Port Penn in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

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Port Penn Schoolhouse

Symbol of the Community

Photographed By William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

1. Port Penn Schoolhouse Marker

Inscription.
Built in 1856, this schoolhouse served to educate Port Penn's children until 1961. Now a State Parks interpretive center, it continues to teach people about the Port Penn community.

Eight grades of students attended classes in the two rooms of this school. The schoolhouse had a coal stove, outdoor privy and a well. Because of segregation, Port Penn's African-American children were educated in a separate school on Port Penn Road. After it closed in 1961, the building served for a time as a bait shop. In 1975, it reopened as the Port Penn museum, a symbol of the community's history and way of life.

[Sidebar:]
State Stewardship: Linking People, Culture and Environment
After operating the museum for fifteen years, the Port Penn Area Historical Society transferred the schoolhouse museum to the Division of Parks and Recreation in 1991. It now serves as the cornerstone of the Delaware Folklife Program's mission to document and interpret Delaware's local culture. Port Penn's marshland and ways of life remain a focus of the Division's interpretive programs.

Erected by The Village of Port Penn.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1991.

Location.

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This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 31.048′ N, 75° 34.77′ W. Marker was in Port Penn, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker was at the intersection of Market Street and Liberty Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Port Penn DE 19731, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. A different marker also named Port Penn Schoolhouse (here, next to this marker); The Cannery Lot (a few steps from this marker); Village of Port Penn (within shouting distance of this marker); Canary-Naudine House & Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Webb-Jefferson House (within shouting distance of this marker); Mary Stewart-Cox House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Samuel Carpenter House (about 300 feet away); Thomas Cleaver House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Penn.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.

Port Penn Schoolhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

2. Port Penn Schoolhouse

Now occupied as a museum.

Interior of school. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

3. Interior of school.

Wood carving of waterman. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

4. Wood carving of waterman.

Located on the grounds of Port Penn Schoolhouse/Museum.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,948 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 18, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.