Lewes panels discuss Johnnie Walker Beach pavilion project

Two Lewes panels talking about a proposal to build a replica pavilion at Johnnie Walker Beach heard new details about the beach’s namesake.

The Johnnie Walker Beach subcommittee and African American heritage commission each discussed the project Oct. 19.

Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kay Carnahan presented documents she uncovered in the city’s deed system. She also found an aerial photo from 1968 that shows the location of Walker’s restaurant and the original pavilion.

“I was so excited to find this,” Carnahan said.

She said Walker had an arrangement with the city called an indenture. She said property owners on Lewes Beach have indentures, rather than deeds.

Carnahan said that particular document shows Walker had the property from 1969-74. She said 1974 is the year the restaurant ended, but she is still trying to find exactly when it started.

Subcommittee member Bill Collick said he believes Walker’s arrangement with the city might date back to the 1950s. 

Carnahan said she and her husband, who does ground survey work, found the corner pin, indicating the location and size of the restaurant. She said that information helps in finding the exact position of the pavilion. 

The subcommittee is working on a plan to put up a replica of the pavilion on Johnnie Walker Beach. The panel met with Jesse Hayden, program administrator from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, at the beach in September to discuss the possible location and the application process.

Carnahan also found documents from about 40 transactions of homes and land that Walker and his wife were involved in. She said those transactions were in the Milton and Ellendale areas.

Carnahan also briefed the African American heritage commission about her findings that same day.

“We’re seeing [Walker] through emotion, and now we’re seeing him through business,” Carnahan said. “We can see the impact he had on the community, which was tremendous.”

In other business, the commission received a presentation from former Mayor Jim Ford, chair of the Open Space Alliance campaign.

The alliance is trying to raise $18.3 million to buy the Ard na Greine tract and the Fourth Street Preserve.

Ford said the alliance is researching ownership of the properties for any possible cultural and heritage connections.

He said it is also looking into archaeological studies of both parcels.

Ford said the alliance has 250 donors and has raised nearly $3 million through its campaign.