Smyrna times., 1896-07-15

COMPETITIVE ESSAY BY THOMAS
ANNA HAZELL. JUNIOR CLASS, sMYR-
Ma HIGH SCHOOL.
Smyrna is a very pretty town, IN
Delaware, situated about twelve miles
from Dover, which is the capital and
thirty-six miles from Wilmington. 1t
is in the northern part of Kent County
and only about mile from the line
which divides it and New Castle
County. Smyrna is about twenty-fOur
miles, from the Chesapeake, and eight
miles from the Delaware bay. 1t was
named for Smyrna in Turkey, because
it used to be one of the greatest grain
markets in the country.
Duck Greek at first was the largest
town, and when Smyrna was founded,
which was in 1900, it was called Duck
Greek Crossroads. In 1928 there were
no houses ON Main street, except the
double house where Mr.. Norris now
lives, from the Smyrna House to the
Pond In 1924 Mr.. d. J. Cummins'
house was built, and in 1925 the one
where Mr.. J. H. HOffecker lives.
There were no houses on Commerce
street from where Mr. Register lives,
to what used to be called, Flat Iron
Point, except the old house which was
torn down when Mrs. Mcdowell built
her new house.
The northern part of Main street,
which is now known as Irish Town, is
the Oldest part of Smyrna. 1t used to
be great grain depot, and at Smyrna
Landing there used to be eight or ten
vessels running every week.
We had two carriage factories, one
was owned by Benson & Cats, and
the other by G.. F. Hale. There was a
tan yard carried on by John Peter
son and afterwards by Mr.. A. Peter
son, and then by Peterson and Must
ard, and every spring they used to buy
thousands of cords of bark, from all
the surrounding country, which they
ground and put in hogheads and sent
to Philadelphia.
On Union street there used to be
another bark mill, which was carried
on by J. G.. Roland. Mr.. Benson and
Cats carriage shop used to be where
Mr.. J. A. HOffecker's house now
stands. The carriage shop is now
used as Mr.. J. H. Hoffeckers' stables
and out buildings.
The only communication between
Smyrna and Philadelphia was by
water, in slOOps or a stage line which
ran from Wilmington, and through to
Philadelphia. The first steamboat
that ran from Smyrna to Philadelphia
was the steamer Kent in 1888. It ran
to Shorts Landing ON the Smyrna
Greek, and the communication from
Smyrna to Shorts Landing was by
stage.
There used to be quite business
done here in buying and selling grain
The chief. grain buyers were JOIN
Cummins, who kept store were J. W
Jones store now is, and Robert Pat
tersOn whose store was where Mr.
Refs keeps a clothing store.
March 1856 the first train ran t,
Smyrna. The merchants, before tn,
railroad was built, sold a great deal o
goods at wholesale to the country
stores.
Smyrna has two factories one a shir
factory and the other stocking fact
DRY. The former is owned by Mr.
FARRELL, and the other by Messers Bit
Ter & COunselman. The two give i'm
plOyment to quite a number of persons
Also two tomato canneries, one owne
by Mr.. J. H. Hofecker, the other b
Osburn and Wells. Also one at Smy1
ma Landing, owned by Mr.. Counsel
man, which is said to be one of tn
best and finest equipped in the state.
We have two phosphate factories, on
, is owned by Mr.. L. NJ. Price, the othe
} by the Transportation Company
There are two saw-mills one owned b
Mr.. Tilghman and the Other(which is
saw mill and basket factory combined
by Messers. Tschudy & Cats.
There are four blacksmith shops
Two large agriculture implement war
houses. Mr.. Boyer keeps every thin
: that is used in the line of farming tool
SO do Lewis and Wheatman keep IL
same line of goods, and also a stock
hard ware. There are also two ca
riage factories Moffet & Co. and Lew
, Il Wheatman. There is also one laro
machine shop owned by Mr.. G.. v
Taylor. There are two lumber yard
: one owned by j. P. Hudson and Il
: other by Mr.. Frank Bailey. M
Bailey has also in connection with b
lumber, a brick yard. There are
number of carpenters the leading on,
of which are Mr.. Jos. Wright and Sol
Mr.. FARRELL is now building new shil
y factory, which when done will emplc
from fifty to a hundred hands. "
have gas works, electric light plai
and water works. We have quite
, number of stores, and some very nj
ones. There is also large tile val
owned by Messrs. Cosgriff, Beck,
HAZEL.
Smyrna has quite a number of pub
. institutions for place of its size.
has four churches, the Methods
Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Catholi
of which the Methodist has the gre,
- est number of members. There q
two colord churches, the colo
. people also have two halls, one
which they hold public school.
Smyrna has a very nice Odd Fellow
Hall, Opera House, Smyrna Librai
and the fremens' room with the Ho
House attached.
Ec The Smyrna Public School Houi
10 one of the largest and finest in {
State, has eight teachers employt
and plenty of work for ninth.
Ia. About a mile and a half west
'O0 Smyrna is st, Josephs Industr
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