Brave surfmen manned coastal stations

Before the U.S. Coast Guard and other water rescue boats, crews from the U.S. Life-Saving Service manned stations along the coast from Fenwick Island to Lewes.

The brave life-savers had stations in Lewes, Cape Henlopen, Indian River, Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach and Dewey Beach from the 1870s into the the mid-1910s. Stations were also located in Ocean City and Assateague in Maryland. 

Stations were typically manned by six or seven men and a station keeper who responded to ships in distress in the Atlantic Ocean and in Delaware Bay.

As sailboats were replaced by steam ships, there were fewer wrecks. In 1915, the stations merged with the Revenue Cutter Service, eventually forming the U.S. Coast Guard.

Local restorations

Fortunately, local groups are keeping the history of the stations alive with restored buildings in Lewes at Canalfront Park, and Indian River on the beach off Route 1 on the drive to the inlet.

The Lewes Boat House, built in 1884, was located at the present-day site of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal.

It had a history of moving, ending up at Lewes Canalfront Park as the Lewes Historical Society Boat House Museum. Before that, the station closed and was taken over as headquarters of the Pilots Association for Bay and River Delaware. The boat house was then donated to Lewes Historical Society in 1979 as a tribute to surfmen at the Lewes and Cape Henlopen stations.

Most stations included two buildings as well as boat houses and stations.

It’s a safe bet to say that Reboboth Beach VFW Post 7447 is the only veterans’ organization housed in a former life-saving station. Its history includes a relocation to Fort Miles in what is now Cape Henlopen State Park where it served as the Belhaven Men’s Club and an officer’s building before being moved to Rehoboth Beach in 1949.

The Indian River Station was commissioned in 1876. The original station was relocated 400 feet west because of beach erosion. The surf boat house was restored for the first time in 1905.

The station was donated to the Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation and is administered by Delaware State Parks in Delaware Seashore State Park.

Cape Henlopen was the first station built in 1883 and was originally part of the Fifth Life-Saving Service District. The station was manned until 1939, and it was washed away during a storm in 1940.

The Rehoboth Beach/Dewey Beach station, commissioned in 1878, was responsible for that section of Rehoboth Beach before Dewey Beach became a town.

It was decommissioned in 1921 during federal budget cuts. It was sold and is now a private home in Shipcarpenter’s Square in Lewes.

A replica station replaced the Dewey station and serves as headquarters for Dewey Beach Patrol and town meetings.

Book on history of service

A local author is documenting the history in a unique way. Corinne Litzenberg, a retired educator, has written more than a dozen books, including the popular children’s book, “L is for Lewes, An A to Z Maritime History.”

“Ben and the Brass Check: A Lewes Life-Saving Station Story” is dedicated to the keepers and surfmen of the Lewes station on Lewes Bay and the Cape Henlopen station three miles east.

While the book is fiction, it’s based on the history of the service, including historic photos. It’s also written for all ages and features Ben, who finds a surfman’s brass medal in the sand. It sets the youngster on a path to learn the history surrounding this remarkable life-saving service. The book will be available in Lewes in April.

In the late 19th century, the technology used to rescue crews on wrecked ships was based more on the bravery of the men than anything else.

No matter what the weather, men braved the winds and waves in surf boats. They also used a breeches buoy, which was a rope-based device used to rescue people from wrecks. It resembled a zip line with a flotation device/harness shot from the shore to boats using a Lyle gun. It allowed for one person at a time to be rescued. They risked their lives for $10 a week.

The Indian River Life-Saving Station offers breeches buoy demonstrations throughout the summer season. Park staff also offer other programs at the station.

The Great Blizzard

The service was tested to its limits March 11-14, 1888, during the Great White Blizzard, which was considered one of the worst snowstorms in coastal history.

The Cape and Lewes stations worked together to save thousands of lives and millions of dollars’ worth of cargo.

At least 50 ships were anchored behind the Lewes Breakwater, which was considered the safest harbor on the East Coast. At midnight, March 11, the storm hit with unprecedented conditions. The wind, hail, waves and ice spray combined to sink nearly all of the 50 ships. Those that didn’t sink were set adrift and crashed into other ships.

Thanks to the crews’ brave actions, only eight deaths were reported.