Rare Howard Schroeder works sell fast
The Schroeder family spearheaded a unique way to support the Lewes Public Library's capital campaign. The donation of 37 of their father Howard Schroeder's paintings and drawings helped raise more than $30,000 for the campaign.
And the Sept. 20 art exhibit of their father's work was so highly successful that 33 of the pieces were sold within 45 minutes. The fundraiser at the Inn at Canal Square was sponsored by the Greater Lewes Foundation.
“This is about as exciting as it gets,” said John Schroeder, one of six siblings. “We only wish father had been there to see how excited people were to get his work.”
“This shows there is a huge demand for Howard Schroeder's work,” said Michael Rawl, manager of the capital campaign for the new Lewes library. “The Schroeders are such a warm group of siblings who had a very unique relationship with their dad.”
“What people saw in these 37 works was a good cross section of what our father did over the more than 60 years he painted,” said John, who is a Greater Lewes Foundation board member.
He said most people associate their father with bright watercolors of Delmarva scenes. “But he did numerous pen-and-ink and charcoal works. He also experimented and would do one painting six different ways,” John said.
Helping the library is a payback of sorts. The library played an important role as the family grew up in Lewes.
“It's all about giving back to the community. Dad always instilled in us the importance of education,” John said.
Howard Schroeder, who passed away in 1995, spent most of his adult life painting and drawing. He produced numerous works depicting Lewes, where he raised his large family, and from travels around the Delmarva Peninsula, Europe, Nova Scotia and the Caribbean.
Considered the father of the coastal Delaware artists' community, he was able to make art his career as he supported his family by teaching art lessons, selling his work and selling art supplies. Howard and Marian Schroeder raised their family at their home on Pilottown Road in Lewes. He was stationed at Fort Miles and Marian worked as a civilian at the facility. The couple were married on July 4, 1942. Marian passed away in 2000.
On behalf of the family, the donations were made by five Schroeder siblings including John, Rob and Carol Short of Lewes; Howard, who lives in Minnesota; and Stephen, who lives in Massachusetts. Phil Fields of Lewes also donated on behalf of his wife Gail Schroeder Fields, who passed away 10 years ago.
At 28,500 square feet, the new $10.4 million Lewes Public Library will be almost double the current size, with three times as much parking. It will be built in a park-like setting on a 5.75-acre site across from the current building. Rawl said $3.5 million of the total will need to be raised from private donations.
