~The Arsenal at Old New Castle will host our Wicked Wedding and our Haunted Reception~
The Arsenal was erected between 1809 and early 1811 as the threat of war with England became imminent. The original structure was one story high and had arched wagon entrances at both ends of the building. The Arsenal remained an ideal location for ordnance supply storage until the late 1820's.In 1831 after a severe fire at Fort Delaware, it was used to house all of the troops that had to be relocated from the fort until 1832 when it served as a hospital during a cholera epidemic. In 1843, the townspeople voted to allow the Arsenal to remain standing "provided that the Arsenal shall never in any case be used for the storage of gun powder, nor for the quartering of troops without the express consent of the inhabitants of the town." In 1852, the Arsenal began its new life as a school, the second floor and cupola were added and the Arsenal became known as the New Castle High School until 1930. In 1936, the Arsenal was remodeled again in the spirit of the Nineteenth Century. The 1852 cupola was replaced with one that was more appropriate to the "colonial" character of the town and the marble "Eagle and Cannon" bas-relief, representing strength and vigilance, was moved from the north wall to the south wall. It then served as an elementary school until the 1950's at which time it became property of the state of Delaware. In 1963, the Arsenal was leased as a restaurant, which brings us to its current use as a spirited historic landmark restaurant serving traditional American fare with European influences.
The Arsenal is located at:
30 Market StNew Castle, DE 19720
(302) 328-1290
