Little Hell, Delaware
Little Hell, Delaware | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 39°02′30″N 75°27′24″W / 39.04167°N 75.45667°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Delaware |
County | Kent |
Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Area code | 302 |
Little Hell is an unincorporated community in Kent County, Delaware, United States. Its elevation is 26 ft (7.9 m) and its position 39°02′30″N 75°27′24″W / 39.04167°N 75.45667°W. It is west of Bowers Beach at the intersection of Delaware Route 1 and Bowers Beach Road, and borders the unincorporated community of Little Heaven.[1]
History
[edit]While Little Heaven was built for the Irish workers of Jehu Reed, Little Hell was built for the African-American workers at the fruit plantation of Jonathan Willis.[2] The two plantations shared the same meadow, separated by a brook, a branch of Murderkill Neck, that was nicknamed "The River Styx" in reference to Styx from Greek mythology.[3][4] Newspaper reports said the area got its name when a group of 19th Century excursionists were attacked while traveling along the road from Dover to Bowers Beach.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Kent, Sussex Study Reveals More Oddly Named Spots". The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). October 30, 1935.
- ^ "Your Delaware and Mine". The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). November 14, 1942.
- ^ "A story about people who live between Heaven and Hell". The Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware). June 17, 1982.
- ^ "Little Heaven not in sticks; it's on Styx". The Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware). January 13, 1984.
- ^ "Towns To Give Up Profane Titles". The Evening Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). July 13, 1914.