Brick foundation uncovered next to Dover’s Old State House
While digging a test hole in search of an existing water main on Feb. 11, 2014, workers uncovered a previously undocumented brick foundation in open space near the northeast side of Dover’s Old State House. Other than the brick, which appeared to be handmade, few artifacts were observed although a bottle base was recovered that may date to the early-to-mid-19th century. The bottle base was embossed with the words “H. Ricketts & Co./Glassworks Bristol.” Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs staff conducted research on previous buildings that existed in this area and postulated that the foundation may be the remains of an 1829 armory that would have been used for storing weapons and other military equipment.
