Weldin House celebrates grand opening
After five years of planning and rehabilitation work by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (HCA), the historic Weldin House on Wilmington’s Philadelphia Pike is now open for community groups to use as a meeting and event space.
A ceremony to celebrate the house’s opening to the public was held on Jan. 25, 2025, and was attended by hundreds of locals, many of whom were actively involved in the house’s preservation. Remarks were given by Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay and State Representative Debra Heffernan, as well as Chairman of the Eastern Brandywine Hundred Coordinating Council Terry Wright and New Castle County Councilman John Cartier. Former State Senators Harris McDowell and Bruce Ennis joined the grand opening, along with Wilmington Mayor John Carney.
While the property will be used as office space by the Eastern Brandywine Hundred Coordinating Council (EB 100), a nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation and responsible community development in Eastern Brandywine Hundred, the house and its surrounding grounds will also be available for local community groups to reserve for meetings, events and educational programs.
“The Weldin House has been a treasure in the community for generations,” said Wright, EB 100’s chairman. “Its preservation and restoration are the result of perseverance and hard work by many, but the impetus came from the neighbors who have loved it. We are excited to play a part in the next chapter of the house’s long and storied life.”
In a recent interview with Delaware Public Media, HCA Director Suzanne Savery celebrated the culmination of the house’s rehabilitation and its future as an active part of the Eastern Brandywine Hundred community.
“The building was preserved from the hard work of the community members. There’s organizations and individuals who have wanted to preserve this building for years,” she said. “The building was built in the late 1700s. It was a home, it was later a doctor’s office, and now is going to be a community resource.”
For those interested in holding a meeting or community activity at the Weldin House, contact EB 100 at 302-764-2476.