Milford chronicle., 1926-01-29
GREATER REHOBOTH
EXPECTS BIGGER YEAR
Electric Lighting Problem Solved,
Golf Course Laid And Anew
Hotel Planned.

] U4dyg q LuOuGlA 0OICl IL PAOoRCSl
home building by the dozen, and the
last link in the highway from Will
mington via Milford and Five Points
completed, a new Rehoboth will
greet what promises to be the great.
est season in its history.
Away back in the COS, when CamI
Meetings were the very proper thing
among the Methodists, RehOboth
with it's beautiful woodland set.
ting, a place where the ocean
waves and pine woods meet" was
selected by the Methodists of the
peninsula as a site for popular
camp-meeting resort that would
equal in attractiveness the site al
Ocean Grove selected by the New
Jersey folks for their great camp
meeting assembly. Along in the
70's the "Rehoboth Beach Camp
Meeting Association of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church was organ
lied and purchased what was
known as the Dale Martin farm
(the present Rehoboth) and laid
it out into building lots and sold
leases" all which carried condi-
tions restricting the occupancy for
purely residential purposes.
The old association ran along for
many years and RehOboth made a
slow, tedious growth. However, the
town was incorporated in the early
COS and the old association went
out of existence.
Owing to poor transportation ia
cilities and the distance from great
centres it seemed difficult to create
the interest in Rehoboth which it's
wonderful beach and natural sur
roundings entitled it to and the
summer population consisted prin-
cipally of few old families from
Baltimore, Washington and Will
mington.
It was recognized as a safe and
sane place for the wife and child
ren; quiet and peaceful with a
good safe bathing beach, but there
was nothing to attract the holiday
crowds of excursionists.
Many of the older politicians will
recall the old Douglass House,"
located about a mile south of Re
hoboth proper. 1t was the scene of
all the principal prediction pow
vows. This hotel was burned sew
eral years ago, as was the Bright
House." which later was quite
large hotel in it's day and the burn
ing of these two larger hotels left
only the "Henlopen" at the north
largest hotel at RehOboth. The
Belhaven is the next in size, while
there have been quite a number of
private boarding houses in recent
years.
Yet the place for many years
simply dragged along with little II
any progress and choice building
lots could be had for a song and
many holders allowed them to be
sold for taxes of few dollars be-
fore they would pay taxes on them.
The place needed something to
give it a start and that something
came as it were overnight. The
State Highway put Rehoboth on the
map and from the present outlook
spot on the map-thanks to the
highway.
Following the highway keen
business man got into the real es-
tate game and single-handed gave
Rehoboth more advertising in one
year than it had had in all its pre-
vious history. Last season was the !
beginning of the adoption of mod
ern resort plans and usages to at !
tract the crowds and the Beauty
Show on Fourth of July brought a
record crowd.
The electric light situation at Re-
hoboth has been taken care of by |
the Commissioners granting the
franchise to the Eastern Shore Gas
and Electric Company which will |
connect the town by cable with its
main power plant at Laurel.
The Golf Club will have it's course
built and ready for play this COM
ing season. The transfer Of the |
lands from Rehoboth Heights De-
Company to the Reho-
both Golf Club took place this
week. H. L. Cannon, Of Bridgeville,
the president, and J. Reese White, |
of Millsboro, the treasurer, of the
club, promise to make a charming
club house out of the old Home
stead farmhouse which is delight
fully situated on a knoll overlook
ing the links.
A special drive is being made for
to the stock company !
to build a modern hotel.
It surely looks like a wonderful
for a hotel company. |
There are several places to take !
care of the visitors of moderate
means but there is a demand for a
hotel that will have the modern ia
cilities and which will command
rates in keeping with an up-to-date
hotel service.
The Lewes and Rehoboth Building
and Loan Association organized
a popular demand and is getting
with great promise. Will
liam H. Virden is the president, and
Rowland B. Ingram, secretary.
A half dozen development COM
panies are making ready for activi-
ties this spring and promises to
make things hum. The chain stores
are establishing themselves here
and many other signs are pointed
to a greater Rehoboth.