REHOBOTH AT 100 YEARS

1973 REHOBOTH BEACH

HAPPY 100 YEAR BIRTHDAY

In the beginning, there was the Book of Genesis which told of Israelities wandering the

desert searching for a home land. When they found a well they were permmited to use, they call it

Rehoboth, “room for all”.

1873, the Methodist Camp Meeting Association , established 'Rehoboth' as a retreat and

Camp Meeting grounds. Very appropriate.

Now, Rehoboth Beach, bills itself 'the Nations Summer Capital”, and is preparing for

another tourist season, hopefully, the biggest ever, and a big 100 year birthday bash.

The noise of hammers, saws, the smell of fresh paint, new colors, new doors, etc., fill the sunny mornings. A food shop owner, George Tsoukalas , cleans and rearragnes tables and chairs.

He will open soon for his fifth season. One thing he must do is change the menu prices, thing are higher this year he says, even the onions. Tsoukalas came here from Greece in 1951, and fell in love

with the resort and its people. His two britthers are here now, both restaurent owners, the “Hi-Seas'

and “Robin Hood”. From Easter to Labor Day, it's 12 hours or more a day, 7 days and nights a

week to make a living. These summer busineses depend on the weather. The hotter and dryer, the

better. Stormy weekends are killers.

Yes, the storms of fall, wnter and earyl spring, wreck the boardwalk and beach but the town soon has them restored. The boardwalk takes one million nails it is said.

Easter Sunday, unofficially, is a traditonal opening day. The shops on Rehoboth Avenue are advertising pop corn, saltwater taffy, sun tan lotion and “help wanted”.

Dr; Lester Johnson, a Lewes native, serving Rehoboth as mayor for the past seven years, at

age 75, says Rehoboth is looking to the largest summer, the new roads and bridges and all. The

police force is ready, usually an 18 man force, it grows by 40 summer officers and 30 life guards for the beaches.

The Easter Sunrise Service at the boardwalk bandstand kicked off the season amd centennial, later there will be the Easter Parade . A 1900's bathing suit contest will be a new feature this year.

Each month will of summer will feature other centennial celebrations, May is for Church Home

Comings, June is the 'Miss Delaware Pageant” , July is fireworks and the 4^th of July.

Rehoboth was laid out in lots in 1873, a hotel was built, the railrod came in 1884 to the beach front of Rehoboth. In 1925 a concrete road was built from Georgetowm, Dover and Milford, and the

rest of the world. A building boom continued until the 1929 depression and resumed during WWII.

Source: April 22, 1973, Philadelphia Inquirer, Lacy McCrary. Abstract September 19, 2017