Bethany Beach to honor 100-year hisory of Loop Canal

It’s hard to imagine that it could have ever been more difficult getting to the beach when one is sitting in traffic on Route 26 or Route 1 on a summer Saturday morning. But getting to the beach in two hours instead of 24 or 48 should help people remember just how good they’ve got it today. Gone are the days that vacationers had to get into Bethany Beach by boat.

The modern-day wonders of the Bay Bridge and Route 1 make the old stories that grandparents tell grandchildren about the trip sound a lot like those reminiscences of walking miles to school, in the snow, uphill (both ways) and barefoot. Except the stories of yesteryear’s beach visitors are true.

“Arriving in Rehoboth by railroad, travelers would continue their voyage by boat, crossing Rehoboth and Indian River bays to the U.S. Government [now, the Assawoman] Canal,” states the Delaware Public Archives of the Bethany Beach Loop Canal.

“For a time, the final portion of the trip was completed in a two-horse-drawn bus through the deep sand to the town. In an effort to improve travel conditions, a shallow waterway was dredged from the Assawoman Canal to this location.”

The opening of the 1.5-mile shallow waterway – known today as the Bethany Beach Loop Canal, with its terminal and namesake loop located at Pennsylvania Avenue and First Street in the town – allowed for vacationers to complete their trip by boarding a boat in Rehoboth, according to the archives. The loop allowed the Allie Mae – a motorboat that would bring the travelers from Rehoboth into Bethany Beach – to turn around for the trip back, because it could not back up.

The Bethany Beach Cultural and Historic Affairs Committee has for months been discussing how to celebrate the 100-year history of the Loop Canal and decided to hold an anniversary celebration.

“It will be a low-key celebration,” explained Theo Loppatto, who is spearheading the effort of the committee. She said they will possibly have a reading of diary entries from descendants of one of the early families. They have also invited local elected officials to attend the event.

“It’s quite significant to the town,” added Loppatto. “And we are celebrating that, that it made life so much easier for people getting to town.”

The 100th Anniversary of the Loop Canal will be held Thursday, July 8, at 5 p.m., at the Loop Canal’s loop, located at Pennsylvania Avenue at First Street. It will include light refreshments and is open to the public.