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Blast off the new year with anchor drop at Overfalls Park

December 22, 2012

The place to be this New Year’s Eve is 219 Pilottown Road in Lewes.

All local families, citizens and visitors are cordially invited to the second annual New Year’s Eve Blast courtesy of the Overfalls Foundation. This new holiday tradition will kick off at 2330 hours (that’s 11:30 p.m. for all landlubbers) on New Year’s Eve at Overfalls Park in Lewes and will feature hot chocolate to sip, fire pits to ward off the winter chill and music to keep everyone hopping!

A lighted ceremonial anchor will begin its symbolic drop on New Year’s Eve from the top of the vessel’s tall mid-ship mast and touch the main deck at the stroke of midnight along with a blast of the ship’s whistle.

Built in Maine in 1938, the Lightship Overfalls is one of the only two lightships built in the 20th century and was the last one to be commissioned by the U.S. Light House Service. The ship is also distinguished as the last lightship to be built of riveted construction, as the welding of steel hull plates soon after became the preferred construction method.

The vessel was donated to the Lewes Historical Society by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1973 and was brought to its current location soon after where it has become a true maritime gem of the area thanks to the foundation, its many benefactors and the never-ending efforts of the countless volunteers who do everything from chipping and painting the decks to overhauling and preserving the engine components and living quarters to giving guided tours. For more information go to www.overfalls.org.

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