REHOBOTH BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY

REHOBOTH BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Wilmington News Journal , Saturday, May 16, 1942 reports steps have been taken to

establish a public library for Rehoboth Beach.

The commission appointed to handle the project is under Judge Charles Richards of

Georgetown, and members are Mrs William Baer, Mrs Harry Reed , Mrs John Lattell,

Miss Anne Hazzard and Robert Craig Green, all of Rehoboth Beach.

The Rehoboth Beach City Hall will furnish a room in City Hall for the use of the library.

The need for a public library has long been noted by both the year aeound residents and

the summer group.

Source: Wilmington News Journal, May 16, 1942: Abstract by Harrison H, December 31,

2017  

PAYNTER HOUSE RELICS 1939 REHOBOTH ART LEAGUE

RELICS OF YESTERYEAR

Relics of yesteryear were on display in May 1939 at the “Paynter House” of the Rehoboth

Art League during the “Festival Of Arts” at Rehoboth.

Many of the 'relics' are the furnishings of the Paynter House and many are on loan for

the occasion.

Hostess were Mrs Charles Mills and Mrs William Hamilton of Rehoboth, Mrs John C.

Truitt of Milford. Others to assist were Mrs James Hughes of Dover, Orville and

Ethel Canby Peets of Indian River and descendants of the Paynter family of Sussex county.

Mrs W. H. Hocker, Jr., of Lewes has loaned a “sampler” made by Jane Paynter in 1821

when she was 16 year old. Jane was one of nine children of William Paynter , original

owned of Paynter House.

This sample contains the names and birthdays of all nine, then the record of his second

marriage with Sarah Smith.

William Paynter Orr III of Wilmington, a great great great grandson, and his mother

Mrs W. P. Orr, Jr., loaned another “sampler” and quilt of the Paynter family. Mr. Orr

made a formal presentation of an oil portrait of his ancestor to the Art League during

the Festival of Arts show. There were two Paynter family Bibles on display also.

Calvin Paynter and Harley Paynter of Rehoboth also had relics on display. There

were many other items displayed by people of Milton, Rehoboth and Lewes.

Abstract: Salisbury Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland May 16, 1939 by Harrison H.

on December 29, 2017.  

MODERNIZING LEWES STREET NAMES

MODERNIZING HISTORIC LEWES STREET NAMES

1933 CONTROVERSY

A controversy arose when several street names were changed last year as new street

signs were installed. There was a “passive attitude” on the part of the town fathers.

The town commissioners made no decision to change the names, they just 'came about'

by popular opinion.

Park Avenue was marked in place of Shipcarpenter Street, King Street became Kings

Highway and Knitting Street became Mulberry Street.

Judge Richard S. Rodney, an ardent supporter of historic Lewes, deplored the changes

in colonial street names and the destruction of 'Old Dutch” type homes to make way

for modern construction and questioned why their presence would impede the towns

growth.

A campaign this fall will take votes from both factions and decide whether or not

Historic Lewes will retain it's aura of antiquity.

Abstract : December 28, 2017 by Harrison H. from Wilmington News Journal

Tuesday, September 19, 1933.

LEWES OLDTIMERS DR W. P. ORR, JR.

LEWES OLDTIMERS

DR. WILLIAM PAYNTER ORR, JR.

Thursday evening, June 21^st, 1934, the Sussex County Medical Society, under

the arrangements by Dr. Stambaugh, rendered a banquet in the Rehoboth Country

Club on Scarborough Avenue for Dr. William Paynter Orr., Jr. who has for the

past 50 years practiced medical service in Lewes.

Dr. Orr was born March 14, 1857 in Lewes to William P. Orr. Sr. and his wife, former

Emily Ogden Hunter. Senior Orr was a Lewes dry goods merchant.

He received his education at Lewes public school and a Lewes private school, then entered

Pennsylvania Military Academy in Chester. He later received an appointment to West Point

where he graduated. In 1884 he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine from the

University of Pennsylvania.

On the 21^st of September, 1905 he took Claudia Bender Beck as his wife.

Today Dr. Orr, age 77, is president of the Delaware State Board of Health and president of

The Sussex Trust Company with banks in both Lewes and Milton. .

Abstract: Wilmington News Journal, Friday, June 22, 1934, by Harrison H. December 27, 2017

LEWES CURBSTONES

LEWES CURBSTONES

Memories of Lewes' early settlement were aroused among the towns older citizens

when old sail masts from shipwrecked vessels which were used as curbstones along

the streets near the canal before the towns sewer was system installed.

The mast were found in the back yard of one of the Maull homes and were still bearing

imprints of the iron hoops by which the sails were attached.

The hoops had long been removed by young boys who rolled them along the dirt

roadways of town.

The mast were placed along the sidewalks in order to raise an embankment that

drainage water could not flow over.

Some mast were 75 feet long and 3 foot thick and many were painted the same

color of the house they protected.

In 1901 the mast came out when the sewer was laid.

Old timers claim that from 10 to 25 four mast vessels would wreck each winter and

they found the salvaged mast made good use keeping the sewage from overflowing

the sidewalks. It the early days the sewer was a 9 foot deep by 10 feet wide open ditch

winding through town and emptied in to the creek.

Several homes had been built with limber of the mast, some of the lumber also was used

to build pieces of furniture. Much of shipwreck wood found its way into the wood

stove for warmth.

Abstract: Wilmington News Journal , Saturday, January 20, 1934, by Harrison H.

December 27, 2017.  

LEWES OLDTIMERS JOHN HENRY MILLS.

LEWES OLDTIMERS

JOHN HENRY MILLS, CIVIL WAR VETERAN

1933

Some pithy remarks were made regards the 1933 repeal of prohibition by Lewes' oldest

male citizen , John Henry Mills, who is celebrating his 96^th birthday this week.

“All liquor was ever good for is 'invigoration' and I don't mean 'celebration', said the

veteran who can't remember ever being intoxicated.

When I say invigoration I mean for an old worn out man like me feeling 'give out' all over,

able to take a teaspoon full of whiskey in my dinner time milk hoists me up so I can sit

around a little while longer before bedtime.

Mr. Mills is totally deaf so has to get all of his information of daily happening by reading

the newspaper front to back every day, even as his eyesight is fading, he does not yet

need reading glasses.

John Henry Mills was the first to enlist from Lewes when Abraham Lincoln issued the

the call for volunteers. He had to walk the 14 miles to Georgetown to enlist.

He served in a company that guarded bridges in Maryland and northern Virginia . After

the war he took to the sea with others of Lewes whose calling was fishing the river and bay.

He was a lighthouse keeper of the Green Hill Lighthouse near Lewes which was his last

last active job.

ABSTRACT: Wilmington News Journal , Wednesday, December 6, 1933, by Harrison,

December 27, 2017.  

GREENWOOD TRAIN WRECK 1903

GREENWOOD, DELAWARE

DECEMBER 2, 1903

NAPHTHA EXPOLOSION ON RAILROAD.

An explosion of a naphtha tank car in the center of a freight train on the Delaware

division of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington railroad caused the death of

two, injury of a number of persons and the wrecking of several buildings and several

freight cars. The accident occurred 8 miles south of Dover and is thought to have been

the result of spontaneous combustion and the burning fluid was scattered in all directions.

Fifteen rail cars were wrecked and destroyed by fire. Several buildings near the railroad

took fire. Brakeman Edward J. Roach of Georgetown was taken from the wreck dead.

An infant died from shock. Engineer H. W. Sheppard inhaled steam and is critical,

conductor Cornelius Rath was badly burned, fireman John Barker was burned as was the

tower man, Horace Lynch of Greenwood. Dozens more town citizens were injured.

As soon as was possible a locomotive was sent to Seaford and returned some time later

doctors and other assistants. Telephone and telegraph wire were down so there was no

communication with other towns.

As the doctors worked with the injured others were busy with the fires but despite their hard

work, residences and the public school were burnt and many others rendered uninhabitable,

Abstract: Harrison H. from Oil City Pennsylvania newspaper, December 3, 1903

NAVY HALTS DEBRAAK SALVAGE.

NAVY HALTS de BRAAK SALVAGE

1952

The U. S. Navy has brought a halt to would be salvager's of the deBraak and it's treasure

sunk off Lewes in 1798. A Navy mine sweeper came along side them Monday and ordered them

off the site with orders from Fort Miles. The salvagers were told they were interfering with

defense installations in the Capes area.

Archie Brittingham of Lees, one of the salvage crew, said the Navy action came just as they

were preparing to send down a diver to investigate a wreck they had located two miles out in the

Delaware Breakwater.

The diver preparing to go down over the site was Harry Morgan, known for the salvage of

the USS Benevolence, a Navy hospital ship , sunk in San Frencisco Bay several years ago..Morgan

has said he was on board the deBraak several years age but salvage was not completed then.

There are seven men owners of the salvage operation. They are Archie Brittingham,

W. Harold Brittingham, Capt Charles Johnson, Henry Buckalou, and Randy McCracken all of

Lewes, J.. Rodney King of Georgetown and Harry Morgan of Florida.

Source: Salisbury Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland October 3, 1952.

Abstract December 21, 2017 by Harrison H.  

PATRICIA WYATT OF LEWES.

PATRICIA WYATT

LEWES

Little Patricia Wyatt, a Lewes school third grader is having the time of her life being the

heroine of all her classmates. They envy her because she doesn't have to go to school each day and

can keep up with schooling right at home. The eight year old is confined to her bed with rheumatic

fever and faces perhaps two years of inactivity but goes to school each day by “School to Home

Intercommunications” a Bell Telephone system.

Patricia is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Edward Wyatt of 117 Second Street, Lewes .

Last October a sudden illness, diagnosed at Beebe Hospital as rheumatic fever caused her to need

a long rest period. She was allowed to return home, since her mother was a trained nurse, for her

long convalescence. Her father, a Lewes town commissioner, owns the Wyatt Taxi Service here.

Patricia can sit up in bed and hear everything going on in the classroom at school by flipping

the 'on' button of the telephone gadget beside her bed. When ever the class teacher ask her a question

she can 'answer' so everyone in class can hear her as she presses the “talk key”. Miss Irene Ford,

is the teacher this year.

When school time rolls around, Patricia flips the on switch and the teacher flips the on

switch at school.

The telephone unit was installed in cooperation of Dr. John S. Carlton, director of

State Child Development and Guidance Division.

Source: Salisbury Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland, February 2, 1953. Abstract by Harrison

Howeth, December 2017.  

HMS LEWES COMPASS TO HENLOPEN POST 5

HMS LEWES COMPASS

HENLOPEN POST 5

Rehoboth Beach Henlopen Post 5 American Legion acquired a valuable

relic Monday night February 2, 1953.

The ships compass of the HMS Lewes of the British Navy was presented to the

post by an attache of Vice Admiral L. E. Porter of the British Joint Services

Commission of Washington.

The compass had been on the navigators bridge of the HMS Lewes which was one

of the fifty lend-lease destroyers sent to Great Britain in WWII.

HMS Lewes was named for the historical Delaware town of Lewes. .

The compass, as presented, was mounted on a stand that bears a citation that it was

presented by the British Navy to Henlopen Post.

Post 5 Adjutant William S. Bean, Jr., who has served on several WWI lend-lease

destroyers had received word from Vice Admiral Porter that his attache Commander

50. W. Barlow will make the presentation to the local American Legion at 8 PM.

The HMS Lewes had a notable record during WWII and when sold for scrap the

compass and other relics were saved to present to the local namesake community in

the United States.

In 1950 the late Benjamin Albertson of Lewes, a former post 5 commander,

had made arrangements for receiving the compass for his post, however, Albertson

died April 1951 and the presentation ceremony was delayed until now when it was

received by Post 5 Commander Archie Daniels.

Other relics of the HM Lewes were presented to the town of Lewes in 1950,

which included the Ship Seal, log, and a volume of the history of the destroyer that

are now in the Zwannedael Museum.

Abstract of Monday, February 2, 1953, Salisbury Daily Times newspaper item of

 Salisbury, Maryland, by Harrison Howeth., December 2017.

METHODIST ROOTS OF DELAWARE IN LEWES.

METHODIST ROOTS ARE DEEP IN LEWES

GROOME CHURCH

1968

There is no place in Delaware where Methodist roots go deeper than in Lewes.

Reverend George Whitefield came ashore at Lewes Capes in 1739 from a wrecked ship and is said to be the first to preach a Methodist sermon at Lewes from the porch of a Kings Highway house that in 1968 was still standing although it has no marker. So, Lewes, claims the first

Methodist society as the result of Whitefield's appearance.

Whitefield was a English Anglican cleric and was one of the founders of Methodism and the

evangelical movement. He was born December 27, 1714, at The Bell Inn, Southgate Street,

Gloucester, England, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Edwards Whitefield who were the

inn keepers there in Gloucester. He was educated at the Pembroke college and the Oxford

University. After his arrival in North America, he preached revivals that became known as

'The Great Awakening”. He died in 1770, age 55, in Newburyport on the shores of the

Massachusetts Bay.

At Lewes, both Bethel and Groome churches trace back to Whitefield. Together, they are a

single charge of the Peninsula Methodist Conference and are assigned one minister. Bethel

has about 540 members and Groome has about 75.

Bethel, has a big city church atmosphere, a large stone building, church school and fellowship

hall. Groome, a small frame building, with steeple or 'bell tower', at Savannah Road and

Dewey Avenue, has the country church atmosphere.

Now, remember Ebenezer Church. In 1790, Francis Asbury noted in a journal of his on

October 30, “ we have a chapel at Lewistown”. That was Ebenezer, the predeceser of Bethel

and Groome. Records show that Ebenezer was built on the N.W. Side of South Street in

Lewistown, near the S.W.end thereof wherethe main branch of Canary Creek crosses South

Street. An old cemetery remains at this location today. Ebenezer was relocated south and west

of Lewes on a country road, now Cedar Grove Road. The first Ebenezer built in 1788 burned .

The first Bethel Church sat at Third and Market, built about 1790 and was abandoned when

a larger structure was built at Mulberry and Church Streets and remained in service until 1911

when the present Bethel, with it's Gotic tower, was ready. The Mulberry Street building was

sold to the Graves family for use as a garment factory and is today an apartment building.

Groome Church took it's name from the donor of the lot the church now sits upon,

Mts Ann E. Groome. The frame building dates back to 1907

Behel Church shares fellowship with the community, allowing a skateing rink at the fellowship

hall three nights a week. It is also home to a 60 member Boy Scout Troop and a 40 member Girl Scout Troop.

 Source: Wilmington News Journal, 5 October 1968: Eileen C. Spraker Article.

POPLAR ISLAND OF THE CHESAPEAKE

POPLAR ISLAND 1877

There were only four property owners of property on Poplar Islands in 1877 through the

1880's. They were Captain Howeth, H. N. Sherwood, Captain D. Jones and the

Carroll estate on Cobblers Nexk. Until the 1920's fifteen families made their home there.

Valliant's Store with the post office was located on the smallest island. The larger island

had the school house which also served as the church, a saw mill, graveyard, a road to

at least a half dozen farms. Coaches Island, a separate island, also had several families.

The poplar Island farmers grew tomatoes, tobacco, watermelon, cantaloupe, corn and wheat.

The wheat was threshed with a steam engine powered thresher which now is said to lie about

one eighth mile off shore under water. They used oxen and horses to do the pulling of other

equipment. The people rode horses or walked as there were no carriages. Neither did they

have electricity.

Former Poplar resident Ida Richardson, now living in Tilghman, at age 87 says the church was always almost full but no preacher lived on the island. In the same building she

remembered going to school to Joseph Valiant,”a right good teacher” last ever on the

island..

Sail canoes were the main vessel to each the mainland and oyster's were a good harvest from

the “Poplar Pot”, the natural harbor of the islands chain. Fish, especially rock fish were

plentiful.

Nannie Howeth,87 years old, also former resident, also lived in Tilghman, around the corner

from Ida Nannie was widow of Harvey Howeth, died at age 88. They married 7 June 1916,

lived on Poplar for four years until the brothers, Jim an Charles, sold the farms. This is the

farm the burial plot was on “ever to remain undisturbed according the deed, not accounting

for the effect of the Chesapeake.

Poplar Island was left to the moonshiners. In 1929 Federal Revenuers raided it, arrested

five, seized their yacht, and smashed the thousand gallon still.

Source: Eugene Meyer's “Maryland, Lost & Found”. 1986. Abstract December 13, 2017

by HARRISON HOWETH.   

BENJAMIN RUSH MILAM TEXAS ARMY

TEXAS 1835

TEXAN ARMY CAPTURES SAN ANTONIO

December 9, 1835 the newly created Texan Army, under the leadership of Benjamin Rush

Milam, takes possession of the city of San Antonio in the war for independence from

Mexico.

Benjamin Rush Milam was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, 1788, and became a citizen soldier

of newly independent Mexico and was one of many American's who immigrated to the

Mexican State of Mexico. These immigrants found that the Mexican Government both welcomed and feared a growing number of Americans and they were treated with

uneven fairness.

In 1835 Santa Ana had overthrown the Mexican Republic and established himself the

Mexican dictator, Milam, renounced his Mexican citizenship and joined the rag-tag

army of the new formed Republic of Texas.

After the Texas Army had captured Goliad, Milam was sent into the southwest on a mission

of reconnaissance and was part of the planned attack of San Antonio only to learn that the generals had postponed the attack for the winter. Knowing that Santa Ana's troops were

already on their way to Texas to suppress the rebellion, Milam knew such a hesitation

would end the revolution, he made a impassioned 'call' for volunteers to follow “Ole Ben

Milam into San Antonio”.

Three hundred men did volunteer and made attack on San Antioio at dawn, December 5^th

and by the 7^th the Mexican 's defending force were badly beaten and surrendered the city.

Benjamin Rush Milam was not there to witness the results of his leadership. He was killed

instantly by a snipers bullet on December 7^th. If Milam had survived he might have well

been among the doomed defenders of the Alamo, wiped out by Santa Ana's troops in March.

Source: A&E Networks, History This Day 9 December 2017.

Abstract December 9, 2017 Harrison H.   

BICYCLE TIRES

A BICYCLE AND IT'S TIRES

Out trust, rusty, bicycle, which we have not used for a long while, there it is in the shed house,

yes, with two flat tires. Why?

The valve stem. No 'air stops' are are impervious when there is pressure difference outside of

the inside.

Inner tubes are very porous for bikes, cheaper, nonbutyl, rubber, tubes tend to leak.

Besides this, there is little air in the bicycle tire, maybe a pint at 60 psi, where auto tires

have 5 pounds at 35 psi..

Bike tires require twice the psi and the cold temperature brings out Boyle's Law, which

postulates that for a body of air at a constant temperature, the volume is inversely

proportional to the pressure.

A bicycle wheel has more structural hazards. The spokes, thirty six of them, all are pinholes.

A flat bicycle tire gets far more attention that a auto tire, you know, like just when you want

to use the bike.

The bicycle industry has tried other materials, like plastic, which is less porous, but gives a

stiff, shock laden ride.

Porous rubber bicycle tires are likely to be with us for a long, long time. Grin and bare it.

 Source: David Feldman's Mysteries of Everyday Life, 1987. Abstract: Harrison H, December 7, 2017.