Fork Branch Nature Preserve & East Dover Hundred in Kent County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Fork Branch Nature Preserve

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2025

1. Fork Branch Nature Preserve Marker

Inscription. History In its more recent history, the preserve had become a crossroads for milling and transportation. The first Europeans settled in this area in the late 17th century. At that time, John Albertson and John Mumford acquired the 877-acre Maidstone tract. The Miller family then acquired the land and subdivided it between 1742 and 1762. Peter Miller built a grist mill just south of the preserve which was later replaced by a saw mill. The 1859 map of Kent County shows Charles I. DuPont as the mill owner at that time.

That map also shows a road leading from the DuPont train station across the preserve to the mill rather than following the modern route of Denny's Road to its intersection with Kenton Road, about half a mile northwest of the mill. By 1868, however, Denny's Road was at its current location.

The mill seems to have been gone by the end of the 19th century since it is not shown on later maps. Most of the uplands of the preserve were never used to grow crops, but appear to have been managed as wood lots and a source of timber.

Erected by Delaware State Parks.

Topics and series. This historical marker

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is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Delaware State Parks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1742.

Location. 39° 10.938′ N, 75° 34.641′ W. Marker is in Dover, Delaware, in Kent County. It is in Fork Branch Nature Preserve & East Dover Hundred. It can be reached from Kenton Road (County Road 104) north of Baltray Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 236 Kenton Rd, Dover DE 19904, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2025

2. Fork Branch Nature Preserve Marker

also named Fork Branch Nature Preserve (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to Fork Branch Nature Preserve (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Anne McClements Woods (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dupont School (approx. 1.7 miles away); Delaware State College High School (approx. 1.8 miles away); Loockerman Hall (approx. 1.8 miles away); a different marker also named Loockerman Hall (approx. 1.8 miles away); Voyage (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dover.

A Mass of Mast [signage along the trail] image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2025

3. A Mass of Mast [signage along the trail]

A Forest Cake [signage along the trail] image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2025

4. A Forest Cake [signage along the trail]

Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 127 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 25, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.