VIRGINIA TANZER'S REHOBOTH

THE FIRST TWO THOUSAND YEARS OF REHOBOTH BEACH

BY VIRGINIA TANZER

Twenty centuries the beach at what is now Rehoboth Beach, has

drawn visitors according to age test on archaeological findings. Even

the early native Indian tribes found a combination hard to beat, a salty

ocean, sandy beaches and tall trees, mostly fragrant pines.

Algonquin tribes were regular warm weather visitors which

enjoyed the cool salty breezy ocean air and the sea foods for feasting.

There is a possibility that at tribe made the beach area a permanent

settlement, staying in the cooler weather for duck and geese and for sure

the winter fishing.

No Indian name has survived. In the 1600's early European settler

arriving named the inland bay to the south of the capes, Rehoboth,

which has a biblical meaning, “ room enough “ . There is recent

evidence that before the 1630 Dutch settlement , like in 1550 European

sailors would 'jump ship' laying off the coast and make residence on land.

In any event, the European settlers, either farmers, fur traders, fishermen,

began to act as thought the land was theirs and that drove the natives out.

Sort of like today's visitors, thinking the pleasures of the resort are

theirs and theirs alone. Like a Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde transformation.

OK, back to early Rehoboth. The settlers bent their backs to farm

plows, fur traps, and land development was a far cry away. It was

after the Civil War that development came to mind. The Methodist are to

blame since in 1872 they opened a Camp Meeting site and 400 acres fell

into the hands of 'developers'. The 400 acres became 100's of lots with

tents, a 500 seat tabernacle in town center, then two story cottages.

1875, the Methodist “Thou Shalt Not's” came to be “ Thou Shalt' “.

Hotels, alcohol, dancing and the like, even ocean swimming, came to be

the summers attraction, but yet in the 1970's, Rehoboth Beach has the

recognition of a family town.

Mosquito's deterred an early 1930's development and transportation

made it difficult to get to and away from . The railroad's smokey cinders

ride was the way to come and go.

Outside the vacationers , old time residents and new 'come here's '

have a loyalty and interest to the relaxed life style .

Virginia Tanzer in closing says Rehoboth at it's height of summer

influx still has charm. A town of comfortable pleasant home's, flower

gardens, people of broad scope of interest and activities, that charm of

trees, beach sand and salty ocean breezes.

Abstract : Virginia Tanzer's “Seagulls Hate Parsnips” and other

Electrifying Revelations About the Delaware Shore.