HERE’S WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY
“Testimonials are a powerful way to boost a brand’s image and provide a sense of what it’s like to work together...”
- John Colver
HERE’S WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY
“Use this space to share a testimonial quote about the business, its products or its services.”
- Elizabeth Jackson
HERE’S WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY
“This is the space to share a review from one of the business's clients or customers.”
- Elton Chui
“Use this space to share reviews from customers about the products or services offered.”
In 1873, a picturesque reservoir just west of downtown Wilmington was designed with a lower embankment on W 10th and Van Buren Streets. By 1878, the reservoir was built and fully functioning, holding 11 million gallons and distributing an average of 43,000 gallons of water daily to Wilmingtonians. Known collectively as Cool Spring Park, a name inspired by the area’s natural springs, it quickly became the heart of a thriving neighborhood, home to many of Wilmington’s business leaders and shopkeepers. Among them were Mr. Willard S. Pyle, his wife, Ella, and their eight children.
Springs and Beginnings
In 1888, a stately Colonial Revival–style residence was built for the Pyle family at what is now 1103 N. Franklin St. Willard, then serving as Secretary of the C. & J. Pyle Company, a well-regarded patent leather manufacturer, lived in the home until his passing in 1908. In his will, Willard bequeathed to Ella not only the family home, but also a stable and adjoining premises along what is now West 11th Street, just before N. Franklin Street. Built in 1889, the upper floor of this structure is believed to have housed a coachman or caretaker for the family’s two horses and carriages, marking the beginning of what we now know as The Cool Spring Carriage House.
Home Sweet Home
Since the early 20th century, the property and its Carriage House have passed through only a handful of owners, including a remarkable 40-plus-year chapter under neighboring Ursuline Academy. Meanwhile, the popularity of Cool Spring Park spurred the rapid growth and development of Wilmington’s West Side. The park became a beloved gathering place, hosting community events such as the Wilmington Flower Market, which graced its lawns from 1921 to 1950. The park’s distinctive mix of trees is, in fact, a living legacy of the Flower Market tradition. Each year, a new tree was planted in celebration.
Growth in Full Spring
In 1983, Cool Spring Park and its surrounding neighborhood were officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places as the Cool Spring Historic District. Nearly two decades later, after 125 years of faithful service, the Cool Spring Reservoir required modernization to meet federal water-quality standards. The $23 million transformation replaced the old reservoir with a buried water tank, and in 2009, the grounds were fully renewed—creating the beautiful, vibrant public park that continues to anchor the neighborhood today.
The Rest is History
TRUSTED BY
Restoring History
Since 2007, we’ve been passionately restoring historic homes in Wilmington with care and respect for their architectural legacy. Our journey began with a 1930s property near the beautiful St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. In 2013, we turned our attention to a neglected DuPont home on Baynard Boulevard—one of 77 contributing properties in the Baynard Boulevard Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. While bringing that turn-of-the-century home back to its original grandeur, we also revitalized a nearby early 1900s townhouse to highlight its timeless charm.
In 2018, we embarked on our most ambitious project yet at 1103 N. Franklin Street. This became our fourth historic investment and largest renovation to date. Our first challenge was to renovate a forgotten carriage house on the west corner of the property, a space that tells a remarkable story of Wilmington’s past...
