Billie Chubb

Centreville, Delaware

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Centreville, Delaware is an unincorporated town located in New Castle County, Delaware that is only seconds away from the Pennsylvania and Delaware line. Known primarily for being the location of the DuPont family estates it sits 5 miles Northwest of the City of Wilmington.

Centreville which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places is surrounded by sprawling country estates. This picturesque community can trace its roots all the way back to 1685 when European settlers began acquiring land from William Penn for residences, farming and milling. In 1750 Centreville began being known for their midway point linking Kennett Square, PA to the City of Wilmington markets and the Delaware and Christina river ports.

In 1780 the Walnut Green schoolhouse was built and was one of four Centreville schools that helped mark the beginning of public education in Delaware. In 1813 a hard surfaced road was completed linking the City of Wilmington to the Pennsylvania state line at a cost of $30,000. This road would be later bought by the P.S. DuPont family. The family widened the road to 24 feet, removed the toll charge and turned it over to the state with the provision that no trolley car lines or advertising signs be erected without the consent of every landowner along the road.

In 1816 Smith's Bridge is built and spans 145 feet across the Brandywine Creek. It has been rebuilt many times including in 1961 when it was burned through arson. In 2002 it was part of a major $1.2 million reconstruction that was based on the original design qualities. Today it is only one of three remaining covered bridges in Delaware.

Centreville would see a decline in its growth as railroad connections between Wilmington and Pennsylvania would eventually replace wagon transport along the Kennett Pike in the 1880's. By the early part of the 20th Century Centreville offered only a butcher shop and two country stores which primarily served local residents and surrounding farms.

After being cutoff from city expansion in the early 1900's the Village of Centreville mimics the charm and feel of old world charm. Centreville got a new life in the 1950's as structures that were formally homes or taverns now house specialty shops and offices. In 1985 the Centreville Historic District and 15 structures would earn designation on the National Register of Historic Places.

While stopping in Centreville be sure to shop the many specialty stores such as Buddy's Baskets, Crystal's Vintage and Costume Jewelry, Malchoine Sporting Antiques, Rags to Riches Upscale Resale, Barbara's Antiques & Books and Windle's Art and Antiques to name just a few. For dinner you will definitely want to stop by Buckley's Tavern as it has become a local landmark for dining and socializing.

Other visits you must include while visiting Centreville are the Delaware Museum of Natural History and the Winterthur Museum and the Grounds of Winterthur. Winterthur is a 1000-acre American Country Estate that was the home of Henry Francis du Pont, an antiques collector and horticulturist. This picturesque estate was designed in the sprit of 18th and 19th century European country houses. Winterthur will immerse you in unparalleled collections of antiques and Americana. The green thumb in you will jump out as you tour the breathtaking beauty of the 60-acre naturalistic estate garden. Children will be lost in wonder while visiting the estates Enchanted Woods and Touch-It Room. Winterthur is the home to the annual Point to Point horse race.

The Delaware Museum of Natural History opened in 1972 with the mission to excite and inform people about the natural world through exploration and discovery. Here your children and the child in all of us will encounter life-sized dinosaurs, look beneath the seas, come face to face with a jaguar, and marvel at the discovery of birds and shells around the world. These and many more discoveries await you in the day and life of a visitor of Centreville, Delaware

North Wilmington

The 1950s saw a large increase in people living in the suburbs of North Wilmington and commuting into the city for work. Today, the area is urban and suburban with continuous industrial, commercial and residential development. This lifestyle was made possible by extensive upgrades to area roads and highways and through the construction of I-95, which cut a swath through several of Wilmington's most stable neighborhoods and contributed to significant population losses in Wilmington.

The main artery to North Wilmington residents is Concord Pike or also known as Route 202. No matter where residents live they are just minutes away from I-95 and all the convenience the main highway has to offer. Residents can also enjoy North Wilmington's convenience without ever getting on I-95. The area has lots to offer in regards to shopping with two large malls, the Brandywine Town Center and Concord Mall, large 18 screen movie theatre and many other strip malls.

North Wilmington is the U.S Headquarters for one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Zeneca Group PLC and Astra AB merged on April 6, 1999 to form Astra Zeneca and now employs more than 2500 people at its Wilmington, Delaware campus. The R&D group known as "R&D Wilmington" has created three blockbuster drugs including Seroquel, Accolate and Zomig.

Brandywine Country Club was originally a 160 acre farm owned by Mr. William Luke, owner of the Oldsmobile agency in Wilmington, Delaware. On June 16, 1946 ground breaking and renovation of the main building of the farmhouse started. On November 17, 1946 the club boasted 169 members and in 1947 the first Club Champion was named after a grueling 38 hole match. Redesigned in 2005 the 18-hole course features state of the art bent grass on all tees, greens and fairways and is a challenging tight, tree-lined course that also offers a large putting green, a driving range and a short game practice area. Members also enjoy the four Har-tru tennis courts and an Olympic sized pool that is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

There are many parks for Brandywine Hundred residents enjoy. The newest park created in 1999 spans 150 acres and is called the Alapocas Run State Park. This park boasts the Blue Ball Barn which was built in 1914 by Alfred I duPont and is named after the Blue Ball Tavern, an inn and meeting house once located on the property. This state of the art property has a multifunctional conference and gallery space, features meeting rooms, a large banquet room, a secluded court yard and is home of the Delaware Folk Art Collection. This new park also sports a 27,000 square foot Can Do Playground which is one of 60 in the U.S and the first in Delaware.

Other parks include the Fox Point State Park that is 171 acres nestled along the Delaware River. This park sports horseshoe pits, volleyball court, play area for kids, ¾ mile loop with fitness stations, boat launching facility, a "secret garden" for children and 2 pavilions that can be rented for special occasions. Don't forget to check the overlooks along the shoreline. From these overlooks one can see all the way north to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and well beyond the Delaware Memorial Bridge looking south.

Bellevue State Park was originally owned by William duPont Jr. and was his personal residence. Originally acquired by the state in 1976 it now covers 328 acres. This serene park has a 1 1/8 mile fitness track, catch and release pond with stocked Bass, Catfish and Sunfish, Hiking trails, cycling on paved and unpaved paths, eight outdoor clay tennis courts and an equestrian facility with indoor and outdoor arenas.

Brandywine Creek State Park is one of Delaware's largest parks which spans 933 acres and was created in 1965. This lovely property was originally a Diary Farm owned by the duPont family. The gorgeous park sports 14 miles of trails for fitness, fishing, canoeing, a nature center, nature trails, bike trails and disc golf.

The Brandywine Hundred Library opened on April 11, 2003 and is the largest and busiest library in the New Castle Library system. The library spans 40,000 square feet and boasts a library café, reading areas, a children's library, large meeting room and quiet study areas. Brandywine Hundred residents also enjoy one of the best school systems in the state. The Brandywine School district sports a total of 20 schools ranging from Preschool/Kindergarten to High School. For a list of all schools visit the Brandywine School District website.

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