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The Storm of '62 in photos
A large section of the Henlopen Hotel has been washed into the sea. Workers and a crane are in place just a few days after the storm. SOURCE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
March 2, 2012
Old photographs tell the story of the worst storm in Delaware's recorded history, the Storm of '62. The three-day nor'easter pounded the coast March 6-8 causing what would now be hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and claiming seven lives in Delaware and a total of 40 lives on the East Coast.
Dolle's and the Atlantic Sands Hotel, two Rehoboth Beach landmarks, are in ruins after the Storm of '62. SOURCE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
The dune is gone and sand covers Route 1, known as Route 14 in the 1960s, near Indian River Inlet. As much as 4 feet of sand had to be removed from the road and bulldozed back to the beach. SOURCE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
The Indian River Lifesaving Station along Route 1 near Indian River Inlet is surrounded by sand. SOURCE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Bethany Beach looks more like a ghost town in this aerial photograph taken after the Storm of '62. SOURCE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk took the brunt of the storm as waves and storm surge blasted the area for three straight days. SOURCE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Debris, including wood from The Boardwalk and buildings, is piled up following the storm. SOURCE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Several inland towns were flooded as the Storm of '62 lingered off the coast for five consecutive high tides. The best way to get around in downtown Milton is by boat. BY DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
The view looking north toward the Atlantic Sands Hotel shows the devastation along The Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. SOURCE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
All that remains of The Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach is the pilings. A small southern section remained intact. Remarkably, most of the famed Boardwalk was rebuilt in time for the 1962 summer season. SOURCE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
The Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay meet as Dewey Beach is flooded during the Storm of '62. COURTESY NORMAN ROSSITER
Another Rehoboth Beach landmark, Stuart Kingston Galleries, breaks up and slides off its foundation into the sand. COURTESY HAROLD WHITE
The large Grier House along the coast in north Rehoboth Beach is one of many that topped over due to foundation failure caused by erosion of sand around the houses. COURTESY NORMAN PLACK
A Bethany Beach house is broken in half exposing the interior. COURTESY HAROLD WHITE
Playland, now called Funland, received extensive damage, but the steel foundation held up. COURTESY MARIE QUILLEN
Work starts toward restoration amid the ruins of The Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. In the distance is Playland (now Funland), one of the few structures left standing. COURTESY MARIE QUILLEN
Debris from destroyed homes along the coast covers every street in Dewey Beach. BY MARIE QUILLEN
Almost half of the Royal Surf Hotel in Dewey Beach has been washed out to sea. COURTESY MARIE QUILLEN
Families enjoy a summer outing on a beach formed along the shore of Silver Lake between Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach. COURTESY MARIE QUILLEN
Prisoners were used to help clear debris from the sand along the Cape Region coastline. COURTESY MARIE QUILLEN
The Boardwalk is ripped clean from Delaware Avenue to Wilmington Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. SOURCE COLLECTION OF R.F. BAYER
Most of the area on the marsh side of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal in Lewes is flooded. Record-high tides over a three day period forced water to overflow canal banks. At the top left of the photo is the canal bridge. SOURCE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Nearly 2,000 houses along the coast from Dewey Beach to Fenwick Island were either damaged or destroyed. COURTESY DON WIEDMANN
Curious onlookers view the damage along the shoreline and The Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. COURTESY DON WIEDMANN
Scenes like this off toppled over houses were commonplace following the Storm of '62. Unrelenting high surf caused erosion leading to foundation failure of many houses along the coast. COURTESY DON WIEDMANN
Many Cape Region residents tell their stories of the Storm of '62 in the film, “The '62 Storm – Delaware's Shared Response,” written, edited and produced by Michael Oates. The 55-minute film was funded by Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Delaware Humanities Forum, and 302 Stories Inc. Copies are available at area libraries. The '62 Storm DVD can be purchased through the on-line Shop Delaware page at http://shop.delaware.gov/product_info.php?products_id=678. BY RON MACARTHUR
Roads to all Delaware Bay coast towns were cut off early on during the Storm of '62. This photograph was taken March 6 looking toward Slaughter Beach. BY DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
The water level continues to rise in Dewey Beach March 7, the second day of the storm. BY DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
On one of the first high tides, Cedar Avenue in Lewes is already flooded. Water levels continued to rise for the next two days. BY DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Many said the untold story of the Storm of '62 was the destruction of Delaware Bay coast towns, where seven people were killed. Most coastline cottages, like these in Bowers Beach, were destroyed. BY DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
A National Guard tank rolls along flooded Savannah Road toward the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal Road in Lewes. High tides in Lewes were nearly 5 feet above street level and remained that way for more than three days. SOURCE DELAWARE PUBLIC ARCHIVES
