In 1794, the Bond, Lees & Clay store ran an advertisement that offered trips on the packet boats on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to the Chestnut Street wharf in Philadelphia. Depending on the tide and wind, a one-way trip could take most of the day, which wasn't ideal for a shopping excursion. New Castle residents would often go to Wilmington via horse and ferry to purchase essentials. But when a new shipment of goods arrived by boat at Packet Alley, the Bond Lees store was stocked with enough items to satisfy most New Castle residents.

A book called "Packet Alley" was once used as part of the fourth-grade curriculum in New Castle County. It taught that history can be interesting if you learn about the people involved! The co-author was a woman who lived at 28 The Strand.