The Dutch House is a late-17th-century house in
New Castle in the U.S. state of
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
. Built during New Castle's colonial period, it is considered one of the oldest houses in the state. The house has been used for various purposes throughout its history, including as a rental property, storehouse, and historic house museum. The Dutch House is currently managed by the New Castle Historical Society.
History
The earliest records of any building on the property refer to "George Moore's log house" in the early 1680s.
The current structure is believed to have been built in the late 17th century in the
Federal period
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classical architecture built in the United States following the American Revolution between 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815, which was influenced heavily by the works of And ...
and has a distinct brick exterior.
The interior of the house features both Dutch and English building traditions, with decorative finishes and exposed ceiling beams. It is often contested whether the Dutch House or the
Ryves Holt House
Ryves Holt House (1680) is purportedly the oldest surviving house in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is located at 218 Second Street in Lewes, Delaware.
The building, which has been dated to 1680 using dendrochronology, served as one of the ear ...
is the oldest house in the state of Delaware.
[Tour given by the New Castle Historical Society. 28 June 2018.] Although the house is recorded as being built for a Dutch family, it was built using English methods during the English occupation (1663–1673) of the colony; this was not discovered until the house was undergoing restoration.
The house is located across the street from the New Castle town green, and its doorstep is located below street level on account of the street's having been raised in the mid-18th century. It was at this time that a cellar was excavated and three sides of the house were wrapped in a brick exterior. In 1823, a full second floor was added, and the house was remodeled in the Federal style.
In the late 19th century, the house was rented out and used as a storehouse for the
Immanuel Episcopal Church.
The house was privately owned until 1937, when it was purchased by the Delaware Society for the Preservation of Antiquities who had it restored and put under the management of the New Castle Historical Society.
Today, the Dutch House is open to the public as a museum.
See also
*
List of the oldest buildings in Delaware
This article attempts to list the oldest extant buildings surviving in the state of Delaware in the United States of America, including the oldest houses in Delaware and any other surviving structures. Some dates are approximate and based upon de ...
Further reading
Historic structures report for the Dutch House by architectural historian Jeffrey Klee, 2003
References
Historic house museums in Delaware
Houses completed in 1682
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