Smyrna times., 1923-10-10
MARRIED OVER FIFTY YEARS
Robert 7. Hart, One of the Oldest
Printers in State, and Wife, Celebrate

Robert T. Hart, One of the Oldest
Printers in State, and Wife, Celebrate
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert T. Hart, East
Market street, Georgetown, observed
their fiftieth wedding anniversary last
week in quiet manner at their home
and during the day only entertained a
few of their relatives. They were
married at Milford on September 80,
1873, by Rev. Trusten P. McColley,
licensed local preacher of that town,
and within a short time returned to |
Georgetown where they have since re-
sided. Mr. Hart, both in age and |
point of service, is one of the oldest |
printers in Delaware, having been at |
the case for about fifty-fve years. He |
was born in Georgetown on September
6, 1856, son of Coulter C. and Eliza
beth B. Hart. His mother, hale and
hearty, will observe her ninety-third
birthday anniversary next February,
at her home on the opposite side OF
the street from her son. Mr.. Hart
entered the printing business in Octo-
ber, 1869, being employed on the Sus-
sex Journal, of Georgetown, which
was then owned and edited by the late
w. Fiske Townsend, one time min
ister and lawyer. He was about twelve
years old when he became a "printer's
devil" and was forced to stand on
box to stick type. In 1880 he formed
partnership with the late Willard S.
Pride, a Georgetown boy who had
made good in newspaper work and
was then city editor on the Public
Ledger, of Philadelphia, under the late
George w. Childs, and the Delaware
Inquirer was established. The paper
was conducted for three years and
then sold to the late Edwin R. Payn-
ter who controlled and edited it until
May, 1906, under the name of the
Delaware Democrat. In 1906 it was
consolidated with the Sussex Journal.
Mr.. Hart was employed on the Sus-
sex Journal for forty-five years with
the exception of the three years he
worked on his own paper, the Della
ware Inquirer, and three months spent
on the Smyrna Intelligence, under the
management of William Spruance, ,and
three months in the year of 1871 on
the Breakwater Light, at Lewes, un-
der the late Isaac H. 7. Knowles.
Most of Mr.. Hart's printing career
was spent with Sussex Journal, as
editor, managing editor and business
manager.
In 1914, he gave up his position as
business manager of Sussex Journal
and became one of the editors of the
Union Republican, of Georgetown
which position he now holds.
When Mr.. Hart went to Smyrna to
work on the Intelligence, he succeed
ed Merris Taylor, editor emeritus OF
Every Evening. He recalls how poor
ly paid the printers were in those
days and how difficult it was to get
enough money to meet the necessities
of life.
During his married life he has re-
, sided in the same house where he
now lives, and figures that in going
to and from his work he has walked
thirteen thousand, six hundred anC
ninety-four miles and has crossed the
tracks of the P. B. & w. Railroad
= Company, on Railroad avenue, ont
hundred and nine thousand five hun
L dred and fifty times.
He has been a member of tn,
l Georgetown Concert Band for forty
3 two years, having joined in 1881
: While there have been many band
{ organized during that time, he has al
$ ways been identified with them and a
y the present time blows the bass horr
d His wife, Mary M. Hart, was Dor
"