Lower Red Clay Valley: The Judy Johnson House

Monday, February 13, 2012

The Judy Johnson House

The Judy Johnson House has been sitting vacant for about the last year and a half. It is starting to show signs of abandonment. Not far from this house was another home that was lived in until it was purchased. An older Cranston House sat vacant for about three years, with promises of restoration, until neglect and vandalism forced the razing of this Marshallton landmark. Its original carriage shed had burned a couple years prior. It would really be sad to see another structure, especially one of such significance as The Judy Johnson House, let go until its use is no longer possible. Judy purchased the home 1934 where he lived with his wife until his death in 1989. After his passing it was the home of his daughter and her husband, Bill Bruton, who played major league baseball with the Milwaukee Braves and the Detroit Tigers. The Johnson Home was listed on The National Historic Register 1995. Mr. Bruton passed away not long after.

The Following is an excerpt from The National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for the Johnson House.

The house at 3701 Kiamensi Avenue is the resource that best represents Johnson's productive life as a baseball player. Johnson resided at this house from 1934 until shortly before he passed away in 1989. The house is significant as the only house Johnson ever owned. Furthermore, the house represents

Johnson's professional career as a ball player, for he purchased the home while he was still playing ball with money earned from baseball. The house also represents the culmination of his playing career. Johnson owned this home during his last two regular seasons, the 1935 and 1936 seasons, when his team, the Pittsburgh Crawford Colored Giants, is considered to have been the best team in the history of the Negro Leagues. In 1935, Johnson was captain of the team and shared in managerial duties with Oscar Charleston. In 1936, Johnson was voted onto the All Star Team and the Crawfords won the NNL pennant. On one occasion, after the Crawfords played a game at Harlan Field in Wilmington, they drove the team bus to Johnson's house in Marshallton, parked the bus out front, and stayed for a home-cooked meal.

Photo below is from 2011

Below from 2012

Below is the c1845 Cranston House

before demolition

View of the site after demolition

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Welcome

The history of the Lower Red Clay Valley, stretching some 3 miles from Faulkland Road to Stanton, can be traced back to include parts of 5 centuries. From the settling of Bread and Cheese Island in the 1600’s through the 2000’s when the final industrial tract, whose start began as a gristmill, closed. The lower end of the valley has seen a whole host of different mills, names, places and events that play a major part in Delaware’s history. The region is also home to Delaware’s only steam powered train, The Wilmington and Western Railroad, which winds its way along the Red Clay Creek. It is also home to the famous Brandywine Springs and Spa established in the 1800’s that later became an amusement park.

Around 1679, before most of these facilities were in operation, a mill was constructed in proximity of where the Red and White Clay Creeks merge in Stanton, and then flow to the Christiana River. Stanton was to become the first settlement in what we know now as Mill Creek Hundred. The Stanton area also attracted names like the Lea, Tatnall, Byrnes and DuPont. Shipping goods at that time was possible due to the fact that navigation was achievable up the White Clay Creek to Stanton from the Christiana River. Goods would be brought down Limestone Road from Chester and Lancaster Counties to be shipped.

Over the next 100 years or so since that first mill was established, no less then four more mills were erected in the short distance of roughly three miles upstream to Faulkland Road. Delaware’s most famous inventor, Oliver Evans, worked in the family mill at Faulkland. This is where he invented his mill automation system that revolutionized the milling industry. He received the patent for his accomplishment in 1790. In between Faulkland and the Stanton Mill was the Phillips Mill (Greenbank Mill), Hersey Mill (Where the former Ametek site is) and The Reese Mill site (which much later became the Kiamensi Woolen Mills). Remnants from each one of these mills still exist. I believe all five of these mills were in operation in September 1777 when General George Washington assembled his troops along the east side of The Red Clay Creek, spreading south to north along the stream. He ordered mills in the area to be made inoperable and move products so they could not be confiscated by the enemy. This was all in anticipation of a battle with approximately 15,000 British Troops on their march, from the Chesapeake, to take control of the Colonial Capital of Philadelphia. According to writing’s, Gen. Washington believed this would be the final battle of the Revolutionary War. During that week in 1777 a Counsel of War meeting was held at the Hale-Byrnes House in Stanton, attended by Washington and his other officers. As history shows, that battle never took place as General Howe’s troops took a alternate route leading to Chadd’s Ford, PA. and the Battle of The Brandywine.

When a hotel was built at Brandywine Springs in the 1820’s it was the beginning of approximately 100 years of enjoyment for a site that transitioned from resort spa to amusement park that finally closed in the early 1900’s. The friends of Brandywine Springs keep the park alive through archeological digs along with providing and maintaining trails leading to areas where old foundations have been uncovered or old amusement rides once stood. The park had its own rail station where folks would be picked up and drop off by the Wilmington and Western Railroad that came into existence in 1870. The W&W railroad continues to operate today taking passengers on a scenic journey through the Historic Red Clay Valley and along the banks of the Red Clay Creek. Its station is located at Greenbank along Rt41. Its maintenance yard, with its soon to be completed new offices and meeting room, are located in Marshallton.

Not far from The Red Clay Creek remain pieces of the past which would have either supported or benefited from these industries and more. I hope some of the photos in this blog will show you some of those. Some may be gone now but some still remain.

By clicking here a DELDOT pdf document will give a more in depth look at the Brandywine Springs / Red Clay area.