For many readers of the Journal of the Lewes Historical Society, the annual local history publication, the frustration of missing early volumes from 1998-2000 is about to end. Out of print for almost two years, these volumes are being reprinted and will soon be available at various Lewes venues: Books by the Bay (111 Bank Street), Stepping Stone ( 107 W. Market Street), the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Center (Fisher-Martin House on Kings Highway), and Just For You Unique Gifts (112 Front Street) in downtown Lewes. They will also be found at the Thompson Country Store (Historical Society Complex) when the Complex opens in the spring of 2006. These vendors have generously agreed to sell copies of the Journal at five dollars each to benefit the Historical Society without any profit for themselves.

A book signing for these reprints and for other issues, including the most recent Volume Eight, published in November 2005, will be held on Saturday, February 18, in conjunction with the LHS Art Show at the Children’s Beach House on Cedar Avenue from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is an opportunity to meet the authors and discuss with them their interest in local history topics.

The much sought-after inaugural Volume One originally appeared in December 1998 as a slim, 32-page publication featuring a lead article by Herbert Archdeacon entitled “All Aboard! The Trains to Lewes,” which details the building of the railroads serving Lewes after the Civil War and the changes brought about by this connection to the wider world. Related articles by Hazel D. Brittingham include “Railroad Reminiscences,” childhood memories of a time when the trains still ran in Lewes, and “The Railroad Brought Thomas Groom to Lewes,” a biographical sketch of the superintendent of the Junction and Breakwater Railroad, who moved to Lewes in 1874. Betty Grunder wrote about the Sanborn Insurance Maps of Lewes, which show evidence of early industrial growth along the rail lines.

Other articles in that first edition of the Journal include an introductory “History of the Lewes Historical Society,” written by Judith Atkins Roberts, and a brief history of three Lewes Churches (Friendship Baptist, St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal, and St. Georges A.M.E.) by Barbara W. Vaughan. A list of the men who served as mayors of Lewes from 1898 to 1998 is followed by the first of a continuing series of biographical sketches of former mayors with a reprint article from the 1902 Delaware Pilot about Mayor Alfred L. Burton.

After the successful reception of Volume One of the Journal, the LHS Editorial Committee continued its work with publication of a 64-page Volume Two in November 1999. This issue focused attention on Second Street of Lewes, both commercial and residential, with an introductory “Walk in Time” by Ruth Mankin, which invites the reader to imagine the Second Street of 100 years ago. This stroll begins at the Shipcarpenter Street end of Second Street with a biographical sketch of Hiram Rodney Burton by Barbara W. Vaughan and a history of the Hiram Burton Rodney House by Judith Atkins Roberts. The history of Lewes churches found in Volume One continues with “St. Peter’s Church” by church historian Donald Matthews. The late Robert G. Stewart wrote about “The Scott Block,” the Italianate building now housing Thistles gift and art gallery. Other buildings along the main business street are treated in “New Devon Inn” and “La Rosa Negra Restaurant” (now the Zwaanendael Inn and the Flowers by Myumi store, respectively) by Hazel D. Brittingham, who also wrote about three major fires in the business district in 1920, 1925, and 1970. Buildings that once graced Second Street but are there no longer include “Jefferson Lodge No. 15, A.F. & A.M.” by Herbert Archdeacon and “Outten’s Lyceum” by Betty Grunder. The former mayor series was continued by Dennis Forney in a biographical article about Mayor James Thompson, active in the early 1900s. Barbara W. Vaughan wrote about three Delaware governors who lived on Second Street, and Gary Grunder presented information in “How to Research Your Deed.”

New authors stepped forward for Volume Three, published in November 2000, in an issue of the Journal investigating Lewes’ maritime history. The late Robert V. Lottmann wrote “The Lewes Life-Saving Station” detailing the life of those brave men who often saved lives during shipwrecks off Lewes Beach; Ted Kanakos wrote about the history of lightships in “The Overfalls,” the lightship in Delaware Bay; Stephen A. Roberts presented a brief history of the “Pilots of the Bay and River Delaware”; model shipbuilder and artist Steve Rogers wrote about “The Helen Euphane,” one of the many menhaden fishing boats that plied the waters off the coast; Earl Ritter told of his career as an airplane pilot working for the menhaden industry in “Fish Spotting”; and Michael DiPaolo, executive director of the LHS, contributed an overview of the “Library and Archives of the LHS.”

A major article by Herbert Archdeacon, “The Breakwaters,” a detailed the struggles to build the protective barrier in Delaware Bay to provide some safe haven for the many ships threatened by shipwreck during storms. Judith Atkins Roberts and Robert G. Stewart contributed biographical stories of the “Henry Fishers of Lewes” and “Robert Burton: Loyalist, Privateer, Macaroni,” respectively. Ruth Mankin described “Lewes Beach: Early Hotels”; Judith Atkins Roberts told the story of “Miss Lil,” Lewes’ own madam. Barbara W. Vaughan and Hazel D. Brittingham wrote about two structures no longer in existence in “Who In the World Is William Strickland?” about the Breakwaters’ chief architect and namesake of the Strickland Light positioned on that structure, and “Cape Henlopen Beacon,” a lighthouse not to be confused with the older Cape Henlopen Light that fell into the sea in 1926.

Cover designs and many pen and ink sketches by local artist Ray Jackson add to the enjoyment of readers looking at these three original volumes of the Journal. Popular marine artist Steve Rogers has created the cover designs and sketches for the more recent issues.

Copies of Volumes Four through Eight are still available at the above venues and at the February 18th book signing for those readers who wish to have a complete set.

The newest issue published in November 2008 includes writings by additional local authors: Warren MacDonald, James Ippolito, Joan Reader, Ned Maull, and Nina Cannata. Many of the articles are also illustrated by interesting vintage photographs, and local artist Roger L. Young has contributed some pen and ink sketches to accompany some of the articles.

©2002-2005 The Lewes Historical Society