Newark in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
New London Road Community
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 8, 2019
1. New London Road Community-(NCC-245) Marker
Inscription.
New London Road Community. . The African American New London Road community can be traced back to 1786 when free black families began settling in the area. The community clustered around New London Road and was bounded by Cleveland Avenue to the south and Corbit and Ray Streets to the north. At a time when African Americans were not welcomed in businesses on Main Street, the community was self-sufficient. Residents owned and operated many businesses including a barbershop, gas station, pool hall, convenience store/co-op, hair salons, and an ice cream parlor. Children attended the New London Road Colored School until it desegregated in 1955.
The African American New London Road community can be traced back to 1786 when free black families began settling in the area. The community clustered around New London Road and was bounded by Cleveland Avenue to the south and Corbit and Ray Streets to the north. At a time when African Americans were not welcomed in businesses on Main Street, the community was self-sufficient. Residents owned and operated many businesses including a barbershop, gas station, pool hall, convenience store/co-op, hair salons, and an ice cream parlor. Children attended the New London Road Colored School until it desegregated in 1955.
Erected 2018 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NCC-245.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1786.
Location. 39° 41.13′ N, 75° 45.481′ W. Marker is in Newark, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker is at the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and New London Road (Delaware Route 896), on the right when traveling east on Cleveland Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newark DE 19711, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. John African Methodist Church (within
More about this marker. The road in the photo is Cleveland Avenue, not New London Road. Notice the no-left-turn sign; New London Road, as it runs northbound (left to right), is one-way until it reaches this intersection, and becomes two-way there.
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 8, 2019
2. New London Road Community-(NCC-245) Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 255 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on August 6, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 14, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
