Smyrna times., 1934-09-06

BELMONT HALL-A year ago
a contributor of the Philadelphia
Press came to this place and after
spending a part Of an afternoon in
the peach orchards adjacent, and
informing himself of the traffic in
this fruit, he made a visit to Bel
mont Hall, having learned that it
was a place of historical interest.
He was surprised to find, evident
ly so far from the great cities a
place of such beautiful surround
ings and his interest in it and its
history was at once elected From
interest he was led to inquiry, to
crafty which he was shown
through the spacious structure,
from the open fireplace where the
patriotic DANES moulded bullets, to
the ballustraded roof where the
soldiers were shot. He wrote an
account of what he saw and and
heard for his paper which reads
as follows: "A short distance from
Smyrna, on the Dover road, stands
Belmont Hall, which apart from
its interesting history is in the
most beautiful spot in the State of
Delaware. The house still wears
the imprint Of its antiquity, not
withstanding its modern architec-
tural decorations The harmoni-
Gus mingling Of the old and new
is also to be found in the garden
which is quaint and irresistible
bit Of fairy land. The hall was
built in 1876 by the father Of Gov
ernor Thomas Collins. the bricks
used in its construction being
brought over from England as
were also the door knockers and
hinges on which can still be seen
the English stamp. It was here
that Governor Collins was reared,
the only executive power in the
State at that time being the Com
mittee Of Safety Of which Thomas
Collins was a member. He was
subsequently elevated to the office
of executive of the State and also
made commander-in-ch of the
State Militia, organizing and main
tanning at his own expense a brig
ade during the Revolutionary
struggle. He died March 20, 1889,
aged SO years The house remain
ed in the family for a generation
when it was sold by Dr. William
Collins to John Cloke, a gentleman
of means and culture, who resid-
ed in it until his death. 1t is now
owned by his daughter. the widow
of the late j. Howard Peterson,
whose grandfather, Ebenezer Cloke
during the war for independence
fitted out a privateer to cruise
against the British. Unfortunate
ly, a bad pilot ran him aground.
He was caught and consigned to
the hold of an English prison-ship,
where he languished and died. At
/ ter Delaware was made a State in
1775, and the State fathers were
duly deputized by their constitu-
ency to make wise laws, they gath
cred at Dover for that purpose
The present capitol was then only
a county seat, but boasted of a
court house. Through the kind
ness of the court officers the tenn
pie of justice was thrown open fol
the law makers to meet in anG
start the political machinery
Whether the beligerent sheriff OF
the county, John Clayton was
sighted when the legislative punct
was handed around, the dusty Del
aware records do not hint; but
they do declare that the sheriff be.
came offended at the condition ot
things and on the allegation that
the lawmakers had not complied
with the agreement, ordered then
TO vacate. All argument with tht
AldbC AolhlIy A1hAaSS PAofNe
useless. With a sword in his hant
and danger swapping in his eye
the sheriff elected the fathers O
the State from their only domicile
The representatives were rather il
predicament and the newly made
Constitution would probably have
been without habitation had mo-
Mr.. Thomas Collins from KEN
County, invited the legislative body
to Belmont Hall, which is mention
ed as a great house near Duel
Creek Cross Roads. Within tht
walls of the old mansion and some
twelve miles from John Claytor
and his wicked sword, the Law
!, making went on without further
interference. This sad experience
FASTENED an appropriation for
State House. On the porch of
Belmont there are now standing
two old fashioned arm chairs, tht
scars Of time charitably covered