Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1941-04-03
JANET KEITH
g.. SARAH ELLEN WRIGHT


and Delaware" tried the muscles
of the firemen, but saved many a
building from the flames. The town
increased, and business expanded.
Its great feeders were the grain
trade, and the bark industry. John
and Alexander Peterson ground
and shipped hundreds Of cords of
oak bark, and Robert Cook, at the
old mill so well known for its echo,
began in the same business, the ac-
cumulation of what, afterwards, in
st. Louis grew to be a considerable
fortune. He was the son of Doctor
Cook, well-known years ago in this
community. Later, John Mustard,
who for many years was a promin-
ent figure among our people, Joined
the older firm, and, as Peterson &
Mustard, they continued the bark
industry and conducted a large tan
merry.
The grain trade developed early
into large and important interest.
Presley Spruance subsequently be
came senator of the United
States, and his brother, Enoch a
frequent member of the Legisla-
ture. Later on, the grain trade was
participated in by Simon Spear
man. Long before daybreak the
streets would be lined with wagons
loaded with grain, generally left to
be sold by the drivers for the best
price obtainable. The competition
was vigorous. At the Landing
were launched many schooners and
sloops.
The regular communication OF
Smyrna with the outside world
then depended upon the stage
\ coaches, which ran entirely thru
this State and to Eastville, Virgin
ia,-delivering mails and passen-
gers once a week. Their drivers
were heroes of the road, and their
home, when in Smyrna, was the
hotel of Tommy" Temple, notori-
GUS for its good cheer and the soci-
al popularity and prominence Of its
landlord. Fame said that with the
crack of the long lashed stage whiI
he could, rod away, slay the
vicious horse-fly without touching
the horse. The mails continued tC
be carried by stage coach unit
1855. In 1888, superseding the ole
stage line so far as the genera
travel from Smyrna to Philadelphia
was concerned, but connecting witt
it for points further south, came
the steamboats, Kent, and ''Zeph
yr", owned and operated by tn,
Smyrna Steamboat Company. Thi!
enterprise was a great boom. anC
of vast benefit to our town and The
whole country round, and eventu.
ally led to the construction Of the
Delaware Railroad.
Thus in 1855 came the Delaware
Railroad, out it SHE'D the centre Of
the thought in which it had its
birth. Our principal jeweler il
those days was Piner Mansfield
who was also a local preacher anC
a dentist.
At this period but one bank ex-
Isted in Smyrna. The old Com
mercial Bank, of which John Cum
minis was President, and Governor
John Clark a director, and whose
primitive vault is still to be seer
in the Office of L. M. Price, haC
been superseded by the Bank Of
Smyrna, chartered in 1921. Except
the Farmers Bank and its branches
there was no other, either in this
State or in Maryland, nearer than
Wilmington, and it's business had a
wide range.
In 1855. a year after the birth Of
The Smyrna Times, Smyrna, its
limits shortly after increased to one
mile square, had advanced to coal
oil lamps, while its affairs were
conducted by five commissioners
who were William Temple president
James R. Clements, Daniel Cum
Minis, Joseph FAIRIES and John D
Pitman; assessor, John M.Denning
treasurer, Piner Mansfield, and
clerk, Nehemiah Stockly. Very soon
after, Enoch Spruance, Jr., and his
company established the gas plant
and gave our streets the benefit Of
gas light. In 1858 the Smyrna
Library Association was organized
A historical contribution to
Smyrna is Belmont Hall. On the
State Road, or as it was called in
the olden time, The Kings High
way, short distance from the
town of Smyrna, in Kent county
Delaware, stands Belmont Hall
one of the oldest houses in the state
where Colonial Mansions and old
families abound, which apart from
its interesting history is one of the
most beautiful places in the coun-
try. The bricks of the mansion
were brought from England and
are rich brown in color, and are as
hard as flint and have only grown
more firmly set with time. Two
pictures Of it hang in the Relic
Room in Independence Hall in Phil