[audio:http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/dovermapgreen.mp3|titles= WDDE's Ben Szmidt visits the Delaware Public Archives to see a recently donated rare 1877 map of Dover.]
The Delaware Public Archives received an early Christmas present this year.
On November 15th, former Dover resident and historian William Parkhurst donated an original copy of an 1877 map of Dover to the Archives’ collection.
While the Archives contains many maps, including historical maps of Dover, this particular map was an exciting find due to its rarity.
There are very few from the immediate post-Civil War era. In fact, this particular print is only one of two known to still be in existence and so rare that even the Library of Congress does not have a copy.
Parkhurst says that the map also offers information from the post-Civil War era that isn’t easily available.
“It filled in a gap. And that was very important for me to know who was where in 1877. Of course you can find that out from deed records, but when you see a map with the names of people’s houses there on the legend, that’s just a thrill,” said Parkhurst.
[caption id="attachment_27314" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The recently donated 1877 map of Dover.(Click to enlarge)"]
Delaware Public Archives Outreach Services Manager Thomas Summers adds comparing this map to others in the Archives’ collection offers fresh insights into Dover during that era.
“I think it’s interesting because Wesley College is on the northern part of the map and you can see where the land around the college itself was basically barren. There wasn’t anything around that area. And now that area of Dover has built up considerably and has gone beyond the college further north,” said Summers.
Summers says there are no immediate plans to highlight the map in a feature exhibit, but a copy of it is available to view at anytime.