SUSSEX SHIPYARDS

SUSSEX COUNTY SHIPYARDS

At various times during the 18^th and 19^th centuries ship yards existed at Lewes, Mispillion

Creek, Cedar Creek, Broadkill River, Milton, Indian River, Assawoman Bay, Whites Creek,

Blackwater, Nanticoke, Broad Creek. In 1860 ship buildiing in Sussex was in decline due to the

development of the iron built steamboats. Listed in “Boyds Delaware State Directory” were

three shipyards at Milford, three at Milton, two at Lewes, two at Millsboro, one each at Halls

Store, now Ocean view, and, Laurel. A few years later shipyards were listed at Lewistown,

now Bethel, and and at Seaford.

David Taylor wrote in his “Delaware History” that shipyeards were easy to establisheeded ,

needed was a firm river bank, deep water and nearby white oak timber. Most shipcarpenters had

their own tools and shipyards furnished the sawa, planes and a stearm box for shapeing planks

ribs.

The virgin forest of Sussex yeilded white oak beams 60 feet long and 2 ½ feet square and

brought to the yards each day as needed. Indian River Hundred itself had 50 saw mills in

operation to meet the timber needs. Fifty four million board feet of lumber per year was said to

be used by the shipbuilders.

The Sussex yards turned out small shallops, coastal schooners and sloops, and later the

bugeyes, skipjacks, both workboats for the Chesapeake Bay oystermen.

Although the advent of the steamer led to the decline of Sussex ship building it also must be

known that the counties white oak and cypress timber became depleated.