Leipsic: A Delightful Fishing Village

 

Leipsic waterfront

Leipsic is one of our favorite stops on the Delaware Bayshore Byway. If you’re one of the many people who makes a periodic pilgrimage to the legendary Sambo’s crabhouse, take the time to walk around this charming, friendly fishing village. 

Fishermen unloading a morning catch

Leipsic was a large, important port in the mid-1800s, shipping marsh hay, grain, and produce to Wilmington, Philadelphia, and New York and oysters to oyster shipping centers in Port Norris and Bivalve, New Jersey. Today it’s quieter but still an active fishing and crabbing village.

Stacks of crab traps on the Leipsic waterfront

Leipsic has several interesting historic buildings that recall its glory days in the 1800s. At the southwest corner of Front and Denny Streets is Sipple House, built between 1880 and 1890 in a mix of Italianate and Second Empire styles. This is the most elaborate Victorian house in Leipsic, built during its final economic boom and a testament to how prosperous farmers, shippers, and tradespeople could be during that period. 

Sipple House

One block east of Sipple House on Front Street, on the southwest corner of Front and Walnuts Streets, is Alexander Laws House. Like many historic homes on the Delaware Bayshore Byway, it was built in sections. The one-story kitchen wing (the part in the rear with a gabled (somewhat pointed) roof was built around 1810 as the original house. Between 1820 and 1830, this was moved to the back of the lot and the main section of the house was built in Federal style. Alexander Laws, a farmer and merchant, was probably not the original owner, but records show he owned the house in 1868. In the late 1800s, the Eastlake (Victorian) front porch was added. During the prosperous late 1800s, it was typical of residents of Leipsic to add new wings or porches in the latest styles, including Eastlake, Italianate, Gothic, and Stick. 

Alexander Laws House

One block east of Alexander Laws House on Front Street, across from Chestnut Street, is Sambo’s, one of the most famous crabhouses in Delaware. It’s a tavern, so you must be over 21 to enter, and I’ve read conflicting information online on whether they are still cash-only or now take credit cards. 

Sambo's

The crab boats literally couldn't be closer to Sambo's!

A block east of Sambo’s, on the southwest corner of Main, Front, and Lombard Streets, is the J. W. Fennimore Store, a commercial building built between 1840 and 1860 (sources give varying dates). It’s a good example of vernacular (everyday, not high-end) commercial architecture from the mid-1800s. Oyster schooners once docked across the street, making this a prime location for a store. J. W. Fennimore bought it in 1865 and operated a general store here, along with a steamboat between Leipsic and Philadelphia. In later years this building has housed a grocery and gas station, muskrat skinner's store and antique shop. 

J. W. Fennimore Store, now an antique shop

At the north end of Lombard Street is the Mary S. Reed/Captain Kenny Wright House, also known simply as Reed House. It was built sometime between 1800 and 1825 in the Federal style, and it’s a good (though sadly decaying) example of houses built in this region at that time. Its original layout--just one room on the bottom floor and another on the top floor—is typical, as is its wood construction. In this region, there’s not much natural stone, and bricks could have been made only by those wealthy enough to built a kiln and make their own. So most houses were made of wood. 

Mary S. Reed/Captain Kenny Wright House

Reed House was involved in rumrunning activities during Prohibition, perhaps because of its relatively remote location on the outskirts of the town. Smugglers from Leipsic and Little Creek would meet ships outside the twelve mile coastal limit, pick up a cargo of bootleg liquor and run it back to shore in high powered boats propelled by surplused World War I airplane engines.

 A few doors south of the J. W. Fennimore Store on Main Street is Ruth Mansion, built around 1810 in Georgian style for William Ruth, a merchant who bought local produce and shipped it to Philadelphia. Ruth prospered; when he died in 1822 his estate included a dry goods store, blacksmith shop, and wheelwright shop. He was also a trustee of the first free schools in Delaware. 

Ruth Mansion

The house has been modified many times. William Ruth’s will directed that the house and lot be literally split into two halves. His son Samuel got the north half, and Peter Stout, probably a son-in-law, got the south half. The white frame north section was added around 1841, and the second floor bay window was added in the late 1800s. In the 1910s a new front door was added, one that looks very similar to those sold in Sears catalogs at the time. The kitchen on the left was added in the 1920s. More recently the house was divided into apartments.

 A couple of miles south of Leipsic on DE Route 9 is a farmhouse whimsically named Wheel of Fortune. The farmland was owned in 1738 by John Chance, which may be what led to the house’s name. The house was built sometimes between 1750 and 1815 (sources give varying dates).Obviously the farmer who owned it was prosperous.

Wheel of Fortune

To find Wheel of Fortune, cross the intersection with Leipsic Road (DE Routes 334 and 333), then continue a few hundred feet further south. The driveway to the house, with a sign, will be on the right (west) side of the road. Remember this is private property and don’t trespass.