A. Gray Magness
Encyclopedia
Arthur Gray Magness was a real estate developer in northern New Castle County, Delaware
.
Magness was born March 18, 1920 to Arthur J. and Marguerite Gray Magness and graduated from the University of Delaware
in 1942. Two years later, he enlisted as a Private in the United States Army Air Corps
. Magness was married twice, first to Elizabeth Pauline Weldin (born November 14, 1919, died 26 December 1989) with whom he had three daughters, and then to Anne (born November 22 1923, died August 15 2003), with whom he had another three daughters. In 1952, he founded the Magness Construction company with his brother, Donald. Together, they are responsible for many of the housing developments which contributed to the suburban sprawl that marked the beginning of the second half of the twentieth century in the Brandywine Hundred
. Among the properties he built are the neighborhoods of Graylyn Crest
and the Cedar Tree apartments of Claymont
. Magness died December 17, 1980 and is buried in the Grace Episcopal Church
cemetery.
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
.
Magness was born March 18, 1920 to Arthur J. and Marguerite Gray Magness and graduated from the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
in 1942. Two years later, he enlisted as a Private in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. Magness was married twice, first to Elizabeth Pauline Weldin (born November 14, 1919, died 26 December 1989) with whom he had three daughters, and then to Anne (born November 22 1923, died August 15 2003), with whom he had another three daughters. In 1952, he founded the Magness Construction company with his brother, Donald. Together, they are responsible for many of the housing developments which contributed to the suburban sprawl that marked the beginning of the second half of the twentieth century in the Brandywine Hundred
Brandywine Hundred
Brandywine Hundred is the name of an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County, Delaware. Hundreds were once used as a basis for representation in the Delaware General Assembly. Brandywine Hundred is a commonly used colloquial name for this area...
. Among the properties he built are the neighborhoods of Graylyn Crest
Graylyn Crest, Delaware
Graylyn Crest is an unincorporated community in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It was developed by A. Gray Magness.- References :...
and the Cedar Tree apartments of Claymont
Claymont, Delaware
Claymont is a census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 9,220 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. Magness died December 17, 1980 and is buried in the Grace Episcopal Church
Grace Episcopal Church
-Alabama:*Grace Episcopal Church , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Calhoun County, Alabama*Grace Episcopal Church , listed on the NRHP in Barbour County, Alabama...
cemetery.