Stonum
Encyclopedia
Stonum, also called Stoneham or the George Read House, was the home of George Read
, a signer of the Declaration of Independence
. His advocacy enabled Delaware to become the first state ratifying the declaration. The house is located in New Castle, Delaware
and was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1973.
The house was built beginning circa 1730 with what is now the kitchen. The front portion of the house was added before 1769. The house is 2-1/2 stories with an L-shaped plan. A further addition was made in 1850, while a concrete block porch was added in the 1920s. Interiors are well-preserved. The house once enjoyed an expansive view of the Delaware River
, now obscured by industrial development.
George Read (signer)
George Read was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a Continental Congressman from Delaware, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of Delaware, and a member of the...
, a signer of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
. His advocacy enabled Delaware to become the first state ratifying the declaration. The house is located in New Castle, Delaware
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
and was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1973.
The house was built beginning circa 1730 with what is now the kitchen. The front portion of the house was added before 1769. The house is 2-1/2 stories with an L-shaped plan. A further addition was made in 1850, while a concrete block porch was added in the 1920s. Interiors are well-preserved. The house once enjoyed an expansive view of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, now obscured by industrial development.
See also
- George Read II House
- George ReadGeorge Read (signer)George Read was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a Continental Congressman from Delaware, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of Delaware, and a member of the...
- New Castle County Court HouseNew Castle County Court HouseNew Castle Court House Museum, also known as New Castle Courthouse Museum, is the center of a circle with a 12-mile radius that defines most of the border of the states of Delaware and Pennsylvania and a small part of the border of Delaware and Maryland...
External links
- Stonum, Ninth & Washington Streets, New Castle vicinity, New Castle County, DE: 6 photos, 2 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey