Smyrna times., 1941-10-09
STATE COLONY
OPEN HOUSE
Semi-Annual Visitors Day to
Be Held on Saturday
October 18th
GIVE PATRIOTIC PLAY

Children of Delaware Colony. the
State Training School at Stockley
have begun preparations for the
operetta they will present during
their semi-annual openhouse. Sat
urday afternoon, October 18. This
year they have chosen to present a
colorful operetta of patriotic tone,
when Betsy Ross Made Old
Glory. Openhouse this year will
emphasize thte twentieth anniver-
sary of the opening of Delaware
Colony. The first enrollee was adj
mitted to the Colony in May, 1921.
Since then the institution has
grown from a single building, to a
community of nine residential
buildings housing nearly 500 en-
rollees and surrounded by 100
aces of land. The Governor and
Mrs. Bacon, heads of other state
organizations, relatives and friends
of the children and any who wish
to view the Colony and the work of
the children, are being invited to
attend. There will be a guest
speaker who will speak on some
aspects of Mental Deficiency. The
semi-annual openhouses are spon-
sored by the Board of Lady Visit
ors of Delaware Colony, member
ship of which is drawn from all
parts of the state. Several of the
members will be on hand to act as
hostesses during the openhouse.
Miss Ida Roosa of Milford is presi-
dent of the Board of Lady Visitors.
At 10:30 in the morning the Della
ware Commission for Feebleminded
will hold their monthly meeting in
the administration building. At
100, they will have luncheon in the
Taleasian H. Davies Cottage. Mem
bers of the commission are j. e.
Goslee, chairman, DR.. G. w. K.
Forrest, vice chairman, ]. B. Carey,
secretary, G. w. Butz, Jr., DR.. T.,
H. Davies, j. B. Hutton, Mrs. Mar
garet Lloyd, A. H. Smith and Mrs.
Huldah Willis. All of the cottag-
es, the schools rooms, the farm
buildings and the maintenance
shops will be open to visitors from
one until four o'clock. The oper-
etta when Betsy Ross Made Old
Glory, will be presented at two
o'clock in the auditorium of the
Administration Building, by chill
dren of the glee club and band.
Throughout the afternoon, handi-
work of children, in the various
shops and classrooms will be on
display in the school rooms in the
Administration Building. These
semi-annual openhouses have long
been known as "Arbor Day." on
the third Saturday of each April,
and "Pound Party Day" on the
third Saturday of each October.
These names were intended to con-
vey to the visiting public that gifts
are acceptable on these days. Gifts
of clothing, canned goods, grocer
les and other items, which at one
time were rather considerable on
these days, have lately dwindled
sharply. However, with rising costs
and increased population, Colony
authorities consider such gifts
more welcome than ever. The farm
buildings and displays of crops har-
vested from the Colony's four hun
dred cultivated acres, are prime TO-
ca lpoints for the interest of many
visitors. Other visitors will find
greater interest in thte fancy work,
the weaving, the wood work and
other products of the training and
efforts of the children. Most of
them will attend the presentation
of the operetta, 'When Betsy Ross
Made Old Glory" at two o'clock in
the auditorium of the Administra-
ton Building.