Sunday, December 31, 2017

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  

Friday, December 29, 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.  

Thursday, December 28, 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.



Wednesday, December 27, 2017

LEWES OLDTIMERS DR W. P. ORR, JR.


LEWES OLDTIMERS

DR. WILLIAM PAYNTER ORR, JR.

Thursday evening, June 21st, 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 21st 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 96th 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.  

Monday, December 25, 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

Thursday, December 21, 2017

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.  

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

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
    1. 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.

Saturday, December 16, 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.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

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.   

Saturday, December 9, 2017

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 5th
and by the 7th 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 7th. 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.   

Thursday, December 7, 2017

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.