The News Journal
Movie theater opening at former Dover AMC
Soon Dover residents won’t have to drive miles to go see a movie as a new movie theater plans to open in the former AMC later this year. Delaware businessman Arthur Helmick is bringing the buttery popcorn, oversized ICEEs and large screens back to...
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Chain had folded into bankruptcy 8 months ago
In talking about the reopening of five Iron Hill Brewery locations, including on Wilmington’s Riverfront, co-founder Mark Edelson is looking to the past. And, no, not eight months ago when the oncemighty Newark-founded chain of 22 restaurants imploded...
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What makes a Pittsburgh cookie table so special?
As Delaware Online’s resident Yinzer, I believe there are plenty of things that make the Pittsburgh region better than the Philly region. But there is one thing that truly settles all arguments: the cookie table. We take them seriously, and my family...
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‘GRACIOUS, AUTHENTIC’
AWilmington visionary and two-time mayor. A lawyer and a New Castle County councilman. Leader of the Riverfront Development Corp. A star University of Delaware football player and a promising rookie whose career with the New York Giants was cut short...
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Student in Rehoboth ‘takeover’ speaks out
After four Delaware State University students were charged with intent to start a riot related to a Rehoboth Beach “takeover” May 19, at least one of those students and the Delaware NAACP State Conference of Branches have expressed concerns about how...
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New Castle County approves 17% tax hike
New Castle County residents will get a 17% property tax hike under the county’s 2027 budget passed on May 26. Property owners can expect to pay around $10 more a month from the first tax rate increase that New Castle County has passed in seven...
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Delaware April home sales up from March
Delaware home sales in April climbed from March, but fell from a year ago, while prices rose compared with the previous month and year. Sales of existing homes, not new construction, totaled 1,108 in April, according to the Delaware Association of...
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Surprise gift boosts Needy Family Fund
Sometimes, an ending becomes one more chance to give. Last year was supposed to mark the close of Delaware Online/The News Journal’s Needy Family Fund – a program built over a century that raised millions of dollars and helped generations of...
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Organizers seek to maintain community connection
Balloons drift overhead. Bands march and play. Spectators line the streets, watching as the parade rolls by. For generations, Memorial Day parades have been a fixture in Delaware, with Wilmington’s — the state’s oldest — stretching back more than 150...
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World Cup in U.S. is a thrill for player, fan
For soccer and me, it was love at first touch. So count me among those relishing the planet’s premier sporting event, soccer’s World Cup, being in the United States from June 11 to July 19. It’s been here before, in 1994. I sat in the stands at RFK...
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Trump defends DOJ fund amid GOP revolt
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is digging in over the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponi zation” fund as Senate Republicans revolt over a pot of money that could funnel payments to the president’s allies, including Jan. 6 defendants....
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Old Dover post office being renovated for new uses
For the first time in about five years, there’s activity inside the former post office in Dover, and that’s the second victory in a win-win situation downtown, said Mayor Robin Christiansen. Renovations started May 1 to transform the building at 55...
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Old-world Italian fest, new-world realities
Long gone are the days of elderly Italian men and women cooking homemade spaghetti and ravioli, fireworks bursting over Wilmington’s west side, thrilling high-wire acts, and runners participating in 5K and 10K runs. Wilmington’s St. Anthony’s Italian...
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Biden reflects on life, work of his longtime friend
Tributes from Delaware’s leaders have poured in over the passing of former Wilmington mayor and visionary Riverfront developer Mike Purzycki at 80 years old on May. 19. Former President Joe Biden, who is about three years older, added his 60 years of...
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‘Going to rebuild better’
Clergy from across denominations, elected officials and Wilmington residents gathered May 18 in a show of unity and faith just a day after a massive fire gutted the historic Mother African Union Church. The crowd assembled outside the charred...
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Beekeepers open hives and brace for losses
On a cool April afternoon, Dan Borkoski lifts a cinder block from a painted beehive and opens it for the first time since November. Bees pour out as he raises a panel, and a sweet smell fills the air, like banana Laffy Taffy. The University of...
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SUMMER CAN BE FLEETING
I’m not someone who focuses on summer. I used to, for sure, but as I’ve gotten older, I realized “summer’’ is more a state of mind. And when you focus on it too much, it seems to slip by even faster every year. Once you’re out of school, summers rarely...
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AI-integrated cameras raise alarms
For decades, cars dictated urban planning in the United States. h Few could have predicted that they would one day also double as nodes for surveillance. h In thousands of towns and cities across the United States, automatic license plate readers have...
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Space for indigent burials running out
It isn’t easy to spot. Just off the Jack Markell Trail near New Castle, between a few governmental buildings and a cluster of trees, there’s a field. Among the dotted wildflowers and the rumble of nearby I-295, a large marker bears the names of those...
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Christina Park residents seek answers on evictions
After more than five months and over $100,000 spent by the city of Wilmington, residents of the tent village in Wilmington’s Christina Park woke up to eviction notices on their tents May 11. They will have to figure out somewhere else to live by June...
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ICE ARRESTS IN DELAWARE SURGED IN 2025
After settling a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the nonprofit Deportation Data Project has released the most up-to-date information on ICE arrests since President Donald Trump took office. Despite...
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Winterthur trades horse racing for Field & Fête bash
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library is skipping its traditional Pointto-Point horse racing this May to deliver a new event they believe will be hot to trot: the Field & Fête garden party. Field & Fête is May 16, celebrating Winterthur’s milestone of...
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Teen’s foundation aims to give back to Nemours
Tony Floyd was diagnosed with cancer at 2 years old. That isn’t the only health issue he has navigated in his 23 years of life, either. From epilepsy episodes to heart failure and more, the Bear native has been no stranger to the hospital. Through it...
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Yes, it’s Mother’s Day ... but I’m still blaming her
The interaction lasted only a few moments. My mother and I were picking on each other and she looked at me and said, “When you write your book, you better dedicate it to me for the things I did for you.” I smiled wryly and looked back and said, “Of...
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Refinery repairs to raise sulfur dioxide emissions
The Delaware City Refinery will have nearly one month of increased emissions of a harmful chemical. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced on May 7 that the refinery would begin repairs on equipment at its...
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U.S. pope’s first year sparks reaction
VILLANOVA, PA – It’s been nearly 1,000 years since King Henry IV stood barefoot in the Italian snow to beg forgiveness after clashes with Pope Gregory VII and over two centuries since Napoleon imprisoned Pope Pius VII in France. Now, a new battle is...
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Point-to-Point kaput as Winterthur hosts garden party
The ride’s over. One of Delaware’s most popular rites of spring isn’t happening this year or maybe ever again. Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library has scrapped what would have been its 48th annual Point-to-Point steeplechase races. Winterthur has...
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Wilmington mom celebrates new life
Honey Gorny was lying in a Philadelphia intensive care unit, relying on machines to help her body function. She needed a lung transplant, but the then-56-year-old had spent nearly two years on a list. She already said her goodbyes, already had last...
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Iron Hill Brewery awaits reopening on Riverfront
It won’t be long before you’re back at your usual spot at Wilmington’s Iron Hill Brewery, enjoying that familiar combo of a Pig Iron Porter and a pub burger. How soon? That depends, restaurant officials say. “The plan, subject to permit approvals, is...
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1 FOUND DEAD AFTER WILMINGTON BLAZE
One person was found dead after a fire ripped through a home early in the morning on May 2, the Wilmington Fire Department said. Firefighters arrived at the house in the Triangle neighborhood in the 2000 block of Harrison St. and saw a three-story...
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Navigating my newsroom return after maternity leave
My first newsroom-wide meeting after returning from maternity leave in mid-January was comforting – but also not. On the one hand, little appeared different. I couldn’t help but smile as a coworker monotonously summarized their week ahead; their...
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Iran submits latest proposal to end war
President Donald Trump showed no signs of trying to obtain congressional approval for the war in Iran despite reaching the 60-day deadline to do so, and a maritime blockade remained in effect as the president expressed doubt about Iran’s efforts to...
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ChristianaCare announces plans for health campus
ChristianaCare plans to expand operations in Kent County. The health care system announced on April 30 it has submitted a notice of intent to the Delaware Health Resources Board to develop a new health campus in Camden. The project is part of $865...
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SEAL GETTING TREATMENT
This young gray seal was rescued from a dock on the St. Jones River in Dover on April 28. See the full story on
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MORE IN STORES
New stores are joining the Tanger Outlets near Rehoboth Beach just in time for the busy summer season. Vuori, lululemon and Sephora will join the Tanger Outlets Surfside. Sephora to open seventh Delaware location Signs for the beauty retailer went...
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Delaware home sales rebounded in March
Delaware home sales and prices heated up in March after an icy February. Sales of existing homes, not new construction, jumped 41.1% to 985, up from 698 in February, as reported by the Delaware Association of Realtors. The median sold price climbed...
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Edward VIII, who abdicated in 1936 to marry American woman, made two stops in the state
While King Charles III and Queen Camilla are not scheduled to make a stop in Delaware during their four-day visit to the United States, beginning April 27, another man who was briefly the king of the United Kingdom visited the state on two separate...
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BEHIND THE LENS
I don’t remember much about the first time I interviewed a high school athlete. It was 44 years ago, somewhere in Arkansas after a football game. I’m sure it was the quarterback or a running back from the winning team, because they scored the...
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Wilmington’s old Caesar Rodney statue on the move
If you see a 14-foot, 7,500-pound man on horseback behind you on I-95, do not be alarmed. The Caesar Rodney statue that used to look over downtown Wilmington’s Rodney Square was placed on a trailer and sent to Washington, DC, on April 23. The statue...
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Man talks about losing marathon by only 1 second
It’s a First State finish that’s been seen more than 11 million times worldwide and counting. A viral video from the April 19 Delaware Marathon shows the moment that Fayetteville, Pennsylvania’s Carson Mello raises his hands in victory just feet from...
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Delmarva sees its 1st case of deadly deer disease
Delaware officials have detected the state’s first case of chronic wasting disease in a white-tailed deer sample in Sussex County. The deadly disease has never been detected on the Delmarva Peninsula before now. The disease was found in a...
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3 new bills aim to protect Delawareans’ civil liberties
Delaware lawmakers introduced in April a handful of immigration bills aimed at protecting Delawareans and holding law enforcement accountable. The three bills, primarily sponsored by Rep. Mara Gorman, were introduced on April 16 with the goal of...
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Kent County paramedics get new, modern stations
For more than a decade, Kent County paramedics shared space with the fire companies in Harrington and Frederica as emergency calls kept increasing almost every year. Now, with a huge boost from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, county paramedics...
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Title IX bill may boost responses to claims
Stephanie Stranick’s daughter was born and raised a golfer. h From a toddler playing with her plastic set to competing in tournaments from elementary to high school, Sarah Lester-Stranick was rarely seen without a putter in her hand. h However, things...
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Kent County closes parks early to avoid large party
An announcement about a large party led Kent County to close the gates to three parks early on April 17 at 3 p.m. The parks will again close early April 18 at 3 p.m. Those parks are: Brecknock Park, 80 Old Camden Road, Camden; Tidbury Creek Park, 2233...
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Brandywine Zoo to open $2.5M attraction this year
Running a zoo doesn’t mean it has to look like one. Brandywine Zoo Executive Director Mark Shafer said visitors rave about the quality of Delaware’s premiere zoo and “can’t believe how good the facilities look,” despite the zoo now being 121 years...
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Delaware Law School relocating downtown
Widener University Delaware Law School is moving its campus from Concord Pike to downtown Wilmington. The law school will move into five floors of a new education hub in the Bracebridge II building at 1020 French St. Widener’s free legal clinic will...
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Brandywine Park event to be held biweekly
Brandywine Park Farmers Market organizers are clashing with park officials over the market’s location ahead of its spring opening, launching a public pressure campaign against those they accuse of trying to “ruin it.” The popular farmers market...
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What’s being built on Route 7 in Bear?
A local developer is building a massive mixed-use community in Bear that will include townhouses, office buildings, a child care center and a grocery store. The Lincoln Center is a 56-acre development by the Reybold Group
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Program intends to protect DE wetlands
Lawmakers have proposed a bill that would aim to ensure long-term preservation of Delaware’s wetlands. h Sen. Stephanie Hansen and Rep. Debra Heffernan introduced Senate Bill 9, the Wetlands Stewardship Act, on March 31. The draft legislation would...
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Director of visuals must think ahead, react quickly
Most people plan their day that morning, but I plan a visual journalist’s day weeks in advance and sometimes months, depending on the assignment or event they are covering. I not only plan their day, but I also manage their schedule and breaking news....
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The high cost of U.S. health care
IBut it also reflects a complex system fraught with competing interests – and the fact that patients, hospitals, health insurance companies and drug manufacturers change their behaviors in conflicting ways when faced with new rules. Soaring...
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Top homes
After one of the worst winters in Delaware in years, you may be dreaming of a beach getaway. But if you can’t leave now, you can still enjoy a tour of these top homes for sale in Rehoboth. Buyers and vacationers are attracted to “The Nation’s Summer...
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Board votes to allow Jackson Inn demolition
The Jackson Inn, a landmark bar and restaurant whose current building has been a part of the Wilmington area’s Lancaster Pike since 1959, will soon face the wrecking ball. New Castle County’s Historic Review Board unanimously voted April 7 that the...
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Residents voice concerns over apartment proposal
A local developer wants to build a nine-story apartment building along Bancroft Parkway in Wilmington, but some residents are worried it will disturb the quiet feel of their neighborhood. Newark-based developer Tsionas filed a rezoning application...
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Mother sues Delaware City Refinery over emissions
A Delaware mother is suing Delaware City Refinery over pollution she believes impacted her child’s health and their ability to enjoy their home. Brittany Steward, who lives in Delaware City with her son, who was born in 2020, filed a complaint against...
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Downtown building adding 202 apartments
Another downtown Wilmington building is shedding its office space in exchange for apartments. Wilmington-based real estate developer Buccini Pollin Group will transform five stories of Bracebridge I at 1100 N. King St. into 202 market-rate apartments....
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Why does extra daylight still feel like a gift each spring?
Many years ago, an editor handed me an assignment for a story on daylight saving time. I’ll be honest – it felt more like a punishment than a real news story. It was a topic I’d never given much thought to, and I had zero interest in it. After a...
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1 rescued after U.S. jet goes down over Iran
One crew member of a U.S. F-15E fighter jet that went down over Iran on April 3 has been rescued, according to a U.S. official. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the jet, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement...
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Residents, protesters push back on new tents
Wilmington’s effort to build citybought tents in Christina Park met resistance from park residents and some protesters on a hot afternoon on April 1. The city of Wilmington purchased 105 tents to land on wooden pallets that will replace the existing...
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New tents, showers on way to Christina Park
Christina Park has been host to a temporary tent village for people experiencing homelessness in Wilmington for the past few months. New tents are coming for park residents, whether they want them or not. Mayor John Carney announced a plan in 2025 to...
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ALAW STUDENT REBUILT HIS LIFE
Fifteen years after making the worst decision of his life, James Elliott was suddenly overwhelmed just when he was set to officially make his case that he had paid his debt to society. The convicted-felon-turnedscholar was 19 when he found himself at...
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Wilmington wants to stabilize housing prices
If you were in the building for Wilmington Mayor John Carney’s March 19 budget address, you were able to hear his speech at the same time as you heard protesters outside chanting, “The rent, the rent, the rent is too damn high!” That chant has been...
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The Queen brings in new leadership
Over the past 15 years, The Queen in Wilmington has hosted hundreds of national and local music acts, even as management morphed from World Cafe Live to Live Nation to the current operators, building owners and developers Buccini Pollin Group. There...
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There is no offseason for Philly sports fans
I get this question a lot: “So, what do you do during the Eagles’ offseason?” Usually, I respond with, “What offseason?” Because covering the Eagles, there isn’t an offseason. Except for maybe a month between the end of spring practices in mid-June...
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GOP reps push back at DHS funding measure
WASHINGTON – An 11th-hour Senate agreement to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, securing a path to ending the weekslong shutdown that has left airports in turmoil, hung in the balance March 27 after GOP representatives pushed...
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West Center City has 8 shootings this year
Fear and concern have become a familiar presence for residents of Wilmington’s West Center City neighborhood, which accounts for about onethird of the city’s shootings so far this year, according to a Delaware Online/ The News Journal...
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Budget plan includes property tax increase
The New Castle County government no longer has much of a choice: A property tax increase could be coming your way. County Executive Marcus Henry presented his budget proposal to the County Council on March 24 in the Louis L. Redding City/County...
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Apprehensions by ICE doubled last year in DE
Under President Donald Trump’s immigration policies in 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended more than double the number of people in Delaware than in 2024 – and that’s with two-and-a-half months of 2025 data missing. In 2024,...
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NORDSTROM’S EXIT
As high-end retailer Nordstrom prepares to shutter its Christiana Mall location next month, questions circle around what could replace the anchor store. After 15 years in Christiana Mall, Nordstrom’s last day is April 30. Nordstrom Grill and Ebar also...
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Land for RV park may go to auction
Land that was once publicly owned and later became the focus of plans for a private RV park within the state’s Fort DuPont redevelopment project could now be headed for a sheriff ’s sale. In 2021, the publicly funded Fort DuPont Redevelopment and...
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Welcome to the 2026 Most Influential & Inspiring Delawareans series
Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us. Wilma Rudolph, American Olympian (1940–1994) As soon as we spring ahead, it means...
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Carney budget targets housing, public safety
Wilmington Mayor John Carney has housing and safety on his mind as he proposed his budget for the next fiscal year. Carney addressed the City Council in Old Town Hall on Market Street, which was built in 1798. The location switch from regular council...
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Famous Jackson Inn sign gone, family says
The iconic sign that beckoned visitors to Wilmington’s landmark Jackson Inn for more than 60 years is likely gone for good, a member of the Bourdon family told Delaware Online/The News Journal. A question regarding the sign that hung on the Lancaster...
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