Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way unveiled in Lewes
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way has been unveiled in Lewes.
Mayor Ted Becker uncovered the first of many honorary street signs during a large ceremony Feb. 28 at the corner of West Fourth Street and Burton Avenue. He was joined by Lorraine Smith, wife of George H.P. Smith, the city’s first African American mayor, and lifelong Lewes resident Raymond Emerson Jackson.
More signs will be added over the next week along West Fourth Street from Savannah Road to New Road.
“I believe that together we stand and divided we fall,” said the Rev. George Edwards Sr. of Friendship Baptist Church, who spearheaded the two-and-a-half-year effort to honor all African American contributors to Lewes’ history. “I certainly know we accomplished something great today.”
The ceremony drew more than 100 people, featuring remarks from lifelong Lewes resident Trina Brown-Hicks; Mayor Ted Becker; Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes; Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton; and State Auditor Kathy McGuiness. Lifelong resident Leonia Robinson recited a powerful poem fitting for the occasion, while the Rev. Dr. Deborah McCaffity of St. George AME Church gave a prayer to open the ceremony.
“I thank Rev. Edwards for his leadership and continued efforts to accomplish this goal,” Becker said. “He was tenacious, and he still is.”
Beyond the honorific renaming of West Fourth Street, city officials also created the Lewes African American Heritage Commission, which will develop a walking tour of Lewes highlighting significant African American community members and sites. The goal is to have the walking tour available through a brochure and on a smartphone app. The group will also draft language for a historic marker.
Lopez, who will pay for the marker through community transportation funds, said the street naming is the latest in an effort to honor African American history in the Cape Region. In recent years, he said, historic markers have been placed recognizing St. George AME’s cemetery on Pilottown Road, Rabbit’s Ferry School on Robinsonville Road, Israel United Methodist Church on Plantation Road and Milton Public School 196-C on Route 16. The latest effort, he said, is to save the Nassau School in Belltown near Five Points.
“We don’t have an answer for you yet except that the building will be preserved,” Lopez said.
Smyk said the effort to have West Fourth Street renamed is something King would be proud of.
“The burning flame inside of us can outburn and outshine any evils that the world can give us if we do it with love,” he said. “[King] taught us that we can change the world by loving others. Is that not what we are here today to do?”
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
