Dr. Burton's House

by Hazel D. Brittingham

Dr. Burton's House stands in historic Lewes, Delaware, on land which has shrunk from the 134-acre patent granted in 1675 to the area's earliest settler, to a single-acre lot at the north end of Second Street. The stately home with the address of 112 Shipcarpenter Street is considered to be over two centuries old and might have been known as the "plantation house" when it was constructed.

Now owned by the Lewes Historical Society through purchase from the former owner, Alice Richards Watts, the dwelling continues to be identified as the Dr. Hiram Rodney Burton house in remembrance of the local lad who became a physician and practiced in his hometown throughout his career. Dr. Burton (1841-1927) served as U.S. Congressman for two terms, commencing in 1904.

The property came through inheritance to this deliverer of many Lewes babies. Beers’ Atlas shows the property was owned in 1868 by J.S. Burton, his father. A sort of local Who's Who could be compiled from a listing of previous owners who included a grandparent, Capt. Thomas Rodney, brother to Daniel and Caleb who both became governors of Delaware. The War of 1812 officer received ownership from the Rev. James Wiltbank. Rector of his native parish, St. Peter's Episcopal, from 1795 until 1809, Wiltbank left Lewes in the continuance of his career. At death he was fulfilling a commission as Chaplain of the U.S. Navy.

Wiltbank was a descendant of that remarkable first permanent settler, Helmanus, who received grants to large land-holdings as the coastal area see-sawed between Dutch and English rule in the mid-1600s.

It is an impressive cypress-shingled house of formal Federal style that greets the beholder today. A few residents of Lewes remember the house with porches as well as a barn and summer kitchen in the rear and the doctor's office perched in a side yard. Doubtless the earliest portion of the dwelling is found in today's kitchen area. As with many local houses, it can be explained that the structure is comprised of an old section plus one older than that!

A touching remembrance is found on the pages of a booklet, Gardens of Lewes, written by Hannah Rodney Lyons Richardson. Born in 1863, she wrote that even though most of the garden had disappeared by the time she was grown, she carried the vision of the porch at the front door, with side benches, covered with honeysuckle, jasmine and roses. Dr. Burton welcomed the turn of the century by extensive reconstruction work on his home as completion of the project was reported in the March 1900 issue of the local paper. The article included this:

"The parlor is one of the prettiest in Lewes. The paper is green, offset by beautiful festoons of roses on a white border . . . edged with gilded molding." With the physician's political aspirations riding high at the time, the redecorating was probably in anticipation of serious entertaining in his home.

Open often to the public for tours and special events when owned by Alice Watts and her late husband, Richard, those interested in preserved antiquity recall hand-hewn rafters; remains of peg joining; the basement fireplace; and the fine example of paneled wall sections in the second story.

Dr. Burton’s daughter, Leah, married Dr. Rowland G. Paynter and resided in Georgetown, but she remembered her childhood home. Her generosity made possible the completion of the restoration of the Burton-Ingram House, the Historical Society’s museum moved next to her old homestead in 1962. Her bequest of furniture provided priceless pieces with historical significance currently on display in the museum’s living room.

When Dr. Burton’s little office was no longer required, it was given to the faithful driver of his horse and buggy. Moved to nearby Burton Avenue (What other name would do?) the now-enlarged building serves as a residence. The distinctive original windows look out upon Shipcarpenter Square and reflect similar displaced senior buildings being tucked into the development for their conversion experience. Little Office is smug in the knowledge that he led the way.

©Copyright 1997 Hazel D. Brittingham