REHOBOTH VFW

The Rehoboth Beach VFW Post 7447 Home has an interesting History. It was originally the Lewes Life Saving Station, the fourth station to be established in 1884 on the Delaware Coast. It proved its usefulness almost immediately when the brave surfman responded to one of the most ferocious storms of the 19th century - the Great Blizzard of 1888. The men from Lewes station were joined by the crews of Cape Henlopen and Indian River and began the life-threatening job of saving as many sailors as they could. The Mid Atlantic Life Saving Stations eventually became known as the US Life Saving Station.

As sail gave way to steam, fewer and fewer ship wrecks occurred along Delaware's shore. In 1915, the USLSS was merged with the Revenue Cutter Service forming the modern US Coast Guard.

The old 1915 Lewes Coast Guard Station, embarked on a new career after 55 years of housing the Lewes Life Saving crew and Coast Guard at the Delaware Breakwater. It was relocated 3 miles east to the isolated beach and dunes on Cape Henlopen. The former LLSS property is now the location of the Cape May Lewes Ferry. In 1940 the old LLSS building’s interior was modernized as the Belhaven Surf Club, a men’s club. The exterior remained the same as when it was a Coast Guard Life Boat Station. The Belhaven Surf Club located within Fort Miles Reservation was taken over December 1, 1941 by the government and once more became government property and serve the 'brass' of Fort Miles, as Army and Navy Officers Headquarters. The old Lewes Coast Guard Station building was donated by the US Coast Guard and relocated in CIRCA 1949 to where it stands today as the Post home of Rehoboth Beach VFW Post 7447 (Charter Dated May 19^th, 1946).

Lewes Life Saving Station

Location of the Lewes Life Saving Station showing Boat House (on shore) and later, off-shore boat house. Former station was moved to Cape Henlopen and served as a lodge for a number of years before being moved to Rehoboth to serve as the VFW home. Note Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal had not yet been built. This photograph was taken circa 1941.Delaware Breakwater West End Lighthouse in 1891. Note adjacent Philadelphia Maritime Exchange. Photograph courtesy U.S. Coast Guard

Delaware Breakwater West End Lighthouse in 1891. Note adjacent Philadelphia Maritime Exchange. Photograph courtesy U.S. Coast Guard

References: The Lewes Historical Society www.historiclewes.org and Cape Gazette blog by Harrison Howeth May 22, 2019 “Belhaven Surf Club

1940-1941” www.capegazette.com/blog-entry/belhaven-surf-club/181344