Delaware State University is set to embark on an exciting preservation project with the recent awarding of a $750,000 grant from the National Park Service, part of the Department of the Interior. The funding will be used to repair and rehabilitate the Hope House, a historic building over 139 years old located on the DSU Downtown campus.
The grant is part of a broader initiative, allocating $10 million to several historically Black colleges and universities nationwide to protect and preserve their historic properties. Dr. Eleanor Kiesel, senior associate dean of the DSU Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, played a pivotal role in securing this grant through diligent research and proposal writing. The grant was awarded in July 2024, and work will commence soon.
About the Historic Hope House
Constructed initially before 1885 and showcasing Queen Anne architectural features, the Hope House is a notable structure and a crucial hub for student programming and social services at DSU. It offers counseling services, self-care activities, and cultural connections and will engage the local community in initiatives.
“We are honored to be given this opportunity to provide programming and supportive social services to our students in this home that was originally owned by former slave owners,” Dr. Kiesel remarked.
The funding will address critical issues such as exterior and interior repairs, water damage, and mold remediation in the three-story frame building. This rehabilitation marks Phase I of an extensive project revitalizing the historic property acquired during its purchase of the former Wesley College in 2021.
The establishment of Hope House aligns with DSU’s broader Safe Space Coalition initiative, aimed at enhancing intervention and prevention services related to sexual assault and other safety concerns on campus. Led by Dr. Gwendolyn Scott Jones, dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, this coalition works to assess and improve the university’s safety protocols, policies, and response services regarding sexual assaults, domestic violence, bullying, mental health, and more.
