Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-08

With appropriate exercises the Tooth
anniversary of Naamans Greek school
az tiaymOnt, was celebrated Yesterday
afternoon. Among those present were
many who received their FIRST education
in the old school Miss Robinson. the
principal, had charge of the music. Rev.
j. Harry Chesley presided and addresses
were made by Judge l. G. Grubb Henry
c. Conrad, ex-Mayor Charles ID. Bird.
who attended the school Superintendent
Of County Schools A r Spaid and Alex
ander B. Cooper of New Castle Mr..
Bird viii give two prizes. to be known
as the Alfred ID. Bird and the Fllen
Elizabeth Bird prizes, for the best average
in mathematics during the year.
Judge Grubb presented to the school
the original parchment deed of the
ground upon which the school house
stands, made August 9th, 1905, by John
Dickinson, also the portraits OF John
Dickinson, Judge Willard Hall, father
Of the free school system OF Delaware,
and photographs of the old school house
before the recent additions were made.
Judge Gribb, IN presenting the por-
traits said he was especially gratifed TO
Join in this centennial celebration of
the erection 10 this historic schoolhouse
because he was born in Brandywine
hundred and this was where be began
his education, when but years old
Continuing, he said, many former
pupils Of the school have afterward
attained success and distinction in
various lines One Of these is Charles
ID. Bird, native Of the hundred who
was the late mayor Of Wilmington He
also recalled another, William Clyde
president Of the Clyde Steamship Co.
Of New York. In fact Brandywine
hundred has not been wanting in pro-
ducing men Of worth and distinction
in after lie. Speaking Of mayors, John
Z. Almond, q native Of the hundred
was also mayor of Wilmington. Charles
Oilpin, years ago mayor of Philadelphia,
and United States District Attorney, a
son Of Edward Gilpin and Lydia Grubb.
was also Of the old Brandywine hun
dted stock, as was also Edward w Gil
pin, one Of Delasare's best and worthiest
chief Justices
Victor du Pont, a former president of
the Union National Bank, Wilmington.
and one of the best lawyers and most
beloved citizen of his day, was born and
bred in Brandywine hundred and his
distinguished uncle, the gallant Admiral
du Pont, from his childhood 10 his
death, was a resident of the hundred.
To-day" he continued, "our present
governor, Preston Lea, was also a native
of her soil 50 you see our old hundred
of Brandywine can walk erect and hold
her head proudly among her sister hun
dreds Of the State"
~ L.. \ 4
portraits and photographs, presented
by Judge Grubb, he said. This deed is
the original parchment indenture made
and signed by John Dickerson, more than
100 years ago. This old deed / found
OF my grandfather James Grubb, ESQ
Of Grubb's Landing, who was one of the
FIVE trustees to whom John Dickerson
conveyed the ground for school purposes
forever This framed likeness Of John
Dickinson is taken from a rare portrait
Of him. John Dickinson was one of the
most noted patriots and statesman Of
the period which included the Revolu-
tionary War. Dickinson at one and the
same time, was governor of Delaware,
governor OF Pennsylvania, member of
| Congress from Delaware and ex-oliicio,
chief justice Of the High Court Of Ap-
peals of Pennsylvania.
Three States claimed him as q citizen,
Maryland whore he was born, Pennsyl-
vania, whore he practiced law, and served
her Ia the high positions mentioned and
Delaware, where he was reared from the
age of eight years and served as a delegate
M the Continental Congress, a signer of
the Articles of the Confederation OF the
Federal Constitution, as well as q mem-
her of her constitutional convention in
1892. He died in Wilmington in 1901 az
his residence which stood on the present
site of the Wilmington Institute Build
| ing at Eighth and Market streets He
was buried in the Friends burial ground
az Fourth and West streets
'Ihis other framed portrait is an excel
lent likeness Of Judge Willard Hall. who
was born IN Massachusetts, in 1850. and
died In Wilmington IN 1878. in his q5th
year. He came to Delaware in 1903.
practiced law az Dover until 1923. when
he was appointed United States District
Judge for the District of Delaware. by
/ President Monroe which office he held
for As years until his resignation in 1871 %
Judge Grubb also referred 20 the various
other offices and positions of trust which
be had held in Delaware, and said. Il
/ knew him while he was eminent as an
earnest Christian philanthropist. lawyer
and judge, and with his New England
! training ideas and methods and a dis
/ interested public spirit made an enduring
impression upon the institutions and
/ people Of his adopted State But he will
/ be always remembered by the people Of
| Delaware as a framer OF our first State
free school act of 1929, and as the real
founder Of the public free school system of
| Delaware, 10 which he gave the best efforts
Of his youth, his prime and his old age
Therefore, | have thought It most appro-
pirate that his portrait should hang upon
/ the walls Of this oldest, at least one of the
| oldest existing schoolhouses which has
! been longest IN use under the free school
set system, secured by him by the act
of 1920. This framed picture is a pho-
tograph Of this old schoolhouso before
the recent addition and enlargement
was made TO H. Il represents practi-
cally the schoolhouso as il stood when
] irst entered il in my early childhood
and As il had stood since its erection in