The 112th General Council
of the General Society of Colonial Wars
May 18 – 21, 2023 • Wilmington, Delaware
The Society of Colonial Wars In The State of Delaware had the honor of hosting the 112th General Council of the General Society of Colonial Wars and carried it off in grand style. We entertained our 175 guests with the best scenery, culture, cuisine and hospitality that our corner of the world has to offer.
The weekend started with an elegant cocktail reception at Aston, the home of Lieutenant Governor Philip Syng Reese. Under glorious blue skies our guests, fellow Warriors and their Ladies enjoyed cocktails and camaraderie. On the signal of Warrior David Lunger’s cannon fire, Governor Nolen welcomed our guests to Delaware, and immediate past Governor Laird outlined the activities ahead. Warrior Reese introduced the Executive Director of the Museum of the American Revolution, Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, who presented our guests the opportunity to learn about and tour the Museum’s hand-sewn, full-scale replica of General Washington’s War Tent, which the Museum generously brought to Aston for our reception. Warrior Tepe’s daughter, Emily Tepe, led us with beautiful renditions of the Swedish national anthem, God Save the King, and The Star-Spangled Banner.
Friday morning the Ladies were treated to a private tour of Longwood Gardens, including a display of Longwood’s famous fountains. Longwood provided an elegant lunch, featuring local produce and flowers. Following lunch, the Ladies toured Brandywine Art Museum and learned about its collection of American art, including that of the Wyeth family.
After business meetings Friday morning, the Warriors repaired to Hagley Museum for lunch at the Soda House. Warrior John Tepe presented the history of the settlement of Delaware by the Dutch, Swedes and English, and the many difficulties and disputes they experienced in the New World. His excellent presentation is available here. After lunch, the Warriors enjoyed guided tours of the Powder Mills and other aspects of the Museum. There they were joined by many of the Ladies, who arrived after their tour of the Brandywine Art Museum.
Friday evening the Warriors and Ladies enjoyed a grand dinner at the Delaware Art Museum, prepared by Wilmington Club with its usual outstanding elegance. Deputy Governor Brokaw welcomed the attendees and introduced Delaware Art Museum Executive Director Molly Giordano, who discussed the Museum and its collections. Guests were able to visit the galleries to enjoy extraordinary artworks in the Museum’s collection. Following dinner, past Governor Barton introduced Barksdale Maynard, our Shelby Cullom Davis speaker, who discussed the Battle of the Brandywine. His lecture was enthusiastically received and is available here.
Saturday morning the Ladies enjoyed a tour of Winterthur Museum, while the Warriors concluded their business meetings. The Warriors and Ladies met for luncheon at Wilmington Country Club, where Governor Nolen introduced Wade P. Catts, RPA, to deliver a talk on the archeological search for Fort Casimir, the early colonial Dutch, Swedish and ultimately English fortification in New Castle. Mr. Catts’s presentation is available here. Following the lunch, guests toured either New Castle and the Kalmar Nyckel, Mount Cuba or Winterthur.
Saturday evening our Society presented its grand, white tie Gala: cocktails, dinner and dancing in the Gold Ballroom of Hotel du Pont. Governor Nolen expressed our Society’s great honor and pleasure of being trusted to host the 112th General Council and expressed the hope that our guests would return again soon. The colors of Delaware, the United States and the General Society were presented by members of the Reserve Officers Training Corps of the University of Delaware, and the flags of each state Society represented at the General Council were presented in procession. Rousing choruses of God Save The King and The Star Spangled Banner were offered. Following a moving ceremony in which Chaplain General Ian Montgomery bestowed the Chaplain’s Cross of the General Society on our own Chaplain Calhoun Warren Wick, a heartfelt invocation by Reverend Wick, and the Broken Arrow Ceremony and prayer, toasts were offered to the President of the United States, His Majesty the King, our brave Armed Forces, the Society, and the Ladies.
General revelry, an excellent meal and dancing to the music of the Alex Donner orchestra followed.
Sunday morning offered the final and most heartfelt ceremony of the weekend. Reverend Wick led our Warriors and guests in an historically accurate service at the Little Church on the Brandywine, generously opened for us by the Society of Colonial Dames. The service, available here, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, with readings by immediate past Governor Laird and Deputy Governor General David Hoopes and musical accompaniment by David Hearn, included a remarkable homily by Reverend Wick on the faith of our ancestors and how that faith molded our colonies and nation.
Event Materials:
No summary of the 112th General Council would be complete without special recognition of the many Warriors and friends whose time and effort made it such a success:
Planning Committee
Samuel A. Nolen, Governor
Richard H. L. Laird, Jr., Immediate Past Governor
David M. Hoopes, Deputy Governor General, Chair
Randolph Barton, Jr., Past Governor
H. Binney Beale
Roberts W. Brokaw III, Deputy Governor
Allison E. Brokaw, Ex Officio
The Honorable Richard R. Cooch, Past Governor
William C. Spruance, Secretary
John B. Tepe, Jr., Historian
Ladies Committee
Allison E. Brokaw, Chair
Margaret P. Barton
Sandra L. Beale
Barbara G. Cooch
Christine S. du Pont
David M. Hoopes, Ex Officio
Lucinda C. Laird
Margaret Sears Lindley
Gail M. Nolen
Beverley W. Rowland
Lucinda C. Wright
The Society also recognizes with gratitude the generous contributions made to support the 112th General Council by:
Philip Syng Reese, Lieutenant Governor
David Macmillan Hoopes, Deputy Governor General
Samuel A. Nolen, Governor
Roberts Wyckoff Brokaw III, Deputy Governor
Add your name to this list of generous Patrons today by making a special contribution! A convenient contribution form with instructions is available here.