Smyrna times., 1936-02-06
ALEX. DARRAH
HOME BURNED
Valuable Home Was Known
For Years AS the Darrah
Homestead
LOSS REACHES $4,000

The spacious and up-to-date farm
home of Alexander c. Darrah, one
of Smyrna-Clayton's up-to-date
farmers, burned completely down
before a high wind and freezing
temperature Sunday morning and
despite the presence of four fire
companies, Smyrna, Clayton Ches-
void and Hartly, they were unable
to save it because of no water
supply sufficient to cope with the
confagration. They fought with
their chemical tanks as long as the
fluid lasted When the building
was beyond control they turned
their attention 10 helping Mr.. Oar
rah and his neighbors save as much
of the furniture and other contents
as they could and keeping the
fire from spreading to the out
buildings. Mr. Darrah's loss, in
cluding contents, will reach be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000, par
TALLY covered by insurance. Mr..
and Mrs Darrah were the only
ones home at the time, their daugh-
ter Miss Virginia, being in Smyrna
for the weekend with her aunt,
Mrs. Ernest P. Collins and their
other daughter Miss Mary Louise
Darrah being in Wilmington where
she holds a position. Had hot the
fire broken out when it did. there
would have been nobody home Mr.
and Mrs. Darrah were getting
ready to motor to Smyrna to at
tend st. Peters Church of which
they are communicates. Just be-
tention was drawn by cloud of
smoke and to note the roof of his
house was on fire. He immediate
ly sent in the fire alarm to Smyrna
and Clayton and they to the other
companies. BY the time Smyrna
fire truck got there the roof and
third story were ablaze. 1t was
soon realized that any hope of saw
ing the residence was impossible
and a concerted effort was made
to carry the contents of the first
and second story to safety. This
was well managed and the greater
part of the househod effects, cloth
ing and other valuables removed
Practically all their summer cloth
ing stored on the third floor were
consumed, including some antique
furniture and brick-a-bak. They
even saved Mr.. Darrah's Delco
lighting and pumping system in
the basement. Without a home,
Mr.. Darrah had much of what he
saved stored in a vacant tenant
house and what neighbors did not
offer to take care of for him was
brought to Smyrna to the home Of
his sister, Mrs. Ernest P. Collins.
Mr.. Darrah, it is understood, is
making plans to rebuild a home as
soon as spring weather opens. His
home burned to the foundation, had
been known as the Darrah Home
stead for more than fifty years.
His father, the late Robert Darrah,
lived there and all the children,
his estimable family of eight or
nine, were born there. His widow
now lives in Philadelphia. Alex.
Darrah, upon acquiring the farm,
began undermining the residence
with heating plant, electric lights,
a water system and bath room
conveniences. This was made pos
sible by the introduction of a Delco
plant that made these modern
methods possible; pumping wat
er to his barn and other outbuild-
ings and for watering his stock.
Much sympathy is felt for the Dar-
rah's in being forced out of their
home under such circumstances.
How the fire occurred is not known
but it is believed to have been from
a defective f1ue.