A different era, a different time in Lewes

Few photographs provide a sense of the intensity of activity on the point of Cape Henlopen at Lewes in the middle of the 20th century as this one sent in recently by Cape Gazette reader Earl Webb. The photo shows the town-sized complex of the federal quarantine station in the upper left; the extensive menhaden processing facilities along the bayfront with the row of seasonal worker housing known as bunker row; and the World War II U.S Army facilities along the bay and ocean, in the dunes and pine forests, known as Fort Miles.

Each of these separate complexes had associated piers for the specialized vessels that served their various missions. And there were other piers for regional transportation.

Earl had two questions when he sent the photo. First, which entities owned and operated each of the six piers shown? Second, what year was this aerial photograph made?

Those with information please send to dennisforney@capegazette.com.