Time capsule installed in new Rehoboth Beach Patrol
The ongoing construction of the new Rehoboth Beach Patrol headquarters and public restroom facility in Rehoboth Beach paused briefly Oct. 11, for the installation of a time capsule filled with a century’s worth of beach patrol memories.
About 50 people – primarily current and past lifeguards – attended the event.
Capt. Jeff Giles said 100 years from now, people will get an idea what the first 100 years of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol was like. He said the capsule has a shirt that was part of the uniform from the 1950s, candy-striped trunks from the 1980s, the current swimsuit, a calendar from 2021, a picture and biography for former three-decade-long lifeguard Tommy Coveleski, and lots of photos.
Facing the new building from Baltimore Avenue, the stainless-steel box, about the size of a typical cinder block, was installed in the lower right corner. It features the city’s logo, the date it was installed, and the words Lifeguards for Life and E1GH.
Giles said the E1GH stands for, “Everyone Goes Home.” It’s the approach the lifeguards take when they’re out there working, and a lot of them have it as a tattoo.
Ultimately, the box will be enclosed within the structure, with a marker on the outside indicating where the time capsule is located.
Located at the Boardwalk end of Baltimore Avenue, the new facility, estimated to cost about $5.5 million, has been under construction for much of 2024. City officials continue to say the building will be ready for the opening of the 2025 season in May.
During a commissioner workshop Oct. 7, City Manager Taylour Tedder said the construction manager is expected to give a full progress update during a commissioner workshop in November.
