davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
MIDDLETOWN BOY KILLED
John Niles Burned to Death in Air
plane Crash Near Middletown

John Niles, 81, of Middletown,
son of Mrs. Lorette Niles of this
town, was burned to death early
last night when a 1927 model Waco
biplane piloted by John Piser, Jr.,
26, also of Middletown, crashed into
field about a mile north of that
town. Piser, who at first was be-
lieved to have been killed with
Niles, was found unconscious about
quarter of a mile from the plane
an hour and three-quarters after
the crash. He was taken to the
Wilmington General Hospital in the
coroner's hearse travelling at 80
miles an hour. Witnesses said Piser
was bringing the plane down for a
landing in field in back of the
Shallcross garage when the crash
occurred. The plane was over a
cornfield at height of about so
feet when it suddenly nose dived
directly into the ground and burst
into flames. The motor of the
plane was driven back past the Sec
ond cockpit by the force of the i'm
pact. Several men at the garage
rushed to the plane but the flames
prevented any attempt at rescue.
They believed Piser was still in the
plane and had died with Miles.
Deputy Coroner c. Everett Kelley,
who arrived more than an hour af-
ter the crash, found the wreckage
was still too hot to get out the
bodies, but could see only one body
in it. At his suggestion a search
of the area was started and Piser,
crumpled at the edge of the field,
was found. Later revived, Piser
was able to tell hospital attaches of
the crash. AS the plane hit the
ground, he said, he was thrown
from it and landed on his feet. At
that moment the plane burst into
flames and the last he remembers
he was running from the heat as
fast as he could. The plane was
owned by George M. Hawk, of Mid
dletown, but was often used by
Piser, who has been a flying en-
thusiast for the past several years.
Funeral services for Niles were
held on Friday afternoon at 2 p. m.
in st. Andrews School Chapel and
interment was in st. AIMS Gem
etery near Middletown. Niles, who
registered for the draft last July,
has been employed by the Union
CONTINUED on Page Five)
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
WOMEN'S PARTY TO CONVENE
National Organization to Meet in
Wilmington, October 25th

WhAiAu6 will OSOoUCh ~cpu
The Biennial Conference of the
National Women's Party together
with the Eastern Regional Confer
ence will be held in tthe Hotel du-
Pont on Saturday, October 25th
and Sunday the 26th. The Nation
al Woman's Party is a non-partisan
group of women working for the
Equal Rights Amendment which
will do away with all legal discrim-
nations against women. In con-
nection with the Conference a tea
will be given the visiting delegates
by Mrs. Alfred I. DUPONT at Ne
mours from 4 to 6 on Saturday.
On Saturday night at Z p. m. a
banquet will be held in the ball
room of the Hotel, at which there
will be four speakers-two women
and two men. The banquet prom
ises to be rather unique for Will
mington. Various representative
firms who employ women, have
agreed to take tables, each table
holding eight. Mrs. Florence Bay
ard Hilles is the local chairman for
the affair. All applications should
be mailed to her addressed to the
Hotel DUPONT.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
GIRL SCOUTS
PLAN SEASON
Opening Meeting Held Last
Week; More Girls Apply
For Membership
TO VISIT FOREST

Scouting has grown so popular
among the girls of Smyrna that it
is possible to receive into member
ship, only about half of the girls
who are making application. 1t is
to be regretted that because of lack
of leaders and facilities so many
girls must be deprived of the fun
of scouting. This statement was
made by Mrs. Thomas Russell,
leader of the local troop at the
opening meeting of the 1941-1942
season last Thursday. Under guild
ance of Miss Russell and Miss NAL
vina Stevenson, assistant leader,
the girls made plans for many in
teresting activities during the COM
ing months. Foremost in the plans
is the coming trip to Redden For
est. This year the troop will go in
two sections, the senior scouts
making the trip the last weekend
in September while the junior
scouts will go the first week end in
October. Miss Mildred Reynolds,
troop committee chairman, told the
girls of plans that are being made
by the committee for financing the
troop activities during the coming
year. Each scout was asked to So
licit five of her friends for rum
mage for the sale which is to be
held Saturday. All rummage is to
be brought to Mrs. Lee Gooden
who is in charge of the sale.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
L. d. LEARNED JR., MARRIED
Cheswold Boy Married to Miss
Louise Rao at ClaymOnt

The wedding of Miss Louise Rao,
daughter of Mr.. Luther Rao, of
Petersburg, Va, and Mr.. Lewis D..
Learned, Jr., son of Mr.. Lewis D.
Learned, of Cheswold, took place
Saturday morning in the rectory
of st. Helena's R. c. Church, Clay
mont, with the Rev. F. x. Fitzpat-
rick officiating. Mrs. Morris Laf-
ferty of Milford, sister of the bride,
was matron of honor. Mr.. LATER
ty was best man. A wedding
breakfast was served following the
ceremony at the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. E. D. Turner in Claymont,
brother-in-law and sister of the
bridegroom. On their return from
wedding trip, Mr.. and Mrs.
Learned will live in Elsmere. The
bride has been a former resident of
Dover. Mr.. Learned attended the
University of Delaware.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
MEMS BIBLE CLASS MEET
Plan Active Program For the Or
ganization for Fall Season

The newly organized Young
Mems Bible Glass of Asbury
Church began it's fall activities on
Sunday. The class was organized
when group of interested young
men met in March and discussed
plans of organization. They elect
ed as their officers the following:
Prof. George R. Miller, Jr., teach
er; John Urian, president; Harvey
Pollen, vice-president; Harry Cloud,
secretary; Fred Tarbutton, treas
urer. The young men have plan
ned an active program for the fall
and all the young men between the
ages of 18 to 40 are being encour-
aged by the group to join and help
in making the class a success. The
group will meet again Sunday at
10 a. m, at Asbury Church.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
CHURCH YOUTH
TO MEET HERE
Methodist Youth Fellowship
Sub-District Start Fall
Meetings Monday
NOMINATE COMMITTEE

The Methodist Youth Fellowship
of this sub-district will holds its
first fall meeting Monday evening
at 7.45 in Asbury Methodist
Church here. Youth representing
the Methodist Churches in the
towns of Clayton, Kenton, Ches-
world, Leipsic, Odessa, Middletown,
and Townsend, as we'll as those of
Smyrna, will be present. This
meeting will mark the start of
the second year of this growing
youth organization. The evenings
program has as the principal
speaker the Rev. Robert E. Green
of Asbury Church Harrington. He
is Youth Counsellor in lower Del
aware and very active in the Meth
odist Youth Fellowship. Rev. R. E..
Green was the host minister for
the young people who attended the
Dover District Youth Conference
last fall. His theme will be "The
Master Challenge For Youth" The
program committee includes Stim-
son Carrow, Evelyn Robinson, Cal
lie Diacumakos, Carlene Jones, and
Robert Deakyne. Musical selections
by Stimson Carrow at the organ
and Bernie Grier on the trumpet
will comprise the musical portion
of the program. A business ses-
sion will be held and a nominating
committee will be selected to pick
nominees for the offices of presi-
dent, now held by George Thawley,
Smyrna; Vice-President, Charlotte
Everett, Kenton; Secretary, Harry
McNatt, Odessa, and Treasurer,
Grace Sampson, Cheswold. Fol-
lowing the business session a per-
iod of recreation led by Robert
Deakyne will take place. The meet
ing will end with refreshments
served by the girls of the host
church.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
GROUP
ACTIVE AGAIN
Smyrna Little Theatre Re-
sumes Activities; Plan I'M
mediate Work on Play
SEVERAL NEW MEMBERS

A meeting of the Smyrna Little
Theatre on Monday night began ac-
tivities of that group for the fall
season. Members were well repre-
sented, and enthusiastic to start a
busy season. Mrs. Emma Lapham,
treasurer, gave financial report,
and Miss Louise Denney, secretary,
gave review of former activities.
Among the new members who join
ed the group at this meeting is Mr..
Jay Davis, formerly of Smyrna,
and for a number of years associat-
ed with Hegerow Theatre, near
Philadelphia. Mr.. Davis, hav-
ing studied under Jasper Deeter,
well known director at Hegerow, is
experienced in many phases of the
atre work, and has pledged his sup
port and cooperation to the Little
Theatre. Other new members are
Miss Blanche Lee, Miss Marjorie
Jones, Miss Barbara Gordy, and
Mr. Robert Burrage, all faculty
members at the John Bassett
Moore School. Two plays were read
by members of the group, and sew
eral full length plays were discuss
ed as possible productions for the
Little Theatre this fall. 1t was de-
cided to start work Immediately on
the three-act play selected. Mrs.
Henry c. Webb and Mrs. Louise H.
Burslem will attend a meeting at
the Century Club House tomorrow
night to discuss the acquisition of
"a new curtain and new stage sets
and scenery for the club stage.
Representatives from the Girl
Scouts, the Grange, and the Twen-
tieth Century Club will also meet
with the clubs Board of Directors.
The Little Theatre members will
meet every Monday night, next
week at the home of Mrs. Robert
ID. Hoffecker at s o'clock.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
FULL PROGRAM
AT CONVENTION
MiddletOwn Streets Decorated
For State Firemen's Con-
ventiOn This Week
PARADE TONIGHT

Middletown took on a festive air
as official decorators for the 21st
annual convention of the Delaware
Volunteer Firemen's Association
strung their banners and flags on
the streets and business houses.
Streets are especially cleaned and
traffic lines repainted, while in
Cochran Square the judges stand
and orchestra platform are con-
structed. Delegates and firemen
have been assured a full two-day
program which will keep them oc-
cupied from 10 o'clock each morn
ing until evening. Following the
parade which officially closes the
convention, a street dance will be
given in Cochran Square with mu-
sic furnished by Wilmington or
chestra. Included in the various
demonstrations of interest to fire.
men which have been arranged for
the two days will be a demonstra-
IlOIl VI ILS NOiQAICCl 11OSS Win
pany's new $4,000 pumper. One of
the few fully enclosed fire trucks in
existence, and the only one of its
particular type, the truck was de-
signed by the local company, work.
ing in cooperation with the manu-
facturer. Approximately 1000
marchers, so fire companies, and 25
bands and drum and bugle corps
are expected for the parade, which
starts at Z o'clock, daylight time,
Thursday night. Passing the
judges stand twice they will be
awarded list of 26 cash prizes
amounting to 1915. The Volunteer
Firemen's Relief Association COM
posed of former members of the old
volunteer fire companies of Will
mington will participate.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
URGED TO CONSERVE WATER
Resident of Smyrna Requested to
Conserve Supply During Dry Spell

-Ff-J
At the request of Town Council
the residents of Smyrna are urged
to conserve~the water supply of
town water by eliminating the
springling of lawns and other ir-
rigation purposes. Shut off all
spigots until no drip is seen and as
far as it is possible, use water as
really needed until good rain has
arrived. 1t is only natural that
this continued dry spell should have
some effect on the water supply in
our wells, and as a precautionary
measure the Town Council feels the
excessive use of water at this time
might be the cause of more SER
ious results should fire occur.
The we'll is not dangerously low at
this time but should the dry season
continue there is no assurance that
it would become so quite suddenly,
thus the citizens are requested to
refrain from unnecessary use of
water at this time.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
UNION CHURCH
IN 152ND YEAR
Old Methodist Church North
of Blackbird to Celebrate
Anniversary
PROGRAM ON SEPT. Ia

The Union Methodist Church of
Appoquinimink Hundred, one mile
north of Blackbird on the DUPONT
Boulevard, will celebrate its 152nd
anniversary next Sunday, Septem-
Der IA. DR.. James Edgar Shilling
ton of Bloomsbury, Pa, who was
the minister in charge of Brandy
wine Summit Camp in 1910, will
preach at IL a. m. and DR.. w. A.
Hearn, of Dover, will preach at
2.30 p. m. standard time. This
church was organized in 1889
through the efforts of Rev. Lewis
Allfree of Appoquinimink Hundred,
who was one of the first preachers
of the Methodist Church. The land
for the church and cemetery was
donated on July 16, 1889, by Joseph
Dickinson, a direct ancestor of
James w. Lattomus, president of
the board of trustees. Thomas
Skillington, collateral ancestor of
DR.. James Edgar Skillington, was
member of the first board of
trustees. He lived near Smyrna.
Rev. Levi Scott, seventh Bishop of
the Methodist Episcopal Church,
was member of this church and
was recommended by its members
for license to preach. His body
is buried in the yard in front of the
church. Rev. j. C. Handy, minis
ter in charge, has prepared an in
teresting program for the occasion.
The program is as follows: Servic-
es on Standard Time-10 a. M, an
old fashion testimonial service, Mr..
John Atwell, leader; Ralph L.
Brown, assistant; IL a. M, DR..
James Edgar Skillington, Blooms
burg, Pa, speaker; IL noon, basket
lunch in the grove; 1.30 p. M, cleo
tion of trustees; 2 p. M, meeting
of the society; 2.30 p. M, DR.. w. A.
Hearn, Dover, speaker. Special
music by the Townsend and Black
bird Church Choirs and noted mu-
sicians, both instrumental and vo-
cal
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
TRUCK CRASHES INTO HOUSE
AT JIMTOWN R.R. CROSSING

"I thought Hitler had arrived" !"
said Edward Sammons, when a
truck loaded with twelve tons of
canned goods crashed into his
house at Jimtown Crossing near
here Tuesday. Mr.. Sammons, who
was sleeping in an upstairs bed
room, thought the house had been
bombed, and so loud was the crash
that many people in Clayton and
Smyrna heard it. Hayward Henry,
Denton, Maryland, driver of the
truck, was travelling east on the
Kenton road, when he slowed up
behind a car and pickup truck
travelling in the same direction. The
car started to make the turn at
Jimtown into Clayton, then sud-
denly swerved back on the road,
causing the pickup to swerve
sharply also. Henry, to avoid
crashing into both cars, applied his
air brakes quickly, and when the
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11

wheels locked, had no control Of
his truck, and crashed into the side
of Sammon's house. Henry said his
immediate concern was of fire, for
he and his helper, Ernest Thomas,
were trapped in the cab until some
one broke the front door to let
them escape. The room where the
truck entered had been used as a
downstairs bedroom for Sammons'
wife, who is an invalid, but Mrs.
Sammons had been moved to the
home of married daughter, Mrs.
Norman Fraim, recently. The bed,
which she had occupied was crush
ed and twisted, resting on a pile of
bricks and debris. The section of
the house struck by the truck is a
total wreckage of plaster, bricks,
and broken furniture. Both Henry
and Sammons escaped unhurt.
State police from the Dover station
are Investigating the crash.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
GETS 6 MONTHS
ON 3 CHARGES
Negro Escapes Police, Steals
Watch and Pawns it for
So; Resisted Officer
ARRESTED IN SMYRNA

Harvey Jefferson, a colored man
from Alabama, was given six
months Jail sentence by Magistrate
Edgar Frazier here on Monday, on
charges of larceny, resisting an Of
ficer, and disorderly conduct. JEFF
ferson was arrested Saturday by
the Clayton town police for being
drunk and disorderly, and was TAX
en- in the police car to the magis-
trate's Office. When the car stop
ped, the man quickly opened the
door and ran away, eluding the Of
ficers. A search failed to bring re-
suits. Then James Price, on the
Duck Creek Clayton Road, re-
ported the theft of his wife's wrist
watch. A colored man, he said,
had come to the door Sunday ask
ing for food, and after he had eat
en-, grabbed the wrist watch and
ran. Smyrna and State police dis
covered that the wrist watch had
been pawned in Smyrna for So, and
Jefferson was arrested at a house
on Lincoln Street here. He was
taken before Magistrate Frazier
Monday, and given three months
for larceny, two months for resist
ing an officer and one month for
drunken and disorderly conduct.
jefferson was taken to Kent Coun-
ty Jail at Dover to serve his sent
ence. At hearing Monday night
Mary Williams was sentenced to 10
Continued on Page Four)
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
GROUP PLANS
AIR MANEUVERS
Bay View Observation Group
to Set Up Schedule of
Air Maneuvers
SET FOR OCTOBER GIG

Arrangements will be made soon
for a meeting of the men who have
signed up to help in manning the
Way View Observation Post. The
purpose of this meeting will be to
discuss the duties of the spoilers
and to set up a schedule to provide
for every day in the week of Octo-
ber GIG excepting Columbus Day.
At this time there will be no man.
euvers. "It is gratifying to note
the number of men who have ex-
pressed themseles ready to help in
this emergency" said Mr.. George
R. Miller, Chief observer. The list
of those connected with the Bay
View Observation Post is as fol-
lows: G. R. Miller, chief observer;
Elmer P. Corrie, assistant chief OBJ
server; Cummins E. Speakman, as
Isistant chief observer; William e.
Matthews, Jr., post organizer;
Grant Garis, Ralph FAIRIES, Harry
L. Kinsey, William P. Brown, Ell
lery Ward, Millard Passwaters,
John w. Jacobs, ]. H. Fearon, Lee
Deakyne, Joseph Bennett, ]. R. De-
Ford, Leonard A. Collins, Jr., Davis
H. Bell, Harry Johnson, Harry ].
Lower, Warner w. Price, Jr., Har-
ry P. Jones, Harley Bodley, Elmer
Pratt, Harvey C. oJnes, C. Leland
Harmonson, Charles c. King, Alex.
Handloff, George w. Wright, John
w. Urian, Harvey j. Pollen, George
w. Boehmler, Clark Knots, Glenn
S. King, Roland Deemer, Isadore
Handloff.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
ASBURY METHODIST CHURCH
Rev. DIR. j. w. C0lona, Pastor, An
nOunces Services For the Week

The services at Asbury Method
ist Church next Sunday, September
14th, will be as follows: the Church
School will convene promptly at 10
o'clock with Mr.. H. c. Jones, Su-
perintendent, in charge; the morn
ing worship service and sermon at
IL; the evening worship service
and sermon at 7.30. The Willing
Workers Bible Glass will hold their
September meeting this evening,
Thursday, September 18th, at 7.45.
The intermediate Choir will hold
their first fall rehearsal tomorrow
evening, Friday, September 18th,
at Z o'clock. A group meeting of
the Methodist Youth Fellowship
will be held in Asbury Church next
Monday evening, September 18th,
at 7.3O. The Woman's Society of
Christian Service will meet in the
Church next Tuesday evening, Sep
tember 18th, at 7.30. Prayer ser
vice Wednesday evening at 7.30.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
HONOR GIVEN
TEACHER HERE
Mrs. Marion G. Lambden Sc
lected as Assistant to
Col. Bulls
TEACH MENTAL HYGIENE

Word has been received of the
selection of Mrs. Marion G. Lamb
den, a teacher in the John Bassett
Moore School as an assistant to
Colonel H. Edmund Bulls, execu-
tive director of the Delaware State
Society for mental hygiene and a
well known authority in the mental
hygiene field. The work done by
Mrs. Lambdin will be demonstra-
ton work in a Human Relations
course for teachers at Dover. She
will use the teachers enrolled in the
course as demonstration class pu-
pills. Mrs. Lambden was chosen
because she is an alert, well-train-
ed, successful, and practical teach
err" said Mr.. George R. Miller, Su-
perintendent. She graduated from
Washington College and has taken
graduate work in child psychology
and personality development at the
University of Maryland and Column
bia University. Mrs. Lambden
has a fine teaching personality and
has demonstrated her ability to
hold the interest and attention of
her pupils by discussion methods, .
Mr.. Miller stated. The Importance
of this opportunity for teachers to
get insights and training along
mental hygiene lines during the
stresses and strains in the world
today cannot be over-emphasized
he said. With such training teach
ers will be much better able to
meet classroom problems and con-
tribute their share to improving
the mental health of our people.
MANS ideal for ages past has been
a sound mind in sound body, and
his quest to attain sound body
has been measurably successful.
Recently man has awakened to the
fact that mental disease, like phys
ical disease, is due to natural caus-
es, and therefore, more or less pre-
ventable. Having travelled thus
far, he has reached a point where
he can see the possibilities that lie
before him; the rules of healthful
mental life evolved, the minds and
emotions of children cared for as
their bodies are now, to the end
that personalities become more eff
fective, human relations better ad-
justed, and life itself lifted to a
higher level"
School Enrolment Increased
The latest report on enrolment
of the local schools gives total of
678 in the John Bassett Moore
School and 1T in the Colored
School. The class enrollments are
Grade 1, So; grade 2, 40; grade 8,
At; grade 4, 45; grades, 81; grade
6, 65; grade Z, SO; grade 8, IL;
grade 9, 81; grade 10, SO; grade IL,
644; grade II, 38; total, 678. Col
ored school: Grade 1, 18; grade 2,
Is; grade 8, Is; grade 4, ID; grade
5, II; grade 6, 13; grade Z, IL;
grade 8, 7; grade 9, 6; total lit.
In the last four years two grade
rooms have been closed owing to
the decrease in elecentary school
enrolment. The high school has
not yet been affected by this de-
crease.
Smyrna times., 1941-09-11
TO
TALK AT DOVER
DIR. E. Stanley Jones, Widely
Known Evangelist to Speak
at Field House Sept. 18th
WORKED IN INDIA

DR.. E. Stanley Jones, probably
the best known missionary evan
gelist in the world today, will ad-
dress meeting to be held in the
field house of the Dover High
School, Dover, on September 10, at
7.30 p. m, under the sponsorship of
the Board of Missions and Church
Extension of the Peninsula Confer
ence of the Methodist Church. A
choir of more than 100 voices will
furnish special music. Hundreds
of thousands of persons in India,
Korea, Burma, China, Malaga and
South America have thronged to
hear DR.. Jones and his following in
this country and Canada is prob
ably unequalled by any other living
religious leader. DR.. Jones is Of
ficially missionary of the Meth
odist Church, serving among the
high castles, educated and student
groups of India. His fame, how
ever has spread beyond India and
he has been in great demand else
where in Asia, Europe, in Austria
liza, and in both North and South
America as preacher and lectur-
er. He has participated in the Ma
tional Preaching Mission and the
National Christian Missions, con-
Quoted throughout this country by
the Federal Council of Churches of
Christ in America. A few years
ago he also conducted the annual
Lenten services of the Greater New
York Federation of Church which
were broadcast in a nationwide
hook-up.
Books All Best Sellers
Beginning with his first book,
"The Christ of the Indian Road"
nearly dozen books from the pen
of DR.. Jones have been best sellers
not only in this country, but have
OCCll u dilSldlCQ lllIO q uulllDel VI
European and Asian Tongues. Over
100000 copies have been published
in English. Translations have been
made into German, French, Span
ish, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Dutch,
Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Fin
nish, Icelandic, Arabic, Korean,
Japanese, Chinese, Esthonian, Bur
mese, several Indian vernaculars,
and into Braille for the blind. DR.
Jones has three times refused to be
elected q bishop of the Methodist
Church, preferring to carry on his
unique ministry in India, where he
has been stationed as a missionary
since 1907. At that time he went
to serve as pastor of the English
Church in Lucknow. For some
years he served as pastor superin-
tendent, and school principal in
Sitapur, and in 1917 was appointed
evangelist-at-large for the North
India Annual Conference. Since
that year he has continually engag-
ed in evangelistic work. He was
born in Clarksville, Maryland.