Lewes, Delaware

 

“For any American who had the great and priceless privilege of being raised in a small town there always remains with him nostalgic memories.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower

We discovered another charming town. We were heading to New Jersey and decided to take the Cape May-L ewes Ferry so we headed to the small town of Lewes in Delaware. We planned it so we would get there early and have plenty of time to explore. Pulling into town in late December, we notice what a thriving town it was with lots of shopper strolling the narrow streets lined with interesting shops and boutiques.

Parking was at a premium but we found parking near the baseball fields near the canal. We walked down the road toward the town and passed a lovely park with a nice gazebo right on the waterfront. The street lights in the park were still decorated with holiday greenery wrapped around them and accented with bright red bows. A cannon sat in place, facing the water.

We decided to eat at the bistro, Striper Bites. It was a lovely restaurant with great food and nice staff. It was beautifully decorated on the outside with cypress shingles and had a nice outdoor wood fireplace burning brightly on their patio. The American flag was flowing in the breeze and was hung on a ships mast. The nautical decor was lovely giving us lots of things to look at while eating. There was a wooden canoe hanging from the ceiling, a ships captain wheel proudly displayed over the bar, as well as many other unique nautical items. It was a nice stop with great staff that made sure we got whatever we needed. We left feeling fully satisfied.

After our lunch, we walked down Second Street, a one way street with cars parked diagonally in front of the stores. Window shopping was a joy as all the store fronts were still beautifully decorated for the holidays. The street lamps had an old fashioned look with greenery wrapped around them and topped with a pretty red bow. Some street lamps even had planters with greenery adding an extra flare to the decor. This town is laid out in such a charming and old timey way. We came upon a bright red, small building with a green tin roof where Santa had recently spent a lot of time bringing children great joy. Outside of the tiny home was a bright red mailbox where children could send their Christmas wishes to Santa.

Many of the homes and businesses had weathered cypress shingles that made this town even more quaint and picturesque. We loved that many places had stunning planters adorning either their storefronts or in their front yards. We walked past St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on the corner of Second Street and Mulberry Street. What a gorgeous church. This church was founded in 1681 when some of the first settlers arrived here. The towns people are unsure of when the first church was built but do know that when Reverend William Beckett came to Lewes in 1721, the church was in good enough shape for him to hold services there. A new church was built in 1808 which ended up going in disrepair and had much decay. They tore it down and built the present church in 1854 and the steeple was later added in 1870. There is an old graveyard in front of the church many with old grave sites.

Heading back to our car, we headed through an interesting tunnel to keep people off the busy road. Then we walked near the waterfront next to the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal. It was a lovely walkway and pretty views.

 One of the displays we spotted along this pathway was a large ship with a painted red hull with the name Overfalls painted on the side. The placard near the ship states this is the Lightship Overfalls and is only one of nine surviving lightships in the US. These were once used in waters that were too deep or places where it just wasn’t feasible to build a lighthouse. 

The town of Lewes is a small town with currently around 2700 inhabitants. You would never guess that Lewes had such a rough start. This town was the first European settlement in Delaware. The Dutch settled here in 1631 but only lasted a year here. The Lenape Indians murdered all 32 settlers in 1632. Later a group of Mennonites arrived from Amsterdam and settled here in 1662. After just a year the English captured this town. Then in late 1673, the Dutch once again had this land until a group of Maryland Colonist burned down the town. Finally in 1682, the Delaware colonist were given this town from King Charles II to pay off a family debt.

Just prior to the Civil War, this town was used as an important stop for the Underground Railroad. Delaware was a border state but was not a part of the Confederacy so it was still a dangerous area for slaves. Fortunately, Lewes offered many safe houses.

Lewes is also home to the Cape May-L ewes Ferry which brings in many people to the town from New Jersey. The ferry runs back and forth to Cape May, New Jersey many times a day on an 85 minute ride over the stunning Delaware Bay. It is a great way to travel.

This town refers to itself as “The First Town of the First State.” It sure has come a long way and is now a lovely town to visit. Stop by and check it out. You will love it. Till next time. Bye for now.