Archmere Academy - Patio Yearbook (Claymont, DE)

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JY i mu? ' . - . - , ,M.mx,. ag THE MAIN BUILDING . . I a visitor once inside the gates, and especially one who has traveled in Italy and Florence, would at once note the resemblance of the porte-cochere to the one which stands before the Pazzi Chapel. Raskoh-Green Record Book. Independence, the Revolutionary War, the Critical Period, and the adoption of the Constitution. In May, 1787, the Constitutional Convention niet at Independence Hall to consider the formation of the United States. Cn December 7, 1787, the State of Delaware led the way in ratifying the notable document which is the foundation of American Democracy. During these momentous events the land which is now Archmere changed hands several times, until in 1872 it was bought by Mr. George M. Troutman. I-Ie was the first to call it Archmere, in reference to the natural arch formed by an opening in the grove. It affords a beautiful view across the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Dela- ware River, to the distant shores of New Jersey. As one gazes through the arch he may see one of the speedy electric express trains, which run between New York and Washington, or, on the river, an ocean-going freighter plying upstream to the port of Philadelphia. Cn August 1, 1910, Mr. John Raskob purchased the land along with its lar e frame mansion from Mr. Troutman's dau hter Mrs. Vir inia Smith. The 3 former house stood in the same Spot as the present school building. In drawing up the plans for the new structure it was decided to follow the classic architecture of the Italian Renaissance. As the Raskob-Green Record Book so aptly states, it was to be a home of Italian architecture with its simplicity of line without, its artistic beauties and homelike atmosphere within, but loveliest of all, its 9

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ARCHMERE AND DELAWARE I-IISTGRY Since very important anniversaries have been celebrated in Delaware during the past school year, it is extremely fitting that we recall and relate their historical significance and at the same time tell the story of the beautiful estate and home which Mr. john 1. Raskob established and which has now become Archmere Preparatory School for Boys. We will draw our material from the Raskob-Green Record Book and encyclopedias. Before the coming of the white man, the fertile and verdant lands of northern Delaware and southern Pennsylvania along the Delaware were the hunting-grounds of the Leni-Lenape Indians. They were of Algonquin stock and their name signifies real men. Evidence of their mode of' life was found in the spring of 1912. At that time a well-preserved arrow head was turned up when excavations were made for the garden. The settlement of Delaware has a very interesting and involved history. A Dutch colony at Lewes Creek in 1631 was a complete failure when the Indians mas- sacred the entire settlement. The Dutch claim to the territory was based on Henry Hudson's voyage of discovery in 1609. Three hundred years ago this June, in 1638, two ships carrying some fifty Swedish emigrants entered Delaware Bay and chose the present site of Wilmington for their new home. The colony was called Nova Suediai' and a Fort Christina, named in honor of their young queen, was built. New Sweden was dominated by the Dutch East India Company and in 1664, along with New Amsterdam Cnow New Yorkb, fell into the hands of the English. For many years the territory of Delaware was claimed both by Lord Baltimore, leader of the Maryland Pilgrims and by William Penn. Mrs. Raskob is a direct descendant of a passenger on Governor Leonard Calvert's ship, the Ark, in 1634. Thomas Greene, the ancestor we speak of, became the second Governor of the Province of Maryland in 1647. Mason and Dixon, the famous surveyors, settled the boundary controversy when they laid the east and south lines of the Three Counties. The Lenape Indians made their first treaty with William Penn at Shackamazon in 1682. His grant of land extended somewhat south of Newcastle, Del. What is today Claymont was originally in Penn's Woods. According to historical documents William Penn's son and grandson, Thomas and William, were his heirs and succes- sors. In 1720 they surveyed the land between Naaman's Creek and the Old Plantation Cnear Holly Gakl, and between the King's Road-the present Lincoln Highway- and the Delaware River. This tract was sold to Joseph Grubb, john Buckley, and Benjamin Moulden. The land assigned to Mr. Grubb and his heirs contained the present Archmere. Turning now to the national scene, we find that Delaware's existence as a sovercicin state, distinct from Pennsylvania, came about by charter on October 28, 1701. Seventy-five years later the state constitution was framed. In the same century the most stirring events in our nation's history was taking place-the Declaration of 8 .

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patio with its shadowed loggias, soothing fountain and arched doorways and windows through which one could see from the road to the rivere open like an honest face. The central court spoken of was to he protected from inclement weather hy a hril- liantly-colored movahle skylight. Mr. Alexander Harper of New York City was appointed architect. The Raskoh family lived at Archmere for twenty years. Among the noted guests who visited them were, in 1924, Herr Alois Lang, who held the role of Christ in the Qherammageau Passion Play, and Mr. Alfred E. Smith of New York, at the end of his presidential campaign in 1928. Archmere is the hirthplace of most of the Raskoh children. ln 1930 the family moved to Centreville, Maryland. The Rt. Rev. B. l-1. Pennings, Ahhot of the Norhertine Crder in the United States, arranged with Mr. Raskoh for the estahlishment of Archmere Preparatory School in the spring of 1932. The Very Rev. M. Mclfeough, O. Praem., was ap' pointed Headmaster and on Septemher 14th of that year nineteen students were admitted to classes. The Most Rev. Edmund Fitzmaurice, Bishop of the Diocese of NXfilmington, presided at impressive dedication ceremonies on Qct. 12th, when the school was placed under the patronage of Qur Lady of the Immaculate Conception. 'rf X 'a1V,i. it E' , X '1?gy9'V' , ' gf, I V, 5 23,24 1 r 4,331 ' . .-1' Ji' S8391 5 Q airs, . A A 6, , .41 ' ' tiff- THE LIVING Room Recently l read that every real home should have four rooms, each one contrihuting to the maintenance of our lives Wa dining room, to nourish the hody, a music room to strengthen the soul, a living room to stimulate the heart, and a lihrary to cultivate the hrainf' T Mrs. ,l. 1. Rtlslwlv in tlic Ruskolv-Greevi Rcctml Book. 10