Lewes-Rehoboth Hundred in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Plank House
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Casa de Tablones
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 29, 2026
1. The Plank House / Casa de Tablones Marker
The Plank House
The Plank House, with its exposed timbers and dovetail joints, resembles structures built by Swedish immigrants who settled near New Castle, Delaware, in the 17th century. In fact, this log house was initially located on a lot at 314 Pilottown Road owned by one of the first Swedes to arrive in Lewes, Helmanus Wiltbank.
Dating to c. 1700 but with timbers dating to c. 1804, the Plank House property was divided equally among Helmanus Wiltbank's three sons—Cornelius, Abraham, and Isaac—when he passed away. Rev. James Wiltbank later inherited the lot and sold off parcels in 1803, when Richard Howard, a local pilot, purchased the lot at 314 Pilottown Road. Howard lived on the land until his death in 1825; his probate inventory listing several structures, including a "smokehouse."
Richard Howard's daughter, Elizabeth Howard West, wife of pilot Lewis West, inherited the property, while their son, Robert, a Lewes merchant, received the lot when his mother died in 1865. Robert and his wife, Clementine McCloud West, raised their daughters Margaret, Mary, Louise, and Clara on the property at 314 Pilottown
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The Enos family lived on the property from 1902 to 1915. After their tenure Margaret West sold the land in 1917 to pilots James Richard and George Herbert Orton, who then donated the house to the Lewes Historical Society in 1963.
When he heard of the acquisition, Joseph Enos wrote to the Lewes Historical Society, reminiscing about his boyhood in Lewes and describing the structure, even providing a map of the property. "The Plank House, as you call it, we always called it a smokehouse, used for smoking meats," Enos explained. "I know it was originally a smoke house, because as small kids, my brother Richard and myself used to play in it and get our clothes all black and dirty from the smoked walls."
Considering the date of the timbers, along with Richard Howard's probate listing of a smokehouse, it is likely that the Plank House was built or renovated by Howard in 1804.
La Casa de Tablones, con sus vigas expuestas y juntas de cola de paloma, es similar en diseño y construcción
Tras la muerte de Richard Howard, su hija Elizabeth Howard West, esposa del piloto Lewis West, heredó la propiedad. El hijo de Elizabeth y Lewis, Robert West, un comerciante de Lewes, recibió la parcela cuando su madre murió en 1865. Robert y su esposa Clementine McCloud West criaron a sus hijas en la propiedad en 314 Pilottown Road. Robert West murió en 1869 y Clementine West murió en 1887. Todo quedó en manos de sus hijas Margaret, Mary, Louise y Clara. Las más jóvenes vendieron su parte a Margaret en 1890. Margaret West alquiló la propiedad porque vivía en Filadelfia en ese momento.
La familia Enos vivió en la propiedad entre 1902 y 1915. Después de su período, Margaret West vendió el terreno en 1917 a James Richard y George Herbert Orton, dos pilotos, quienes donaron la Casa de Tablones a la Sociedad Histórica de Lewes en 1963.
En 1964, Joseph Enos escribió a la Sociedad Histórica de Lewes sobre la reciente adquisición de la Casa de Tablones. Enos recordó haber vivido en Lewes cuando era niño y escribió una descripción detallada del edificio e incluso incluyó un mapa de la propiedad. Joseph Enos dijo: "A la Casa de Tablones (Plank House), como ustedes la llaman, nosotros siempre la llamamos ahumadero, usado para ahumar carnes. Sé que originalmente era un ahumadero porque cuando éramos pequeños, mi hermano Richard y yo solíamos jugar allí y ensuciábamos nuestra ropa por las paredes ahumadas". Esta es una segunda referencia a la existencia de un ahumadero en la propiedad. Teniendo en cuenta que el informe dendrocronológico fecha las vigas en 1804 y la sucesión de Richard Howard que enumera un ahumadero, es probable que Howard construyera o renovara la Casa de Tablones en 1804.
Joseph Gilbert Enos Sr., Map of 314 Pilottown Road Property, 1964, Philadelphia, PA, ink and pencil on tracing vellum, Collection of Historic Lewes.
Notice the outbuildings near the home - In the 18th and early 19th centuries outdoor kitchens or "summer kitchens" and smokehouses were the most common outbuildings found on properties in Sussex County.
Erected by Historic Lewes.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture • Colonial Era • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1700.
Location. 38° 46.603′ N, 75° 8.604′ W. Marker is in Lewes, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Lewes-Rehoboth Hundred. It is on West 3rd Street west of Shipcarpenter Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 411 W 3rd St, Lewes DE 19958, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Delaware’s Beaches. 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, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Doctor's House / Consultorio Médico (here, next to this marker); The Midway School / Escuela Midway c. 1898 (a few steps from this marker); The Stockley-Street House / Casa Stockley (a few steps from this marker); Thompson Country Store / Tienda Thompson (within shouting distance of this marker); Frederick E. Hudson (within shouting distance of this marker); Votes for Women (within shouting distance of this marker); Menhaden Fishing Industry (within shouting distance of this marker); Burton-Ingram House Addition (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewes.
Other markers no longer nearby. Harbeson Railroad Station Privy (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Thompson Country Store (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Milk House (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).
Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 30, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
