This historic midcentury cottage, tucked into the dunes of old Fenwick, is a hidden treasure from bygone beach days. Surrounded by decades of family mementos, the Owner presides over her grandparents’ shingled seaside home preserving the memories of four generations of her family who have spent summers here.

Her grandfather, the original owner and builder of the home, was a Lutheran pastor, professor and dean at Gettysburg Seminary. In 1934 he came to Fenwick looking for a vacation rental property for his family. They rented one of the four ocean front cottages owned by ministers near the summer revival camps held at the south end of town. He eventually bought the cottage in 1936 and had it moved up the sandy road via mule-pulled logs to an oceanfront lot. He and his family enjoyed that home for another ten years before moving it back one lot west where it remains in the extended family. He and his son then built the current home over the course of three summers, completing it in 1950.

The minister and his wife spent every summer here, both living to be over 100. The pair were renowned for sending off their departing houseguests with a “Safe home, dearie!” called from the deck. A treasure trove of their love letters from 1915 remains in the home, an enduring testimony to their 80 years of marriage.

The two story three-bedroom cottage sits on pilings just behind the sand dune and is flanked on two sides by open decking. It retains its original knotty pine paneling, hardwood floors and exposed wood beams as well as much of the Owner’s grandparents’ furnishings, reupholstered and updated many times over. The home is filled with family mementos and multiple collections reflecting their long history here as well as Owner’s love of marine life.

The home was one of the few in Fenwick that survived the infamous 1962 Nor’easter. The fireplace literally held the house up through the storm as the ocean flowed beneath it, leaving it as a lasting tribute to the solid foundation the grandfather created for his family.

This is just one of the outstanding properties that will be viewed by those who purchase tickets for the 34th Beach & Bay Cottage Tour. This week’s home is one of the 8 homes on the 34th Tour that will be available for in-person tours by holders of Combo tickets. And, like all 10 homes on the 2026 Tour, this home will also be available to be seen virtually by holders of both Combo and Virtual tickets. Each of the 10 homes will feature a professionally produced video which will offer Tour patrons an opportunity to view each home as often as they want from anywhere during the three-week virtual tour period. Special features include bird’s-eye drone video footage and the ability to view the Tour on any internet-enabled device.

The 34th Beach & Bay Cottage Tour is proudly presented by Leslie Kopp and The Leslie Kopp Group, and this home is also sponsored by Gold Sponsor Sea Lite Design Build.

Combo tickets are $50 and Virtual-only tickets are $35. The number of Combo tickets is limited and may be used either day of the tour, with a single entry permitted to each home. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit the Cottage Tour’s website at beachandbaycottagetour.com.

The Cottage Tour is produced by the Friends of the South Coastal Library. All net proceeds directly benefit the library’s operations.