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Fort Miles Bunker Busters take paintings to Battery 519

A World War II-era painting by the late Howard Schroeder is packed up Feb. 4 for a journey from its home at Lewes Public Library to a new home at Fort Miles in Cape Henlopen State Park. Carefully wrapping the untitled 1943 painting are (l-r) local artist Abraxas and Fort Miles Historical Association Bunker Busters Pat Bragdon and Richard Ross. In back are Bunker Busters Gary Wray, John Roberts and Steve Tarantolo.  Also going to the fort is a portrait of Gen. Nelson Appleton Miles by local artist Mary McCartin Marshall. BY DENY HOWETH
February 8, 2016
The Bunker Busters gathered at the Lewes library to liberate two donated paintings for their museum. Pictured in back (l-r), Steve Tarantolo, Abraxas, Pat Bragdon, John Roberts and Jack Bolin. In front Jack Hliva, Jeff Dibella, George Ward, Gary Wray, Cliff Giesler, Richard Ross. BY DENY HOWETH
World War II-era paintings by famed local artist Howard Schroeder and a portrait of Gen. Nelson Appleton Miles are loaded into a shipping box. BY DENY HOWETH
Steve Tarantolo secures the moving box where it will stay until the display cases are complete. BY DENY HOWETH
John Roberts opens the moving box for the Schroeder painting while Richard Ross observes. BY DENY HOWETH
FMHA board members Jack Hliva, left and Jack Bolin remove Gen. Nelson Appleton Miles painting from its spot in the Lewes library. BY DENY HOWETH
Jack Hliva, Jeff Dibella, Steve Tarantolo, Richard Ross and John Roberts carefully place the Miles portrait in the moving box where it will stay until the room and the display cases are complete. BY DENY HOWETH
FMHA board members Cliff Giesler and Pat Bragdon, are assisted by Abraxas while removing the WWII-era painting from the wall of the Lewes library. BY DENY HOWETH
Discussing the transportation of the paintings are (l-r) Abraxas, the artist in charge of creating the presentation at the museum, Fort Miles Historical Association board member Cliff Giesler, and FMHA president Gary Wray. BY DENY HOWETH
World War II-era painting by famed local artist Howard Schroeder is loaded into a shipping box. BY DENY HOWETH

Fort Miles Historical Association began transporting World War II-era paintings by famed local artist Howard Schroeder and a portrait of Gen. Nelson Appleton Miles Feb. 4.

Lewes public library is donating the General Miles oil portrait and an untitled 1943 Schroeder painting of two soldiers using a scope in one of the fort’s fire control towers.

The Miles portrait was painted by local artist Mary McCartin Marshall. It was given to the town of Lewes by Maj. Arthur C. Harris as his last official act as commanding officer of Fort Miles when it was being decommissioned.

“These paintings belong in our museum,” Wray said. “That will be the perfect venue, and the best way to preserve them.”

Schroeder’s painting of soldiers in the fire control tower hung in the cafeteria of the old Lewes school.

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