Phillips Cottage added to 1910 Rehoboth miniature village

The Phillips Cottage, positioned in 1910 at the northwest corner of Rehoboth Avenue across Second Street from today’s post office, has been newly mounted on Paul Lovett’s diorama of railroad era Rehoboth Avenue.

While there are no known pictures of the building, the 1910 Sanborn Insurance map clearly positions the structure and provides details about the footprint and character of the cottage. As a child, Ann Lynch (Dyer) often walked by the cottage from her house two doors to the west. She remembers the concrete wall around the cottage specifically, because she would occasionally climb on that wall and be admonished to get down by Mrs. Phillips. From these details, the cottage was modeled. Ann and Mrs. Phillips are now commemorated on the diorama display as shown in the picture.

The Phillips Cottage is sponsored by Don Hallowell, whose grandfather purchased the cottage in the 1930s. His grandfather was one of the engineers on the train that ran between Georgetown and Rehoboth during Rehoboth’s railroad era. Hallowell has vivid memories of his visits to the cottage.

The diorama is a multi-year project to replicate Rehoboth Avenue during its railroad era, which lasted 85 years. The miniature village is on display in the Rehoboth Beach Main Street office building next to the Rehoboth Beach Museum. To learn about the project, go to goldenageofrehoboth.com. By appointment, Lovett hosts informal gatherings with the diorama at 9:30 a.m. Mondays, with each meeting focusing on a unique aspect of Rehoboth history. All are welcome to bring coffee and join the conversation. To reserve a space, contact Paul Lovett at paul@pdlovett.com or call 302-893-9391.