Election Results:
Next Town Meeting:
Monday, June 23, 7:30 p.m. at Gild Hall.
Buzz Ware Village Center:
Field Theater, Indian Circle and the Greens:
These can all be reserved for your public or private event. The Field Theater is a popular outdoor wedding location.
Policies and Permits:
- Right of Way Permits
(required of all those working in Arden, including county workers and utilities). - Reserve a Room at the Buzz
- Reserve the Field Theater, Indian Circle, or a village green
- Forest Stewardship Policy
(revised March, 2008)
Arden, Delaware, has been a Single-Tax, Arts and Crafts, Garden-City Utopia since 1900.
The Village of Arden was founded in 1900 by sculptor Frank Stephens and architect Will Price, with financial help from Joseph Fels, the soap manufacturer. One of 17 land trusts founded between 1894 and 1950, Arden is based on the Single-Tax economic philosophy of Henry George. As a result, a person's house is not taxed, only the land it sits on. The land is owned in common and managed by three trustees. Inspired by the Garden-City Movement, half the land is woods and open space. Foot paths criss-cross the village. Arden is known for its artists and also for its theater. Stages abound, including two at the Arden Club and one at the outdoor Field Theatre. In nearby Ardentown, you will find the New Candlelight Dinner Theatre. The entire community is registered as a Historic Place by the federal government, as are Ardentown and Ardencroft.
Arden in its early decades was the summer home of artists, musicians, theater people and leftists. In those times it had a summer camp atmosphere. It still feels like a summer camp in many ways, all year long. Once a year, the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, we host the Arden Fair. Every month, the Arden Community Recreation Association hosts a family event. Every week, October through May, there is a Saturday supper in Gild Hall prepared by a different Dinner Gild crew. Four days a week, people enjoy the Arden Library. Every day in summer, folks cool off at the Arden Pool. And at different days throughout the year, people enjoy the productions of the Concert Gild, Ardensingers, Folk Gild, Shakespeare Gild, and Arden Club Theater. And there's time to garden and to learn about the economic philosophy of Henry George, upon which the village was founded.
At right:
everyone knows about the fairies in the Arden Woods but few suspect the bright pink rituals taking place on Phil Fisher's leasehold.
Explore the links to the left and right above to learn about the current role of govenment in the Village of Arden.