davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Some Expressions Made
For And Against ChlO-
rinatiOn Proposal Are
Hereby Presented.

The current proposal to pur-
chase equipment to chlorinate the
pond at the Milford Bathing Beach
has aroused considerable discus
sion and widely varying points of
view. Some of the expressions
made for and against follow:
For
The beach and playground have
been the most popular summer
gathering spot for children that
the city has ever known. 1t fills
a need long felt for a place where
children unable to go to the shore
can bathe, and receive the super
vision and protection of an ex-
perienced instructor.
The Milford Bathing Beach and
Playground represents an invest
ment of roughly $4,000, much of
which was donated by the people
Of the city in the form of money
and personal labor on the inn
prOvements. Of this $4,000 little
of any value, except the land,
could be salvaged in the event of
it's abandonment. Granting that a
place of this sort is highly desir-
able, and almost a must" in this
Continued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Capt. Pratt To
Command Biz
New Carrier
Milford Native Has TAX
en- Over Executive Du-
ties On $4,000 Ton
Philippine Sea.

Captain Pratt, a native of Mil
ford, has been given command of
the 27,000-tOn aircraft carrier,
Philippine Sea, the Navy annOunc-
ed this week in Washington.
The veteran naval officer. now
aide to John Nicholas Brown, as
sistant secretary for Air, will take
the bridge Of the huge ship shortly
it is understood.
Captain PTatts record in World
War II brought him several cita-
tiOns. On November 16, 1946. he
received a Gold Star in lieu of a
second Legion of Merit and a
Bronze Star Medal for exception
ally meritOriOus conduct as COM
mander of the U. S. S. Bismarck
Sea and the U. S. S. Childs during
operations against the enemy in the
Pacific.
The captain is a son of Mrs. John
Lynn Pratt and the late DR.. Pratt
of Milford. His wife, also a native
of Milford, is the former Miss
Mary OsmOnd Grier. A brother,
Eugene L. Pratt, was a lieutenant
commander in the Navy during
World War II.
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Re-Opening OF Meeting On
Bathing Beach Bathing Beach
Is Discussed Held Friday
Group Of Thirty-Five
Present To Hear Pro-
pOsals On ChlOrinating
Pool Discussed.

Approximately thirty-five per-
sons, representing the majority of
the churches, civic, fraternal and
service organizations in the City
of Milford, were present at a meet
ing held last Friday evening in the
Council Chambers. The meeting
was called by Mayor c. v. Wilker-
son, pursuant to a request by the
Milford Kiwanis Club to discuss
the possibility of reopening the
Milford Bathing Beach.
r. c. Beckett, sanitation engi-
neer for the State Board of Health,
was present and discussed in de-
tail two plans, which might pos
sibly, if developed, result in the
pool being reOpened this summer.
Plan one, calls for the establish
ment of a pumping and chlorinat-
ing system, which will pump 900
gallons of chlorine treated pond
water a minute into the pool from
the closed off portion of the pond.
This water would also be treated
with copper sulphate and this plan
will, according to Mr.. Beckett, re-
suit in quite a bit of water in the
course of "a hours flowing through
the pool. Plan two, calls for the
driving of nine shallow wells, with
a pumping system, which will
Continued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Barn Near Milford
Saved From Blaze
Rack Fire Of Engine Igniting Hay
Threatened Frame Structure

Firemen from Milford and Fred
erica battIed for several hours to
save. the large barn on the farm
tenanted by William NJ. NAPLES,
know as the Rollie Davis Farm,
located between Milford and Fred
erica.
The fire was confined to a large
valuable hay mound located near
the barn.
Mr.. NAPLES was getting hay in a
truck for cattle in the barn when
the engine Of the truck back-fired,
setting fire to the wheat straw.
Famed by a strong wind the blaze
raced through the large mound and
flames leaped towards the barn.
On account of busy telephone
lines, considerable time was lost in
getting a signal through, but. the
Carlisle Fire Company of Milford,
and the Volunteer Fire Company of
Frederick responded with five
trucks. Water was secured in tank
trucks from considerable distance,
and it was kept from the barn. The
large hay mound burned all night.
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Church Youth To
Hold Spring Rally
Dover District Youth Meet AT
Georgetown Tomorrow


The youth of the Dover District
of the Peninsula Methodist Con-
ference will hold their Annual
Spring Rally in Grace Methodist
Church, Georgetown, on Saturday,
April II, beginning at 9:45 a. m.
and running through the entire
day.
The theme for the rally will be
1--WE Must Learn Christ's Way"
Following registration at 9:45 a.
m, the worship service will be led
by Miss Ruth GuessfOrd and the
speaker will be David w. Baker.
At 11:15 a. m. a business ses-
sion will be held, at which time
reports and discussions on pro-
grams will include the M. Y. F.
Fund, by Robert Godfrey; Fellow
ship Teams, Joseph Hurd; Sum-
mer Program and Wilmington
Meeting, Kim Jefferson; Greet
ings from DR.. T. c. Mulligan and
the Rev Richard M. Green, execu-
tive secretary, will be extended at
this period. The business session
will end with meetings of all the
sub-districts of the Dover District.
after which the young people will
adjourn for lunch.
Continued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Sussex HOTnemakers
Elect New Officers
Mrs. Earl White Succeeds Mrs.
Wheatley As President

Mrs. Earl White, Bridgeville,
was elected President of the Sus-
sex County Home Demonstration
Council at the spring meeting held
at the Agricultural Center near
Georgetown on April 9TH. Mrs.
White succeeds Mrs. Jonathan
Wheatley of Delmar who has serv-
ed as President during the past
two years.
Other officers elected were vice
president, Mrs. Ed. Krewatch, Del
mar; secretary, Mrs. Frank Thorpe,
Nassau; treasurer, Mrs. H. R. Lem
moX, Milford; delegate to State
Council, Mrs. Ed. Krewatch and al
ternate, Mrs. Joseph McIlvaine, Of
Lewes.
Mrs. Wheatley announced that
the scholarship offered bv the
Home Demonstration Club to a
girl interested in Home Economics
at the University has been award
ed to Charlotte Swanson of Mil
ford. Miss Swanson is the daugh-
Continued on page q
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Sen. Williams
Urges Cancer
Support
State Junior SOlOn Says
First Essential Move Is
To Contribute To Cam
paign.

A first step in controlling cancer
is to contribute to the Delaware
Cancer Campaign, u. S. Senator
John ]. Williams declared yester-
day.
Calling the campaign "a great
drive against an insidiOus force
which is constantly at work to un-
dermine the nations health" the
senator said he believes the peo-
pie of Delaware will give gener-
ously to meet the state quota,
which is $51,3OO.
At the same time Mrs. Thomas
B. Young, executive director of
the Delaware Division, American
Cancer Society, listed the seven
danger signals, which she said
every DelaWarean should remem-
ber for his or her own protection
against the disease.
Senator Williams issued the
following statement:
During April, the citizens of
Delaware, and of our entire ma
tiOn, have the opportunity to as
sist in a great drive against an in
sidiOus force which is constantly
at work to undermine the nations
health.
Continued on paqe p
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16

ing the official welcoming party,
leaders not only of the town and
county's veterans organizations.
but also of the cOmmunity's gov
ernment, chamber of commerce
and service organizations. Riding
up the flag-bedecked street, Com
mander Brannaman was greeted
on every side by placards, shields,
and banners, bearing his name to-
gether with the word Welcome. 2"
AS the convoy reached the can
al that separates the kindred COM
munities of Lewes and Lewes
Beach, the drawbridge was sud
denly raised, halting the process
sion, and here, again, the distin-
guished guest received a pleasant
surprise, for, on the drawbridge
itself, with each letter surrounded
by a token horse-cOllar, was an
other big Welcome" sign.
Continued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
T.FW. Visited
Delaware Last Week
Ray H. Brannaman Deeply Impressed By Out
standing Reception He Received During
His Visit To State. Over 80 Members OF
Milford Post And Auxiliary Attended The
Honorary Dinner Held At Lewes.

Last Wednesday afternoon and
evening, lower Delaware met Ray
H. Brannaman and the National
COmmander-in-Ch in turn, met
lower Delaware-and both came
away from the meeting much i'm
pressed! Literally opening it's
arms to the national leader of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars-lOwer
Delaware, and the town of Lewes,
in particular, extended the type of
hospitality for which this section
is famed, and, despite overcast
clouds and a chilling, damp breeze
from off the waters of the Della
ware Bay, bid the distinguished
guest welcome in a manner that
was both impressive and heart
warming.
Upon arrival at the outskirts of
town around 3 p. M, Wednesday,
Commander = in Chief Brannaman
was met by a convoy of cars bear
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Restaurant Is Also Des-
trOyed During Spectac-
ular Fire AT Ingrams,
Early Tuesday Morn
ing Of This Week.

Damage estimated at S55 900 re-
suited from the destruction bv fire
early Tuesday morning of this week
OF the new and modern Milford
roller rink and restaurant on the
highway to Lincoln, south of Mil
ford.
Flames swept rapidly through
the frame and steel structure built
only last year, and ffremen from
nve volunteer companies could
save only an adjacent store and
an apartment above and a food
freezer locker nearby. The inter-
lor Of the store was gutted and the
apartment interior, together with
contents were mostly DESTROYED
Cause of the blaze, discovered at
2:SO a. m, was undetermined. All
OF the properties, including the
rink and restaurant, the store and
apartment and the food locker
were owned by Charles ingram of
Milford.
Mr.. Ingram lived in the apart
ment above the store, a super mar
AON 5AOOCAys
The single-flOOr frame rink and
restaurant, 100 feet long and so
feet wide, was left pile of black
ened embers. Loss was partially
covered by insurance.
OF modern design, the combina-
ton rink and restaurant was so
constructed that a large glass wall
separating the two sections en-
abled diners to have a constant
view of skaters.
= The food freezer locker. about 20
feet from the destroyed building
contains thousands of pounds of
food stored for Milford families.
The Milford, Houston. Ellendale.
Harrington and Frederick Fire
Companies battling the blaze. were
forced to rely solely upon tank
wagon water supplies because of
the lack of city water facilities.
the nearest hydrant being over 500
feet away.
Telephone service in the area
was temporarily disrupted when
overhead lines nearby were burn
ed down.
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16

VIII DC pl lCOClllCu Ill the auditorium
of the administration building at
2:S0 p. m. by the children of the
school department.
This school, between George
town and MillsborO, a mile east
of the dupont Highway, is for the
training of mentally deficient in
dividuals and includes approx
mately eleven hundred acres of
ground. The area in which the
patients live is divided into a boys
sector comprised of four cottages,
a girls sector with four cottages
and an infrmary. The present en-
rOllment in the Institution is 497,
"a of these are on home place
ment under the custody and super
vision of the commission.
Continuous effort, in spite of
OvercrOWded conditions, is exer-
cised to classify patients in the
cottage system according to chrOn-
illogical age, mentality and behav-
Continued on page 1S)
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Tenth Annual Boys
State May z And 8
More Than 100 Boys viii Partici.
pate In Program

The tenth annual Boys State of
the Department of Delaware. AM
erican Legion, will be held at Do
yer on Friday and Saturday, May
z and 8.
During the twO-day session high
school youths will serve as 'legis-
lators," the elected "administra-
tive officers" of the state. and leg
islative attaches"
More than 100 boys will partiei-
pate. William E. Matthews, Jr.,
member Of David c. Harrison Post
No. IA, American Legion, Smyrna,
is general chairman.
All representatives, senators"
and attaches" and the various
boy state officers must be selected
by Saturday, Julian A. Todd, de-
partment adjutant, said.
Selections of the boy state Off
GERS are being made in the high
schools and private schools of high
school rating throughout the state.
Continued on page q
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Local Skating Rink
Completely Razed
By $4,000 Blaze
DAYLIGHT SAVING is
PASSED FOR MILFORD

The members of Milford
City Council, at a meeting
held Tuesday of this week
in the council chambers on
North Walnut street, passed
a resolution ordering the
city wide observance of day.
light saving time this year.
The local plan will follow
the national observance
schedule and will go into ef-
feet at 300 a. m. on Sun
day, April 25. Persons are
advised to turn their clocks
ahead one hour at midnight.
Saturday, April "a. The ma
jOrity of the larger towns in
the state will observe day
light saving time. Trains.
mails and buses are expect
ed to continue on Eastern
Standard Time.
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Health Drive VIII
Open In Milford
On Monday Next
Entire Week viii Be De-
voted To Health Week
Crusade;" X-Ray, Mo
bile Units And Blood
Test Will Be Available


The entire week beginning April
19, will be devoted to a health
crusade in Milford. Monday, April
is, 8 q. m. to 10 noon, Caulk Lab
oratory, Lake avenue; / to 4 p.
m, Caulk Laboratory, Causey ave-
nue.; Tuesday, April 20, 9 a. m. to
~ noon and p. m. to 4:30 p. m,
Sussex Poultry Plant; Wednes-
day, April 81, 9 a. m. to IL noon,
MulhOlland Spoon Factory; / p. m.
to p. m, Benjamin Banker Pub
lie School; Thursday, April %, all
day, 8 a. M. to IL noon, / D. m. to
p. m. and Z p. m. to 8 p. m, Mil
ford Bridge, center of city; Fri
day, April %, all day, wherever IS
people have assembled; Saturday,
8 a. m. to ~ noon, if necessary.
The State Board of Health Mo-
bile X-ray Unit will be located at
the above named places to take
pictures of the chest, under the
supervision of competent doctors
and nurses. At the same time
blood tests will be made for the
detection of any blood disease. All
citizens are requested to take ad-
vantage of this opportunity to have
a thorough check-up and find out
just what their physical condition
is.
The following are those who
must take the blood tests and have
an X-ray taken Of their chests
all food handlers of any descrip-
tiOn whatsoever, viz: cooks, gro
GERS and all employees who handle
food, soda fountain employees,
candy manufacturers all employ
ees Of any restaurant, employees
of any taprOom and dispensers of
bar liquors, dish washers, dispen-
sers Of any food, fruit or other
products sold or supplied for hu-
man consumption, not in sealed
containers, dairies and milk hand
lers and employees of canning fac
tories.
The above regulations comply
with the ordinance passed by the
Council Of the City of Milford and
will be enforced to the letter of
the law.
Those taking these tests and
found physically fit. will receive a
Continued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
In-ServiCe
Training For
School Staffs
Intensive Program Has
Been Conducted At LO-
cal Schools Since Last
Fall.

Studying and homework is by no
means confined alone to the pupils
of the Milford Elementary School
and the Milford High School. Since
last fall the stats of these schools
have been actively engaged in a
program of in-service training. A
thorough study of the programs of
these two schools has been under
taken by the teachers. Much has
been accomplished during the year,
according to Superintendent Har-
old A. Shaterian, but a program
of research is one that never ceases
for the dynamic nature of our
world today and the needs of learn
ers and the needs of community
life call for constant attack upon
the problems which the schools
face.
The program has called for large
group meetings every two weeks.
AT these sessions committees. of
teachers have presented reports to
other members of the group. The
program was undertaken with con-
sultant service from the University
of Delaware. DR.. w. Earle Arm
strong and DR.. MilOsh Muntyan,
dean of the school of education of
the University Of Delaware, and
DR.. MilOsh Muntyan, an assistant
professor of the school of educa-
tion at the State University, con-
Quoted the initial sessions of the
staff last fall. 1t was then decided
that the high school group would
engage in a program of self-eval-
uatiOn under the leadership of w.
w. McGinnes, assistant superinten-
dent of the Milford Special School
District and that the elementary
school group would engage in a
study of the curriculum of grade
Continued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Mayor WilkersOn
Urges Support
Of Bond Drive

c. Van Nuis Wilkerson, of Mil
ford, in an interview today with
member of the repOrtial staff of
the Milford Chronicle, urges the
citizens of Milford TO examine per-
sOnal and family finances with the
idea of buying as many extra bonds
as possible during the security loan
campaign which began yesterday,
April 18th, and runs until June 80.
Inasmuch as the security loan
campaign depends upon the volun-
teer aid of public-spirited citizens,
Mayor WilkersOns calls upon all
who can help sell bonds to others
to offer their services to the local
bond committee.
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
All Youth Learn
Herd Improvement
County Club Agents VIII Assist In
Wide Program

Asked what he planned to do
with a dairy heifer he had just
bought at a sale, a 14-year-old All
Club boy replied: add her to my
foundation herd. Through my All
projects, I'm learning how to select
and breed dairy animals to in
crease milk production per COW;
also, how to balance rations and
keep records. By demonstrating to
others what I learn not only gives
me experience in public speaking.
but helps to improve the dairy in
dustry in my community. This year
I'm helDing to save grain for fore
ign relief by feeding more good
rOughage and by preventing
waste"
Continued on page 3
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Plans For Vets
Home Discussed
Give Newton, MiddletOwn
Architect, Here Tues
day Night

Plans for the projected veterans
post home were discussed at great
length at Tuesday evenings regu-
lar meeting of Blue Hen Post No.
6483, V. F. w. Attending the meet
ing and participating in the dis
cussiOn of plans was Give Newton,
MiddletOwn architect, who has
been retained by the post to draft
plans and blueprints of the new
home. DR.. James R. West, post
commander, presided over the
meeting with Louis J. Pack, chair
man of the post home committee,
leading the discussion regarding
the home.
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Announce Contest
For Plaza Opening

Those Making Correct Guesses
Will Be Eentertained At Opening
How good are you at guessing? ?
With local and area interest stead
lily mounting in the beautiful new
modern theatre being constructed
by the Schine Circuit in Milford.
the Chronicle, in conjunction with
the Schine management, is spOn-
soring an exciting contest idea
based on the opening date of the
new theatre. The person or per-
sons guessing the opening date of
Schine's Milford Theatre( which
is the name of the new theatre)
will, along with their families, be
guests of honor at the opening
performance and at dinner party
preceding it. Participants in the
contest are requested to mail their
opening date entry to the Contest
Editor, CO Plaza Theatre, Milford,
Del.
Excellent progress on the con-
structiOn of the new Milford thea
tire has been made in recent
weeks. Under the guidance of Guy
Keeler of the Benz Engineering
Corp, approximately so men, most
of them from Milford and vicinity,
have been working on the struc-
ture since June of last year. They
worked through the worst winter
experienced in this area in many
years and in the face of many
other obstacles, including difficult
ties in getting materials. The COM
pleted theatre will be the largest
and most luxurious on the Eastern
Shore.
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Milton Veterans
Plan Carnival
Gala Affair win Be Held Week OF
May II TO %

The Veterans. Of Foreign Wars
and the American Legion Posts, of
Milton, are presently sponsoring
plans for a Carnival, which will be
held in that town the week of May
18th to May 22nd.
The veterans are planning a gala
affair, and from time to time news
releases telling of the development
Of the plans will be carried in the
Lews columns of this paper.
Many splendid prizes will be off
cred to the public during the carni-
val week; a few listed so far in
clude; an automatic ironer, gas and
electric stoves, freezers and re-
frigeratOrs.
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Local Play Was
Well Received
School Produced Offering Best
Seen Here In Years

A short time ago Milford wit
messed their first original show,
produced by the Milford High
School Music, Art and Agriculture
Departments. According to the
size of the audiences, the laughter
and hearty applause, the show was
a great success.
The scenery, designed and paint
ed by the Art Department, was a
superior piece of workmanship.
All seven scenes were different and
reflected the mood of the various
types of American music. When
one realizes that this work was
done by students, it can be doubly
appreciated. Not only was it a
fine job, but it was wonderful
practical experience for all of the
art students in the Milford Junior
Senior High School. The art tea
cher, Miss ElOise COnte, is to be
congratulated.
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
1913 Outlook For
Turkeys Favorable
j. Frank GOrdy Presents Statistics
At Sussex Meeting

The outlook for turkey growers
for 194S was reported favorable by
J. Frank GOrdy, extension poultry
man, at meeting of turkey grow
ers held in the Dublin Hill Com
munity Hall on Thursday evening
of last week With an estimated
reduction of 800 in the 1948 vol
ume of production in comparison
with 1947, plus "a reduction of al
most 500 in storage holdings as
OF February 1948 over 1947 and a
very marked increase in per capi-
ia consumption of turkey during
the past three years, every indica-
ton points to a good year in 1948.
While Mr.. GOrdy stressed the fact
that there was no way to accurate
~ predict what the situation would
continued on page y
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Citizens Interested
liz Blue Cross Plan
Director Says Response To
Non Group Plan
t Was Great

General appreciation of the av-
erage individuals need for hospi-
tai and surgical protection is re-
fiected in results of the Blue Cross
nOn-group enrolment period held
from March % to April 2, Harold
v. Maybee, managing director, said
today.
"Delawareans in every walk of
life, ineligible for group enroll
ment because Of their occupations,
contacted Blue Cross headquar-
ters for information and applica-
tion blanks" Mr.. Maybee said.
continued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
Spanish War Vets
Meet Here Sunday
Gathering viii Be Held In The
New ArmOry

Next Sunday, April is, Delmar-
va Camp, No. IA, U. S. w. ", will
meet at the new Armory with Out
post No. 2. This being Muster Day
and the 50th Anniversary of the
Spanish-American War, it is re-
quested that all veterans of that
war, whether members of the or
ganization or not, meet with the
camp. There will be members of
the department present and there
will be speakers to tell of the
happenings during the war, and
since.
The Auxiliary will meet at the
same time and place, and there
win be refreshments served after
the meeting. There is expected to
be some report made as to the de-
Dartment convention to be held at
Ocean City, Md, in June.
Milford chronicle., 1948-04-16
DOUer District
Youth Institute
Session Will Be Held In
Georgetown Church
Tomorrow

On Saturday. April II, in the
Grace Methodist Church, George
town, the Methodist Youth of the
Dover District will hold their
spring rally.
The theme of the rally will be
I'VE Must Learn Christ's Way"
In the afternoon classes will be
held considering this theme in
various ways.
The program follows:
9:45 a. m.-RegistratiOn.
1905 a. m.-Youth in COnversa-
tion Gin the sanctuary.
1920 a. m.-Directed singing.
continued on page lOl