Ethel S. Roy House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Vernacular Frame House
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House in 2011
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 Location in Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Location | 105 Clarks Corner Rd., St. Georges, Delaware |
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| Area | 0.5 acres |
| MPS | Red Lion Hundred MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002359 |
| Added to NRHP | April 8, 1982 |
The Ethel S. Roy House is a special old building. It is also known as the Vernacular Frame House. In 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important places in the United States. The house was part of a larger group of historic sites in an area called Red Lion Hundred.
This house is important because it shows a different side of history. It was built around 1868 by a person who had been enslaved. Usually, only big, fancy homes of rich people were seen as historically important. But this house helps us remember the homes of everyday working people. It shows what a typical home looked like in a farming area where people worked very hard. The house has not changed much since it was built.
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Exploring the Roy House History
The Ethel S. Roy House was built not long after the American Civil War. It was built by a person who had been enslaved. This person's granddaughter lived in the house until at least 1979.
Where is the House Located?
The house stands just north of a small village called Saint Georges in Delaware. It sits on a piece of land that is about 150 feet square. This land used to belong to the Sutton family, who were well-known in the area.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Roy House is made of wood. It has two stories and a pointed roof called a gabled roof. It used to have a small front porch that was closed in.
Changes Over Time
Pictures taken in the 1970s show a simple building. It had wooden siding on the outside and a tin roof. The windows had six small panes of glass on the top and six on the bottom. There was also a chimney inside on the south side of the house.
The only fancy part seemed to be a "gothic" window in the attic. This window had a pointed arch shape above a regular rectangular window. A picture from 2011 shows that the house has been updated. The roof, outside walls, and windows were replaced. The porch was opened up, and the chimney was removed.
Understanding Red Lion Hundred
Red Lion Hundred is an area in New Castle County, Delaware. It is similar in size and purpose to a township in other states.
Early Settlement and Farming
This area was settled in the 1600s. People grew a lot of tobacco there. By the year 1800, the soil was worn out from all the farming.
The Peach Boom
Later, from about 1830 to 1870, there was a "peach boom." This means many peaches were grown and sold. But then a plant disease called "the yellows" destroyed the peach crops.
Labor in the Past
For a long time, enslaved people were forced to work in this area. This continued until the American Civil War ended slavery.
