Please note: This exhibit is closed.  For Reference Only.

For more than eighty years, the Flower Market has signaled the beginning of summer.  Held each year during the Memorial Day weekend, thousands throng to Rockford Park for flowers, rides and ice cream.  At its heart, the Flower Market is a fund-raiser for children’s charities.  To publicize the event photographs featuring Flower Market committee members posing at local business sponsors, highlighting the latest trends and fashions were published in the Sunday Star newspaper as a “Flower Market Supplement.”  Between 1930 and the 1960s, many changes occurred in the popular culture.  From soda fountains, hots dogs, “ice boxes, formal gowns and fancy cars to home swimming pools, local restaurants and charm schools—all of these aspects of local history and culture are highlighted in this charming and delightful exhibit.

One of the most interesting collections within the Historical Society’s Sanborn Studio Collection is a group of more than six hundred photographs taken for the “Flower Market Supplement.”  Arthur Sanborn and his son, A.N. Sanborn photographed each sponsor of the Market.  Especially in the early years, Flower Market Committee members served as models, showcasing goods and services offered by these local businesses. 

These photographs present a visual overview of local businesses and changing styles and ideals over time.  Because they are were posed images, the photographs do not show things as they really were as much as they show what people and businesses thought was ideal.  Women, men and children dressed in beautiful clothes and perfectly accessorized, cleaned and spotlessly waxed cars, home interiors with the latest appliances: these images show us a dream world sought after at the time. 

The Wilmington Flower Market describes itself in this way:  a tradition, a corporation and a fundraising organization dedicated to improving the lives of Delaware’s children.  Founded in 1921 by Mrs. Mary (Felix A.) duPont, the Flower Market has become one of the longest-running service organizations in the state.  Originally, Mrs. duPont was interested in raising money to help a summer camp program in Hockessin and the Babies’ Hospital (later known as St. Michael’s Day Nursery).  The first year, she and a group of friends raised $1500 for the charities.  The Flower Market remains a vibrant fund-raising community celebration today.  The Flower Market has grown to a two-day affair with over 6000 volunteers.  Over the years, it has had three locations, at Cool Spring Park (until 1949), Brandywine Park (1950-1) and Rockford Park where it remains.  Today the monies raised are distributed by a Board of Managers to a wide range of children’s charities throughout the state. 

Over the course of four decades many changes occurred in the culture.  As the nation emerged from the Great Depression, and entered World War II styles and services like door-to-door delivery mirrored the times.  The post war economic, housing and population boom created new needs and desires never before imagined.  A new “normal” emerged in the suburbs.  From soda fountains to TV dinners, home swimming pools and riding lawn mowers--all of these changes are depicted in this rich collection.