New Castle’s Old Court House, one of the oldest surviving public buildings in the nation, hosted a special event Thursday commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Delaware’s statehood.
On June 15, 1776, the “colonial assembly of the Lower Counties” met at the New Castle Courthouse and passed the Act of Separation, ending the region’s contentious relationship with the Colony of Pennsylvania and the British Empire. Less than three weeks later, Delaware delegates joined the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Thursday’s ceremony was part of Delaware’s America 250 celebration. The 153rd General Assembly held a commemorative special session nearly 250 years after the first General Assembly met in the same building to adopt the state’s first constitution.
Appearing in period dress, State House Republican Whip Jeff Spiegelman (R-Townsend, Smyrna, Clayton) joined other legislative leaders in reenacting aspects of the historic proceedings.
“I told the Speaker and President Pro Tem that I had received a correspondence from the 2nd Continental Congress,” Rep. Spiegelman said. “We had declared independence by voting in favor of the motion of independence introduced by Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from the Virginia House of Burgesses. A committee had put together a document listing the reasons, and I read it to the chamber.”
In group photo: Among those taking part in the special session were, from left, State Rep. Danny Short, State Sens. Eric Buckson & Brian Pettyjohn, State Rep. Jeff Spiegelman, and State Sen. Dave Wilson.
