1872 - Religious Founders purchased 414 acres for
Camp Meeting Grounds.
1873 - "The Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal
Church" chartered. Summer Camp Meetings begun; boardwalk, hotel &
"tent" houses built; Post Office opened.
1878 - Railroad from Harrington to Rehoboth completed: passenger and freight.
1879 - Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association became "Rehoboth Beach
Association" by charter change. Surf House (first hotel) burned; original Henlopen
Hotel built. RR Station built in center of Rehoboth Avenue.
1881 - Camp Meeting activity discontinued.
1891 - First municipal Charter granted by Legislature included name change to
"Cape Henlopen City"
1892 - First policeman employed.
1893 - Name, changed to "Rehoboth." First lifeguard. Lewes-Rehoboth Canal
begun.
1899 - Town authorized Telephone service.
1901 - First school opened.
1903 - First Mayor. First beach concessions. Horn's
pier built, 150 feet into ocean.
1905 - Town authorized gas light service.
1906 - Fire Company formed; two
"chemical fire engines" bought. First Town Hall built.
1908 - Larger school built. Electric-light system, with street lights, commenced.
1913 - Water system begun. Fire destroyed first
blocks of Rehoboth and Baltimore avenues.
1914 - Storm destroyed boardwalk, pier and pavilions; Surf Avenue washed out.
1915 - Bulkheads and groins constructed.
1916 - Lewes-Rehoboth Canal completed.
1918 - First public gas pump for autos. Two ocean-going barges washed ashore.
1923 - Volunteer Fire Department formed.
1925 - Paved road extended from Georgetown; drawbridge built over Canal.
1926 - Eastern Shore Gas & Electric Co.
franchised to provide electricity to Town. City annexed south to Silver Lake.
1927 - First paved roads.
1928 - Railroad passenger service ceased.
1935 - Sanitary Sewer System begun.
1937 - Name changed to "City of Rehoboth Beach." First City
Manager employed.
1944 - Collier Thomas Tracy washed ashore. Shipwreck remains can
still be seen at low tide.
1962 - Severe coastal storm destroyed boardwalk and many
beachfront properties.
1965 - Present Municipal Center built.
1968 - City annexed areas on south side of Silver Lake.
1973 - Centennial of Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association.
1991 - Centennial of Municipal Charter.
1992 - Boardwalk again substantially destroyed by January
nor'easter - and again rebuilt in time for season. |
