Overbrook, Delaware Explained

Official Name:Overbrook, Delaware
Pushpin Map:Delaware#USA
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Label:Overbrook
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Delaware
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Sussex
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:23
Coordinates:38.7675°N -75.215°W
Area Code:302
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:216171

Overbrook is an unincorporated community and former village in Sussex County, Delaware, United States.

Geography

Overbrook radiates from the intersection of Delaware Route 1 and Cave Neck Road between Lewes and Milton. in the Broadkill Hundred.

History

Nineteenth century

Burton's Chapel A.M.E Church was built on the "road to the oyster rocks of the Broadkill River" in 1870.[1]

Overbrook was a post village on the Queen Anne's Railroad, which was said to be famous for its excursions in the 1890s. Overbrook's post office opened September 10, 1899, with George L. Short serving as Overbrook's first (and only) postmaster.[2]

In April 1899, a train near Overbrook collided with a small herd of cattle, killing the animals.[3]

Overbrook's population was 25 in 1900.[4]

Twentieth century

Overbrook was the site of a branch of the fraternal order of Junior Mechanics, an anti-Catholic organization. The Overbrook order was founded on April 9, 1901, and at it founding, the group had 29 members.[5]

Overbrook's post office closed on September 15, 1914, but the rail station continued to operate for another decade. The Queen Anne's Rail line was discontinued and the station closed in 1924.

In 1921, Overbrook was the site of a selenosis epidemic in area cattle. The outbreak, at that time called "Blind Staggers", was noted in state newspapers.[6] That same year, the Wilmington Journal noted the fire at the A.L. Hill general store in Overbrook.[7]

In the 1930s, Overbrook was noted for its ardent fox-hunters. These fox hunters were reportedly on foot or in vehicles, and in that era, the Overbrook fox hunts were particularly loud and long.

Twenty-first century

In 2016, Sussex County officials rejected a plan to rezone 114 acres of rural farmland in the Overbrook area; the development would have been called Overbrook Town Center.[8] This decision was upheld by officials in 2021,[9] after a public vote in 2018.[10]

Notes and References

  1. https://archivesfiles.delaware.gov/ebooks/The_Churches_of_Delaware.pdf
  2. Book: Bounds, Harvey Cochran . A Postal History of Delaware . 1938 . Press of Kells . 978-1-59534-207-2 . New York . 63, 101 . en . 881567649 . August 8, 2021 . December 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231229233959/https://books.google.com/books?id=hhQD6BkJcs0C . live .
  3. News: 1899-04-10 . Peninsula News Paragraphs . en . 8 . Wilmington Evening Journal . 2021-08-06 . August 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210806130609/https://newspaperarchive.com/wilmington-evening-journal-apr-10-1899-p-8/ . live .
  4. Book: Cram's Modern Atlas: The New Unrivaled New Census Edition . 1902 . J. R. Gray & Company . 84 . en . August 5, 2021 . December 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231229210727/https://books.google.com/books?id=9AzrWecxN1wC . live .
  5. News: Feb 20, 1902 . Junior Mechanics . en . 3 . Wilmington Delaware Gazette And State Journal . 2021-08-11 . August 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210811234702/https://newspaperarchive.com/wilmington-delaware-gazette-and-state-journal-feb-20-1902-p-3/ . live .
  6. News: 1921-08-31 . Blind Staggers in Milford Neck . en . 12 . Wilmington Evening Journal . 2021-08-08 . August 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210808053335/https://newspaperarchive.com/wilmington-evening-journal-aug-31-1921-p-12/ . live .
  7. News: 1921-01-17 . Fire Destroys Sussex Store . en . 2 . Wilmington Evening Journal . 2021-08-08 . August 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210808053334/https://newspaperarchive.com/wilmington-evening-journal-jan-17-1921-p-2/ . live .
  8. News: Morrison . James . Sussex Co. Council says 'no' Overbrook Town Center project rezoning . Delaware First Media . 2021-08-08 . June 17, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160617224836/http://delawarepublic.org/post/sussex-co-council-says-no-overbrook-town-center-project-rezoning . live .
  9. News: 2021-05-02 . Sussex Council Denies Modified Plans for Overbrook Town Center . en . 2021-08-08 . August 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210808051029/https://www.wrde.com/story/40663797/sussex-council-denies-modified-plans-for-overbrook-town-center . live .
  10. News: Goebel . Taylor . 2018-04-04 . Overbrook Town Center: What to know about the revote . en-US . 2021-08-08 . August 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210808054611/https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2018/04/04/overbrook-town-center-what-know-revote/473320002/ . live .

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