Smyrna times., 1936-08-13
LEWES GAY FOR
HOMECOMING
Three-Day Historical Celebra-
tiOn Starts To-Day at
Old Sussex Town
PAGEANT, THE FEATURE

A number from Smyrna will join
throngs from all parts of the state
to help Lewes celebrate its ami
versary tomorrow, Friday and
Saturday with an historical page
ant which promises to be interest
ing and unique Out of the pages
of history and legendary lore will
come trooping an array of fasci-
mating characters who knew this
ancient town in other years-all as
part of the Homecoming celebra-
tion. The celebration will start on
this Thursday afternoon at 5
o'clock with a baby parade. To
morrow, Friday, the historic page
ant will take place and on Satur-
day visitors will frolic at a cos
tune ball. Participants in the
pageant and ball are planning to
represent such well known person
alities as Caesar Rodney, famous
statesman; Sarah Rowland, the
Tory widow whom Rodney is re
ported to have met at LeWeS;
Betsy Patterson of Baltimore,
beautiful wife of Jerome Bona
parte, who once was dined in Pilot
Town when her ship was disabled
off Lewes; Captain Kidd, the fam
Gus pirate, who made Lewes his
first port of call; Patty Cannon
the nefarious slave kidnaper OF
Delaware; Levi West, alias blue
Skin" the pirate, who was the son
of a Lewes miller; Lydia Clark
Nanticoke Indian princess; Captain
James Drew, of the treasurer sloop
DeBraak; Colonel Samuel Davis
commander of the troops at Lewes
during the War of 1872 when the
town was bombarded; Stephen
Girard, who was jailed for debts in
Lewes, and Captain David DeVries
head of the Dutch expedition who
first settled at Zwaanendael, now
Lewes. Horse drawn conveyances
of yesteryear, are the object of a
search being conducted throughout
the lower Delaware countryside by
the parade committee. An inter.
esting feature of the parade will be
historic pageant, portraying the
life of Lewes, from the Indians tc
the present. Ok carts, a barouche
a cabriolet, tally no, and other
conveyances of by gone eras are
being secured for inclusion in this
section. The Nanticoke Indians
who lived there before the white
man, will portray the times Of
their uncivilized forbearers. The
Zwaanendael Ladies Club of Lewes
will enact, with three floats, the
landing of the Dutch at Lewes il
1881; an unannounced equestrienne
will essay the role of Caesar Rod.
ney on his historic ride, which
many persons say started from
Lewes, to Philadelphia to sign the
Declaration of Independence; the
Daughters of the American Revo
luton plan to enter an OK drawn
covered wagon, and possibly 6
pleasure vehicle typical of colonia
days. Other groups are being in
vited to enter floats or groups
symbolical of the War of 1872, the
Civil War, the Spanish-Americar
| War; the American Legion, Hen
| lopen Post, will re-enact the Worle
War scenes. A prize of some kline
of accessory, oil or gasoline, is ts
be given for the Oldest automobile
in the parade under its own power
I The Zwaanendael Club of Lewe.
has accepted the handling of His
toric Lewes Day features, to-day
Thursday, August 13. Plans are
going forward for the necessary
spectators stand and necessary
spectators seats on the home com
| ing grounds back of the Zwaanen
dael House, on State Street.
reviewing stand for state official:
! on the day of the parade is expect