A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-24,25-07....Delaware ~ The First State

October 24, 2007 | Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.    Over 200,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

Over the past four years we have taken A Few of FR's Finest on a cyber tour of many of the states in this great land of ours; today we are featuring the tiny state of Delaware, also dubbed "The First State", "Diamond State", "Blue Hen State", and "Small Wonder".

"The First State": Delaware is known by this nickname due to the fact that on December 7, 1787, it became the first of the 13 original states to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

"The Diamond State": This nickname was given to Delaware, according to legend, by Thomas Jefferson because he described Delaware as a "jewel" among states due to its strategic location on the Eastern Seaboard.

"Blue Hen State": This nickname was given to Delaware after the fighting Blue Hen Cocks that were carried with the Delaware Revolutionary War Soldiers for entertainment during Cock fights.

"Small Wonder": This nickname is basically a new nickname. It was given to Delaware due to its size and the contributions it has made to our country as a whole and the beauty of Delaware.

Source: http://www.state.de.us/facts/history/delfact.htm

Below are some of the states we've visited since Mama_Bear first took us to "Sweet Home Alabama" on May 23, 2003.

Click on each STATE to view the thread, and it will open in a separate window. (States with a white * have not been profiled yet.)

Delaware's history is a long and proud one. Early explorations of its coastline were made by the Spaniards and Portuguese in the sixteenth century; by Henry Hudson in 1609 under the auspices of the Dutch; by Samuel Argall in 1610, Cornelius May in 1613, and by Cornelius Hendricksen in 1614.

During a storm, Argall was blown off course and sailed into a strange bay which he named in honor of his governor. It is doubtful that Lord De La Warr ever saw, or explored, the bay, river, and state which today bears his name. In 1631, 11 years after the landing of the English pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts, the first white settlement was made on Delaware soil.

A group of Dutchmen formed a trading company headed by Captain David Pietersen de Vries for the purpose of enriching themselves from the New World. The expedition of about 30 individuals sailed from the town of Hoorn under the leadership of Captain Peter Heyes in the ship De Walvis (The Whale). Their settlement, called Zwaanendael, meaning valley of swans, was located near the present town of Lewes on the west bank of the Lewes Creek, today the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal.

Continue reading HERE

Adopted on July 24, 1913, the Delaware state flag has a background of colonial blue surrounding a diamond of buff color in which the coat of arms of the state is placed. Below the diamond are the words "December 7, 1787," indicating the day on which Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States constitution. Because of this action, Delaware became the first state in the Union, and is, therefore, accorded the first position in such national events as presidential inaugurations.

According to members of the original commission established to design the flag, the shades of buff and colonial blue represent those of the uniform of General George Washington. Inside the diamond, the flag recognizes the importance of commerce {the ship} and agriculture {wheat, corn, the ox and the farmer} to the state. Tribute is also paid to the revolutionary war soldiers. The words in the ribbon banner read Liberty and Independence.

Take a virtual tour of Delaware's rich history and culture.

• Delaware was admitted to Statehood on December 7, 1787 - the first state in the union, thus the nickname of "The First State". It is also dubbed "The Diamond State", "Blue Hen State", and "Small Wonder". The state's motto is "Liberty and Independence", and those words are printed on the state flag.
  
  
• Delaware ranks 49th in the nation with a total area of 1,982 square miles. There are only three counties in the state. New Castle County is 438 square miles. Kent County is 594 square miles. Sussex County is 950 square miles. Delaware is 96 miles long and varies from 9 to 35 miles in width.
  
  
• Song: "Our Delaware" (words by: George B. Hynson music by: M. S. Brown) became the official state song in 1925. The verses recognize each of Delaware's three counties.
  
  
• Largest Cities: Wilmington, Dover, Newark, Milford, Seaford, Middletown, Elsmere, Smyrna, New Castle, and Georgetown. Dover, located on the Saint Jones River in the central part of the state, is the seat of Kent County. Dover has been the state's capital since 1777. The capitol building, below, is commonly known as Legislative Hall.
  
  
  
• Highest elevation -- 447.85 ft. above sea level near Ebright Road in New Castle County. Lowest -- sea level along the coast.
  
  
• 2000 Population Estimate - 783,600; 45th among the states; Density: 401 persons per square mile. For additional information, go to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Delaware Economic Development Office, or the Office of Occupational and Labor Market Information.
  
  
• Delaware's climate is moderate year round. Average monthly temperatures range from 75.8 to 32.0 degrees. Average temperature in the summer months is 74.3 degrees. About 57% of the days are sunny. Annual precipitation is approximately 45 inches. Temperatures along the Atlantic Coast are about 10 degrees warmer in winter and 10 degrees cooler in summer. The average growing season varies from 170 to 200 days.
  
  
• On the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, Delaware is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay, as well as by the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Delaware's location affords easy access to the major metropolitan areas of the Northeast. Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Baltimore are all within a 2-hour drive.
  
  
• Chief Products: Agriculture -- broilers, soybeans, corn, milk. Fishing Industry -- crabs, clams. Mining -- sand and gravel, magnesium compounds. Manufacturing -- chemicals, food products, paper products, rubber and plastics products, primary metals, printed materials.

Why Delaware? I can't begin to list all the reasons to visit Delaware, but for starters.....

Do you like water? Quiet, peaceful landscapes? Nature at its best? Do you like history? Like to shop? In Delaware you can shop tax-free because there's no sales tax!

Delaware may be the nation’s second-smallest state, but it packs plenty of first-rate opportunities for both vacation and relocation - after all, it didn't get its newest nickname (Small Wonder) by accident!

Let's just let a few pictures do the talking.

For history buffs, these are but a few examples of the rich history that is Delaware....

The historic Fort Delaware State Park on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River offers Civil War reenactments and displays of soldiers’ daily lives. Fort Christiana State Park includes a full-size replica of the Swedish settlers’ sailing ship, the Kalmar Nyckel.

The Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, Delaware, is modeled after the town hall in Hoorn, the Netherlands, to commemorate Delaware’s first European settlement by the Dutch in 1631.

As I was searching Delaware's history, state symbols, and other facts, a page out of The Official Website for the First State caught my eye, especially since it's almost Halloween. (I chose a few of the pictures and their accompanying 'stories' below for you to enjoy.)

It starts like this:

Rumors and legends of hauntings have grown up around these locations for many years, but please remember as you view the images that seeing is not necessarily believing.

The Delaware Public Archives does not endorse or deny any of these legends, however, the continued existence of these stories is enough to make you wonder...

• Addy-Sea Inn, Bethany, Delaware...
  Room 1 contains a bathtub that has been seen shaking violently. Room 6 has organ music heard within its walls. Room 11 is thought to be haunted by the ghost of Paul Dulaney, who worked for the Addys. Footsteps, thought to be of Kurtz Addy, can be heard on the roof and in the second floor hallway. Kurtz, the son of builder, John Addy fell to his death from the roof.
  
  
• Rockwood Mansion, Wilmington, Delaware...
  Many orbs have been witnessed floating throughout the 45 rooms of this Victorian Mansion. Strange sounds have been reported by staff members. Although investigations have been done, none have been able to identify specific spirits.
  
  
• Ellendale State Forest, Ellendale, Delaware...
  A headless figure has been seen walking along the highway that runs through the park. No one knows who he is, but there is a high rate of accidents reported along this road by the local police.
  
  
• Scotts Run Bridge, St. George's, Delaware...
  The spirit of an old black man named Jacob is said to still play his fiddle by the bridge. Before the Civil War, he played his fiddle while he sat on the railing of the old wooden bridge. He died after falling into the Scott Run stream. It is said that you can still hear his fiddle playing while standing on the new bridge.
  
  
• Slaughter Neck, Slaughter Beach, Delaware...
  The ghost of a man who committed suicide haunts this area. He apparently shot himself while sitting in a ditch. Another ghost that wanders the Boardwalk trail between Slaughter Neck and Broadkill Beach is thought to be that of Jonathan Morris. He owned a farmhouse that once stood near the trails. His spirit is most often felt by his grave, which is located in the old Morris Family Graveyard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Website Links:

50states.com
Visit Delaware
Destination: Delaware
Historical Society of Delaware
State of Delaware -
The Official Website of the First State

03-27-07 ~ Hall of Fame #19 ~ Final

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 10-22,23-07 Military Tribute

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Mama_Bear]

Searching for pictures of "Delaware" is even more confusing because I'm not sure enough when I see "Delaware Water Gap", for instance, to know if the picture is in Delaware or Pennsylvania, and I've clicked on a beautiful sunset with "Delaware" name and find it's somewhere in New York - in Delaware County or Delaware Bay or Delaware Street or something! :)

LOL. I had the same problem. I was searching for images of the "Delaware River", and I found a lot of them. But, come to find out, much of the Delaware River isn't in Delaware and NONE of the pictures I came across indicated where exactly the photo was taken. So, I gave up and went in search of another Delaware haunted house (which was surprisingly easy to find).

It does become difficult and I know what you mean about not wanting to post something as "fact" that is, in fact, NOT a fact.

T Man caught me a couple times posting what I thought were interesting bits of information about a state that weren't quite right. Of course, since I found the information through Google, it wasn't MY fault, right? ;-)

[Mama_Bear]

Mama Bear, I'm wracking my brain at the moment to remember the name of the house next to the Governor's Mansion, we think it is either Hull or Hall.....but that has as many stories as Woodburn.

Hi Gabz. The only thing I could find in Dover with the name "Hull" was this. It looks like an old photo of the house and the site where I found it has no information about the house being haunted. It probably isn't the one you are thinking of......

Dickinson Mansion
"Kingston-upon-Hull, the estate of Samuel Dickinson and home of John Dickinson,
National Historic Landmark"

[Gabz]

Dickinson Mansion has it’s own stories in regard to haunting.

I actually think I am going to have some time tomorrow (actually today) to do some digging in my own files for stuff.

But right now - I’m calling it a night!!!!

Thanks everyone, although I hate its politics, I really do love Delaware.

[jaycee]

Billie, so sorry I didn’t get to do any posting yesterday. Had errands to run with sinus infection, then headache and when I did finish my errands I crashed! Not so good today but have stuff to do.....but I do want to check out the pretty pics. and gifs...like I said, it is a lovely thread!!

[jaycee]

Pretty old mansion and very intriguing story...Wooooo~~~~thanks!

[jaycee]

What a precious little “sweet dreams” gif. from last night, Billie. Hope you slept well.....

[Billie]

[The Mayor]

October 25, 2007

Growth Persuasion

ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download

READ: Hebrews 12:7-11

No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but . . . it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. —Hebrews 12:11

My Uncle Lester, who lived in Florida, was discouraged by the lack of fruit on his grapefruit tree. Someone told him he needed to whack the trunk of the tree a few times with a board.

Apparently, there is some truth to this unusual method of encouraging growth. One gardening expert says: "At times, the flowering hormone in the tree seems to get stuck and no flowers appear. Carefully persuade the tree to flower by shocking it. Hit the trunk . . . several times, [which will cause] small bruises in the bark." This advice may stimulate growth.

When trouble comes into our lives, we sometimes feel as if we’ve been hit broadside. We feel desperation and then we wonder, Why is this happening to me?

One possibility is that God is using a painful experience to get our attention. In Psalm 119:71, David wrote, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." And Hebrews 12:11 says that chastening "yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness."

Is God using pain in your life to lovingly persuade you to change? The season of trouble may not be easy, but if we let ourselves be trained by it, new growth will result as we become more like His Son (Phil. 3:10).

We shrink from the purging and pruning,
Forgetting the Gardener knows
The deeper the cutting and paring
The richer the cluster that grows.  —Anon.

Affliction for God’s people can be the pruning knife to prepare us for greater fruitfulness.

Bible in One Year:   Jeremiah 6-8; 1 Timothy 5

[MEG33]

Great lesson to learn!..Thank you, Mayor.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

What did Delaware ?

Oh, what did della wear boy,
What did della wear?
What did della wear boy,
What did della wear?

She wore a bran new jersey,
She wore a bran new jersey,
She wore a bran new jersey,
Thats what she did wear.

One, two, three, four!

Oh, why did calla phone ya,
Why did calla phone?
Why did calla phone ya,
Was she all alone?
She called to say how ar ya,
She called to say how ar ya,
She called to say how ar ya,
Thats why she did call.

Uno, dos, tres, cuatro! ( spanish )

Oh, what did mrs sip, boy,
What did mrs sip?
What did mrs sip, boy,
Through her pretty lips?
She sipped a mina-soda,
She sipped a mina-soda,
She sipped a mina-soda,
Thats what she did sip.

Un, deux, trois, quatre! ( french )

Oh, where as ore gone, boy,
Where has ore gone?
If you want, Ill ask er,
Ill ask er where shes gone
She went to pay her taxes,
She went to pay her taxes,
She went to pay her taxes,
Thats where she has gone.

Eins, zwei, drei, vier! ( german )

Oh, how did wiscon sin, boy,
She stole a new brass key,
Too bad that arkan saw, boy,
And so did tenne see?
It made poor flora die, boy,
It made poor flora die, you see,
She died in misery, boy,
She died in misery.

Oh, what did della wear boy,
What did della wear?
What did della wear boy,
What did della wear?

[jaycee]

That was such a sweet picture. Wish I was there!

[jaycee]

I thought of that old song yesterday but the only part I recalled well was “What did Della wear?” (my spelling only)

[jaycee]

The picture described these as Seabirds at Navaro Beach, Florida. They are the same as Seagulls, aren't they?

[jaycee]

Warm and fuzzy birds~~LOL~~looking for haunted house!!

[MEG33]

Good Morning To The Finest

Seaside Goldenrod ...October Wildflower
Delaware Seashore State Park

[jaycee]

That beach in my # 93 reminds me of my “Myrtle Beach”. Love it! Wish I was there also....anywhere the beaches are, I love!

[jaycee]

I love it....re: my other posts, I wish I was there also!! Beautiful~~~~

[GodBlessUSA]

This is a wonderful graphic! Good morning Jaycee :)

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Meg
That looks like a lovely place to be!

[jaycee]

Thank you, sweet G.B.!!