September 29th, 2011

What’s Going On? Lewes, Activities, Events, 16th Annual Boast The Coast Maritime Festival, Seafood Tasting, Boat Parade, Boat Tours, Northern Neck Chantey Singers, Craft Fair, Sidewalk Sale, Lewes in Bloom Fall Festival, Seafood Tasting, Delaware Beaches, Saturday, October 1st

October is making a grand entrance in the Historic Town of Lewes, Delaware.  Remember?  The First Town in the First State.  As if that was not enough. 

I was in Lewes last Friday and the town looked great.  The hanging flowers adorning the streets were still gorgeous.  Must be the rainy weather we have had. 

I better get on with this post because Lewes is busy.

Saturday, October 1st, the Lewes Chamber of Commerce is presenting the 16th Annual Boast The Coast Maritime Festival.  It will be full of maritime-themed activities throughout the day and even into the evening. 

At 11:00 a.m. the Boast The Coast activities will begin at 1812 Park and at the City Dock. 

1812 Park was developed to commemorate the defense of Lewes against a 2-day bombardment by the British fleet.  It is at the corner of Savannah Rd. and Front St.  It also is the entrance of the City Dock.

Free boat tours at the City Dock will also begin at 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.  The tour will include New Jersey’s Tall Ship, the AJ Meerwald.  The AJ Meerwald returns to Lewes from southern New Jersey.  It was built in 1928, restored by the Bayshore Discovery Project, and then launched as an educational vessel in 1996.  The New Jersey state legislature named her the state’s official tall ship in 1998.  She will be participating as an entrant in the Lighted Boat Parade.

The Lightship Overfalls, berthed in the Canalfront Park on Front Street, was recently designated a National Historic Landmark and will be open for free tours from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The Lewes Historical Society’s Maritime History Museum located in the Cannonball House, will also be open from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. for free tours, featuring their extensive collection reflecting Lewes’ maritime history.

Seafood Tasting at 1812 Park will feature specialties prepared by numerous chamber member restaurants.

Also at the 1812 Park, the Family Fun Tent will feature the entertaining Flumpa the Tree Frog Musical Show and Chuckles the Clown’s pirate-themed magic show.

Life at Sea at the Zwaanendael Museum located at Savannah Rd. and Kings Highway will feature programs and activities showcasing Delaware’s maritime history.  10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Boat Parade

To register, boat owners can pick up entry forms at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce visitor center in the Fisher-Martin House next to the Zwaanendael Museum or call 302-645-8073 for more info.  You can also visit http://www.leweschamber.com.

It does not cost anything for boat owners to enter the parade.  All boat entries will receive prizes and will be eligible for 2 cash prizes.  All registrations must be received by Noon on October 1st.

Registered boats will line up at the Roosevelt Inlet at 6:15 p.m. and wind their way down the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal arriving at Fisherman’s Wharf at approximately 7:00 p.m.  Spectators can view the parade from anywhere along the canal from Roosevelt Inlet to the drawbridge.

Th acclaimed Northern Neck Chantey Singers will usher in the Lighted Boat Parade in 1812 Park from 6:00 – 6:45 p.m.  The singers were organized in 1991 and perform the songs called “chanteys” that coordinated with their movements hauling heavy menhaden fish nets onto the long rowboats.  The singers are retired African American watermen from Virginia who worked aboard fishing boats during the time when chanteys were sung.

The Captains’ Reception following the parade recognizes all the participants to making the event a success.

Other events taking place on Saturday, October 1st:

The Lewes Historical Society Craft Show and the Lewes in Bloom Fall Plant Sale will begin at 9:00 a.m.

The Historic District Merchants’ Fall Sidewalk Sale will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Note:  The Lewes Historic Farmers’ Market will be held on Saturday, October 1st, from 9 a.m. until Noon at Shields Elementary School Parking lot, at Savannah Rd. and Sussex Drive.  You can visit www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.

See you around…have a good one

December 31st, 2010

Toot the Horn, Lightship Overfalls, New Year’s Eve, Event, Historic Lewes, Delaware Beaches

In the information available on the Lewes Chamber of Commerce’s website I found out about “Toot the Horn”.  It is a celebration in Historic Lewes; New Year’s Eve, at the Overfalls Maritime Museum on Front Street.  It will take place at midnight so be there before that time because it will be just  “Toot the Horn” as we welcome 2011!!

One of the advantages of having a blog or passing information along is that at the same time I am learning about my own backyard.  I am embarrassed to admit that I did not know what the Lightship Overfalls was.  So, I took a little drive to where it is located.  I had seen it before but, once again, have passed it by without giving it another thought.

And there it was.  Bright red and white; the snow covered ground made the whole area so pretty. 

The following information came from the Delaware Public Archives, 2003, SC-175 and is also in the marker explaining its history.

“The Lightship Overfalls was built in 1938 at the Rice Brothers shipyard in East Boothbay, Maine.  It was one of the last lightships constructed.  Duty stations included Boston Harbor and two locations near Long Island, New York.  After retirement from active service it was given to the Lewes Historical Society in 1973.  The ship was renamed to recognize the lightship station on Overfalls Shoals that marked the southern entrance to the Delaware Bay.  On December 2001, ownership of the ship was transferred to the Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation.  The Lightship Overfalls is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.”

“The United States government initiated the use of manned lightships or “floating lighthouses” in 1820.  These vessels, like Lightship Overfalls, addressed many needs.  The beacon on the lightship’s mast and the sound of its foghorn contributed greatly to the safe passage of ships in various weather conditions.  My the mid 20th century the increasing use of automated lights and radio signals made these vessels obsolete.”

It is so easy to get to where it is located.  If you are on Savannah Rd. by the bridge, you will take a right or left, depending where you are coming from, on Front Street.  Right past the tennis courts on the right you will see it.  Plenty of parking is available.

Lightship Overfalls is one of ony 17 remaining lightships out of a total of 179 built from 1820 to 1952; also one of 7 lightships in this country still open to the public.

At the present time group tours and off season tours can be arranged by request.  There are a few telephones:  302-645-7377, 302-645-5071 or 302-645-4773.

The website is very complete and informative.  Please visit www.overfalls.org.  You can even take a virtual tour.

But please remember to be there tomorrow, New Year’s Eve; the beautiful town of Historic Lewes at 11:59 p.m.!!

Have a great time………