davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1949-10-28

The last place any Of us would
choose for a sight seeing tour
would be our own home town. If
there is one place we all know
by heart it is Milford. And yet, it
is sometimes possible not to be
able to see the woods for the
trees, and though looking at the
same thing every day not to see it
at ALL This is the time for self
examination, so let us turn and
glance backwards and see how the
Milford of the past has created the
Milford of the present.
Most of you know that North
Milford was the old town and was
a prosperous settlement long be-
fore South Milford grew up. For
many years there was nothing on
the southern side of the creek but
the great Crapper plantation, a
stretch of 1870 acres of land val
ued at 100000, a large fortune in
that day. The plantation house,
which we know as the old Causey
Mansion, remains to this day, and
is still the most beautiful resi-
dence in the town. 1t was built
about 1863 by Levin Crapper and
was then a house of two stories
and a half with dormers in the
roof, the back of the house being
what is now the front 1t was Gov
ernOr Causey who raised the third
story and gave the house the state
" classic lines it now has. Per-
haps no house in Sussex so per-
fectly represents Delaware civili-
cation during the years before tho
War between the States as this one
All the culture, all the hospitality
and open handedness of our an.
cient Delaware stock is enshrinet
there and you have only to look t.
catch a glimpse of the past. II
one of the slave quarters lived thu
black Nanny Of the household. A'
she grew old she grew fat so tina
she could no longer ascend tn
narrow little staircase to he
sleeping room above, so her mas
ter had enough bricks removed 4
make a wider passage for her ant
to this day the hollow place mad
for her comfort can be seen in tn
wall.
For many years the life of tn
Crapper plantation provided tn
only activity of the southern sid
of the stream, but in North Mil
ford things were stirring. The tow
owes its origin to two men, bot
of whom we must meet before w
examine the work they accom-
plished. First, Mr.. Joseph Oliver
whose plantation comprised tn
land. known as Saw Mill Rang
His house stood about half wa
between the present site of M
James Stanton's and the creek.
was many years later cut in ha
and moved to Front street in Sout
Milford about where JOseph's Ga
age now stands and where mar
will probably remember it. M
Oliver was a keen business maj
he ran a store and bought COUNT
produce which he shipped in b
own vessels out of the river. +
petitioned for a drawbridge aero
the stream and it was built at Z
continued on page 18)
Milford chronicle., 1949-10-28
Col. B. C. Potter Was
Local Philantropist

One of the earliest philanthrop-
lists of the state was a citizen of
Milford. He was Col. Benjamin Pot
ter, who came here from Drum
mondtown in Virginia and bought
the old ThOrne Estate (Silver HID
in 1920 from the Clayton heirs.
Col. Potter operated the Tan
Yards located on the East side of
Front Street, near the Run, and
established another Yard on a
branch of the Tub Mill Pond, which
was known as the Tan Yard
Branch. He operated store known
as the Tan Yard Store" on the
South side of Front Street, oppo-
site Silver Hills and also dealt in
land, freighting, etc. He accumula-
ted a large estate, which consisted
chiefly Of land. as was usual in
continued on page 25)
Milford chronicle., 1949-10-28
Col. Townsend Was
Outstanding Editor
Found Time In Busy Life To Take
Part In Community Affairs

Few men living in any COM
mun1ty ever played a more i'm
portant role in their community's
affairs than did the late Colonel
Townsend, for fifty-eight years ed
itor and publisher of the Milford
Chronicle, the recognized leading
weekly paper on the DelmarVa
Peninsula since its inception in
1878.
Colonel Townsend was born IN
Kent County, Delaware, March 16,
1855, son Of the late Elias Town
send, who was born in Sussex
County, Delaware, and was a we'll
known seafaring man Of his
time and of Mary (Cropper)
Townsend, native of Kent County.
He attended the public schools
in his district and for two winters
was a student in a private school
in Milford. Upon his being gradual
ed from this school, he went to
Newark, N. j., and learned the art
of manufacturing gold jewelry. He
worked at this trade for three
years.
In 1873, he be~ome a reporter on
the old Newark, N. j., Call"
travelling for that publication and
writing special articles; many Of
which were reprinted i'm other
leading papers in the East He
found in this connection the con-
Continued on page 27g
Milford chronicle., 1949-10-28
Bob Shilling
Writes History
of Schools
Milford Educator Pieces
Together Early His
tory Of Education In
City.

The early history of education in
Milford has to be pieced together
from many sources authentic and
otherwise, and this article is not
to be considered either complete,
or completely accurate. If, from
this beginning, others should be
moved to make corrections, addi-
tiOns and revisions, a real story
may sometime be written.
Such history has to be pieced to-
gether in another respect because
for so many years there were two
MilfOrds instead of one.
There are newspaper records
that relate to a Select (pay)
School, in Milford, kept by a Rev.
Alex Huston, or Houston, pastor of
the Double and Three Runs Church
in 1777, when John Quincy Adams
and Andrew Jackson were ten-year-
old lads. In this school was edu-
Gated the orphan son of Colonel
John Haslet, famous Revolutionary
hero of Delaware. Joseph Haslet
CuuSdl6u III MllIOIus was Sl6CLe(
Governor of Delaware in 1910, ant
reelected Governor in 1922, beinI
the only man to achieve this doubl
honor until, over 100 years later
Governor Clayton Douglass Bucl
wass elected to a second term. Gov
ernOr Buck had an early ancestor
John M. Clayton, who also receives
his education in Milford. Betweel
his terms as Governor, Joseph Has
let served on the first Board o
School Commissioners in Ceda
Creek Hundred, appointed in 1S1
along with Curtis Shockley an,
LOwder Layton.
There is another record to tn
effect that the first free school il
ALL of Milford was in a smal
frame house on Washington stree
in the rear of the Charles Barke
residence. This may be the build
ing referred to by Mr.. Hynson i
his book, as having been a schOC
as early as 1925.
Continued on page 23)
Milford chronicle., 1949-10-28
Gen. A. T. A. Torbert
Was Leading Militarist
Was one Of MlIfOrd's Most Famous
Citizens Famed in Consular Service

Those who remember the past
never pass the present Mulholland
Apartments without being remind
cd of one of Milford's most famous
citizens, General TOrbert. He was
born at Georgetown in 1888, the
son of Jonathan Torbert and Cat
herine Milby. He was educated at
Georgetown Academy and West
Point from which he was gradual
cd in 1855 as a Second Lieutenant
of Infantry
In 1867 he served in the camp
aign against the Seminole Indiana
in Florida. In 1861 he was placed il
command of the First New Jersey
Volunteers end took command of
his regiment at Alexandria. While
in this command, he served in the
Peninsula Campaign and was en-
gagged in the Siege of Yorktown,
being present at second Manassas.
AT the death of General Taylor,
Torbert became Commander of the
Brigade. He was at Stone Mountain
and numerous other engagements
in the War between The States
After the war, he was in command
of the military district of Winch
ester, and later the district Ol
southeastern Virginia
continued on page 25)
Milford chronicle., 1949-10-28
FAVORITE SONS

MIlford's Ancient WORTHLESS
''The treasures Of antiquity laid up
In old historic rolls, ! opened"
Beaumont
In honoring our famous
sons and daughters, we find
so many worthy of a place in
our column that it is imposs-
ible to include them all, so
these that are presented are
but a few chosen from the
various walks of life in an eff
fort to give a picture of all
sorts and conditions of men.
Those whose names are abb
sent are omitted solely be-
cause of lack of space.
Milford chronicle., 1949-10-28
MILFORD FOUNDED TN 1857 THROUGH THE EFF0
OF JOSEPH OLIVER and REV. SYDENHAM THORN

Great Crapper Plantation For Years Was Only
Dwelling In South Milford; Northern Part
OF Town Boasted Eighty Buildings By
1870; Purity Row" Long Gave An 18th
Century Look To Northwest Front Street
Evening star., 1949-05-29
Carl Crash Fatal 10 ;,
Disrupts Commencement
By fhs Assseiotsd Press

BUCYRUS, Ohio, May ga
party arranged by townspeople to
honor-and safeguard-Bucyrus
High School graduates was dis
rupted early today by the death
of three youths in train-auto-
mobile crash.
Two cars. which had been run
ming abreast on a fog -shrouded
highway, crashed into a moving
New York Central freight train
north OF the city.
Two of the dead we're high
school seniors. Two other young
men were injured seriously.
The accident occurred while
other members Of the junior and
senior classes attepded q movie.
following banquet and dance.
Townsfolk had arranged the en-
tertainment. to have been fol-
lowed by q 2 am. breakfast at
the country, club. to keep the
youngstears under control--and
safe--during 1.-THE celebration Of
commencement.
The, dead. all in car dragged
400 yards by the train. we're:
Eugene E. Gearheart. II. senior:
Jack Mullen, II, q senior. and
william L. Barbour. 20. who grad
uated last year.
Evening star., 1949-05-29
DR.. W. {. PhaIen Rites
Will Be Held Tomorrow

Funeral services for DR.. William
Clifton Phalen. 70, salt expert and
consulting geologist with the Bu-
reau Of Mines. will be held at
pm. tomorrow in the Hines Fu-
neral Home. 2901 Fourteenth
street NV. Burial will be private
DR.. Phalen died Friday at his
home, TIT Lanier place NV.
after long illness.
He was assistant chemical and
physical geologist for the Ma
tional Museum for two years and
transferred to the Geological Sur
vey in 1904 to become a specialist
in the field Of salt deposits. Later,
he became mineral technologist
with the Bureau of Mines.
In 1920 he joined the Solvay
Process Co.. Syracuse, N. Y, as q
salt geologist until his retirement
In 1916. He returned to Wash
ington after retiring and was a
consultant for the Bureau Of
Mines at the time of his death.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs.
Bertha Walter Phalen:. son
Clifton Walter Phalen. and two
grandchildren, Clifton A. and
Carol Pahlen. all of Plandome,
N. Y. and a sister. Mrs. Guy
Wagner. Gloucester. Mass.
Evening star., 1949-05-29
Opens
New London Service
ey the Assoeiussd Press

LONDON, May 2S.-A plane
called the Mayfiower arrived in
London today with IS American
press representatives and aircraft
officials aboard. after a demon
stration fight from New York tax
ing 8 hours. 56 minutes.
The flight Is a preview Of week
end Stratoscruiser service between
New York and London, starting
next week.
The Mayfower. a Boeing g
double-deck plane, is one Of feet
Of nine now in service Of Pan
American World Airways. on runs
from the United States to Homo
lulu and Bermuda.
The week end in London" serv-
ice will be an extra-fare flight,
complete with free orchids and
champagne. sleeper service. dress
ing rooms and a first deck cock
tail lounge.
Newsmen making today's flight
will 60 to Frankfurt. Germany,
tomorrow for interviews with
Marshall Plan officials and an
inspection tour Of the airlift op-
Grafton. They are to return to
London Monday and are due back
in New York Tuesday morning.
Evening star., 1949-05-29

versity Glee Club will sing.
Bishop Block. a native of Wash
ington. received his bachelor Of
arts degree from George Wash
ington University in 1907.
The baccalaureate service is one
Of the events in the Commence
ment Week program which will be
climaxed at 8 pm. Wednesday by
graduation exercises for 500 men
and women.
Alumni To Get Awards.
Distinguished alumni awards
will be presented to four univer-
sity graduates at that time. They
are Syngman Rhee. president of
Korea; Robert D. Murphy Of the
State Department; Miss Edith NJ
Hayden. director of nurses at st,
Elizabeth's Hospital: and DR.. Rob-
ert Howe Harmon. director of CIV
Glee Clubs for Is years.
Thirty members of the gradu-
ating class of the law school will
be initiated into the Order of the
Golf at a banquet at 7::30 pm.
tomorrow In the Washington
Hotel.
The annual award Of honors
will be held at 4 pm. Tuesday
In Lsner Auditorium. Among the
awards to be given is the J. Fred
erick Essary Prize in Journalism.
the first time this award has been
made. 1t was established In mem
ory Of the late Mr.. Essary. WASH
ington correspondent for the Bal
timore Sun. a .5.s..4...
Reception Scheduled.
DR.. and Mrs. Marvin will be
hosts at a reception in honor of
the graduates and their parents
at $50 pm. Tuesday at the May
flower Hotel.
Among the degrees to be con-
ferred Wednesday Is the doctor of
education degree to John r.
Brougher, who has been principal
Of Coolidge High School here since
1916. He has been in the public
school system since 1896.
Miss Mary Mitchell Alexander,
research bacteriologist at Camp
Detrick, Frederick, Md. will re-
ceive the doctor Of philosophy de-
gree. as will Kenneth w. Crosby
assistant professor of history at
Juniata College. Huntingdon, Pa,
and Louis ]. Pecora, associate psy-
chologist at the National Institute
Of Health.
Evening star., 1949-05-29

tai. whom he described as my
friend and a great American,
with Mr.. Truman's permission
asked Mr.. johnson to take over.
The appointment subsequently
was made.
Mr.. johnson said there are some
who have charged that he at.
tempted to undermine" his pred.
ecessor, and added:
''Mr. Forrestal himself said he
had checked and double-checked
and found I had not said an un-
kind word about him"
Preparing for Peace.
The Secretary told the home
folks that when he spoke of prep
aration for war and events. in
my heart I feel we are preparing
for peace"
"I believe with all my heart
that peace for US and peace for
the next generation can come only
through a strong America"
Other speakers were William G.
Stathers. Clarksburg attorney
who was POSTMASTER: Senators
Kilgore and Neely. Democrat. OF
w. Va; c. B. Highland. Clarks-
burg publisher and banker; DEM
ocratic National Committeeman
Arthur B. Koontz. Republican Ma
tional Committeeman Walter S
Hallanan, Supreme Court Judge
Frank S. Raymond. C. w. Van
Horn. retired Baltimore g. Ohio
Railroad oficial. and Paul Griffin
former National Legion COM
mander and now an aide to john
son.
Evening star., 1949-05-29
School Board Requests
New $4,000 Position

A request for q new position Of
assistant to the associate superin-
tendent in charge of school build
ings and grounds has been sent
to the Commissioners by the
Board of Education.
The School board approved the
new position. which would pay $4.-
100 a year to start. In a poll con-
cluded yesterday.
John M. Riecks, associate sup
erintendent in charge of buildings
and grounds. said that II the
Commissioners approved the new
position 1t would have to be In
cluded In the next school budget
before efforts to find q man could
begin. The assistant would work
only with the white schools. he
said.
An assistant for colored schools
has been authorized for his ONCE,
Mr.. Riecks said. but the position
has not been filled as yet.
Evening star., 1949-05-29
BaccaIaureaie Today
Al Marjorie Webster

The haccaiaureaie service sor
"a seniors Of Marjorie Webster
Junior College viii be held ~ 4
O'Clock this afternoon al
the Northm;nxter Presbyterian
Church with the Rev. William II
Kepler. the minister. speaking
The college viii hold class day
at pm tomorrow NJ the school
An art exhibit and tea viii fol-
low al <;3o pm. while q physical
education demonstration Is sehed-
uled for $50 pm.
The speaker at the graduation
exercises at IL an Tuesday In
the college auditorium viii be
DR.. John w. Mason. president OF
Swarthmore College.
Evening star., 1949-05-29
Hagersfown Blue Law Case
Ends in Jury Deadlock
BY the Associoisd Press

HAGERSTOWN. Md. May 20
The Circuit Court jury trying q
test case on Washington County's
225-year-old blue law was dis
missed today after announcing Il
could not reach a verdict.
On trial were three employees OF
an outdoor movie charged with
violating the ban on all but
necessary" work on the Sabbath.
After celebrating more than
3h hours, the Jury filed back into
the courtroom and Foreman Jacob
Poffenberger told Judge Joseph D.
Mish:
Your Honor. the jury is hope
lessly deadlocked."
The three employees Of the
drfve-in movie. T. w. North. jr.,
Clinton Karneand Jack Mckee,
were arrested by Sheriff Joseph
D. Baker two weeks ago after
he received a complaint from the
Washington County Ministerial
Association.
Evening star., 1949-05-29
Memorial Doy Schedule

Memorial DAY tswags scess4As2
today and txsnos-cw srscsSa1s tns
tnsacsrs
TOnAN.
! Pms Hocastax es n=Eses ts
tie services. SaFSes M1zs.4sssssss
Af.lagtan censeseTg
pm .~~NAt&exaAi Ladies A4x1a,
saEy es F9ees Rr&gse As@c~sa ssaz
Tomb o. Unknown sscb1aes sss<t
Mxss as TIE Aa4sas, Ags2:sg ssss'
Cemetery.
AIS pm State Senator |.
Harold Sothosra et pyance
Georges Coaniy ssseaks at rsrs'
eases OF Ivy Hill Cemetery. Laurel
A parade wtsl aFece<te cegwrraossssa
TOMORROW.
. am~Aemnxi Robert u
PsAgy Ship No, AL. Veterans q.
roseaSn Wars. honor Nase sse
Marine Corps dead. Ha&na Ro.nt-
y amS<EsAees at Gic SOD
GfrfS Home esTSAf6fy,
. an ~~Aass. DsIneaEtnu Cal
leges Of tsae Holy Cross chapel
s&s aIm Brig Gen Bonner
Felierx. aciang for Veterans a.
Foretgn WafS. places wreath al
Tomb of The Unknown Soldier
10 am Faculty and students
OF Georgetown University Sehesol
of Law honor dead. law library
sixth and z streets NV,
10 am--S~ryices at World War
monument III front Of Prince
Georges County courshosase. Upper
Marlboro. sponsored by Uppeg
Marlboro Lions Club. American
Legion and Volunteer FIRE Depart
ment, preceded by a parade,
1880 am. --- Annual Arlington
Cemetery services sponsored by
Grand Army Republic Memorial
Day Corp. amphitheater
II am Services al grave al
Brig. Gen. Evans r, Carlson By
Evans =. Carlson Chapter Of tho
American Veterans Committee
Arlington Cemetery,
II am. -~ Alexandria services
sponsored by Northern Virginia
Veterans Memorial Day Commit
tee, World War Memorial. George
Washington High School. Mt ver-
non and Glendale avenues,
IL am.--Col. Leroy Mann. com
manding otiieer OF 2soth Anti
Aircraft Artillery. District Ma
tional Guard. will speak al services
at Greenbelt war memorial A
parade will start an hour later.
ilam,--Sersices at the war me-
mortal In front OF the Capitol
Heights Elementary School. spon-
sored by veterans organizations Of
Seat Pleasant and Capitol Heights
also preceded by a parade
ii:i5 a.m.-Admiral william r
Halsey speaks at annual memorial
program OF the Fleet Reserve As
sociation at the Watrrgate
1880 pm---Seryices At grave Of
Seret. John Basilone. Marine Con
sressional of Honor Winner. Arl-
ington Cemetery.
2 pIm.--Mrs. Truman receives
bouquet OF poppies from Flanders
fields.
2 pm,--Arlington County pa
rade. from $500 block OF Wilson
boulevard to American Legion Post
No. l39. 3445 North Washington
boulevard for services at 3 pm
2p.m.--Marine Corps dead hon
ored In placing OF wreaths at lac
Evening star., 1949-05-29
Lions Club 10 Meet
tuesday 10 Talk Over
River Boat Raid

With four members facing
charges Of setting up a gaming
table and their Embarrassing ef-
forts foiled, the board of di-
rectors of the Southwest Harbor
Lions Club will talk the whole
thing over at a special meeting
Tuesday. Club President Ashley
Abendschein said last night.
Among other things. the board
plans to discuss employing Mary
land counsel for the four men
scheduled for a hearing in Hyatts-
vile Police Court Thursday.
The men were accused of run
ming a game Of chance-a money
wheel - when Prince Georges
County police raided the Lions
Club cruise aboard the S. S. Mt.
Vernonslast Wednesday night.
Mr.. Abendschein said that be-
cause the wheel was shut down.
the cruise failed to raise the funds
wanted by the club for its pro-
gram of providing eye care and
glasses for needy children and
elderly persons.
Club members last night were
still trying to figure out why
their cruise was raided when
numerous other clubs have similar
charity fetes aboard the riverboat.
They couldn't understand. for
instance. why the raiding detec-
tives failed to realize the cruise
was a Lions. club benefit. The
detectives have said they would
not have wasted hours Of police
work had they known the cruise
was a charity affair.
Mr.. Abendschein said two large
signs advertising the cruise as a
Lionss Club benefit were posted
at the pier entrance and the
tickets which the detectives said
they purchased to board the ship
hand Lions Club" printed plainly
on them. &
Evening star., 1949-05-29

graduating class
of G e o rg e
Was hin G { o n
University at 8
o'clock tonight
in Washington
Cathedral.
DIR. Cloy d
II eek Marvin.
president Of the
university. will
read the scrip
ture lesson. as
has been his
custom for a
n u m b e r of
years. The Uni
Evening star., 1949-05-29
Finance Commission
Sought 10 Erect Plants
To Treat City Wastes

A proposal to establish f1nanc-
ing authority for the Potomac
River watershed is being studied
by the Interstate Commission on
the Potomac River Basin.
The proposal. made by M. X.
Wilberding, representing the
Washington Board Of Trade on
the commissions Local Govern
ments Committee, calls for an au-
thority patterned loosely after the
New York Port Authority to f.
nance municipal waste treatment
facilities throughout the basin.
The authority. 1t was explained.
would become the financing agency
for the construction of all munic-
ipal waste treatment facilities in
the basin. 1t would issue bonds
and advance funds where treat
ment plants are to be built. Such
funds would be paid back from
service charges to users of the IA
cilities.
Would Affect Interest Rates.
1t was pointed out that the es-
tablishment of a financing au-
thority would save communities at
least per cent interest on bond
issues. Furthermore. the exist
ence of an authority would enable
municipalities which have reached
their legal limit of bonded indebt.
edneSs to finance treatment works
that could be paid for out Of opera
tionS. '-~'s-s. 4-*s.t l5rs.
I. G. Vass, city manager OF
Waynesboro. Va, and chairman
Of the Local Governments Com
mittee. said all States within the
Potomac Basin now have water
control boards whose purpose is
to clean up the pollution in State
streams.
He said cities and towns that
do not have sewage treatment
plants are being ordered by these
boards to construct treatment
facilities. Often. he said. munic-
ipalities find 1t impossible to
finance works that have been
ordered by the pollution control
boards.
Hearing Set for June "a.
The creation Of a financing
authority, it was said, would make
1t possible for almost all munic-
ipalities, regardless of size, to
provide treatment for their sew
age wastes.
Edward r. Cotton, commission
director, said the proposal will
come before the commissions ex-
ecutive committee here June "a
and then will be considered by
the commission at a meeting early
in September. The meeting prob
ably will be held at Martinsburg,
w. Va.
The creation of q basin financ-
ing authority, Mr.. Cotton said,
would require enabling legislation
by the member States of Virginia,
Maryland. Pennsylvania and West
Virginia. and by the District Gov
and Congress.