ON THE ROAD TO FENWICK ISLAND

HISTORY OF CAPE HENLOPEN AND BEYOND

ON THE ROAD TO FENWICK ISLAND FROM REHOBOTH

February 9, 1915: Wilmington Evening Journal :

A hundred year ago is was difficult to travel between these two beach towns, a sandy

road of wild sand dunes from Dewey Beach southward to Fenwick Island, an inlet at

Indian River Inlet with no bridge, and a new town under construction , Bethany Beach.

By horse or foot it was difficult to traverse the round about way and autos needed to use

the highways on the western side of the inland bays, through Millsboro.

In 1915, The Delaware Public Lands Commission, issued a report to urge the building of a

coastal road between Rehoboth and Fenwick, across the wicked dunes that “will return a

thousand fold to the state for every dollar spent”. Yes, they knew of the many obstacles

that lay in the way for an early 20^th century road, sandy, unpaved, rutted and impassable

in wet weather. Plus, until 1911 there were no roads to feed western or northern traffic to

the coastal highways. That came about when T. Coleman du Pont built his own hard surface

road north to south in mid state. Still this event did not directly benefit at coastal road

from Rehoboth to Fenwick. Farm produce, at that time '”marsh hay grass' was the only

money maker with a small bit of cattle grazing.

Oceanside vacation homes did catch a few eyes of the more wealthy property owners and

the Indian River Inlet needed to be covered. The commission knew they were late with these

decisions but WW I delays, squabbling politics and economic difficulties stood in the path.

It was 1939 before a hard surface road appeared with a bridge over the inlet, but, it did,

“return a thousand fold of every dollar spent”.

Abstract: 9 February, 1915, Wilmington Evening News, and Michael Morgan's Delaware

Diary, Delaware Coast Press, 2019.

MELENIA TRUMP

RECOGNITION TO MELANIA TRUMP

God Bless BRAD DOWNEY and her SLOVENIAN hometown

for the commissioned statue of Melenia to be built.

Let us hear the status and location of this monument from time to time.

1876 JULY 4TH AT LEWES

HISTORY OF LEWES DELAWARE

LEWES 4TH JULY CELEBRATION. 6 JULY 1876.

The Wilmington Daily Commercial , 6 July 1886, commented, the 4 July 1876

celebration deserves more than than a passing notice. Most notable was the parade

of the Continental Guards organized two weeks before by Captain S. S. Bookhammer

with Continental Uniforms, cocked hats, knee britches, buckles of brass, and all.

In 1786, 100 years before before, the celebration of the signing of the Declaration of

Independence, was a bit more subdued.

After several battles won by the British, British Captain Andrew Snape Hamond ,

has the HMS Roebuck at the Delaware River , somewhat in charge of British shipping and

the control of a 'group' of Tory's proclaim Loyalty to the King Of England and had

reported to his commanding officer, “ I have the pleasure to inform you that the

inhabitants of the Lower Two Counties on the Delaware have had 3000 arms taken

up and declare themselves in favor of the British government”.

Hamon was correct about this support to the British in Kent and Sussex on the Delaware, but failed to note the Lewes residents were strongly in support of the American Independence and the Patriots of Lewes organized and led by Henry Fisher, William

Peery, in resistance to the British. The American Patroit group was able to carry on the dominance of the Delaware Bay and River and lower Sussex by actions in the shipping with much needed war supplies to Philadelphia and the British Forces.

On the day the signing of the Declaration, Lewes was under siege. W illiam Adair announced in his 1776 Journal, “Independence Proclaimed, by the head of “ye Delaware Battalion , July 10, with 3 Cheers”. The days later, July 20, Independence of Lewes was

declared by three 'toast' of the their three cannon.

The 100^th anniversary, 1876, Lewes made the celebration the “Greatest Ever” and

2000 people attended. The Wilmington Daily Commercial reported after political speeches

100 guns of the Guards were fired and a parade was made with a draft of four horses

which filled the streets and all moved to the beach at dusk to see fireworks of shooting

stars and combinations of brilliant effect.

Abstract: Wilmington Daily Commercial, July 6, 1867, a column of Delaware Diary,

by Michael Morgan, Delaware Coast Press on July 3, 2019 .

JOHNNY CARSON REPLACES JACK PAAR

THE MORNING SHOW TV HISTORY

JOHNNY CARSON TO REPLACE JACK PAAR

Monday, December 13, 1954 : Baltimore Evening Sun, Baltimore , Maryland.

Johnny Carson, a young Hollywood comedian, will take over for Jack Paar, as host

of the “Morning Show”, January 3, while Paar is on vacatoion in Cuba.

Carson, who won critics acclaim last season when he took over the Red Skel ton

Show on a four hour notice when Skelton fell ill. Johnny Carson first won an audience

in Corning , Iowa while in high school as an magician and ventriloquist.

During WW II as a Navy Ensign , served on the USS Pennsylvania, as an

Entertainer, was discharged in 1949 , and became a television announcer in Omaha.

While there he married Jody Wolcott and headed toward Hollywood. Last summer he was

emcee for the quiz show “Earn Your Vacation”

Corning is the County Seat of Adams County Seat Iowa , sits at the intersection of

Highway U. S. 34 and Iowa 148 southwest of Omaha . Carson is also the 1877 birthplace

of Daniel Webster Turner, Governor of Iowa 1931 to 1933. It was a settlement of French

Icarians on the Icaria Lake.

Home of the “Johnny Carson Birthplace Society”, and the annual celebration of

“Le Festival De L'Heritage Francais”.

Abstract: Baltimore Evening Sun, Monday, 13 December, 1954 and Wikipedia.

JUNCTION & BEAKWATER RAILROAD ENGINE HOUSE,

RAILROAD HISTORY

JUNCTION & BREAKWATER LEWES ENGINE HOUSE.

Monday, 21 August, 1882 : Wilmington, Delaware Daily Gazette :

A new engne house for the Junction amd Brealwater Railroad has been opened at Queen

Ann's Street and Pilot Town Road, Lewes.

The Railroad is now building it's own box cars with several already in use.at this time.

It is the intrntion to erect a large machine shop along the line somwhere yet not decided

upon.

Abstract: Daily Gazette, Wilmington, Delaware,, 21 August, 1882.

REHOBOTH BEACH HISTORY OF MOSQUOTOES

REHOBORTH BEACH HISTORY 1882 THRU 1897

WHEN MOSQUOTOES PLAYED, FRISKED AND FROLOICKED

Rehoboth Sunday Star, Daily Gazette , August 20, 1882:

Since our last news a week ago the trials and trouble has been mosquitoes, taking

the breeze from mother ocean in piece. The sound of the hum of the peasky insect

early every morning, throughout the day, the stinginging of it's bites, was the last note

which lulled a weary one to rest.

Hundered of guests left on this account . “Smothers” , beach bond fires and netting

were common everywhere. “Hope” kept many here and that hope came yesterday mornning

troughout the day when a ocean breeze came and the mosquitoes left.

Abstract:: Wilmington Daily Gazette, Monday, August 21, 1982:

1918 GERMAN U-BOATS RAID ATLANTIC COAST. MAY TO JUNE.

HISTORY OF CAPE HENLOPEN AND BEYOND

GERMAN U-BOATS RAID ATLANTIC COAST

MAY THROUGH JUNE 1918

Tuesday, 4 June, 1918: Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Northwestern, United Press Summery.

Ships sunk by German U-Boats last coastal raid;

WINNECONNE, a 1869 ton

steam freighter owned by American Trans-Atlantic- Company of New York with

crew of 28, off Cape May 26 May; The HERBERT L PRATT, 6000 ton, steamer tanker,

Atlantic Refinery , 38 crew members, Tampico to Philadelphia, by torpedo yesterday,

5 miles south of Overfalls off Cape Henlopen, lost one crew member; TEXEL, 3210

ton, owned by a Dutch Company, flying flag of The United States, with crew of 38, from

West Indies to an American Port with a $2,000,000 cargo of sugar, Sunday, off New York

Harbor, crew landed Atlantic City early today; a 1791 ton schooner, EDWARD H. COLE,

owned by Crowell & Thurlow Boston, with crew of 11, from Norfolk to Portland, ME.,

50 miles off Barnegat, Sunday afternoon, crew landed at New York yesterday ; the

JACOB M. HASKEL, 1778 ton schooner, of Crowell & Thurlow, Boston, crew of 10,

Boston to Norfolk, fifty miles off Barnegat, Sunday afternoon by shell fire; ISABEL

B. WILLEY, 611 ton schooner, of Atlas Company, crew of 8, Perth Amboy, to

Newport News, 26 May, between Cape Henlopen and Cape Charles; HATTIE W. DUNN,

365 ton schooner, Dunn & Elliott, Thomaston, ME., crew of 6, Cape Henlopen and

Cape Charles, 25 May;

EDNA, 325 ton schooner, C. A. Small, Machlas, ME., Philadelphia to Havanah, sunk off of Winterquarter Lightship, between Cape Henlopen and Cape Charles, 25 May;

HAUPPAUGE, 1339 ton, schooner, with crew of 10, no records. Ships lost, believed to have been sunk;

CAROLINA, 5093 ton, passenger and freight steamer, of New York and Porto Rica Steamship Company, 220 passengers and crew of 120, Porto Rica to New York, sent wireless she was being shelled 150 miles of f Sandy Hook at 7 pm Sunday.

No details for SAMUEL W. HATHAWAY , 1038 ton

schooner, of Crowwell & Thurlow, Boston, with a crew of nine.

Abstract: Oshkosh Northwestern, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Tuesday, 4 June, 1918 : TO:

HISTORY OF CAPE HENLOPEN AND BEYOND AT CAPE GAZETTE.

WRECK OF THE SCHOONER SARAH B. LAWRENCE

HISTORY OF SEAWRECKS

SARAH B LAWRENCE

Delaware Breakwater, Delaware 10 February 1910 :

A 60 mph terrific gale wind has the four masted schooner Sarah B. Lawrence, out of Newport News, for Boston, with a cargo of coal, aground on the Hen and Chicken Shoal

of Cape Henlopen and is being pounded to pieces by the wild surf.

The crew of nine men and the captains wife were taken from her just as she broke in

half by Cape Henlopen Life Savers and landed at Lewes.

The government wireless system was put in action and calls were made from Sandy

Hook to Norfolk for cutter assistance. The Cape Henlopen Life Savers needed the help of a Breakwater tug to get their launch to the schooner for the rescue which was sinking as they

reached the her. The crew and lady were huddled on the fore house of the sunken vessel.

Ropes and life preservers were brought into use. The rescue took several hours to effect

and the survivors were made comfortable it the tug then landed at Lewes.

Abstract: Washington. D.C. Evening Star, Wednesday, 10 February, 1909.

HERBRT L PRATT, OIL TANKER SUNK BY GERMAN U-BOAT 1918

HISTORY OF SHIPWRECKS

AMERICAN TANKER STEAMER HERBERT L. PRATT

MEXICO TO PHILADLEPHIA WITH OIL.

Abstract: Tuesday, 4 June 1918, Washington D. C. Evening Star

Philadelphia, PA., June 4, 1918:

The American Tanker Steamer Herbert L. Pratt, Mexico for Philadelphia with a cargo

of oil was sunk by a German U-boat, off Cape Henlopen and lays in the mouth of Delaware Bay. The British tanker Arco was also fired upon by the sub, but being light,

made her escape and was past Reedy Island last night by 10 pm.

Within 20 minutes of the Pratt sinking U.S. Naval vessels gave chase to the sub a short

time later fores upon an undersea object but thee is no report of the outcome of the occurrence.

The Pratt crew was landed at Cape Henlopen' s Fourth Naval Station and cared for that night.

The Pratt is four miles south by southeast of the Cape Henlopen Light House, her stern can be seen out of the water and she appears she can be raised .

1913 NEW LEWES FIRE ENGINE

HISTORY OF LEWES FIRE COMPANY

THE NEW 1913 AMERICAN LAFRANCE FIRE ENGINE IS PURCHASED.

At the garage of William Walsh on this December evening much excitement was noticed as a new American LaFrance Fire Engine was delivered. The gasoline driven fire

engine had been purchased by the Lewes Fire Department for $4750.00 from a company in

Elmira, New York . The 1913 Wilmington Evening News made note that the vehicle was

of the newest design and will reach the speed of 40 mph. It carried 7 men, had at least a 1000

feet of water hose, two 40 gallon chemical cylinders, two 3 gallon extinguisher, a twenty

foot extension ladder,

Big excitement was had when being unloaded when it caught fire which was extinguished quickly.

The new fire wagon was driven about the area to be shown off and let residents know the Lewes Fire Department was ready to fight fires.

In 1886 Ebe Lynch organized and was chief of the Lewes Fire company, housed at

the corner of Third and Chestnut Streets, then the Town Hall. They had 100 feet of water hose,

a set of ladders and a horse drawn chemical wagon with gleaming copper chemical tanks

The 30 gallon tank was filled with water and sodium bicarbonate so that when a small tank

of sulfuric acid was added it produced carbon dioxide to send the water to the fire.

Abstract: Delaware Diary by Michael Morgan in Delaware Beaches Delaware Coast Press, Wednesday 12 June 2019.

STEAMER AMERICA WRECKED OFF SPAIN COAST.

HISTORY OF SHIPWRECKS

NEW & OLD

THE STEAMER AMERICA WRECKED

Castellon, Spain, 10 February 1909 :

The Steamer America has been wrecked off the coast of Castellon Province,

sixty of her crew and passengers were saved.

The Steamer America was well known in Brooklyn until 1904 when she made her last voyage to Brooklyn from Marseilles as one of the Fabre Line Steamers. On this

voyage she had over 1000 Italian immigrant’s aboard, broke down and drifted a fornight

then pocked up and towed by the Italian Freight Steamer Dinnemora to the Bermudas,

hence, from the Bermudas to Brooklyn with the Italian immigrants by Luckenback Tugs.

In 1881 she was launched as the Britannia by the Royland shipbuilding yards at Liverpool. She was an iron, single screw , schooner rigged vessel, with three decks and lots of steerage with a small number of passenger cabins. 328 feet long, 40 foot wide, depth of hold of 23.4 feet . Her owner was Compagnie Francaise de Navagigation a Vapeurs and she ran the Marseilles to Brooklyn service of the Ferbe Line with a sister ship, Neustria, presumed lost at sea since she left Brooklyn last October and has not been heard of.

Since being retired by the Brooklyn run, America has traded with Spanish and

Portuguese ports with limited passengers and freight service.

Abstracts: Wednesday, 10 February, 1909, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York.

1935 FIRST FISHNG REEF

ARTIFICIAL FISHING REEF 1ST BUILT 1935

Friday 4 February, 1966, Charles H. Vaughan, reading from the booklet, “Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines” makes the claim that the first artificial fishing

reef was begun off the southern tip of New Jersey.

Long Island anglers lay claim their reef of 1950 was first.

Long before artificial reefs, fishermen found the most consistent catches are made

in the vicinity of old ship wrecks well situated on the bottoms.

Early spring 1935, Cape May - Wildwood Partyboat Association's president, Robert Pierpoint, already aware that South Jersey fishing is better than other northern points of

Cape Henlopen, but feels a fish preserve will create a rest and feeding place and have a

positive effect for South Jersey's fishing

The U.S. War Department granted a fishing ground, four square miles, 1935 for the

planting of old boats, autos, railroad ties, old Christmas trees , medal tanks, drums, and debris for shell fish to cling to and form vast colonies of aquatic life. The first vessel was

a 183 foot sand barge sunk in September 1935, folowed by three other wrecks.

Stormy weather and ice delayed work last fall. It takes almost three months for a

breeding ground to develop.

When complete there will be a resting and feeding ground for millions of fish and

recently a fishing preserve was started off Atlantic City. We get no information of the Long Island project.

Abstract: Friday, 4 February, 1966, Philadelphia Inquirer.

1498 CAPE HENLOPEN REFUGE FOR JOHN CABOTS MUIINOUS CREWS

HISTORY OF CAPE HENOPEN AND BEYOND.

IN 1498 CAPE HENLOPEN BECAME REFUGE OF THE MUTINOIS CREWS OF THE ENGLISHMAN EXPLOR JOHN CABOT.

Captain John Cabot returned to King Henry VII 's England early fall of 1498 and

reported he had found the western sea passage to Asia, the rich lands, of The Great Khan,

2100 miles west of Ireland. However this was unproven as Cabot had brought back no silks

nor spices. Jolly good sport, King Henry VIII . excepted the lands he did prove to have

found as Captain of the ship Mathew.

This lands turned out to be Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The crew of Mathew, 18 men

had landed 24 June 1497, which brought Captain John Cabot 10 pounds and a pension of

20 pounds a year as reward. At that time of the year the weather was warm and green but

Cabot was stead fast he had reached northeast Asia.

King Henry VIII figured Cabot had found someplace of value and the next year

outfitted two vessels with 800 men who reached Baffin Land. Inuktitut, aka, Qikigtaaluk,

Candian territory.

Cabot continued north until the cold and ice caused his men to muntiny and bring

the vessels back southward to Cape Henlopen for refuge.

Abstract: Philadelphia Inquirer, Sunday, 9 August, 1959.

MCCXXIX 1219

1219 MCCXIX YEAR.

The year 1219 was an ordinary year which began on Tuesday of the Julian

Calendar. Evidently the earth was occupied. There were the Crusaders and the Egyptian

City of Al Mensurah Egypt was founded on the Meditteranean Sea. There were Danes, and China got a windmill.

The Crusader’s or the Crusade’s become very difficult to research, so, just a few facts

about them. They were WARS of religious groups, medieval Latins, Holy Lands, Muslims.

The word Cruasdes word did not exist until 1760. It appears The Crusader's were either good or bad, depending where you were standing at the moment. Just one bunch wanting to kill and maim another group depending on the groups leaders. Wikipedia will give you 8 or more pages if you wish.

In the year 1219 the Fifth Crusaders were out and about and took control of Damietta Egypt in a siege as St Francis of Assisi introduced Catholicism to Egypt. That's the sort of thing which was going on in Africa in 1219.

In Asia, Genghis Khan called for Oiu Chuji to visit so he could advise him on immortality. The shogun reduced him to a figurehead. That's that for Asia.

In Europe, Livonia, Danish warriors of King Valdemar II took Tallinn and Danes

conquered northern Eastoia. Now get this will you, what is today's flag of Denmark, fell

from the sky during the battle. Lithuanian nobles made peace against invading Christians.

Allan Marcel at the death of Aymeric St. Maur, became Master of the Temple in England.

The Island of Burchana, East Frisian, was broken up in a north Sea flood.

Technology is introduced in China , the windmill.

There you have it, modern history in late middle ages from abstracts of Wiipedia.

of the World Wide Web device, 800 years later. I wonder what was missed by just not knowing what was going on.

DELAWARE & DELAMARVA RAILROADS

DELAWARE & DELMARVA RAILROAD

A CONTINOUS DOCUMENT THAT CAN BW VIEWED ON

www.delmarhisrory.blogspot.com

Let us start with Wikipedia information we who have computers all have on hand.

Lets us start with the Queen Ann's Railroad with the facts on hand. The railroad was formed in Maryland 1894 and received Delaware legislative authorization in 1895. This railroad ran from Love Point, Maryland to Lewes Delaware and connected to Baltimore by

ferry across the Chesapeake and Cape May, New Jersey by steamers from Lewes. In 1894 the western terminus was Queenstown Maryland. Shortly the terminus was extended 13

miles to Love Point on the Chesapeake Bay in 1902. The Cape May summer only express

began in 1901. The railroad also owned steamers Endeavor, Queen Ann and Queen Caroline

In 1905 the Queen Ann's Railroad became the Maryland, Delaware and Virginia

Railroad, MD*V, a subsidiary of Pennsylvania Railroad.

The Queen Ann's had served Centerville, Chester, Denton, Love Point, Queen Ann. Queenstown, Stevensville all in Maryland, in Delaware it had stations at Hickman, Adamsville, Blanchard, Ellendale, Georgetown, Greenwood, , Lewes Milton, Owens, Oakley, Whitesboro and Rehoboth. 1928 both the MD&V and the BC&A railroads merged

with Baltimore Eastern Railway.

Today, most of the abandoned original track lands are the Cross Island Trail a part of

the American Discovery Trail. Both Milton and Ellnendale Delaware have a historic marker

and the original stations in Stevensville and Sudlersville Maryland are museums.

1903 DELAWARE CAPES STORM DAMAGE.

GREAT DAMAGE AT DELAWARE CAPES

Thursday, 17 September 1903 The Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana :

Delaware Breakwater, Delaware, September 16, 1903 :

A storm from the south which has been coming up the Atlantic coast for several days struck the Delaware Capes at 3 am and lasted until 7 pm with winds of 80 mph and torrents of rain, took at least six lives.

The schooner Harrie A. Marsh, befell a most serious wreck in the afternoon yesterday,

and the Captain, J. B. Mehaffey and his four man crew were drowned. The New London schooner from Painters Point, Maine, for Philadelphia with a cargo of paving stone got

caught in a windstorm outside the new stone breakwater, the Captain tying to make the

harbor of refuge found he had to drop anchor and ride out the winds but the anchors did not hold and the schooner with her dead weight of stone washed on the rocks of the harbor of refuge. The steam pilot boat Philadelphia went for rescue but saved only Mate Norman Campbell and one other seaman. The exhausted rescued men were landed at the Lewes Life Saving Station and cared for.

In the harbor three schooners dragged anchor and collided, the, Emilly Northam, Adeline Townsend, and Seabird. The two mast Seabird sank with her crew rescued and

landed on Cape Henlopen at that Life Saving Station and cared for. The Northam, had her

jib boom carried away and her yawl stove. The Townsend lost her headgear and jib boom.

Barges Elmwood, Gilbertson and Kalmia, laden with coal from Philaelphia sank in Delaware

Bay westward of the Brown Shoal. Their crews were rescued by the tug Tamaquash which

had the barges in tow. The tug Spartan towing three barges, Travorton, Hammond and one unknown, sank near Bear Shoal, while at anchor. No records of the tugs crew. Three more

coal barges off Cape Henlopen sank in the ocean and crews missing.

A bark unknown t anchor off Ocean City with distress signal brought the Philadelphia

out to rescue and assist. Another Philadelphia barge, Marcus Hook, was adrift and picked up by tugs and towed to safe anchorage.

Much damage was done to the breakwater, east end light, washed away, the Reporting Station damaged and the telegraph line down all day. Lewes also felt damage, trees uprooted

and chimneys damaged.

Abstract: Thursday 17 September, 1903, Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana.

PERIERS, FRANCE AND BETHANY BEACH TWIN CITIES

BETHANY BEACH HAS TWIN IN FRANCE

PERIERS, NORMANDY IS IT.

Bethany Beach, Sussex County, Delaware and Periers, Normandy, France, officially

became twin cities early this spring of 2010. Periers has many memorials to the 90^th

U.S. Infantry Division and D-Day June 6, 1944.

A Bethany resident, Diana Cowell, played a major role in the twinning of the two towns

has visited Periers with her father, a Normandy Landing veteran of WW II , if fact in 2006

her family visited to spread ashes of her deceased father there. In a 2008 visit she met the

towns mayor, Gabriel Daube , who expressed a desire to have a twin city in America and

Bethany Beach became the subject and Daube sent a formal request with her encouragement.

The Cultural and Historic Affairs Committee of Bethany Beach spearheaded the partnership.

The vice mayor and committees chairman, Carol Olmstead, said the town was very receptive

to the unity.

On D-Day every year American and French flags are placed on American graves of those who died there in WW II.

Mayor Daube and his wife, three generations of the Levaufre family who are close to Cowell

visited Cape Henlopen area in 2010. Daube will be presented a key to Bethany at a concert

at the bandstand during this visit. Cowell has said Periers is very friendly to Americans and

is grateful and gracious.

Abstract: Salisbury Daily Times, staff writers, Laura Dignan and Wallace McKelvey,

Tuesday, 17 August, 2010.

BETHANY BEACH HAS TWIN IN FRANCE

PERIERS, NORMANDY IS IT.

Bethany Beach, Sussex County, Delaware and Periers, Normandy, France, officially

became twin cities early this spring of 2010. Periers has many memorials to the 90^th

U.S. Infantry Division and D-Day June 6, 1944.

A Bethany resident, Diana Cowell, played a major role in the twinning of the two towns

has visited Periers with her father, a Normandy Landing veteran of WW II , if fact in 2006

her family visited to spread ashes of her deceased father there. In a 2008 visit she met the

towns mayor, Gabriel Daube , who expressed a desire to have a twin city in America and

Bethany Beach became the subject and Daube sent a formal request with her encouragement.

The Cultural and Historic Affairs Committee of Bethany Beach spearheaded the partnership.

The vice mayor and committees chairman, Carol Olmstead, said the town was very receptive

to the unity.

On D-Day every year American and French flags are placed on American graves of those who died there in WW II.

Mayor Daube and his wife, three generations of the Levaufre family who are close to Cowell

visited Cape Henlopen area in 2010. Daube will be presented a key to Bethany at a concert

at the bandstand during this visit. Cowell has said Periers is very friendly to Americans and

is grateful and gracious.

Abstract: Salisbury Daily Times, staff writers, Laura Dignan and Wallace McKelvey,

Tuesday, 17 August, 2010.

C.S.S. SHENANDOAH AND CAPTAIN WADDELL'S WORLD CRUISE

CONFEDERATE STEAMSHIP SHENANDOAH

CAPTAIN WADDELL'S CRUISE

Captain James Iredell Waddell, a daring Carolina sailor, the commander of the

C.S. S. Shenandoah was the only mariner to carry the flag of the Confereracy around the world. The facts of Captain Waddell's cruise were gathered by Captain S. A. Ashe, who

as a 1858 Naval Academy Midshipman, sailed under Lieuttenant Waddell and learned

what a good officer and gentleman he was and was proud of him as a North Carolinian.

The story as follows was given in Wilmington, Delaware in 1904 by Captain Ashe.

James Iredell Waddell, was born July 13, 1824, to Francis Nash and Elizabeth

Davis Moore Waddell .

At age 17 Waddell received an appointment as midshipman in the U. S. Navy,

ordered to vessel in Norfolk. There, almost before he had got his uniform to fit, his fighting

blood showed. An older midshipman was offensive to him and Waddell called him to

the field of honor where he received a wound to the hip and caused him to limp a little through life. A Navy record told he was on leave to recover from the effects of a duel.

Later, when the Navy was going to steam, a science was added, famous ship

masters became obslete, machines, turrets and armor plate were to supplant sails and

6 pounder's, Waddell's inspirations led him to a challenge with an older officer to mortal combat, made him sort of a hero to the younger officers, learning to fight at a longer distance and the importance of armor protection.

In 1848, passing his examinations, he was put on duty at the Observatory in Washington for three tears, then assigned to a practice ship at Annapolis, then to vessel

Germantown, a ship named to commemorate the battle in which his distinguished grandfather

received a mortal wound.

Retuning from a cruise as a Naval Officer August 1861 he tendered his resignation

which was refused. On a dark and stormy night he and a brother in law, Mr. Inglehart,

shipped as oystermen on an oyster boat out into the Chesapeake avoiding capture made

good their way to Dixie. Waddell , now a Confederate Officer, was assigned to disrupt American shipping. There not being many ships on the Atlantic to fly an American flag the

Confederates wanted to destroy an American whaling fleet active in the Pacific and selected

Lieutenant Waddell to do so.

At this time a Confederate representative in Europe, Captain Bullock, had purchased

The Sea King which was large and could carry a large group of men , sailed well under canvas, had steam screw able to raise out of water when not in use. 1864 Waddell was ordered to Madeira to take command of the Sea King, fly the Confererate flag, refit and provision her, then rename and christened her, The Shenando . Waddell had trouble finding a crew to serve within conditions not to be

married and to become Confederates so he ended up with half a crew of 23 men. Officers

were obliged to work with the crew and did so. The Shenandoah entered her career with the flag of the South to the breeze , taking her place as a Confederate cruiser afloat duly

commissioned on her ocean home with noble, brave men.

The Shenandoah was a composite vessel, frame of iron, hull of teak six inches thick, steam speed of 9 mph and under sail 15 mph. She had a battery of four 8 inch guns smooth

bore , two rifle bore Whitworth 2 pounders and two 12 ponders

The Shenandoah made a prize on her first chase and later prizes furnished 20 more

seamen, bringing the crew and officers to 62 man. 5^th of December they made Tristam da

Canha, near St. Helena, and passed to the east of Africa, reaching Melbourne Australa, on

January 25 1865. Here they landed prisoners, refitted, left February 18. After leaving

sight of harbor, a number of men who had stowed aboard came on deck and enlisted to the crew, now 114 . Sailing northward with many adventures and capturing many prizes they were off the shores of Kamakatka in May. The farther north they sailed the longer the days

became which was more and more interesting to the crew. They went as far as Gifinski and

Transk Bay but unable to enter for the15 foot thick ice. . More captures were made and the

smoke of the burning vessels made landmarks against the sky.

On June 23 midsummer Waddell captured two whalers which had news of Grant and Lee and Appomattox, not good news for one in the Polar Ocean cleaning up the whaling

ships, twenty four in the next six days.

June 29 the Confederate flag was flying in the Artic Ocean and on that day Waddell

turned away from the pole and passed southward through the Bering Strait, July 5 they passed

Aleutian Islands and the last land Shenandoah would see for days. August 3, in N latitude

16, 122 west longitude Shenadoah gave chase to a sailing bark and overtook the British

Harraconta, 13 days from San Francisco, to Liverpool, and asked news of the Captain about the war and told the war was over and the Shenandoah was being searched for and would be considered pirates when caught. Our first duty was to suspend hostilities and to proclaim

such suspension. An entry was made in the log book 5 August 1885 Shenandoah off the coast of Mexico “Having receivd intelligence by the bark Barraconta of the Confederate government's overthrow, all attempts to destroy shipping or property of the United State will cease this date. First Lieutenant W. C. Whittle has received orders to disarm the ship and its crew. The next step was to seek asylum with any country strong enough to see we have a full and fair trial. Waddell , who now had no authority since his commission expired with the

end of the Confederacy, set sail to England with his well disciplined crew.

The 15^th September, running 15 mph , Shenandoah turned Cape Horn and set her

course northward for Liverpool and exchanged no signals. Crossing the equator for the forth time on October 11, 1865, The afternoon of October 25, 500 miles south of the

Azores, they sighted a Federal cruiser and crossed courses with her to find she was in waiting for Shenandoah an her crew. Capt Waddell declared a situation of anxious

suspense, and kept the course. As they passed darkness of the night prevented any signals

and when 4 miles apart sailed past , set a southward course and ordered full steam running

15 miles east, then north 100 miles, when a southwest wind blew her within 700 miles

of Liverpool . The calm left Shenandoah in sight of 11 sails all day long as she remained

under sail until dark when all sails were furled and she went under steam and pushed her

way toward the desired haven at Liverpool. November 5^th Shenandoah entered St. Georges

Channel, 122 days from the Aleutian's with out sight of land and saw the beacon right where it was supposed to be. This was a remarkable record of navigation. A pilot came aboard at

night and was informed of the character of the ship.

There was great satisfaction for our success reaching an European port and the

chief danger was over when on the 6^th November 1865 Shenendoah steamed up the Mersey

bearing the Confederate flag. After anchoring, a British Officer boarded Shenandoah to

inform Captain Waddell the Confederacy was no more and the Confederate flag that had been around the world was lowered at 10 am, 6^th November, 1865. The Shenandoah was then

given in charge of the British government.

For several days British and American officials were in correspondence regard the ship and its crew. November 8^th, the crew was ordered to depart , the British turned Shenandoah over to United States authorities who in turn sold her to the Sultan of Zanzibar

and later lost at sea.

C.S.S. Shenandoah ran 58,000 miles during her thirteen month cruise and met with no

accident and did not drop anchor for eight months. She had destroyed more vessels than any other ship of war,

Captain Waddell lingered several years in Europe because of feelings of the United States government against him but in 1875 took command of a Pacific Mail Company steamer from San Francisco to Japan and Australia .

On one of his return voyages he had another chance to prove his seamanship abilities

when his ship struck an uncharted obstacle which had been thrown in the channel by a

recent earthquake about 13 miles from shore. The damage to the vessel left a fifty foot

hole which quickly flooded the vessel, he took personal control of 420 passengers, men, women and children , his crew members and prepared to abandon the sinking ship about 3 miles from shore. Captain Waddell was the last to leave the sinking vessel. No one was lost.

The admirable conduct of Captain Waddell won highest praise among the maritime

people of the world. After this incident he retired to live in Annapolis where the governor of Maryland chose him to master the Oyster Guard Boats of the Chesapeake to enforce Maryland's laws upon the fleet of the bays oystermen. It was at this job that he died, March

25, 1886 at the age of 62. Maryland's Legislature adjourned to do him honor. Old Dixie

soldiers under General George Stuart as Marshall marched to his grave with pallbearers

Captain Morris, General Bradley Johnson and other Confederates, an escort of honor led

by Colonel William Morris. The Maryland governor and State Officers participated. It was

a State Funeral, the only one accorded to a Confederate north of the Potomac River.

Abstract: The North Carolina Review, Richmond Times Dispatch, Sunday, September

7, 1913. for my www.delmarhistory.blogspot.com

DELAWARE DRIVER EDUCATION ON CAPE GAZETTE VIEWPOINTS.

HISTORY OF DELAWARE DRIVER EDUCATION

The Tuesday's June 4, 2019, Cape Gazette's Viewpoints shows a 1949 vintage

Ford automobile practicing parallel parking by a marked Student Driver Training car.

A Brief History of Drivers Education article is posted by Delaware Department

of Education on the www. internet.

The comprehensive program Drivers Education was enacted in Delaware in 1934,

by Delaware Safety Council that sponsored classroom instruction in several schools.

Behind the wheel instruction was introduced in the 1935-1936 school year. Eight cars were

made available by Hugh Gallagher Union Park Motor Company of Wilmington to make this

high school course possible. By 1948 Driver Ed was offered by all public schools of

Delaware. In 1948 – 1949 school year Delaware's Legislature appropriated $50,000

to the State Board of Education for the program.

Recognized leaders of Drivers ED are Hugh Gallagher, Captain Clarence Lynch, Delaware State Police, Theodore Burton, and other educational people.

RONALD RUSSELL REHOBOTH FIREMAN RECEIVES CARNEGIE MEDAL

GOVENOR RUSSELL PETERSON DECORATES FIREMAN RONALD RUSSELL

A CARNEGIE HERO AWARD MEDAL

May your bravery be an inspiration to us all, said Perterson, as he presented the

Carnegie Hero Award Medal to Rehoboth Beach volunteer fireman Ronald Russell. During

an intermission at the concert of the Wilmington Concert Band which had drawn a capacity

crowd to the Beach Band Stand on Rehoboth Avenue and Boardwalk.

Fireman Russell received the medal in recognition of his part in rescuing Reinert

Roaldson, from the surf after he was washed overboard in a storm from an oil barge that

had blown ashore. Fireman Russell braved 20 foot waves and swam 225 feet to grab

the seaman and pull him to other rescuers on shore.

Another barge seaman was rescued after he went overboard and farther out to sea by

Coast Guard helicopter.

Russell is the 5611 person to receive the Caregie Medal since 1904.

Abstract: Wilmington Morning News, Monday, 7 September, 1970

1970 DEWEY BEACH SEVERE THUNDER STORM

DEWEY BEACH LASHED HIGH WINDS, HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS

FRIDAY JULY 10 1970

Delmarva Power has worked all weekend to restore damage to poles and wires

knocked out by a severe storm which struck Delaware and Maryland coastal areas Friday

19 July, 1970. During the storm a 69,000 volt power line fell and trapped 15 cars and

passengers on the Ocean City highway south of Dewey Beach. There were no injuries

from the electric.

In addition to the shore other parts of Maryland and Delaware were lashed by high

winds, heavy rain and severe thunderstorms. 

Delaware State Trooper, Lou Rickards , on patrol at 2 or 3 pm, shut the road after

lightning struck the power lines and they began to fall. He had the traffic stop and park on

the roadside and ordered everyone to stay in their cars as the wires and pole were laying on

the vehicles. Within a hour the power company had all the cars freed with no injuries.

Abstract: Salisbury Daily Times, Sunday, 12 July 1970.

SAVAGE FAMILY NORTHAMPTON VIRGINIA

SAVAGES NECK 1600

Thomas Savage, considered the first permanent European settler on the Eastern

Shore received a tract of land from Debedeavon, Chief of the Accawmacke Tribe in the

1600's, named Savage Neck, which has seen a number of beautiful homesteads over the

centuries, including Elkington, built in the last half of the 18^th century and named for

the wife of the first Thomas Savage, Hannah Ann Elkington.

During the 1800's and 1900's this big house, little house, colonnade, and kitchen,

style home with exquisite architectural details, went through the hands of Parkers, Upshurs, Scott, Willing , Nottingham and Willis families.

A Thomas L Savage, sold this property in 1790 to John Stratton, U.S. Congressman

1801 to 1804.

Construction details are Flemish bond finishes, gables, cornice, and dormer windows

and a yard full of 18^th century outhouses.

Visit www.northamptonhistoricpreservationsociety.com.

Abstract: Eastern Shore News, Wednesday, 9 September, 2015.

VIRGINIAS EASTERN SHORE IN 1962

VIRGINIA'S EASTERN SHORE IN 1962

SECOND OLDEST ENGLISH SETTLEMENT

The second oldest permanent English settlement of America, following the

Jamestown Colony, just so happens to be on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, separated

from the Virginia mainland by the Chesapeake Bay. It predates Plymouth rock by years.

You can find the oldest continuous court records in our country, dating to 1632, and more

surviving seventeenth , eighteenth and early nineteenth century structures than any other

section of the United States.

There are open for visitors eleven homes and gardens, the Accomac Debtors Prison,

in Eastville it's old Court House, Clerks Office and Debtors Prison, five early chueches,

the Francis Mackwmie Presbyterian, St. James, St. Georges, Christ and Hungers Epscopal

Churches. In Accomac, are four homes, The Haven, Seymour House, West View, and

Pine View, examples of early Eastern Shore architecture build after 1791 with 1816 additions., having hand carved interior woodwork. Boxwood gardens with white picket

fence and real old trees.

West View has old age boxwood gardens, fine interior work and a house full of

local antiques and family portraits. Pine View's large Victorian House holds a collection

of Oriental and American antiques. East of Accomac, don't miss The Folly, the entrance

marked only by a small gate house, sits at the head of Folly Creek, built in 1765 with large exterior chimney.

Going east to Oceanside Road, south, through farm lands and villages to Bradfords Bay and Gulf Stream House known for its gardens.

Near Belle Haven finds Wainhouse early 19^th century to looksat local cabinetmakers

art works.

Oak Grove Plantation is a part of 3700 acres given to Sir George Yeardley in

1621, Captain General Governor of Virginia , Chief Debedeavon, the “laughing king of the

great Nuswatsocks Indians” the house built 1750 with later additions overlooks gardens on

the Mattawoan Creek and Chesapeake Bay.

South of Eastville are Eyreville and Eyre Hall built by an Eyre family . The house

Eyreville was built 1730 by William Littleton Eyre and since has been owned by the Eyre Family. Eyre Hall has old boxwood gardens, a 1730 house with local woodwork interior.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia offers many attractions to visitors interested in

colonial activities and old homesteads.

Abstracts: Danville, Virginia Danville Register, Sunday. 22 April 1962.

RV SHEARWATER 2015

RESEARCH VESSEL SHEARWATER

AT OCEAN CITY COAST GUARD STATION

JUNE 2015

Sunday, 7 June 2015 :

There she sits, stuck out like a sore thumb, waiting for a four day rain to end, the 110 foot

RV Shearwater, making ready to survey the Atlantic Ocean floor for Maryland's offshore

wind farm to sit.

Her job is to collect geophysical data to support detailed engineering for a 500 megaawatt

offshore wind project to be built by US Wind, Inc., on 40,000 acres 15 to 25 miles off the coast. They want to know what the bottoms is made of, how deep is the water, what obstructions are there so foundations can be built below the water, said the senior manager

Justin Bailey, who works for Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey.

Alpine intends to use four pieces of equipment to understand whats what. Seismic Airguns

will not be used. There will be a side scan sonar to make a map showing boulders, ship wrecks, etc. Then the magnetometer to find any iron at the bottom or below, a echo sounder

and profiler. There is no concern for noise to bother marine life.

Also on board are five protected species observers to monitor marine life close to the vessel

who can stop operations.

Abstract: Wilmington News Journal's Rachael Pacella of Delmarva Media Group , Sunday, 7 June, 2015.

1717 WHYDAH CAPE COD

WRECK OF THE 1717 WHYDAH

CAPE COD, MASSAHUSETTS

Salem, Massachusetts :

A sunken cutlass with a cargo of gold doubloons, may or may not, be booty of

an 18^th century pirate ship, but ship wreck experts say the objects raised from the Cape Cod

waters show evidence of an early and important wreck.

Shortly after Barry Clifford announced he had found the 1717 Whydah which sank

during a storm, he displayed artifacts to the Underwater Archeological Resources to prove

the coins, cannon balls and a pistols brass fingerguard were the loot of pirate Black Sam

Bellamy after 267 years under water. The coins and fingerguard will be the earliest find

in Massachusetts.

Clifford has spent two or more years combing the sandy ocean floor off Wellfleet

for the Whydah said she was exactly where a British mapmaker reported the sinking of a

three masted galley, 1500 feet off shore. The State Board quickly confirmed the find

as that of the Whydah and worth $400,000.

Before it's capture by pirates 3 February 1717, the Whydah was a British vessel

sailing between England, Africa, Caribbaean Islands and the American colonies and at

the time she sank was carrying cargo including 180, 5 pound sacks of coins , 4-1/2 tons of

gold and silver. Clifford will not be allowed to take up the ship until he has full approval

by next summer.

Clifford holds title to the ship wreck by a 1983 Federal Judge ruling.

Abstract: Sunday Morning News , Wilmington, Delaware, 29 July, 1984.

MARCH 1993 BLIZZARD

BLIZZARD OF '93

MARCH 14 1993

Molly Murray, a reporter of the Sussex Bureau Sunday News Journal reported

the northeaster which bore down southern Delaware caused nowhere near the damage

predicted and a chance for another blast was fast fading. Still many beach towns on the

long battered coast were emptied by evacuation early Saturday morning or closed off by

snow drifts and flooding at 3 am Officials early reports indicate beaches had little

serious erosion.

Another reason for the light erosion was the uneasy, quiet, pocket of calm air within

the storm that came along the coast during the midday high tide. Northeast wind shifter to

the east, gusty and confused in their direction. John Hughes, a state director, on duty, said the

'calm' came just in time. He was on Haven Road, Indian River, when the ocean was just

about to break through the dunes when the winds started to lay, and the worst of the storm

moved to the north and was over for southern Delaware. When the storm came in on Friday

officials agreed we were in for real trouble and it could devastate the Delaware Coast.

Now the west winds continued to blow shingles off roofs and do property damage but it

pushed the waves away fro the coast. Damaging winds hit a peak at 60 mph and roads were

littered.

The storm of the century , but, wasn’t .

Abstract: Sunday News Journal , 14 March 1993 by Molly Murray.

2001 BELIZE HURRICANE IRIS

2001 HURRICANE IRIS HITS BELIZE

The Salisbury Maryland Daily Times, Wednesday, 10 October, 2001 :

Belize City, Belize:

A 120 foot American deep sea divers boat with 20 vacationing Virginians on board

capsized as Hurricane Iris with 140 mph winds roared into Belize. All 20 divers were lost

and feared drown.

The 120 foot MV Wave Dancer carried 20 Richmond divers and 8 crew members

of the Peter Hughes Diving Team of Miami. Belize coastal towns were devastated by Iris

this years strongest storm that left Tuesday the 9^th. 5 of the 8 crew were saved. The Wave

Dancer was docked in Big Creek, 80 miles SSW of Belize City, and a storm surge lifted

the divers boat, snapped all the lines and threw her on the dock.

Belize officials did not know if there were more deaths due to the storm. Hundreds of

homes were destroyed as was the Independence soccer stadium and only hotel.

Abstract: Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland, Wednesday, 10 October, 2001.

1954 HURRICANE EDNA

1954 HURRICANE EDNA

Friday, 10 September, 1954 :

Hurricane Edna's storm center moving north up Carolina coast with 115 mph winds

at it's center. It is expected to rake the coast anywhere between Cape Hatteras and Maine.

Delaware weather forecast are calling for rain squalls with gale force winds for

tonight and tomorrow. Inland forecast will undergo heavy rain and strong winds. The

storm, a distinct threat, could reach our coast late tonight with rain into tomorrow with cool

northeast air. State Police and highway workers are at the ready standing by at Georgetown.

The Delaware Bay menhaden fleet is safe in anchorage in the Christiana at Pusey & Jones pier.

New York City expects the hurricane to hit downtown the nations largest city head

on tomorrow , one of the most serious hurricanes in the bureaus history. 40 mph winds are expected by 3 am and expect to be hurricane force by noon.

Right now Edna is 225 miles south of Hatteras moving 10 mph slightly east of

north.

The Navy is moving 80 ships from the Norfolk base. The battleship Iowa , cruiser Juneau, carriers Saipan and Mindoro left to ride the storm out at sea. Smaller craft was moved up the Chesapeake Bay to Navy hurricane anchorage at Tangier Island . All Navy aircraft has been moved.

All of New England is well prepared and ships at sea report they are aware of the storm and are standing by at the ready.

Abstract : Wilmington News Journal , Friday, 10 September, 1954.