South Bethany Historical Society

 
Our Goals Include:
 

• Collect, preserve and protect historical information,
• Promote interest in our community,
• Conduct interviews with long time/early property owners to record their memories of the "early days",
• Conduct information exchanges, seminars and meetings,
• Research and record the history of our community, and
• Make available historical information to interested parties (we have materials on display in Town Hall).

Society's Current Officers:
The 2022 officers are:
 

President 2018 - present	Pat Weisgerber 148 Anchorage Drive South Bethany, DE 19930 (302) 540-1928
Vice President 2018 - present	Terry York
Secretary 2018 - present	Carolyn Marcello
Treasurer Present	John Rubinsohn

Society's Past Presidents:
 
"Best Little Beach In Delaware" History Book

The SBHS published "The Best Little Beach In Delaware" history book about the Town of South Bethany in June 2014.  The origins of the book began in 2012 when the Society decided to interview early property owners and past mayors to capture their memories before they were lost  As the project went on the Society adjusted its sights and it decided to produce an entire book using various collections the Society already had, the collections available at Town Hall and solicited information from a variety of individuals.
  

• On September 11, 2014 we held a seminar on "50th Anniversary of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry". The presenter was Mike DiPaolo, Executive Director of the Lewes Historical Society. The event took place at the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach, and was well received by the 65 attendees.
• In August 2014 Maria Johansen was interviewed about "Preserving our Town's History" by Coast Point news "The Local Voice of YOUR Community".
• On May 25, 2014 the SBHS sponsored the “May Felerski Dedication” to have the meeting room in Town Hall to be dedicated to May Felerski for her contributions to the Town.  A dedication ceremony attended by over 80 was held on May 25 at the Town Meeting Room.
• On February 28, 2014 the SBHS conducted a wrap up presentation of the “Super Storm Sandy Collection” was conducted at Town Hall to a packed crowd on Friday evening February 28. Attendees were encouraged to bring food and beverages and enjoy the show, and they sure did and everyone seemed to have lots of fun.  Presentations were conducted by Martha Fields, George Junkin, Kathy Jankwoski, Dick Oliver, Tony Caputo and Lora Caputo.  The event was covered by Lindsay Tuchman of WBOC 16 TV, and it was aired on WBOC's Friday night 11:00 local news highlight.  The television story ran for several minutes and featured interviews of presenters and pi - On September 12, 2013, SBHS conducted a seminar on the “Building of the Canals in South Bethany”.  SBHS's own Dr. George Junkin gave a presentation to a packed crowd of 110 attendees on the creation, building, maintenance and stories of the South Bethany canals.
• In August 2013 SBHS completed a “Collection of Information on Super Storm Sandy”, October 2012, while the facts and personal interest stories were still fresh in our minds. SBHS's Dr. Martha Fields, a founding member of SBHS, stepped up and took on the task of putting the collection together.  The collection is an impressive assembly of newspaper articles, photographs, personal interest stories of property owners, Town Maintenance Department records, weather briefings, emails from Town Hall, tide measurements and more. The collection, including photos, as of August 2013 can be viewed at the following link:  Super Storm Sandy Stories
• In May and June 2013 the Towns of Fenwick Island, South Bethany, Bethany Beach, Ocean View and Millville were selected to host and contribute to a Smithsonian exhibition to be displayed in our area.  The exhibit we hosted was entitled "The Way We Worked".
• On June 8, 2012, we conducted a seminar to over 135 attendees on the 1962 "Storm of the Century" at the South Coastal Library in Bethany.
• On March 7, 2012, we participated in a DNREC Workshop held in the Rehoboth Convention Center on the "Storm of '62" with a Table Display and presentation of other materials.
• In the spring of 2012 the Coastal Point published an article entitled “South Bethany Historical Society Piecing Together Town’s Past" for the Coastal Point news "The Local Voice of YOUR Community".

  

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Information:

We are always looking for new information and materials, and we seek out interviews with long term/early residents to document their memories of the "early days". If you have or know someone who has information and/or materials that may be of interest to the Historical Society, please contact Maria Johansen at BethanyBabeJ@aol.com or Carolyn Marcello by phone at 302-539-8775. Copies of much of our materials are on a flash drive that can be made available to members.

Gifting to our Collection:

Below you will find links to our 1) Gifting Guidelines, 2) Donor Check in Process and 3) Deed of Gift.  A properly completed Deed of Gift is needed in order for the Historical Society to properly keep any items donated.  Here are the links f rom which you can print copies:  

• SBHS Gift Guidelines
• SBHS Donor Check In Process
• SBHS Deed of Gift

Meetings:

General membership meetings are scheduled on the second Friday of each month from September to June.   Meetings are held at the Town Hall building starting at 10:00 am.  All members and interested parties are welcome.  Other meetings are held periodically as needed.

Membership - Join Today:

A 2014 Household Membership fee is $20. Members will be included on our e-mail mailing list, unless they wish not to be on it, and will periodically receive updates. To become a member please print, complete and mail the Membership Application Form you will find at this link: 2014 SB Historical Society Membership  Application.doc. You can also pick up, complete, and hand in a Membership Application at the Town Hall -  402 Evergreen Road.

Our 2016 Executive Committee Includes:
 

President	Bob McCarthy
Vice President	Terry York
Secretary	Carolyn Marcello
Treasurer	George Junkin

Our 2016 Standing Committee Chairpersons Include:
 

Membership	George Junkin
Preservation	Tony Caputo
Publicity	Vacant
Speaker Selection	Vacant

General Information:
 

• Household memberships are available at a modest annual fee.   
• Our income is used primarily on preserving materials and disseminating information.
• Quarterly meetings at Town Hall are open to all SBHS members and interested community members.
• The 4 officers who comprise the Executive Committee are elected in December, and serve terms starting January 1. The President and Treasurer are elected for two year terms starting in even numbered years, and the Secretary and Vice President serve two year terms starting in odd numbered years.
• Our fiscal year is January 1 to December 31.

Mailing Address:
South Bethany Historical Society
c/o Town of South Bethany
402 Evergreen Road
South Bethany, DE 19930

 
The SBHS gives the SBPOA a big thanks for allowing us to set up our Home Page on their website!

 
If you wish to add, change or correct information on this webpage contact:  Pat Weisgerber  (302) 540-1928

                          This page was last modified on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 5:11PM