Red Lion Hundred in Delaware City in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Floated Across The River
Fort Dupont
| | Shaped by History and Anchored in Nature | |
As operations at Fort Dupont continued to expand, so did the need for additional housing.
The solution? Utilize surplus housing from nearby Fort Mott, New Jersey, which was in caretaker status. In December 1931, the 1st Engineers rolled Building #81 onto a barge and floated it across the Delaware River, through the Branch Canal, to it's new location on Officers Row at Fort DuPont.
The endeavor was a success and in December 1932, four additional structures were floated across the river completing Officers Row.
Except for barges and a tugboat, all of the work was done by the 1st Engineer Regiment using only military equipment.
[Caption:]
Above: Weighing 240 tons, Building #81 was the first to be floated across the river from Fort Mott to Fort DuPont as part of a bold plan to quickly meet housing needs. Fortunately, Building #81 still stands and can be seen mid-way, on the north side of Officers Row.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1931.
Location. 39° 34.424′ N, 75° 35.251′ W. Marker is in
this page online
Regionally, this marker is 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: Officers Row (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Commanding Officer Quarters (about 400 feet away); Post Headquarters (about 500 feet away); Theatre (about 600 feet away); Constructed by First Engineers (about 600 feet away); Parade Grounds (approx. 0.2 miles away); Post Exchange (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chapel (approx. 0.2 miles away).
Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort DuPont World War II Memorial (was about 800 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 278 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
