Smyrna times., 1896-07-22

LII OAO CeObCAh PCA WIN "a VIZ - ~-~SNN-
States of America, between the placid
waters of Delaware bay and the shores
of the Chesapeake, lies a very fertile
and productive piece of land.
Many small cities are situated on
this peninsula gathering their pros
perity mostly from the surrounding
country. The most prosperous and
progressive of these is the charming
city of Smyrna. This thriving place is
situated on the Smyrna river about
nine miles from the latter's affluence
with Delaware Bay.
Thirty miles to the north lies Will
mington one of the largest shipbuild-
ing centres in the Union and thirty
miles farther on we find the great city
of Philadelphia; both of these places
can be reached by rail or water from
Smyrna.
Eleven miles below Smyrna, we
come to Dover, the capital of the State
of Delaware, the sight of which recalls
the memorable fight between the two
cities when the capital was established.
Both of these cities are in the county
of Kent and thus can be seen the
rivalry that exists between them.
Nature has greatly aided the farmers
in the vicinity of Smyrna by placing at
their disposal fields and meadows un-
broken by hills or mountains.
At the intersection of Green branch
with Duck Greek a short distance
above Smyrna and ON the south side of
the branch, William Green had laid
out for himself on warrant Nov. II, 1886
one thousand acres of land called
Graves-end.
One half of this passed by gift to his
three sons George, John and Thomas
March 9Th 1929.
The sons John and Thomas possessed
large estates and were leading men il
the vicinity. James and Thomas in
herited the land at the cross roads anC
sold it in quantities to settlers who
built up Smyrna. Thomas, a son o
Thomas Green ST., owned the ole
landing property which he sold Aug
18th 1772 to William Jorden.
At one time the landing was a great
grain centre and in 1912 grain was
shipped in large quantities; in 1887 (
steam boat named Oscar Thomas anC
afterward the Kent ran between Smyr
ma and Philadelphia.
About 1851, the wharves wer,
covered with bark, wood, coal, lime
lumber, ship timber etc. Grain wai
brought from all the surrounding
cOuntry-and was sold to Smyrna mer
chants; as many as seven vessels wer,
loaded at the wharves in one day.
The price of grain was regulated b,
the price here. A part of Graves-enC
lying in the fork of Duck Creek and
Greens branch passed to Benjamin
Thinner and was afterward con
veyed to Thomas Woodward. Ajoin
ing burying ground belonging to tn
Quakers is place laid out for a tow
called Salisbury, this town is what i
now called Duck Creek so called be
cause it was at the head of Duck Cree
and the first town in the county.
Silas Spearman was one of the frs
to build store in Salisbury, he wa
the father of the Spearman who frs
planted peaches for the market.
Between Smyrna and the landing
an old place called Mapping, so name
after a suburb of London. It was
great place to water horses for thos
who were going to the landing wit
grain.
A DIR. Lovegrove kept a drug stor
there in 1906. In 1892 the Legislator
met here and thought of making it th
capital of the State.
On Jan. 10Th, of that year the nam
was changed to Smyrna by an act G
the Assembly.
The village increased slowly in popI
lation and in 1916 contained about %
inhabitants.
On Jan. 10Th 1917 company of me
were appointed commissioners to la
out the streets of Smyrna.
On Dec. 9th, 1860 the town was illum
mated by gas and since that has bee
we'll lighted.
In 1861 branch road was built |
connect with the main division of IL
Delaware railroad at Clayton. For
town of its size Smyrna has a grel
number of enterprises.
Before our day the principal ente
prises were the tannerys, shipbuil,
ing, and shipping at Smyrna landing
Now we have a Hosiery Factory G
Commerce street and fine shirt fac
DRY in course of erection on Unto
street. This factory will employ abol
200 hands and will be one the fine
factorys south of Wilmington.
A basket factory and three Gamer,
also provide work for many persons
the summer time.
We also have a carriage factor
machine shops, blacksmith shops,
tile yard, and tannery will soon
started. The stores of our town viii,
a few years ago were small and poor
kept are now enlarged and made {
: tractive and a great many of our me
chants carry large stock of goods.
The Smyrna market is excellant al
almost any time of the year, you G.
procure southern fruits and Vegetable
we have good produce brought fro
the surrounding country and we we
never so well supplied with meat of
kinds as we are at the present tim
We have also fine electric light plar
y water works and gas. works which We
few towns our size can boast of havin
The first public institution in way
school was opened on East CONNER
s street on the property which is n,
owned by Miss Davis. 1t was start
by the young ladies of the town a
its object was to educate those W
. were unable to pay tuition at a privs
: school. This was continued until /
adoption of the public school syste
At n later f1av a acbool 1vaa o,,oooa