'History of Shipbuilding in Lewes' May 9
The Lewes Historical Society will host its final Lunch & Learn for the current season at noon, Friday, May 9, at the Hotel Rodney, 142 Second St. when retired journalist and history buff Bob Kotowski presents "The History of Shipbuilding in Lewes."
The presentation will last 20-30 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer period. Audience members have the option to bring their own bagged lunch or purchase a $12 boxed lunch from Rose & Crown. There is no need to make a reservation; lunch orders are placed upon arrival to the program. This program is sponsored by Hotel Rodney.
Kotowski will trace the development of Lewes’ shipbuilding industry from its inception c. 1675 to its demise c. 1883. There has been a resurgence of interest in the town’s shipbuilding past by the creation in fall 2009 of the Lewes Wooden Boat Program by The Lewes Historical Society. Primary information was taken from an article by Bob Kotowski and Steve Rogers in Vol. XV of the Journal of The Lewes Historical Society, published in November 2012.
Kotowski is a retired journalist who has lived full time in the Lewes area since 2001. He has received numerous journalism awards, including the Overseas Press Club of America’s 1983 Lowell Thomas Award, and was inducted into the KYW Newsradio Hall of Fame in 2012.
Kotowski is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of The Lewes Historical Society and a frequent contributor to the annual publication. He also is a member of The Lewes Historical Society’s Wooden Boat Program and serves on the society’s education committee.
In addition, he has researched and written the historical monograph An Interpretive History of Ebenezer M.E. Church near Lewes and two local history books published by Cedar Tree Press: "Ablaze in Lewes Harbor: the Last Cruise of the S.S. Lenape" and "Pie in the Sky: the Authorized History of Punkin Chunkin."
Beginning in June, the monthly Lewes Lunch & Learns will be replaced by weekly History Happy Hours. The first History Happy Hour will be at 4 p.m., Friday, June 6, at Hotel Rodney as Hazel Brittingham presents "Miss Lil's Waterfront Enterprise."
For a complete listing of Lewes Lunch & Learns, History Happy Hours, and to learn more about The Lewes Historical Society, go to www.HistoricLewes.org or call 302-645-7670.
