davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
TREE BLOSSOMS
APPEARIN KENT
Sun, Favorable Weather Re
spOnsible For Blooming of
Early Peach Blossoms
SOME TREES DAMAGED

Peach blossoms are making more
appearances throughout the lower
part of Kent county this week, ac-
cording to reports received by
State agricultural officials. The
favorable weather conditions of the
past month are given as the chief
factor in bringing out these bios
SONS almost two weeks early this
year. Apple blossoms are expect
ed to appear about two weeks after
the peach blossoms are blooming
Damage Down State
The State officials found, how
ever, that all of the fruit trees die
not escape damage from the sever
al days of sub-freezing weather ex-
perienced during the winter months
during which it is estimated that
almost half of the peach trees in
the lower part of the State were
killed Fruit trees in the central
part of the State escaped this dam
age and are expected to have
more blossoms this year than for
the past several years, in the opin-
ion of these State officials who
claim that the weather in the cen,
trail part of the State has been
ideal for the fruit trees.
Attracts Visitors
The blossom season in Delaware
usually attracts large number OF
visitors but the early appearance
of the blossoms is expected to in
terfere with the plans of these Wis
itors. Barring unforeseen weather
conditions it is expected that the
fruit crop will be ready for harvest
at least a week before the usual
time this year.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
MRS. ROBINSON
RESIGNS POST
Chairman of Production Corps
of Red Cross Gives Up
Work Due to iii Health
APPOINT CO-CHAIRMEN

Miss Anna B. Beckett, local
chairman Red Cross, announces the
resignation of Mrs. George Robin
son, chairman of the production
corps, and the appointment of Mrs.
Fred Harris and Mrs. Nicholas Dia-
Icumakos, co-chairmen. Mrs. Rob-
inson, who has been an efficient
chairman for several years was
forced to give up the work due to
ill health. Sewing on Friday after
moons will be discontinued for the
present but the Wednesday after
noon hours from one to four clock
will continue at the American Leg
ion room.
Aid to Recreation Centers
The local chapter has responded
to call for financial help from
Mrs. Margaret McVaugh for the
establishment of recreation centers
for men in the service at the var
ious camps and forts in Sussex
County. There is also demand
for furniture for these centers.
Miss Beckett will explain the needs
to anyone interested in this project
for the welfare of service men.
Mrs. Marshall Can't, Wilmington
has been appointed state chairman
in charge of Junior Red Cross
work.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
GROUP
WINS AWARD
Smyrna School Won Kent
Play Contest; To Compete
at State Festival
AT u. OF d. APRIL 18TH

The John Bassett Moore School
will represent Kent County in the
Delaware State Play Festival, to
be held at the University of Della
ware on April 25th. Competing
with Dover, Caesar Rodney and
Harrington at the county play fes-
tival Tuesday, the Smyrna group
won highest honors for their play
"Will o. the Wisp". The play was
directed by Miss Blanche Lee, who
was chairman of the county fes-
tival. The cast of the play, which
touches on the metaphysical, was
as follows: The country woman
Shirley Bleckman; the stray, Doris
Pyle; the stylish lady, Gertrude
Mitchell; the maid, Shirley Sydell
Miss Bleckman received honorable
mention for acting honors.
To Award Cup
A cup will be awarded to the
group from a Delaware public
school giving the best performance
at the Play Festival on April %
This cup is now held by Dover High
School, the 1941 winner. To the
winning private school group q
plaque, which was won last year
by Salesianum, will be awarded
Another plaque will be awarded or
April 25 to the group giving the
best performance in the commun.
ity theatre division.
Four Community Groups
Entered in this section of the
competition are: The Wilmington
Drama League, the University
Drama Group of Newark, the "Y'
Players of Wilmington, and the
Arden Guild Players. Mr.. Robert
Durkee of the Alexis 1. DUPONT
High School is the statewide gen.
eral chairman of the Festival Com.
mittee.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
LOCAL CIVILIAN
DEFENSE BOARD
News About the Smyrna Civil
ian Defense Council, and
What 1t Is Doing
COUNCIL MEETS WEEKLY

The Smyrna Civilian Defense
Council met Monday evening, April
18th, with DR.. R. F. Corley presid-
ing.
Members of the Smyrna Civilian
Defense Council voted to hold their
meetings monthly in the future.
However, should circumstances
arise which would justify a special
meeting of this group, the chair
man, Dr. R. F. Corley, is privileged
to act according to his own discre-
tion.
Plans are being completed to en-
ploy the services of number of
local youths for Civilian Defense
messenger service. Many of the
Boy Scouts have already listed
their names to help carry on this
work. The organization of the
messenger service is under the di-
rection of Roland w. Bell, Vice
Chairman and Coordinator of the
Civilian Defense Council.
The Smyrna Boy Scouts, under
the direction of Scoutmaster Ellery
J. Ward, having started their sal
wage campaign, will continue to So
licit valuable waste materials
weekly. The collection of these
items will be made Saturday morn
ings. Residents of Smyrna who
would like to "do their bit" for
both the Boy Scouts, and the ma
tion wide salvage program, will
please contact Mr.. Ward. He will
to have the Scouts call at
your home and make the collection.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
CLUB LUNCHEON PROGRAM
Mrs. j. Paul Green Was Principle
Speaker Here Last Friday

The forty-fourth annual lunch
con of the Smyrna Twentieth Cen
tury Club was held last Friday.
Following the luncheon Mrs. Grant
Garis, president of the club intro
duced several speakers including
Mrs. ]. Paul Green, state president
of the General Federation of Wo-
mems Clubs; Mrs. j. Milford Tay-
lor, state director; Mrs. j. Allen
Frear, vice-president for Kent
County, and Mrs. Frank Reynolds,
a member of the local club, who
was former state president. The
program of entertainment for the
afternoon included readings by
Mrs. Harvey Pollen; piano solos,
Miss Amy Meinhardt; trumpet trio,
Jack Garis, John Griffin and Will
liam Short, and vocal olo by Dor
othy Short and Leonard Pleasan-
ton,
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
Couple Married at Townsend

Miss Margaret Eleanor Schafer
of Blackbird, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Lewis Schafer, and Mr.. Ar
thur James Carlisle of Middletown,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. James A. Car
Isle of FELTON,, were married in the
Townsend Methodist Church Easter
Sunday morning by the Rev. ]. c.
Handy. The couple was accompan-
led by Mr.. Norman Hutchison and
Miss Jane Burge of Middletown.
Mr.. and Mrs. Carlisle will live in
MiddletoWn.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
DEATH RECORD OF WEEK
Mrs. Annie p. Gears, 49,, Dies at
Home of Her Son Near Smyrna

Mrs. Annie P. Gears, age 83,
widow of Cyrus P. Gears, passed
away at the home of her son Clar-
ence w. Gears near Smyrna, Sum-
day morning, April 18th, after an
illness of three months. She was
born near Sudlersville, Md, the
daughter of Samuel and Amanda
Walls Armstrong. Mrs. Gears
comes from a family of hotel peo-
pie and after her marriage to Mr..
Gears they operated several hotels,
among them the old Smyrna House
of this town which they sold in
1905 to make way for the building
of a federal post Office. Beside
her son she is survived by one
grandson Clarence Jr., and several
nephews and nieces. Funeral SER
vices were held Wednesday after
noon at the residence of her son
with Rev. Frederick Marx Barton
of st. Peters Episcopal Church, Of
ficiating. Interment was in Odd
Fellows cemetery.
Edward Abrams Evans, Cheswold
Edward Abrams Evans, a leading
fruit grower of Cheswold, died Fri
day at his home after an illness of
Continued on Page Five)
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
Hartnett-Laach Wedding

The wedding of Miss Frances K.
Hartnett of Townsend, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Ulysses A. Hartnett
of Smyrna, and Mr.. Arthur Leach
of Townsend, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Chester Leach, Colts, Md, took
place in the Townsend Methodist
parsonage on March Is. The Rev.
j. c. Handy, pastor of Townsend
church, officiated. The couple was
accompanied by Mr.. Francis Catch
ell of North East and Miss Winford
Pearce of Smyrna.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
MISS DOROTHY GARNER WEEDS
Married to Mr.. Earl X. Downs of
Newark in st. Peters Church

Announcement is made of the
marriage F'iday night in st. Peters
Episcopal Church, Smyrna, of Miss
Dorothy Louise Gardner, daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. William Stidham
Gardner, near Smyrna, and Mr..
Earl e. Downs, son of former State
Senator and Mrs. Frederick d.
Downs of Newark. The Rev. Fred
erick Marx Barton officiated. The
bride was given in marriage by her
father. Her only attendant was her
sister, Miss Ella Mae Gardner of
Smyrna. Mr.. Oliver Suddard, Jr.,
of Newark was best man. A recep-,
ton followed at the Delaware Tea
House after which the couple left
on a short wedding trip. The bride
is a graduate of John Bassett
Moore School and Beacon College.
Mr.. Downs is employed by the
Bethlehem Steel Company. Mr..
Downs and his bride will live in
Hillcrest.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
SCOUTS AIDING
SALVAGE DRIVE
Collect Old Paper, Other Art
icles Needed For De-
fense on Saturdays
ASK PAPER BE BUNDLED

Good cooperation on the part of
Smyrna residents in aiding the
local Boy Scout troop salvage col
lection has been announced by FL
ilery j. Ward, scoutmaster and
chairman of the local Salvage Com
mittee. The Scouts, with the aid
of the town truck, collect salvage
materials every Saturday morning.
Ask Paper Be Bundled
To aid the collectors, residents
having old papers to donate to the
defense cause are asked to tie the
paper firmly in bundles, Mr.. Ward
said. This saves considerable time,
and enables the boys to cover
greater distances within the town.
Last Saturday, due to the necessity
of folding and tying the papers, the
scouts were able to collect on only
three streets. The time thus vast
ed could be used in covering the
entire town, were the homeowners
and business men willing to cooper
ate by folding fiat and tying the
paper in bundles, Mr.. Ward said. 1t
would also save time, he said, if
bundles were at the curb at $50
Saturday mornings. In two Satur-
day collections, the scouts turned
lin three tons of paper.
Other Salvage Articles
1t was also pointed out that
housewives searching for articles to
turn in may fin dplenty of mater
ials valuable in war production
plants by looking through the attic,
cellar, and garage. In the attic,
housewives are reminded, may be
brass or iron beds, old electric
cords containing copper, various
electrical equipment, old kitchen
utensils, lamps, and metal orna-
ments-all valuable as waste ma
terials to be salvaged. Old coal
stoves, fireplace equipment, fire ex-
tinguishers, radiators, old tools and
other items may be discovered in
the cellar. Batteries, chains, license
plates, worn tires and tubes, and
garden tools are some of the things
to look for in the garage.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
Special Council Meeting

A special meeting of Town Coun-
Gil will be held Friday night in or
der to dicuss the assessment on
property. Appeal Day, May 4th,
the town office will be open from 1
to 5 o'clock, so that property own
ers wishing to appeal assessments
may do so. Two assessment books
will be publicly placed, one at the
Mayors Office, and one at the town
collectors office.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
HARRY P. JONES
HEADS ROTARY
Elected President at Last
Meeting; Other Officers
Directors Named
TO HEAR ESSAY TONIGHT

The annual election of officers of
the Smyrna Rotary Club for the
ensuing year resulted last week as
follows: President, Harry P. Jones;
Vice-President, George w. Wright;
Secretary, Harry .Bostick; Treas
urer, John c. Mannering. Directors
of the club elected at the same
time are the Rev. James w. Colona
and Elmer Pratt. The new officers
will be installed July 1st. Nelson
Everhart, a new member of the
club, spoke on his impressions of
Rotary, saying that the fellowship
he has encountered among Rotar-
ians has surpassed that of his as
sociation with any other group.
Visitors were Capt. H. H. Hansen
and Carl Dorzback, of Dover.
School Girls Guests Tonight
Tonight, Miss Lillian Craft,
school senior, will deliver to the
club an original essay, why I am
Glad 1 Am an American" This
was the essay which won first
award at the Americanism contest
sponsored at Dover recently by the
Junior Chamber of Commerce, and
which included all of Kent County.
Miss Dorothy Short, talented young
soprano, will sing several songs.
Mr.. George w. Wright is in charge
of the program.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
CLAYTON All GARDENS
Most Members Have Victory Gar
dens; One in National Contest

Most Members Have Victory Gar
dens; One in National Contest
Over ninety per cent of the Clay
ton All Club members are growing
Victory Gardens of their own this
summer, and one boy, James Mon
tague, has enrolled in the national
Garden Contest sponsored by the
All organization to stimulate flood
for defense" among the members
A tract of land, which will be di-
vided among members who have NO
ground for gardens, will be secured
soon and titled by Clayton men,
bers, it was announced at the meet
ing Tuesday night.
Collect One Ton of Paper
Over one ton of waste paper has
been collected for defense, men,
bers announced. 1t was also de-
cided at this meeting that four
members will be enrolled in the
Short Course this summer at the
University of Delaware. The next
meeting will be held May 4th.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
SPEAKER URGES
CHURCH UNITY
Rev. r. F. Metzger, Before
Bible Class Banquet, Ex-
plains Illness of Church
DEMOCRACY KEYSTONE

IF we lose the Protestant creed,
which is Free Spirit of Man." we
have lost the keystone of Democ-
racy," said the Rev. R. F. Metzger,
pastor of the Peoples Church of
Dover, at the banquet meeting of
the Young Mems and Young Wom-
ems Bible Classes Monday night.
Speaking on the Illness of the Pro-
testant Church, Rev. Metzger cited
three causes. First, the lack of
church attendance and the excuses
made; second, the fervor to organ
ize and business interference, and
third, the number of denominations
existing. Rev. Metzger said that
he yearned for unity among the
Protestant churches. The need for
so many denominations, he said,
has passed. The Protestant Church
and Democracy grew up together
and are kindred spirits, the speak
er said, and are necessary to each
other. 'If we let faith slip, we
shall have lost that which was
more precious than life to those
who came before u.s." Rev. Metzger
concluded.
Special Guests Introduced
Group singing was led by Nelson
Everhart, and piano music through
out the meal was rendered by
Stimson Carrow. John Urian,
POSTMASTER, introduced the special
guests as follows: the Rev. and
Mrs. ]. w. Colona, Mr.. and Mrs.
Harvey Jones, and Mr.. and Mrs.
George R. Miller. Rev. Colona
conveyed the good wishes of the
church to the group in short adj
dress. Mr.. Jones is Sunday School
Superintendent and Mrs. Jones is
teacher of the Young Women's
Bible Glass. Mr.. Miller teaches the
Young Mems class, introduced the
speaker. Thirty-four people at
tended the banquet.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
SHORTAGE OF
BURLAP SACKS
Kent Farmers, Grain Dealers,
Asked to Save Sacks;
= Kent Program
EXCHANGES CONSIDERED

Due to the war situation agricul-
ture is faced with serious short
age of burlap and cotton bags, ac-
conding to a statement issued by
Secretary of Agriculture Claude r.
Wickard to all State and County
USDA War Boards, and it is most
essential that farmers, millers and
grain dealers take every precaution
to help relieve this bag shortage
problem by saving all sacks for flu
ture use.
Meet War Demands
In normal times agriculture re-
quires about go percent of all tex
tile bags manufactured in the Unit
ed States, and one-half of these
bags have been made from burlap
which was imported chiefly from
India. Under war conditions, how
ever, burlap imports are negligible,
and burlap stocks are being used to
meet increasing military require
ments. Although there is no short
age of cotton for making cotton
sacks, all textile machinery which
is equipped to produce bag-type
fabrics is badly needed in the man.
ufacturing of other important war
materials.
Conservation Program
In view of this already serious
shortage of burlap and cotton
sacks, plans will be considered by
the Kent County USDA War Board
to inaugurate an agricultural bag
conservation program, the objec-
tives of which will be to encourage
farmers to conserve bags so that
bags now on hand will last longer
and can be repeatedly reused, also
to hasten the re-entry of bags into
normal trade channels. This phase
of our conservation program in
connection with the war effort will
be directed by R. Harry Wilson,
chairman, and Kent County Agent
Russell E. Wilson, secretary, of the
Kent County USDA Kar Board,
with the assistance of other MEM
bers including Lyndon D. Caulk,
Paris c. Kirby, ]. Leonard Soper
and Richard S. Snyder.
Establish Sac& Exchanges
Where and when it may be desir-
able the County War Board could
recommend the establishment of
one or more sack exchanges, the
purposes of which would be to pro-
vide places where farmer who have
surplus usable burlap or cotton
bags could sell them, or where
those who need sacks could make
purchases. It is not intended, how
ever, that such procedure will i'm
pede or conflict with the normal
exchanges of empty or filled sacks
between farmers and millers or
grain and feed dealers. The Office
of Price Administration has an
nounced price ceilings on used cot
ton and burlap sacks, which vir-
tually establishes prices for all
used bags.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
IMPORTANCE OF
AIR OBSERVER
Director of Air Defense ir
Letter to Regional Director,
Lauds Civilian Plan
EFFICIENCY is VITAL

Just what part, and how import
ant part the Ground Observer
plays in the defense against hostile
air attack, is explained in letter
from Col. Gordon P. Saville, Direc-
tor of Air Defense, released by the
War Department recently. "The
civilian Ground Observer is the
keystone of a major part of our air
defense plan," Col. Saville wrote.
Three Defense Methods
"Active air defense by means of
interceptor-pursuit planes may be
conducted in accordance with any
one of three methods, called re-
spectively the Search Patrol meth
cd, the Air Alert method, and the
Ground Alert method. The Search
Patrol method is the method of the
first World War. A number of
pursuit planes go out and search
for enemy planes. When or if they
find them, they attack. 1t is a
costly method requiring large num-
bers of planes and impractical for
the defense of any area as exten-
sive as the coastal area of the
United States"
Plan Not Practical
''The second method, known as
the Air Alert method, requires a
number of pursuit planes be in the
air ready to engage the enemy but
not in active search of him. Less
costly than the Search Patrol
method, it is still not practical for
our needs. The third method, the
Ground Alert method, is the system
we have elected to employ. Pur-
suit planes are stationed at stra-
tegic airdromes ready to take off
Immediately on receipt of orders.
Because the planes are on the
ground, a tremendous saving in
gasoline is effected over either the
Search Patrol or the Air Alert
methods. It has been conserva-
lively estimated that one pursuit
plane operating on the Ground
Alert method is the equivalent of
thirty planes operating on the
Search Patrol method.
Depends on Efficiency
However, the Ground Alert
method is predicated upon the eff
ficient operation of a civilian
Ground Observer System. Without
the Ground Observer, the enemy
raid cannot be adequately charted,
and the chart of the enemy raid is
the sole information the pursuit
pilot has as to the whereabouts of
the target. Unless he receives ac-
curate and early information, he
cannot effect a successful intercep-
tion. The Ground Observer, there
fore, is the keystone of the System.
1t would be difficult to over-esti-
mate his Importance in air de-
fense."
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
Tire Thief Lashed

Reese Purnell, 29, Accomac, Va,
convicted of stealing a truck wheel
and tire, was sentenced to 10 lashes
at the whipping post and two years
in Sussex county prison. The whip
ping, ordered by Chief Justice Dan
iel ]. Layton of general sessions
court was cancelled but the years
sentence was imposed.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
Fire at BIackbird

Fire gutted the third floor and
burned the roof of the old Reynolds
farm house near Blackbird Friday.
Origin of the blaze is unknown.
The farm, once owned by William
Lore Reynolds, Sr., and built in
1865, was tenanted by James Nc
Claim. Clayton firemen were sum-
moned.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
IL Experts Aid Sugar Registry

Consumers of sugar in the Penn
sylvania-Delaware area will have
the aid of a highly organized staff
of experts from the Office of Price
Administration during the coming
rationing registration periods. Lee
H. Mccormick, acting regional
OPA director, announced that II
trained field men are in the area to
assist rationing boards and the
public in the greatest mass regis
tration in American history.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
Motor Corp Courses

Members of the Red Cross Mo.
tor Corps here completed their mo-
tor mechanics course Monday
night and will complete their
Standard First Aid Glass tonight.
Advanced First Aid and Chemical
Warfare classes will follow.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
Church Women Meet

The Women's Auxiliary of St
Peters Episcopal Church held its
meeting Monday after
noon at the home of its president
Mrs. Henry Webb. Mrs. George
Carter reported on preparation of a
Lenten mission box. A united
thank-offering meeting will be held
May at the home of Mrs. v. Wal
lace Elterich.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
Antique Show at School

On display at the antique show
in the school library tonight will be
chinaware, clocks, firearms, period
furniture, silver, historical docu-
ments, old toys and many other
items of interest. Lillian Craft,
Helen Pleasanton and Shirley Sy-
del and Mildred Slaughter will
model costumes.
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16

night. Following is the program:
Moonlight Sonata, for two pianos.
Piano duet .............. March Militaire
Band-"Promotion"
Song of the Rose
Starter
Sextette ............ Indian Love CALI
Piano Solo ............. Shirley Bleckman
Sextette ............ Indian Love CALI
ANGELS of Mercy
Boys Chorus Stout Hearted Men"
Remember Pearl Harbor"
Piano Solo ...... ......... Stimson Carrow
Vocal Solos. "Lo, Hear the Gentle Lark
my Heart at Thy Sweet Voice"
Girls Chorus ........ "Children's Prayer"
Can't Stay Away"
Combined Choruses ........ alma Mater
Solo and Chorus. Lord of Hope and Glory"
Finale. ........ The Star-Spangled Banner
No Afternoon Programs
The Home Economic Department
teas, usually held as a part of the
Visiting Day program, will be
abandoned this year, MrG. R. Mill
er, Superintendent, has announced.
No afternoon programs will be
held. All the activity will take
place in the evenings beginning at
700 p. m. From 700 to 500 pm.
each evening the patrons will be
asked to visit the various room ex-
hibits and the Library, (where the
Antique Show and Pan-American
exhibits will be located). The audi
torium will not be opened until
500 p. m. because of the lighting
Smyrna times., 1942-04-16
Victory Book Day April 18th

In his press conference on Tues
day President Roosevelt named
Friday, April 18th as Victory Book
Day. The President, at this time,
asked Americans everywhere to
contribute as many good books as
they can spare to the men in the
armed forces, the soldiers, sailors,
and marines at home and overseas
who, while fighting and training to
fight, still have time to read, and
appreciate a good book.