December 1914 northeaster

REHOBOTH BEACH

DECEMBER 1914 NORTHEASTER

Destruction has followed the northeaster storm raging along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Maine the weekend and still not abated this Monday motning, December 7^th. Rehoboth has been hit hard and damage is great by the storm. Surf Avenue is cut away, the boardwalk washed away for the most of it's length. Fifty mile per hour winds caused the ocean to sweep ashore with a mighty force, carrying away the new bulkead, washing the earth along Surf Avenue away and undermining cottages which line that Avenue. Horns Pavilion, at the center of the beach, and much of it's stock has been carried away. It is feared that severaal cottages will be swept away this afternoon by a hammering high tide and some redident have been able to remove household goods. One cottage on Surf Avenue has been washed away, and fear is that more will do so during this afternoon high tide. Henlopen Hotel is isolated because of high water surrounding it. Hill's new bath house was carrie to sea . There is no fresh water service at this time, electricity and gas have been cut off due to leaks, and storm sewers are destroyed.

Saint Agnes Catholic Church and the summer home of the sisters, the residence of Bishop Monaghan at the south end of Rehoboth are menaced by the rushing waters.

Wilmington had ice and sleet which covered trees and wires but temperture rise prevented sever damage. The Christiana River uverflowed it's baks several places and south wilmington lowlands were flooded. Rain recored 1.6 inches Saturday morning.

The storm on the Delaware River was also severe, two Reading Railway Company tugs put in at Jackson & Sharp yard to wait out the high winds and seas. High winds struck a Wilson Line steamer in the Christiana River and jared dishes off the lunch counter. Workmen at Carney's Point had difficulty gettng to work and had to go by Pennsgrorve – Long Beach ferry when the Emily postponed her trips. The steamer Frances B. Hanify just built at Harland and Hollingsworth Corporaton yard sat at anchor off the city waiting for more favorable weather to make it trial run.

The big storm should swirl northward tonight, driving rain will mix with snow in New England, and tomorrow, along the middle of the coast, the gales will abate and return to normal along the enrire coast.

Source: The Evening Journal ,Monday, December 7, 1914, Wilmington, Delaware

HARRISON HOWETH