1937 Map of Cape Henlopen

About this map

Lewes serves as the focal point of this maritime landscape, where the waters of Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean converge. The strategic importance of the coast is evident in the cluster of navigational aids, including Cape Henlopen Light, Harbor of Refuge Light, and the distant Brandywine Shoal Light. Inland, the map reveals a late-transitioning economy as the Maryland Delaware and Virginia RR and the Pennsylvania RR connect coastal landings with small agricultural hamlets like Nassau and Overbrook. The Lewes and Rehoboth Canal cuts through the marshy terrain near Gordon Pond, illustrating early 20th-century efforts to manage the wetlands. For genealogists, the inclusion of sites like West Hill School and family-named junctions such as Wescoat Corners and Murray Corners provides a clear record of local settlement patterns prior to mid-century development.