davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
TORNADO OVER
NEAR DENTON
Sweeps Up the Choptank Riv-
er and Wrecks Houses and
Livestock at Harmony
FIVE HOUSES ROOFLESS

The little village of Harmony,
eight miles north of Denton, was
the target of a freak twister, de-
scribed by some residents as a
tornado late Monday Afternoon
which left several farm animals
either dead or badly injured, one
residence wrecked, five homes roof
less and several barns and small
buildings in shambles Evan So
kolo had a close call when the
twister literally wrecked his small
home. Not only was the roof
blown off, but the whole structure
was wrecked. SokolO had to seek
what safety existed on the outside
in the furious wind and rain. The
families Of Otto Steemken, Ebert
Richards, Mrs. Mary Leckie, Cal
vim Todd and Joseph Clark all had
to move out of the homes and
spend the night with neighbors
when the roofs of their homes were
either blown off entirely or partly
blown off. AS the rain poured into
the houses, abode was impossible
for the night. All Of the outbuild-
ings on the Stemken, Richards and
Todd places were wrecked. Part
of the chimney Of the Todd house
was toppled over. No details could
be obtained as to the loss Of farm
animals, but it was reported that
several horses and cows were killed
in their stalls. Barns Of w. r.
Thomas and Francis Kelly were
badly wrecked. The tornado. as il
seemed to the terror stricken resi-
dents Of the little village, came up
from the Choptank River about ;
o'clock during general thunder
storm. Within a few minutes il
had struck and swept through the
little village of a dozen or more
homes, with fury equal to any Of
the cyclones Of the west. The real
terror came when residents saw
they were no longer safe within
their homes, most of them light
wooden structures. Trees were
uprooted and twisted around as if
they were blades of grass. Chick
en- coops were blown from one yard
to another Window panes in some
homes were broken and shutters
torn off. An accurate estimate of
the damage of the havoc in the
village and in the immediate vicin-
ity could not be obtained, but it is
put beyond the $4,000 mark.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
DEATH RECORD OF WEEK
Phillips L. Garrett, Esq, Father of
Mrs. A. V. GilliIand, Dies Suddenly

Phillip L. Garrett, outstanding
attorney, former deputy judge of
the Municipal Court, of Whining
ton, former assistant Wilmington
solicitor, and well-known Republi-
can leader, was found dead in his
bed at his home at Hockessin Mon
day morning. The announcement
of his sudden death was a shock to
his friends here in Smyrna where of
late he had been a frequent visitor
to his daughter Mrs. A. v. Gilli-
land, better known as Dr. Garrett.
Mrs. Gilliland is the wife of Dr.
Gilliland, superintendent of the
State Welfare Home, Smyrna. The
Gillilands were on their vacation to
DIR. Gilliland's old home in Canada
and knew nothing about it until
they reached the States on their
return. While it was known that
Mr. Garrett was not in good health
none thought he would be taken SO
suddenly. A native Of Whining
ton, Mr. Garrett was admitted to
the bar in 1896. Besides serving
as deputy municipal judge he also
was an assistant Wilmington city
solicitor and counsel for New Cas-
tie County Levy Court at one
time. He was a member of the
Masons and Of the Society of
Friends. Mr.. Garrett is survived
Continued on Page Five)
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
SMYRNA CLAYTON FAMILIES
TO CHEER POOR CITY CHILDREN

groups with an escort. For years,
the towns in lower Sussex County
including Milton, Milford, George
town, Frankford, and many others
have been taking children and it
is a great pity that Smyrna and
Clayton have never been ap-
preached before. Both towns
have shown very much interest
in the project this year. The
children come for stay of two
weeks in the country where they
can get plenty of fresh air. From
southern Maine to Florida there
are three-hundred and fifty friend
ly towns" and Mrs. Seamans is
happy to announce that Smyrna and
Clayton are going to be in this list
for the first time. Mrs. Seamans
will return to Smyrna today and
this evening at the request of the
president of the Rotary Club, Her.
vey P. Hall, will speak before the
Club on behalf of her work. In
next weeks paper there will ap-
pear an account in detail, naming
the committees appointed to take
charge of the project in Smyrna.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17

Smyrna and Clayton for the first
time are going to be on the map of
friendly towns" this year. Mrs.
Valetine Seaman of the New York
Herald Tribune was in Smyrna the
first of the week and reports that
she is delighted with the splendid
cooperation she has received from
the town of Smyrna as a whole,
from the churches, clubs, and other
various organizations. In explain
ing her mission, she states that
this is a philanthropic enterprise
sponsored by the New York Herald
Tribune, the work having been 60
ing on for fifty-eignt years. The
Herald Tribune takes care of all
the finances, transportation to and
from the place, and asks for no
cash. ALI they ask is a nice
home, in which to place some poor
children who come from the poor
est tenement areas of New York
and who live under the most de-
piorable conditions in New York.
These children are chosen from the
different charitable organizations
in New York and are sent out in
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
1000 BENEFIT BY
HIGHWAY WORK
Construction Between Smyr-
ma and Dover the Biggest
Task at Present
START ALL CONTRACTS

Between 1900 and 1000 men are
now employed on State highway
projects under contract, according
to the latest report of the State
Highway Department. These fig
ures are for the week ending April
% and while the total has been in
creased since that time the exact
number has not yet been tabulated
on the boards employment chart.
1t was stated by an official of the
department last week that it is an
ticipated the number of men given
employment will reach $500 within
a short time and this will be the
maximum for the current season
should the weather continue such
as to make it possible to speed up
the work. The biggest single pro-
ject now under way is the dual
highway between Smyrna and Do
yer. Between 500 and 900 men are
now at work on this stretch which
Will DC oha PNi ~ SAeiA
fic about September I. The con
tractors lost nearly two months be-
cause of the severe Winter but
have made up much of this and ex-
pect to complete the contract on
time. Weather conditions early in
the Spring and late Winter retard-
ed all highway building but with
the advent of the more open sea-
son officials of the department are
hopeful they will be able to give
employment to the maximum num-
ber of men in order to help those
throughout the State who particu-
larly need it. All projects under
contract have been started but ad-
ditional work will be undertaken
during the late Spring and Sum-
mer, it was stated. Bids will be
asked in a week or two on addi-
tional highways.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
KENTFIELD MEN
TO VIEW WHEAT
Harry B. Clark of Smyrna, is
Named One of the Inspec-
tors For the County
TO MEASURE ACREAGE

The board of directors of the
Kent and Sussex County Wheat
Production Control Association
held a meeting recently in the of
fees of the State Board of Agricul-
ture in Dover for the purpose OF
selecting field inspectors and to
discuss the plans of the Agricul-
tural Adjustment Administration
for the reopening of the wheat al
lotment contracts to those growers
who did not sign contracts last
fall. H Clifford Clark of Kenton,
the director who represents the up
per end of Kent County, was pres
ent. The meeting was called by
Kent County Agent Russell E. Will
son, who is also secretary of the
association and administrator of
the wheat acreage reduction pro-
gram in Kent county. In the alb
sence of r. Harry Wilson, presi-
dent of the association, the meet
ing was presided over by L. d.
Caulk, vlce-preSldent, and those dl-
rectors who were present included
H. Clifford Clark, Henry Williams,
r. A. Carton, Lawrence E. Cain,
Howard r. Moore, c. Arthur Tay-
lor and l.. D. Caulk from Kent
county, and Daniel H. Galloway of
Sussex county. Following the pres
entation of a number of names of
farmers for the positions as field
inspectors, whose duties will be to
measure the wheat acres on those
farms on which wheat allotments
have been entered into by the grow
ers and the Federal government,
the board of directors elected seven
inspectors, or one for. each fifty
Continued on Page Four)
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
SMYRNA HIGH
SCHOOL NEWS
Attainments i'm Music Made
the Outstanding Feature
of the Week
REV. ]. r. GALLEY TALKS

Two outstanding events of the
week was the demonstrations in
music yesterday, Wednesday after
noon. From to o'clock the
elementary school gave their pro
gram in the high school auditor
ium. Pupils from the kindergarten
to Sixth Grade, inclusive, 'partici-
pated in the program. Miss A..
Jean Easton, teacher Of music, di-
rected the numbers while Miss
Emma Louise Mabrey announced
them. There was singing in
March formation, solos, duets,
songs, minuets, and a Maypole
Dance. Those who took special
parts were Jean Spence, Marie
FAIRIES, jeanette Green, Bobby Dea-
kyne. The cornet class gave a
special number with credit to
themselves and class. Tomorrow,
Friday evening, at 8 p. m, the
high school demonstration in mu-
sic will be given. Pupils from 7-12
grades will take part in this pro-
gram. This event will be given in
the school auditorium and the pub
lie is cordially invited. The pro-
gram as directed by Miss Easton,
will be as follows: Announcer, AL
verna Jones; Laughing Song and
'The Cautious Cat" Girls Glee
Club; Fox Trail" March, and
"Neapolitan Nights" High School
Band; Water Bay" Negro Song,
and Levee Song, old popular song,
Junior High School Chorus; The
Swan" cornet solo, Tracy Ennis;
Sweet and Low" sleep Song
and "Old King Cole" Girls Glee
Club; Saxophone Duets: "Andan-
CONTINUED on Page Four)
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
MOTHERS DAY AT ST.PETER'S
Rev. Frederick Marx Barton, Rec
tor, Made Special Service of 1t


A beautiful service was held in
st. Peters Church, Sunday last, by
Rev. Frederick Marx Barton, rec
tor, in commemoration of Mothers
Day. The altar and sanctuary
were beautifully adorned with love
ly white flowers and ferns. The
altar and hangings in white. The
rector, Mr.. Barton, preached on the
Ascension" and paid a high trib-
ute to mothers and motherhood
The choir was at its best, in charge
of Mr.. A. L. Leader, the choir
master. Every one was delighted
with the solo, sung by Jay Davis,
THE Prayer Perfect" All present
enjoyed the beautiful service which
was in keeping with the perfect
day of sunshine and gladness. Rev.
Mr.. Barton, the rector, announces
these services for Sunday next:
Whit Sunday, 7:30 a. M, celebra-
tion of the Holy Communion; IL a.
m, church school; IL a. M, morn
ing prayer and sermon, subject of
sermon, THE Birthday of the
Christian Church" All christians
should rejoice that on the first
Whit Sunday the power of the
Holy Spirit descended upon the
church and will ever give it life
and strength. Wednesday next,
7:30 p. m, evening prayer and
short address.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
SMYRNA FIRE co. OFFICERS
G. MedfOrd Sparks Again Heads
Citizens Hose Co. for Another Year

G. Medford Sparks Again Heads
Citizens Hose Co. for Another Year
At the meeting of Citizens Hose
Company on Monday, the follow
ing officers were elected: President,
G. Medford Sparks; Vice-President,
F. P. McCawley; Secretary,
Fletcher Truax; Treasurer, j. c.
Mannering; Chief, John D. Morris;
1st Assistant Chief, Horace David;
End Assistant Chief, Wilson Far
les; Chief Driver, D. Vernon Ford;
Fire Recorder, Avery Clifton; Fire
Inspector, William Hamburg;
Trustees Grover King, Frank p.
McCawley, Julian Stats; Board of
Directors -Medford Sparks, ,Fletch-
er Truax, Thomas Jefferson, j. G.
Mannering, Clifford Jones, Grover
King, Julian Stats, Horace David,
J. Wells FAIRIES, Wilson FAIRIES,
Frank P. McCawley, D. Vernon
Ford. At the convention of the
DeI-Mar-Va Volunteer Firemen's
Association held at Lewes, Della
ware, F. P. McCawley was elected
Director for Kent County, Della
ware.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
CENTURY CLUB
TAKES RECESS
AdjOurns For the Summer
After Installing Newly
Elected Officers
MEET AGAIN IN OCTOBER

Following the installation of its
neWly-elected officers, the Twentieth
Century Club of Smyrna, conclud-
ed its weekly meetings Friday af-
ternoon and adjourned for summer
recess, to meet again the first Fri
day in October. The last meeting
of the Club year, Friday, was
auspicious in that it gave bright
hope for the future Of the club, and
a manifested spirit Of cooperation
among the officers and members.
After the regular business of the
club the new officers were installed
by Mrs. E. S. Dwight, retiring
President, as follows: President,
Miss Laura Bell; 1st Vice-Presi-
dent, Mrs. r. d. Hoffecker; End
Vice-President, Mrs. " Lay Phil
lips; Recording Secretary, Mrs. ].
R. Galley; Corresponding Secre-
tary, Mrs. Grant Garis; Treasurer,
Mrs. W. o. Hoffecker; Hostess,
Mrs. Harry P. Jones. The new
President, Miss Bell, then installed
the following chairmen of standing
committees: Program, Mrs. Joseph
Ennis, Mrs. w. E. Matthews, Jr.;
Education, Mrs. E. S. Dwight:
American Homes, Mrs. Ernest
Slaughter; History, Miss Eunice
Anthony; Literature, Miss Rena
Williams; International Relations,
Mrs. George Carter: Public Wei
fare, Mrs. Harry j. Lower; Music,
Mrs. Ethel Magill; Citizenship, Mrs.
Elmer P. Corrie. The Club sang
two songs, America, the Beauti-
full" and Onward and Upward"
Miss Laura Bell, the new president,
gave a very inspiring talk, request
ing that every member join the
Club C. c. c. ranks, ("Cheerful-
ness; Courage; "Cooperation"0
for the coming year. Three beauti-
full solos were sung by Mr.. Jay
Davis of this town, accompanied
by Mrs. Marion Coverdale. They
were: Blue Are Her Eyes" Win
ter Watts; Sylvia" Obey Speaks:
Without a Song" Vincent You
mans. A social hour closed the
meeting for the club year. Re-
freshments were served by the
Club Hostess and her committee.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
FISHERMEN NET
BIG STURGEON
Caught in Delaware River
Above Woodland Beach by
Delaware City Men
CONTAINED I16 LBS. ROE

A mammoth sturgeon that yield
ed 116 pounds of roe was netted in
the Delaware River above Wood
land Beach shortly before noon
Tuesday by Frank Holiday and
John Press of Delaware City. The
two fishermen successfully landed
the huge fish after it had become
entangled in their drifting net but
only after a hard battle. The fish
was about eight feet long and
weighed, before being dressed, be
tween 400 and 500 pounds. Word
of the large fish spread around
town quickly and within a short
time about half the population of
the town was at the dock viewing
the unusually large fish. Joseph
Anderson, veteran fisherman and
packer of sturgeon roe, and who
handled the roe and weighed it,
said that he believed it the largest
fish ever caught in the Delaware
River. He was sure that he had
never handled a sturgeon before
that had yielded 116 pounds of roe.
Most of the other large sturgeon,
he said, contained roe that weigh
ed between 90 and 100 pounds.
Eugene Armstrong and Samuel T.
Armstrong, Jr., also caught a
cow sturgeon but it contained
only a small amount of roe COM
Continued on Page Five)
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
FREDERICK CAUSEWAY OPEN
New Concrete Road Replaces Ma
cadam Over Dover-Milford Stretch

New Concrete Road Replaces Ma
cadam Over Dover-MilfOrd Stretch
Built eleven years ago over a
marsh which many predicted was
quagmire bottom, the Frederick
Causeway was thrown open to the
public yesterday with twenty
four foot cement road from one
end to the other. When the pro-
iect was first started it required
tons of dirt to make the fill which
was allowed to settle for q couple
of years before a macadam sur
face was laid on it. Since then the
macadam has carried the traffic
and although many bumps and
holes were developed, decision was
finally reached by the engineers of
the State Highway Department
that it was safe to lay the con-
crete. The new road does away
with the last bit of macadam be-
tween Milford and Dover and
marks the completion of a decade
of planning for the present result.
Since last season the road to Re
hoboth Beach has been widened as
far as Milford, the dual highway is
rapidly being laid down the State
and the motorist this summer will
find better riding and more safety
than last year.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
SUSSEX is AGOG
OVER OIL STRIKE
Bridgeville Citizens Talk a
Boom Town" on Reports
Brought in Thursday
FEAR HOPE TOO HIGH

The Bridgeville section of Sus-
sex county was agog last week af-
ter engineers of the Cleveland
Petroleum Company treked in to
that town Thursday night to an
nounce that they had struck oil
three miles east of Bridgeville
where they have been drilling for
months. With elation they exhibit
ed to townspeople samples Of cdude
petroleum which they said started
to flow when the drilling reached
the 400-foot level. No sooner had
they made their announcement
than land prices started skyrocket-
ing in the vicinity of operations
and farm owners began visioning
forests of oil derricks replacing
the apple orchards of west central
Sussex. Talk of liquid gold" was
to be heard on every corner and in
wherever residents could gather.
Anticipating a rush of spectators
that will boom this town into sew
eral times it's present size, plans
for starting new stores, barber
shops and other ventures were al
ready being discussed. The engin-
eers left the next morning for
Washington, where they said they
would have the oil tested. On their
own authority, they declared it
was of much better quality than
wealth-producing oil they had
struck in Western States at the
same level The drilling where the
engineers said they had struck oil
is on the Bunting Apple Farm.
owned by Senator John G. Town
send, Jr., and Levy Court Commis-
sioner Frank Bunting, of Selby-
vile The company has leased
large tracts of land at 25 cents an
acre for one year in the vicinity of
Bridgeville, with an option to pro
duce any oil found on the proper
ties and with a percentage of the
proceeds going to the land owners.
The engineers claim the oil is in
veins starting in the district east
of Bridgeville, evidently around the
st. Johns and Gum branches of
the Nanticoke river. These veins
are said to run westerly through
and around the town to the Mary
land line, probably through the
Cannon and Oak Grove districts.
c. C. Lynch, geologist at the Uni
versity of Delaware, has expressed
the opinion the terrain in Delaware
does not indicate the presence of
oil in profitable quantities. The
ground, he explained, must have
certain characteristics to retain
the oil in pools or veins and that
these qualities are lacking in Della
ware. Sand in an excellent me-
dunn for retaining oil in subterra-
mean deposits, he said, but must be
of a special kind, unlike the sand
found in Delaware. Professor
Lynch expressed these views, he
said, after he had received tele-
phone inquiries from persons out
side the State concerning the re-
ports of an oil strike in Sussex
co,Inty
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
DELAWARE SHAD PLENTIFUL
Fishermen Report Larger Catches
Despite Polluted Water Reports

More shad were caught IN the
Delaware during the past month
than for many years past, says a
report from New Castle. There
was a general impression for a
number of years that the acid con-
dition in the water from the local
chemical plants had driven the
shad to seek other waters which
were not so polluted but the catch
es of the past few weeks have
greatly encouraged local fishermen.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
DIR. Prickett on Hospital Board

Governor c. Douglass Buck has
announced the appointment of DIR.
c. j. Prickett, of Smyrna, and
Curtis E. Davis of Laurel, as mem
bers of the board of trustees of the
State Hospital at Farnhurst. Their
terms are for three years each dat
ing from April 25, 1884.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
'fSA GRANGE MEETING
= interesting Program of
iuent-Go to Hnckessin

y interesting Program of
iaent-Go to Hockessin
as meeting of Smyrna
~ y Wednesday night at
,aoTs Hall, the program
saAfge Of the lecturer, Mrs.
aoEn and was as follows
Y, Y Grange; vocal solo, How
,s lr.;; reading, Helen
- entitled, "A Tribute to
n. vocal duet, Mary Hynson
ssa s.'aa,. ,D.'ahyne;; recitation, Ed
u ssaold;; vocal solo, Arthur
y poem Helen Brown. Wis
'ae Mrs. Frazier, Pomona
En- sao . Mr. Frazier, member
n l Grange Of Dover. On On
Sr,' a'ulng the members of
III ,aa Grange motored 70
H. 'uu Presented the'rTrav-
as ,a',oH' y and rendered the
D. ,s. ,ol the evening. The The
+ ~ Is | \ charge Of the lee
ha.. - smyrna Grange. Mrs.
sts. sysn. It was as follows:
,tss as y entire Z Grange; pre. : :.
y S.,. y ne Travelling Har.
sns.s..s nrs.sr , Howard Deakyne
sas.. sfpa a Grange to Hochess ysse
rsnisssal ssading Of Minutes estSy bv
Dsat,rag' Vocal solo, Mrs.
" rssi,s,; ssae;; music, Walter T.
sIsctioss' s,,s'l0n' Edgar T.Hein-
e ,saaa..,S s!pa. By the Grange range
sata r',ua 7 "a 0y Harry John
aErs. Has Ha1assey' Mary Hyn-
! Mss vj.sis.D Rsltn Dsakyne; reci-
Artsnrr rs,nla s1 Heinold; vo-
&y, Hsr,,ha h0fiitt; education
As W. johnson, and vo-
mary E. Hynsop.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
Fire at George Rothwell's, Leipsic

Fire at George ROthWeII's, Leips1c
Smyrna firemen were called to
the farm of George G. Rothwell on
Sunday afternoon, a straw rick
having caught fire. BY the time
the firemen reached the scene, the
rick was practically burned down.
Fortunately the wind was blowing
in the opposite direction and the
fire was kept confined.
Smyrna times., 1934-05-17
ASBURY NJ. f. CHURCH NOTES
Rev. j. L. Johnson, ID. D., Pastor,
Announces Date for ChiIdren's Day

Announces Date for Children's Day
All indications point to a large
attendance upon the session of the
church school in Asbury Nj. E.
Church next Sunday morning.
Every age group is provided with
teachers, competent and interested
and the attendance record is regis
tering large increase over the
corresponding record for last year.
The attendance record has been set
for seventy-five percent of the to-
tai enrolment for the entire
school. Plans for Children's Day
have been made and the date fixed,
Continued on Page Four)