Pete Seely - President

A member of the Hockessin Historical Society for over 15 years. He has an appreciation for the historic structures and building techniques of the past. A local resident for 15 years with family ties to the Hockessin area going back 300 years to one of the first Quaker families in the area. He has a background in both mechanical and electrical engineering and technical drawing/CAD. He has a business degree from Villanova University. He left his job as a store manager in his local hometown to move to Hockessin and restore one of the most historic properties in Hockessin which has been in his family since 1869. It is this love for local history and construction techniques which he hopes to preserve and share with the future generations. This photo is Pete in his natural habitat picking his apples which he had the patience to wait 10 years to produce fruit. He also enjoys making blueberry jam and preserving foods, woodworking, planting and cutting down trees, the mechanics of how things work, and exploring the countryside of Lancaster, northern Maryland, and the Chesapeake Bay area. Currently a member of the following local organizations: Hockessin Historical Society, Delaware Farm Bureau, Greater Hockessin Area Development Association (GHADA Board Member), Hockessin Business Association (HBA), Preservation Delaware, Friends of the Hockessin Library, Wilmington & Western Railroad (Historic Red Clay, WWRR), Kennett Underground Railroad Center (KURC), Greenbank Mill & Philips Farm, Marshall Steam Museum, and Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA).

Darleen Amobi - Vice President

I've always been fascinated with people, culture, history and research since I was young. Several times during the year I'm invited to do lectures or teach classes on stationmasters, conductors and slaves from Mill Creek, Kennett Pike and surrounding areas. I have taught genealogy at the Osher Institute. I've also taught genealogy with The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. I was Vice-President of the organization for several years. I was board member secretary of the Underground Railroad Coalition of Delaware. I've been a board member research historian with the Kennett Underground Railroad Center (KURC) for about eight years. I enjoyed teaching elementary aged children. I have a Master of Arts degree in communications and a second Master of Arts degree in education. I've travelled to the continent of Africa and Europe. I've been a member of Hockessin Historical Society for the past 13 years. I remain Vice-President for more than five years. I have organized and given lectures about the Underground Railroad. I've lectured on abolitionist: C.C. Burleigh, Dr. Bartholomew Fussell, James Fulton.Jr. from Ercildoun, PA. and Harriet Tubman. I've written articles that have been published in various Delaware newspapers. I'm currently researching abolitionist Daniel Kent from Andrew's Bridge, PA. I have a family with one son, a daughter-in-law, two grandsons and other relatives. I've been a Church member of Manna Christian Fellowship in Wilmington where I was also a Board Member. I've taken several classes in Board Management and Organization and Writing Grants. -Darleen Simpson-Amobi

Stephanie Wardell - Treasurer

My Position Title

Liane Sorenson - Board Member Emeritus

My Position Title

Brian Woodcock - Vice President Emeritus

Brian came to the US as an immigrant in 1958, he quickly recognized the need to preserve American History, since it all began when the patriots to it back from the British in 1776. With his prior military experience as a teenager in the Royal Air Force as a Flying Officer Cadet, the American Army snapped him up and he was caught up in the Cuban Missile Crisis as an Army Aviator. After the spell in Army Brian, became involved in preserving rail road lines in the Philadelphia/Wilmington area.He was successful in doing so and to his credit he acquired the 10.2 mile long rail line for the Wilmington & Western Railroad and along the way purchased and restored three vintage steam locomotives. Two are currently operating still in 2021 on preserved rail lines. Even though Brian's main career was in Aviation engineering and testing, he loved steam railroading. It was during this time that he became friends of fellow historian Joe Lake, who talked him into preserving local Hockessin and Yorklyn history. It was to be that Brian's home was to be in a restored mill manager's house in Yorklyn. Brian and Joe became the driving force behind the Hockessin Historical Society. They were charter members and they together with other wonderful volunteers, relocated and restored Tweeds Tavern, acquired the historic Lanborn Library building and Brian designed and supervised the building of the Post and Beam Hockessin History Museum building which serves the public today. He has been honored for his many accomplishments and was inducted into the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame. He is well know for his preservation statement "The Hockessin and Yorklyn area is a Gold Mine of history, there are many Nuggets of history yet to be dug up"Brian and His wife Linda reside in Yorklyn and are retired and are active Bee Keepers.