Books by the Bay is sponsoring a book signing event for authors of the Journal of the Lewes Historical Society, who will be on hand to autograph copies and discuss their local history research topics. Publication of Volume 6 of this popular series occurred in November 2003.

The new issue explores the theme of business enterprises and industries of Lewes, with many articles recounting the productivity of the small town, especially in the early to mid-1900s. Articles by local historian Hazel D. Brittingham examine the shipbuilding industry, the many garment factories, the laundries, and other businesses that no longer exist in Lewes, but once played an active role in the life of the town. She also contributed a history of one industry that still functions today—The Lewes Dairy. Contributor E. David Bryan of Dover wrote an article detailing the extensive canning and fruit evaporation companies that provided much employment from about 1869 to 1944, and Gary Grunder followed this theme with an account of the Doxsee Clam Company, active in Lewes from 1952-1986. Author Ruth Mankin wrote about the many restaurants that served area customers over the years, and local funeral director Keith Parsell wrote about the early days in one Lewes funeral establishment.

Historian Judith A. Roberts contributed a biographical sketch of businessman Harbeson Hickman, known as the wealthiest man in Sussex Country in the 1880s. Betty Grunder, contributed a biography of former mayor Otis H. Smith, who served as mayor from 1950-1968, but whose Fish Products Company played an important role in the Lewes economy in the 1940s and 1950s. Articles by Barbara W. Vaughan and Herbert Archdeacon, respectively, examine the histories of two industries that still manufacture products today, the Hocker Manufacturing Company and the Barcroft Company (now known as PSI Pharma). Michael DiPaolo, executive director of the Lewes Historical Society, continued the series about LHS properties by giving a history of the Cannonball House, which is today a museum owned and operated by the Society. A further convenience to readers who own copies of Volumes 1-5 of the Journal is the inclusion in the new issue of an index to those earlier issues.

Local marine artist Steve Rogers contributed the cover design of a 1936 Lewes Dairy truck and some of the other artwork found in this issue. Artist Ray Jackson also contributed a sketch. Vintage photographs were used to illustrate many of the articles.

Books by the Bay, as a service to the Lewes Historical Society and to the community, carries copies of the Journal throughout the year at cost, foregoing any profit, as is also true of two other Lewes stores, Saxon Swan and Stepping Stone. Books by the Bay is located in new facilities at 111 Bank Street, Lewes, which is the location for the April 17th book signing event.

Although Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the Journal are no longer in print, copies of Volumes 4 and 5 will also be available at the book signing. Volume 4 (2001) contains articles about the bombardment of Lewes in the War of 1812, the Civil War Confederate raider Alabama, a history of Belltown by retired teacher Hilda Norwood, and an account of the Lewes neighborhood called “Camile,” among other topics. Volume 5 (2002) examines the earliest days of Lewes in an extensively researched article by Warren MacDonald, former president of the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society. That issue also recounts the history and development of the Pilottown Road area of Lewes with articles by Robert G. Stewart and Mitchell Holmes Russell, among others, and further includes Herbert Archdeacon’s account of the engineering and construction of the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal.

Researched, edited, and illustrated by volunteers, the Journal has become popular with residents of the area as well as visitors who are interested in learning more about the history of Lewes.

©2002-2005 The Lewes Historical Society