Delaware
Jessop’s Tavern in Old New Castle gets $50,000 grant for updates
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Jessop’s Tavern in Old New Castle is one of 50 small U.S. restaurants that will receive a $50,000 grant from a historic preservation organization to upgrade, bolster, and grow its business.
The money given to the colonial American tavern, which has roots tracing back 350 years, comes from a four-year-old program from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Backing Historic Small Restaurants.”
It was started in 2021 to help culturally significant restaurants during the pandemic. The program has aided nearly 125 historic small restaurants in every U.S. state, Washington D.C.., and Puerto Rico.
The restaurant management software company Resy also is offering each historic restaurant complimentary use of its program for one year to help streamline costs and boost restaurant operations.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation selected this year’s grantees from a group of restaurants that operate in historic buildings or neighborhoods and provide cultural significance to their communities through their history, cuisine, and locations.
Many of the 2024 grant recipients include family-owned establishments or those operating for generations.
Jessop’s Tavern at 114 Delaware St. in the historic section of New Castle has been operated by the Day family since November 1996. The colonial tavern is located in a structure that was built in 1674 and predates the end of the Revolutionary War by more than 100 years.
The name Jessop’s comes from Abraham Jessop, a coppersmith who began living in the building in 1724 and operated his barrel-making business there.
It has housed various businesses through the years including the Captain’s Log restaurant in the 1950s and The Green Frog Tavern in the 1970s.
Jessop’s serves American foods with English, Dutch, Belgian, and Swedish influences such as Dutch pot roast, shepherd’s pie, roast duck and Dutch apple cakes.
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It is well-known for its focus on Belgian beers, with more than 300 bottles and 20 drafts dedicated to Belgian brands. Don’t be surprised to see someone in a tricorn hat. The staff has been known to wear colonial-style garb.
Here is the complete list of restaurants that received grants.
Visit savingplaces.org/historicrestaurants for more nformation.
Patricia Talorico writes about food and restaurants. You can find her on Instagram, X and Facebook. Email ptalorico@delawareonline.com. Sign up for her Delaware Eats newsletter.
Delaware
Mother African Union Church in Delaware announces temporary worship site a week after massive fire
The congregation of Mother African Union Church in Wilmington, Delaware, now has a temporary place to worship a week after a fire destroyed the historic church last Sunday.
On Sunday, services will be held two miles away at the Congo Legacy Center.
The church, which was founded in 1813, also played a role in the Underground Railroad and the Civil Rights era, according to Congo.
In a post on social media, the church said they are committed to rebuilding.
“The building may have suffered loss, but the spirit of the people still stands strong. We’re not just rebuilding a church. We’re witnessing a Golden Restoration,” the post said.
The Wilmington Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating what caused the massive fire.
Raw Video: Rehoboth Beach Memorial Day event
Here are some highlights from an event on Memorial Day in Rehoboth Beach honoring fallen soldiers. 5/27/25
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 years.
But a recent video shared on Reddit of Newark’s May 17 parade, showing sparse crowds and few participants, has sparked new questions about turnout. City officials say just 22 groups took part this year, down from 29 a year ago.
“This is just sad,” commented a user under the post.
With parades taking place across Delaware this weekend, some are asking whether these longtime events can keep their footing — and stay relevant in a digital age — at one of the year’s biggest moments for turnout.
Connecting with community
Parades take many forms, from the solemn tone of Memorial Day to the playful Middletown Hummers’ Parade. But at their core, they all share the same purpose: bringing communities together around a common cause.
“It’s so important to permit outreach, and strengthen partnerships within the community,” said Fred Cooke, an organizer for Middletown’s Memorial Day parade. “That’s what allows these things to grow.”
Cooke pointed to Middletown’s Memorial Day parade as a model, where the town brings together local businesses, fraternities and sororities, church groups and others to build a larger community event.
“By tapping into the resources around us, we’ve created a real event,” Cooke said.
Multiple parade organizers attributed the success of these events to their ability to make connections, and stand by them.
“Putting things together and developing these relationships certainly helps,” said Marvin Pedigo, an organizer for Smyrna’s parade slate.
Some lacking turnouts can’t be solved
Those partnerships don’t always come easily. Jayme Gravell, Newark’s chief of community engagement, said the University of Delaware’s student move-out often limits collaboration — and likely contributed to lower turnout this year.
“People are moving out, people are leaving town,” she said. “It’s just hard to draw interest or support when people aren’t here.”
The uncontrollable factor of conflicting events creates a dilemma for parades like the one in Newark. As Cooke pointed out, it’s one that smaller areas of Delaware don’t have to face, giving them an advantage.
The purpose behind a parade can shape its audience. While many are built around celebration, Memorial Day carries a more solemn tone, honoring those who died in military service. For that reason, Pedigo said the Smyrna-Clayton parade focuses less on turnout and more on showing respect for those lost.
“We really only partner with smaller civic organizations, and it’s a smaller turnout,” he said. “The emphasis should be placed on honoring those who fought for this country.”
Both communities pointed to other local parades as proof crowds are still there. Newark’s Halloween parade draws about 50 groups each year, compared to 22 for Memorial Day, while Smyrna’s Christmas parade typically brings in 90 to 100 groups.
“We haven’t seen any kind of dramatic parade fall-off,” Pedigo said. “Just the occurrence of certain circumstances.”
Where will Delaware Memorial Day parades take place?
Three parades will take place across the state this coming week, allowing locals to honor fallen veterans. They are listed below:
- Middletown Memorial Day Parade- Begins at Redding Middle School, 201 New St., Middletown, at 10:30 a.m. May 25.
- Smyrna-Clayton Memorial Day Parade- Parade begins at Market Street Plaza and West Commerce Street, Smyrna, at 10 a.m. May 25.
- Wilmington Memorial Day Parade– Begins at Delaware and Woodlawn avenues, Wilmington at 6 p.m. May 30.
Adam Denn is an intern reporter for Delaware Online/The News Journal. You can reach him at ADenn@delawareonline.com
Saturday, May 23, 2026 1:05AM
WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) — A 22-year-old man is facing several rape charges after police say he was in a park in Wilmington, Delaware, after hours with an underage girl.
New Castle County Police announced the arrest of Majdi Jones, of Maryland, on Friday.
Officers were patrolling Banning Park early Wednesday morning when they say they found him in a vehicle with a 12-year-old girl.
Detectives determined that he had been communicating with her on social media.
Jones is being held in jail after failing to post bail.
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