Smyrna times., 1947-04-03
Know Your Community
"The Smyrna Times" Observes First
Anniversary Under New Management

Newspapers in Delaware had
much difficulty in gaining a foot
hold before the SMYRNA TIMES
was established ninety-three years
ago. There had been numerous at
tempts in Wilmington and all the
larger towns of the State, especial
ly the former, where efforts were
begun as early as 1889. In 1902
movement was made to establish a
paper, THE FEDERAL ARK, in
Dover; in Smyrna, THE della
WARE STAR in 1882; in George
town THE PENINSULA GA
ZETTE in 1885; and in New Castle
THE GAZETTE in 1886, but all
had a brief existence, Journalism
in Delaware was practically in its
infancy when the TIMES was born.
Wilmington was a much smaller
city than it is today and was un-
able to support daily. There were
four weeklies or semi-weeklies,
however, which were very promin-
ent in the disseminating of news
THE DELAWARE REPUBLICAN,
THE DELAWARE GAZETTE,
THE DELAWARE JOURNAL and
THE BLUE HENS CHICKEN.
Below Wilmington the only papers
were the TIMES at Smyrna, the
REPORTER at Dover and the
BEACON at Milford. The SMYR-
MA TIMES is the only pioneer
paper of this list which has had a
continued existence, leaving it the
oldest newspaper in Delaware.
The DELAWARE STAR, first is
sued in 1882, and continued but a
short time, was the original news
sheet in Smyrna. A Mr.. Mitchell
was its owner. Samuel L. Jones
began the SMYRNA TELEGRAPH
in 1849, which was reported to
have been a fair local paper, but
was discontinued within two years
from the time of starting. Abra-
ham Poulson secured the presses
and type, and for three years, be-
ginning IN March, 1851, was engag-
ed in the publication, of the DELLA
DARE HERALD, a temperance
paper. On March %, 1854 he sold
it to his son Thomas l.. Poulson
and Robert ID. Hoffecker The
SMYRNA RECORD was establish
ed by F. S. Phelps in 1888 as an
eight column folio. The motto of
the founder was "Our Town aud
County first = the world after
ward" The paper, as an advocate
of the principles of the Democratic
party, soon secured considerable
circulation. The CLAYTON CALL
was also established by w. Lindsay
McFarlane but discontinued oper-
alton after short time.
The evolution from the old meth
ods employed when the local paper
was started to those in vogue to-
day has been great. The first is
sue was printed on an old lever or
Washington Hand Press, a slow
tedious method. It was not print
ed on the rough newsprint we have
become accustomed to today, but
rather on a fine grade of bond pap
er which has remained uncracked
and only slightly yellowed for SO
years. At that time before the
days of the Delaware Railroad, the
only mail service was the old stage
mail coach, which made weekly
trips up and down the State road,
later familiarly known as "The
Kings Highway.
In March of 1854, as we have
mentioned, a partnership was form
ed between Thomas L. Poulson,
later Rev. DR.. Poulson and Robert
d. Hoffecker. They purchased the
equipment of Abraham Poulson
who had been putting out the
DELAWARE HERALD as a Tenn
perance organ for two or three
years. The new owners intended
to engage in the printing business,
but the arrangement lasted but a
few months. In July Mr.. Hoffeck-
er bought out the interests of Mr..
Poulson and changed the name to
THE SMYRNA TIMES, in which
name it was issued on the fifth of
July 1854. Under this name it has
been issued ever since, and to date
has been the only peper to stand
from the start and in this time, it
has been the pride of the various
editors to remark that it has never,
in SO years, missed an issue or
deadline.
The experiences encountered in
making it a success were not off
ferent from those usually encount-
oroJ -, e,,ob ont orp,.icac IF Ta11