Blackbird Hundred near Townsend in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Taylor's Bridge School
(District No. 66)
Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008
1. Taylor's Bridge School Marker
On April 5, 1923 a frame schoolhouse located nearby was destroyed by a storm. Within two weeks the General Assembly appropriated $5,000 to construct a new school. Although the amount proved to be inadequate, P.S. duPont, through the Delaware School Auxiliary Association, provided the balance necessary to complete the project. On October 27, 1923 the State of Delaware purchased three acres on this site to build the new brick on-room structure. Construction began shortly thereafter. In 1949 the school was closed and the district was consolidated with the Smyrna School District. On April 21, 1950 the Taylor's Bridge Community Center, Inc. purchased the property for one dollar and transformed the structure into a community center.
Erected 1997 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-93.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1907.
Location. 39° 24.329′ N, 75° 35.318′ W. Marker is near Townsend, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Blackbird Hundred.
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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, on the Delmarva Peninsula, and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Duncan Beard (approx. 3.8 miles away); Old Union Methodist Church (approx. 4.1 miles away); Blackbird School (District No. 69) (approx. 4.6 miles away); Scott Church (approx. 4.6 miles away); Odessa (approx. 4.9 miles away); The Corbit-Sharp House (approx. 5 miles away); The Tatman Office (approx. 5.1 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.1
Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008
2. Taylor's Bridge School
Additional commentary.
1. Smyrna Times news article from April 11, 1923
Storm hits Taylors Bridge doing considerable damage, attains cyclonic force as it demolishes houses and auto
School House Blown From Its Foundation - Porch Torn from Elmer Davids Residence - Crops Hurt
A terrific storm swept the State Thursday afternoon (April 5, 1923), tearing up trees and telephone poles damaging crops, flooding roads and in some parts of the State demolishing whole houses. Smyrna escaped any material damage although the rain came in a veritable deluge with some high wind, but over in Thoroughfare Neck it was another story. A veritable cyclone struck Taylor's Bridge. Two automobiles passing through the town had their tops blown off before they could reach shelter. The high wind was accompanied by a driving rain, making it almost impossible to see. The car of Nathaniel Van Horn, which was parked along the road, was almost wrecked.
Miss Gladys McBooker, teacher of the Taylor's Bridge school, who was about to leave the school with three little children, stopped in the vestibule,
Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008
3. Interior of Taylor's Bridge School
The garage of James McClain was shattered by the cyclone. The house of Elmer David, nearby, also fell a victim to the storm and was almost demolished, the porch being torn off. Apple trees were torn up by the roots in some places. The storm lasted 20 minutes. Some of the wreckage was blown as far as Cedar Swamp, behind the town. Although Taylor's Bridge was the place hardest hit, other towns in the district experienced high winds and heavy rainfall. In the vicinity of Middletown limbs of many trees were torn off by the wind. The district northwest of Wilmington as far as Kennett Square was also hard hit by the storm. Five telephone poles and wire for the distance of a half mile were torn down between Kennett Square and
Photographed by Ernie Mabrey, April 5, 1923
4. Old Taylor's Bridge School
This photo is from an old family album. I've always been told that it is of the old Taylor's Bridge School that was destroyed in the April 5, 1923 storm mentioned on the marker. My great-grandparents lived at the Taylor's Bridge lighthouse, which was a stone's throw from the old school, so I am inclined to believe this is a photo of that school.
— Submitted July 28, 2009, by Ernie Mabrey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,961 times since then and 76 times this year. Last updated on January 3, 2025, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 22, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 4. submitted on July 28, 2009, by Ernie Mabrey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
