Posts – Slaughter Beach Historical Society

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News & History

Our articles are more than just history; they’re windows into the heart and soul of this town. Join us as we journey through time, exploring hidden gems, reliving moments of nostalgia, and connecting with the personal narratives that make Slaughter Beach so special.

Meet the Original Slaughter Beach Oracle

By Jackson Gingrich I first met Frank Draper shortly after I moved to Slaughter Beach in the Fall of 2009, when Frank was Mayor, and as a new citizen started attending the monthly Town meetings. It was clear to me from the start that Frank’s knowledge of Slaughter Beach included a wealth of family and Town history that few people knew. Frank had a gift of story-telling and on various occasions he shared many of them with me. When I was asked to be on the Town Council, I came to understand how Frank worked behind the scenes to promote the Town interests through his vast network of State and County officials. And I certainly heard many of Frank’s recollections

Lighting the Mispillion Lighthouse

Let’s rewind back 151 years to a remarkable event that took place right here in the Mispillion Harbor on June 27, 1873 – the lighting of the Mispillion Lighthouse! Before that day, mariners were without a light to guide their path near the mouth of the Mispillion for the previous 13 years. After years of complaints, Congress finally approved $5,000 for a new light to be constructed, which would serve as the third lighthouse to be built at the Mispillion Harbor. The first, original lighthouse, was constructed in 1831, and then rebuilt in 1839 after inspections revealed it was in great disrepair. The second light was built some years later but torn down in 1859 after a report to congress

Rum Running on the Delaware Bay circa 1930s

While many visitors enjoy sitting on our beaches with a nice cocktail in hand, nearly a century ago our coastline was a haven for a different kind of “rum runner”. On June 23, 1930, Coast Guardsmen discovered a partly submerged ship in the Delaware Bay, just south of the Mispillion Harbor, that appeared a little fishy… Upon further inspection, authorities found that the craft, the “Daisy T.,” was smuggling over 100 cases of liquor valued at over $10,000! Authorities believed that the ship was headed to a secret port on the Mispillion River to unload the alcohol when it was intercepted by a pirate vessel that rammed into its side. Whether the crew of the Daisy T. were murdered, as

The Mispillion Harbor Annual World Weakfish Tournament 1979-1991

Researched and compiled by Diane McFaul Hindman, Slaughter Beach Historical Society, with thanks to multiple sources, including a 2021 interview with Judy Diogo, Milford Chamber of Commerce, Delaware State News articles from 1979, 1980 and 1991, and a recent 2024 interview with Eric Burnley, Cape Gazette and WGMD. According to Fred Bonner, reporter for the Delaware State News on Mar. 11, 1979, there were “crowds of fisherman flocking here to fish during the spring run, who said how good the fishing was in the Delaware Bay. Sea Trout were abundant and astounded even the Old Timers by their size! So, the Milford Chamber of Commerce decided to sponsor the first World Championship Weakfish Tournament and bring national attention to Slaughter

The American Indians Of Delaware

By Jackson B. Gingrich EARLY AMERICAN INDIANS, as many prefer to be called, originated from northeast Asia. It is probable that a number of tribes, including the Lenape or their ancestors, crossed the Bering Strait from northern Asia during the warming period of the last Ice Age, which we estimate as ~12,000-15,000 before present (BP). Prior to that, the land bridge, though extensive and wide, was deeply frozen and provided only short shrubs and small mammals for sustenance, so crossing would have been nearly impossible. A broad swath of Algonquian-speaking tribes was conjoined in the northwest U.S. in what is today Washington, Oregon, and Canada about 10,000 years BP. Among this loose confederation were the Lenape-Nanticoke, Algonquin, Assateague, Wicomico, Accokeek, Iroquois,

Travel Study: 1790

Learn some History and take a Field Trip! This is an interesting true history story that you can share with your families and visitors, and then take a 1-hour field trip. Use this to encourage them to use their imaginations to think about life in this area over 200 years ago! Travel at the end of the 18th Century was sometimes strenuous, difficult, and often dangerous. Harold B. Hancock noted many examples in his book Delaware 200 years ago (1780-1800) in the chapter “Travel by Land and Sea”. Roads in Delaware’s Three Lower Counties were not well developed yet. A post-rider carrying mail in 1775 from Philadelphia to Lewes usually took 3 days over rough roads. In 1781, passengers on a

Meet Your Neighbors

The Slaughter Beach Historical Society (SBHS) is starting a new series of articles on local long-time residents and families. Watch this website for stories and memories from your neighbors, and you can enjoy learning about what it was like to live in and around our town in times past!

The Rust Bay House

437 Bay Ave, Joy Rust Feulner and husband Terry. Research and compilation done by Diane McFaul Hindman, SBHS, summer of 2021. Many thanks to Joy and Terry Feulner, who met with me during the summer of 2021. They shared wonderful examples of life on Slaughter Beach (SB) near their Rust Bay House starting back in the late 1940s. This included several interviews, and sharing of memorabilia and many photos, both original and digital to help us all walk in Joy’s shoes… or flip flops! Joyce/Joy Rust was born in Milford in 1939 to Harry S. Rust and Alma Tease Rust who were married for 70 years! Their family made day trips to Slaughter Beach prior to buying the

Alan Sitar Family 529 Bay Ave. and neighbors.

Researched and compiled by Diane McFaul Hindman, SBHS. Many thanks to Alan and Katie Sitar who shared photos and paperwork during interviews during the summer of 2021. The Development of Cedar Beach Annex in 1960s: The Sitar family cottage is a good example of the beginning of development which began in the 1930s in the Cedar Beach annex on the north end of Slaughter Beach, north of Bridgham Ave. By 1970, there was a paved road, and 79 lots had been laid out in the Cedar Beach area, but only 13 of them had houses on them. The 1967 Sitar cottage was among the first. Alan’s parents were Joe and Bette Sitar, who had 3 children Alan, Diane and Terry.

The Esposito Family: 100 Years at Slaughter Beach

Researched and compiled by Diane McFaul Hindman, SBHS, including interviews, emails and pictures shared by both Curt and Mary Lyde Esposito. Curt Esposito and Mary Lyde Foster, 279 Bay Ave, both come from families with long military histories, including generations at West Point. Both have ancestors involved in many American wars: including Revolutionary, 1812, Civil, WWI and WWII, Viet Nam. The Esposito side had a fifer/drummer in the Delaware Regiment (the Blue Coats) during the Revolutionary War. And Mary Lyde continues the tradition of her interesting name that began during the Civil War when a Confederate soldier named Elias had the nickname of “Lyde”. After he was killed in action at the Rappahannock River, his new niece was named Lyde

Slaughter Beach Tidbits

Welcome to our “Tidbits” section! Here, we share quick, captivating entries that highlight the charm of our community. Whether it’s a snapshot of a special moment, a brief historical tidbit, or a cherished family memory, we’d love to feature it. Simply use the Contact button on the site to send us your submission. It can be a local story, an interesting historical fact, or a personal anecdote—just a few sentences or a short paragraph will do. We’re happy to assist with editing and formatting to ensure it’s ready for the spotlight!

More memories from Curt Esposito!

Visitors who came to Slaughter Beach to fish would rent boats from Mrs. [name missing] (across from Scorchy Hitchens’ one-gas-pump store) and simply drag them over the sand to head out with their 7- and 10-horsepower motors.
My brother Michael played guitar with the psychedelic rock group, the Blues Magoos, practicing in the garage during the 1960s with their tour bus parked in the driveway. Bill McSpadden was one of the local kids who used to listen in on the loud rehearsals.
Junior and Irene Hitchens were close friends of the Espositos for decades and really took care of Curt’s parents when they both became terminally ill in 1965. Junior, the fire chief emeritus, arranged for the Slaughter Beach ambulance to transport my dad to his final resting place at West Point Cemetery on June 10. He was so sadly joined by my mother on June 25, 1965, marking what would have been their 33rd wedding anniversary. They had been married at the Cadet Chapel on June 25, 1932.
I recall, as a child at Lot 10, the families always playing cards with the Berwicks, Fitzgeralds, and Swains from Lincoln—and, of course, swimming in the then much clearer bay with Norm Moore, Rem Barnard, Jack Willis, Ron Rust, and Tom Draper. We also played tennis on the court at Frank Draper’s, which is now the concrete parking area between Frank’s and what was then the Barnard cottage.
Once we moved to Lot 62, with the Barnards also next door, Mr. Barnard would always host poker games at his cottage on the weekends. Rem Barnard Sr., Mr. Newton, and my dad would sit in front of our cottage, having martinis on the benches—the boardwalk ran all the way in front to the end of the beach. I believe Fran Wells’ family owned the last cottage beyond the Newtons’.

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