Smyrna times., 1912-03-06
FORCE OF MEN START TO
TEAR DOWN SMYRNA HOUSE
T. E. MERRYMAN, OF PHILADEL-
PHIA, TO RAZE THE BUILDING
Given Five Weeks to Clear Ground
The New Hotel to Be Ready and
Open BY May the First

ne new Hotel to Be Ready and
Open BY May the First
The old Smyrna House, which
before the days of the railroad was
famous as a stagecoach tavern. will
soon be thing of the past. Mon
day morning. T. E. Merryman, a
Philadelphia contractor, started work
with a gang of men to tear down
the old brick structure and to clear
the ground for the new Federal
Building which will be erected in
its place. A number watched the
tearing out of old windows, but
when the men reached the roof and
began to tear down the old Chin
neys, there could not help but be
regret that this old landmark was
not allowed to stay. The bricks of
which this old hotel was built, were
brought over from England in 1887.
1t is one of the oldest buildings in
town, built by Joshua Fisher. The
Delaware Legislature met in it in
1892. The property remained in the
Fisher family until purchased by
Tilghman Foxwell and descended to
Garrett Foxwell who held it until
he sold it to c. P. Gears. In the
march of progress, however, Smyr-
ma is promised a new and modern
Smyrna House and on the site of
the old ladnmark is to be erected a
Federal Building which is being
looked forward to with pleasure by
thousands of patrons. The old gives
place to the new and both the new
postoffice and the new hotel are
looked forward to as a progressive
step in the history of Smryna.
Ground to be Cleared in Five Weeks
T. E. Merryman, who is employed
under contract by Messrs. George
w. Turner and John P. Colds
borough, the new hotel proprietors,
is under contract to clear the ground
in five weeks. At present, the con-
tractor has only a small force of
men to work but as soon as weather
permits the help will be doubled.
After the brick portion of the hotel
is town down, Contractor Merryman
will move the three-story frame
portion aroun1 to the Spruance Prop
erty (Dr. Swinney Home) and splice
it up to this brick building for the
new hotel which will probably con-
tinue under the name of The Smyr-
ma House, although a number of
names have been suggested and ncne
of them definitely decided upon.
Magistrate H. S. Anthony and
George w. Brown tenants of the
Spruance property, have been given
a months notice to vacate. Mr..
Brown moves today to the residence
formery occupied by George D.
Stevenson on north Main street.
Mr.. Anthony has several places in
view. but has not decided. The
building will probably be vacated
before the month is up so as to give
the workmen a chance to tear out
and rebuild. 1t is the desire of the
new management to have the new
hotel ready and open for business by
May the first.
Amusement Hall Offered Hose Co.
Messrs. Turner and Goldsborough,
hearing that the Smyrna Hose Com
pany were desirious of an amuse
ment hall back of the Hose Room,
have offered the old bar-room of the
Smyrna House to the Hose Company
for the small sum of $l00 if the
Company will bear the expense o1
moving it, which can be done while
Mr.. Merryman is here at a nominal
figure. The offer is being consider
ed with much seriousness and it i:
understood that the members of the
Hose Company do not want the op
portunity to pass as it would cost
more than double to erect such 6
building. The building is 4Ox25
feet and considered ample in every
way for the needs Of the Company
If Council does not buy the building
for them, it is probable that sub
scription list will be started.