, A fine mist kicked up as the rubble hit the wave below. Cape Henlopen is the southern cape of the Delaware Bay along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Shop cape henlopen delaware merch created by independent artists from around the globe. There was a man who was standing on the bridge looking toward what is today's state park, and he saw the lighthouse, Brittingham said. Be Unique. He went into downtown Lewes and broke the news to everyone at Morris Drug Store. It was reported to be in the 60s with strong northeast winds. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Hours: The park is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset. It was completed in 1767 and first lit in 1769. Those hoping to visit the lighthouse that day were turned away, she said, as Coast Guardsmen had set up patrols to stop anyone from getting too close to the lighthouse. Designer touches, meticulously maintained and the perfect floor plan make this stunning home in the 4 BR, 3 1/2 Bath -3700 Sq. Before collapsing in April 1926, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse guided vessels from the Atlantic Ocean into the Delaware Bay for more than 150 years. In 1824, the Cape Henlopen Beacon was constructed on a 45-foot (14m) tower about a mile north of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse. The newspapers broadcasted the fact that unless the public would come across with a substantial amount of money, the old Deacon Tower would fall., In the face of all this, the public remained unmoved in so far as supplying the funds needed to save the structure, which long had been abandoned by the Federal Government. It sat atop the great dune, due to the fact the dune moved three to five feet a year the collapse was inevitable. Email. The Fairmont II model is brand new and ready for immediate occupancy. Airbnb Potential, Great Investment, NO HOA, 5 Beds/3 Baths, 1.26 ac, Another HENLOPEN Unit JUST LISTED by The Mike Kogler Team. Tributes to the fallen lighthouse can still be found today, including the replica standing in the center of the circle as drivers enter Rehoboth Beach. Be Unique. JUST LISTED!! Judging by what the people say here, the wave travels not far from fifty feet a year where its course is not obstructed by the forest, but even there it travels perhaps 35 or 40 feet. We print the highest quality cape henlopen delaware merch on the internet The beacon was operated by the federal government at this point. Located just off the point of Cape Henlopen, the Harbor Refuge Lighthouse (or outer breakwater) is a working unmanned light maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. Officials had no choice but to prepare for the worst. The light is also used in the Cape Henlopen School District's logo. FREE STAGING FOR YOUR HOME - NOT VIRTUAL STAGING. Building Materials Rise, But Lumber Prices Ease, Rehoboth Beach Then & Now Self-guided Walking Tour. According to John Beach's book Cape Henlopen Lighthouse and Delaware Breakwater, toward the end, the base of the seven-story lighthouse was overhanging the dune and it became popular for people to pose for photographs beneath it. F U N Fishing Pier. She was built at the behest of Philadelphia businessmen tired of losing valuable cargo aboard ships that sank on dangerous shoals while entering the Delaware Bay. Time ran out for the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse less than a year later, on April 13, 1926. The tower was 26 feet in diameter, 6 feet thick at the base, 69 feet, 3 inches tall, and 17 feet, 6 inches in diameter and 3 feet thick at the top. SUBMITTED PHOTO. On Easter Monday, just a week and a day before the collapse, Brittingham said, Lewes and Rehoboth residents made their annual trek to the Great Dune to partake in the tradition of rolling Easter eggs, and themselves, down the sand hill. According to the book Lantern on Lewes: Where Past Is Present, some government officials had gathered that day to inspect the lighthouse and evaluate the prospects for its preservation. According to John Beach's book "Cape Henlopen Lighthouse and Delaware Breakwater," toward the end, the base of the seven-story lighthouse was overhanging the dune and it became popular for people to pose for photographs beneath it. The primary culprit in the demise of Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was Mother Nature. Theres even a mini-replica set in the middle of a traffic roundabout on the way into Rehoboth Beach. Traditions took shape, too. Schools and businesses and offices closed. This brings us to a young woman named Lillian Coverdale. [That] pile of wreckage should be left on the beach near Lewes as a monument to the indifference of the Delaware public to the fate that befalls landmarks in our commonwealth.. The house was built in 1902 and was named after John M. Addy. The demolition of the former Grotto Pizza corporate headquarters on southbound Route 1 has begun. This photograph was reportedly made in January 1926, just months before its demise. During the 1800s, a huge stone breakwater was put in at Cape Henlopen so that ships could find refuge in bad weather. We print the highest quality cape henlopen state park t-shirts on the internet Over the years, it has changed hands . Cape Henlopen Light was a lighthouse near Lewes, in present-day Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, . Nor were there any state funds available for salvage work., Therefore, the Delaware public has no one except itself to blame for the fact that old Cape Henlopen Light has been reduced to a mass of wreckage. There was nothing extraordinary about the weather of April 13, 1926. $10 for car/truck non-Delaware residents. The lighthouse's stone has been incorporated into many Lewes homes and buildings, including two stone fireplaces in Lewes City Hall. This lighthouse was built in 1908 and rebuilt in 1926. Henlopen cheated the old devil-sea of many a fine ship and the lives of countless sailors and their charges. There would be egg hunts and egg rolling contests. SOURCE: DELAWARE PUBLIC ARCHIVES. Before collapsing in April 1926, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse guided vessels from the Atlantic Ocean into the Delaware Bay for more than 150 years. It was decommissioned in 1884 and demolished. Feb 19, 2022 - The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse collapsed on April 13, 1926. 1924: An auxiliary wooden tower was built west of the old Cape Henlopen light. Webster blinked and saw it was gone.. Legends took shape. The park gets crowded so go early or late afternoon/evening like we did. )Station Established: 1767Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1769Operational: Some talk has even been heard of retailing bits of wreckage.. The Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse on the Delaware Bay at Cape Henlopen. Cape Henlopen Light is too fine a landmark, imbued with too many hallowed and patriotic associations to be allowed to disappear in disgrace. Cape Henlopen Light was a lighthouse near Lewes, in present-day Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, United States. Its probably not true, but heyits a helluva story, and its got a plucky Delawarean for a hero, so it kept getting told over and over. The Delaware Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was built in 1767, funded by a chain of lotteries in Philadelphia. In 1777, during the American Revolution, the lighthouse was almost completely destroyed by the British. Time ran out for the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse less than a year later, on April 13, 1926. A new, temporary light set atop metal scaffolding went into use the next day. The lighthouse was built in 1765 and remained in operation until 1924. Its light has been kept burning continuously since the revolution. [5][6] SOURCE FILE, Rehoboth Beach Then & Now Self-guided Walking Tour. The lighthouse finally succumbed to a Nor'Easter and literally fell into the Atlantic Ocean. On April 13, 1926, the lighthouse collapsed into the sea. This didnt cause the problem at handthe ocean had been advancing on the lighthouse since long before the breakwater came along. The Rehoboth Beach Museum will be opening a new exhibit starting next Friday, May 27. DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL! There werent enough parts left to preserve the whole. The lighthouse was abandoned after shoreline erosion undermined its foundation. In 1905, several tons of brush were placed about the tower and oil house to prevent the foundations and brick walls from being undermined by the drifting away of the sand.[3]. Welcome to this spacious bright and cheery Coastal home East of Rt 1 in Lewes with plenty of room Barrows and Associates, Ocean Atlantic Sotheby's. Before the collapse, though, the tower had been discontinued as a lighthouse. Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware Seashore State Park, and Fenwick Island State Park are homes to the eleven concrete towers built during World War II. Later efforts along these same lines included rip-rap, bulkheads, and makeshift jetties. The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse collapsed on April 13, 1926. April 12, 2022. In the wake of the collapse of the lighthouse, the Dover Republican newspaper pointed toward another accessory in the casea general public that . Iconic beacon fondly remembered 90 years after collapse, Toward the end of its life, the base of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was hanging over the dune. The Addy Sea is a beautiful Victorian-style bed and breakfast with stunning sea views and a real homely feel. Cape Henlopen Lighthouse: . The high spring tide was being pushed along by a strong northeast breeze, and wave after wave crashed on the beach, then slithered in to nibble at the sand hill supporting the lighthouse tower. JUST LISTED!! The essay also raises the question of whether Mother Nature had an accomplicemankind. 2. In fact, the status of the lighthousewas it still standing?became a regular feature of even routine stories about bad weather. It seems strange to say that, but it was almost personified.. It had really become a member of the family in many homes, said Lewes historian Hazel Brittingham. Cape Henlopen Ligthhouse, Cape Henlopen, near Lewes, DelawareOriginally built in 1767.CAPE HENLOPENLocation: "On cape (Del. After watching over the Atlantic for 161 years, it's time had come. It is believed the last bit of sand . 3022277310. A lighthouse was needed after many ships were falling victim to the dark waters around the cape. One way to think about this legacy of this lighthouse is by thinking of her as a sentinel, watching over Delaware and its bay through one momentous turn after another across many decades. The demolition of the former Grotto Pizza corporate headquarters on southbound Route 1 has begun. Alas, Judgement Day arrived on Cape Henlopen earlier than thaton April 13, 1926, to be precise. The Cape Henlopen Beacon was a lighthouse built to mark the point of the cape, supplementing Cape Henlopen Light just to the south. Sign up below to connect with even more good times on the Shore. JUST LISTED, a beautiful 4-bedroom, 4-full bath home in the sought-after community of Wolfe Pointe 22586 RAMBLE RD~RIDINGS AT REHOBOTH~LEWES. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. South Rehoboth. Ironically, the end came not with a wicked storm but on a lovely spring afternoon, sunny and 62 degrees. . He was standing on a nearby bridge, killing time while on lunch break. The light was last shown on September 30, 1924. There was even talk of moving the lighthouse to the Dover Green or the University of Delaware campus. Another light also once stood on Cape Henlopen. However, this is also one of the most haunted places in Delaware. Earlier in 1924, the lens was removed from the light for refurbishing and to be placed on display. In another book, The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse, author John W. Beach tells the story of Western Union telegraph operator Roland Webster. Private Mindfulness Sessions - Find Your Calm, Capital Ringers, Christmas Reflections- Seaford, Dec. 11th, Look Whos Shaping Up at the Body Shop!- Adam Kantorski, Your ITALY specialist at Jetset travel in Rehoboth Beach, Jetset travel, a trusted name in DE since 2005. Its likeness can be found in galleries, on greeting cards, on websites, and in logos. The Wilmington News Journal, April 14, 1926: The souvenir hunters started removing pieces of the rock of the lighthouse and glass from the windows. Civic organizations adopted resolutions urging immediate action. The lighthouse was built in 1765 and remained in operation until 1924. 17488 Kingston Drive - Looking for a quiet area with no HOA fees? Many mariners from Philadelphia lobbied for the construction of a lighthouse. As a homecoming event Easter Monday, with all its celebration, means to Lewestown what a camp meeting does to many other communities.. Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was completed in 1769, part of the funds to erect it being raised by a 3,000 lottery. One had evil Redcoats setting fire to the lighthouse in Revolutionary times. Anticipating such an end to this ancient structure, the light was changed on October 1, 1924, to an automatic light at a safer location about 700 feet farther inshore, where it has since been exhibited. Getting there: 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE. Before the Beacon was assigned a keeper. If not protected by adequate defenses, its firm foundation will be disintegrated by unsympathetic waves and the towering structure will topple into the sea., This should not be. The "Point" of Cape Henlopen, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, shaped the history of this landscape. In 1869 Dagworthy Joseph became Keeper of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse. An engineer floated the idea of erecting a protective steel casing along the east side of the tower. Cape Henlopen Ligthhouse, Cape Henlopen, near Lewes, DelawareOriginally built in 1767.CAPE HENLOPENLocation: "On cape (Del. Many local gift shops have wooden replicas for sale. We print the highest quality delaware state park stickers on the internet This 39.15+/- Acre parcel (Tax Map Parcel #234-28.00-172.00) 29425 PEMBROKE LANDING-PLANTATION LAKES-MILLSBORO. A replica of Cape Henlopen Light was built in 1924, and in 2004 was moved to the middle of the roundabout on Delaware Route 1A (Rehoboth Avenue) entering Rehoboth Beach. written by Jim Duffy and posted on March 21, 20121 for Secrets of the Eastern Shore/Whimbrel Creations LLC. It's called Cape Henlopen Lighthouse - Beacon, Attraction and Icon. For the next few paragraphs, I will just leave this story in her capable hands: The noted lighthouse after withstanding the buffet of many fierce storms for nearly two centuries is trembling almost within reach of the hungry waves of dancing waters. Stately and imposing, its towering form has stood out in bold relief, an assurance to mariners by day and a protection at night. Bill Hicks is the . There she stood, shining, as British ships prowled the Atlantic Coast and the Delaware Bay during the American Revolution. Poetic Inspiration for Beach Season: "The Great Dune". A beautifully decorated 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo with 1340 MUST SEE HOME IN DESIRED BAY PINES COMMUNITY WITH FULL BASEMENT. Ft.(Est.) That light went dark for a bit when British ships returned and bombed Lewes during the War of 1812, but she was shining again soon enough, watching over schooners and steamboats and skipjacks and motorboats. . Home / Way Back Machine / Fall of an Ancient Warrior: The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse Collapses, 1926. . Built in 1767 with money raised from a series of lotteries in Philadelphia, the lighthouse was made of stone brought down from the Brandywine River north of Wilmington, Del., near the Pennsylvania . JUST WHAT YOUVE BEEN LOOKING FOR! In 1897, the sand dune surrounding the tower was reported to be steadily blowing away at a rate of 3 to 5 feet (0.91 to 1.52m) a year. The set of stamps will be shipped to you via 1st class U.S. Mail. Cape Henlopen in historic times has been gradually extending to the northwest, so that the original lighthouse eventually was at a sufficient distance from the end of land to be ineffectual for marking the point. It's a sad story, but I was always fascinated by it, she said, noting she's written poems about the lighthouse. Stories of its collapse have been passed on for generations, with many families still telling tales of the day the lighthouse disappeared from the eastern skyline. In July of 1924, however, a lighthouse keeper identified by the Wilmington Evening Journal as Captain Gray put a gloomy spin on all this activity: Government engineers are puzzled in their efforts to save the old lighthouse. Welcome to 23234 Hollypatch Lane in Harbeson, Delaware, just minutes to the beaches and downtown Demo of former Grotto Pizza corporate office has begun. Shop cape henlopen state park t-shirts created by independent artists from around the globe. He blinked his eyes and when he opened them he couldn't believe it she was gone.. Ironically, the end came not with a wicked storm but on a lovely spring afternoon, sunny and 62 degrees. They climbed to the top of the dune where the Lighthouse stood. Among the first lighthouses ever built in the American colonies, Cape Henlopen light shined from the coast between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach for 161 years, from 1764 to 1925. Somewhere along the way, Easter Monday became a holiday in Lewes. Shop delaware state park stickers created by independent artists from around the globe. One commenter from those colonial times put it this way: The wrecks which lie plentifully scattered over the beach afford a melancholy proof of the necessity of a lighthouse to the approaching navigator., To pay construction costs, those Philadelphians launched a lottery and sold thousands of tickets. Pieces of the lighthouse have been incorporated into many Cape Region homes, and several replicas have been built over the years, including the lighthouse inside the Rehoboth traffic circle. But those souvenir hunters had already taken away so many rocks, and many other rocks had been smashed into dust as they landed on the ground. When constructed, the tower stood on a shallow foundation atop a sand dune at a considerable distance from the sea. The beacon survived that ordeal, and many others that followed. But the relentless sea kept right on advancing. The community has always embraced the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse, Brittingham said. For millenia, native people lived off the land's abundant and rich resources and in the late 1600s, William Penn granted . When it comes to iconic images of Delaware, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse ranks at or near the top of the list. On windy days, the top of that dune resembled a windswept Sahara with sands moving in such clouds that no one could travel along the ridge except when the face was covered with a thick veil.. Cape Henlopen Lighthouse and Delaware Breakwater by John W. Beach and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. The first Lewes High School yearbook in 1930 was named the Beacon in honor of the lighthouse, and a similar tribute can be found on Lewes High School class rings from 1931 through 1969, she said. Every citizen should do all in his power to provide for its salvation., That young womans clarion call came too late. Return to Lighthouse Passport Stamp Collector Series ~ Lost Lights 1 Page, 2022 United States Lighthouse Society / non-profit 501c3. When constructed, the tower stood on a shallow foundation atop a sand dune at a considerable distance from the sea. 1926: A storm undermined the tower, causing it to fall seaward. Cape Henlopen Beacon photographed from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware. Beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bath Home on Extra Large Lot. Sep 2020 Family. Many of them started collecting mementos. The lighthouse was on the north side of the Great Dune on Cape Henlopen, Delaware. Capital Ringers, Christmas Reflections- Seaford, Lewes Lights Self-Guided Holiday Lights Tour, Expressions of Joy Duo Dolce Harp & Flute Concert, Low-Cost Health Insurance Enrollment Help, Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild Poetry Free Write. She had graduated from high school just a few weeks before she decided to jump into the lighthouse fray by penning an essay in the Wilmington News Journal on June 24, 1925. Listen 5:13. A couple of landowners from up that way granted a 200-acre site to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (which, in colonial times, included Delaware.). William Penn made the beaches of Cape Henlopen one of the first public lands established in what has become the United States in 1682 with the declaration that Cape Henlopen would be for "the usage of the citizens of Lewes and Sussex County." Cape Henlopen State Park has a 24-hour and year-round fishing . But its also mind-bogglinghow in the world did such a beloved icon come to such an undignified end? The love that gets showered on this lighthouse today isnt just a matter of nostalgia. By the early 1900s, everyone could see that the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse would soon drown if nothing were done. Cape Henlopen Beacon. All rights reserved. In the wake of the collapse of the lighthouse, the Dover Republican newspaper pointed toward another accessory in the casea general public that never got truly worked up enough about saving the iconic structure. . Join us for live music this week at Sydneys - open Wednesday through After over 30 years in the business, Irish Eyes is guaranteed to do it Dine at Iron Hill to support Harry K foundation in February. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. The Christmas Season, 2022, Eastern Shore Road Trips #1: 27 One-Day Adventures on Delmarva, You Wouldn't Believe! Delaware Cape Region History in Photographs, More Delaware Cape Region History in Photographs Posts. This is the perfect place Paul Cullen and The Fitzkee Bros with Violinist Valerie Vuolo. "The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse Reservation" was turned over to the War Department in 1938. Things to know about the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse The lighthouse was a 69-foot tall whitewashed stone tower standing on a 46-foot high sand hill, one-quarter of a mile from the Atlantic shore. The Original Cape Henlopen Lighthouse. The bureaucrats were all having lunch aboard a ship when a lookout on deck shouted, Its gone!. We have given up hope, and all we can do now is to wait until she sinks into the water.. On Jan. 4, 1914, the Washington Post reported that Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was completely surrounded by water in the wake of a storm. Almost 150 years later, the sea and shore erosion won the war with the lighthouse. No building in our border is so crowded with Facts, History, and Tradition as this Tower. Capital Ringers, Christmas Reflections- Seaford, Lewes Lights Self-Guided Holiday Lights Tour, Expressions of Joy Duo Dolce Harp & Flute Concert, Low-Cost Health Insurance Enrollment Help, Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild Poetry Free Write, Paul Townsend Team ~ Paul & Darlene Townsend, REALTORS. He was there for the next 40 years. In 1905, its workers packed several tons of brush and wood around the base of the lighthouse. As noted up at the top here, Mother Nature was the main culprit. 31848 Shell Landing Way, Lewes, DE 19958 - Bayfront at Rehoboth - Beautiful Sunsets from this rare Lovely 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home on a large lot with mature trees in the Community of Lochwood Gorgeous Listing in The Henlopen Condominiums. Even though the structure was within the limits of Delaware, the 200 acres on which it was erected was granted by the late proprietors of Pennsylvania to the Board of Wardens for the purpose of erecting a lighthouse on Cape Henlopen." 39.15+/- ACRES ON RT 24! On April 13, 1926, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse fell into the Atlantic Ocean. It did say, however, "that any attempt to burn or destroy it, [the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia] rendered highly penal by the act of the general assembly passed in the year 1773." SOURCE DELAWARE PUBLIC ARCHIVES, Ethel P.B. Take some snacks, wipes, and fishing gear. South Rehoboth. The Reno (Nev.) Evening Gazette, May 27, 1926: [The day the lighthouse fell, it was] as if an ancient warrior were laid low at last. The light atop the storied beacon went dark on Oct. 1, 1924. "We selected that titlewell for three reasons," said David McDonald - a volunteer with the Museum and an expert about this exhibit. Built in 1765, it was the second oldest lighthouse in the country at the time of its collapse. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022 Secrets of the Eastern Shore. Built in 1767 with money raised from a series of lotteries in Philadelphia, the lighthouse was made of stone brought down from the Brandywine River north of Wilmington, Del., near the Pennsylvania border. Longtime Lewes resident Joan Marshall Thompson said her family will always remember the day of the collapse as the day her father's sister died, when he was a boy. The tower was 26 feet in diameter, 6 feet thick at the base, 69 feet, 3 inches tall, and 17 feet, 6 inches in diameter and 3 feet . It was built on the north side of the Great Dune, 46 feet above sea level, to obtain additional height. [1] It was the sixth lighthouse built in the colonies. Various rotary clubs tried to raise funds in support of such projects. The article quotes an engineer attributing the phenomenon to the way winds from the north would pick up sand from the eastern face of the dune, then carry it up and over to the western side. introducing citations to additional sources, "Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Celebrates the Completion of the Rehoboth Avenue Streetscape Project", "Cape Henlopen Lighthouse replica historical marker unveiled", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cape_Henlopen_Light&oldid=1079940052, This page was last edited on 29 March 2022, at 13:13. National Lighthouse Day was established, August 7, 1989 by Congress. The beacon that went up on that site stood seven stories tall, a granite octagon rising from the midst of a scrub pine forest on high land about a mile from the coast. If you don't have time for the cruise, head to Cape Henlopen State Park, where you can view the lighthouse from the park's northeastern corner. Finally, at 12:45 p.m., that last bit of sand that meant the difference between support and non-support slipped down the hill toward the sea and after a tottering moment was followed by tons of brick and stone. Custom Cape Cod Situated on Burtons Pond. There she stood, shining, as Delaware emerged from Pennsylvanias shadow and became The First State to ratify the Constitution. 1926 - The old lighthouse tower at Cape Henlopen, entrance to Delaware Bay, fell into the sea on the afternoon of April 13. History. Cape Henlopen State Park is a 5,193 acre (21 km) Delaware state park on Cape Henlopen. FREE STAGING FOR YOUR HOME - NOT VIRTUAL STAGING, Building Materials Rise, But Lumber Prices Ease, First floor living with beautiful interior in Champions Club, Under Contract - Spacious Rehoboth Beach townhouse in Canal Corkran. In 1925, history buff and citizen activist Everett C. Johnson tried to stoke public passions about Cape Henlopen Lighthouse by putting this long view into perspective: Old Henlopen is not just a bit of sentiment of a few who feel History and Tradition but it is known in every port the world over. Website by, Order by clicking Here or visit our store. Built in 1765, it was the second oldest lighthouse in the country at the time of its collapse. We have built jetties only to see them smashed, for the sea is stronger than mans ingenuity. The Addy Sea, Bethany. Another thing to remember is that Cape Henlopen Lighthouse wasnt just an icon for Delawareanssailors from every corner of the world harbored memories of that granite tower. In the hours and days that followed, locals flocked to the beach to see the fallen warrior. Before collapsing in April 1926, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse guided vessels from the Atlantic Ocean into the Delaware Bay for more than 150 years. It was built in There was talk again in the days that followed of gathering up the pieces of the beacon and putting the Lighthouse back together, Humpty Dumpty style, either on the Dover Green and the University of Delaware. In 1788, the Columbian Magazine had carried a "Description of the Lighthouse of Cape Henlopen."The article made no mention of anyone burning the lighthouse. 1924: The tower was discontinued as a lighthouse and the lens was removed from the light for refurbishing and to be placed on display. DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL! Situated at the mouth of the Delaware Bay sits Cape Henlopen State Park and its 6+ miles of coastline. It is the only lighthouse still operating off the coastline of southern Delaware. WATERFRONT!!! It was built in 1767 and first lit in 1769. Published May 19, 2022 at 5:08 PM EDT. Headline in the Wilmington Evening Journal, Jan. 2, 1925: Beacon Built in 1764 Likely to be Carried Into Sea Today by Fierce Northeaster., The Wilmington Evening News, Jan. 5, 1925: The Cape Henlopen light house was again victorious and today the beacon was still standing after battling the gale which raged in Delaware Bay.. In an unsigned article from 1890, The New York Sun described the traveling hill of Cape Henlopen and as one of the most interesting [natural] features of the Atlantic Coast., A ridge of sand more than a mile long, fifty feet high, and two hundred yards wide in the base, is rolling inland like a mighty wave from the sea, and with a power that is irresistible. With the building of the Brandywine Light, waiting areas were no longer needed behind the breakwaters, so the light was disabled. The Light is featured in a lot of local artwork, books, and media. It sat atop the great dune, due to the fact the dune moved three to five feet a year the collapse was inevitable. 3 Blocks To The Sand & Surf! Then came the main eventchildren and adults rolling themselves down the sandy slope in a series of hotly contested races. There are some houses today around Lewes that still have fireplaces and hearths made of the bricks, collected by people after the collapse. Because the dune moved 3 to 5 feet a year, it eventually claimed the lighthouse. Welcome To The Ideal Bayfront Experience! As the 1920s dawned, various government agencies and Delaware civic groups were looking for ways to save Cape Henlopen Lighthouse for posterity. It should be protected so that it may remain an enduring relic of the past for centuries to come., Sentiment and tradition demand its preservation. The state formed a special Lighthouse Preservation Commission, headed by the aforementioned Everett C. Johnson. All rights reserved. Web sources included Wikipedia and Lighthouse Friends, along with quite a few others. Be Unique. Its light was automated in 1973 and the final lighthouse keepers left at that time. But did the project alter the flow of waves and sand in ways that moved things along faster? It sat atop the great dune, due to the fact the dune moved three to five feet a year the collapse was inevitable. Before the collapse, though, the tower had been discontinued as a lighthouse. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. The land was donated by Thomas and William Penn. 29425 Pembroke Landing, Millsboro, DE 19966 - Plantation Lakes ~ This polished 3 bed/ 2.5 bath home MUST SEE HOME IN DESIRED BAY PINES COMMUNITY WITH FULL BASEMENT. According to John Beach's book "Cape Henlopen Lighthouse and Delaware Breakwater," toward the end, the base of the seven-story lighthouse was overhanging the dune and it became popular for people to pose for photographs beneath it. It was built in 1767 and first lit in 1769. It is believed the last bit of sand supporting the lighthouse gave way about 12:45 p.m. that day and the tower fell to the beach below. Website. Cape Water Taxi will take you on a 90-minute cruise where you will have time to explore the 49-foot cast iron Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse and surrounding area. A new exhibit opening Friday, May 27, at the Rehoboth Beach Museum will examine the historic, artistic and symbolic legacy of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse. No, we will not send junk mailpeople on the Shore have better manners than that! The Wilmington Evening Journal, 1925: After a session of such exercise, appetites are whetted for the heavy basket luncheons that have been prepared. rehobothbeachmuseum.org. 3 Blocks To The Sand & Surf! [4] All measures to protect the tower failed and in April 1926, a storm undermined the tower, causing it to fall seaward. After the lighthouse fell, people flocked to the site and collected remnants. Passing Cape Henlopen marked a momentous turn in life for countless seamen, as the spot often signaled the start or the end of a treacherous trans-Atlantic journey. Off the coast on the bay side are two lighthouses, called the Harbor of Refuge Light and the Delaware Breakwater East End Light. Thats pretty impressive, considering the fact that the lighthouse toppled into the sea nearly a century ago. When it collapsed, it is said many local residents went to the site to collect the stone for fireplaces and chimneys. On Easter Monday, just a week and a day before the collapse, Brittingham said, Lewes and Rehoboth . We humans may have accelerated things by building that big breakwater nearby to protect ships and sailors. A second replica of the lighthouse was built and placed on a small hill overlooking the 5 points intersection on Route 1. Over that time changes came to Lewes, the Lighthouse and the Joseph family as he raised 7 children on the dunes of Cape Henlopen. Each Friday we will be posting a new video alternating between Meet the Past and Lewes Legends & Landmarks. The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse collapsed on April 13, 1926. In 1914, protective works were built by the Lighthouse Service, but because of the general erosion of the coastline, they could not be done effectively except at a great cost. REDUCED PRICE! Tranquil Setting on the Indian 55+ COMMUNITY CEDAR VALLEY - REHOBOTH BEACH. The tower was 26 feet in Cape Henlopen Light is one of the striking attractions of the Atlantic coast. [2], Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was constructed on the north side of the Great Dune to obtain additional height. If you have kids and want a really fun fishing day head to Delaware's Cape Henlopen State Park Fishing Pier. Leach created this painting of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse in the 1920s. Thompson's childhood home is one of many in Lewes featuring a fireplace faced with stone from the lighthouse. Earlier in 1924, the lens was removed from the light for refurbishing and to be placed on . 2 story, Open Floor Plan Luxury Resort Living on a Premium 31848 SHELL LANDING WAY-BAYFRONT AT REHOBOTH-LEWES. It's been 90 years since the historic Cape Henlopen Lighthouse fell from its home atop the Great Dune in what is now Cape Henlopen State Park, but the beacon remains a popular subject for artists, historians and longtime Lewes residents. Originally constructed in 1767, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was nearly burned down by the British in 1777. Nature Center hours: Mid-June through Labor Day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; Fall and Spring 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; November through March 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday but closed Monday and Tuesday. Although 96 years have passed since the tower fell to the beach, it still holds an important place in the hearts and minds of local residents and is one of the most popular . It has covered half-a-mile in forty years., By the time this piece was published, the crest of the sandhill had moved from an estimated 25 yards north of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse to 50 yards south of it. During all those momentous decades, the ocean kept advancing on the beacon, little by little. Earlier in 1924, the lens was removed from the light for refurbishing and to be placed on display. One man is reported to have half filled his automobile with rocks from the tower., The Wilmington Morning News, April 15, 1926: Souvenir hunters at the site of the fallen tower are carting off everything in sight, according to a report from Lewes yesterday. In addition to scores of old newspaper articles, I gleaned material for this essay from several books, including Lantern on Lewes: Where the Past is Present, Delaware Lights: A History of Lighthouses in the First State, Shipwrecks and Rescues Along the Barrier Islands of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, and Delaware: and Delaware: A Guide to the First State. Head Over to Headwater Cove for Fresh New Homes and an Easy Resort Slam Dunk Trivia - Win a pair of tournament passes! It lies in the state of Delaware, near the town of Lewes, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. 44 Strange and Wondrous Delmarva Tales, Eastern Shore Road Trips #2: 26 MORE One-Day Adventures on Delmarva. PRICE IMPROVEMENT | Incredible Surroundings | 24 YOU'LL LOVE THE VERY NATURE OF IT! program@rehobothbeachmuseum.org. The wardens repaired the damage and it was relit by 1784. To seamen it will be as if an old and trusted friend has passed away.. MONTH OF FUNDAYS! Before the collapse, though, the tower had been discontinued as a lighthouse. )Station Established: 1767Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1769Operational: Actually more of a marker, it is used by pilot boats that ferry supplies out to large ships. Pretty much everyone in town made their way to Cape Henlopensome in carriages, some atop carts, some on foot. Packaged Christmas Dinners - Let Sydneys do the cooking this year! Home features 3 bedrooms and 2 32060 Heritage Road - Allow the sellers' unanticipated move (job relocation) to be the new buyers 2102 N Bay Shore Drive, Milton, DE 19968 ~ Rare opportunity to design your home to leverage amazing 114 MISSISSIPPI AVE~BROADKILL BEACH~MILTON. Over time, the ocean encroached on the shoreline, threatening the stability of the lighthouse. 99 Ocean View Pkwy, Bethany Beach, DE 19930. Another observer from colonial times predicted she would stand until the end of the world: [The lighthouse] bids fair to endure until the final wreck of all things shall destroy it.. An unsympathetic government will do nothing, but the people of Delaware should act. It became the sixth lighthouse established in America during the colonial period. In 1926 the Cape Henlopen lighthouse, located on what is now known as the great dune, collapsed into the ocean. 1776 Steakhouse is ideal setting for great food, conversation, 22586 RAMBLE RD~RIDINGS AT REHOBOTH~LEWES. Oh sure, those regular folks could point easily enough to the failures of various governmental agencies, but on the other hand: Eloquent please were made for [the] preservation [of the lighthouse]. On April 13, 1926, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse fell into the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Water Taxi. It was renamed Fort Miles in 1941 and after the war became an Army training base, a naval facility . Meet the Past will highlight real Lewes residents. One proposal would have installed a giant arc of obsolete World War I ships to serve as a jetty around the beacon. The keeper of the Henlopen Light was in charge of maintaining the Beacon. Located On The Northern Side Of Broadkill Beach, Back Bay Demo of former Grotto Pizza corporate office has begun. Local tradition states that after the Tower's collapse many locals were searching the beach for pieces of stone that made up the beautiful lighthouse to . 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