FENWICK ISLAND 1962 SRORM FLOODED

HISTORY CAPE HEMLOPEN AND BEYOND

1962 FENWICK ISAND FLOODED

Another history lesson of the 1962 Northeaster damages and such to the

Atlantic Coast of Delaware, which involved Fenwick Island and it's lighthouse.

In the 1850's Fenwick was probably not an island, the two inlets being silted

shut creating an long sandy strip of dunes that had a connection to the mainland at

Brethany. One of the old inlets was in the town of Fenwick, near Lewes Street, the other

one to the south was well down the dune's toward Ocean City. In March 1962 Fenwick

Island became an Island again.

1859 the United States Lighthouse Board decided to build a lighthouse on the Maryland – Delaware State line. The highest spot in town is where the lighthouse stands, just

a slightly higher, than surrounding terrain. At that time the lighthouse and keepers house

were the only permanent structures on the beach.

Soon after the lighthouse being built and in operation, vacationing at the beach

became popular and a 'assortment' of cottages were set in the shadow of the light, and

short walk to the surf. Fenwick was visited by damaging storms in 1933 and 1944, but the

island of dunes was still around. Now, after the 1952 Bay Bridge and deluge of beach

goers, it's still there.

The storm in March 1962 broke through the dune's and Fenwick's beach cottages were flooded. The road out was well covered with ocean waves and sand.

But, there she stands, stood and will stand awhile, was the Fenwick Island Lighthouse,

high and dry .

Abstract: Wednesday, April 17, 2019, Rehoboth Delaware Coast Press, Michael Morgan's Delaware Diary and other sources.