Boyds Corner Archaeology Artifacts On Display At Appoquinimink Community Library

Middletown -- Middletown: Artifacts discovered during the archaeological excavations performed prior to roadway improvements along Boyds Corner Road were exhibited at an event this morning at the Appoquinimink Community Library. The event included comments by DelDOT Archaeologist David S. Clarke, and Marcus Henry, General Manager Community Services, New Castle County.

Prior to the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) planned improvements at the intersection of Route 13, the Du Pont Highway, and Route 896 (Boyd's Corner Road) in Odessa, inspection revealed a previously unknown archaeological site. Historical research and previous archaeological testing indicated that the remains of Boyd's Store and House survived underground. The purpose of the excavation was to investigate these remains, and learn more about commerce and rural life in 19th-century Delaware.

The Boyd's Corner Intersection has a long and varied history. In various forms, there has been an intersection here for centuries. John Boyd emigrated from Coleraine County, Ireland, settling in Delaware in 1791 and in 1812 purchased the parcel of property which would eventually bear his name. At this site, until 1932, Boyd and his successors operated a general store, and DelDOT excavations of the site revealed a variety of domestic goods dating throughout that time span. Items on display include, tableware, silverware, cooking utensils, building materials, tools and toys, reveal to us much about daily life during the 19th-century at a commercial crossroad in central Delaware, and how the quality of life has changed over a century of evolution.

"This project has provided DelDOT a great opportunity to partner with the New Castle County Library system, specifically the Appoquinimink Library, and to display the Archaeological findings from the Boyds Corner Project,"explained DelDOT Archaeologist David Clarke. "I'm very excited about this relationship and hope to work with other public libraries all over Delaware to promote and display findings from this and other DelDOT archaeological excavations throughout the state."

The exhibit, located within the Main Reading Room of the library, will remain for public viewing for a full year.