Vessels Family Preserves A Piece Of Lewes History
Swan's Nest House Dates
Back To Early 1700s

By David Maull
TV Times

The house atop a small hill at the corner of East Third Street and Kings Highway in Lewes was once the center of activity at a large plantation encompassing the entire Gill's Neck area.

Throughout its more than 260-year history, it has been home to a sea captain, military commander and state governor. It is one of many in historic Lewes that captures the essence of centuries past.

"It's certainly the finest house of its period around here," current owner Jack Vessels said. "It's one of the few that is really historic."

Vessels, who along with his sister Mary operates the Swan's Nest gift shop in the house, has a keen knowledge of the history of the dwelling, which is actually two houses.

The larger main house was owned by Nathaniel Hall, who ran a large plantation that included much of the surrounding land. As plantation owner, the house was considered his mansion.

Hall willed the house to his son, Captain David Hall, in 1734. The will is the only document from which the age of the house can be estimated.

Also in the will, Hall left a second house to his other son, Peter. Vessels believes that house was moved to the site and connected to the main house.

However, he calls that assumption "pure speculation."

The second house contains most of the gift shop and is actually older than the main house. Vessels estimates it was moved there in the early 1800s.

Capt. David Hall eventually willed the main house to his son, Colonel David Hall, who was commander of Delaware's troops during the Revolutionary War and served as the state's governor from 1802 until 1805. Colonel Hall lived in the house while he was governor.

The house was owned by various decedents of the Hall family until 1907, when it was purchased by John M. and Elizabeth Vessels, Jack and Mary's grandparents. It was later willed to their parents, John and Sarah Vessels. John once operated an electrical shop in the attached house.

Jack and Mary Vessels were next to inherit the house and together they opened the Swan's Nest 12 years ago. Mary still lives in the house.

Throughout the two attached dwellings are clues to their age.

A large interior hinge on the entrance to the main house, six fireplaces, wooden plank floors and a brick cellar all harken back to another time period.

"It's got some of the finest wood work I think at this end of the state," Vessels said.

He was referring to moldings along the ceilings and on the mantle piece of a downstairs fireplace. The wooden moldings have hundreds of small hand-cut notches, a style rarely seen after 1780.

Both rooms on the main floor have fireplaces, which once served as the primary source of heat. One of the rooms also has shelves cut into the wall.

But most impressive is the brick cellar.

It has a large fireplace and a brick staircase leading to the outside. The staircase was likely used to transport firewood.

There is also a support arch resembling a fireplace and solid oak support beams in the ceiling.

Vessels believes the cellar was used primarily for storage and work space.

The attached house, which is the main entrance to the Swan's Nest, also has a fireplace and a winding staircase behind the chimney that leads to the second floor. A similar set of stairs leads from the second floor to the attic.

Although the attached house dates back to the early 1700s, the fireplace is about 100 years younger. The original fireplace was removed when the house was moved to the property, probably in 1810, Vessels said.

Vessels noted another clue to the age of the structures is the vertical exterior siding, which is currently obscured by shingles.

While owning one of the oldest houses in Lewes is a privilege, it also has its drawbacks, Vessels said.

"It's a money pit. It kind of eats up everything we make," he said.

But there's no denying its popularity among those wanting to catch a glimpse of the town's past.

"Some people come in just to see the house," Vessels said.