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History · Newark

A history of Newark,
since 1694

Postcards, papers and photographs of Newark from public archives, woven together by decade. Neighbors fill in the gaps.

1694established
16old images & papers
57historic places
0recent photos
From Newark’s archive · credits on each photo

The story

from WikipediaRead it all ↗

Newark was founded in 1694 by Scots-Irish and Welsh settlers. It was officially established in 1758 when it received a charter from George II of Great Britain.

Schools have played a significant role in the history of Newark. A grammar school, founded by Francis Alison in 1743, moved from New London, Pennsylvania to Newark in 1765, becoming the Newark Academy. Among the first graduates of the school were three signers of the Declaration of Independence: George Read, Thomas McKean, and James Smith. Two of these, Read and McKean, went on to have schools named after them in the state of Delaware: George Read Middle School and Thomas McKean High School.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

built from the dates on the items below
1694Established
1960s6 items · DETAIL OF LOWER PORTION OF SOUTH ELEV…Commons
1977NEWARK YARDS. NEWARK, NEWCASTLE CO., DE. Sec. 1…Commons
1980s3 items · Sharksballoon1Commons
1990s6 items · VIEW EAST, APPROACH ABUTMENT WALL DET…Commons
Help out

Finish Newark’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

4 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 🔁Retake an old viewDETAIL OF LOWER PORTION OF SOUTH …, 1968: stand where they stood+15 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Famous people from NewarkWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Newark.Meet them →
By decade

Newark, decade by decade

1960s6 items
DETAIL OF LOWER PORTION OF SOUTH ELEVATION OF DAM WALL, LOOKING NORTH - Whitman Estate, Lower Pond Spillway, Approx. .5…CommonsDETAIL OF LOWER PORTION OF SOUTH ELEVATION OF DAM WALL, LOO…1968DETAIL OF REPOINTING ON EAST ELEVATION OF WEST PARAPET WALL NEAR JUNCTION OF DAM AND PARAPET WALL, LOOKING WEST - Whitm…CommonsDETAIL OF REPOINTING ON EAST ELEVATION OF WEST PARAPET WALL…1968DETAIL OF SOUTH ELEVATION OF DAM WALL, SHOWING WATER FLOW AND PORTION OF WEST PARAPET WALL, LOOKING NORTHWEST - Whitman…CommonsDETAIL OF SOUTH ELEVATION OF DAM WALL, SHOWING WATER FLOW A…1968EAST ELEVATION OF EAST PARAPET WALL, LOOKING ACROSS DAM TO SOUTHWEST - Whitman Estate, Lower Pond Spillway, Approx. .5 …CommonsEAST ELEVATION OF EAST PARAPET WALL, LOOKING ACROSS DAM TO …1968ENVIRONMENTAL VIEW OF SOUTHEAST PORTION OF LOWER POND AND SPILLWAY WITH FOREBAY IN FOREGROUND, LOOKING SOUTH - Whitman …CommonsENVIRONMENTAL VIEW OF SOUTHEAST PORTION OF LOWER POND AND S…1968ENVIRONMENTAL VIEW OF SOUTHEAST PORTION OF LOWER POND AND SPILLWAY, LOOKING SOUTH - Whitman Estate, Lower Pond Spillway…CommonsENVIRONMENTAL VIEW OF SOUTHEAST PORTION OF LOWER POND AND S…1968
1970s1 item
NEWARK YARDS. NEWARK, NEWCASTLE CO., DE. Sec. 1201, MP 39.50. - Northeast Railroad Corridor, Amtrak Route between Maryl…CommonsNEWARK YARDS. NEWARK, NEWCASTLE CO., DE. Sec. 1201, MP 39.5…1977
1980s3 items
Sharksballoon1CommonsSharksballoon11986Sharksballoon2CommonsSharksballoon21986Sharksballoon4CommonsSharksballoon41986
1990s6 items
VIEW EAST, APPROACH ABUTMENT WALL DETAIL - Thompson's Station Bridge, Spanning White Clay Creek on Chambers Rock Road (…CommonsVIEW EAST, APPROACH ABUTMENT WALL DETAIL - Thompson's Stati…1993VIEW EAST, ROADWAY ELEVATION AND SETTING - Thompson's Station Bridge, Spanning White Clay Creek on Chambers Rock Road (…CommonsVIEW EAST, ROADWAY ELEVATION AND SETTING - Thompson's Stati…1993VIEW NORTH, LOOKING AT ENTIRE SOUTH SIDE OF BRIDGE - Thompson's Station Bridge, Spanning White Clay Creek on Chambers R…CommonsVIEW NORTH, LOOKING AT ENTIRE SOUTH SIDE OF BRIDGE - Thomps…1993VIEW NORTHWEST, DETAIL OF DECK, TRUSS, AND STEEL HANDRAIL - Thompson's Station Bridge, Spanning White Clay Creek on Cha…CommonsVIEW NORTHWEST, DETAIL OF DECK, TRUSS, AND STEEL HANDRAIL -…1993VIEW SOUTH, LOOKING AT ENTIRE NORTH SIDE OF BRIDGE - Thompson's Station Bridge, Spanning White Clay Creek on Chambers R…CommonsVIEW SOUTH, LOOKING AT ENTIRE NORTH SIDE OF BRIDGE - Thomps…1993VIEW WEST, ORIGINAL PLAQUE ON NORTH PORTAL - Thompson's Station Bridge, Spanning White Clay Creek on Chambers Rock Road…CommonsVIEW WEST, ORIGINAL PLAQUE ON NORTH PORTAL - Thompson's Sta…1993
National Register of Historic Places

57 historic places in Newark

57 places in Newark are on the National Register of Historic Places, the country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

#2
Among Delaware’s most-listed townsby listings · the typical town has 2
57places listed54 buildings · 3 districts
0National Historic LandmarksNone here yet
126historic buildings protectedcounting each building in a district
1972first listedEngland House and Mill · newest: African Union Church and Cemetery of Iron Hill, 2021

Where they are

Tap a dot for a photo and link. Districts show at their center.
England House and MillWelsh Tract Baptist ChurchWhite Clay Creek Presbyterian ChurchCooch's Bridge Historic DistrictAndrew Fisher HouseOld College Historic DistrictAcademy of NewarkDean, Joseph, & Son Woolen MillAetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company Fire Station No. 2Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company, Fire Station No. 1Baily HouseBuilding at 140 W. Main StreetBuilding at 28-34 1/2 Academy StreetCurtis MansionCurtis Paper Mill Workers' HousesDeer Park HotelExchange BuildingGeorge Evans HouseMemorial HallNewark Opera HouseNewark Passenger StationOld First Presbyterian ChurchOld Newark Comprehensive SchoolSt. John the Baptist Roman Catholic ChurchSt. Thomas Episcopal ChurchWilmington Trust Company BankWright HouseAnderson HouseBank of Newark BuildingBell FarmhouseBelmont HallBlue Hen FarmBuilding at 34 Choate StreetChambers HouseDeer Park FarmGranite MansionGreen MansionJohn Evans HouseMeteer Store HouseRhodes PharmacyState TheaterEdward R. Wilson HouseAndrew Kerr HouseHead of Christiana United Presbyterian ChurchJames Morrow HouseJames Steel HouseThomas Phillips Mill ComplexOtt's ChapelBartley-Tweed FarmJ. Eastburn BarnJohn C. Vansant HouseMeeteer HouseIron Hill School No. 112CCooch's Bridge Historic District (Boundary Decrease)Charles and Edith Liedlich HouseStuart Randall & Pricilla Kellogg Carswell HouseAfrican Union Church and Cemetery of Iron Hill
BuildingsDistricts

When they were listed

The Register began in 1966. Newark’s busiest decade was the 1980s.
Listed 1972England House and MillBuildingArchitectureListed 1973Welsh Tract Baptist ChurchBuilt 1746ArchitectureListed 1973White Clay Creek Presbyterian ChurchBuilt 1855ArchitectureListed 1973Cooch's Bridge Historic DistrictDistrictIndustryMilitaryListed 1973Andrew Fisher HouseBuildingIndustryMilitaryListed 1973Old College Historic DistrictDistrictEducationArchitectureListed 1976Academy of NewarkBuildingEducationListed 1978Dean, Joseph, & Son Woolen MillBuildingIndustryArchitectureListed 1982Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company Fire Station No. 2Built 1922ArchitectureListed 1982Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company, Fire Station No. 1Built 1890Social historyListed 1982Baily HouseBuildingEducationArchitectureListed 1982Building at 140 W. Main StreetBuildingArchitectureListed 1982Building at 28-34 1/2 Academy StreetBuildingArchitectureListed 1982Curtis MansionBuildingArchitectureListed 1982Curtis Paper Mill Workers' HousesBuildingArchitectureSocial historyListed 1982Deer Park HotelBuilt 1851Social historyListed 1982Exchange BuildingBuildingArchitectureSocial historyListed 1982George Evans HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1982Memorial HallBuildingArchitectureListed 1982Newark Opera HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1982Newark Passenger StationBuilt 1877Town planningCommerceTransportationListed 1982Old First Presbyterian ChurchBuildingArchitectureListed 1982Old Newark Comprehensive SchoolBuildingEducationListed 1982St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic ChurchBuilt 1883ArchitectureListed 1982St. Thomas Episcopal ChurchBuildingArchitectureListed 1982Wilmington Trust Company BankBuildingArchitectureListed 1982Wright HouseBuildingCommerceArchitectureListed 1983Anderson HouseBuilt 1806Exploration/SettlementArchitectureListed 1983Bank of Newark BuildingBuildingArchitectureListed 1983Bell FarmhouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1983Belmont HallBuildingArchitectureListed 1983Blue Hen FarmBuildingArchitectureListed 1983Building at 34 Choate StreetBuildingArchitectureListed 1983Chambers HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1983Deer Park FarmBuildingTown planningArchitectureListed 1983Granite MansionBuildingArchitectureListed 1983Green MansionBuildingArchitectureListed 1983John Evans HouseBuildingCommerceArchitectureListed 1983Meteer Store HouseBuildingIndustryArchitectureListed 1983Rhodes PharmacyBuildingCommerceArchitectureListed 1983State TheaterBuildingRecreationArchitectureListed 1983Edward R. Wilson HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1983Andrew Kerr HouseBuildingExploration/SettlementArchitectureListed 1983Head of Christiana United Presbyterian ChurchBuildingArchitectureListed 1983James Morrow HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1983James Steel HouseBuildingArchitectureSocial historyListed 1983Thomas Phillips Mill ComplexBuildingEngineeringListed 1986Ott's ChapelBuildingArchitectureReligionSocial historyListed 1986Bartley-Tweed FarmBuildingAgricultureArchitectureListed 1986J. Eastburn BarnBuildingArchitectureListed 1989John C. Vansant HouseBuildingAgricultureArchitectureListed 1993Meeteer HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1995Iron Hill School No. 112CBuildingArchitectureEducationBlack historyListed 1999Cooch's Bridge Historic District (Boundary Decrease)DistrictMilitaryIndustryListed 2006Charles and Edith Liedlich HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 2011Stuart Randall & Pricilla Kellogg Carswell HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 2021African Union Church and Cemetery of Iron HillBuildingArchitectureEthnic Heritage-BlackReligion
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · styles from the National Archives catalog · photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place

Then & now

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as DETAIL OF LOWER PORTION OF SOUTH ELEVATION OF DAM WALL, LOOKING NORTH - Whitman Estate, Lower Pond Spillway, Approx. .5… (1968) and it appears here side by side.

🔁 Retake this view · +15

Stories next door

nearby towns’ history
📜 London Britain📜 Elkton📜 Franklin📜 Newport

From Wikimedia Commons (16) and the National Register (5). Images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01
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