Old Customshouse (Wilmington, Delaware)

Old Customshouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Old Customshouse in front of the new Courthouse
Location:	516 N. King St., Wilmington, Delaware
Coordinates:	39°44′28″N 75°32′58″W / 39.74111°N 75.54944°W / 39.74111; -75.54944Coordinates: 39°44′28″N 75°32′58″W / 39.74111°N 75.54944°W / 39.74111; -75.54944
Area:	0.43 acres[2]
Built:	1855
Architect:	Ammi B. Young
Architectural style:	Greek Revival
Governing body:	Public when listed, now Private
NRHP Reference#:	74000604[1]
Added to NRHP:	1974-11-21

The Old Customshouse is a historic government building at 516 North King Street in Wilmington, Delaware. It was built in 1855 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

History

Originally, Delaware's custom house existed in New Castle, but it was moved to a small rented building on Water Street in Wilmington around 1800. In 1837, the First Board of Trade came into existence to promote trade through the port of Wilmington. As one of their first actions, the organization sent a petition to Congress asking for a permanent custom house.^[3]

Representative George R. Riddle secured appropriations for what was intended to be a dedicated customs house in 1852 which was completed in 1855. Despite the intent for a single-use facility, the Federal Court and the Post Office also shared the building until 1897.^[4]

During the Korean and Vietnam war periods, the Old Customshouse served as the Delaware initial reporting and induction site for drafted soldiers.^[5] The Wilmington Parking authority built the Customs House Garage, a 1,335 car facility adjacent to the building.^[6]

Wilmington College purchased the building from the federal government in 1983 and uses it for both business meetings and downtown classes. In 2008, Wilmington University sold the building to a group of investors who then created Old Customs House LLC with the intent of seeking a legal tenant for the new courthouse next door.^[7] Until that redevelopment occurs, the school rents the building.

Architecture

Ammi B. Young designed the Greek revival building. The two-story structure consits of a cut stone base with stucco exterior walls and four smokestacks. It used to have a portico with a triangular pediment but that was removed in 1929. The hip roof is made of iron using innovative foundry technology for the period.^[8]

See also

Delaware portal

• U.S. Post Office, Courthouse, and Customhouse (Wilmington, Delaware)
• List of United States federal courthouses in Delaware
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilmington, Delaware

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2011-01-16. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/. 
2. ^ Kozikowski, Michael E. (2008-08-25). Parcel 2603540084. New Castle County Recorder of Deeds. http://www.nccde.org/parcel/search/. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
3. ^ Scharf, John Thomas, History of Delaware: 1609-1888: Local history (Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co, 1888; republished by Google Books), p. 754, Volume II. LCCN 01-013423.
4. ^ Scharf, p. 766.
5. ^ Rogerson, Harry, Wilmington: Picturing Change (Charleston, South Carolina): The History Press, 2008), p. 68. ISBN 1-5962945-7-4.
6. ^ Customs House Garage. Wilmington Parking Authority. http://www.wilmingtonparking.com/garages_custom_house.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
7. ^ Kozikowski, Michael E. (2008-08-25). 2603540084 Advanced Search. New Castle County Recorder of Deeds. http://www.ncc-deeds.com/recclkshr/Navigate.asp?AdvancedSearch.x=88&AdvancedSearch.y=9. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
8. ^ Dayton, Richard L. (1974-09-24). Old Customs House NRHP Registry Nomination Form. The Victorian Society in America. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/74000604.pdf. Retrieved 2011-01-16. 

External links

• NRHP Site Listing with 1974 Photos