The following is a letter sent to Rehoboth Beach City Manager Greg Ferrese with a copy submitted to the Cape Gazette for publication.
First of all, I applaud you for having opposed the use of the Bandstand in Rehoboth for a blatantly religious service, but I regret deeply that the beach, public for all, is apparently to be so used not only for the Fourth of July holiday but for some weeks after.
You do not know me. I am Blackie Horn Nygood, born in Beebe Hospital May 11, 1928. All of my family, on both sides, come from Rehoboth. My mother was Nettie Tappan Horn. Her father, William Tremper Tappan, was a founder of Rehoboth in that he started the Rehoboth Trust Company bank, forerunner of Farmers and then Mellon and now Citizens. He gave the town of Rehoboth the land on which the standpipe and water plant are located. He did many other things for the town and was a wonderful grandfather. My father was William Arden Horn, oldest son of Charles S. Horn who built the pier out into the ocean at the foot of Rehoboth Avenue and his famous Horn's Emporium store there.
Rehoboth has always been my hometown even though I have lived and worked in many other places - New Jersey, Connecticit, New York City, and so on.
When I heard the broadcast on WBOC July 2 about the religious services planned I was very upset. I respect all religions and all agnostics and atheists. Their beliefs are theirs; they don't attack mine, I don't attack theirs. But they should worship or not worship their particular god or no god in their own facilities and on their own property, not that which belongs to all of us.
It is too bad. They could have used my property west of Georgetown. I would not have agreed with a word they preached nor a hymn they sang, but on private property with permission they certainly had the right.
Just not on my beloved Rehoboth Beach beach.
Blackie Horn Nygood
Georgetown
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