Tag Archives: Delaware

“A Simple But Impressive Ceremony”

James Betelle’s death is one of the more curious aspects of his story.  He died in Italy, ending up in an unmarked pauper’s grave, while in Delaware, a stone with his name on it sits quietly in an old cemetery. … Continue reading

Posted in Biographical | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Down Wilmington Way

In March, 2008, I took a three-day excursion to James Betelle’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. My plan was to visit a few research libraries, see significant locations, and, well, just get a sense of where Betelle came from. What follows … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Biographical, Diary | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Unfinished Stones

After a 4-6 week wait, I finally received a copy of James Betelle’s will from the New Jersey State Archives (along with some court documents, which I will discuss at a later date). I had already seen a few pages … Continue reading

Posted in Biographical, Diary | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

“New School Buildings, State of Delaware”

The following excerpts are from a lengthy article by Betelle that appeared in The American Architect, Vol. CXVII, Number 2321, June 16, 1920. In it, he outlines the roots of Pierre S. duPont’s epic rural school-building plan for the State … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Tagged , , | Leave a comment