History Matters digs into the Delaware Historical Society’s archives each month to explore connections between key people, places, and events in history and present-day news.
In the cold winter months you can find plenty of homes in Delaware with a fire in the fireplaces or hearth. While the majority of these fires serve to warm a room or add some atmosphere, there's one place next month one of these fires will be burning for a different purpose; to cook.
In February, the Delaware Historical Society's Read House and Gardens in New Castle hosts Open Hearth Cooking Workshops to teach curious cooks how meals were made in the 19th century. After their hands-on history experience with actual 19th century recipes, participants feast on the historically inspired meal they just cooked in the open hearth. WDDE visited the Read House for a look inside preparations for the open hearth cooking experience.