 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please check back often as we will be updating our calendar with numerous exciting events for 2009.
You can also sign up for our monthly e-newsletter. Just email us at nchistorical@aol.com to let us know you would us to keep you posted on what's happening in Historic New Castle.
In the meantime, put these great opportunities on your calendar:
|
| January |
|
Wednesday, January 14, 7 p.m.
Vietnam Mailbag, a lecture by Nancy Lynch at The Arsenal at Old New Castle, sponsored by the New Castle Historical Society. In her new book, Vietnam Mailbag, Voices From the War:1968-1972, Ms. Lynch captures the hopes, fears, joys and tears of Delaware servicemen and women through the nearly 900 letters they wrote to her for her popular "Nancy's Vietnam Mailbag" column published for five years by The News Journal. Free to the public. (Donations suggested.)
Wednesday, January 28, 7 p.m.
State of Delaware Preservation Tax Credits, a lecture by Joan Larrivee at the New Castle Court House, sponsored by the New Castle Historical Society. Ms. Larrivee, from the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office, will discuss Delaware's Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program which assists in preserving and rehabilitating historic buildings throughout Delaware. State tax credits are available for both residential and commercial buildings. Free to the public.
|
| February |
|
Saturday, February 7, 6:30 p.m.
Black Tie & White Lace. Join us for the social event of the winter season - our annual fundraising dinner, dance, and silent auction at The Arsenal at Old New Castle! Cocktails and silent auction begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 8 p.m. and dancing into the night. Music by The Cats. $80 per person NCHS members / $85 per person non-members. Checks or credit card (MC, Visa, AmEx) accepted. Call 302-322-2794 for reservations.
|
| March |
|
Saturday, March 21, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Historic Home Maintenance. Restoration Architect Dales Frens, a consultant on the Read House and Gardens Save America's Treasures project, will present a workshop at the New Castle Court House on historic house maintenance. Mr. Frens is the author of a chapter in Caring for Your Historic House that details the steps for creating an ongoing maintenance plan for your home. Admission is $5 for NCHS & DE Historical Society members and $8 for non-members. Sponsored by NCCHAP.
Wednesday, March 25, 7 p.m.
NCHS Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the New Castle Historical Society will be held at the New Castle Court House Museum. A lecture by State Archivist Russ McCabe will follow the meeting. He will discuss the history of Delaware as told through its roadside historical markers and test the knowledge of attendees with a quiz. Prizes will be awarded! The annual meeting and lecture are free and open to the public.
|
| April |
|
Wednesday, April 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Amstel and Dutch Houses open for the season, through December 31.
This year, the Amstel House will showcase the Society's Van Dyke/Johns Collection in an exhibit called Getting to Know Them. Objects directly related to these two important families will be on display throughout the Amstel House.
Wednesday, April 15, 7 p.m. - CANCELED. Will be rescheduled.
Understanding the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation, a lecture by Mike Connolly, Executive Director of the New Castle Historical Society.
Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Raindate - April 26)
First Annual New Castle City Wide Yard Sale. Looking for an easy way to make some extra cash? Turn that clutter in your closet into green in your wallet by reserving your table at New Castle's First Annual City Wide Yard Sale and Open Acoustic Jam. Registration forms for sellers are available at local establishments or downloadable here, http://newcastlehistory.org/pdf_files/NewYardSaleReg.pdf . Come early to shop and eat and then enjoy the Open Acoustic Jam on the Green from 2-4 p.m. Shoppers, no need to register, just show up and enjoy the day!
|
| May |
Friday, May 1-2, Friday 9 am to 7 pm; Saturday 9 am to 4 pm
Arasapha Garden Club's May Market. Get your spring plants, flowers, and herbs at the annual sale on Market Square behind Old Town Hall. For more information visit www.arasapha.com.
Saturday, May 16 (Annually held on the third Saturday in May), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A Day in Old New Castle is the oldest house and garden tour in America, dating from 1924. In addition to tours of private homes and gardens, this year's event will also feature guided walking tours of Historic New Castle. The Amstel and Dutch Houses are open only to A Day in Old New Castle ticket holders on May 16, 2009. For more information and tickets, visit www.dayinoldnewcastle.org.
Monday, June 1 - Tuesday, November 17
A Vestige of the Dutch: The Tile House of New Castle, at the Dutch House. Images and objects related to the Tile House are on display, including the wrought iron date irons which were a part of the house's front facade. The Tile House was a step-gabled house on the water in New Castle, built in 1687 and demolished in 1883, which has captured the imagination of history buffs, due to its association with the early Dutch settlement of New Castle. View early renderings of the Tile House, and commemorative bricks with charming scenes, made from the small yellow bricks (known as Dutch tiles in 18th century England) that were made into mementos after the house�s razing.
Thursday, June 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
75th Anniversary of the New Castle Historical Society. Free admission to the Amstel and Dutch Houses all day!
Thursday, June 11, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Garden Party in the Academy on the Green. Join friends and neighbors at our annual early summer bash in the newly restored Academy on the Green! Light refreshments and an open bar are included with admission to the party! 1651 Benefactors receive two complimentary tickets to the party. Please call the Society office at 302-322-2794 to RSVP today!
Saturday, June 13
Separation Day. New Castle celebrates Delaware's own independence day with parades, reenactments, rides, games, food, and other festivities during the day. Enjoy an evening concert in Battery Park followed by one of the best fireworks displays around. For more information, call the New Castle Courthouse Museum at 302-322-9802.
Saturday, June 27-28
Bus Trip to Gettysburg, PA On our third annual bus trip we are heading to Gettysburg, PA for the weekend! Join our group as we travel via deluxe motorcoach to Gettysburg to visit the newly opened visitor center and museum, tour the David Wills House and enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of the Battlefield. For trip details, please see the Gettysburg Bus Trip flier http://newcastlehistory.org/pdf_files/BUSTRIPFLIER.pdf .
Monday, June 29, 6 p.m.
Fireplace & Chimney Workshop. The New Castle Comunity History & Archaeology Program (NCCHAP) is hosting an informal workshop at the Amstel House to discuss historic fireplace and chimney restooration with an emphasis on brick masonry. The program will be facilitated by Mike Connolly, executive director of the New Castle Historical Society. Speakers will be John Bowie of John Bowie Associates, Historical Architects and Jim Groff, a restoration mason from Victorian Heritage, Inc. The program is free. Space is limited - please RSVP to NCHS at 302-322-2794.
No events currently scheduled in July.
| August |
|
No events currently scheduled in August.
|
|
Wednesday, September 9 through Sunday, November 8.
New Castle in Mourning, at the Amstel House. Our annual fall exhibit at the Amstel House explores recurring stories of a haunting in the Amstel House and offers possible explanations for the "woman in blue." The exhibit includes mourning clothing, jewelry, and accessories from the 18th through 20th centuries. Included with regular paid admission to the Amstel House.
Saturday, October 10, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
From Kitchen to Garden Tour. The historic homes of the New Castle Historical Society will again be part of the annual From Kitchen to Garden Tour this year. The tour is a fundraiser to benefit the library's expansion and is sponsored by the New Castle Library Friends. The tour will feature the most exciting New Castle kitchens and the most beautiful autumn gardens. For more information, and to purchase tickets visit www.newcastlelibraryfriends.org.
October 16, 17, 23, 24, 30
Hauntings in History Ghost Tours. New Castle's favorite autumn tours are back this year!! Experience the only tour that brings you inside of one of New Castle's most haunted houses - the 1738 Amstel House! After exploring the Amstel House, you'll be off to explore New Castle's streets, alleys - even an 18th century burying ground - as you hear macabre tales of the supernatural, and discover bygone customs and superstitions surrounding death and burial practices. If you're (un)lucky, maybe you'll have your own spiritual encounter!
We recommend reserving your space early since these popular tours will sell out! We apologize but we cannot guarantee space for walk-ons. Tours will begin each night at 6:30, 7:00, and 8:00. $10 for adults, $6 for children, 12 and under. All tours begin in the rear garden of the Amstel House. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour, and allow a minimum of 60 minutes for the tour. NOTE: Tours are held rain or shine. Please dress appropriately. Sorry, no photography is permitted inside the Amstel House, but you can take all the photos you want outside on the tour!
Groups - Looking for activities for a great corporate outing, birthday celebration, or other special event? Call us at 302-322-2794 to arrange a special Hauntings in History tour for your group. Group tours and rates are available (minimum 15 people) on alternate dates and times.
Monday, November 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Netherland America Heritage Day is celebrated by the New Castle Historical Society's opening of the Dutch House for the day with free admission to all.
Wednesday, November 18 - December 31
Holidays at the Amstel and Dutch Houses. The Amstel House will be decorated for a traditional holiday celebration in colonial times, showing off a “dessert board” of the period, and featuring traditional 18th century customs during the period of Governor Nicholas Van Dyke’s residency. At the Dutch House, experience a celebration of St. Nichols’ Eve, a tribute to the legend of Saint Nicholas, Dutch patron saint.
Weekends, November 28 - December 27, 1 pm to 4 pm.
A Victorian Christmas at the Old Library Museum. Enjoy our seaonal exhibit of Christmas trees and antique toys from the collection of the New Castle Historical Society. Free admission.
 Through December 31
Holidays at the Amstel and Dutch Houses. The Amstel House will be decorated for a traditional holiday celebration in colonial times, showing off a “dessert board” of the period, and featuring traditional 18th century customs during the period of Governor Nicholas Van Dyke’s residency. At the Dutch House, experience a celebration of St. Nichols’ Eve, a tribute to the legend of Saint Nicholas, Dutch patron saint.
Weekends Through December 27, 1 pm to 4 pm.
A Victorian Christmas at the Old Library Museum. Enjoy our seasonal exhibit of Christmas trees and antique toys from the collection of the New Castle Historical Society. Free admission.
Saturday, December 12
The Spirit of Christmas. This special town-wide event invites residents and visitors to share in such seasonal pleasures as visiting historic buildings and churches in New Castle bedecked in holiday decorations, listening to musical entertainment, and shopping at the boutiques and shops of quaint Delaware Street. The town will come alive with music and festivities. Enjoy the ambiance of an old-fashioned Christmas. The Amstel House, Dutch House, and Old Library Museum are all open free of charge on December 12. Please visit www.newcastlepreschurch.org for more information.
|
|
