Quick Course in Basics, by a Native Delawarean

[Joe84323]

New Ark - Newark (was originally New Ark as in Ark of the Covenant I think)

New Erk - Newark (North Jerz.)

[rdlr]

And....

It's pronounced TOWNS END, not TOWNSind, spelled Townsend
It's REHOBOTH, pronounced REHOBETH, spelled REHOBOTH
It's the Rodney Village Shopping Ctr. Not the Caesar Rodney Shopping Ctr.

[queenofbavaria]

I really should have come across this thread earlier

I admit, I miss-spell every second word, no matter, if I lived in new england or south carolina (since I am german ), I live in a (kind of) mc mansion and will never ever eat srapple.
In germany we have something similar, called 'leberkaese' (liver cheese) and an american friend of mine, who was stationed overseas, always called it 'mystery meat'
It would not be a surprise discovering a pig's eye on my fork, either eating leberkaese or scrapple. so - not thanks for me.
never came across grits in delaware so far.

BUT - even I've done a lot of things wrong here and will still do - people around here were always very welcoming, polite and helpful. Even the 'real' natives, who might be annoyed by us transplants sometimes

Back in germany people think, americans (and that means ALL of them) move across the states every 2-4 years - totally wrong. I met tons of people, born and raised in delaware and did not even leave their hometown (Middletown).
sometimes I think, must be boring - sometimes I am just jealous. roots are something very important.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by queenofbavaria

I really should have come across this thread earlier
I admit, I miss-spell every second word, no matter, if I lived in new england or south carolina (since I am german ), I live in a (kind of) mc mansion and will never ever eat srapple.
In germany we have something similar, called 'leberkaese' (liver cheese) and an american friend of mine, who was stationed overseas, always called it 'mystery meat'
It would not be a surprise discovering a pig's eye on my fork, either eating leberkaese or scrapple. so - not thanks for me.
never came across grits in delaware so far.
BUT - even I've done a lot of things wrong here and will still do - people around here were always very welcoming, polite and helpful. Even the 'real' natives, who might be annoyed by us transplants sometimes
Back in germany people think, americans (and that means ALL of them) move across the states every 2-4 years - totally wrong. I met tons of people, born and raised in delaware and did not even leave their hometown (Middletown).
sometimes I think, must be boring - sometimes I am just jealous. roots are something very important.

Very nice post! Thanks for sharing some german "doings". As a native Delawarean (never left) the thread was started to be helpful, not critical, I hope you know. Delaware is a friendly state and welcomes all. But, it's a real bonus when people moving into the state jump right in, join Delaware traditions, local organizations, and volunteer at local events. Those are the ones benefiting themselves, and us. Mingling together is how we learn from one another, which goes far beyond this thread of tidbits. We've inherited some wonderful, enthusiastic people from other places who've given of themselves to help preserve some of our Delaware history.

Afterthought: Forgot to mention grits. Never found grits above the canal, but in Kent/Sussex Counties, they are on the menu in mom-pop type, and little locally owned restaurants. They are even on the menu at the Harrington Raceway and Casino Cafe. Chain type places, No.

[allniter89]

Originally Posted by Georgia to Northeast PA

Yes, I was in Dover High Marching Band when Lenard Knight and some other guys started the drumline. Just reading your post I am having a big grin on my face because I know all those places like the back of my hand. I knew Dover Hardware was gone (I bought the equipment for my first science fair there back in the 70's). How about the newstand (I can remember being a little kid going in there thinking there was no way anyone could read all those magazines). In fact my mom bought my first teen magazine there one year before going to the beach for the week. I heard Loockerman Exchange was sold but I am sorry that it did not stick around. I grew up at Wesley Church there on State, from little bitty through high school. Went to Dover Days every year. Fireworks on the lawn. Opened my first bank account at Wilmington Trust on State Street, went to the library, spent my Easters at Woodburn hunting eggs, had my wedding reception at the Blue Coat Inn (Can't believe it is gone). Got my flowers at Cooks. Learned to swim at the YMCA. Swam in Silver Lake. Had my first Kiss at Silver Lake. Got all my formal dresses at Simon's. Ok this will take you back wasn't there a Sears or something downtown? I can remember going to Sears something downtown. Hung out with all my friends at the Blue Hen Mall. I could go on forever

Back in the 60's, wasnt there a Rexall Drug Store on the southwest corner of Loockerman & State St, complete with a soda fountain and tables so you could look out onto Loockerman. Remember when Capt Green wasnt low income housing but a medium income neighborhood, we lived at 404 Kent and somewhere on River Rd in a house. I remember the Blue Hen Mall opening, we lived in Capt Paark then and it was a short walk to "The Mall" to hang out. Woolworths 5 & Dime on Loockerman. Not in Dover but DAFB housing, used to be a rickitty old bridge crossed the St Jones connecting Lebanon to base housing.
Those high rise bldgs your speaking of... how many stories are they? I dont think there was anything taller than 2-3 stories in Dover back in the "day". BTW yes there was a Sears downtown between State and Bradford.
I've remembered more, the Dover Volunteer Fire Dept, the siren going off, volunteeers racing to the firehouse next to the old Acme on Gov Av, WDOV & WKEN AM radio breaking into programming to tell where the fire was.
I visited in 2008 and could not believe the Fairways Inn at Garrsions Lake was still open in the original bldg, btw in the 60's it was called Whaleys Restaurant....anyone remember that?

[rdlr]

I remember all of that! I worked at the Farmers Bank across from Braunstein's, now the Loockerman Exchange. That was Bryan's Pharmacy, wasn't it? with the soda fountain on Loockerman St. Lunch time we'd walk over to Braunstein's to shop, or down the street to Emmanuel's. Then across the street was Sherrie's. Plaza Nine was considered a 'high class' place to go, and that's where we walked to meet John F. Kennedy when he visited Dover. There was a McCrory's 5 & 10 on Loockerman, also. Remember Ed Miller the DJ/newsman/local authority on WDOV? I remember the Whaleys well. As a kid, our school bus picked up the two kids there.

Hope you get back soon, allniter89! Some things remain the same, but the tons of subdivisions have gobbled up much of the farm land. We still have Dover Days, but some of the other events are not well attended. Many natives have died off, but the Dover Air Force Base population has really helped us retain some of those values by jumping in and leading some community projects.

[momonthemove]

Funny. We are still "new" to Delaware. I have been enjoying meeting and chatting with people who are natives.