Historic Lewes Swing Bridge moved to new location
LEWES, Del. – A beloved historical landmark is on the move. The Lewes Swing Bridge has straddled the Lewes Rehoboth Canal for 106 years. On Tuesday, it was relocated to its new home on American Legion Road.
Preserving History
The bridge has been out of commission for a number of years. However, activists say it’s not just a bunch of metal that should be scrapped. “The initial plan was to just demolish the bridge,” said Lewes Junction Railroad and Bridge Association member Richard Applebaum. “We thought what a huge waste. It was so important to the history of Lewes.”
The hand-cranked bridge was opened in 1916, and served as a crucial part of the local fishing industry. It also paved the way for the development of Fort Miles, and served as a protective measure during World War II. “Fort Miles might not have existed if it wasn’t for this bridge, because that enabled the railroad to extend over to Camp Henlopen,” said Applebaum.
Not only is the bridge a historical landmark; Applebaum says it’s also a remarkable feat of engineering. “They weighed the bridge at 205,000 pounds – that’s 103 tons – without any train on it at all. That’s just dead weight. All of that sits on a 12-inch steel cone,” he said.
A New Home
But, after a century of spanning the canal, visitors will be able to learn about the rich history of the bridge at its new location. The bridge will be kept behind fencing, complete with signage that details the role it played in Lewes over the years. “I think it’s terrific,” said Lewes resident Jennie Keith. “It’s a very interesting combination of a lot of change, a lot of people moving here, and a very, very old town with deep history.”
The Lewes Junction Railroad and Bridge Association will be tasked with future maintenance of the bridge. That includes refreshing its paint to prevent any rusting. Applebaum says the organization will be working alongside the Bunker Busters in that effort.
Invigorating The Environment
The move is also clearing the way for DelDOT to restore the banks of the canal, which have been eroding for years. “We’ll be adding rip rap, which are large boulders, really to prevent further erosion from taking place,” said DelDOT Director of Community Relations C.R. McLeod. “It was difficult for any type of water craft to navigate that area through that opening. We think it’s going to be much safer now for boats as they pass through that area.”
Beyond that, Applebaum says this is just the beginning of the bridge’s new life. He says activists have high hopes for making the bridge a must-see stop on the Junction Breakwater Trail. “You’re just out for a walk in the woods or on a path, and you just stumble upon all kinds of history that you had no idea was there. Hopefully this will be one of those things,” he said.
