Smyrna times., 1929-07-03
TN[ SMYRNA TIMES EXIOlS
TO-DAY 75TH ANNIVERSARY

U.DAl l1ln HIM lfLlloAlll
~ FIRST PRINTED ON 4
"W,sHNGTON HAND PRESS
- Always Been in One Family
,I IA Rut Three Publishers and
n',ors-Neyer Missed an Issue
Tbp Smyrna Times is celebrat-
- today its 18th anniversary
oir m readers will note we are com
out with a new dress Of
hadv type in celebration thereof.
Il e Z one Of smyrna's old institu-
Z .iors we are taking some space to
aira 4 history about ourselves.
I T7rentv-fve years ago the Times
.--,,od a Semi Centennial number
4 II twenty pages to mark the event.
\ ooking backward twenty fve
Il E,,aors seems a short time and 50
,boroughly did we go into the his
+orv If SMYRNA and its various or
aanizations, landmarks and insti-
f,tions at that time, we felt 1t
l,,,onId be much of a repetition, to
u through the same local history
ssaoain so we decided to forgo the
Tduo,1s labors and expense and
confpe our diamond jubilee to our
raorlar issue with a history of our
,onblication. The Smyrna Times,
now Delaware's Oldest consecutive
" published newspaper, was found
Ii Is years ago, Wednesday, July
IA 1854. The founder and first pub
Ja1sher was Robert d. Hoffecker, ,Sr.,
and the first issue was printed on
an old Washington Hand or leaver
rress. in a building known as Tenn
rerance Hall which stood on the site
of the Presbyterian Manse, now oc-
cupied by Mrs. James Robinson,
corner Of Commerce and Benson
Streets. The Founder, who had
been associated with Thomas L.
Poulson, as one of the publishers
and owners of THE Delaware Her
ald", bought Mr.. Poulson's inter-
ests out and changed the name to
+The Smyrna Times. Mr.. Poul-
son entered the ministry and be-
eame the Rev. Thomas L. Poulson,
d. D., a prominent divine.
Struggles to Get Times Started
The Founder continued the early
Struggles to establish newspaper
4 n Smyrna, which at that time was
+ before the railroad had reached
L This far down the state and when
I 1nal was carried by the old stage
eoach route. The Smyrna Times
{ Strengthened with the growth of
& Years, and while other papers
made an effort to gain a foot
Z bold, The Times has been the
only paper that has stood from
It's start The Smyrna Tele-
graph" edited by Mr.. Samuel P.
Zones C1848 and 1849) preceded
the Delaware Herald" in the later
forties and had reached the limit
tt its existence when it changed
handS. It has been the pride of
the editors Of THE TIMES not to
pave missed an issue (which had not
teen the case with its predeces-
fors). The experiences in making it
q success was not different from
tnat usually encountered in such
enterprises. It fell to the lot of
tne founder to be cast into the
trou0lous period Of our Civil War,
Fhen communities and families
we're greatly divided on national
issues and in personal experiences
n nd public events there were thrill
M incidents to record. The Times
spoused the cause Of the Union
! hd showing the intense feeling of
nat DAY, on one occasion. The
| mes Office was entered and all
fne type in the Office was durnped
from the cases in a heap on the
HOT II took the Times force, day
I'M night, to separate the fonts
fnu get them back again in the
I sdses. The Times, despite this
lianolcap, was issued on its publi-
sa'ion DAY. Further handicaps
Nefe had during the Rebellion.
Editor Was Called in Civil war
tutor Hoffecker was called to ser
ne and enlisted in the Sixth Del
"aie regiment which was sta
'ioned along the Gun Powder Riv-
near Baltimore. Editor Hof-
echer wrote as opportunity af-
o.ueu When off duty in camp anc
n tne assistance Of the late DIR
lCnard Culbreth of Smyrna, sue.
oeued IN getting the Times out
Z missing an issue while he was
service. The Smyrna Times
b. SMUT the FOUR years conflict
IN u U uncomprimising advocate
u TkaT
~ "hoie country under one
continued on Page Three