Augustine
Hermann
The earliest written account of travel
along what would eventually become Route 40 is that
of Augustine Hermann (born 1605), an envoy traveling
from the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam to the governor
of Maryland. Hermann is of great historical note as
he is believed to be the very first Czech immigrant
to America.
Hermann's journey began on September
20, 1659, and cut across the narrow land separating
the waters of the Delaware River from those of the Chesapeake
Bay. The path they followed was just north of the current
alignment of Route 40 - probably closer to the old post
road that runs between New Castle and Elkton.
Hermann, who traveled on foot, reached
the Chesapeake Bay after a few hours. There, he boarded
a boat bound for Annapolis.
In all likelihood, Hermann's party did
not blaze the trail west from New Castle. Earlier parties
including Delaware Indians and game had worn trails
into and through the woods.
In an exchange for land (now known as
Bohemia Manor on Bohemia River in Maryland), Hermann
produced one of the first detailed maps of the Chesapeake
Bay. His map of 1763 is considered to be one of the
most important land maps of its time and was often copied
by other cartographers.
Augustine Hermann's 1763 map.
Later,
Hermann built a cart road from New Castle to Frenchtown
in Maryland and for a while it enjoyed great use. When
another road provided a continuous land route to Baltimore
and other Maryland settlements, Hermann's road fell
into disuse. Hermann also proposed that a canal be constructed
connecting the waters of the Delaware with the Chesapeake
Bay.
In 1686, Hermann died at Bohemia Manor
where he is buried.
Augustine Beach in Delaware is named
after Hermann.
