Smyrna times., 1939-05-18

ed in her handbag and brought
forth ner own front door KEY.
which might also serve as a weap-
on for defense or offense, and it
was larger than any of those in
possession. of the collector.
variety of Ancient Relics Reserved
In an old-time wooden box, with
cleverly assembled drawers, is kept
an almanac of the year 1927, and
Sunday school books of 1925. The
box rests on a handsome double
leaf table, intricately and delicate
ly marked with inlaid wood. Above
the table there are two Samplers"
one of which was made by Ann
Wakeman, grandmother of the
present occupant of the house, in
1871 at the age of 12 The other
was made by her daughter, Mary
Spruance, in 1929, at the age of 8.
There is a little hand painting
hanging nearby which was made
in 1884, from the window of the
old Hilles school, at one time locat-
ed at the northeast corner of Ten
tn and King streets, Wilmington.
1t shows the original First and
Central Presbyterian church, and
the graveyard. The church is now
In Brandywine Park in possession
of the Delaware Historical society.
The graveyard is the present site
of the Delaware Trust building,
and where the church stood the
Wilmington Institute Free Library
building was constructed. In the
spacious attic there is a curious
wrought iron fork, which was used
as a log roller and beautiful old
ladder back chairs. The original
shingles, much longer than any
used today, are still on the roof,
under layer of new shingles.
Candle moulds are in the attic and
there is a wooden cleft oak fork,
used for cleaning the cutters of
the house roof. A waffle iron with
long handles, so that it could be
used in an open fireplace is among
the interesting articles.
Beautiful Hand-SeWn Quilt
Hanging in the attic there is one
of the finest examples of the re-
suits of a quilting party, a beauti-
full hand-seWn quilt. 1t is of the
sunburst design on white back
ground. The sunbursts are of
green and red. Included among
the antique objects are a spinning
wheel, flax carder, known as
"hackle" and a wool carder, hand
ed down from the time when peo-
pie made their own clothing and
spun their own thread.
The original half circle windows
are in the attic and these have
been photographed and measured
on numerous occasions by archi-
tects. In fact a new house was re-
Gently constructed in Newark,
which copied many of the features
in the Spruance homestead.
An old leather covered box is
said to have been used by the
members of P. & E. Spruance to
carry their money from the store
to the bank. 1t is brass studded
and solidly constructed. One cur
ious article is an old babies cap
form, covered with kid. It is in
the form of a large doll, and caps
for babies were made on it. There
are rag rugs in many places In the
house. The doors in the house are
the six-panelled type and are fin
ished about the panelling with a
light, delicately carved bead. Need
less to say there are scores of
priceless antique articles, far too
to mention, in the pos
session of Miss Spruance, but
which have been seen and admired
by hundreds of friends and rela-
tives who have visited the home.
Fine Old Garden There
In the rear of the house is one
of the most beautiful gardens in
Smyrna. On the grounds is nat
ural bower, entirely covered by
branches and leaves of pear trees.
There are lockwood trees that have
been growing for more than a hum
dred years, and which have been
grown in accordance with specific
designs and shapes.
One of the Spruances, who was
born the year Washington died, IN
1899, played around one Of the
trees. Daffodils, tulips,
iris, poppies, hydrangeas, Amer-
can pillar roses, lilies and holly
hooks. and a Burr rose bush OF
immense size, over 100 years OF
age, stand in the rear Of the house.
Wisteria forms a covered bower IN
the rear Of the kitchen. 1t has
trunk nearly a foot in diameter.
Other rose bushes, which nave
been growing for 1872 years are IN
the garden. The D. A. r. recent
" had a meeting in this beautiful
old garden.