Newark's New London Community

Newark's New London Community. . , You are standing in the heart of Newark's New London Road community , a historically African-American enclave whose story, though largely untold, is a vital part of the city's larger history and cultural heritage., New London began in the mid-1800s as a small cluster of homes near the intersection of Corbit Street and New London Road. From there it grew steadily over time, reaching over 130 households by the 1940s., An Independent Community…,

"So my biggest memory is the fact that we came from a community that was really [a] village, and we all looked out for each other, the families, and that's how we were raised…" , New London Resident, Madeline Roy 2011 , (Oral History, University of Delaware , New London Walking Tour)

, New London was generally bounded by present-day W. Main Street, the B&O railroad tracks, N. College Avenue (formerly Creek Road), and White Clay Creek, and encompassed several cross streets, including New London Road, W. Cleveland Avenue, Corbit Street, Ray Street, Rose Street, Church Street, Wilson Street, and Terry Manor., Within these limits, resulting from enforced racial segregation in that era, residents forged a tight-knit group with a strong sense of community and independence., The strong sense of community felt by New London residents was defined through several shared values, including the importance of religion and the dedication to provide a quality education for their children., Self-reliance was another important emphasis for New London residents. A range of locally owned businesses (e.g., a barber shop, restaurants, and grocery stores) helped the community remain self-sustaining over the years. These, along with a local Elks Lodge, community center, and three churches, were also important social gathering spots., Homes in New London resembled most other 19th- and early-20th-century working-class buildings in the city. They were typically two-story frame buildings with a gable roof and a covered front porch., [Captions:] , Circa-1900 view of the New London area looking northwest from the intersection of W. Main Street and New London Road. , University of Delaware Special Collections, 1952 photo of African American students at the 1922 "New London Avenue Colored School" (Univ. Delaware Walking tour)., 101 New London Road (February 2017), The house pictured here (101 New London Road, at center) is a good example. It was built in the mid-1930s and provided housing for a series of African-American families. In 2017, this property , along with many other lots in this part of the city in recent decades, was listed for redevelopment., The New London Community Shown on an 1881 Hopkins Map of Newark, Delaware.