Ogletown and Brookside

[DannyR81]

Hello,

I have lived in the Ogletown/Brookside area of Delaware my whole life, and I grew up right around the time of the major expansion of Chestnut Hill Rd. and Ogletown Rd, as well as when MBNA was constructed. When I was very young, my parents frequently took me to many of the restaurants and stores that are no longer around, such as Penn-Jersey, the original Dairy Queen, and the 7-11 that once stood near where Augusta Square is today. Since I was so young at the time, I just have inklings of those places.

This is only for reminiscent purposes, but I am looking for photos of the landscape and businesses along Route 4 from Library Avenue to Harmony Rd. or so and along Route 273 from Marrows Rd. to the I-95 interchange. I'm looking for any photos pre-1990 or so.

Some landmarks I'm trying to find include:

• the original Dairy Queen at Rte 4 and Salem Church Rd.
• the Ferguson house on Rte 4.
• the 7-11 on Rte 4.
• The original Our Lady of Grace orphange on Rte 4 before it was destroyed and rebuilt because of a fire
• Chestnut Hill shopping Center when Eckered occupied the space to the right of a much smaller Shop Rite.
• Library Avenue before it was widened and the Wa-wa was constructed.
• The Castle Mall
• shopping centers and businesses along 273 before it was widened and taken over by MBNA, including Ogletown Home Cooking, Penn Jersey, Mr. Donut, and some of the older gas stations
• any aerial or wide-shot photos of the general landscape

If anyone has any photos and would like to share or could at least direct me to a good source, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

[Crabby]

Do you remember the public swimming pool that was on 273 in the grassy area on the Newark side of the (Avon) railroad underpass? Not many people remember that any more.

[Silver Eagle]

Do you remember the public swimming pool that was on 273 in the grassy area on the Newark side of the (Avon) railroad underpass? Not many people remember that any more.

I remember that and it was a good place to meet girls then too. It wasn't a real swimming pool it was a large hole in the ground Where water ran into it ,It was part of a creek I don't remember where it flowed too.As you came to the old RR bridge it was on the right side of the road that made a left turn after you went under the bridge. It was just a swimming hole to us.

[Tralee]

Do you remember the public swimming pool that was on 273 in the grassy area on the Newark side of the (Avon) railroad underpass? Not many people remember that any more.

I Do! We used to go there, we were members and then just down the road toward Newark was a pond we used to ice skate on.

[jpsickle]

is that the pool that is near DeerPark?

[Tracy]

Wow....I've lived in that area my whole life and I don't remember a public swimming pool.

[Crabby]

On Ogletown Road (273)just west of the railroad underpass but before the Avon plant and the reasonably new Home Depot. On the right going toward Newark, but several miles from downtown. Not near the Deer Park Tavern. The roads have all changed along there but it didn't used to be that awfully far from the 273 and rt. 4 intersection where the Dairy Queen was then, before it moved. The pool got closed and filled in the mid 60's I think but it might have been a little later. I swam there several times with a date.

[Tracy]

On Ogletown Road (273)just west of the railroad underpass but before the Avon plant and the reasonably new Home Depot. On the right going toward Newark, but several miles from downtown. Not near the Deer Park Tavern. The roads have all changed along there but it didn't used to be that awfully far from the 273 and rt. 4 intersection where the Dairy Queen was then, before it moved. The pool got closed and filled in the mid 60's I think but it might have been a little later. I swam there several times with a date.

yeah, it must have been the mid 60s....I don't remember it and I've lived in that area since 1971

[BillW]

Danny, I saw some books in Happy Harry's (Walgreen) in Fox Run SS that may have want you want. They are a history with some pictures of the areas. I saw Newark, which may or may not include Ogletown & Brookside. I didn't look as I was in a big hurry and someone was in the way - sorry.

[max1]

I grew up in Christiana around the same time, sheesh the whole place has changed.

[Silver Eagle]

My wife says that she remember's a pool being there.I must have been in the Marines then.

[LozerBoozer]

thanks for the post, danny! i grew up in Brookside, right on Brookside Blvd. lived there for many years, have alot of great memories. i remember all the things you listed (and then some!) if i come across any old pictures i will get in touch with you.
too bad that area has really gone downhill in recent years. i know there are still some nice folks living there but it is nothing like it once was. my parents lived there from 1955 until just this year- 54 years !! we are now selling the house but i will always have fond memories of Brookside.... "back in the day"

here are a few you might remember:

there was a small italian restaurant right where the on-ramp from rt 4 east to rt 273 east ramp is now- across from the mr donut.

the original kiddie world- before it moved across marrows rd.

colony inn restaurant at the far end of brookside shopping center- where happy harry's is now. it was a free-standing structure, not attached to the shopping center. back in the day, it was considered fine dining (!!) and one of the nicest places to eat in all of Delaware (!!)

the "haunted" house on marrows road, next to where the toyota dealer is now.

the horse racing track where bennigan's is (was) and the KFC at marrows rd and rt 273.

the old morton salt factory where porter ford is now- next to 84 Lumber.

[Tracy]

God....I've lived in Scottfield for forever (except for the last 10 years) and I don't remember any of that stuff.

[TattdMom]

I'm with you Tracy, my family lived in Windy Hills from 1972 to 2005 and I don't remember any of the stuff LB was talking about. I do remember the 711 on rt 4, the Castle Mall, the original Dairy Queen etc. I had a couple of friends that lived in Brookside, my bff lived on Matthews, where her brother now lives in thier parents' house. I go up there now and can't find anything! LOL

[Crabby]

If I remember correctly, before Scottfield was built, that area had old military ammunition storage buildings on it . There were concrete slabs here and there for many years.

[Bill B]

I saw this recently and wanted to comment. The name of the pool was the Newark Pool. Right past the underpass on the right as you headed to Newark on 273. Much smaller than the Brookside Pool. And no TABS on Friday nights during the summer. I grew up in Brookside and remember the old house in the field where the apartments are now ( I heard it was haunted but everytime I went in on a dare as a kid I never saw any ghosts. I went to Ogletown. I would sometimes meet my friends at "the tree" after school. I remember the field before the Kiddie World was built, and used to go to the PINE Woods before Scottfield was built. That was when Rte 72 was a dirt road past Old Baltimore Pike. I remember what things were like before Fireside Park was built, and I was in 3rd grade when the newly built Jennie Smith Elementary School opened.

[paulusa302]

When my Grandmother was alive and living out that way, we use to always pass by the Spaghetti House. Seemed they would serve all you can eat spaghetti. when I was a kid I wanted to eat there but they tore it down before I had the chance.

[Kid Lester]

Ha.

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[Jessica]

Ha.

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Is Castle Mall the one on 273 where the HSBC is now? New Castle area?

I remember the mini-mall on Main Street as well, where the Rainbow Books and Music is. It was very small and scary. Maybe 10 stores or so?

[LozerBoozer]

The Newark Mini Mall had a good bar upstairs, called The Glass Mug, and later, Roosters. Cool place to hang out and knock back a few. Funny I would mention a bar !!