Share:
Lewes steps back to 1776
Historical society hosts living history event at main campus
Ben Michel, part of a family reenacting group from Salem County, N.J., turns a wheel to spin threads into rope during the Lewes Historical Society’s Hearty in the Cause: Lewes 1776. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS
April 22, 2023
On April 15, the Lewes Historical Society's main campus was transported back to the turbulent months leading up to American independence. Hearty in the Cause: Lewes 1776 brought to life the local experience of the colonial seaport of Lewistown a year after the first shots were fired in the Revolutionary War.
A new walking tour, Revolutionary Architecture in Lewes, debuted April 15 and marked the grand opening of the mercantile exchange at the Ryves Holt House, which is featuring a display on naval hero Jacob Jones of Lewes.
Proceeds from the event will benefit educational and preservation programs at Lewes Historical Society. For more information, go to historiclewes.org or call 302-645-7670.
Jonah Mitchell-Moore works on a shaving bench to make a pike as a Lewes-based shipwright.
Chuck Krepley, of the Pennsylvania-based band Forbes Road Frolic, tunes his violin before starting to play.
Michael Pearson, left, and Bryant Dettinger portray maritime tradesmen varnishing oars to use aboard a privateer ship.
Lewes Historical Society Executive Director Andrew Lyter is dressed in garb from the 1770s in Colonial America.
Silhouette artist Brian Miller discusses how a camera obscura creates silhouette artwork.
Reenactor Philip Hosea demonstrates the art of swordsmanship.
Rachel Michel has her likeness sketched by Katie Grahl, an artist whose work is inspired by 18th century Londoner Paul Sandby.
Marcos Salaverri, Lewes Historical Society director of education, demonstrates how to play a child’s game from the 18th century.
From the left, Gary Smith, Chuck Krepley and Burr Beard play as part of the Pennsylvania-based band Forbes Road Frolic, specializing in telling stories through their late 18th century tavern music.
From left, Rachel and Ben Michel and Audrey DeAngelis are hard at work washing laundry as it would have been done during the 1770s.
The Lewes Historical Society’s main campus is the scene of Hearty in the Cause: Lewes 1776 living history event.
Philip Hosea discusses a sailor’s life in the 18th century with visitors attending the Lewes Historical Society event.
Silhouette artist Brian Miller, left, uses his camera obscura to create a hand-cut silhouette for society volunteer Kyle Annerino.
Coming from Lewes Little League Opening Day, William Yudt of Lewes helps make rope by hand the old-fashioned way.
Lewes Historical Society Executive Director Andrew Lyter, left, and volunteer Griffin Barrows get into some swordplay.
Volunteer Kyle Annerino poses for a silhouette picture.
Audrey DeAngelis must have had sore knees after washing laundry most of the day.
Volunteer Griffin Barrows uses a rope walk to show how ropes were made in the 18th century.
Nicole Worthley, left, and Rachel Sheffield of Dover’s First State Heritage Park visit the Ryves Holt House Museum & Mercantile Exchange on Second Street in downtown Lewes to share the work of fashionable milliners in the 18th century.
The Lewes Historical Society’s Museum features an exhibit on the life of Lewes Revolutionary War naval hero Jacob Jones.
The Ryves Holt House Museum on Second Street in Lewes now houses the LHS Mercantile Exchange.
