Middletown transcript., 1916-01-29
NEW CENTURY CLUB

The Tuesday afternoon meeting Of
the New Century Club was the most
delightful one of the past few months.
1t was Delaware Day, and dealt
with local history only, not with. state
or even county. A great deal of
thought and time had been spent on
papers pertaining to the subject and
the large audience was highly enter
tained for nearly two hours.
The program opened with singing
America" by all. An interesting
History of Odessa" followed by Mrs.
c. ]. Freeman. The history told of
Odessa even before it was known as
Cantwell's Bridge, up to recent years.
Duncan Beard, of clock-making
fame, was spoken of by Mrs. F. B.
Watkins, from an old history of Odessa.
Beard, who was a wheelwright and
blacksmith, lived just out of Odessa
and apparently could turn his hand to
anything in the mechanical line, having
made a great deal of fine furniture,
some of which is now in the possession
of the Corbits of Odessa. A Duncan
Beard clock has been presented to the
Masonic Lodge here by a member of
the first Masonic Lodge of Delaware.
An interesting sketch of the Quaker
meeting House in Odessa was written
by Mrs. Lee Sparks, and read by Mrs.
Watkins. The first Quaker meeting
house stood OF Hickory Grove on the
st. Georges road, but the Odessa
Friends, wishing Meeting House nearer
home, built the present brick building
in Odessa. For several years Mr.. Aston
father of Mr.. J. Cowgirl Aston of this
town, was the sole worshipper in the
church, going each Sabbath morning,
rain or shine, TO spend the hour in
prayer and quiet medita ton
Miss Hutchin spoke briefly of Old st.
Anne's, Old Drawers and Old Union
churches, all of historical interest to
Delawareans.
Miss Eliza Green read when Nc
Donough sailed the Sea" from "Once
Upon a time in Delaware I" She gave
a sketch of his life and the interesting
fact that the gallant Commodore was
born at the neighboring village of Nc
Donough, named for him. and that the
family burying ground is on the Frank |
r. Pool farm at McnOnough.
Mrs. E. M. Vaughan told of Caesar |
Rodney's 2ide" and deplored the fact |
that although Rodney saved the
nation by his presence and signature he
is almost unknown outside his own !
state. Paul Revere, who saved Massa-
chusetts, is widely known of, but Rod
ney comparatively unknown.
An interesting story of Methodist
Doctrines in 1738' was read by Mrs.
W. B. Biggs, in which ministers were
solemnly charged to ''get up at four
O'Clock A. M, and not be idle a mo-
ment". Hard on the preachers.
Mrs. E. C. Green gave most interest
ing "reminiscences of Middletown'',
telling of old inhabitants, old customs
and old buildings. mason & Dixon
Boundary Line' was defined by Miss
Julia E. Morton in a we'll prepared
paper, this line has been the subject of
much dispute and seems never to have
been completed.
Col. Ingram was to have been a speak
er but was unable to represent because
of illness.
Singing Delaware, My Delaware"
closed the program for very pleasant
afternoon. Next weeks program fol-
lows.
Feb. 1st. 2p. m. Executive Board
23Op. m. Business meeting. Paper
-"Our California Missions written
for the PhilOmusian Club of West Phil
adelphia. Letters from soldier in the
with names of persons and
places omitted will be read.