SouthBethany
ispublishedbythesamefolkswhobringyouthe CoastalPointeveryFriday.
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111AtlanticAve.,Suite2
OceanView,DE19970
302.539.1788 v coastalpoint.com
COVER: (Inset,above)JanetStringerand TempeSteenin1958,CourtesyofElizabeth BrownellDare.(Inset,below)Ladiessunbathing in2000.CourtesyofLeighDwyer. —MapcourtesyGordonWood.
Wepresenttoyou...SouthBethany
Inalandofsmallbeachtowns,South Bethanymaybethequietestfromtheoutside,butontheinside,itshineswithlife.
DrivingthroughSouthBethany (neverfasterthan35mph,evenon thehighway),apersoncanimmediatelyfeelhowpeacefultheareais.
Asamunicipality,South Bethanyisthebabyofthesouthern shoretowns.Butitwasnoreligious retreatorold-timevacationspot,like itsneighbors.Itbeganonpaperasa salespitchinthe1950s.
TheareasouthofBethanywas oldfarmlandandthetypeofmarsh stillseenalongCoastalHighway today.Somehowinthatcrystalball ofscrubland,RichardHallandElizabeth“Iggie”Hallsawthefutureof coastalrealestate.Thecouple dreamedupahousingdevelopment nexttotheAtlanticOcean.
Somepeoplegrabbedoneof thosefirstlotsonawhim.Somepeoplescrimpedandsaveduntiltheir beachdreamsbecameareality.
Throughthestoriesweheard, we’veseenthetowngrowtoaplace withonlyahandfulofemptylots left.Manyofitspropertyowners aren’tevenfull-timeresidents.But SouthBethanyismorethanjusta vacationspottothem.Theylovethe coastalretreatenoughtofitweeke ndsandvacationsaroundtheirfamilyandworkschedules.Thebeach singsthatsirensonguntilpeople tradethebriefcaseforabeachbag, oneweekatatime,untilthey’re readytocallSouthBethanyasecond home.
“Bethanyisaplacethatpeopleke epcomingto, andtheyrarelyleavealtogether.
Evenfromtheirrootsasahousingdevelopment,residentscarriedaninsular spiritofcommunitythroughthe years,forminggroupssuchasthe SouthBethanyWomen’sClub,BaysideTennisClub,SouthBethany PropertyOwnersAssociationand more.Andasoldstoriescontinueto bediscovered,theSouthBethany HistoricalSocietycontinuestopreservethem.
ItwasaSunday evening,andtherewas anor’easterstormin thearea—itwas rainingreallyhard. Iwas16yearsoldand visitingmygirlfriend, MaryJane,ather parents’rentalbeach houseinMiddlesex Beach.Therewasno TV,noradio,nonothing —exceptforher father’sPlymouth FuryIIIcar,withanAM radio,whichhadspotty reception,andIcan’t recallifitwasfrom PhillyorNewYorkCity. Therewesat,inthe frontseatofher father’scar,listening totheAMradio,and tryingtohearaboutthe menlandingonthe moon—whata memory!Westillcall eachothereveryyear aroundthistime,and remembersharingthis awesomememory together.
Maybethey’vebeentrainedthat way.Inatownwithouthotels,visitorsstaywithfamilyorinrental homesforweeksatatime,insteadof daysatatime.Thatmeansafull weektoreallysoakupthecultureandlearnwhat itmeanstobeonslower,lowerDelawaretime. Whetherforaweekorforever,South
”
—CarolAnn
NangleMcMahon
FromtheStormof’62tothe otherunnamed,unforgivingnor’eastersthatwillalwayscrushthecoastline,thetownconstantlytriesto coexistwithMotherNature.That mightmeanchronicreplenishment ofthesanddunes(s acrificialbynature)orsomeotheradaptation.
Thathasn’tstoppedtheSouth Bethanyrealestateboomand,indeed,thetownisalmostcompletely builtout.Yet“thebestlittlebeachin Delaware”haske ptitssmall,seaside character.Neighborsstillgreeteach otherduringeveningwalksand morningbikerides.Thewindstill driftsthroughthedunegrassoverlookingtheAtlantic,attimespeacefulandattimesravenous.
Inspeakingwithpeoplewho havelovedSouthBethanythrough theyears,wefoundatownthathas alwaysyearnedtodorightforitscitizens.SouthBethanydoesn’tseekto bebigger,justbetter.Fromzoningto centralwatertothefutureofsealevelrise,SouthBethanyhasfacedits challengeshead-on.Andpeopleare unafraidtovoicetheiropinions,experimentorworktowardaresolutiontomoveforward.
That’sbecausethey’vefounda placeworthworkingfor.Thattiny townontheAtlantic.
WelcometoSouthBethany. v —LauraWalter
Offthebeatenpath
ThetownofSouthBethanydoesn’t exactlyleapoutofthehistorybooks. Historicalrecordsoftenbury referencestothearea,perhaps becausethelandwasonce consideredbarelynoteworthy, existingonlyasamarsh,perhaps somefarmland—excitingonlyto thewildlifethatinhabitedit. See Past page12
Above,canalswerealittlemoresparselypopulatedinthe 1950sand60s,beforethetwo-laneRt.14becameRt.1.
Courtesy:DelawarePublicArchives BackgroundphotobySusanLyons KenBaker(left)andMikeRyankeptaneyeonthingsin1979.
Courtesy:TomandSallyBaker
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‘Welltakemedownto SouthBethany, Myhomebythebay, myhomebythesea. IknowI’mnotalonewhen Isaythatmycupoverflows Witheveryhightideandlow.’
EricTsavdarsayshedoesn’trememberexactly howtheideaofasongaboutSouthBethany cameup,butherecallsthatitsomehowinvolvedachancemeetinginDecember2014withformermayorKathyJankowskiinPatti’sHallmark ShopinMillville.
etwostartedtalkingabouthowitwouldbe funtowriteasongaboutthetownand,fromthere, theideabegantosiftaroundinboththeirbrains,like grainsofsandonthetides.
“Idon’tquiterememberwhobroughtitup,”said Tsavdar,whojuststartedhisthirdyearaschoraldirectoratSelbyvilleMiddleSchool.
Fromnumerousbrainstormingsessionsaround Jankowski’spianocamethefirst“verybasic”ideasfor thesong,Tsavdarsaid.Heknewfromthebeginning thathewantedJankowskitobeinvolvedinthe process,andbothofthemknewtheywanteditto soundlikeasong,notanadvertisingjingle.
Hepulledothermusiciansintotheprocess,includinghisdad,formerIndianRiverHighSchool
song Singinga of SouthBethany
-Linda C.
-Jennifer
M.
-Bernard D.
S.
Dockside Footwear
banddirectorMarkMarvel,andfriendsTylerValliantandJenniCarney,whohaveworkedonfilmsin LosAngeleswithperformersincludingJennifer Lopezandhelpedwiththecreationofavideotogo withthesong.
OnceTsavdar’sandJankowski’scollaborationresultedinasongtheybothliked,Marvelarrangedit forinstruments.etwopulledinmusiciansfrom theirband,OverTime,includingGregReynoldson bassguitar,TimBerzinsondrums,JordanMarvelon trumpet,JohnRagoneseontenorsaxophoneand ClayRepinontrombone.
Althoughhe’sonly28,thisisnotTsavdar’sfirst forayintosongwriting;infact,heiscurrentlywriting hissecondoriginalmusicalforSussexCentralHigh School’stheaterprogram.Buthesaidhehopesthe “SouthBethanysong”projectleadstootherslikeit, andthathisnextcollaboratorsareaspleasantto workwithastheJankowskis.
“Itwassomuchfun,”hesaid.“eywerejustso warmandinviting.”
esong—simplycalled“SouthBethany,”because,Tsavdarsaid,“Whatelsewouldwecallit?”— wasjustrecentlyrecordedatMidSouthAudioin Georgetown.AlthoughJankowskihadn’theardthe finishedproductyet,Tsavdarsaidhecanenvisionit beingplayedatSouthBethanycelebrations,suchas thetown’sannualFourthofJulyboatparade.Hesaid copiesofthesongcouldbeavailableinareastoresin thefuture,aswell. v
StorybyKerinMagill
Welltakemedownto SouthBethany, Myhomebythebay, myhomebythesea. IknowI’mnotalone whenIsaythat mycupoverflows Witheveryhightide andlow.
Youwon’tgetlost, Becauseyou’ll neverknowit’sthere, Flyingundertheradar ofRt.1,Iswear, betweencanals andthestreets, Andthepeoplethat yousee Headingdowntothewater Foraspotonthebeach, it’ssomethingelse— Aplacetobe. Milebymile, Aplacetobefree, Milebymile, Fronttoback, Smilebysmile, MactoMac.
‘South Bethany’
AsongbyEric Tsavdar,pictured above.
WellhereIamonSouth Bethanysand,
Atowelonmyshoulder, Acoolerinhand, IknowI’mfreetoroam Onthismagicalstripof land. erewasastorm thatblew BackinMarchof’62. Itrippedthehomesfrom theirpilings, Asthewaterrushed through. Itwashedawayallthat stood, Butthepeopleunderstoodthatitwasfate, Itwasfate... attheirspiritswould rebound, Andthey’dstillhaveatown.
WelltakemedowntoSouth Bethany, Myhomebythebay,myhome bythesea. IknowI’mnotalonewhenI saythatmycupoverflows Witheveryhightideandlow.
—Photoby TimBerzins
WellhereIamonSouthBethanysand,
Atowelonmyshoulder, Acoolerinhand, IknowI’mfreetoroam Onthismagicalstripofland— Onthismagicalstripofland.
Soletmeputmylifeonhold, FornowI’moutofreach, ’causeI’mnotevergrowingold, Andyoucanjoinme— InSouthBethany.
Idon’tknowwhatyou’vebeentold, Butheremylife’sabeach. Insunandsand,Ibatheingold; Iwon’tbebothered InSouthBethany
Soletmeputmylifeonhold, FornowI’moutofreach— ’causeI’mnotevergrowingold, Andyoucanjoinme— InSouthBethany.
I don’tknowwhatyou’vebeentold, Butheremylife’sabeach, Insunandsand,Ibatheingold; Iwon’tbebothered InSouthBethany.
Nothingputsmeatease Liketheairofthesea.
WellhereIamonSouthBethanysand, Atowelonmyshoulder, Acoolerinhand, IknowI’mfreetoroam, Onthismagicalstripofland— Onthismagicalstripofland.
©EricTsavdar2015
beaches. We specialize in year-round homes and vacation rentals in Bethany Beach, North Bethany, Ocean View, Middlesex Beach, South Bethany and Fenwick Island and Ocean City. Located in downtown Bethany for over 50 years, we are experts in all things
Asamunicipality,SouthBethanyisthe babyoftheDelawarecoastaltowns.Although theSouthBethanyhousingdevelopment beganin1952,theTownwasn’tincorporated until1969.(Forcomparison,BethanyBeach wasfoundedin1901,FenwickIslandin 1953.)
ButpeoplehavelovedSouthBethanyfor aslongasithasexisted,andtheirdedication runsthroughthetown’sshorthistory.Even whenpeopleglimpsedthemarshandfarmlandinthe1950s,theyenvisionedacommunity.Andtheyalwaysaimedforthegood,not thegrandiose.
SouthPetherton:
Wheremainlandmeetsthebeach
Historicalrecordsgivedifferentdatestoone man’sclaimonthelandnowknownasSouth Bethany.
Courtesy: CarolynMarcello
etownwasoriginallypartofalandpatent called“SouthPetherton,”430acresgrantedin1695 toMatthewScarborough,accordingtorecordskept byWorcesterCounty,Md.
ButtheMarylandHistoricalSocietywrotethat, in1687,ScarboroughhadmuchoftheBethanyarea
surveyed,including500acresinthenorth(“Scarborough’sAdventure”)and500moreinthesouth(“Middlesex”).
He“tookup”NorthPethertonandSouthPethertonin 1688,accordingtotheMarylandHistoricalDigestMagazine (Vol.XL,No.2),publishedbythesocietyinJuneof1945.
Specifically,SouthPethertonwastwomilessouthof BethanyBeach,attheheadoftheLittleAssawomanBay,where themainlandandtheshoretouch.
(iswasallcalledpartofMarylandbeforea1700smap mishapgavethePennfamilya20-milelongchunkofCalvert familyland,includingtoday’sDelawareseashore.Pennsylvania wouldlaterreleasethecounties,tobecomeDelaware.)
etwoPethertonswerecombinedbyalatersurvey, patentedtoWilliamEvansin1741.
eEnglishlikelyusedthelandforfarming.
Meanwhile,severalhundredyearsago,NativeAmericans wholivedinlandweretheoriginalvacationers.eytravelledto Delawarebeachesandbayseverysummertofishandcatchcool breezes,althoughnorecordsindicatewhethertheyspecifically visitedwhatisnowSouthBethany.
TownHall’shistoricalrecordpicksupthestorytwocenturieslater:“In1926,GeorgeMcClellan,aresidentofLongIsland,NewYork,purchasedfouradjoininglandtractstotaling 140acresandconveyedthemtotheDelawareShoreLandCorporation.”
Marshlandbecomesahousingdevelopment
In1952,RichardHallandElizabeth“Iggie”Hallpurchased around130 acresfromtheDelawareShoreLandCorporation. eynamedthecommunity“SouthBethany,”capitalizingon theirnorthernneighbor’spopularitywithvacationers.
Peoplehavealwayslovedsummeringatthebeach,sothey couldn’twaittobuy50-by-100-footlotsfromtheHalls.To makethatareality,thecouplesimplyhadtodigcanalsfor10 yearsandraisethemarshlandintobuildablelots.Fromalmost nothing,theycreatedatownwithmilesofcanals.
BetweentheAtlanticOceanandIntracoastalWaterway, peoplehadtheirchoiceofwaterfrontpropertyoraccess.
“Whetheryouownaboatornot,theentirefamilywill enjoyalifetimeoffun,”readanadvertisementinWashington, D.C.’seEveningStarin1959,thesameyearpropertyownershipreached500.
Accordingtothead,peoplecouldput$200downonlots valuedat$1,050(whichtheysometimesdidonawhim).
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Althoughthebeachesweren’tcrowded,thejourneycrossingtheChesapeakeBaydefinitelywas.
“Backintheveryearlydays,therewasnobridge, andwehadtowaitfortheferrytogoacross...soit tooktime,”saidGeorgeJunkin.“Oncethebridgegot built,lotsofthingsstarteddevelopingontheEastern Shorehere.”
VerysoonaftertheChesapeakeBayBridge(officiallycalledtheWilliamPrestonLaneJr.Memorial Bridge)wasbuiltin1952,thetwo-lanespanwasn’t enoughforthedelugeoftraffic.
Whentrafficwasespeciallyheavyinonedirection,officialswould makethebridgea one-wayroaduntil congestioncleared.
“Icanrememberpolicemenbeing onthebridge, tellingyoutogo fasterwhenyou weregoingasfast asyoucould,” Junkinsaid.
Belowtop,May Felerski’seastward viewofOceanDrive.
Courtesy: CarolynMarcello Belowbottom,this emptyoceanfrontlot didn’tsuffertoo badlyduringthe Stormof’62.Butthe parentsofElizabeth DareandTempe Steenchangedtheir mindaboutbuilding thereafterother houseswashedaway.
Courtesy: ElizabethBrownellDare
AccordingtoElizabethBrownell“Liz”Dare, manyresidentsoftheBethesdaandChevyChase areainMarylandcametotheBethanyarea,while PhiladelphianswenttoRehobothBeach,andBaltimoreemptiedintoOceanCity,Md.
Beachliving:
‘Ittookeverypennyofsavingswehad.’ Ultimately,manypeoplepurchasedtheirbeach housebutrenteditoutuntiltheywerereadytoretire, therebycrowd-sourcingenoughmoneyfromrenters topaythemortgage.
“at’showyoucanaffordasecondhome,basically,”saidTomBaker,whorentedouthishousefor 10yearsbeforesummeringtherehimself.
Hisparentsput$20downonapropertyon theirwaytoOceanCityforaweddinganniversary. “eypretty muchhadtheir pickoflotsfor $1,250,”Baker said.
ItwasTom Bakerandhis wife,Sally,who builtthefirst houseonthatlot, however.ey addedabedroom, closetsanda screenedporch whentheyretired. TerryYorkwas enchantedby SouthBethany whenshetouredlotswithShore-Lea Realty.
“erewasjustsomethinginthe area—thelackofcommercialism,the single-familyhouses…Itwasprobably onlyone-third[toone-half]developed then,whichwasappealing,”Yorksaid.
Shebeggedherhusbandfora beachhome,and“Ifinallyworehim down”in1968byshowinghowthey’d
See Past page16
paythemortgagebyrentingthehouseout.
“Ittookeverypennyofsavingswehad,”Yorksaid. Sherecalledpaying$7,500forthelot,whichis probablyapproaching$1millioninvaluetoday.
eparentsofTempeSteenandLizDarefirst builttheirbeachhousearound1955,whenfewother houseswerearound.
“Ourswasjustalittletwo-bed,one-bathroom house.Itwasacottage.at’swhatpeoplebuilt,” Steensaid.
eWashingtonianfamilyvisitedeverysummer(theirmomfulltime,anddadonweekends),and in1967TempemarriedaDagsborolocal,Ron Steen.
RonSteenwentintotheNationalGuard,leavingTempetoprepareforherfirstteachingjobat JohnM.ClaytonSchoolinFrankford.atLabor Dayevening,sherecalled,sheexitedaBethanypizza shopandsawevery otherstorefront boardedup,exceptthe bankandpostoffice.
“Ilookedaround, andmybrothersaid,‘Is itsafetoleaveyou here?’Isaid,‘Youhave to.I’mteachingtomorrow,”sherecalledwitha laugh.
“Inwintertime, therewasonefamily livingonHenlopen Drive,anditwasus,” RonSteensaid.
Afteryearsofvisitinghersister,MayFelerski,in SouthBethany,Marcelloneverexpectedtostay there,andshewaitedfordivineinspirationtopoint thewayout.
“Ithinkit’sapretty relaxingplacetobe. Ilovegettingouton mypontoonboat… justfloatingaround andbeingoutonthe InlandBays,lookingat thesceneryandthe wildlife.It'sanice placetolive.
”—Councilman GeorgeJunkin
“AndasIwaited,Istartedenjoyingandgetting toknowpeople,”Marcellosaid.“I’vebeenheresince 1994.Ireallyenjoyedit.isiswhereIfeeltheLord wantsme.Ididn’tplanit,butI’mhereandIlikeit.It workedoutforgood.”
Junkin’sfamilyownedpropertyinSouth Bethanyrightfromthestart,around1953.
“WhenIwasabout10yearsold,wehadbeen vacationinginBethanyBeach.Myfather’sbestfriend andhesawtheyweresellinglotsinSouthBethany. RichardHallhadjuststartsellingthelots,andso theycamedownandeachboughtalot,”thenbuilt identicalcottages.“Ourdeedwasthe23rdthatwas issuedbytheSouthBethanyCorporation.”
efamilyalwaysenjoyedtherelaxingnatureof town.atcametoincludeJunkin’swife,too.
“In1976,myfathersoldthebeachcottageto myselfandmywifefor $1.Sowegotitfor prettygoodprice.”
eygotsnowed induringthatfirstwinter,beingsofarbackfrom CoastalHighway.eylatermovedtoS.8thStreet.
“Itwas‘slowerlowerDelaware.’It’sasmalltown, andeverybodykneweverybody,”hesaid.
“Oneofthemayors,onthebayside,whenever theyhadcocktailsintheafternoon,hehadthiscannon,”saidCarolynMarcello.“Andhewouldshootoff acannon,soyouknewitwascocktailtime.”
JanetStringerand TempeSteenget somesunin1958.
Courtesy:Elizabeth BrownellDare
Likemostofthe homes,thecottagewas rentedouttofriends andacquaintances untilthecoupledid renovationsandtook uppermanentresidencein2001.
Familiesmight spendtheentiresummerintheirbeachcottage,whichwasa simplestructure.It typicallyhadtwobedroomsandonebathroom,andmaybeasmallheater forcoolMayweekends.OnceschoolletoutinJune, peoplepackedupandhittheroad,stayinguntil LaborDayitself.entheyshutteredthewindows andhiredaplumbertowinterizeeverything.
“Wedidn’tevenhaveatelephoneforthelongest time,”saidDare.
Withoutaphone,whentheirhousehadplumb-
ingissues,hermother packedallfourchildren intothecar,drovetothe plumber’shouse“and knockedonthedoor andsaid,‘Igotaleaky pipe.’”
Orshedrovetoa payphoneinBethany.
“Allofthehomes wereverysmall.Allthe homeswereonestory. Overtime,theyhavebecomehuge—elevators, geothermalheating, threestorieswithacatwalkontopofthat,”Marcellosaid.“Sothewhole viewpointhaschanged.isisnotjustahome.It’san income,”shesaid,somorebedsandbathsareadded.
CindyGilerwasinsultedtohearahouse-hunter examineaForSalesigninfrontofanoldercottage andsay,“at’satear-down,”referringtothepractice ofrazingtheoldcottagestobuildnew,largerhouses.
Courtesy:Elizabeth BrownellDare
eSuazo familystarted comingtoSouth Bethanyin1966, encouragedbythe familypediatrician, whoofferedtolet themvacationin hisnewbeach house,whichstill standsonthe beachfrontalong OceanDrive. eyboughttheir ownhouseabout 10yearslater.
ItwasfromthebackofaJeeponroughdirt roadsthatDebbiandMichaelFanshelfirstsawCat Hill,thewesternmostneighborhoodofSouth Bethany,wheretheywouldbuildin1986.
“erewasapavedroad,buttheyhadjust
plowedthroughthewoodsbehindthecurrenttown hall,”DebbiFanshelsaid.
eyweresoinspiredby“thebeach,anditbeing soquietandfamily-oriented”thattheybuiltthefirst houseinCatHillasavacationhousefortheirgrowingfamily.“And basicallyevery yearsince’87,I wouldpackupon thelastdayof schoolanddrive themhereand spendthewhole summerhere.”
Shehadconsideredawaterfrontpropertybut wascautiousdueto concernsaboutthe children’ssafety.
Atleastbythe Fanshels’time,there wasafulllifeguard service.
Beforelifeguardstooktotheirtowers,theonly safetymeasureonthetown’sbeacheswasatorpedostylelife-preserver,hangingfroma4-by-4-inchpost inthesand,“andthatwasoursafety,”Daresaid.“And thatwasanimprovement!”
“IfyouseethebeachattheendofSeptember [today],that’swhatitlookedlikeattheheightof summer[then],”notedTempeSteen.
“ItwasveryquietinSouthBethany.Wedidn’t evenhavelifeguardsuntil1971,”saidDare.atwas whenRogerKnox,RonClausenandhercousin Granville“Granny”Grantwerepaidtoguardtheentirebeach.eystoredsafetyequipmentonherfamily’sporch,becauseitwas“rightinthemiddleof town.”
Funonthebeach
Adventurewasthenameofthegameforkids, especiallysoclosetothewildernessandsofarfroma
television. Junkin,his sisterandtheir dogBlackiedida lotofexploring backthen.
Allbeachhousesand nohotels,South Bethanyhasalways beenahavenfor vacationers.
Courtesy:Elizabeth BrownellDare
“erewas asteeltower, whereSea olonyisnow,thatmysisterandI wouldclimbtothetopoftogetgoodviewsofthings,” Junkinsaid,“whichwedidn’ttellmyparentsabout.” eyalsoclimbedtheoldWorldWarII-era watchtowers.
Bonfireswerethetoastofthetown.
“Backintheoldendays,youcouldhavefireson thebeach,”Junkinsaid.“en,aswebecamemoredeveloped,morecivilized,youhadtohaveapermitto haveafireonthebeach.
Fanshelrecalledlifeguard-sponsoredbonfires, forwhichsheputglowsticksonherchildrentosee theminthedark.
“Lifeguardswouldgoaroundonedayafter work,andtheywouldsellticketsperhead,”Fanshel said.“eycookedhamburgersandhotdogs.It wasn’tagourmetmeal,butitwasfun.Peoplebrought theirchairs,andtheyhadgamesforthekids.”
“Youusedtojustburndriftwoodinthefireplace. erewassomuchofitonthebeach,”saidTom
See Past page20
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Baker.“eywouldcomeoffthecratesonthe freightersoutintheocean.”
Obviously,kidswereonthebeachdaily.Families alsolikedboating,crabbing,water-skiingandplaying cardsandgames.atwasbeforeBethanyBeach hadtheamusementsitdoesnow.
“WegotdroppedoffattheBethanyboardwalk. Iwasneversoboredinmylife,”saidPhilipSuazo.
HehadwantedtogototheRehobothboardwalk,andOceanCitywouldhavebeenatreat,but thekidsweredroppedinBethanybecausethe grown-upshaderrandsnearby.
“erewasn’t evenawholelotto doinBethany,way back,”Daresaid.
Buthersister, Tempe,remembered Bethany’sbowling alleyandothervarioushangouts,includingteendancesatthe firehall,whereshe firstmetherfuture husband.Shesaid kidswandered aroundthosespots untiltheyfound whoevertheywere lookingfor.
Theydon’tbuildthem anymore,these cottages.Theybuild nowfortherentalor thefamily,anditneeds tobebig.Itneeds tobebig.
—resident CarolynMarcello
“hadthebestshows”unlessbadweatherknockedout thesignal.PBSandothernetworkscamelater.
Becausesofewpeoplelivedintownyear-round, PaigeSteenisactuallybelievedtobethefirstchild borntoyear-roundresidents.ShewastheonlystudentontheschoolbuswithastopinSouthBethany untilthe1970s,whenanotherfamilymovedin,with lotsofchildren.ForPaige,thatmeantnewplaymates. ForTempe,thatmeantbuilt-inbabysitters.
Shoppingforthebasics
Withitsreligiousroots,BethanyBeachwasa “dry”town,sothirstyvisitorshadtofindboozeon Route26.Untilthefirstalcoholpermitwasgranted in1983,totheHolidayHouse(locatedwhere Mango’sistoday), dinerstherecould keeptheirownbottleofwineunderthe table,Marcellosaid.
Eventually,manyoftheteenagersgotsummer jobs,perhapsatlocalrestaurantsoronthebeachpatrol.
“Wereadalotofbooks.eBookmobilewould comeonceaweek,becausewedidn’thaveTV… until1969,”Daresaid,“withabigol’antennaonthe house.”
“Iwasthrilledwhencablecamein,”TempeSteen said.“We’vehadanantennathatweputupeveryyear andgotblowndowneveryyear,inevitably.”
Fortelevision,thego-towasWBOC-TVin Salisbury,Md.WhentheSteensgotatallerantenna, theyalsopickedupNBC,whichTempeSteensaid
Tanksintown?
eDelawareArmy NationalGuard trainedneartown, providinghoursof entertainmentfor residentsinthese photosfrom1961 and1962.
Courtesy:Elizabeth BrownellDare
“Itwasabig change,becauseit wasachurchretreat center.Sunday, thingswereclosed, andpeoplewentto church,”sherecalled.
“Itwasstillquiet inthewinters—very quiet,”saidDare, wholivedinthefamilybeachhousefulltimefrom1982to 2000.erewereeven“acoupleofstreetlightshere andthere.ingswerebuildingupthen.Morebusinesses.Morethingstodo.”
eclosestgrocerywastheShoreFoods(formerlyLewesDairyMarket),stillfoundinBethany Beachtoday.
PeopledidtheirmajorshoppinginSelbyville, RehobothormidtownOceanCity.Eventhen,Dare’s familyspentrainydaysshoppingat“thebiggrocery store”inRehoboth.Pharmaciesweren’texactlyprevalenteither.
ButOceanViewprovidedanotheroption:Jake Hocker’sgrocerystore(nowG&E).
“WhenwediscoveredJake’s,it wasawholenewworld.Somany choices!”Daresaid.
“Onceortwiceaweek,the ‘VegetableMan’madehisrounds,” Dareadded.“Hewasalocalfarmer whodroveapickuptruckupand downthestreetsinthemornings, callingout,‘Vegetables!’(‘Vej-taBULLS!’)ebedofthepickup wasloadedwithcorn,cantaloupe, tomatoes,peaches,everything—all veryfreshandaconvenienceformy mother.”
“Itwasjustsoquiet.Weweresoexcitedwhen theybuilttheTasteeFreezinMiddlesex,”Daresaid.
Asanewcomer,Tempehadtoaskherstudents wheretobuyeverydayitems,suchasneedleand thread.(Selbyville,theysaid.)
“HowdoIgetthere?”shehadtoask,having nevermadethejourneytherefromFrankford.“ey laughedaboutthatallyear.”
Nocommerce—andwemeanbusiness
Whenitwasfounded,SouthBethanywasnever meanttohaveanybusinesses.eentiretownwasto bezonedresidential:single-familyhomes,notownhomes,noapartments.
eydiscouragedcommerceinordertoensure “theconservationofpropertyvaluesandnaturalresources,”accordingtothetowncharter.etown
wasalwaysmeanttobeaquiethavenforthoseliving orvacationingthere.
AndSouthBethanyresidentscouldsoeasily turntoitsneighborsforexcitementorcommerce. atincludeddirectneighborMiddlesexBeach, whichhadstripofcommercewestofCoastalHighway.Overtheyears,restaurantshavecomeandgone, includingFishBonesandEnglish’sfriedchicken, “whichwasverynicebecausewefinallyhadsome placetogoandpickupdinner,”saidTempeSteen.
YorkBeachMallistheexceptiontotherule. e shoppingcenterwasalreadyintactwhenYork BeachandParadiseShores(behindthemall)were annexedintotownin1972,lengtheningthetown southwardandcreatingitssinglecommercialarea.
BeforeitwascalledYorkBeach,thatplotofland, frombeachtobay,wascalled“Derickson’sVenture” fromabout1812to1946,accordingtotheMcCabe family,in“eBestLittleBeachinDelaware,”which
Itwasveryruralwhenwegotmarriedandchose toliveatthebeach.Itwasalongwayto anywhere.It’sgraduallybecomesuburbanized.
In1959,Route14 wasjustatwo-lane roadbeforeCoastal Highwaywasfunded inthelate1960s.
Courtesy:Elizabeth BrownellDare
waspublishedin2014bytheSouthBethanyHistoricalSociety.
Ina2010interview,KimberlyGrimessaidthe shoppingcenterwasbuiltintwoparts,thefirstin 1959,withthenorthernportionbuiltaround1965. erewereonceplanstoleavethecenterasopen space,withalagoontodockboats,butthoseplans nevermaterialized.
AfterSouthBethanywasincorporated,people inYorkandParadiseformedtheirownproperty owners’associationtodebate,andeventuallyapprove,annexationintothetown.
Doing…otherkindsofbusiness
AswasthecaseinmuchofSussexCounty,septicsystemsruledthelanduntilSouthBethanybegan installingcentralsewerin1972.
“Whenwewerethere,wedidn’thavecounty sewerorpublicwater,”saidRonSteen,whohadsepticathishousealso.“Onthebayside,thatwashorrible,becausetheoverflowwenttothecanals.”
Ontheoceanside,theBakersneverhadseptic
problems,possiblybecauseofthehigherelevationandbetter drainageinthesand.
eSteenscouldn’tbelievethatcitizensOK’dsewer,but notwaterserviceatthesametime.
“Askanydeveloper.Youdon’thavesewerandwaterin,it’s notgonnagrow,”RonSteensaid.“Oncesewerandwatercomes in—boom—ittakesoff.”
AttheSteens’secondSouthBethanyhome,theydrilleda well228feetdeep.ewatercameoutrustyorange,untiltheygot apurifyingsystem.TempeSteen’sblondehairsometimesturned rustyinthebath.eSteensmovedtoBethanyBeachbecauseit wasworthpayingforatownwithcentralwaterandsewer.
In1998,theTowninvitedArtesianWatertoinstallawater towerandlaypipes.ChesapeakeUtilitiesworkedsimultaneouslytoinstalllinesthatbegancarryingpropaneintheearly2000s.
TownHallcametohostSharpEnergy’sunderground propanetank,withfuelpumpedtoresidents.atsavedroom onlotsthatoftenbarelyhadroomforanindividualtankafter thehousewasbuilt.
“Itwasnicegettinggasandwater,”TomBakersaid.“Our
Jayne’s
waterqualitywasreallybadinthewell.ere’siron inthewaterhere.Youhadtogetawatersoftener.”
Sandontheroad
EarlyoninSouthBethany’shistory,Coastal Highwaywasmoreofacountryroadthanahighway. Locatedbetweensanddunesandmarshland,the then-Route14wasjustatwo-laneroadwithsandon eithersideinsteadofapropershoulder.
at’sacceptableonaruralroad,wherepeople justparkinthedirtanyway.Butsandisunforgiving tocars.Driverswouldpulloverforwhateverreason, butcartiressankinthesoftsand,unabletogaintractionifnotdeflatedproperly.
CarsgotstuckregularlyonRoute14andon OceanDrive,whichwasn’tevenaroadyet.
“Streetsthatwentdowntotheoceanweremade ofclay,”Yorksaid,butOceanDrivewasjustasandy pathwayparalleltothebeach.Itwasn’tapavedstreet.
“eywouldtrytoturndownhere,andthey wouldgetstuck,”Marcellosaid.
Insummertime,therewasusuallyafamily nearbytohelp.
“Allresidentshavestoriesoftheirteenagers pullingcarsout,”saidMarySuazo,motherofPhilip.
“Lotsforsale” werecommonwhen Richardand“Iggie” Hallweresellingin 1962.Today,an emptylotisa raresight.
Courtesy:Elizabeth BrownellDare
“Backintheearlydays, whenIwasakid, thecanalswere notpolluted.
—Councilman GeorgeJunkin
“ey’dbringshovelstogetthesedumbcarsout ofthesand,”Yorksaid,pluswoodenboardstodrive on.
In1958,Route14wasdualizedfromBethany toFenwick,becomingpartoftoday’sRoute1.
“enorthboundwastheoriginal,”Daresaid. “So,whentheyaddedthesouthboundlanes,itwas onthewest.”
“Whatadifferencethatmade.Ijustfeltlikewe couldflytogetanywhere,”saidTempeSteen.Going tothemoviesonthewestofRehoboth,“Wecould gettherein20minutes,andbeseated.erewereno lights,nopoliceandnotraffic.Can’tdothatanymore!”
But,inaway,dualizationslowedotherpeople down.
Before,“youcouldleave,justdriverightoutthere. Youdidn’thavetogoaround,likeyoudonow,”said TomBaker,whooftenhastomakeaU-turntotravel southboundonthehighway.
ereweresomevehiclesthathadnoproblem drivingonthesandorhighway:militarytanks.
e DelawareArmyNationalGuardhadbarracksnorthofBethany,butitstraininggroundswere inthesouth.
“etimeswhenitwasn’tquietwaswhenthe NationalGuardwouldcometodotheirtrainingjust
Past page26
southofSouthBethany,wherethe toweris,”Daresaid.“eywouldbring theirtanks,and,boy,weretheyloud comingdowntheroadat6a.m.”
Arrivingintanks,theGuardsmen setupalongthebeachfortargetpractice,upintheair.
“eywouldshootupthesetargets…andthentheywouldshoot theirtankstoshoot’emdown…and theyneverhitthem!”Darerecalled withachuckle.
Butwhenthesoldiershitthe drones,whizzingaboutintheair,theremainswere sometimesfoundlater.Whilefishing,Dare’sbrother andhisfriendreeledinadroneengine.
“osewerethebusy,louddays,”withtanksrattlingthehousesontheirwayupanddowntheroad. “Peoplewouldjustpullovertowatch.”
Courtesy: TomandSallyBaker
Stormsknockeditdown
eonlytimenationalnews agenciespayattentiontoSouth Bethanyisduringstorms,quipped Marcello.at’sbecausestormsare prettynoteworthyhere.
Around1974,astormwas brewingwhiletheSteensdrovehome fromanksgivinginD.C.eyhad decidedtoswingbythebeachtosee theoceanwhenawavebrokeover theircar.OnOceanDrive.
eyturnedaround,re-packed thecarandbookeditoutoftown.
“Bydark,theoceanhadbroken throughtothenorthernmostcanal,” TempeSteensaid.“Weweredrivingthoughsaltwater.atwasalittledisconcerting.”
Sheestimatedthatitwasin1992thataneighborsawarefrigeratorfloatdownthestreet.Sally Bakersawairconditioningunitsandaheatpump. Sometimesstormshitbacktoback,aswasthe
casewiththe1991Halloweenstorm, whichnewspaperscalled“freakish,”followedbyaJanuary1992stormthatcost Bethanyitsboardwalkandmanyhouses onpilingstheirstaircases.
Yorkrecalledtheoceanfreezingin thewinterof1979.Maybe7feetfrom shore,theoceanwasjustablockofice, shesaid.ewaveswouldtrytocomein andgetstuck,makingasuckingnoise outtosea.
Marcellorecalledonestormbefore themodern-eraduneswerebuilt.
“Ilookedoutthekitchenwindow, andIsaid,‘What’sthatwhitestuffcomingdowntheroad?’”Marcellorecalled.
Itwasseafoam.
“eoceanjustcameoverandcrossedoverthe road,andthat’swhentheNationalGuardcameto SouthBethany,”shesaid.“atwasaprettybad storm,butthedunehashelped.”
eseahasswallowedhousesinSouthBethany
Courtesy: TomandSallyBaker
before,especiallyduringtheStormof ’62,themostinfamousnor’easterinrecentmemory,whichshreddedthecoast andliftedcottagesrightofftheirfoundations(iftheyhadany).Photosofthe toppledhousesstillcausejawstodrop. “estorythatweheardwasthat, beforewebuiltandliveddownhere, therewasabigduneoutherebeforethe ’62storm,”saidTomBaker,“Andafter the’62storm,thatwasallgone.Andit wipedoutallthebeachfronthouses.”
atwas37oceanfronthomes,to beexact,accordingto“eBestLittle Beach…”
Whenheavyerosionremoves moresandthanusualfromthebeaches,peoplecan stillseepilingsfromoldhousesthathavewashed away.
Gilerrecalledthepre-duneyears,before2008, whichiswhentheStateofDelawareandtheU.S.
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TheStorm
ormof‘62
Mostoceanfronthouses didn’tsurvivetheStorm of’62,whichhitthe DelmarvaPeninsulawith heavysurfandhightides fromMarch6to8.Many beachhomesweren’tyearroundresidences,and weren’tdesignedtowithstandthestorm.Bare lumberwastossedacross townuntilpeoplecollected andburnedthedebris.
Courtesy:Elizabeth BrownellDare
“ ” Beforetheyputthedunesin,we’dprobably havewatercomingdownthestreet.
—residentTomBaker
ArmyCorpsofEngineersconstructednew16-foot dunes,witharegularre-nourishmentcycleplanned.
Beachreplenishmenthadalsooccurredinthe 1980s.
“Sometimesthebeachwassonarrowthatyou weresittingunderneathsomeone’sbackdeck!”she said.MiddlesexBeachwassmarttobuildhouses
Courtesy:Elizabeth BrownellDare
Below,exposedutility pipesanddebris-filled yardsweretheresultof severebeacherosion afteryetanother winterstorm.
Courtesy: CarolynMarcello
backfromtheocean,sheadded,as“Ourhousesare builtouttoofar.”
Beachreplenishment“isadouble-edgedsword,” saidYork.“It’ssonecessary,”butthesanddunesare
South Bethany: Land of Opportunity
In the 1950s, our grandparents, parents, and great aunt and uncle shared in the “Hawaiian fever” sweeping the nation. They named the land behind York Beach Mall “Paradise Shores” and the model homes had a Polynesian theme.
inside the middle of the model home, with a sandy garden and two tropical birds. Looking north, you can see how vacant the bayside was at this time.
Kimberly and Rebecca love reminiscing about the early days here at the shore. Stop in our stores and chat a bit!
toughforsomepeopletocross.”
“We’rereallygladtohavethe beachreplenishmentandthedune.It’s beenwonderfullivingonthisside,” SallyBakersaid.
“Sometimesthecanalsideis worsethantheoceanside,”Yorknoted, becauseit’slow-setamongthecanals, whichfloodeasily.
“Allofthebaysidejustsouthof us—allofitlookedlikeislands,”after HurricaneSandyin2012,Gilersaid.
“eroadslookedlikecanalsbecausetheywereallflooded.…Wesaid,‘ankGod weliveatthe‘high’endoftheroad,’”becausenowater gotinGiler’sbaysidehouse,thoughitdidfloodsome homesinthetown.However,Sandy’sfloodwaters camewithinafewinchesofGiler’sfirstfloor,ruining thecrawlspace,ductworkandheatpumpunderneath.“Onehousenearbywasdestroyed.eyjust
toreitdown.”
eStaterequiredbeachinhabitantstoevacuateforSandy,offeringshelternearby,atIndianRiver andCapeHenlopenhighschools.
“eycamearoundwithabullhorn:‘Ifyoudon’t e vacuate,wecan’thelpyou.You’llberesponsible!”” Yorkrecalled.
FanshelevacuatedforHurricaneSandy,butshe saidsomestormsturnouttobenothing.However, shealwayshelpsbattendownthehatchesforneighbors,securinglawnfurnitureandthelike,“because youdon’tknowhowbadit’sgoingtobe.”
Butpeoplewhobuildanythingatground-level can’texpectittobeimmunefromhighwater.Heat pumps,watertanks,trashreceptaclesandmoreareat themercyofastorm.
“Somepeoplehadcarsthatweretotaledbecause theyweresittinginsaltwater,”Fanshelsaid.“e nor’eastersseemtobeoftentimesworsethanthehurricaneshere.Butwehavenothaddamage,forthe mostpart.”
Howtomakeacommunityintoatown
IggieHallhadtriedunsuccessfullytoincorporatethetown,citingtheneedforbetterservices.But ahandfulofresidentsorganizedtheSouthBethany Associationtoaddresscommunityneedsanyway.
“Whatsurprisedmethemostwasreadingabout thestruggletheyhadwhentheyfirstpurchasedthe
“ ”
Ihavedescribed SouthBethany, onoccasion,as ‘Mayberry bythesea.’
—residentKentStephen
properties,howdifficultitwastoestablishthetown. Alotofpeoplesacrificed…”Suazosaid.
eStormof’62changedthings.ecommunitycouldn’tgetfederalfundingtorecover.at’s whenpeoplegotseriousaboutincorporation.
ButtheDelawareStateLegislaturerejectedthe proposaltoincorporate.
“eyweretryingtogetthetownincorporated, andtherewereonlytwoorthreepeoplehereyearround,sotheStatesaidno,”Suazosaid.
Butthebillfinallygotagovernor’ssignaturein 1965. en,thepeoplejustneededconvincing, whichtooktime.
efirstpublicreferendumforincorporation,in 1966,failed,butitpassedin1969.egovernor OK’dincorporation,andatownelectionwasheld. “Bythen,SouthBethanyhad240homes,496propertyownersandayear-roundpopulationof15families,”accordingtotheTownwebsite.
Left,cousinsTimmy andJohnDwyer showofftheircatch alongsidethecanal. Below,CarlisleRoad becameasnowfort fortheDwyer,Tabor andWalshkidson NewYear’sY2K.
Courtesy: LeighDwyer
“atwasquiteachange.Iremembermydad wasverymuchforhavingthetownincorporated.He thoughtitwouldbesaferwithhavingareal town governmentandpoliceandauthorities,”Daresaid.
BeforeTownregulations,“Somepeoplejusthad sewerpipesgoingintothecanal.Itwasafree-for-all, sohavingrulesandregulationswentalongwayto improvingthetown,”sheadded.
Past continuedfrompage33
Townpolitics,from thecomfortofyourownhome!
MayFelerskiwasamatriarchof thetown,hostingTownHallmeetings inherveryownhomebeforeTown Hallwasbuiltin1978(andreplacedin 2007).Apart-timeresidentforyears, Felerskimovedtothetownfulltimein themid-1960s,afterherhusband passedaway.
Afterservingassecretarytothe SouthBethanyAssociation,Felerski washiredastownclerkandvolunteeredherowncottagetoserveasTownHall.Meetingswereheld,andshewasconstantlyfoundclacking awayatthetypewriter,ifpeopleweren’tvisitingon Townbusiness.
AlonehouseinCat Hill,theFanshels werethefirsttobuild inSouthBethany’s lastannexation.
“Duringthesummer,itwasvery,verybusy,with permitsandlifeguardsandcouncilmeetings,”Marcellosaid.
Courtesy:DebbiFanshel
Shewasalsoaone-woman NeighborhoodWatch.Marcellodescribedamassiveringofkeysthat propertyownersvoluntarilyentrustedtohersister.Shewouldcheck pipes,turnoutlightsandevenprovidetheweatherforecastforout-oftownerswonderingwhenitwas goingtorain,andwhenshouldthey drivedown.
“Mysister’shousewaslikethe hubofactivityinSouthBethany.She kneweverybody.Shereallyranthe town,becausethemayors”wereonly part-time,Marcellosaid.“Shewas verycapable.Shedidnottakesides. echildrencalledher‘AuntMay.’
“Iwouldgoandvisither,andherewasthemayor andthepolicemenandthelifeguards,”Marcellosaid. “Andpeoplewouldcomeintogetapermittohavea bonfireonthebeach,whichisillegalnow”butcost $5 then.
“Sheshepherdedme,asshedidothermayors.
Sheknewwhatneededtobedoneanddidit,”formermayor Robert“Bob”McCarthysaidin“eBestLittleBeach…”Heofficiallyraisedhertothepositionoftownadministratorinthe mid-1970sbecauseshewastrulyrunningthetownduringthe week,thenupdatinghimonweekends.
Marcellodidn’trealizehersister’simportanceuntilafterher death,in1983.
“AsIlookback,hergivingupthatroominthathouse,and allthehours—shelovedSouthBethanyandwouldjustdoanythingforit,”Marcellosaid,“andtrytogetgrantsanddoanything thatwouldhelpthetown.Shehasbecomeanexampleforme.”
atyear,theSouthBethanyPropertyOwnersAssociationwasformed,“andSouthBethany’spopulationgrewto1,282 piecesofproperty,748housesand105year-roundresidents,”accordingtotheTown.
RonSteenwasoneofsevenelectedtothefirsttowncouncil,in1969,laterservingasmayor,from1977to1980.
“Wehadalotofgrowingpains.eonereallyimportant ordinancewasplanningandzoningalltheproperty,basically residential.Oncewepassedthatordinance,Iwashappy,andI wentoffcouncil,”RonSteenrecalled.“Wehadsomefightson
See Past page36
thatcouncil,onwhatwethoughtwasrightforthe town.”
Becausetheycouldn’taffordtopayatownmanager(althoughFelerskiactedasone),thetowncommissionersallhadajob.Steenwas,attimes,apolice commissionerorabuildinginspector.
Overtheyears,thetowncouncilwrangledwith manyoftheproblemsthatalltownsface,suchas parkingregulations,anduniquewaterfrontissues,in-
Above,with 5milesofcanals, someoneisboundto beboating,likethese friendsandfamily onCarlisleCanal in2002.ey enjoythequietof CarlisleRoadtoo. Courtesy:DebbiFanshel
cludingbulkheadsalongthecanals.
“SouthBethanyisthebestlittle beachinDelaware.It’saveryrelaxing lacetobeifyou'renotonTownCouncil,”Junkinsaidwithalaugh.
Afterherteachingcareer,Tempe Steenwentintolawandbecametown solicitorforabout10years,beginningin thelate1980s.
“at’swhentheboundarieswere gettingsettled,”asSandPiperPines wasannexedin1983,followedbyCat Hillin1985.
Meanwhile,theTownconstantlysoughtfundingtohelppayforstormdamage.
Althoughit’saquiettown,SouthBethanyhad toproveit’snotaprivatetown.
“Inordertoreceivepublicfundingforroadsand beachreplenishment,wehadtoprovethatSouth Bethanywasnotaprivatecommunityandhada publicbeach,soasystemofpaidparkingpassesat$2 perseasonforresidentswasinstituted[underformer mayorHerbert“Joe”Schaefer]withdaypassesavailablefornon-residents,”stated“eBestLittleBeach.”
TempeSteenwastownsolicitorduringthe“middleyears,”whensomefoundingfatherswerestill
around:“Itwasreallyinterestingtowatchtheevolutionfromessentiallyasummerbeachplacetoayearroundtown,withalloftheconcernsandinterests andpersonalities.Itwasgreatfun.Localgovernment iswonderful,becausepeopledoitforthegoodofthe community.ey’renotpaid,andthey…workhard atit.”
Neighborlyrelations
WhentheSeaColonyresortwasbuiltaround 1972,thetallapartmenttowerswereshockingto somepeople,sothat’swhenSouthBethanystarted saying,“Here’swhatwedon’twant,”RonSteensaid.
SouthBethanytruly isenclosedbyocean, bayandcanals,as showninthis 1972map.
“ebigchangewaswhenSeaColonywas built,”Daresaid.“Justthefactthatpeopleseemedto besodividedaboutit—whetheritwasagoodthing orabadthing,havingthesehighrisesonthebeach.”
Herfatherwaspro-SeaColony,butDare thoughtitwas“ashame”toseehighrisesinterrupt theopenspace.
“Unitedwestand,dividedwerise,”wasthe mottoofthoseagainstSeaColony,saidSuazo.
DirectlytoSouthBethany’snorthernborder, MiddlesexBeachwasincorporatedinlate1959.Developmentbeganshortlythereafter,accordingtothe
continuedfrompage37
propertyowners’website,butthatcommunity’sresidentsneveroptedforincorporationorannexation.
Whilesomepeopleviewtheprivateneighborhoodasaquietdevelopmenttothenorth,othersrememberpastbattles.
“SouthBethanyandMiddlesexcameintoconflictfairlyearlyandfairlyoften,”recalledTempe Steen.
Roadswereoftentheissue,includingwhogotto usewhat.
EvergreenRoadgoingbacktoTownHallwasin disputeforalongtime.Afterexchangingsomeharsh wordsonbothsides,thetwoentitieseventuallynegotiatedasolution.
ButSouthBethanywasn’taspleasedaboutanotherroadthatwentbehindthecurrentTownHall andopeneduponKentAvenue.
“Wealwaysusedit.Middlesexsaid,‘No,it’sours, andit’sprivate,’andtheywereright,asitturnedout,” Steensaid.
TownHallwasonlybuiltinthecurrentlocation afterMiddlesexclaimedthecontestedlandand closedtheKentAvenueconnection.
ButcamaraderiealwaysexistedwithinSouth Bethanytownlimits,evenifpoliticschilledsomerelations.Ultimately,communitywasalwaysthemost importantthingforeveryone.
“It’sawonderfulareaformeetingfriends—I thinkbecausethevastmajorityofusaredisplaced. Allofusarefromsomewhereelse.It’sveryneighborly,”Yorksaid.
“Wegottoknoweachotherwell,”sheadded,recallingdinnerpartieswithotherfamiliesonher street.“Ithinktherewasagreatfeelingofcommunity, especiallylateandearlyintheseason.Wemadegreat friends,lifelongfriends.Ithinkmostofthepeople whohavebeenhereforawhilemadegreatmemories.”
atsentimenthasbroughtSouthBethanyto whereitistoday,justfouryearsshyofitsdiamond anniversary ❖
StorybyLauraWalter
SOUTH BETHANY Seafood Market
SouthBethanyhasatinycommercialdistrict.Buttheentire townisapotentialmarketplace, withahealthyrealestatemarketfor salesandvacationrentals.Plus,the towncouncilreallycaresaboutSouth Bethany’srealestateindustry,saidresidentAnnBaker.
“ey’reawesome.eycareabout thepeoplethatvacationinSouth Bethany,”saidBaker,whoisalsoabroker forResortQuest.“ere’salotoftowns wherepeoplewhoendupinthepositionsofleadership,theydon’twant rentalgueststhere…butSouthBethany isdifferent.eyreallylistentopeople.”
TownHall,thepolicedepartment andlocalRealtorskeepinconstantcontacttoimprovetheproperties,rulesand market,forthebenefitofrentersand residents.
Bythenumbers
AccordingtotheSussexCountyAssociation ofRealtors’MultipleListingService(MLS), asofSept.24,2015:
40
homeswereonthemarketin SouthBethany,rangingfrom $439,000to$2.49million.
38 homessoldinthepast12 months,ranginginpricefrom $325,000to$2.75million.
$435,000. wastheyear-to-datemediansalesprice.
“It’salmostallre-sales.ereare veryfewnewhomesalesthatcomeup,becausethere’s veryfewlotsleft,”Bakersaid.“Often,lotsthatarenot builtonareownedbytheadjacentowner—notbecausetheyplantobuild,butbecausetheywantalittle
morespace.”
atcanbealittleperplexingfor would-bebuyerswhoonlyseefour emptylotsforsale,noneofwhichare currentlyonOceanDrive.
Meanwhile,theolderhousesare eitherrenovatedorcompletelyreplaced,asretireescreateayear-round home.Arobustmarketisgood,but thatdoeslimitwhocanmakeSouth Bethanyahome.
“ere’ssofewemptylots,and therearesomanytallhouses.eygo upthree—atleast—stories,andthe valuehasgoneup,”saidresidentTerry York.“It’sbecomearicharea,whereit wasn’tbefore.Itwasaffordableforthe averageperson.”
Butthebuyersareinvested.
“Wegetalotofpeoplewhoreturn yearafteryearafteryear,”saidresident DebbiFanshel.“Itdoesn’tfeellikea rentalcommunity—itfeelslikeahomecommunity whereyouknowyourneighbors.’ ❖
StorybyLauraWalter
SouthBethanymaybeasmalltownin comparisontosomeofitssistertowns, butithasacommunityunlikeanyother.
Withafocusoncommunityenhancement andimprovedwaterquality,theTownistaking activestepstotrytopreservewhatmakesthe communityspecialforfuturegenerationsto enjoy.
Withits5milesofcanalsleadingfromthe LittleAssawomanBay,theTown’sCanalWater QualityCommitteehasbeenfocusedonmakingSouthBethany’sinteriorwaterwaysswimmableandfishable.Buttheyfoundinmid-2015 thatthetwo-yearstudyofairdiffusersplacedin thePethertonDrivecanaldidnotmeasurably increasedissolvedoxygeninthedead-end canals.
So,thecommitteereturnedtothedrawing boardforideas onhow
“Wecan’tcontrol storms,hurricanes… Ithinknature, theweather,would changethetownof SouthBethany. We’lljusthavetowait andseewhatelse. Wedon’tknow.
”—Carolyn Marcello
toaddresstheissue.AtitsAugust2015meeting,thetowncouncilvotedtoreserve$10,000 for“futuregrantopportunities,”whichwouldbe theTown’scontributiontowardprojectstoimprovecanalwatercirculation.
“Themostrecentinitiativewastosetaside moniesforacirculationstudy.Thatistoseeif wecandosomekindofapparatusbetween canalendstoincreaseflow,”saidMayorPat Voveris.“Thecouncilamendedthebudgetto putin$10,000togoafteragrantthatwewould putthatmoneytoward.There’snograntavailableatthispointintime,butthecirculation studyissomethingofinterestandsomethingof valuetopursue.”
AlthoughtheTown’sraingardensand otherwater-qualityprojectshavehelpedkeep harmfulnutrientsfromenteringthecanals,they haven’tmadeenoughofanimpact.Now,the Townintendstolookintoatidal-pumpsystem, whichwouldaimtoimprovecirculationbycreatinganartificialinletbetweentheAtlantic
Musicechoes throughtownat theannualjamsessionduringWorld FairTradeDayat MadebyHand.
—Photoby
R.ChrisClark
OceanandSouthBethany’scanals. Iftheprojectcomestofruition,pipeunder CoastalHighwaywouldallowthewatertocirculatebetweenthetwobodies,butthe DelawareDepartmentofNaturalResources& EnvironmentalControl(DNREC)haswithheldpermitsfortheexpensiveproject,which wouldbringamajorinfluxofsaltwaterintothe marshland.
TheTownalsoplanstolookintoopening
Growth
continuedfrompage42
uptheYorkCanalandtheCarlisleCanaltoJeffersonCreek,butnotwithoutastudyofanalyticaldatasuggestingitwouldmakeaworthwhile difference.
“[Ihope]thattheyfighttokeepitclean,the waterqualityoftheoceanandthecanals.That’s goingtobethechallenge”forthewholearea, withsuchshallowwaterways,saidresidentAnn Baker,whoisalsoabrokerassociateforResortQuestRealEstate.
“Wearesoluckythatthere’ssomuchpreservedlandacrossthebaysandontheother sideoftheAssawoman,”shesaid.“Ifweknew whattheplanwastomaintainthatcanal,that wouldbehelpful”whenspeakingtoclients,she added.
CouncilmanGeorgeJunkin,whoalso chairstheTown’sCanalWaterQualityandSea
“Ihatethoselicense platesthatsay, ‘Welcometothebeach. Nowgohome.’ Somanypeopledown hereareemployed becauseofthetourists.
”
—RonSteen
SouthBethany’s BoatParadeadds colortothecanals everyIndependenceDay.Even mermaidsoccasionallyattend.
—Photo submitted
LevelRisecommittees,saidtheTownhasbeen facingdifficultissues,butemphasizedtheyhave beenactivelytryingtoaddressthemforyears.
“Therearesomesignificantissuesthatthe townneedstoaddress,”hesaid.
OnewaytheTownhasactivelybeentrying toimprovewaterqualityisthroughtheCommunityEnhancementCommittee’sAdopt-ACanal/RoadEndProgram.Createdin2000, theprogramwasthefirstTown-sponsoredprogramthatgarneredagreatdealofcommunity volunteers,whohave,independentlyorinsmall groups,workedtorenovatethelandscapingat theendsofthecanalsandroadways.
Sinceitsinception,theTown’sAdopt-aCanalprogramhashad32canalorroadends adopted,oftheTown’s48total.
CouncilwomanSueCallaway,whohas servedonthecouncilforfiveyears,dreamedup theproject.ShecurrentlychairstheCommunityEnhancementCommittee,withamission tofocusoninitiativesthatwill“improvethe
town’sappearanceandenhanceourcommunity; promotecommunityprideandvolunteerism; andincreaseindividualpropertyandcommunityvalue.”
“Whetherit’sneighborsworkingonindividualonesorneighborslookingatothercanal areasthathavebeenadopted,theyfeelconnected.It’sbeenanenhancement,forsure,”said Callaway.
Buttheworkonthecanalendsisnotsolely tobeautifythetown,buttoalsohelpwiththe waterqualityofitscanals.Landscapingthe endswithnativeplantswillhelpkeeprunoff intothecanalsataminimumandimprovethe waterqualityforfuturegenerations.
Eachfall,Callawayputstogetheranupdatedpresentationontheprogram—almosta historicalreference,shesaid—sothosewho readitcannotonlyseetheprogressionofthe projectbutalsohavearecordofhowitstarted.
“Wh enIlookatthebeforeandafterpicturesofacanal,it’sjustmind-bogglinghow muchbetteritis.”
Thecommitteehasalsohelpedbringtwo LittleFreeLibraries,builtbyCouncilman FrankWeisgerber,totown.Thesmallbook hutsencourageresidentsandvisitorstotakea book,returnabookandsharetheirfavorites withtheirfriendsandneighbors.Thelibraries arelocatedneartownhallandatthecornerof S.3rdStreetandOceanDrive.
ThecommitteealsocreatedtheArtBoard In itiativein2014,whichinvitedareaartiststo submitartworkswithacoastalthemetobedisplayedonoutdoorpublictrashreceptacles alongOceanDriveandSeasideDrive.
“IbelievetheTownisdoingalottobeautify”SouthBethany,saidJunkin.“TheCommunityEnhancementCommitteehasbeendoinga greatjobkeepingthingslookingnice.Wehave theartprogramuponOceanDrive,wherewe nowhavemaybe20paintingsbylocalartistsor photographsbylocalartiststhatareposted alongOceanDrive,tomakeitlookpretty.”
Callawaysaidtheenhancementprojects
Gardensareacommonsightonthecanalends,adding beautyandreducingpollutantsinthewater.isEarth DaypartnershipwasbetweentheCommunityEnhancementCommitteeandtheCenterforInlandBays.
—PhotobyLauraWalter
Your Advisor is There… And You Are Here…
Raingardenshavesprung uptocollectrunoffduring rainstorms,allowingitto seepslowlyintotheground.
—PhotobyMonicaScott
“
Ifitcontinuesthe wayitisnow,[Iexpect theoceantomeetthe bay].Youdon’twantto thinkitcouldhappen, butitcould.
”
—MarySuazo
havealsohelpedgrowthetown’scommunity spirit.
“Ihopethetownwillcontinuetofocuson enhancementandcommunity-building.Idobelievethatpeoplewanttobuyorrenthere,”she said.“Ithinkitincreasespropertyvalues,which anyonewhoownspropertyherewantstosee happen.Itincreasesrentalvalues:peoplewant tostayhere.Wewantpeopletokeepwantingto comebackfortheirtwo-weekvacation.We’ve seengenerationsofpeople—grandparents,parentsandkids.Thosearethethingsthatwewant tosee.”
“Thecontinuedvolunteerismwillresultin continuedimprovementsforalltoenjoy,”added Voveris,whoinher20yearsinSouthBethany
Sandduneserode duringstormsto protecttherestof town.
—PhotobyShaunM. Lambert
hasseenalotofvisualenhancement.
Callawaysaidthetownisagrowingretirementcommunityandservesasaplaceformany togetawayfromabusierlifestyleinneighboringmetropolitanareas.
Andsheunderstandstheappeal,assheand herhusband,Robbie,werelivingintheWashington,D.C.,areawhentheyboughttheir SouthBethanycottagein2001,twomonthsbefore9/11.
“After9/11,wefoundthecottegetobea greatretreatfromeverythingthathadhappened,”shesaid.
TheCallawaysreplacedtheirbeachcottage withalargerhomein2008andbecamepermanentresidentsin2009,althoughherhusband stillworksinD.C.
“Ialwayslovedthebeachandalways wantedtohaveabeachhome.Wh atSouth
See Growth page52
Towncouncilwrestleswithboatliftsincanals
SouthBethany’sfivemilesofcanalsofferhomeownerswithboatsawaytogetout onthewaterquickly.Eachofthetown’sbaysidestreetshasacanaladjacenttoit,andits towncounciloftenfindsitselfexaminingissuesinvolvingtheuse,mantenanceandecologyofthecanals.
Manyofthosewithboatsarechoosingtoerectboatliftstokeeptheirboatsoutof thewaterwhennotinuse,whichmeanslesswearandtearontheboatsurfacesandless maintenancefortheirowners.
Buttheproliferationofboatliftshasalsocausedsomeconsternationamong homeowners,astheyfeelitinterfereswiththeirabilitytoenjoytheirproperty.
“eboatliftsonthecanalsaregettingbiggerandbigger,”saidJohnFields,chair ofSouthBethany’sCharter&CodeCommittee.
Inadditiontotheutilityofthecanalsaswaterways,manyhomeownersenjoy themfortheirviews.Someofthoseresidentshavecomplainedtotowncouncilmembersandsaytheywouldliketoseesomeregulationofthesizeofboatliftsonthecanals.
“Ireallydon’tknowwhereit’sgoingtogo,”Fieldssaid.Whiletheliftsdoservea practicalpurpose,hesaid,“they’renotveryattractive.”
“It’sadilemma,really,”Fieldssaid,addingthatthisisjustoneofmanyissuesthe Townhaswrestledwithinvolvingtheuseofthecanalsovertheyears.Inrecentyears SouthBethanyhasalsoaddressedtheissueoffloatingdocksforpersonalwatercraft,as wellasregulationsregardingtheuseofpersonalwatercraft,suchasprohibitingtheproductionofwakesinthecanals.
continuedfrompage50
Bethanyofferedus,especiallywherewelive,on thecanals,wastheoptiontohavethebeachand thecanalwateropeninguptotheAssawoman Bayandbeautifulwetlandsarea.”
Callawaysaidherfamilystartedoutas weekenders—somethingthatmanyvisitors andresidentsofSouthBethanycontinuetobe.
“Thereisstillalargeportionofourcommunitythatdoesthat,thatseasonallife.But youdofeelthewholeareaisthriving,morepopulated,”shesaid.“Itookawalkthismorningand ononestreet.Isawthreedifferenthousesbeing torndown—smallcottages—andnewhouses goingup.Peoplearechoosingtoinvestinour townandmayberetirehere,maybejustspend moretimehere,andthat’sagoodsign.Ithink, asatown,wehavetolookatthat.”
Everyyear,theTownsendsasurveyoutto
Otherthanthecrowds andthetraffic, it’swonderful.Ilike thewintersbecause Ilikethequiet. Andtherearesomany activitiesdownhere. —TerryYork
propertyowners,andCallawayspecifically askedthatthequestion“Wh atdoyouseedoing withyourpropertyinthenextfiveyears?”beincluded.
“It’sgoingtobeinterestingtoseewhatpeoplesay—maybenothing,keepdoingthingsthe wayitis.Theymaysay‘tearitdownandbuilda newone,’theymaysay,‘We’regoingtomove downherefull-time.’I’mcurioustoseewhatthe responsesare,”shesaid.
“Delawareisbecomingamuchmoreappealingretirementstate.Ifyouaskpeoplewhat theywanttodowhentheyretire,“Oh,gotothe beach.’Peoplearereallyconsideringcoming here.
“Icertainlyhopewecontinuetohavea good,soundgovernment,awell-runpolice department,awell-runtownstaffandpeople whocareaboutthecommunityandwantto investinit.” v
StorybyMariaCounts
