Delaware from Railways to Freeways explores the little-known history of this small state from the period of 1800-1907 and the emergence of freeways. Why was this an important time period to cover?

This was the birth of the Industrial Revolution, and it impacted both Delaware and the nation enormously. Several ‘firsts’ originated in the state during this period. Early in the 19th century, the Delaware Breakwater, completed in 1835, was the Western Hemisphere’s first such structure. The bay’s barrier protection has been pivotal in facilitating safe maritime passage and trade, bolstering Delaware’s economy as well as Pennsylvania’s and New Jersey’s. Its strategic location also rendered the Delaware Bay more secure for naval operations, particularly during times of conflict like World War II. By mid-19th century there’s the ‘first’ from Betts, Pusey, and Harlan of Wilmington, who stand as pioneers in American industrial history for their role as the first iron shipbuilders in the country. Their groundbreaking work laid the basis for the broader American shipbuilding industry, contributing to the nation’s economic growth and naval capabilities. And finally, heralding the freeways era, Delaware’s DuPont Highway introduced the concept of separated lanes, enhancing road safety and efficiency. Funded by T. Coleman du Pont, this seminal model set a precedent for the U.S. highway system.

With so many interesting facts included in this book about Delaware, like Return Day, how did you narrow down what information to include and what to save or discard?

That’s a challenge for all three of the books I’ve worked on or am working on in this series. On the one hand, I look to academic history book models to get an idea of broad topics that should be tackled: Historical Context, Key Figures and Personalities, Major Events and Turning Points, and so on. On the other hand, I personally love to include quirky anecdotes and folklore items that add local color. One of my favorites from this particular book is about an innkeeper who trained a goose to keep an eye on his bar while he was out back plowing the field. If a customer entered the bar, the goose knew to go out to signal the innkeeper in the field with a honk! It’s a delicate balance to maintain gravitas without getting dull and to entertain the reader without being trivial. Writing a nonfiction book takes a lot of time and research, as well as talent, to take it from the level of a textbook to an entertaining fact-filled journey.

What would you say is your strength as a writer?

I was trained as a journalist. Reporters are drilled with a who-what-when-where approach to writing that always keeps an eye on the word count. And so, I’m always crosschecking my writing to make sure that the pace is brisk, that I’m getting to the point, not losing my reader through mountains of dull verbiage. I was fortunate to have writing professors who in addition to instilling bullshit monitors into me, also insisted that good journalism is about good storytelling. I think I spin an ok yarn.

What can readers expect in the third installment of this series about Delaware? What time period will it cover? When will it be available?

The third book is tentatively titled Delaware from Freeways to e-Ways, covering the 20th century. I’d like to have it in the public’s hands by Christmas 2024. The term “e-Ways” is a made-up word that refers to digital avenues of transportation, drawing from the 1990s trend of using “e-” as a prefix for things related to the nascent e-commerce industry. Digital technology has modernized traditional transportation methods, enabling, for example, self-driving cars, and rendering unnecessary outdated tools like sextants for ships and cabooses for trains. And while Delaware may not be a tech hub like Silicon Valley, the University of Delaware has offered up pure research and patents that have aided in the development and commercialization of the Internet’s physical infrastructure. In between freeways and e-ways, of course, there’s lots more to talk about. Stay tuned!

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