Smyrna times., 1948-04-29
BELMONT HALL
OPEN SATURDAY
Historic Mansion Open to Wis.
itOrs May 1st as Part
of Dover Day
TICKETS ON SALE

Belmont Hall, historic mansion,
just south of Smyrna on the Du-
Pont Highway, will be open to Wis
itors as part of the DAY With the
Stored Houses and Gardens of Old
Dover" on Saturday, May 1, from
IL a. m. to p. m. Tickets may be
obtained at Belmont Hall, or at
any of the open houses, or the in
formation booth at Loockerman
and State Streets, Dover for $1.75,
plus 35 cents tax. These tickets
will admit one to all of the 80
featured homes, gardens, and his
toric buildins in Dover. The pro-
ceeds of the day, sponsored by the
Dover Garden Club, will be given
to the fund being raised for the
restoration of the old Presbyterian
Church as State Museum. The
facade of Belmont Hall
may be seen from the highway,
and the vista is one of beauty and
dignity with the driveway arched
by trees of ancient splendor. Now
occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Cum
minis Speakman, this storied house
has been in the possession of Mr..
Speakman's ancestors since it was
bought by Gov. William Collins in
1771, and comes to him through
direct line since 1927, when it was
purchased by his grandfather,
John Cloak; his mother, Mrs. Car
oline Elizabeth Cloak Speakman
was born there in 1912, and there
she '1ived a busy, benefcent life"
The house was built in 1886 and
enlarged by Gov. Collins in 1773.
John Cook, one of the six presi-
dents of Delaware, a member of
the first Assembly of the State in
1776, was the great-grand-father
Of the present occupant. One of
the most beautiful views of the
house may be had from the gard
en-, and from the terrace a garden
Of great charm and antiquity gives
one the illusion of actually living
IN Colonial days. That is perhaps
The particular charm of Belmont
Hall, the sense within it's walls of
The lives, personalities, and hap
oenings of other days. An early
session of the Delaware Assembly
was held here. The residence con-
sains William and Mary period
fireplace of old blue and white
tiles, tall clock which has stood
,or more than a century and a
half, and two chairs in which
Caesar Rodney, Thomas Mexican,
ind John Cook often sat.
Story of Revolutionary Days
The pulse is stirred by the story,
owed by all local people, of the
sentry who was shot during the
revolutionary War on the roof of
he Hall, where a balustrade made
In enclosure for the beat of the
sentry. The region then swarmed
With predatory bands of British
ind Tories, with a sprinkling of
Iessians. Col. Collins and his
lone guard acted as a committee
If safety, with the Delaware Bay
proving an invitation to attack by
British emissaries. The real peril
vas proven when a Tory spy, or
British scout ventured near one
light and shot the sentinel. who
lone on his beat, dragged himself
Iown the narrow staircase to a
DOM below, occupied by his sleep I
ng comrades, where he died an
lour later. An interesting side
ight is that in recent years
European refugee from the Nazis,
efriended by Mrs. Speakman,
ound refuge. and peace, and a
ceiling of safety in this very room.
he lookout on the top of the
ouse and the room are still in T
ested with tragic interest. Bel
1ont Hall was the home of Eliza
eth Cook, the daughter of Gov. I,
ohm Cook, who married Ebenezer
'loke, and it is in her honor that
he local chapter of the Daughters
the American Revolution was &,
AIMED. Assisting Mrs. Speakman
S hostesses will be her daughter, ]
Irs. Daniel Holder, Rehoboth ,
each; Mrs. Lillian Speakman
'illeg, Smyrna; Mrs. R. R. M. j
and Miss Gertrude ]
'rincle, both of Wilmington; Mrs. {
Hampton Barnes, Middletown; (
lrs. Warner w. Price, Jr., Mrs. s
Ienry c. Webb, and Mrs. C. L. {
[armonson, all of Smyrna.
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