Dover Air Force Base has been a cornerstone of Dover, Delaware for over 60 years. What is little understood is the impact the base has had on the communities that surround it. On Saturday, August 6, at 10:30 a.m. MSgt Eric Czerwinski, USAF, (Retired) will present a program at the Delaware Public Archives about Dover AFB’s influence on the growth of the local area during the post-World War II era. The development of Dover and Camden were immeasurably affected by the growth of Dover AFB during the Cold War years. The need to house airmen and civilians became a driving force in the development of these local communities. New subdivisions sprouted up everywhere and for the first time, the commercial focus began its journey from downtown to the strip mall. This program will reveal how the fabric of Kent County was permanently changed by the growth of Dover AFB during the Cold War period of the 1950s.

Eric Czerwinski retired from the United States Air Force as a Master Sergeant after 20 years of service. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Wesley College and completed his Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation at Delaware State University in 2013. Currently, he serves as an adjunct Instructor of History at Wesley College.

The program is free to the public and will last approximately one hour. No reservations are required. For more information, contact Tom Summers at (302) 744-5047 or e-mail
thomas.summers@delaware.gov.

The Delaware Public Archives is located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard North in Dover. The Mabel Lloyd Ridgely Research Room is open to the public Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. On the second Saturday of every month the research room is open from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.


Delaware Public Archives (DPA, archives.delaware.gov), an agency of the State of Delaware, is one of the oldest public archives programs in the United States. DPA serves the citizens of Delaware by identifying, collecting, and preserving public records of enduring historical and evidential value; ensuring access to public records for present and future generations; and advising and educating interested parties in the creation, management, use, and preservation of public records.