Lower Red Clay Valley: Sturgis A & P Store on the corner of Newport Gap Pike and Old Capitol Trail

Monday, April 9, 2012

Sturgis A & P Store on the corner of Newport Gap Pike and Old Capitol Trail

On Thursday of last week I was talking to a nice lady about some information she was looking for when she began to tell me some of her memories about living and growing up in the Cedars area. She went on to mentioned she had a photo of an older home/store with a gas pump out in front that was located on the corner of Newport Gap Pike and Old Capitol Trail. Then and there she peaked my interest. The interest begins with a photo, that I will post again here, from 1921 showing The old Hollingsworth Company and bridge on Old Capitol Trail. The photo is titled Bridge 154 at Lincoln Highway (now Old Capitol Trail) and Smith's Corner. It is from the 1921 bridge survey taken by the State of Delaware. Well, from that point on it was a challenge to find out who Smith was. We had heard he lived on the second floor of a place on the corner of NGP and OCT and had a gas pump out front. Scott Palmer of The Mill Creek History Blog did a nice short post on it as well. His story can be found here. I have also shared the photo with him. So I wonder if this the place that named the this intersection.
The photo, as described to me, is of Lang & Sturgis A&P Store Store on Newport Gap Pike. In conversation it was mentioned the purchase was possibly the mid 1920's, which could have put Mr. Smith there in 1921 or before. I was told Mr. Sturgis owned a store in the city of Wilmington. An interior view of that store is below with address of West Street.
I asked permission to post this photo and was given the okay by Mr. Sturgis's grandson who still lives in the area. Thank you to all. You never know what you will find out when you are talking to someone.

Corner of Newport Gap Pike and Old Capitol Trail

Interior view of Mr. Sturgis Store on West Street in Wilmington

Bridge 154 ....Lincoln Highway at Smith's Corner
From DELDOT 1921 Bridge Survey.

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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.