The Hale Byrnes House: A Historic Wilmington, DE Landmark

The Hale Byrnes House is a prominent example of Queen Anne-style architecture. Built in 1892 as a private residence, it now encompasses three separate storefronts, including the one once owned by Mr. Byrnes himself. While initially built as a single home, its ownership has changed hands several times over the past century. The official address of the Hale Byrnes House is 301 West 6th Street – but it’s much more than that. This historic property has been part of Wilmington’s history for over 130 years and still stands out on its block today.

History of the Hale Byrnes House

The Hale Byrnes House was built in 1892 at the corner of 6th and Shipley Streets in Wilmington, Delaware. Its first owner was Hale Byrnes, a prominent shoe salesman and a prominent member of the local community. When Byrnes built this house, he was probably making a statement about his growing prosperity as a businessman. After all, Wilmington was at this time the center of the American shoe industry. Byrnes built his house in the Queen Anne architectural style that had become popular in the 1880s, and it was a fine example of this style with its irregular roofline, towers, decorative shingles, and stained glass windows. The house was used as a private residence until 1945, when it was sold and became a rooming house. In 1955, it was purchased and converted into a drugstore and was used as such until 1988 when it was renovated and converted into a three-store commercial building. The building has remained a commercial building ever since. The building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1995.

The Byrnes Family

Hale Byrnes was born in 1863 and raised in New York. His father was a shoe manufacturer and the family moved to Philadelphia around 1873. Byrnes later worked as a clerk for the H. & J. Seligman & Co. investment company in Philadelphia. In 1890, Byrnes moved to Wilmington and started his own shoe business. He married Stella Bachrach in 1894 and the couple had two children. Byrnes was elected as a member of the Board of Directors with the New York Stock Exchange and later served as the president of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. Byrnes died in 1939 at age 76. Great Post To Read

The Walgreens At Hale Byrnes House

In 1985, Avram Yorsky purchased the Hale Byrnes House, remodeled it, and turned the building into a three-business commercial property. The Walgreens drug store was set up in the first floor of the Hale Byrnes House. Walgreens bought the building in 1989 and used it as a drug store until 1995. It was the last Walgreens drug store in the State of Delaware. In 1995, Walgreens sold the Hale Byrnes House to the Duane Reade drug store chain. Duane Reade operated its drug store from 1995 to 2011. In 2011, Duane Reade closed its store and moved out, and the building became a retail outlet again. Click To Read More

The Duane Reade At Hale Byrnes House

The Hale Byrnes House remained a retail outlet until December 2016 when the building’s owners, Serenity Health and Beauty Care, Inc., shut down the store. In the summer of 2018, Serenity Health and Beauty Care, Inc. signed a new lease agreement with Walgreens to turn the Hale Byrnes House into a Walgreens drug store again. The Walgreens at Hale Byrnes House re-opened on August 1, 2018.

Mr. Shrop`s Shoes at Hale Byrnes House

In June 2012, Serenity Health and Beauty Care, Inc. opened a shoe store called Mr. Shrop`s Shoes at the Hale Byrnes House. Mr. Shrop’s Shoes is a store that specializes in footwear for children. The store sells school uniforms, backpacks, socks, and shoes. Mr. Shrop’s Shoes is open Monday through Saturday.

Conclusion

The Hale Byrnes House is a prominent example of Queen Anne-style architecture. Built in 1892 as a private residence, it now encompasses three separate storefronts, including the one once owned by Mr. Byrnes himself. While initially built as a single home, its ownership has changed hands several times over the past century. The Hale Byrnes House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has become a popular tourist attraction in Wilmington.

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