Fort Miles hosting Howard Schroeder exhibit, legacy presentation

If the pen is mightier than the sword, could a brush be more powerful than a gun?

Strategically nestled in the dunes of Cape Henlopen State Park, Fort Miles was once a crucial part of the domestic naval defense network along the Eastern Seaboard during World War II.  A man by the name of Howard Schroeder, drafted 11 months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States’ subsequent entry into the war, found himself stationed at the fort throughout the conflict. His depictions of life at the now-decommissioned military base have become world-famous.

Howard’s son John Schroeder has returned to the base where his father once served to offer a glimpse into the life of one of the most famous artists to call Lewes home. In conjunction with the Fort Miles Museum Howard Schroeder Exhibit, visitors are invited to learn about the artist’s past before enjoying the various works on display. 

John seemingly leaves no stone unturned during the hour-long presentation, complete with visual aids. From Howard’s upbringing in the Bronx to his final days in Lewes, attendees learn details about a life committed to documenting the world in many different ways. Schroeder excelled in a variety of artistic techniques. John said his dad was a sketch artist first and foremost, but he would often paint the same scene using a multitude of styles.

During his deployment, Howard wrote hundreds of love letters to his wife Marian, whom he married July 4, 1942. In one of those letters, Howard invited Marian to move to Lewes so they could be closer. He had become fond of the area, which at the time was virtually untouched by development. Sketching and painting scenes near the water, around town and on nearby farmland, the artist eventually decided to raise a family and spend the rest of his days in the First Town in the First State.

Two days after Howard and Marian were married, a seismic shift in the value of Howard’s art occurred: LIFE Magazine published  “No. 17 Ready for Planting,” and he was recognized as an award winner in a worldwide contest for men and women in the military. That piece, along with a few others, can be found in the permanent Howard Schroeder Exhibit at Fort Miles.

Following his honorable discharge, Howard remained in Lewes with Marian, and the two began raising a family. John said in the early days, before a studio was built, Howard would have to work with his six children seemingly using him as a jungle gym. The kids, who all went to college thanks to the income from Howard’s art, became frequent subjects in his paintings. Howard enjoyed painting scenes of an undeveloped Lewes, capturing some of the same views at different seasons and using various techniques. 

Howard and Marian would go on to open the Art Age shop on Rehoboth Avenue and become important members of the Rehoboth Art League. John said his father would take trips around the world and helped mitigate the costs of his travels by coming home on a ship. Two different paintings of Venice shown during the presentation help illustrate the artist’s execution of different styles during his travels. 

The scenes often focused on what Howard saw as the harmonious relationship between the town of Lewes and the natural environment. Nautical and agricultural scenes were common, particularly along Pilottown Road, which is where he lived.  Over the years, Lewes became more developed and the scenes Howard depicted in his paintings either disappeared or became inaccessible. The artist found it difficult to beautify cement.

Teaching at the Rehoboth Art League and St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Howard shared his passion with the community. In 1987, he was featured on a “CBS News Sunday Morning” segment working along Pilottown Road. 

The temporary exhibit offers a very different look at Howard’s art from the works that are on permanent display. There are abstract paintings and portraits, and still-life scenes in addition to the various landscapes. 

Both exhibits at the Fort Miles Museum will be open from 12 to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 25, and 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 26. John Schroeder’s lecture about his father will begin at 12 p.m., Sunday; reserve a seat by emailing info@fortmilesmuseum.org. Admission to Fort Miles is $5, which covers the lecture and exhibits. 

More information is available at destateparks.com/fortmiles.