Belmont Hall (Smyrna, Delaware)
Encyclopedia
Belmont Hall is a Georgian
house near Smyrna, Delaware
, built about 1753 by Thomas Collins
, who would become the sixth governor of Delaware. The front façade faces US 13.
, accessed by a projecting stair tower to the rear of the walk. The house is wide but shallow, one room deep with two rear wings projecting to the north, which were built before the front. The front portion is 46 feet (14 m) wide by 21.25 feet (6.5 m) deep.
The interior plan is oriented around a central hall, flanked by parlors on either side. A stair rises from the hall, and is flanked by bedrooms on the second and third floors. Extensive interior woodwork is located primarily in the entrance hall and the west parlor. The interior was renovated during the Victorian era, but was restored in the 1920s.
in 1684, and became known as "Pearman's Choice." A small brick house was built on this property. This house and two hundred acres were sold to Andrew Love in 1691. The property was bought by Thomas Collins, who would become High Sheriff of Kent County and later a brigadier general in the Continental Army
, eventually rising to the governorship of Delaware. He added the present front about 1753. In 1777 a British party attempting to capture Collins shot a sentry posted on the widow's walk, who died in the room below. His death is commemorated by a plaque. Collins died at Belmont Hall in 1789.
In 1827, John Cloak acquired Belmont and farmed the land according to scientific principles. Belmont brand canned tomatoes became popular in the late 19th century.
A fire in 1922 gutted the third floor. The existing east and west dormers were added during repairs. The Collins family retained the property into the 1980s. It was sold to the State of Delaware in 1987, as part of a deal to acquire 30 acres (12.1 ha) for the Route 13 bypass around Smyrna.
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
house near Smyrna, Delaware
Smyrna, Delaware
Smyrna is a town in Kent and New Castle counties in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is part of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, built about 1753 by Thomas Collins
Thomas Collins (governor)
Thomas Collins was an American planter and politician from Smyrna, in Kent County, Delaware. He was an officer of the Delaware militia during the American Revolution, and served in the Delaware General Assembly and as President of Delaware.-Early life and family:Collins was born in Duck Creek, now...
, who would become the sixth governor of Delaware. The front façade faces US 13.
Description
The brick house front is five bays wide and two stories tall, surmounted by a flattened gable. The crown of the gable is flattened to form a widow's walkWidow's walk
A widow's walk also known as a "widow's watch" is a railed rooftop platform often with a small enclosed cupola frequently found on 19th century North American houses. A popular romantic myth holds that the platform was used to observe vessels at sea...
, accessed by a projecting stair tower to the rear of the walk. The house is wide but shallow, one room deep with two rear wings projecting to the north, which were built before the front. The front portion is 46 feet (14 m) wide by 21.25 feet (6.5 m) deep.
The interior plan is oriented around a central hall, flanked by parlors on either side. A stair rises from the hall, and is flanked by bedrooms on the second and third floors. Extensive interior woodwork is located primarily in the entrance hall and the west parlor. The interior was renovated during the Victorian era, but was restored in the 1920s.
History
Six hundred acres (600 acres (242.8 ha)) were granted to Henry Pearman by William PennWilliam Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
in 1684, and became known as "Pearman's Choice." A small brick house was built on this property. This house and two hundred acres were sold to Andrew Love in 1691. The property was bought by Thomas Collins, who would become High Sheriff of Kent County and later a brigadier general in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, eventually rising to the governorship of Delaware. He added the present front about 1753. In 1777 a British party attempting to capture Collins shot a sentry posted on the widow's walk, who died in the room below. His death is commemorated by a plaque. Collins died at Belmont Hall in 1789.
In 1827, John Cloak acquired Belmont and farmed the land according to scientific principles. Belmont brand canned tomatoes became popular in the late 19th century.
A fire in 1922 gutted the third floor. The existing east and west dormers were added during repairs. The Collins family retained the property into the 1980s. It was sold to the State of Delaware in 1987, as part of a deal to acquire 30 acres (12.1 ha) for the Route 13 bypass around Smyrna.
External links
- Belmont Hall website
- Belmont Hall, 12 black and white photographs and 5 data pages at Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...