William Draper Brinckle 1872-1933

William Draper Brinckle 1872-1933

Raised in Wilmington, Delaware, William Draper Brinckle graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia with a degree in Architecture. He opened his first office in Wilmington, Delaware, married his sweet heart and began raising their family of five children. To their great sorrow they lost their second child and only other son at birth.

In 1912 they bought 32 acres of land on the Peach Blossom Creek in Talbot County, near Easton, Maryland and built their first home which they named, "Edgemere." Together they created a large garden, adding a barn and other buildings and acquiring cows, horses, chickens, guinea hens and rabbits.

"Will" as he was known was a quiet, modest man of many talents. He opened an architectural practice in Easton and built his office on the corner across Dover Street from the present Tidewater Inn. He designed many of the charming homes in and around Easton as well as other buildings, such as the studio of the illustrator, N. C. Wyeth, father of artist Andrew Wyeth. He revised the plans for St. Matthews Church in Wilmington which was formally opened 10 June 1900, and drew plans for Calvary Church, Brandywine Hundred in 1909.

The spelling of his surname had been changed from "Brinckloe" several generations back, and he returned it to the original spelling.

He devoted much time and effort to his community and his family. His son, William Draper Brinckloe remembers him as a patient, kind father. He taught him to build boats and custom bird houses which William Jr. turned into a thriving business as a young boy. The children were raised with farm responsibilities and for a number of years had school in their home where they were taught by a tutor.

During World War I he served on active duty as a Major in the Army at Fort Meade, moving his family to Baltimore until the armistice. After the war he built a new home on his property called "Edgemar" and because rural areas had inadequate fire protection he undertook the formation of volunteer fire companies nationwide. He was commissioned by the National Fire Protection Association to write a book, The Volunteer Fire Company. He was a prolific writer on home planning and building as well and wrote for leading home magazines of the day, as well as a book, The Small Home, How to Plan and Build It. He was then commissioned to conduct a national house planning contest and he moved his family to San Diego for three years (1919-22) .

After returning to Maryland he built a home for their later years in the town of Easton which they named, "The Dutch Cottage" complete with stream and rose-covered windmill. He and Anna lived there several years until his death, and it remained her home where she hosted her children and their families until her death years later.

As his granddaughter, I missed knowing him in life as he died many years before my birth, but look forward so much to knowing him one day. . .