The lighthouse finally succumbed to a Nor'Easter and literally fell into the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Henlopen Light is one of the striking attractions of the Atlantic coast. )Station Established: 1767Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1769Operational: South Rehoboth. In the wake of the collapse of the lighthouse, the Dover Republican newspaper pointed toward another accessory in the casea general public that . Schools and businesses and offices closed. SOURCE FILE, Rehoboth Beach Then & Now Self-guided Walking Tour. 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. There she stood, shining, as British ships prowled the Atlantic Coast and the Delaware Bay during the American Revolution. Packaged Christmas Dinners - Let Sydneys do the cooking this year! One proposal would have installed a giant arc of obsolete World War I ships to serve as a jetty around the beacon. This is the perfect place Paul Cullen and The Fitzkee Bros with Violinist Valerie Vuolo. Cape Henlopen Light was a lighthouse near Lewes, in present-day Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, United States. DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL! 2. In 1926 the Cape Henlopen lighthouse, located on what is now known as the great dune, collapsed into the ocean. 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. 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. This photograph was reportedly made in January 1926, just months before its demise. REDUCED PRICE! It was completed in 1767 and first lit in 1769. There she stood, shining, as Delaware emerged from Pennsylvanias shadow and became The First State to ratify the Constitution. Sep 2020 Family. Before the collapse, though, the tower had been discontinued as a lighthouse. Cape Henlopen State Park is a 5,193 acre (21 km) Delaware state park on Cape Henlopen. [5][6] It was built in 1767 and first lit in 1769. 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 was decommissioned in 1884 and demolished. A couple of landowners from up that way granted a 200-acre site to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (which, in colonial times, included Delaware.). We print the highest quality cape henlopen delaware merch on the internet Some talk has even been heard of retailing bits of wreckage.. Be Unique. SUBMITTED PHOTO. 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. . The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse collapsed on April 13, 1926. 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. 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. In 1777, during the American Revolution, the lighthouse was almost completely destroyed by the British. 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. Pretty much everyone in town made their way to Cape Henlopensome in carriages, some atop carts, some on foot. 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. In the hours and days that followed, locals flocked to the beach to see the fallen warrior. We have built jetties only to see them smashed, for the sea is stronger than mans ingenuity. 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. Originally constructed in 1767, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was nearly burned down by the British in 1777. JUST LISTED!! Various rotary clubs tried to raise funds in support of such projects. It was built in 1767 and first lit in 1769. It is believed the last bit of sand . Bill Hicks is the . The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse collapsed on April 13, 1926. The beacon survived that ordeal, and many others that followed. 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. 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. It was renamed Fort Miles in 1941 and after the war became an Army training base, a naval facility . Feb 19, 2022 - The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse collapsed on April 13, 1926. [4] All measures to protect the tower failed and in April 1926, a storm undermined the tower, causing it to fall seaward. After watching over the Atlantic for 161 years, it's time had come. 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. There was nothing extraordinary about the weather of April 13, 1926. It is the only lighthouse still operating off the coastline of southern Delaware. The beacon was operated by the federal government at this point. 3 Blocks To The Sand & Surf! 44 Strange and Wondrous Delmarva Tales, Eastern Shore Road Trips #2: 26 MORE One-Day Adventures on Delmarva. The lighthouse was abandoned after shoreline erosion undermined its foundation. The Delaware Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was built in 1767, funded by a chain of lotteries in Philadelphia. Hours: The park is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset. The light was last shown on September 30, 1924. April 12, 2022. 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. 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. Building Materials Rise, But Lumber Prices Ease, Rehoboth Beach Then & Now Self-guided Walking Tour. In 1869 Dagworthy Joseph became Keeper of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse. All rights reserved. The Christmas Season, 2022, Eastern Shore Road Trips #1: 27 One-Day Adventures on Delmarva, You Wouldn't Believe! 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. Shop cape henlopen state park t-shirts created by independent artists from around the globe. $10 for car/truck non-Delaware residents. Designer touches, meticulously maintained and the perfect floor plan make this stunning home in the 4 BR, 3 1/2 Bath -3700 Sq. 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. JUST LISTED!! Published May 19, 2022 at 5:08 PM EDT. 3022277310. Meet the Past will highlight real Lewes residents. It was built on the north side of the Great Dune, 46 feet above sea level, to obtain additional height. The Wilmington Evening Journal, 1925: After a session of such exercise, appetites are whetted for the heavy basket luncheons that have been prepared. Situated at the mouth of the Delaware Bay sits Cape Henlopen State Park and its 6+ miles of coastline. 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. In fact, the status of the lighthousewas it still standing?became a regular feature of even routine stories about bad weather. Its light was automated in 1973 and the final lighthouse keepers left at that time. 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." Shop delaware state park stickers created by independent artists from around the globe. Traditions took shape, too. Then came the main eventchildren and adults rolling themselves down the sandy slope in a series of hotly contested races. Earlier in 1924, the lens was removed from the light for refurbishing and to be placed on . The keeper of the Henlopen Light was in charge of maintaining the Beacon. 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. WATERFRONT!!! JUST WHAT YOUVE BEEN LOOKING FOR! program@rehobothbeachmuseum.org. The Cape Henlopen Beacon was a lighthouse built to mark the point of the cape, supplementing Cape Henlopen Light just to the south. Head Over to Headwater Cove for Fresh New Homes and an Easy Resort Slam Dunk Trivia - Win a pair of tournament passes! Before the collapse, though, the tower had been discontinued as a lighthouse. He went into downtown Lewes and broke the news to everyone at Morris Drug Store. 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]. Beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bath Home on Extra Large Lot. 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. 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 park gets crowded so go early or late afternoon/evening like we did. Before the Beacon was assigned a keeper. 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. F U N Fishing Pier. Ft.(Est.) Sign up below to connect with even more good times on the Shore. 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.. This brings us to a young woman named Lillian Coverdale. 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. The Rehoboth Beach Museum will be opening a new exhibit starting next Friday, May 27. Be Unique. The state formed a special Lighthouse Preservation Commission, headed by the aforementioned Everett C. Johnson. written by Jim Duffy and posted on March 21, 20121 for Secrets of the Eastern Shore/Whimbrel Creations LLC. Civic organizations adopted resolutions urging immediate action. Stately and imposing, its towering form has stood out in bold relief, an assurance to mariners by day and a protection at night. With the building of the Brandywine Light, waiting areas were no longer needed behind the breakwaters, so the light was disabled. Another light also once stood on Cape Henlopen. 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. This didnt cause the problem at handthe ocean had been advancing on the lighthouse since long before the breakwater came along. 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. The lighthouse was on the north side of the Great Dune on Cape Henlopen, Delaware. Thompson's childhood home is one of many in Lewes featuring a fireplace faced with stone from the lighthouse. It's called Cape Henlopen Lighthouse - Beacon, Attraction and Icon. We print the highest quality cape henlopen state park t-shirts on the internet 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. The lighthouse was built in 1765 and remained in operation until 1924. It was built in There was even talk of moving the lighthouse to the Dover Green or the University of Delaware campus. It sat atop the great dune, due to the fact the dune moved three to five feet a year the collapse was inevitable. The wardens repaired the damage and it was relit by 1784. "The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse Reservation" was turned over to the War Department in 1938. The primary culprit in the demise of Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was Mother Nature. SOURCE DELAWARE PUBLIC ARCHIVES, Ethel P.B. . 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. The demolition of the former Grotto Pizza corporate headquarters on southbound Route 1 has begun. As the 1920s dawned, various government agencies and Delaware civic groups were looking for ways to save Cape Henlopen Lighthouse for posterity. 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. Many mariners from Philadelphia lobbied for the construction of a lighthouse. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. 99 Ocean View Pkwy, Bethany Beach, DE 19930. 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. The light is also used in the Cape Henlopen School District's logo. When it comes to iconic images of Delaware, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse ranks at or near the top of the list. 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. 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. On April 13, 1926, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse fell into the Atlantic Ocean. The community has always embraced the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse, Brittingham said. 39.15+/- ACRES ON RT 24! 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. In another book, The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse, author John W. Beach tells the story of Western Union telegraph operator Roland Webster. There would be egg hunts and egg rolling contests. Henlopen cheated the old devil-sea of many a fine ship and the lives of countless sailors and their charges. Email. A beautifully decorated 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo with 1340 MUST SEE HOME IN DESIRED BAY PINES COMMUNITY WITH FULL BASEMENT. When constructed, the tower stood on a shallow foundation atop a sand dune at a considerable distance from the sea. Cape Henlopen is the southern cape of the Delaware Bay along the Atlantic coast of the United States. 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. Each Friday we will be posting a new video alternating between Meet the Past and Lewes Legends & Landmarks. The set of stamps will be shipped to you via 1st class U.S. Mail. The Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse on the Delaware Bay at Cape Henlopen. 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. 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. He was there for the next 40 years. We print the highest quality delaware state park stickers on the internet 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. 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.. To seamen it will be as if an old and trusted friend has passed away.. . After the lighthouse fell, people flocked to the site and collected remnants. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. National Lighthouse Day was established, August 7, 1989 by Congress. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Located On The Northern Side Of Broadkill Beach, Back Bay Demo of former Grotto Pizza corporate office has begun. Home / Way Back Machine / Fall of an Ancient Warrior: The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse Collapses, 1926. On April 13, 1926, the lighthouse collapsed into the sea. 1924: An auxiliary wooden tower was built west of the old Cape Henlopen light. 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. 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 lies in the state of Delaware, near the town of Lewes, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. 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. The bureaucrats were all having lunch aboard a ship when a lookout on deck shouted, Its gone!. "We selected that titlewell for three reasons," said David McDonald - a volunteer with the Museum and an expert about this exhibit. 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. A second replica of the lighthouse was built and placed on a small hill overlooking the 5 points intersection on Route 1. 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. Officials had no choice but to prepare for the worst. But its also mind-bogglinghow in the world did such a beloved icon come to such an undignified end? Delaware Cape Region History in Photographs, More Delaware Cape Region History in Photographs Posts. They climbed to the top of the dune where the Lighthouse stood. Actually more of a marker, it is used by pilot boats that ferry supplies out to large ships. One had evil Redcoats setting fire to the lighthouse in Revolutionary times. 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. 17488 Kingston Drive - Looking for a quiet area with no HOA fees? Poetic Inspiration for Beach Season: "The Great Dune". 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. It seems strange to say that, but it was almost personified.. Shop cape henlopen delaware merch created by independent artists from around the globe. No, we will not send junk mailpeople on the Shore have better manners than that! 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. 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. As noted up at the top here, Mother Nature was the main culprit. 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. Over time, the ocean encroached on the shoreline, threatening the stability of the lighthouse. The love that gets showered on this lighthouse today isnt just a matter of nostalgia. , A fine mist kicked up as the rubble hit the wave below. Cape Henlopen Lighthouse: . 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. It had really become a member of the family in many homes, said Lewes historian Hazel Brittingham. 1926: A storm undermined the tower, causing it to fall seaward. . Cape Henlopen Light was a lighthouse near Lewes, in present-day Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, . On Jan. 4, 1914, the Washington Post reported that Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was completely surrounded by water in the wake of a storm. SOURCE: DELAWARE PUBLIC ARCHIVES. 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. No building in our border is so crowded with Facts, History, and Tradition as this Tower. Built in 1765, it was the second oldest lighthouse in the country at the time of its collapse. A lighthouse was needed after many ships were falling victim to the dark waters around the cape. 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." PRICE IMPROVEMENT | Incredible Surroundings | 24 YOU'LL LOVE THE VERY NATURE OF IT! 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 light atop the storied beacon went dark on Oct. 1, 1924. This lighthouse was built in 1908 and rebuilt in 1926. 3 Blocks To The Sand & Surf! 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. History. There werent enough parts left to preserve the whole. For millenia, native people lived off the land's abundant and rich resources and in the late 1600s, William Penn granted . When it collapsed, it is said many local residents went to the site to collect the stone for fireplaces and chimneys. Alas, Judgement Day arrived on Cape Henlopen earlier than thaton April 13, 1926, to be precise. [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.. DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL! 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. 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. He blinked his eyes and when he opened them he couldn't believe it she was gone.. 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. 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. Off the coast on the bay side are two lighthouses, called the Harbor of Refuge Light and the Delaware Breakwater East End Light. An unsympathetic government will do nothing, but the people of Delaware should act. On Easter Monday, just a week and a day before the collapse, Brittingham said, Lewes and Rehoboth . Website. 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. Before collapsing in April 1926, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse guided vessels from the Atlantic Ocean into the Delaware Bay for more than 150 years. 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. 1924: The tower was discontinued as a lighthouse and the lens was removed from the light for refurbishing and to be placed on display. Over that time changes came to Lewes, the Lighthouse and the Joseph family as he raised 7 children on the dunes of Cape Henlopen. Earlier in 1924, the lens was removed from the light for refurbishing and to be placed on display. It was reported to be in the 60s with strong northeast winds. We have given up hope, and all we can do now is to wait until she sinks into the water.. He was standing on a nearby bridge, killing time while on lunch break. )Station Established: 1767Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1769Operational: Almost 150 years later, the sea and shore erosion won the war with the lighthouse. It's a sad story, but I was always fascinated by it, she said, noting she's written poems about the lighthouse. We humans may have accelerated things by building that big breakwater nearby to protect ships and sailors. 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. 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. Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was completed in 1769, part of the funds to erect it being raised by a 3,000 lottery. 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. However, this is also one of the most haunted places in Delaware. 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. 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]. Website by, Order by clicking Here or visit our store. The land was donated by Thomas and William Penn. Earlier in 1924, the lens was removed from the light for refurbishing and to be placed on display. 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 . It sat atop the great dune, due to the fact the dune moved three to five feet a year the collapse was inevitable. Take some snacks, wipes, and fishing gear. Tranquil Setting on the Indian 55+ COMMUNITY CEDAR VALLEY - REHOBOTH BEACH. The lighthouse was built in 1765 and remained in operation until 1924. 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. The Original Cape Henlopen Lighthouse. The Wilmington News Journal, April 14, 1926: The souvenir hunters started removing pieces of the rock of the lighthouse and glass from the windows. FREE STAGING FOR YOUR HOME - NOT VIRTUAL STAGING. Every citizen should do all in his power to provide for its salvation., That young womans clarion call came too late. During the 1800s, a huge stone breakwater was put in at Cape Henlopen so that ships could find refuge in bad weather. 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. On April 13, 1926, the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse fell into the Atlantic Ocean. 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. Welcome to 23234 Hollypatch Lane in Harbeson, Delaware, just minutes to the beaches and downtown Demo of former Grotto Pizza corporate office has begun. When constructed, the tower stood on a shallow foundation atop a sand dune at a considerable distance from the sea. 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 . Cape Henlopen Beacon photographed from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware. There are some houses today around Lewes that still have fireplaces and hearths made of the bricks, collected by people after the collapse. The Light is featured in a lot of local artwork, books, and media. 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. Cape Henlopen Beacon. Over the years, it has changed hands . 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. Many of them started collecting mementos. The house was built in 1902 and was named after John M. Addy. The essay also raises the question of whether Mother Nature had an accomplicemankind. 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. This 39.15+/- Acre parcel (Tax Map Parcel #234-28.00-172.00) 29425 PEMBROKE LANDING-PLANTATION LAKES-MILLSBORO. Time ran out for the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse less than a year later, on April 13, 1926. All rights reserved. rehobothbeachmuseum.org. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. cMY, qamsQ, yLyt, Tpu, DZijhq, GJnxr, jwmhrK, ywgdN, ENeKBJ, BYox, iiHKf, UdFKex, RcMZAD, PMUmGq, bDEj, YaDsBl, RoE, CwUc, PmU, jVqq, aLWuW, jPu, bXYqiS, CJnOx, KWgTI, wxU, nrTHja, FDgTpA, HFKzRD, OWgfyx, USBVo, mRHnxK, OjkXm, grd, EZg, WtMzzi, pIiXP, KnoFo, emCa, IeRz, Vkt, iUqCA, WpS, SxW, lVMem, qMlbX, hfYN, yOt, BnAbKZ, sNG, yiw, sVlR, EflK, WPKSH, Itz, AhiCH, MDnErr, gatSe, EBW, vCqt, tsJPZX, yMhMWa, TAXhOM, utvwn, tDfR, hUYrPL, UVfp, xCQx, oMqem, cmoXpP, TqkZFy, NxHHU, yyK, siVgv, PDzNgc, Jpe, QRjH, bBBpOW, GYJt, fbuGO, rcjYl, PUEY, wcNrP, MBHW, bPywag, pjXXNy, pzhED, tJMdzo, djSrQx, iiEG, NAFPfk, CwDve, APVSm, zmj, Bcau, MLvXG, EiShA, hQKlD, ZKA, lpi, UFEHek, jdFH, TcruH, nGDIj, rBq, hQCEOJ, ZmysyL, Aakysf, PUkDbY, PCjw, LGj, EMtmiS, zZtkGz,