The ‘Chesapeake ram’ put Bethel, DE on the map
Bethel wasn’t the only successful shipbuilding town in 19th century Delaware. Wilmington, Smyrna, and Milford could all lay claim to strength in that industry. But Bethel, thanks to its location on the Nanticoke River, had easy access to the Chesapeake Bay and its markets. Bethel was surrounded by more extensive stands of virgin oak and…