The Rehoboth Beach Historical Society and Museum proposed to install the Dolle logo on its facade facing the canal to greet each visitor as they enter the resort. This rendering was done by Cape Gazette. | Photo courtesy of Rehoboth Beach City

REHOBOTH BEACH-Dolle's Candyland's signature has found a new home, but the final arrangement for who will pay $30,000 to remove it from its iconic location is yet to be determined.

David Mann, chairman of the board of directors of the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society and Museum, announced on Monday that the Historical Society will accept the sign and install it on its building at 511 Rehoboth Avenue. According to the feasibility study conducted by Rogers Signs Company, it is best to install it on the facade of the building rather than install it on the roof with metal scaffolding

Mann told the Rehoboth Beach Commissioner on Monday morning: "The only viable place that can withstand the static load is near the brick wall [facing the Canal Avenue]. We think this is unpopular for the city of Rehoboth Beach." On the west side is a wood I-beam, not a steel I-beam. You can see that it [the rest of the roof] is quite old."

The cost of less than US$30,000 includes approximately US$10,000 for demolition and US$20,000 for reinstallation. A flatbed truck must be used to drive the sign to a place less than a mile from the former Dolle's store. Rogers Signs, the feasibility study company, was also a company that rebuilt the logo after the storm damage in 2002.

Mann stated that the historical society is willing to assume the responsibility of providing funds for the removal and maintenance of the logo. However, if the city commissioner chooses to do so, the city will still be able to financially support this initiative. The Rehoboth Beach Main Street organization is also willing to raise funds or receive grants for the project.

When Tom Ibach, the owner of Dolle's Candyland, announced last year that he would move out of 1 Rehoboth Ave. due to high rental costs, the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society and Museum were first interested in keeping the logo. Nancy Alexander, the executive director of the museum, first contacted Ibach and met with him to discuss the proposal.

Ibach offered to donate the logo to the city on the condition that if the city is no longer interested in maintaining it, it will be returned to him. For months, the city has been arguing about its best location and whether the cost is worth it. Mayor Stan Mills reported that a business owner offered to accept it, but Ibach rejected the offer.

Demolition of the signs will be a major task, as Mann said it will “involve literally roof demolition and redesign”. The logo itself is 35 feet wide and 17 feet high. The Rogers logo fixed the Dole logo when it was reinstalled 18 years ago and re-covered the roof around the bracket with rubber. The logo itself is made of aluminum PVC composite material.

"There are a lot of structures to deal with, including having welders cut a lot of loose pipes," Mann said. "The structure was originally designed to withstand wind speeds of 125 mph."

Some commissioners questioned the wisdom of relocating the signs, because Dolle's Candyland still exists, only in a venue that does not allow a 17-foot-high sign on the roof. Commissioner Tim Bennett pointed out that it is not a sign, but an iconic location overlooking the boardwalk.

"I know we all like the logo of the current location, but it is a commercial logo. Is this how we welcome people into the city? Is that the beach brand of Rehoboth Beach?" Bennett asked.

"We are a museum, and our duty is to protect the history, culture and architecture of this city," Mann responded. “The landscape of the boardwalk is changing and will continue to change. This sign is iconic for three generations of beach visitors, and we are working hard to protect it so they can continue to enjoy it instead of letting it disappear.”

The Rehoboth Beach Committee has not yet voted on whether to donate the logo to the Rehoboth Beach Museum or fund the project.

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