Welcome! We’re launching a (hopefully) new series spotlighting some of our favorite Delaware hotspots and events and giving all our Delaware Enthusiasts the need to know for their own planning! Our first Spotlight Series subject is the Tilton Mansion, home to the University & Whist Club.
Emily here! Back in June I had the chance to take a small group tour followed by a three course (four if you include dessert!) dinner on the Tilton Terrace, a four season sunroom that was recently enclosed to be used as a dining room.
The only time I’d been to the mansion before this was for the Flower Market fundraiser chef challenge in 2018, a “Chopped” inspired competition between three local chefs. Not many know this, but that evening marked the official start of the Dela Darling Podcast!
When Danielle Bouchat-Friedman, Marketing Manager for the University & Whist Club (UWC) and the Tilton Mansion (TM), reached out to us about attending an upcoming history tour and dinner, I jumped at the chance to visit again.
the Tour
After being asked to put together a keynote speech about the mansion and club’s history, Stacey Inglis, the Vice President of Marketing/Historical & Cultural Affairs, at UWC/TM, came up with the idea to share this experience with those interested in visiting the mansion.
We started off the tour in a smaller dining room just behind the grand entry of the mansion. Stacey gave us an overview of the history of the property, having changed hands many times over the years. I’m always struck by how many Delaware names could come together, but this property definitely involved quite a few; Bancroft Woodcock purchased the property in 1760 and sold it to Dr. James Tilton in 1792. The original section of the mansion was constructed starting in 1802, but it was much smaller than the Tilton Mansion we know today.
Dr. Tilton died in 1822 and the house was generally empty until 1852, when Charles W. Howland purchased the home and added additions to accommodate his family. A number of other owners came and went over the years before the University Club purchased it in 1937. The University Club merged with the Wilmington Whist Club in 1958, and enlarged the mansion in 1959. The mansion is now owned by Thomas Hatzis and John Hynansky and is still home to the UWC.
Our tour continued throughout the mansion, and Stacey shared with us so many old news clippings that hang upstairs, telling the history of Dr. Tilton. My favorite little facts, in no particular order:
- Dr. Tilton was banned from US Congress. When his term was up, he hadn’t accomplished everything he wanted to, so he kept going back to Washington!
- Caesar Rodney’s home was only one block away and has since been demolished; it’s now the site of Padua Academy. What a reminder that the historic preservation we have is so limited.
- Dela Darling HQ could be spotted on the wall map of the City of Wilmington circa 1938, but could not be seen from the tower.
- The tower, originally used to pump water through the mansion, now provides a 360° view of the city. My panoramic photo makes the railings look a little wonky, but you can see Padua’s building all the way on the left, downtown toward the center, and St. Francis Hospital to the right.
- Dr. Tilton was one of the first people to be very concerned with sanitation in the medical field and even designed the first divided war hospitals. This involved keeping patients with infections and those with wounds separated to decrease the spread of disease. (Further reading on Delaware Today…)
- I loved getting a sneak peek at the rooms where brides and their attendants get ready for weddings hosted at the mansion.
The Dinner
As our Enthusiasts know, no Dela Darling outing is complete without a meal and the UWC menu did not disappoint!
I started off with the snapper soup, which was delicious. Even though it’s summer, sometimes a cup of soup to start the meal just hits the spot.
No surprises for my second course, I can never turn down a beet salad. I have to tell you that the bourbon pecans paired with golden beets were a great touch. The salad was light and refreshing, while still feeling like a treat.
Even though I knew the salmon and roasted chicken would be amazing, I couldn’t help myself but to go for the filet. I don’t eat much beef, and try to reserve steak for professional chefs; the Unpaid Interns don’t appreciate the smoke alarm going off when I try to cook them myself! I ordered it medium and it was perfectly cooked, so tender and felt like it was melting in my mouth.
Of course I had to finish off my meal with a sweet treat. I had such a hard time deciding between the S’mores Tart and the Death by Chocolate Tower. Fortunately the women I was seated with were more than willing to help me by ordering the tart. I didn’t sneak a taste, but I can tell you it didn’t last long!
As for the chocolate tower, it should come with a medical advisory! It’s definitely for chocolate lovers only and was a wonderful way to finish off the tour and meal.
What now?
If you’re interested in doing the mansion tour & meal, you can get all the info here. I really enjoyed learning the history of the mansion and the UWC, and can definitely see myself coming back with friends, or for a fun outing with my grandmothers.
The UWC is a closed club limited to members and guests, but there are various times throughout the year that the mansion hosts events open to the public. Luckily they have one recurring event going on this summer!
Non-members can visit the mansion for Wednesdays at the Whist through August 28th. Dress is business casual, and you can sit in the dining room or at the bar for lunch or dinner. Dining room reservations are required.
