W3R-DE Executive Committee 2007-8

Chair: Kim Burdick
Vice Chair: Ralph Nelson
Secretary: Tom Reed, Esq.
Treasurer: judith Jennings,Esq.

W3R-DE notes for 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 /

Companion Organizations

• Alliance Francaise of Delaware

• City of Wilmington

• Delaware Humanities Forum

• Delaware Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

• Delaware State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution

• Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Historical Society of Delaware

• New Castle County

• Hale-Byrnes House

Resources for Heritage Education

• Heritage Brochures: (1) A one-page black & white historical brochure describing the W3R in Delaware (a PDF file). (2) A one-page color brochure (funded by the New Castle County Council) with a description of the W3R and the route through Delawar was distributed to local organizations, tourist sites, and hotels to inform them about the W3R and for use by heritage tourists.

• Signage: The W3R-DE proposal for signage was accepted by the Delaware Department of Transportation ("DelDot"), which in the summer of 2006 put in place roughly 40 wayfinding signs identifying the W3R route through Delaware.

• Kiosk: An interactive kiosk was installed in July 2006 at the Amtrak Railroad Station in Wilmington. This allows travelers to discover the W3R, learn what it is, explore the history, and make reservations to stay and visit the sites. After a year it was moved to the Riverfront Marketplace.

• Tours: We have developed several recommendations for tours of the area that include the W3R route and related sites.

• Scout Historic Trail Booklet: The Nentego Lodge, Order of the Arrow, with guidance from Ed Wedman and infromation from Ralph Nelson wrote and secured approval (in 2005) from the DelMarVa Council for a historical trail booklet based on the W3R in Delaware. Scouts who read the booklet, follow the trail, and answer questions related to the history will receive a patch indicating their achievement.

• Genealogy: As a public service to help people identify ancestors who come to the U.S. with Lauzun's Legion the "Real Story of the American Revolution" has posted a list of legionnaires who remained in the United States through death, desertion, and discharge (completion of enlistment). This was updated on 2004 Feb 13.

• Resolutions and Grants

  2006-7

  • $500 from Delaware Society SAR for Billy Lee's Washington
  • $500 from Caesar Rodney DAR for Billy Lee's Washington
  • $12,500 Delaware Division of the Arts for Billy Lee's Washington
  2005- 2006
  • $4,850 Delaware Tourism Office: for a W3R-DE Website to be created by Talisman Interactive.
  • $2,500 New Castle County Council; Councilman Bob Weiner, Sponsor: for paid advertising.
  • $25,000 Delaware General Assembly: for Pilot Project interactive kiosk to be produced by Talisman Interactive.
  • $2,000 Sanofi-Aventis: for re-enactors of the French Line.
  • $5,000 Foster Friess: for Premier of Billy Lee’s George Washington.
  2003-2004
  • The New Castle County Council passed a resolution in support of designating the W3R as a historic trail, provided partial funding for a commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the signing of the two France-U.S. treaties in 1778, and funded the production of a brochure to advertise the W3R in Delaware to tourists and to people who live along the route.
  • The Delaware Legislature passed a resolution declaring 2003 Feb 8 to be French Alliance Day in Delaware (PDF file)

W3R-DE Activities in 2007 

W3R-DE Activities in 2006 

July 4: An interactive kiosk -- funded by the Delaware Bureau of Tourism and developed by the Talisman Interactive Co. -- was placed at the Amtrak station in Wilmington DE. The kiosk was linked to a Web site featuring information on the history of the W3R and related heritage tourism sites to visit in Delaware
Tourism Web site for the W3R in Delaware

Kiosk Ribbon-cutting with Craig Johnson (Talisman Interactive) and Kim Burdick (W3R-DE chair)

A Revolutionary Weekend in Delaware Photo-report

• Sept 28 -- “From Revolution to Republic: Role of Black Patriots of the 18th Century.” Symposium at Bellevue Hall, Bellevue State Park. Featured speakers include Bob Selig, PhD, Lawrence Goldstone, PhD, and Julie Winch, PhD. Sponsored by Delaware Humanities Forum. RSVP: 302-657-0650.
  -- Revolutionary Pub Night, Robinson House, Claymont, DE. Sponsored by Naaman’s Heritage Association.

• Sept 29 -- At Cooch’s Bridge: Three Generals (Washington, Cornwallis, and Rochambeau Reflect on Their Activities in Delaware
  -- Baby Grand, Wilmington: Premier of "Billy Lee’s George Washington", by Evelyn Swensson, with a Champagne Reception.

• Sept 30 -- Old Swede’s Church: Wreath-laying at Eugene Phillippe Cappelle’s grave. Cappelle was surgeon with Lauzun’s Legion and a founder of Delaware Academy of Medicine.
  -- Baby Grand, Wilmington: Premier of "Billy Lee’s George Washington", by Evelyn Swensson
  -- Tubman-Garrett Park, Wilmington: "Meet the Founders" -- a Chataqua (sponsored by the Delaware Humanities Forum), in which character actors from the 18th century discuss their roles in the founding of the United States.
  -- Greenbank Mill, Newport: 18th Century Marketplace and military encampment, with an evening of 18th century music featuring David and Ginger Hildebrand.

• Oct 1 -- Self-Guided Driving Tours: Special Discovery Stops at Robinson House, Claymont Stone School, Lombardy Hall, Historical Society of Delaware, Greenbank Mill, Hale-Byrnes House, Historic Christiana
  -- Historical Society of Delaware: Unveiling of a Delaware Regimental Flag captured by the British in a 1777 raid on Christiana, later bought back. Lectures by: Glenn, Williams (Center of Military History, Fort McNair) and Dr. Robert Selig

W3R-DE Activities in 2005 

Kim Burdick, President of W3R-DE, and Ralph Nelson, Vice President, have made numerous presentations on W3R history to the Alliance Francaise, SAR, DAR, Youth History camp, and other clubs and organizations.

Several Delaware citizens who have studied Lafayette, the W3R, and other aspects of the French influence on the American Revolution have made presentations to American heritage organizations.

W3R-DE Activities in 2004 

2004 Oct 03:. W3R-DE and East Coast Greenway (ECG) co-sponsored “Hike the Pike,” a 10-mile discovery tour of the first leg of Delaware’s portion of the W3R. Eighteenth-century historic house and museum staffers from across the state gathered at the Cauffiel Estate to present activities for children. Hikers walked 10 miles from Robinson House to the Riverfront. ECG bicyclists rode their bikes twenty miles from Robinson House to Riverfront, following the Delaware Greenways system. Special programs were offered at Robinson House, Claymont Stone School, Cauffiel Estate, Penny Hill, Brandywine Village, Riverfront.

W3R-DE Activities in 2003 

2003 Feb 08: The Robinson House in Claymont DE was filled to capacity to meet living historians of the times, to hear "General Lafayette" speak about his life as a young soldier in George Washington's army, to hear Dr. Robert Selig speak on the development and fate of the French Alliance, and to hear French and American period music.