Schroeder paintings to move to Battery 519 at Fort Miles

Fort Miles Historical Association has announced it will receive three World War II-era paintings by famed local artist Howard Schroeder and a portrait of Gen. Nelson Appleton Miles.

The Lewes Public Library is donating the General Miles oil portrait and an untitled 1943 Schroeder painting of two soldiers using a scope in one of the fort’s fire control towers, said Dr. Gary D. Wray, FMHA president.

The Miles portrait was painted by local artist Mary McCartin Marshall. It was given to the town of Lewes by Maj. Arthur C. Harris as his last official act as commanding officer of Fort Miles when it was being decommissioned.

Two other large Schroeder paintings showing the fort’s mine-laying crews at work, now housed in the Biden Center in Cape Henlopen State Park, will be relocated to Battery 519 where they can be seen by many more visitors. One of those is similar to a smaller watercolor, “No. 17 Ready for Planting,” that won a LIFE magazine contest and was published in the June 6, 1942 edition.

Wray said the artworks will hang in the Fort Miles museum, which is planned at the site of the World War II coastal defense facility in Cape Henlopen State Park.

“These paintings belong in our museum,” he said. “That will be the perfect venue, and the best way to preserve them.”

Howard Schroeder, born in New York City in 1910, was drafted in 1942 and served most of his war years at Fort Miles, working with the Army’s mine-laying and maintenance section. He was interested in art from an early age and spent many of his off-duty hours painting. His work was displayed in Fort Miles’ day rooms, areas with a homey décor where soldiers could relax.

After WWII, the Navy replaced the Army and took over a different kind of coastal defense, using underwater listening devices and conducting experiments. At that time, an underground casement that had been the plotting room for the 16-inch guns at Battery Smith was converted into the Oasis Bar for enlisted personnel. It’s believed that Schroeder’s paintings were displayed there, Wray said.

Schroeder’s painting of soldiers in the fire control tower hung in the cafeteria of the old Lewes School, Wray said.

“I spent many hours in front of that painting of the two guys in the tower on cafeteria duty in the Lewes lunch room from my days as Lewes School principal,” from 1979 to 1984, said Wray, who was director of education for the Cape Henlopen School District from 1984 to 1992.

It is believed that a number of Schroeder paintings, from an unknown location, were thrown into the Lewes town dump. Cape Henlopen employee Jack Goins is credited with recognizing their significance and saving several paintings that will be available for viewing by Fort Miles visitors.

Schroeder stayed in Lewes after World War II. In September 1987, he was interviewed by television journalist Robert Pierpoint for a profile of him and his work for Charles Kuralt’s "Sunday Morning on CBS." Schroeder died in Lewes in 1995.

About the attached pictures: The H. Schroeder was from his wedding day in 1941 courtesy of son, John Schroeder. All the other photos are by George Ward, FMHA.

Schroeder1 is the painting that hung in the old Lewes School lunchroom, Schroeders 2&3 are currently in the Biden Center and are untitled and measure 6'8"x 3'8".