06/24/21 – A Day in Delaware City, DE

Posted on by Kristin

Day 287

Despite being windier (thus the large waves predicted for Delaware Bay that day), Thursday, 06/24/21, was another glorious day, weather-wise. We slept in that morning, since it wasn’t a travel day. Upon recommendation, we walked into historic Delaware City to The Cake Sisters for a tasty late breakfast, which proved to be worth our while.

We strolled down to the original Delaware City Harbor’s Battery Park and read its history on the markers that are distributed about the area. Way across the Delaware River, we could see Fort Delaware. Unfortunately for us, boat tours to the fort did not happen on Thursdays, so we couldn’t visit it in person.

Fort Delaware, positioned directly across the Delaware River from Delaware City, on Pea Patch Island, was designed and constructed to provide coastal defense after the War of 1812. Original construction began in late 1817. The first documented commander of Fort Delaware was Major Alexander C. W. Fanning, who took command prior to 1825. During the American Civil War, the Union utilized Fort Delaware as a prison for Confederate prisoners of war, political prisoners, federal convicts, and privateer officers. In 1896, the fort was acquired and utilized by The Harbor Defenses of the Delaware for harbor defense command, utilized in both World War I and World War II, all the way through 1950. Today, the fort is owned by the State of Delaware, is the basis of Fort Delaware State Park, and is open to the public.
One of the first in the city, The Delaware City Hotel was originally constructed in 1828, is currently known as one of the most haunted buildings in the US, and is frequented by paranormal enthusiasts from all over the country. It currently houses Crabby Dick’s restaurant on its lower floor. We dined there, but saw no ghosts. (Although, our waitress there became a ghost when we waited for her to take our order, when Steve needed his water refilled, and when we were ready for our check…)
Scenes from around the Delaware City Battery Park and waterfront area.
Although we are both scuba-divers, neither one of us could even imagine going below the surface in this early “air chamber” for workmen on the lock in the late 1800s and early 1900s. No thank you! 😐
The original Delaware City lock on the Delaware River.
We learned a lot about the C&D Canal’s history in downtown Delaware City.

Since the weather was so picture-perfect, I spent my time taking lots of pictures! I boxed up and mailed off some more crocheted sections to Warm Up America! from Delaware City’s tiny post office there in town. When I arrived at the post office, their window was still closed for the lunch hour, so I spent my time talking with a Delaware City resident who was also waiting for the window to reopen. She was a lovely, blonde woman who looked to be in her late 70s. She told me she was originally from Trinidad/Tobago, but had lived in Delaware City for the past 60 years of her life. When I asked her what brought her all the way up there she replied, “a good-looking Marine” who was on leave in Trinidad while in the service. 🙂 He was from Delaware, so they married and he brought her back to his home. Twenty years earlier, her Marine passed away from lung cancer, as he was an avid smoker, despite her attempts to convince him to stop. By the time he passed, she’d lived in Delaware City for so long, it had become her home, so she opted to stay on there without him. She didn’t mention whether or not she’d had any children, but somehow I got the impression she had not. She has many friends in the area and said she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. She asked me about my circumstances, and when I told her, I received the same incredulous expression from her that we’ve received from most people who learn of our current lifestyle. I was grateful for her company and her willingness to converse, as it shortened my wait time considerably. 🙂

Views of Delaware City’s Central Hotel, upon which original construction began in 1835, as it was a cornerstone in Delaware City’s commercial district, built on the canal and the canal lock. Heavily damaged, along with other commercial buildings in 1887, the Central Hotel was reconstructed as close to period specifications as possible, as it stands today.
Of course I enjoyed learning about Pea Patch Island’s waterfowl.
I believe the purple hydrangea in the center of this picture is the very first one I’ve ever seen. SO beautiful!

That evening, we patronized Crabby Dick’s, a modern day restaurant located in the building originally known as the Delaware City Hotel. We were seated outside where we could see the sidewalk, so we did a lot of people-watching. We noticed there seemed to be a lot of Baby Boomer couples in that little town, and assumed it must be a popular little retirement town.

Where we ate an enjoyable dinner outside on Thursday evening, 06/24/21.
Our dinner view of the Delaware River, from our table at Crabby Dick’s restaurant.

Position: N 39° 34.319, W 75° 35.407

Total marina nights: 263

Total nights at anchor: 23

Locks today: 0

Locks Total:  28