Saint George's Hundred in Port Penn in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Cleaver House
At the Crossroads of Commerce
In 1834, Joseph Cleaver built this house near the river and what was then the region's biggest port. He called it Linden Hall. As one of Port Penn's best-known merchants, he hoped to dominate the trade between the Delaware River and the farmlands of southern New Castle County.
A symbol of the Cleaver family's importance to the area, the house was fashioned as two urban townhouses. The Cleaver family lived in the northern section of the house with its large entrance hall, elegant staircase, and marble fireplace surrounds. The southern portion of the building served as Cleaver's office, dry goods store, and storehouse. This section later served as the town's first post office.
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Changing Times in Port Penn
Following construction of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (c.1829) a few miles to the north, major shipping began to bypass Port Penn. The town still managed to provide local agricultural producers with a convenient method to export their goods. The port began to lose its competitive advantage with the advent of the railroad. Today Port Penn is known as a fishing village.
Erected by The Village of Port Penn.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce
this page online
Location. 39° 31.004′ N, 75° 34.591′ W. Marker is in Port Penn, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Saint George's Hundred. It is at the intersection of Congress St. and Market Street, on the right when traveling north on Congress St.. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Port Penn DE 19731, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Delaware’s Southern New Castle County, in Greater Wilmington and in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic and on the Delmarva Peninsula. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: W.C. Webb House (within shouting distance of this marker); Mary Porter Darrach House (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Price House (within shouting distance of this marker); W.H. Miller House (within shouting distance of this marker); Commodore's House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Hubbs House (within shouting distance of this marker); W.H. Miller Rental Property (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); William Eaton House (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Penn.
More about
Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 10, 2008
2. The Cleaver House Marker
This is a previous iteration of the marker. While the information is identical, the formatting is slightly different.
Center Photo Linden Hall was among the most important structures in Port Penn. Pictured here are Samuel B. Cleaver, Catherine Cleaver, Sarah B. Cleaver, Henry Cleaver, Mr. Eaton, W.S. Eaton and Mr. Lockerman, with the horse "Dan." Photo dated November 28, 1877.
Map List of Port Penn markers.
Also see . . . Port Penn Historic District - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.
On the northeast corner of Market and Congress Streets, and adjacent to the old road to the wharf area, stands "Linden Hall" (N-3928.50) built in the 1840's by Joseph Cleaver as his "mansion" house and later converted to a hotel and post office. "Linden Hall" is a brick structure, two-and-one-half-stories high and is in its altered form, an "L" shape. The original part is the two-and-one-half-story brick, Georgian, double-parlor-plan. After 1858, the brick two-story wing, with its shed roof, extended the building to the rear in its "L" shape.(Submitted on April 24, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)
Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008
4. The Cleaver House
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 5, 2021
5. National Register of Historic Places plaque for the house
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,944 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on August 17, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on June 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on August 17, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 5. submitted on June 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
