LEWES CREEK BRIDGES

LEWES CREEK BRIDGES

A question arose at coffee about the early bridges which crossed Lewes Creek, now the

Lewes – Rehoboth Canal. The information below is an abstract of “ Spanning The Creek” by

Hazel Brittingham in volume V, November 2002 , Journal of Lewes Historical Society.

This is early 1900 or perhaps before, there were six, yes six, bridges to cross the creek.

Two railroad bridges and four small spans for man and beast to use to go to the bay front beach

and marsh. Three of these bradges were removed in early 1900 when the creek became the canal.

They were the South Street bridge, Savannah Road today, Market Street bridge, Ocean House

bridge and McIllvain bridge.

McIllvain Bridge was off of Gills Neck, near where the Freeman Bridge is today, probably

got the name from the land owner in the vicinity, Rev. David Mills McIllvain and was the choice of

people going to and from the Cape Henlopen lighthouse. It was used by farmers who cut marsh hay and used the marsh as pasture for their cattle. It had gates to keep cattle from meandering back to town. This bridge was also handy to the public who gatherd fire wood from the Cape Henlopen forest.

According to the journal of Fannie Marshall it was removed 29 Jamuary 1914 but when it was put across the creek is not known.

The Ocean House Bridge was built by Solomon Prettyman sometime after 16 February 1849 when the Delaware General assembly authorized a draw bridge and causeway in front of the new Ocean House at 334 Pilot Town Road leading to a Delaware Bay wharf and was toll free. It had a draw span twenty five feet lomg over the deepest channel. The bridge was in place for sometime after 1913.

Market Street Bridge was the earliest to cross Lewes Creek, authorized 6 November 1773, to be at the foot of the Lewes outdoor market which was behind the brick jail on Back Street, now2nd

Street, where Kings Ice Cream is now. It had a 'draw' of eight feet or more, with sufficient chains to

raise it up and down, so boats could pass through. A caprenter, Peter White, completed it on 12 august 1775. One reason this bridge was important was because it gave towns people good grazing for livestock and access to fishing, oysters, beach plums, cranberries and huckleberries. Market Street Bridge was in continuous use from 1775 to 1914 when the creek became the canal.

South Street, State Street, or Savanah Road Bridge, was built about 1864 or shortly before. Rebuilt, replaced, it is still there and in use.

Mention should be made of the two railroad bridges that were owned and operated by the

different rail road companies that came to Lewes.

Abstract by Harrison H , November 14, 2017: