The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-12
I|ARAIaG REH9BeFH


REHoporn, July 1.-THE location of Re.
hoboth Is peculiarly advantageous, direct
y on the Atlantic. near the mouth of the
Delaware bay, and the famous Delaware
breAltwater whore ships come from every
qunrtcr OF tho globe for orders and SUP.
plies. Tho beautiful Rehoboth bay Is on
rho south OF tho resort.
From this bay you can sail out through
nh Inlet into The ocean, or II you should
not care to venture out on the sea you can
sail from tho bay several miles TN the In.
dian river, whose waters flow into Raho-
both bay, and along whose banks arc dotted
beautiful groves anu rich farms In this
bay arc found oysters, fish and crabs, Tho
shutlow water renders sailing and boating
comparatively safe even for children.
There are also thrco fresh water lakes,
hcro-thc Girard, covering several acres,
situated near tho Douglass House; Silver
lake, n pretty little sheet Of water back of
tho Hotol Henlupep, and Gordon lake, tho
largest CT tho three. about half mile
from the north cpd OF the boardwalk. Tho
latter lake is picturesquciy situated beside
pine grove, nbouy u half milo back frcin
Che ocean front. The lake is filled with
wild lowers and pond lilies.
The natural advantages of Rehoboth for
summer resort were recognized many
years ago, but the difficulty Of reaching 1t
prevented extensive Improvements until
within n recent period. In 1865 the Leg
1slaturc Incorporate ed the "Rohuboth Ho. 81
Company" and granted tho use OF five
acres Of land belonging to tho State, Tho
charter was renewed March -, 1876, under
the name Of tho Sussex Ho oil Company"
oil Rehobnth City,
Tho latter plan WINS located in 1889 on a
tract OF land at the head Of Itehoboth Bay,
Tho following year Louis Frederick came
70 the projected town and opened small
place OF entertainment, which was contin.
ued by him ms the Rohuboth City Hotel for
several years, On tho land plotted for this
city another fotel, the Douglass House,
having sixty rooms for guests. was erected
owned by Emory Scettcrn
Later 1t passed into tho hands of its pres.
ent owners, WIN. NJ. jefferson and Wm.
9. Leftland. Under tho management of
these two gentlemen tho house has So pros.
pered that they wero obliged to build All
annex Of some forty rooms last year Soy.
eral fine cottages have also been built on
this plotted city.
: About II milo up. the ocean beach is
what was originally called Rohoboth
Bench, later Cape Henlopen City, and ut
present Rehoboth--.he projected Rcho-
both city being also known by that uamo
now
Here, under the auspices of the Rehoboth
Association, Incorporated March IL, 1871, u
tract OF land embracing several hundred
acres was purchased Of Lorenzo d. Mur;i in
for SI6OJ for the purpose Of establishing IL
resort with religious influences and to
hold In connection yearly camp meet
Ing This location was well plotted with
wide avenues, streets. parks and spacious
lots and the situation Icing exceedingly
line a number Of lots were sold at $50
each.
In 1873 two summer Notes.-The Bright
House and tho "Ssurt' and several ilno
cottages were erected. On tho 27th Of
January Of that year the name Of tho rs.
ISOLATION was changed by legislative On.
actment to the "Reho1oth Beach Camp
Meeting Association"
Camp meeting grounds woro now os.
tablishea in tho oak grove, half q mile
back from the beach, aud the annual camp.
meetings wero there held, It became tho
mecca Of Methodisln over this paniusula
and thousands came every year for several
years and pitched their tents in the grove.
This feeling encouraged the association
10 makoyet mere extensive and substan.
tial imp oyements on this beach, and Il
number of cottages were erected by lot
owners, The pioneers in building wero
John II. Dick. the late Jethru MCCULLOUGH
Of the Mccullough Iron Company, j.
Taylor Cause, for mahy years president Of
she big establishment Of Harlan, Holdings
worth & Co f; the la,c j. Morton Puolu, the
head Of the j Morton Poole Company.
Rx- Mayor, DIR. c. r. Jcffories. and
Samuei Riley, of Wilmington, Rev X.
W. Todd. Of tho Methodist Episcopal
Church. Mossrs. Il. r. Waters of tho
lumber firm Of h. Il. Waters Il Sou, and
James L. Hooper the cotton duck manu-
Itl nat 7
Shock of the United States Navy and j.
.. Marshall of :ho bureau of education,
Washington sAaHGSa .s...
On July g 1878. an extension Of the rail.
I0ad was completed to tho camp meeting
grounds. In February. 1871 the charter
oil The association was again changed, the
title becoming the ''RehVbutL Beach AS.
sociation,' and in 1881 tho cump meeting
feature was discontinued Tho once
beautiful grove is now cut in two by the
government canal that is being construct
ed between Chincotenguo and delaware
bays
In 1881 the railroad was extended down
the main avenue Of The town to the beach
md depot established In central loon.
tion About 1854 IL board wall; eight itut
wide md ono and u quarter miles long
wins built The beach is Nrm and smooth,
a1fording drive OF over ten miles. Bath.
any Htio - ucGileu very sac. B'lt ono
chse OF drowning is reported that Of John
Frank, August Il, 1857.
Tho Hotei Henlopen was erected BY
stock company, which lad among It's
lnenhors j E. Hooper Of Baltimore, Capt.
Gtp r. johnson, L. :, lovCuuu service aud
Geo. Mccullough of WlliAiu-tUn aud
Others. II cost moro than s.U, 600 and con.
tains above Is rooms.
Besides two HotcIs-thc Hotel Iunlupcn
and Douglnss Honse-tIurr are At prcsont
several elegant boarding Lotres ai& over
hundred cottages.