Around 1900, the Assawoman Canal bordered the west side of South Bethany. By around 1940, the McCabe family played a significant role in developing South Bethany. In 1954, 109 New Castle was one of the first two houses west of Route 1, and one of the original oceanside homes stood on South 4th Street. Views from 1957 and 1959 show the South Bethany canal, fishing in the canals, and a look east toward the ocean. In 1962, the Storm of the Century destroyed all oceanfront homes. A 1968 cottage shows conditions before docks and bulkheads were required in 1994. A 1970 view looked east from Cleveland Avenue, and by 1975 the Assawoman Yacht Club focused on boating, water safety, and maintaining the canals and bay. Later glimpses include swimming in the canals in 1985 and the first building permit for Cat Hill development in 1986. In 2014, the South Bethany Historical Society published a book on the town's development and growth through words and pictures.