Lewes Life-Saving Station Boat House reception set April 1
The Lewes Historical Society will officially unveil a newly restored Life-Saving Station Boat House during a reception to be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Monday, April 1, at Canalfront Park. Visitors will experience what life was really like for the heroic surfmen who served there in the 1880s.
The United States Life-Saving Service Station at Lewes opened in 1884 west of the present-day Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal, the last of six stations established along the Delaware coast. After transitioning to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, the main edifice remained in operation until 1968, after which it was turned over to the General Services Administration in 1969.
The USLSS Boat House, an ancillary building attached to the original station, was donated to the Lewes Historical Society in 1979 by the Pilots’ Association for the Bay and River Delaware.
“The United States Life-Saving Service was a humanitarian endeavor of the federal government following the bloodletting of the American Civil War, and one of the most admirable examples of public service in our country's history,” said Ryan Schwartz, Lewes Historical Society director of interpretation. “During the 44-year lifespan of the USLSS, dedicated keepers and surfmen across the country saved over 175,000 lives, a record carried forward to the present by the U.S. Coast Guard.”
Over the last few years, the society has reinforced the building’s foundation and restored much of its original carpentry. The building has also been repainted inside and out in the official USLSS colors that harken back to its original decade.
The Great White Hurricane of 1888 is considered the finest hour of the Lewes Life-Saving Station. It was a natural choice when the society was trying to identify a restoration date.
Historical society staff members are completing a multi-step process to furnish the building as though the 1888 surfmen have just stepped out to answer the call.
“The Lewes Historical Society is fortunate to be the custodians of the USLSS legacy through its possession of this Boat House,” Schwartz continued. “This reimagining of the space pays homage to that proud lineage and will help keep the memory of this often-forgotten organization alive in Delaware.”
It will feature a large collection of reproductions and original artifacts based on a comprehensive list of what officials in Washington, D.C., indicated should be in every USLSS station across the country. Following the reception, the Boat House will welcome the public for regular tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning Tuesday, April 2.
