HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Shortcut to this page:  www.mphsknights.com/historicalsociety
 
Next Meeting:  now meeting with PTSA
 
50th Anniversary  1958 - 2008
of our school building location on Washington Street Extension

PLANNING MEETING AGENDA

 

New Castle County Council unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Councilman Robert S. Weiner to recognize May 2008 as National Historic Preservation Month.  "This Place Matters" is the theme of the month-long celebration, which is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

"I and the other members of Council recognize the need the preserve our historical heritage. It must be preserved so that all citizens and future generations may learn from the ways and tradition of our forefathers," stated Councilman Weiner.

Councilman Weiner further stated, "When historic buildings and neighborhoods are allowed to deteriorate, a part of our past disappears forever. When that happens, we lose history that helps us know who we are and lose opportunities to live and work in the kinds of interesting and attractive surroundings that older buildings can provide".  READ MORE
 


Superintendent Jim Scanlon, Mount Pleasant Historical Society Chairperson Clint Dantinne,
and State Senator Harris B. McDowell III at the marker dedication on May 18, 2007
 
We received confirmation on June 15, 2006 that Delaware Senate Majority Leader Harris McDowell would sponsor the Mount Pleasant School historical marker. The original Mount Pleasant schoolhouse built in 1830 exists on the property of Bellevue State Park.  The dedication ceremony for the marker was held on Friday, May 18, 2007 at 1 PM (layout design).
 

PRESS RELEASE DATED MAY 15

 

OFFICIAL PROGRAM FOR CEREMONY

 

LETTER FROM UNITED STATES SENATOR THOMAS CARPER
 

Read this article from Brandywine Community News pg. 18
 
The text on the marker reads as follows:
 

MOUNT PLEASANT SCHOOL
On February 12, 1829, the Delaware Legislature passed the “Act for the establishment of free schools.” To meet the educational needs of the area’s youth, local residents formed a committee that purchased a parcel of land from Joseph Orr in 1830 for the purpose of “erecting a school house thereon, for the benefit of the subscribers residing in said District.” The school was used until 1865 when the building was purchased by Philadelphia merchant Hanson Robinson to add to his Woolton Hall estate in exchange for another lot and a new school building on the east side of Philadelphia Pike. The original school building was subsequently used as a residence in Colonial Revival style by William F. du Pont, Jr. as part of his greater transformation of the Bellevue estate. The structure came into state ownership in 1976 with the original acquisition of Bellevue State Park.
Delaware Public Archives – 2007 NC 170
 


Historical marker permanently mounted to granite slab
 

VISIT THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY PAGE
 
Click to enlarge this photograph
Anniversary display in Mount Pleasant High School lobby
 
Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the United States when
the Mount Pleasant School was established in 1830 [MDCCCXXX]. 
 

Students standing by 175th Anniversary Banner
 
On August 6, 2005, the News Journal featured our anniversary
ARTICLE PAGE 1   ARTICLE PAGE 6  
 
On October 21, 2005, the Brandywine Community News
 reported on the celebration weekend
ARTICLE PAGE 3
 
 
 

Little known fact:  It only takes a generation removed to lose historical facts.  At the beginning of this Mount Pleasant historical quest, no one really knew the history of the school.  At first, we thought the school would celebrate the 150th anniversary in 2005 (see the Brandywine Community News article from April 29, 2005).  After much research, we all learned the true facts pertaining to the original school and surrounding community.
 
THE LOST HIGH SCHOOLS
 
THE NAME BRANDYWINE
 
 
Listen to THIS DAY IN DELAWARE HISTORY
at 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM on Super 91.7 WMPH
 
Advisor:   Clint Dantinne    (302) 762-7199
 
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