Letter to the Editor: ‘Precarious’ house became lasting image of Storm of ’62
At the time of the 1962 coastal storm, I was in college in North Carolina. A week or so later, however, I was home on spring break. One of my college friends and I decided we would drive down to Rehoboth Beach and have a look about. There was a massive amount of damage done all along the shoreline, and there was debris everywhere.
The house pictured in both the Sunday, Feb. 20 and Thursday, Feb. 24 issues of the Delaware State News is one of the places we decided to explore. The house was pretty much down on the beach and was at a precarious angle, as you can see from the photo. My friend and I managed to climb through part of what was the first floor of the building. I remember having my friend stand under one of the sills, as though he was holding the house up, and I took his picture. In a smashed cupboard, I found a small wooden box with a glass lid. I think I still have it — and would be pleased to donate it to the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society if they wish to have it.
An interesting tidbit to all of this is that this building was known as the Grier House. It had belonged to my grandmother’s cousin, Florence Caulk Grier. She had grown up in Camden, married a Dr. Grier and then lived in Milford but spent her summers in Rehoboth. In fact, she died in that house/cottage about 1958, I believe. And she was in my grandparents’ wedding party when they were married in 1893. I also have a photo of the cottage that I took in March 1962, shared above.
Mike Richards
Rising Sun
