National Register Listing

Ruth Mansion House

Main St., Leipsic, DE

The Ruth Mansion House today shelters several families in apartments that divide the interior. This division may be the result of an earlier owner's last will, dated 1822. William Ruth divided his home lot between his son, Samuel, and Peter Stout, probably a son-in-law. The dividing line began at a corner of the road leading to Muddy Branch and continued through the house's front yard, running along the wall separating the hall room from the entry, thence to the adjoining property line on the road. Ruth specified that the line
through the house is repeated on the second floor and in the attic. Samuel got the north end of the house and property, and Peter the south end.

William Ruth had prospered in business, judging from the property mentioned in his will. In his will, he left a dry goods store to his son and son-in-law; his daughter's legacy included a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, together with an adjoining parcel of land.

The Ruth Mansion was already a landmark in Leipsic, then called Fort Landing, well-known during William Ruth's lifetime. When the General Assembly set up five Kent County election districts in 1811, William Ruth's house was a polling place for Little Creek.

William Ruth was also involved in schemes for public free education in Delaware. Until 1792, free education was non-existent in the State.

The Delaware Constitution of that year provided for free schools, to be supported by the State, but not until 1796 did the legislature designate tavern license and marriage license fees to be used for this purpose. The fund created by the 1796 Act lay dormant until 1817 when an appropriation was made for the education of the poor. William Ruth served as one of the five trustees for the distribution of this appropriation, which was too small to be effective. Since the fund was designated a charity, it was severely limited.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1973.