Over 25 years ago, my father, Leroy Jubilee, shared some information with me. I did not understand at the time that this information was vitally important, not just to him or to me, but it was important for the state of Delaware and possibly to the nation.
On a weekend trip, my father began to tell me that people of color had their own beaches and resorts, where they could go swimming and have summer picnics. He told me about a little place in the town of Millsboro called Rosedale Beach. He told me that famous musicians would come to Rosedale Beach to perform. Growing up in a different era than my father, I was far removed from this history, so I was listening, but I was half-listening to him.
Despite my initial disinterest, I never forgot those stories, and years later, when I was working on a music history project for Delaware State Museums, I was inspired to look further into the history of Rosedale Beach. From this point, I embarked on an amazing journey in discovering the history and rich heritage of a great American cultural institution and icon in and of itself.
Rosedale Beach was officially incorporated in our great state of Delaware in 1937 by Jesse and Geoffrie Vause, but the site had already been in longtime use as a place for leisure activities for people of color. Rosedale Beach was once referred to as Harmon’s Park and was owned by Isaac and Sarah Harmon, who were members of the Nanticoke community in Millsboro. The site later became known as Noah’s Park and then Rosedale Beach.
People came to Rosedale Beach from points north, south, east and west to vacation for the day, the week or the summer. Visitors came to be entertained by top-of-the-line entertainment and to enjoy leisure activities, such as baseball games, swimming and church picnics, among other activities. College students came to Rosedale Beach during their spring breaks, so Rosedale Beach was their Fort Lauderdale.
Due to segregation policies and practices at that time in America, people of color of a variety of backgrounds were barred from frequenting various types of public facilities, such as hotels, restaurants, travel facilities. They could only go to the beach to swim on certain days of the week. These communities had to create and run their own entertainment venues and facilities, and they also ran their own leisure activities. This was the case when Rosedale Beach was in operation and was transformed into a major East Coast vacation destination.
At the same time, one of the amazing things about the Rosedale Beach Resort was that they had an outside pavilion, or what we might call a bandshell, located out in the water that the bands performed on. Anyone that sailed by or got close enough to the pavilion could hear and enjoy the music coming from the resort.
When I first heard the stories about Rosedale Beach, it was hard for me to imagine such a place. I was truly amazed to come across the various articles and advertisements for Rosedale Beach that ran in the nationally known Billboard magazine, describing the famous and hugely popular shows and programs that were featured and performed there. Rosedale Beach shows were featured and reviewed in what was called “The Billboard” in the 1940s and 1950s. A couple of items from “The Billboard” read:
When I examined the original incorporation documents for Rosedale Beach Inc., filed by Jesse and Geoffrie Vause in 1937, I found that the corporation had a full board of directors and was a professionally run organization. I was amazed at the awesome vision and plans that the Vause family had for this resort. Along with the hotel, the resort once featured a boardwalk, a dance hall, a picnic area, a beachfront area, a campground, an amusement park and a baseball diamond. Some of the other intended purposes for the site were to include a hall or auditorium for assemblies, lectures, musical programs, and literary and other social programs. The Vauses wanted to build a museum, where they could present scientific and other types of exhibits. They also wanted to build a library, a restaurant and a cafe business.
Rosedale Beach drew in some of the most iconic musicians of the day, such as Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Thomas “Fats” Waller, Jackie Wilson, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and a young Aretha Franklin, just to name a few. And one of the reasons coming to Rosedale Beach was so enticing for these artists was that now, they were welcomed and were able to stay in the same hotel that they performed in.
Rosedale Beach had what I would call an artist management team, which included Jesse Vause and his brother, Floyd Vause. They had an amazing ability to draw the best-of-the-best entertainment in America at the time down to Millsboro, Delaware, to perform. Jesse Vause was a driven Renaissance man, and he excelled at what he did. He also did not leave the success of his business to chance. He organized bus tours, for example, from the city of Philadelphia down to Millsboro. Jesse Vause poured money into advertising, and he engaged major publications to run stories about the hot shows performed at Rosedale Beach, featuring many American music legends and up-and-coming, talented artists and entertainers.
Rosedale Beach would still be in operation through the era of the civil rights movement and beyond, and would feature the likes of little Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and James Brown. The resort was sold to Harry and Donelda Burton in 1961. Eventually one of the major factors that would lead to the eventual closing of the Rosedale Beach Hotel and Resort was the integration period that was to come. When more choices for leisure and entertainment opened up, visitation went down at Rosedale Beach and other similar resorts.
It's been a decade since the placement of a historic marker at the site of the former Rosedale Beach Hotel and Resort. The resort drew in people and its story continues to draw in people from all walks of life together under the umbrella of amazing, world-class music and entertainment.
What I know is that I am truly humbled and honored to be a part of the ongoing process to recognize the rich heritage of the former Rosedale Beach Hotel and Resort, Delaware’s and one of America’s sacred sites.
Tamara R. Burks has been a historical researcher, archivist and interpreter, and has conducted Rosedale Beach presentations for community groups, state agencies and other organizations. She is working with the state on a documentary about the history of Rosedale Beach
