INDIAN RIVER WATERWAYS 1935

A CRUISE THROUGH INDIAN RIVER WATERWAYS IN 1935

We have heard a lot about the Indian River Inlet lately, trying to keep it open and

permanent , and such, but we do not hear much of the Indian River system, the bays,

creeks of which it is part. Yes, to a visitor or new resident, the Indian River country

and waterways might just be in South America. A motorist in a hurry might drive over it

at Millsboro and never know he has done so.

The river itself is well hidden even though there is a large metal sign at the Millsboro

causeway saying Indian River.

So to see the Indian River country and it's waterways will be to take a boat ride. To the

south east of the Millsboro bridge , down stream, is the swamp. Just a short way and the

so called swamp fades and a brown marsh lays on either side of our boat, and ahead

is an open marsh with the river cutting it up in curves, with the shores covered with

green loblolly pine woods. Several miles the rived bends through cat tails and the

savannahs, the river widens and the marsh broadens. Soon the river is several hundred

yards wie and no more marsh. On the banks are several small summer cottages, each with

tiny pier or wharf, sticking out into the river waters. At a farm site we see a duck pen,

allowing the farmers ducks and geese some “water privilege”. Over yonder is a pen of

'tame' Canada geese, live decoys, heads high on black necks, dignified, but never looking

domesticated .

To our left, the north, is Long Neck, and on it's shore is a settlement, Riverdale Park, home of a dark skinned people with high cheek bones, pleasant manners, descendants

of Nanticokes, who once hunted the the country over to the Chesapeake. Farmers and

fishermen they are, their own separate communities with their own special schools ,

churches and leaders. Once a year they have a powwow, dancers in native garb and

Indian music. They have as guest the Chief's of other Indian Tribes and his own people.

North of Riverdale, is the “Archard' , a beach and pier with a dance hall at its watery

end, Oak Orchard at the tip of Piney Neck . This year there are two hotels and 30 some

cottages. Here is the mouth of the river proper, emerging Pepper Creek and we are now

in the bay, waves a foot high with ripples , a bay a mile or two wide, from 2 feet to 9 feet

deep, blue and sparkling , a matchless beauty. Leaving Long Neck, six miles up , it's

the low lying Burton's Island, hence, the coastal barrier and the Atlantic Ocean.

Next we find Sandy Landing and Pots Nets. On the south shore at Peppers Creek is

Sandy Landing , this is where the Wilmington Y.W.C.A. has it' s Camp Otonka .

On Long Neck shore at Lingo's Creek is Pots Nets where history says on the woody

shore originally the Indians held council and later settlers gathered for a good time.

The early families came by covered wagon drawn by mules with everything needed forr

a weeks vacation from the farm, live chickens, haul seines, crab nets, jugs of apple and

peach brandy, mosquito netting. Here sits “The White House Farm” with its brick house

built by Woolsey Burton about 1722. Here to are graves of the Burton's , and their slaves.

Eastward down the bay is Burton Island, a 1000 acres of fast land and marsh.

The Indian River Inlet is beyond and to the right, the south. Here too is the Big Ditch, what

takes the Indian River Bay into the Rehoboth Bay. 'They say a pioneer farmer dug this ditch to

act as a fence to keep his cattle from straying too far from his homestead.

Now here is Rehoboth Bay, four miles long and three and a half miles broad. To

the west is Angola Neck , a forest of pine trees. Herring Creek divides Angola and Long

Neck. Heerring Creeek is fed by Burtons Pond , where there is a post office. Two miles up

Herring Creek is Possum Neck, now Pinewater farm. Drakes Neck, right here is cut from

the mainland and Long Neck by Guinea Creek.

Now we are 'at' or near Piney and Marsh Islands, known to be great duck and goose

hunting places.

Northwest across the bay is Love Creek , flowing from Goslee's Mill Pond, into

Rehoboth Bay. Love Creek separates Indian River Hundred and Rehoboth - Lewes Hundred.

Sailing on , the north shore of Rehoboth Bay become clearer, there is Whiteoak Point

and the mouth of Whiteoak Creek. East of Whiteoak are the rock jetties and lights at the

entrance of the Lewes & Rehoboth Canal. To our right, be it south or east , is Dewey Beach

sprawled out and beyond is the Rehoboth standpipe.

A mile or so of the canal, vines and small trees on either side, under the bridges, we dock at

the Henlopen Acres yacht basin. We have been some twenty miles through Indian River

Country.

Abstract: Monday, 29 April, 1935, Wilmington News Journal , article of Anthony

Higgins, by Harrison H. on August 29, 2018 for Facebook &

www.delmarhistory.blogspot.com