ROSEDALE BEACH RESORT
FACTS
Robert G. Drain, Sr., in
the Delaware Wave of Bethany Beach , June 21. 2016, wrote
that in 1930, David and
Rosetta Street, aka Dale and Rose, purchased from Noah and
Eunice Harmon the property
known as “Noah's Park”, aka “Harrmons Park” which they
had inherited from Issac
and Sarah Harmons, prominent farmers, lumber mill owners, and
crabbers who owned it from
1830 to 1900.
Thus the name Rosedale
came about.
Noah's Park had a hotel,
fishing pier, bathing beach, picnic tables, concession stand, a
baseball diamond and
church. The first hotel had been a community hall which Noah
moved to the property and
made additions. The park was primarily a community resource
for local whites and
Nanticoke Indians to gather on weekends.
In 1937 Jesse W. Vause
bught the land, tore down the five room hotel and built a resort
that included the Rosedale
Hotel, a dance hall and boardwalk on the river.
Rosedale became a
destination on the “Chitlin Circuit” which featured black
entertainers
with big bands. In the
1960's civil rights kicked in and Rosedale began to decline and
was sold sometime in the 1960's.
The Wilmington Morning
News, Sunday June 8, 1980 in an article by Molly Murray
reports, “nothing much
happens at sleepy Rosedale these day's”.. some hot rod racing,
kids drinking beer and a
state boat ramp, thats about it.
Yet, just beyond the
sign directing one to the boat ramp, is a place full of
memories,
Roasedale Beach, once a
summer resort for wealthy blacks.
Delaward State
Representative Charles West of Gumboro wants the state to buy the
property,
- acres with a hotel and cottages, on which they hold an easement for the boat ramp.
The owners are Donna
Burton of Millsboro and Harry Morgan of Cheswold, have found
it difficult to sell due to
a suit in Chancery Court relating to the easement. Morgan and Harry
Burton bought the hotel at
sheriff sale.
Memories are twenty years
ago people came from New York, Philadelphia and Washington to
boat and crab, listen to
big band music, dance to the 'blues'. There was the bar and club,
“Young Mans Republican Club” an elite club open only to black
men registered as Republicans.
Abstract July 3, 2018, by
Harrison H, www.delmarhistory.blogspot.com
& facebook
It amazes me that in all I read about Rosedale Beach, my Uncle, Harry C Burton, Sr., is not mentioned. You could not go to Rosedale in its heyday without being greeted by Uncle Harry C. My memories are that he was, at the very least, the manager and may have been co-owner with the Vauses. Donelda, my Aunt Donnie was his wife and Harris was the groundskeeper for Rosedale. After Uncle Harry C’s death, Harris remained friends with Aunt Donnie and took good care of her and her home, which was my mother’s childhood, and then retirement, home That’s why they bought the property together. Harris took good care of Aunt Donnie until she entered a nursing Home Georgetown. Someone needs to contact Harry C.Jr.’s only living son who lives in Maryland
ReplyDeleteSorry, should have read more carefully before Publishing. Corrections: my mother lived next door to Aunt Donnie and Uncle Harry C., Jr.as a child and then in retirement got that same house when Thomas Burton moved to Dover. Uncle Harry C’s living son is Kenneth.
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