PAYNTER HOUSE STUDIO REHOBOTH ART LEAGUE

PAYNTER HOUSE STUDIO

REHOBOTH ART LEAGUE

Wilmington Morning News, Friday, February 11, 1938;

Restoration of the century and half old studio building, known as the Paynter

House, which has been moved five miles by water, to a site in the pines of Henlopen Acres,

overlooking the Lewes – Rehoboth Canal yacht basin, is progressing as rapidly as funds

become available.

Among the friends of the art league who are contributing both work and materials

are, Jack Lewis, a CCC artist, Ralph Rust, T. D. Dick, Jack Smock, Tom Calhoun, and

Willard Russell.

The building roof is being re shingled and interior improvements will soon begin.

Wilmington Morning News, Monday, February 28, 1938:

Chairmen of RAL committees will hear of the progress of activities toward the

restoration of the ancient Paynter House to be an art center for summer classes. Many

Rehoboth and Lewes residents have offered services in the restoration, including Irvin

Maull, H. W. Megee, Frank Tylecki, Fred Vogal , and Byrd Smith. Material has been

donated by Bill Tappen, Mr. Tylecki and George Shockley. Hand hewn timbers were bought

from John Webb which came from an old house of dutch construction in 1708 off Rehoboth

Bay .

Wilmington Morning News, Friday, April 15, 1938:

The Paynter House studio building at the RAL is regaining the dignified

appearance of its once habitable state some 150 years ago. The neglected and deserted

Paynter House, was moved to Henlopen Acres, and is being transformed into a studio

by new memberships and gifts of labor and material of 'friends'. A new roof is finished,

the shingles dipped in lamp black for color and oil as a preservative, was done by John

Tyndal. Johns wife, former Miss Dora Frazier, lived in this house as a young child. The

fireplaces have been rebuilt to their original dimensions, and with ''cranes' for the wide

hearth. Bruce Tappan and William Melson, Rehoboth masons contributed the labor .

Palmer & Thackery donated work on the chimneys, Frank Tylecki contributed old stones

from the Cape Henlopen light house for the hearths. The holding cranes in the hearth were

furnished by Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Joseph and Wilbur Corkran. The hand split shingled

walls are being mended. Hand wrought antique hinges, colonial window sash, battened

doors, will be mounted in the gaping openings of the old house, so long bereft of such

features, are furnished by Mrs. Sarah Adams of Georgetown, from the collection of her late

son, Congressman Wilbur Adams, in his memory. 150 firebricks was a gift from Sofarrelli

Brother who built the new Rehoboth Post Office. Labor contributions from Ralph Poynter,

Irving Maull, Sam Burton, Clarenc Ewing, Jack Lewis, artist, Rufus Roach, John Dodd,

blacksmith, relics from Orville Peets, artist and Clifton Webb. A maple wood table was given

by Mrs O.G. Lilly, a Bennngton pitcher, by Mrs. Cowgill, and a antique lamp by Matilda

McCoy.

Wilmington Morning News, Tuesday, June 21, 1938:

It is fitting the new Rehoboth Art League should select the historic Paynter House,

which is 150 years old, for it's domicile. Having been restored, it has lent itself in its new

location to the requirements of the art league.

Wilmington Morning News, 6 august, 1938 :

Paynter house at Rehoboth Art League will be open tomorrow afternoon.

Wilmington Morning News, 5 September 1938;

Activities held at Paynter House of Rehoboth Art League.

Wilmington News Journal, Thursday, September 8, 1938 :

The “door of Fame” at the Paynter house studio of the Rehoboth Ar t Leaque is

being filled rapidly with signatures and “marks” of many famous artist , musicians and

writers who have visited the resort the past summer. The 'door' itself, is an antiquity from

one of the oldest Sussex county houses recently demolished at Dewey Beach.

Wilmington News Journal, Monday, October 3, 1938 :

Housewarmings at the Paynter House studio at Rehoboth Beach came to a close for

this season yesterday afternoon. Hostesses for the final affair were Rehoboth members

with Mrs Verna Rodney Dodd as chairman. While the affairs are discontinued until next

season, the studio may be visited by members on any occasion upon application for the door

key at the Homestead.