Poll: In Which DE County Do You Live (Or Plan to Live)? (Wilmington: crime, house)

[James420]

Ya know, I guess Middletown, doesn't deserve any credit, you guys might of heard of it, one of the fastest growing towns in the East, throughout the '90s and 2000's. One of maybe two school districts in the state that isn't a mess. Actually some people have flocked to Middletown for the schools, not just former north Wilmington residents but people from out of state. I grew up in Southeastern PA and like West Chester and Philly although isn't Philly the murder capital this year. I also like Beaver Valley, Middletown, Wilmington, Greenville, the Beaches especially Lewes and believe it or not, Dover, Milton and for some reason Laurel. White Clay Creek State Park, Bombay Hook, Augustine Beach, Cedar Swamp, Prime Hook, Bowers Beach, Bellevue Park, Killiens Pond, Lums Pond, Delaware Park Horse Racing, Baywood Golf Course, Rock Manor Golf Course, the riverfront, Rodney and Trolley Square. Is there anything better than going out of Port Mahon in November for some Striper fishing? Duck hunting in Cedar Swamp? Trout fishing in Beaver Valley, and Brandywine Creek State Park? Little League Baseball?

All this state needs to do for me to stay is get a handle on the crime, and start doing something about the schools that doesn't include ministers from Wilmington. BTW, they got what they asked for in bussing and now they want it back, on the backs of taxpayers no less. Of course there's a little thing about hearing aids for kids but thats a story for another time.

[NYJoe]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

What I thankfully don't get from folks up here in New Castle County, except for a few old money types, is "you're an outsider and you can't join the club"; unlike the attitude that rdlr seems to be reflecting to the effect that for the most part if you come from outside rural Sussex or Kent - even if you were born within the territorial boundaries of Delaware - you aren't "a real Delawarean". That is an awfully provincial and exclusivist attitude, frankly.

As a lifelong New Yorker, Yankee fan, and someone who tends to talk too fast and too loud, who finds it hard to follow your speed limits and does not yet have the patience for the time it takes your cashiers and waitresses to take care of me, I will state that when it comes to rdlr, you don't know jack, jef! My wife and I enjoyed her and her husbands hospitality this summer, and when we do move down there, I know she will be the first to welcome us as new Delawarean's!

Maybe they just don't like brits down south!

[James420]

How could I forget Hoopes resevoir, my wife used to drop me off right near it (its illegal to fish there) in my camo just to catch some really huge Bass and Crappie. i have since passed that tradition down to my kids when they were 7 and 5 years old. Now she drops me and my kids off, all of us in camo to catch some fish. The camo makes it harder for the cops and neighbors to see us. Parents of the Year I always say.

BTW, I won't hold it against rdlr for having friends that are Yankee fans.

[doctorjef]

Originally Posted by NYJoe

As a lifelong New Yorker, Yankee fan, and someone who tends to talk too fast and too loud, who finds it hard to follow your speed limits and does not yet have the patience for the time it takes your cashiers and waitresses to take care of me, I will state that when it comes to rdlr, you don't know jack, jef! My wife and I enjoyed her and her husbands hospitality this summer, and when we do move down there, I know she will be the first to welcome us as new Delawarean's!

Maybe they just don't like brits down south!

NYJoe, I'm actually a native Texan whose childhood was spent in VA and DC and the majority of whose working career was spent in the great city of Austin, TX but finished up in London. I daresay my norms for behaviour in RL are more attuned to Delaware ways than the loud, impatient and entitled culture of downstate New Yorkers.

[doctorjef]

James420 -- you have quite eclectic interests! RE: Middletown -- question is, will it ever be anything now essentially other than a bedroom community for people commuting north for work? Formerly it was a small town serving the peach orchards and other farming of its immediate area. Now, ISTM that a minority of residents would be locally employed in the schools and local businesses, with the majority working farther north in NCCo or in some cases over in Jersey or up in PA. It would be interesting to see what Middletown will have become in 30 years. Will it just be what Bear is now or will it have become a more established centre for some types of business that reach beyond the local community?

[NYJoe]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

NYJoe, I'm actually a native Texan whose childhood was spent in VA and DC and the majority of whose working career was spent in the great city of Austin, TX but finished up in London. I daresay my norms for behaviour in RL are more attuned to Delaware ways than the loud, impatient and entitled culture of downstate New Yorkers.

Now now, I said I was loud and impatient. I never admitted to feeling entitled! Please insult me accurately.

[Joe84323]

Please, guys, if you need to insult people, remember that I am here, and for such insults, I work tirelessly

Middletown, though, is quite a bit underrated. I did ride through it about a month ago, and I can say the area is coming along very nicely, especially along (I believe,) 401.

I have to personally try to devote a bit more attention to the MOT area.. as it is one of the few areas growing rapidly in Delaware. Too bad it doesn't have better connectivity with the northern part of the county.

[queenofbavaria]

i guess, you mean 301 (which converts to 896 when you go up north).

I really can see middletown main street (299) coming along very nicely. a couple of interesting shops (like the comic shop, purple sage, framing shop, bridal and prom wear, a tattoo shop , a couple of cafes, the everett theater, the gibby's art gallery, barber shops ..

sidewalks were done with bricks and old fashioned street lights, lots of homes were remodeled over the last 2 years, there is a market square with benches and a seafood shop and a pub, where you can sit outside ... just park your car somewhere close (and free ) and stroll through down town. we have our own little newspaper (middletown transcript) and it is very hard not to socialize too much at the grocery store, because you always meet neighbors and friends.
oh, and close to mainstreet there is the dutch country market, also a nice place to shop for amish bread, cheeses and other products.

It's just nice you have a center here, where parades, trick or treat in shops, festivals, friday's art nights etc can take place.

that's why I would not compare middletown to bear. at least I have not found something comparable, just strip malls and neighborhoods.

we moved to Middletown (from claymont) and were very happy for over 6 years - happy with the people, very happy with the schools and everything, middletown has to offer. Saying good bye is being harder than we thought ...

[doctorjef]

Back from my overnight trip downstate. Drove back partly via Rt 9, which we'd never done before. Very nice, remote feeling route. Nice not to see all the cheap construction that you see on Rt 1. Must do it again when things are green.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Back from my overnight trip downstate. Drove back partly via Rt 9, which we'd never done before. Very nice, remote feeling route. Nice not to see all the cheap construction that you see on Rt 1. Must do it again when things are green.

You passed the octagonal schoolhouse, near Cowgill's Corner. No surprise, it sits off the road and is easy to miss. Interesting, though.
OCTAGONAL SCHOOLHOUSE
Be careful on Rt. 9! Racoon, Opossum and snakes are in large supply, and roadkill is everywhere, mostly during the spring and summer. Lots of accidents because people try to miss the critters.