TheBlock House is a 17th-century historic building located off Naamans Road inClaymont, Delaware. The Block House is believed to be the only structure remaining of original Swedish colonial settlement onNaamans Creek.
The Block House is believed to have been constructed in 1654 under instruction ofJohan Risingh, who was the last Governor of the Colony ofNew Sweden. Chief Peminacka of theMinqua tribe had deeded the large tract of land along Naaman's Creek to John Risingh on behalf of the Swedish colony.
The structure was originally designed for defense. During September 1655, the Block House was taken by theDutch West India Company underPeter Stuyvesant at the same time that Dutch forces capturedFort Christina. In 1671, the Block House was attacked byNative Americans. It was captured by theBritish Army in 1777 during theAmerican Revolutionary War.[1][2]
The Block House consists of one room with a lower and upper level. Inside is a relatively large fireplace and the former living quarters for theRobinson House cook. That 18th-century house was built in 1723 on nearby land. The date of construction of the Block House has been disputed. Some scholars[by whom?][who?] say the Block House was not built until later, possibly around the time the Robinson House was built in 1723.
39°48′37″N75°26′30″W / 39.8103°N 75.4416°W /39.8103; -75.4416
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