Albeit a wet and rainy rendition for most of us in the Mid-Atlantic, Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone. That means beach season is officially back in session, and the kickoff to summer is now underway.
Because swimming and beachgoing are summer rites of passage, it goes without saying that vacationers like to head to the Eastern Shore and some of the most popular beach resorts they boast this time of the year. The Delmarva Peninsula, in particular, holds a vast variety of options to pursue.
While it’s true that Ocean City, Maryland, arguably takes Center Stage in dominating the East Coast beach scene, there’s plenty to be said about Delaware’s delightful array. The state, in fact, has so many that it seems wherever you go, you’re always within driving range of a beach or boating/coastal attraction. That’s because Delaware itself is such a compact, quaint, coastal state with a deep-rooted history tied to the tides of maritime history.
Some communities still retain such nautically nostalgic features and attractions that you’d think you’ve been transported back in time. The Town of Bethel poses the perfect example—a charming rural shipbuilding village of sorts trapped in time. For this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m offering a quaint and historic overview of Bethel, Delaware.
Early Settlements
As is the case pretty much everywhere else throughout the territory that would come to be known as Delaware, the earliest inhabitants were Native Americans. Later on, pre-Revolution colonization brought Europeans to the region.
Records show that the land now comprising Bethel, Delaware, was originally part of the 500 acres granted to James Caldwell in 1728 by the province of Maryland. Ongoing boundary disputes between Maryland and the Penn family continued throughout most of the 1700s.
Then, in 1795, Kendal Major Lewis acquired the bulk of James Caldwell’s original grant as well as an additional tract of land on Broad Creek originally known as Mitchell’s Harbor. It was here that he established the landing of Lewis’ Wharf, which would transform into the thriving seafaring, shipbuilding community of Lewisville by the mid-1800s.
Shipbuilding Legacy
The conditions couldn’t be more ideal for shipbuilding, with the town’s location along Broad Creek and the bucolic surroundings of forestry in addition. A special rail was even established by Lewisville resident and superintendent Jonathan Moore in 1869. The Marine Railway Company became a reliable source for the transport of finished sailing vessels and more, all of which had been constructed out of the resident forests’ oak, cypress, and pine trees.
While many unique vessels were produced throughout local shipyards, the community’s greatest claim to fame was the creation of the Chesapeake sailing ram. The new shallow-draft ships were distinct for their flat bottoms and a design compatible with hauling lumber, oysters, and other cargo throughout the Chesapeake’s distinct waterways. There was an average of 30 or so rams being produced daily between the years 1870s and 1900s.
In Later Years
In light of growing popularity, the community applied for a post office in the 1880s. That was when it was discovered that another Lewisville, Delaware, was already in existence. As a result, the town was renamed Bethel.
The consistent maritime merrymaking eventually ended, but the long-lasting legacy of the community has been preserved and remains intact. The Bethel Historic District was even added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
The Bethel Historic District consists of various buildings and other markers that showcase the town’s signature architectural style. Among these are the Moore House, two Ship-Carpenter Houses, the 4 R’s Farmhouse, and the Bethel Heritage Museum. The latter features plenty of relics surrounding the shipbuilding heyday, including vintage photos, tools, scale models of ships, recovered artifacts from Bethel shore banks, and donated collections, in addition to many other callouts.
An Enduring Legacy
While Bethel’s standout attractions are more low-key than those at more typical tourist destinations, it’s the overall quaint, transcending charm that proves to be the community’s crowning glory. Life here, for residents and visitors alike, tends to move at a slower, more relaxed, and at-ease pace.
There are even easy-going, yesteryear-like events taking place frequently throughout town, open and welcoming for all to share in. One such example is the upcoming Bethel Town Picnic on the Bethel Museum grounds on Saturday, June 13.
Bethel is a hidden gem that’s just four miles from Laurel and circa 12 miles from the Maryland Line. Consider visiting for a novelty detour day-trip into ultimate nostalgia.