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Rehoboth, Delaware, Voter Registers and Tax Assessments
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Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Born in Dover, Delaware, in March of 1860, Charles S. Horn relocated to Rehoboth, Delaware, after spending summer vacations at the up-and-coming resort town in the 1880s. In 1904 he served as the tax collector for Rehoboth. Horn held numerous other civic positions, such as officer of the local Chamber of Commerce, president of the New Rehoboth Bath and Tennis Club, membership in the Improved Order of Red Men and the Free and Accepted Masons, and director of the Lewes and Rehoboth Building and Loan Association.
In addition to these civic and political positions, Horn was also a long-time Rehoboth businessman. In 1892, he constructed one of the first cottages at the beach located on Baltimore Avenue. Horn's first significant business venture, constructed in the late 1880s, was an emporium to be located on a pier extending into the ocean from the foot of the existing boardwalk. The emporium became known as Horn's Pavilion and included a recreation room, dance hall, and theater. During this time, Horn expanded his business domain to include a complete line of novelty items, such as post cards and other souvenirs, to be sold in his store, a motion picture theater, and a roller rink. The store was destroyed twice by storms and, following a storm in 1914, was torn down. Horn proceeded to move his emporium into space already occupied by a motion picture theater and roller rink located at 5 and 7 Rehoboth Avenue.
Horn died in 1938.
Bevan, Wilson Lloyd, ed.History of Delaware Past and Present. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1929. Vol. IV pp. 337-338. "Rehoboth Beach facts and figures" and "Rehoboth Beach Timeline" Retrieved February 5, 2005, from http://www.delawarebeaches.com/visitors/rehoboth/facts.html
The collection consists of four ledgers related to tax assessments of property in Rehoboth, Delaware, and one ledger listing registered voters in the same area. The ledgers span the years 1883 until circa 1911 and were once the property of Charles S. Horn, a local businessman. In 1904, Horn served as tax collector for the town of Rehoboth and it is probable that the ledgers contain records maintained by Horn in this capacity.
Included in the collection is a ledger listing all registered voters in Rehoboth. An alphabetical listing, the ledger is of particular interest because it also lists voter's party affiliation and race.
The tax assessment ledgers provide a unique look at the town of Rehoboth at the turn of the twentieth century. Three of the four ledgers provide an alphabetical listing of individuals who owned property in the burgeoning resort town. In addition to names of property owners, the ledgers provide additional information: the property owner's permanent address, location of the Rehoboth property, an assessed value of the property, the current tax rate, the amount of taxes due, the amount paid and the date on which it was paid, and what refunds were available to the owner. The fourth ledger lists tax assessments alphabetically by street and owners are listed by lot number. Boundaries are listed for each street. The ledger provides the names and permanent addresses of property owners as well as lot assessments, improvements made on the property, and a total assessment. It is apparent throughout these ledgers that Rehoboth had firmly established itself as a resort destination with individuals owning property both as investment properties and as vacation homes.
- Item 0075: Shelved in SPEC MSS 0096
Purchase, 2005.
Processed by Theresa Hessey, February 2005. Encoded by Lora J. Davis, July 2011.
People
Subject
- Taxation--Delaware--History--19th century
- Taxation--Delaware--History--20th century
- Property tax--Delaware-History--19th century
- Property tax--Delaware--History--20th century
- Voting registers--Delaware
Place
Occupation
- Publisher
- University of Delaware Library Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
- Finding Aid Date
- 2011 July 29
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/
Collection Inventory
One small address book including the names of 1904 registered voters in Rehoboth, Delaware, as well as their party affiliation and race.
Physical Description16 cm
One ledger containing assessments for the town of Rehoboth for 1900. Information provided includes the name of the property owner, the lot number and location (street) of the property, the total assessed valuation, percentage rate, and amount of taxes due, and documentation of payments made.
Physical Description19 cm
Includes one large, brittle ledger listing taxes paid for 1899-1901, and organized by payee. Also includes a couple lists of tax delinquents for the year 1900.
Physical Description36 cm
Contains a record of assessments in the town of Rehoboth for the years 1904-1905 as kept by tax collector Charles S. Horn. Also includes a broadside from the Sussex Printing and Publishing Co. advertising the "Tax Sale of Rehoboth, Del. Lots" on July 28, 1906. According to notes on the announcement, taxes were paid on many of these properties prior to their sale.
Physical Description31 cm
Contains an incomplete record of assessments in the town of Rehoboth prior to 1911. A card of "Revised Civil Defense Air Raid Instructions" published by the Federal Civil Defense Administration bearing the name of C.S. Horn is tucked into the back of the book.
Physical Description31 cm