‘Delaware Before the Railroad’ is a work that managed to be both scholarly and fun at the same time. You don’t have to have a particular interest in Delaware or even in history to enjoy this book. I has highlights that refresh some of what many of us in the U. S. picked up in school about the early days of the continent. Something that I found particularly interesting was how it tells us when and what someone did, but also WHY they made these decisions and took these actions. Something that is sometimes missing in other works of this nature is the contribution of Native Americans as well as the groups that came from Nordic lands, the United Kingdom, and various European adventurers.
Another thing that I enjoy was the information about ordinary people and how they lived. It struck me, in the description of the homespun clothing from flax and wool, that the humble clothes they wore for every day are now luxury items that we pay a premium for, especially if, like the clothes from the early days, are handmade.
The illustrations are well curated and explained. I admit that I love the photos, especially the ones regarding ships, sailing, and anything about the seas and waterways.
I enjoyed remembering some of the things I learned a long time ago, and learning new information in a way that I wish had been available in the textbooks. This book has inspired me to wish to visit Delaware and see some of these sites for myself.
I highly recommend this work to anyone with an interest in history or a look into the lives of the folks who came here and made their often unforeseen contributions to the lives we have now.