in which he linked Commodore Macdonough’s early life in Delaware with his outstanding achievements as a naval hero in later years that won him the title “The Hero of Lake Champlain.”
Front page of The Evening Journal from Sept. 29, 1925.
Commodore Macdonough was born at a little settlement known as Macdonough along the State Highway in St. Georges Hundred.
His victory over the British on Lake Champlain near Plattsburg, N.Y. on Sept. 11, 1814 brought him lasting fame.
The fleet that won that victory was constructed at Vergennes, Vermont….
Congressman Houston in his address said:
“…The great land battle of the War was that of New Orleans and General Andrew Jackson who was in command of the American forces, became a popular hero, and afterwards, President of the United States. It was, however, the victories on the sea, repeated and impressive, which won the war of 1812, and the most important and conclusive of these was that of Lake Champlain which we commemorate today. Much of the credit for that great victory was due to the splendid leadership and personal bravery of Commodore Thomas Macdonough who was in command of the American squadron and who was born and raised in the State of Delaware….”
“…The battle was fought with the large vessels of both squadrons at anchor and lasted over two hours, the tide of the battle first favoring one and then the other. It is said that Macdonough fired the first shot himself from the Saratoga and worked at his gun throughout the battle as a common sailor. Many of his men were new and inexperienced, hence the commander’s personal activities….”
“…Finally, American bravery, seamanship and leadership prevailed and the British ships – shattered, disabled – struck their colors and surrendered….”
More recent seafaring news: What’s that ship? Historic R/V Robert Gray shelters from Hurricane Erin in Lewes
Oct. 1, 1975, The Morning News
Newark study finds home costs rising faster than income
The way to integrate schools without busing could be to open Newark’s housing market to low and moderate-income families, according to a report released yesterday by Newark’s Planning Department.
The report shows that the median value of a home in Newark is $43,500, requiring an income of at least $15,000 by traditional real estate standards to buy it.
Average salaries in Newark are not keeping up with the average price of homes. Thus, the inflated real estate market is creating a community of predominantly upper middle income families, the report says. And, outgoing residents are being replaced by wealthier ones.
Page 3 of The Morning News from Oct. 1, 1975.
Newark’s median family income has risen from $12,500 in 1973 to $12,700 in 1975. However, the median family income for homeowners is around $20,000.
The federally-financed report was prepared by Annette G. Mehan and William J. Cohen of the Planning Department. It is the second part of a housing report begun last year….
Statistics show that Newark housing is extremely expensive compared with the rest of Delaware. The median value of a Newark home, $43,500, has increased 11% from $39,200 in 1973 and 76% from $24,700 in 1970.
In New Castle County as a whole, the median value of a home increased from $21,500 to $36,000 between 1970 and 1974. …
Statewide, the median value rose from $17,500 to $23,400. …
“Since affordable housing is not available in suburbs, segregation by income results. Low income people are locked into old, deteriorating areas, causing several financial burdens on cities such as Wilmington,” the report says.
Oct. 3, 2000, The News Journal
Construction of Del. 1 enters the final stretch
The state Department of Transportation this week will make its final requests for bids on the Del. 1 project, 10 years after construction began on a $1 billion effort to speed motorists to and from the Delaware beaches.
Nearly eight miles of the highway are still uncompleted. The last segment will link the Dover-Smyrna bypass that opened in 1993 and the Odessa bypass that opened last year, creating a superhighway between Interstate 95 and Dover Air Force Base. …
Page 9 of The News Journal from Oct. 3, 2000.
The most expensive project ever in the state, the highway will replace U.S. 13 as the main north-south artery in northern and central Delaware.
Work began late last year on an almost five-mile stretch from Smyrna to Townsend….
More Smyrna area news: What’s being built on Route 13 between Smyrna Rest Area and Delaware Surplus store?
Construction on the remaining three miles of the nearly $70 million section will begin when the final contract is awarded. …
The eight-mile stretch will feature two bridges over U.S. 13, an overpass for Black Diamond Road and bridges over several roads along the way.
However, there will be no interchanges like those found on the Odessa bypass or Dover-Smyrna bypass. …
While the new road promises to bring easier commutes, it also threatens businesses. …
When Del. 1 is finished, many travelers won’t take U.S. 13.
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: History from News Journal: Delaware naval hero, Del. 1 nears completion
