Lewes Historic District in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Life Saving Station
Lewes Maritime History Trail
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 15, 2010
1. Life Saving Station Marker
Inscription.
Life Saving Station. Lewes Maritime History Trail. , The United States Life Saving Service (U.S.L.S.S.) was commissioned to rescue shipwrecked mariners along our nation's coast. Established in 1876 and 1884, respectively, the Cape Henlopen and Lewes stations worked together to save thousands of lives, hundreds of ships, and recover millions of dollars worth of cargo., Perhaps the most significant event in the history of the Cape Henlopen and Lewes stations was the Great Blizzard of March 12 -14, 1888, when a clear and calm late winter's day turned into a ferocious "white hurricane". Years later, the Life-Saving Service Surfman recalled that the winds blew ice and sand so hard it "could cut your eyes out." Sailors lashed themselves to the rigging to avoid being washed overboard, but it meant death for many who froze and died there., In 1915, as sailing ships were replaced by steam-powered vessels and wrecks occurred with less frequency, the U.S.L.S.S. merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard.
The United States Life Saving Service (U.S.L.S.S.) was commissioned to rescue shipwrecked mariners along our nation's coast. Established in 1876 and 1884, respectively, the Cape Henlopen and Lewes stations worked together to save thousands of lives, hundreds of ships, and recover millions of dollars worth of cargo.
Perhaps the most significant event in the history of the Cape Henlopen and Lewes stations was the Great Blizzard of March 12 -14, 1888, when a clear and calm late winter's day turned into a ferocious "white hurricane". Years later, the Life-Saving
Service Surfman recalled that the winds blew ice and sand so hard it "could cut your eyes out." Sailors lashed themselves to the rigging to avoid being washed overboard, but it meant death for many who froze and died there.
In 1915, as sailing ships were replaced by steam-powered vessels and wrecks occurred
with less frequency, the U.S.L.S.S. merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard.
Erected by City of Lewes. (Marker Number 2.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.
Location. 38° 46.686′ N, 75° 8.486′ W. Marker
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is in Lewes, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in the Lewes Historic District. Marker is on Shipcarpenter Street near Pilottown Road when traveling north. Located at the end of Shipcarpenter Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lewes DE 19958, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . The U.S.L.S.S. Living History Association. These poor, plain men, dwellers upon the lonely sands ...took their lives in their hands, and, at the most imminent risk, crossed the most tumultuous sea..., and all for what? That others might live to see home and friends.- Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Live-Saving Service, 1885.... (Submitted on November 28, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
Photographed By Life Saving Station Marker
2. Life Saving Station Marker
(Lower left picture)
The Life-Saving Service, largely forgotten today,
provided the dramatic news of the day and the
stories that sold newspapers — rescuing lives
through dark and stormy seas, braving all matter
of weather conditions and risking life and limb to
save strangers.Harper's Weekly provided
this illustration of surfmen readying to launch their
surfboat into crashing waves.
Photographed By Life Saving Station Marker, City of Lewes
3. Life Saving Station Marker Background picture
Photographed By Life Saving Station Marker
4. Life Saving Station Marker
(Top right picture)
Drilling, cleaning and preparation composed the
majority of a Surfman's time. Men of the Cape
Henlopen Life-Saving Station tend to their surfboat.
(Top right center picture)
The Lewes Life-Saving Station was built in 1884 and
was located on Lewes Beach, immediately west of
the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal. After being
relocated to Cape Henlopen, it was moved again to
Rehoboth Beach where it still stands as the Rehoboth VFW.
Photographed By Life Saving Station Marker
5. Life Saving Station Marker
(Lower right pictures)
Surfmen were very proud of their stations and didn't
need the orders that required them to keep their
buildings clean and in good repair. As all surfmen up
and down the coasts did, Lewes (above) and Cape
Henlopen(below) surfmen often gathered for a picture.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 15, 2010
6. Life Saving Station and Marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, February 3, 2013
7. Drilling, cleaning and preparation
Drilling, cleaning and preparation composed the majority of a Surfman's time. Men of the Cape of Henlopen Life-Saving Station tend to their surfboat.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, February 3, 2013
8. Life Saving Station
The Lewes Life-Saving Station was built in 1884 and was located on Lewes Beach immediately west of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal. After being relocated to Cape Henlopen, it was moved againt to Rehoboth Beach where it still stands as the Rehoboth VFW.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, February 3, 2013
9. Lewes Surfmen
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, February 3, 2013
10. Cape Henlopen Surfmen
Surfmen were very proud of their stations and didn't need the orders that required them to keep their buildings clean and in good repair. As all surfmen up and down the coasts did, Lewes (above) and Cape Henlopen (below) surfmen gathered for a picture.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, February 3, 2013
11. You Are Here
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, February 3, 2013
12. Sign over the Door
Regulations say we have to go out,
they say nothing about coming back
Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 890 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 28, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on February 18, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.