Evening journal., 1913-08-19
The GROWTH OF
REHOBOTH BEACH
Stakeholder of 40 Years Ago
Tells How Resort Locked
Then
Then
ONLY TWO FARM
HOUSESTHERE ORIGINALLY

REHOBOTH, Del, Aug. 19.-
Thirty-four years have gone by since
| made my second visit to Rehoboth.
IN those days the big steamer Repub-
nc came down from Philadelphia and
landed passengers at Lewes, and
from that point they took a train
that stopped in the pine woods some
Six or seven miles down the coast
Ine temporary depot was at the head
OF Rehoboth avenue. which leads
straight down to the ocean, a mile
distant. Two hotels had been erect
ed on the ocean front, but one had
already vanished leaving nothing but
the scorched piles on. which it rested,
and the other met the same fate not
Nong after had tested its hospitality
and comforts.
A few cottages had been erected,
but there was not much valuable
property to be destroyed There have
been but two disastrous confagra-
tions since then, the last, and most
destructive one, as late as February
p Of the present year. On three
sides of the best improved square
abutting on the beach, the dismantled
foundations tell the painful story Of
In a highly combustible garage
believe that only one of the five cot
tages has been rebuilt, but the gar
age has risen from its ashes with
concrete walls and fire proof metal
lie roof-the all-conquering automo-
bile must have place for shelter
and repair.
Forty Years Ago.
My first visit to this ancient shore
was on cloudy, stormy day in the
autumn Of 1873. A small party of ex-
cursionists went from Baltimore to
inspect the premises in which they
had made a small investment-two
abandoned farms, about 400 acres in
all, had been purchased for $4,000 A
town had been laid off on a sheet of
paper. with wide avenues leading
down to the ocean, and cross streets
at proper intervals.
Although there was abundant
space the lots were small-50 feet
front and running back probably $50
feet. Surf avenue, bordering the
beach, was intended to be reasonably /
straight but it now conforms in
some degree to the curves of the
shore
The only buildings in sight in 1879 !
we're two weather beaten farmhouses |
at the edge of the pine woods. am !
not sure that they were occupied az |
that time, but they had been white
washed since then and are tenanted |
by permanent residents.
The Hawks Nest.
The marker that remains fixed in |
my memory was a dead tree which /
had long before shed its bark. In the !
crotch formed by its three main |
branches was a hawks nest which.
according to the local tradition. had
been there since the boyhood of tho
oldest inhabitant and had been used /
every year by a pair of hawks dur |
ng the nesting season. 1t was gem (
orally believed that II was the pair K
that came every year and reared their /
brood If this be the fact, it should /
he put down to the credit of a bird |
that has a bad reputation. Even the
tender4hearted ornithologists of the 4
Agricultural Department. in their
latest bulletin, have put him under
the ban. Probably these expert scien-
fists never heard that he was faith
full husband. Marital constancy is re-
garded as one of the saving forces of
society.
l greatly suspect that these we're
fish-hawks and that it was not any
fine homecoming sentiment that
brought them back to this tree from
year to year. The barkless branches
30 or 40 feet above their nest afforded /
a splendid perch where they could
sit and watch the incoming tide and
dart down with the swiftness of an
arrow on the fated fish that for an
frc o,4 &c ctf 1ac oh
the water A fine cottage now stands
on the site Of the hawks nest
A Methodist Enterprise.
The Baltimore excursionists of 1873 \
were mainly enthusiastic Methodists
preachers and laymen-who we're
contemplating an unusual campmeet-
ing amid such surroundings as would n
simulate and exalt devotional feeling.
This noble shore, with its gentle
sloping beach and magnificent view
of the great ocean beyond in all its
moods had already been selected by
the Wilmington brethren as the ideal
place for healthful recreation. pleas
ant social intercourse and divine wor
ship. The corporate name was The
Rehoboth Beach Methodist Camp
meeting Association Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Several promi-
nent Methodists of Baltimore were in
cluded in the charter membership.
cannot now recall many of the
Baltimoreans who. went across the
Peninsula to view the premises and
select lots on the paper plat in the
order in which their names had been
drawn at a previous meeting of the
stockholders. can remember the
late Rev. Thomas l.. Poulson, who
departed a few weeks ago at the age
of S4, was one of the active men of
the party. The late James e. Hooper
and r. T. Waters were probably with
us. I know that Thomas S. Hodson,
much alive) Joined us at some point
on the Eastern Shore
One Hundred Miles From Baltimore.
The all-rail route from Baltimore
10 the Delaware coast is somewhat
clr9uitous, and must always remain
so. In 1878 it was practically the
same as now. However. the Mary
land, Delaware and Virginia Railway
has cut down the distance and time
to about one-half by putting on a
line OF steamers from the Light street
wharves to Love Point. on Kent Is
land, thence by rail straight across
the Peninsula to Lewes and Rehoboth
Beach, on the Atlantic coast.
have taken up so much space with
"reminiscences of Rehoboth Beach. as
it was in 1878 and 1879, that some
mention of the pleasant and promis-
Ing seaside resort, as it now exists,
must be reserved for another letter.
] may say, however. that at the time