Residential Surveillance Needed
Dear Residents,
The Council Members of Bethel are well aware that our town is not untouched by the issues of today. They would like to do all they can to eliminate as much troubles as possible. They are asking for your help.
If you see anything suspicious, please write down the details and submit them to Martha Hawkins at betheltownclerk@gmail.com or in person at the Town Office. Notes such as the time of day, the make and model of vehicles, license plate numbers, descriptions of the individuals, etc. However, please do not approach individuals on your own.
The members of council would like to make this town as safe as possible for it’s residents. Thank you for your assistance.
Mom, Did You Know I Almost Drowned?
I learn a lot about my children when we weed the garden together. This chore is conducive to conversation. So when my daughter asked me, “Mom, did you know I almost drowned one time?” I was ready to hear all about it. She proceeded to tell me that she was doing “bobs” in the pool with her two cousins. She bobbed down but this particular time, she couldn’t get back up above water. She opened her mouth to call for help and swallowed a mouthful of water. To her, it seemed like a long time, but she was able to get one foot and one hand on the bottom of the pool and push herself hard enough to get back up. Once she was on top again, her cousins asked her what happened. They saw her go down but didn’t see her come back up.
Now, my daughter had three seasons of swim lessons at the local YMCA. My husband was also a lifeguard for a few years, so he had diligently taught them pool safety. We supervise all pool activities. Yet I was still unaware that this event had occurred. It only takes a second for a life-changing event to occur, so the Town of Bethel would like to encourage you to please practice pool safety this swimming season.
Even if you don’t have children, little ones can sometimes escape the watchful eyes of their caregivers and do so very quickly! Make sure that your pool is always inaccessible to little ones. Then, enjoy your pool and make great memories with your family and friends.
Sussex County Swimming Pool Code
Home Swimming Pool Safety Tips from the American Red Cross
Concerned about Zika?
Homeowners can help to guard against Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses. DNREC has posted a short Youtube video that is very informative. Take time to watch the video and implement the suggestions included here.
FOIA Requests
FOIA requests may now be made directly from our website. Look for the “Contact Us” tab on the navigation menu; then select “FOIA Request Form” from the drop-down menu. You can also download a PDF form to submit your request in writing as well as view any related applicable fees.
President Letter
Bethel is a small, well-preserved 19th century shipbuilding and trading community, located on Broad Creek in western Sussex County between Seaford and Laurel. Wooden sailing vessels were constructed by Bethel’s skilled ship carpenters until the early -20th century. The most significant class of Bethel craft were the Chesapeake sailing rams, which originated from this Broad Creek port.
The Town of Bethel was formerly known as both Lewis’ Wharf and Lewisville. The site was originally part of five hundred acres granted by the province of Maryland to James Caldwell in 1728. In 1795, Kendall Lewis, the founder of Bethel, acquired much of James Caldwell’s original grant as well as a smaller tract on Broad Creek. Here he established a landing that grew to become a prosperous trading center. In the 1840’s, Lewis’ Wharf developed into a thriving community known as Lewisville.
Within the next 20 years, Lewisville was to become an important shipbuilding center. The extensive forests along the Nanticoke provided abundant supplies of virgin pine, oak and cypress. Between 1871 and 1918, as many as thirty rams were built in Lewisville shipyards.
This class of sailing vessel was designed as an economical, flat-bottom, three masted schooner and it operation required only a small crew. Rams were used for coastal freight primarily on the Chesapeake Bay. In 1880, when the village applied for a post office, its name was changed to Bethel, since another Lewisville, DE post office already existed.
Today Bethel is part of western Sussex County’s active agricultural economy. Bethel residents treasure Bethel’s rich, maritime past and look forward to the future.
Pat Kough, President
Bethel Town Council
Welcome to the Town of Bethel
The beginning of recorded history about Bethel goes back to 1683 when the Maryland Colony granted approximately 500 acres of land on the east side of the Nanticoke River and on the banks of Broad Creek to John Caldwell. This land and adjacent tracts went by many names; some of which were “Job’s Lot”, “Mitchell’s Harbor”, “Manlove’s Grove”, “Cedar Lot” and others.
In June 1795, George Mitchell sold parts of “Manlove’s Grove”, “Jobs Lots”, and “Mitchell’s Harbor” to Kendal Major Lewis, which is now the site of Bethel, Delaware. Kendal Major Lewis is the man looked upon as the founder of the town now known as Bethel, Delaware, originally called Lewis’ Wharf or Lewis’ Landing, then later, Lewisville.
Kendal Major Lewis sold to Bayard Moore about 40 acres in 1842, but excluded one-quarter acre for his family graveyard.(The Lewis Family graves are to be found today in the present Bethel M.E. Church Yard.)
Bayard Moore was the son of Mathias Moore who had a large family of children, grandchildren and great grand-children. This industrious family (his sons Bayard and Jonathon, his grandson J.M.C. Moore, his great-grandsons, John M.C., Moore and Capt. Orlando Moore) had a great deal to do with making Bethel a permanent settlement, especially in the ship building industry. Many other descendants currently remain in the area.
Information compiled by R.B.H., 2000
