The Cleaver House sits at the intersection of Market and Congress Streets in the quiet town of Port Penn near the Delaware River and the Augustine Wildlife Area. The structure is named for the Cleaver family who owned the house and ushered in a time of great development and progress for the town. Built circa 1834, the home operated as the family’s residence as well as their general store. The brick, three-story mansion was in the Cleaver family for over a century and served as the family home, place of business and central location for the town.

Several modifications were added to the structure over time, but those additions have since been removed, leaving the house in its original footprint. Despite the passing of time, this home maintains its 19th century charm including custom fixtures and spacious rooms. Looking out the backdoor, one can observe the thriving wildlife along the Delaware River.

The Lums Mill House is located near Route 71 in Lums Pond State Park. It was likely Samuel Clement who built the house in the 1720s and later the mill. The Lums Mill operated for nearly 100 years, serving a variety of purposes including wheat flour production and cutting lumber. The property and home changed hands several times before it was ultimately left to the Lum family, the namesake for the home and nearby park.

This house, which predates our statehood, is a unique remnant of early farmhouse architecture and history. Features such as the brickwork and hardware are relics of its pre-Revolutionary origins. The mill on the property was one of the first of its kind in New Castle County and serves as a reminder of early American development and innovation.

The Sarah Brooks House is on the Cauffiel Estate in Wilmington’s Bellevue State Park. Dated to the mid-1700s, this house is a reminder of early colonial settlers in the area. The original structure was a one-story log cabin. Later, the house was expanded with a stone addition and a second floor. The original logs are still visible, and one can even see the corn cobs, hay and nuts used to seal the cracks. The home is typical of the architecture along the Delaware River.

The house is named for Sarah Brooks Cartmell, the daughter of Thomas Cartmell who bequeathed the land to her upon his death. Sarah Brooks built the home and resided there until her death in 1784. Mementos from past residents are found throughout the home and property including children’s handprints, kitchen fixture and a cornerstone carving.

Stamps on some of the lumber, dendrochronology and archaeology provide a glimpse into the home’s early history and how its occupants lived.