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Some History!
The Town of Magnolia
claims both Swedish and Dutch heritage, but was formally
founded in 1885 by "Murderkill Hundred" citizens,
including Thomas H. McIlvaine, John B. Conner, Thomas
Draper, James L. Heverin, William S. McLain, John W.
Wall, Alexander Jackson, Jacob Prettyman, and Captain
James Grier. These founders laid out the boundary of the
town, designing it as a circle to represent brotherhood.
The original area where the town is located was known as
Caroon Manor, a 3000-acre tract of land owned by the
Duke of York.
The Magnolia tree was the Duke’s favorite
tree, and hence the name of the town. A
number of magnolia trees are planted
throughout the town and still exist. The
Sons of Liberty played a part in the early
legal system in Magnolia and also influenced
the selection of a circular town boundary.
Churches have made a significant impact on
the community of Magnolia. The Magnolia
Methodist Church was built in 1856 and is
located on Main Street, and the Magnolia
Baptist Church was built in 1872 and is on
Walnut Street. Motherkill Friends’ Burial
Ground, a historic Quaker cemetery, is
located adjacent to the town’s north western
border. This area is known as the “Quaker
Graveyard” dating back to the late 1700s
with fieldstones marking the gravesites.
The
Town of Magnolia was officially recognized
by the Delaware General Assembly as an
incorporated area on April 3, 1885. More history... |
