Evening journal., 1922-01-02
BELMONT HALL
OF COLONIAL
FAME BURNS

keeping the flames from spreading
to the outbuildings.
The Smyrna company tried to
pump water from Lake Como. but
the distance was too great, and the
fact Il had TO be pumped uphill
made Il impossible TO get a stream
Of sufficient force to do any good
The Dover company was notified.
but broke down before arriving
here.
Mr.. Speakman and his family
were at home when the fire broke
out. with the assistance OF neigh
bors considerable OF the very valu-
able antique furniture was gotten
out but It Is understood that many
relics in various parts OF the build
ing were destroyed.
The dwelling burned. or at least
most of Il, was the original struc-
ture that stood during the Revolu-
tionary war. II was rich In history
and was one Of the show places OF
Kent county. Standing as 1t did
/ along the new boulevard amid a
beautiful grove OF old trees leading
up to the mansion it attracted the
attention OF every tourist using the
State road.
The property was left to the pres
ent owner by his mother Mrs. c. +.
Peterson Speakman. who died about
a year ago. Howard Speakman,
/ father Of Cummins r. Speakman,
who was a famous pistol shot, died
several years ago.
Mr.. Speakman had only recently
at a large expense remodeled and
improved the interior OF the man
sion TO bring Il as near as possible
TO its original appearance.
Belmont Hall was located on
what was known in Colonial days as
i "Pearman's Choice" a tract OF 600
acres granted by William Penn on
March 26. 1854. to Henry Pearman.
He subdivided II into six tracts. one.
the site Of Belmont Hall. being ac-
quired by Andrew Love on June 10,
4. 1891. He. died intestate. and the
land escheated. William Strickland
petitioned for the tract November
16, i743. and came into possession
/ OF II May %, 1852. Shortly after
ward. he sold It TO John Cook. who
r erected Belmont Hall in 1853. Later
t il passed into possession Of John
Moore. who sold It TO Governor
+ Thomas collins, one Of the six pres
D idents-as the Governors then were
o known - Of Delaware during the
b. Revolutionary period. It descended
d at the death Of Governor Collins C
n his son. Dr. William Collins.
Governor Collins commanded
brigade OF Delaware militia agains
General Howe's British invaders il
New Castle county. Governor col
Inns extensively improved and adde'
TO the hail when he came into pos
session OF IL. He also organized an'
maintained, at his own expense,
brigade OF Delaware militia durini
4 the Revolution.
A sentinel was posted on the towe
Of Belmont Hall and was shot by
British scout. The mark OF the bul
let and a blood stain we're visihl
through all the years in the observa
< tory. where the American soldier wa
l. killed. and was viewed with muc
l. interest by visitors TO that histori
e place.
In the fireplace OF the old house
e Ebenezer's Cioak's wife and IN
10 wife Of Governor Collins molde
e bullets for the American soldier.
Ebenezer Cloak was a great-grand
father of Mrs. Speakman. In III
u he fitted out a privateer, the boa
J. was chased aground by a Britisl
an-of-war. and Cloak was capture
= and confined in an English prison
= where he died.
The story is current that durin
v the lifetime Of Governor Collins th
Delaware Legislature met at the hal
,, This is said 10 be an error for n
a. reason that IL was not until May
1872. three years after the death
"a Governor Collins. that the Legisl'
ture met in Smyrna. 1t was on tn
date that, owing TO a difficulty vii
the county authorities. the Legisl
ture adjourned TO meet at the hou
OF Thomas Hale, who kept u
hotel. now known as the smyri
, House
D. DR.. Collins. son OF Governor CO
Inns, transferred the property
o. January 8. 1927. to John Cloak, wi
left IL to his grand-daughte-. MI
on Carrie r. Patterson, Oater Mrs c.
Peterson Speakman), into VINO
possession 10 passed in 1867, and W
left by her to her son. Cummins
speakman. who a few years al
vi greatly improved it and retained
- wealth OF antique furniture that W
admired by all who saw Il.