kessin’s History

By Gene Pisasale Contributing Writer

If you thought Hockessin was a sleepy Delaware town with little historic significance, think again.

A tavern dating back to the late 18th century still stands, as does a place of worship which started its life 38 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Unknown to many people, Hockessin was a major conduit for escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad. Other buildings which helped educate young minds in the late 19th and into the 20th century are still on the landscape. The Hockessin Historical Society highlights many of these structures and welcomes visits from all who want to learn about the region’s rich heritage.

Tweed’s Tavern dates back to 1790 and was originally known as the “Mudfort.” Measuring 21 feet by 27 feet, the two-story log structure is listed in a colonial-era tax assessment as a large building with a cookery (kitchen), barn and stables.

In 1802, the building, which apparently was used at some point as a tavern, was sold to John Tweed, whose family owned it until 1831, when it ceased tavern operations. The building was situated along a busy trade route from Lancaster County to Newport, Delaware and attracted travelers coming through the region.

For much of the late 1800s, it was owned by the Thomas Baldwin family, and then, after several changes of ownership, it was purchased by Alfred Giacomelli in 1930. His family owned the building until 1989. Noting its historic significance, the state of Delaware acquired the structure in 1999. Preservation Delaware, under the guidance of the Hockessin Historical Society, took ownership of Tweed’s Tavern in 2000.

Originally located at the northwestern corner of Limestone Road (Delaware Route 7) and Valley Road, the Tavern was relocated to just off of Valley Road near the Hockessin Athletic Club. A “behind the scenes” tour of the facility graciously provided by Historical Society Vice President Darleen Amobi showcased a building which hosted thirsty travelers when George Washington was President of the United States. Although many of the walls and floorboards have been reconstructed, some of them are original to the building. You can sense its link to the past by running your hand along the logs more than two centuries old, separated by the white plaster popular during the period.

Tweed’s Tavern’s rich heritage also gave birth to the group which would preserve it forever. During the DelDot relocation, the efforts prompted community members to form

Continued on Page 58