Architectural Beauties

The buildings comprising the Historic Complex of the Lewes Historical Society, corner of Shipcarpenter and Third Streets, Lewes, Delaware, have been brought to the site since 1962 as a means of preserving them and sharing local heritage with generations to come.

The small farmhouse known as the Rabbit's Ferry House serves as the society’s Visitor's Center. Since its relocation in 1967 from the rural Lewes area, the building has rested in the center of the fenced-in enclave between the Burton-Ingram House facing Shipcarpenter and the Thompson Country Store facing Third Street. Staffed during the regular hours of the organization, visitors may inquire about activities and offerings of the Lewes Historical Society, purchase tour tickets, and view the displays found in the two downstairs rooms.

For several years before the little house was converted to the Visitor's Center at the beginning of the summer season of 1995, the Rabbit's Ferry House served as a studio and gallery of fine art of artist Tricia Hurt. It has been the center of activity for many years on the first Saturday in December as the society has staged its Annual Christmas House Tour—the scent of native greens accompanied by the aroma of wood burning in the ancient fireplace. Sussex County pone and goodies of all sorts vie with the attraction of white elephant donations offered for sale at bargain prices.

Covered with cypress shingles, known for their durability, the architectural gem is accented by its blue-gray shutters, doors, and entrance railings. When still at its birthplace on County Road 277 and owned by Joseph L. Street who had purchased the former Rhodes Webb farm to add to his adjacent land holdings, Mr. Street was considering demolition of the house. It was at this time, in the mid 1960s, that negotiations with the Lewes Historical Society resulted in an agreement. The reported exchange of cash amounted to $150 while, in contrast, the moving bill approached the figure of $3,000. A skillful moving job was responsible for the brick nogging in the walls as well as both chimneys remaining intact during the six-mile journey from country to town.

The small portion of the Rabbit's Ferry House is an early 18th century single-room dwelling with sleeping loft. The larger section added in the middle of the same century, boasts original doors, chair railing, window and door trim, mantle and paneling. The random-width floorboards were used by builders who could not afford the more costly narrow planks. The fireplace with the original crane found in the earlier section is large enough for the huge logs which, it is said, were dragged into the house by a horse and rolled across the hearth. The horse then exited through the opposite door. Doors and windows were placed in such a manner as to create cross ventilation.

For the curious, the name of Rabbit's Ferry seems to stem from that designation given to a one-room rural schoolhouse. It eventually embraced a geographical area and then hitched a ride into town in a house rescued from destruction. The writer's favorite description of the source of the name was passed on to Reah Warrington by her mother, the late Maude Hurley Warrington:

The school was built by men of the community volunteering their time and skills. As the building was going up, the wives came to bring food for dinner. They spread a cloth on the ground for the picnic meal, and while they were eating, a rabbit ran out of the wood nearby—straight across their dinner! It caused much confusion and laughter, and they said the rabbit had "ferried" across their picnic. Hence the name of Rabbit's Ferry for the school as well as the surrounding area.

 

©Copyright 1997 Hazel D. Brittingham