It had rained like cats and dogs as we left NYC for Dover, DE, also known as the First State Capital as the state was the first to ratify the Constitution. Luckily it was only drizzling as we stopped initially at the town's Johnson Victrola Museum.
Nipper the dog 'listening to his master's voice' in one of the most famous images associated with Victrola.
Interesting to discover the expressions 'putting a sock in it' and 'putting a lid on it' came from muting the sound of the victrola's horn by doing just that!
Enrico Caruso, Duke Ellington, John Philip Souza and other world famous recording artists signed exclusively with Victor Records.
Another piece of trivia for you: the 'Grammy' award was named after the Grammophone Co. in England owned by one of the co-founders of Victrola.
The population of the state of Delaware is only 830,000 and Dover's is less than 40,000. The guide at the old capitol said that only four other tourists had stopped by that day. Not surprisingly, we had our own private tour.
The court was on the bottom floor and the 9-member Senate (with a large painting of George Washington on the wall) and the 21-member House (comprised, of course, of male property owners) were on the second floor.
Beside the old capitol is the state's small Supreme Court.
The historic buildings surrounded the idyllic town green set out by William Penn 300 years ago this year.
Before the Old State Capitol was founded, leaders met in the Golden Fleece Tavern also on the Green.
A couple of blocks away and facing another large green space, was Legislative Hall, i.e. the new State Capitol. It was closed as it was Sunday.
The rear of the capitol:
As we drove south to the resort beach community of Rehoboth Beach for the night, we noticed signs for Delmarva and soon realized that meant the states of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
It was so much fun walking along the town's boardwalk even in the light drizzle that had dogged us all day long.
Just like at most boardwalks we've seen in cities across America, arcades, fudge and ice cream shops and small restaurants lined the one at Rehoboth Beach.
We hadn't seen an old time carousel in goodness only knows when!
Lina: When I saw this sign, I thought of the delicious salt water taffy you brought us back from North Carolina last week.
I felt so badly for the couple who had likely planned their wedding day months ago hoping for a sunny beach wedding and had those dreams dashed by rain and 50 degree temperatures in mid May.
The invention of the victrola (named because the founders were victorious in patent and copyright wars) made it possible for the first time in the world's history for music to be heard even in the most humble home. Nowadays, it's almost impossible to fathom how little music entered into the life of the average person until only 80 or 90 years ago.
Steven and one of the hundreds of 'Nipper' replicas on display:
The Old State House, one of the reasons we wanted to come to Dover, was founded in 1791. There's a weathervane atop the old capitol but it was too overcast to see it.
Next: The American Revolution and Yorktown, Virginia and the Jamestown Settlement.
Posted on May 14th, 2017, from Hampton, VA.
brrrrrr
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