South Murderkill Hundred near Frederica in Kent County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Town of Bowers

Photographed by Janis LaRochelle, circa October 20, 2016

1. Town of Bowers Historical Marker

Inscription. The Town of Bowers, Incorporated March 9, 1907, was established as an early settlement along the Delaware Bay. Named Whitwell’s Delight in 1675, the town was renamed Bowers in 1734. Bowers is nestled between the mouths of the St. Jones and Murderkill Rivers and the Delaware Bay. This location allowed settlers to create a maritime community that supported industry and tourism as early as the 18th century. The town is the first sandy beach encountered by visitors from the north. This made Bowers a stop for the Steamboat Frederica, which brought tourists from Philadelphia to enjoy the beach while the boat loaded cargo including oysters, a major export at the time. Delaware Public Archives – 2016 KC-121

Erected 2016 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number KC-121.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1675.

Location. 39° 3.49′ N, 75° 24.211′ W. Marker is near Frederica, Delaware, in Kent County. It is in South Murderkill Hundred. It

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is on Main Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3231 Main St, Frederica DE 19946, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 20 Tooth Oyster Dredge (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bowers Beach Maritime Museum (about 700 feet away); Kitts Hummock (approx. 3.1 miles away); St. Jones Neck (approx. 3.7 miles away); Barratt's Chapel (approx. 3.8 miles away); The St. Jones River: Why the Mansion Faces South (approx. 3.8 miles away); a different marker also named Barratt's Chapel (approx. 3.8 miles away); The Dickinsons in Delaware (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map

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of all markers in Frederica.

Additional keywords. Bowers Beach

Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2016, by Janis LaRochelle of Frederica, Delaware. This page has been viewed 887 times since then and 47 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on December 9, 2016, by Janis LaRochelle of Frederica, Delaware. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.