Milford chronicle., 1937-08-13
TUNNEL FAMILY HELD
REUNION AT BETHANY
[Contin.sa from First Psgel


properly costumed and the program
was very much enjoyed.
At the close Of the social program
the general chairman, Mr.. Tunnel
opened the business meeting result
ing In the election of himself al
president for the coming year ant
Mrs. Elsie Ellis as secretary anG
treasurer. The Richards family vol
unteered to take charge of the pro-
gram for the reunion in 1888.
There were several out-of-town
visitors; quite a delegation from
North Carolina were present, as we'll
as some from western Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Illinois; Baltimore and
New York were also represented.
Several impromptu speeches were
made.
A historian was appointed for the
coming year to collect data on the
family. There is great deal of fam
lily history in the hands of several
interested parties and 1t was the
thought of the reunion that this
should be collected and combined for
their mutual Denent.
The afternoon session was then
adjourned and dinner was served at
$3.50 by the women's auxiliary Of the
Ocean View Christian Church. Fried
chicken was very plentiful and al
though the afternoon was quite
warm. we did not hear of any one
who was not very well satisfied.
The evening program started at
1880. The theme of 1t was to en-
phasize the historical and human in
cidents in the life of the late Cover
nor E. B. Tunnel, who was elected
Governor of Delaware in 1896. The
first sketch portrayed the general
store owned and conducted by the
Governor when he was twenty years
of age in Blackwater. This store was
purchased by him in 1864 just before
the close of the Civil War. The play
contained many incidents related
with the war and its many lessons.
E. w. Helm, 3rd, portrayed the part
of E. B. Tunnel; Ed. by Frank L.
Helm; Zeke by George T. Helm;
Reverend by E. w. Helm, Jr., and
viii by F. Helm. After this sketch,
Miss Margaret Helm read number
of incidents in the life of the Cover
nor from 1864 to the time of his
election to the governship. He was
Justice of the peace, member of the
State Legislature and very active in
county affairs. A letter was then |
read from the present United States |
Senator James Hughes who was the
Secretary of State with Governor
Tunnel and, of course. was in po-
sition to not only give many Incl
dents of the Governors life, but out
line some of the outstanding politi-
cal problems which we're in evidence
at that time. This letter was read by
Dean T. Helm and very much enjoy
ed An impersonation of the Cover
nor was given and after that the re-
ception to the Governor through the
means of the well known Kitchen
Cabinet Orchestra. This, orchestra
was led by Frank Helm and the IA
members were all of the same fam
lily. ...., ana m.
burlesque wedding. after which the
occasion was again turned over to
the general chairman, James M.
Tunnell for some further business
discussion. The audience was very
and the entertainment
was very much enjoyed.
On Sunday at p. m, the devo-
ional services were held in the
Presbyterian Church.
This church was founded in 1867
md this year marksthe 170th ami
-ersary. The Tunnell family has
,een active from the beginning of
he church, William Tunnel being
IN the original board of elders.
gorge Elliott Field, of Dover, de-
ivered a very inspiring sermon to a
veil filled auditorium. After cou-
lie of special musical numbers. the
joined in the singing of
Id fashioned hymns and the SER
ice was brought to a close. Old
slackwater is being maintained by ,
pecial order of the Presbytery of i
Delaware by the Tunnel family. In
edition to the Tunnel reunion
which always holds their devotional '
ervice in this church, there is an s
nnual service in October, and these '
wo occasions right now are the only G
ines during the year that this old i
historical church is open. 7