1943 FORT MILES FACTS

FORT MILES 1943

Being reminded by the July 17, 2018 issue of Cape Gazette's “Viewpoints”,

here are some facts from 1943 of activities of the post and the men stationed there.

The Wilmington Morning News of Wednesday , September 22, 1943 reported

off duty men of the Coast Artillery at Fort Miles picked 60 ton of the local string bean

crop.

The soldiers picked some 60 tons of string beans between July 29 to August 2,

during a recent labor shortage emergency .

Since there are 2400 #2 cans of beans packed from each ton from the field, the

Fort Miles volunteers were responsible for the canning of 144,000 cans which will provide

the .equivalent of 567,000 servings.

The Morning News on Saturday October 30, 1943, told that a modern 118 bed

hospital to serve Fort Miles is to be built in Lewes, on 16 acres of government land

between the High School and the CCC Camp and to be opened by next summer. There are

to be 16 single story cement block buildings to house all necessary quarters of a hospital.

A section of the property is owed by the Beebes of the Beebe Hospital and once

owned by Capt. Leben Lyons, locally known as the Lyons Place.

And, last but not least, from Wilmington News Journal, June 8, 1943, Tuesday,

has reported the soldiers stationed at Fort Miles have found it necessary to use gas mask,

not from enemy action, but the odor from Consolidated Fisheries of Lewes.

A court hearing will be held in the U. S. District Court on a motion to have the

fish house to prevent the odor from pervading Fort Miles and quit the odors interfering

with efficient and healthful operations.

Many soldiers have been nauseated and forced to use their gas mask while on

duties.

Abstract: July 18, 2018 Harrison H for Facebooks page, Growing Up In

Lewes, and www.iinni.blogspot,com