Historic Odessa Foundation

09/04/2026

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐫

Where else can you sip award-winning craft b**r surrounded by more than 250 years of American history?

Historic Odessa Brewfest combines craft brewing, colonial history, music, food and community all in one unforgettable afternoon.

Join us Sept. 12 for the 13th annual Odessa Brewfest and raise a glass while helping us preserve Delaware history for another 250 years!

For tickets and info, visit www.odessabrewfest.com

09/02/2026

𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑶𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
Displayed in the Master Bedroom of the Corbit-Sharp House, this matching set of 18th century English brass and iron fireplace tools includes a shovel for removing ash and soot and tongs for handling firewood and embers. Hearth equipment like these with the ornamental finials, urns, and swelling shafts were not purely decorative, but very practical tools that show decades of wear. A typical fireplace set contained four or five essential pieces: a poker, tongs, shovel, broom, and often a matching stand or brackets. Other hearth accessories included ash buckets, bellows, fire backs, andirons or grates, screens, fenders, log holders, and hearth rugs. Together, these improved storage, fire safety and ash removal. Today, because of concerns about the health and environmental effects of wood-burning fireplaces and the convenience of low-maintenance gas models, many Americans are more familiar with tools and terms associated with grilling and barbequing.

09/01/2026

🍻 Join the Odessa Brewfest team! The Historic Odessa Foundation is still seeking volunteers for the 13th annual Odessa Brewfest on Saturday, Sept. 12. Help us make this the best Historic Odessa Brewfest yet!
Sign up today: www.odessabrewfest.com/become-a-volunteer

Be an integral part of one of Delaware's favorite festivals? We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make the 2026 a success!

As an Odessa Brewfest volunteer, you'll enjoy:
A FREE volunteer T-shirt, FREE Food and
a souvenir Odessa Brewfest tasting mug.
(And you can even drink while working)

Sign up today at: www.odessabrewfest.com/become-a-volunteer or see the link in our Bio.

**r

08/27/2026

We're just about two weeks away from the Historic Odessa Foundation's signature fundraising event - the 13th annual Historic Odessa Brewfest on Sept. 12. Every ticket purchased to the event supports the foundation's historic preservation and educational mission.

Many thanks to Metro Philly for spotlighting this year's Historic Odessa Brewfest in this great article!

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Historic Odessa Brewfest returns Sept. 12 with more than 50 breweries, unlimited tastings, live music, colonial brewing demonstrations and competitions.

08/26/2026

𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑶𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
This 18th century walnut base from a high chest of drawers has replacement parts, missing elements, and no upper section. The bottom section includes one large drawer while the top section probably had four to seven drawers. Why, then, is it in the HOF collection? Its significance lies in a brass identification plaque inscribed “William Corbit 1771” and its provenance from the Mary Corbit Warner collection of The David Wilson Mansion, Inc. No one is quite sure what happened to the top of the high chest. Antiques dealers and collectors sometimes call two unrelated pieces joined together a “marriage.” By that logic, this separated piece might be considered a “divorce!” Any suggestions about what the Museum should or could do with this outlier?

08/19/2026

𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑶𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

In the 18th century, “chatelaine” referred to both the women who managed a grand house and to a decorative waist hook or clasp with hanging chains. Worn on a petticoat string, it kept keys, scissors and other practical everyday tools close at hand. Because women’s clothing generally lacked built-in pockets, women also wore large separate pockets tied around the waist. Odessa’s Corbit family historian, Mary Corbit Warner, engraved her monogram and other family initials on this hook. Unfortunately, the piece doesn’t have a silversmith’s mark making it impossible to identify its craftsman, place of origin, or date. Chatelaines reached peak popularity during the Victorian era and may have influenced mid- 20th-century charm bracelets, as both had small silver objects dangling from chains.

08/12/2026

𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑶𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

The raised three-dimensional embroidery in this needlework became known as “stumpwork” in the 19th century. Originating in 17th century England, the technique used stitched elements lifted from the fabric to create textured, sculptural designs. Possibly made by Eliza Naudain Corbit (1810-1844), this piece depicts a goose in a marsh atop a crab in the sand. A necklace-like circle of colorful seashells or pebble beads surround the scene which is finished with a cut-out scrolled edge. The design was likely inspired by the wetlands and marshes of Leipsic, Delaware, where Eliza grew up. The first wife of Daniel Corbit (1796-1877), she died at the age of 34 after giving birth to five children. This small, framed work and a companion piece depicting a peacock perched on a tree branch were passed down through five generations of the Corbit family. Both are displayed in Daniel’s Bedroom in the Corbit-Sharp House.

08/10/2026

We're thrilled to share Historic Odessa Foundation Associate Curator Brian Miller's Open Call column that appeared in Sunday's The News Journal (Delaware Online). In it he writes about the legacy of Delaware painter Howard Schroeder and how the current exhibition, which runs through August 30, came to be. Kudos Brian!

Rehoboth Art League

Celebrate life, work of a Delaware artist and visual collection of coastal landscapes, historic maritime towns, everyday life through Aug. 30.

08/08/2026

Congratulations Cantwell's Tavern! 🎉

08/05/2026

𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑶𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
This monumental 18th century Chinese export porcelain soup tureen and platter is one of a pair displayed in the dining room of the National Historic Landmark Corbit-Sharp House. Decorated with hand-glazed flower sprays, gilded fruit-shaped k***s, and gold borders, these deep-dish serving vessels were designed for presenting and serving soup at the table. Early tureens trace their origins to ancient European farming communities and later evolved from simple communal vessels into symbols of status, artistry, and refined dining. Made in porcelain, silver and other materials, tureens appeared in different shapes, colors, and sizes, including whimsical forms such as ducks, cabbages, rabbits, and other animals. Similar examples can be seen in The Campbell Collection of Soup Tureens at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Delaware. Once opulent centerpieces beyond the reach of most households, tureens are less common today for everyday modern meals.