Pettyjohn and Kunsman Store added to 1910 Rehoboth miniature village

The Pettyjohn and Kunsman Store, third block, north side of Rehoboth Avenue, as it was in the early 1900s, has been newly mounted on Paul Lovett’s diorama of railroad-era Rehoboth Avenue. The structure’s history spans more than 150 years.

The building was pictured and occupants identified in the April 1876 edition of the Rehoboth Beacon newspaper. The left side of the building was described as the post office, drug and fancy store, owned by E. Dawson. The right side served as the summer residence of an early Rehoboth founder, T.B. Coursey.

As of the late 1900s, the left side of the store was still in use in Rehoboth as Wee Cottage Antiques. The structure was moved to Lewes in the 1980s and still exists on Second Street as the Shorebreak Clothing Shop. The filigree pictured on the peak of the building still exists.

Lifelong Rehoboth resident Ann Lynch Dyer, recently deceased, remembers the store in her many writings about early Rehoboth. Her grandfather was the Pettyjohn owner. The Pettyjohn and Kunsman Store is sponsored by Pret Dyer (Ann’s son) and Mason Dyer (Ann’s grandson).

The diorama is a multi-year project to replicate Rehoboth Avenue during its railroad era, which lasted 85 years. The miniature village is on display in the Rehoboth Beach Main Street office building next to the Rehoboth Beach Museum. To learn about the project, go to goldenageofrehoboth.com. By appointment, Lovett hosts informal gatherings with the diorama at 9:30 a.m., Mondays, with each meeting focusing on a unique aspect of Rehoboth history. All are welcome to bring coffee and join the conversation. To reserve a space, contact Paul Lovett at paul@pdlovett.com or call 302-893-9391.