Near Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

New Pump House

Built 1931

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 27, 2025

1. New Pump House Marker

Inscription.
By the early 1930s, Nemours Mansion, with its 20 bathrooms, busy kitchen and two laundries, was using 6,000 gallons of water per week. The existing spring house pump could not keep up with the demand. In 1930, the deal with water-supply issues at Epping Forest, his Florida estate, Alfred I. duPont had designed a 20-foot brass waterwheel. It worked so well that in 1931 he installed a similar one at Nemours, made of steel rather than brass. If raised water from a spring-fed cistern and pumped it uphill to the water tower, a quarter of a mile away.

When Mr. duPont was at home, we went to the pump house every morning to see how his water wheel was working, as he loved to work with water.
— "Memories of the Alfred I. duPont Estate Recalled by Thoams A. Newman," circa 1978

I remember going down to the Pump House with Mr. duPont where he proceeded to take the entire system apart and put it back together again with great skill. The workmen and I watched. When Mr. duPont finished, everything worked perfectly—but he was very dirty!
— Reminisces of Thomas B. Evans, 1980

A secondary cistern and electric pump beneath

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the wheel captured surplus water and returned it to the first cistern, so that it could be reused. A plaque mounted on the wheel, reading "Made by Alfred I. duPont, 1931," showed his pride of workmanship.

Erected by Nemours Estate.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Resources • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 39° 46.497′ N, 75° 33.636′ W. Marker is near Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It can be reached from the intersection of Rockland Road and Childrens Drive, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 257 Alapocas Dr, Wilmington DE 19803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 27, 2025

2. New Pump House Marker

8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Old Pump House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Farm Equipment (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Farm Equipment (about 400 feet away); Greenhouse Complex (about 500 feet away); Wren's Nest (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nemours Estate (approx. 0.2 miles away); Laundry (approx. 0.2 miles away); Woodland Trailhead (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 121 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.