Landmark ‘Biden’ barn on Clifton farm razed
A barn that became a landmark for drivers heading south on on Route 1 because of the large “Biden” billboard painted on its north-facing side has been torn down.
Only the panels with the “I” and the “E” remained, lying on the ground, as of April 22.
The 100-year old barn was located on the Clifton farm just north of Milton.
The Biden barn would have been visible to the president when he was being driven to his North Shores vacation home near Rehoboth Beach. The Bidens spent this past Easter weekend at that home.
Owner Don Clifton, the current Delaware Department of Agriculture secretary, said he put up the sign to show his support for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden.
“In October of 2020, most of the political signs in Sussex County were for Donald Trump. I looked at [the barn] and thought it would be a good place for a Biden billboard,” Clifton said.
There have been a lot of comments over the years, Clifton said. “Not all positive, in Sussex County.”
Clifton said the barn had been scheduled for demolition for years. It was clear the structure was unsafe and could not be refurbished; tearing it down was not a political statement.
When asked about saving the Biden letters, Clifton said he had not thought about it. He has never spoken to Biden about the sign, so he doesn’t know if he ever saw it while driving by.
But, Clifton said, some of Biden’s people said there had been a photo of the barn hanging in the White House.
“Biden is Delaware – somebody whom people have actually met. My dad always thought he was a good guy,” said Clifton’s son, John Clifton.
He said the barn had been there since his great-grandfather bought the farm, which had been owned by the Brittinghams.
John Clifton said the old barn held some family memories.
“It makes us sad, but I’ve got all this equipment all over the place that should be under a roof,” he said. “I’ve been through it a hundred times in my life looking for treasure. There’s a bunch of little old things, old bikes, old farm equipment that is cool to me, but might not be cool to anyone else.”
He said the old brick silo will remain where it is.
The Cliftons said they will put up a new building on the barn site to store their farm equipment.
As far as a new billboard goes, Don Clifton said it is a possibility.
“It is a very visible spot on Route 1,” he said.
Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.
