Smyrna times., 1936-02-06


menaced by British war vessels.
Seven grainaries were located at
the landing with a Mr.. John Cum
minis as the largest buyer and ship
per. John Mustard, a boat build
er, built several of the boats used
in the transportation of goods and
merchandise.
1t was not until the year 1853
that Samuel Ball, merchant Of
Philadelphia, purchased from jam
es Green, Is acres of land at Duck
Creek Cross Roads. The original
grant was called Gravesend, and
was taken up by William Green in
1880. At his death in 1708 he de-
vised it to his sons John, Thomas,
and George. Thomas left his por-
ton to his sons Thomas and James.
The land owned by James has
the Kings road running through it
and passed a point where the road
from Duck Creek Landing to the
Maryland line intersected it. 1t
may be interesting to know that
the original tract called Gravesend
contained 1000 acres.
Shortly after the purchase by
Samuel Ball, other buyers secured
land, among them were, Molleston
Curry, William Jordan, William
Creighton, Fenwick Fisher, and
several others.
Allen McLane was the first man
ufacturer in the village, leather
breeches maker.
James Green sold parcels of land
in acreage only, so acres being the
maximum and IA acre the small
est portion. The IA acre was sold
to Thomas Ross and after holding
two years, sold it to Robert Wilds,
Inn holder.
This period from 1858 on was
the beginning of Smyrna, then
known as Duck Creek Cross Roads.
Hardly had the settlement began
when the Revolutionary War broke
out.
Allan McLane, the only manu-
facturer, became Captain of a
Company of 80 men from the COM
munity. Hon. Thomas Collins, Pres
ident of the State, lived near
Smyrna and commanded a brigade
of Delaware Militia against that
portion of Gen. Howe's army that
was at New Castle enroute for
Brandywine. President Collins
residence is what we know as Bel
mont Hall.
History has related several Incl
dents pertaining to this historic
mansion, namely the shooting of a
sentinel in the watch tower by
British soldiers and the moulding
of bullets by the Presidents wife
and Mrs. Ebenezer Cloak.
The village of Duck Creek Cross
Roads kept growing and in 1871
the Legislature met there and
thought of making it the capital of
the State. January IT, 1892 the
name of the village was changed
to Smyrna, by act of the General
Assembly. In 1915 it contained
about $50 inhabitants with George
Kennard & Co. IS the principal
merchants and at such an early
date they believed in advertising
The Delaware Gazette carried an
ad naming the ships on which mer-
chandise had been imported from
European manufacturers.
The growth of the town prompt
ed it's leaders to incorporate. So
on January 20, 1917, the town of
Smyrna was incorporated.
Commissioners were appointed to
survey, layout and regulate the
streets.
Nehemiah Clark, made the sur
vey the same year.
In 1918 the assessed valuation on
real estate was S159, 600. The
growth of the town was steady and
for many years large quantities of
grain were purchased by the Mer-
chants OF the town and stored at
Duck Creek Landing, which is now
known as Smyrna Landing, for
shipment.
The original survey Of the town
was IA mile square. In the year
1857 the limits were extended IA
mile in every direction giving the
limit of / mile square. The town
now has grown considerably and
has the following places of busi-
ness: IL dry goods and grocery
stores; clothing stores, / china
store, jewelry stores, 3 foundries,
coach shops, 2 machine shops.
blacksmith shops, 2 harnes shops
A wheelwright shops boot and
shoe shops, 2 basket factories, /
tannery with a capital of $50, 1000;
hotels, 3 churches, 2 stove and
tinware manufacturers, / marble
yard, / gun and lock smith, select
and several school districts, 3 ale
and oyster saloons, 6 physicians, a
barber Shop and about 1900 in