Saint George's Hundred in Middletown in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Historical Pictures from Around Downtown
Middletown Historical Society
| | Tradition of the Peach Festival every August | |
Photographed by Pete Skillman, May 9, 2026
1. Historical Pictures from Around Downtown Marker
People and peaches planted seeds that shape Middletown today. Peaches boomed in Middletown in the 19th century, creating work and wealth. Demand drove the tender fruit from local delicacy to required luxury.
Peaches were a cash crop. The fruit had to be picked and shipped, driving the need for labor, baskets, and delivery routes. In 1855, Middletown welcomed the train to town so farmers could get their produce to the far flung markets of Boston and New York City.
Hedgelawn, home to William Cochran, John P. Cochran's son, was built in 1856. When it was originally built, the house was surrounded by peach orchards, as the Cochran family had 10,000 trees growing on their farms west of Middletown. Hedgelawn was razed April 30th, 2017. It was on the National Register for Historic Places.
Middletown Historical Society, Inc. 216 N. Broad St. Middletown, DE 19709
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[Captions]:
Broad Street looking North
N.E. Corner of Main and Broad Street
Peoples Bank
Middletown High School
PRR Depot Mt Pleasant, DE 1910
Historic Hedgelawn House Demolished
Topics and series.
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Location. 39° 26.973′ N, 75° 43.055′ W. Marker is in Middletown, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Saint George's Hundred. It can be reached from West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21 W Main St, Middletown DE 19709, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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 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: The Middletown Transcript
Photographed by Pete Skillman, May 9, 2026
2. Historical Pictures from Around Downtown Marker - wide view
Also see . . . Hedgelawn - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.
William R. Cochran, born on July 26, 1834, one of the sons of the 43rd Governor of Delaware, John P. Cochran, obtained the land for this house from his father, it being part of the Governors extensive landholdings known as the Stockton tract. Little is known of the man, William R. Cochran; however, more can be told concerning his land. It, along with the other land in the Stockton tract, was used for the cultivation of peaches. The fact that the house was built in 1856, the year the completion of the Delaware Railroad brought an economic boom, is probably no accident.(Submitted on May 9, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 9, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 9, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.
