War of 1812 Memorial Park in Lewes, Delaware-- Part 2: The First City in the First State

From the City of Lewes site, which bills itself as "The First Town in the First State."

 Located downtown by the entrance to the Otis Smith City Docks.  Also known as "The Cannonball Park" at the corner of Savannah Road and Front Street, along the Lewes-Reheboth Canal.

The park commemorates the defense of Lewes during a two-day British bombardment April 6-7, 1813.  Many of the cannonballs fired by the British were collected by local residents and preserved to this day.

The site was where a battery was located during the attack and is marked by a granite monument.

The four large guns are from the U.S. government and the small gun is believed to be from a pirate vessel found abandoned in the creek.  There is also a 3-inch World War I naval gun on the lower terrace of the park that was placed there by the American Legion in 1930.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Heritage Trail-- Part 2: Lewes 1812 Memorial Park

Some of the sites on the trail:

**  1812 Memorial Park.  Was a defense battery during the Battle of Lewes.  Has a granite monument placed there by the National Society U.S. Daughters of 1812.

The four cannons in the upper lumps were given to Lewes by the government.  A smaller gun by them is believed taken from a pirate vessel found abandoned in the creek.  There is also a World War I 3-inch naval gun placed at the park by the American Legion in 1930.

**  Across the street from the park is The Cannonball House, erected before 1797  It was the home of David Rowland and struck by cannonballs during the British attack on Lewes April 6-7, 1813.

--Brock-Perry