YEAR - ROUND ANCIENT COLONIAL HOMES

YEAR - ROUND HOMES GAINING IN REHOBOTH

Rehoboth Beach is being more and more an all year residence to many Washington retirees. Tall pines and surf breakers are one of the “ draws” we hear time and time again from those 'settling' here. A country atmosphere, tall trees, pine, oak, dogwood, and holy a stone's throw to the surf of the Atlantic Ocean which makes Rehoboth unique.

Colonial antique homes are preserved here and if not found here are sought out in the Sussex County countryside, dragged, piece by piece, to a new location at the beach, restored with the greatest of care to become home. An example, at the Corkrans Homestead, is the century's old Paynter family home added to the old Marsh Family homestead, granddaddy to them all, built in 1743 by Peter Marsh, a yeoman. This home is home to Colonel and Mrs. Wilbur Sherman Corkran.

The Steerett family found their Gum family ancestors home, built 1806, 20 miles away, at Frankford, moved it to 23 Henlopen Avenue, in six pieces, and over six weeks had it in Rehoboth. Their children are a sixth generation to make it their home. The structure today is much the same as it was when built, foundation beams, original unfinished logs of a nearby forest, 20-inch wide floorboards. The handmade fireplace bricks came to Rehoboth in bushel baskets. The grandfather's old physician's counter with the stacked medicine bottles and pill boxes is now the happy hour cocktail bar.

The Prew Savoy summer home, 71 Henlopen Avenue, also has colonial charm, named 'Chez Savoy'. It was moved from Indian River, set in a nest of trees and shrubs, is said to have been the first country post office in the state.

Another 1948 rehabilitation, Pine Reach Henlopen Acres, Dr. & Mrs. Radford Brown, from Washington, has original cypress shingles, wide pine floors, early hardware, and dentil molding and chair rails, also dated 1743.

Abstract: Wednesday, 13 October 1948, Wilmington Morning News, by Virginia Cullen.