Smyrna times., 1949-04-14
TO OPEN HOMES
ON DOVER DAY
Some History of Smyrna and
of Old Homes and
Landmarks
"GREYBOX" TO BE OPEN

Interest in the early history of
the town of Smyrna is stimulated
by the opening of three places as
part of the Dover Day porgram ON
Saturday, May z, the funds from
which will be used for the propos-
ed state museum in the restored
old Presbyterian Church, Dover.
History shows that the village
went by the name of Duck Creek
Crossroads until 1906. The Legis-
lature met here in 1892, and at
that time thought of making it the
capital of the state. On January
10th, 1906 the name was changed
to Smyrna, so named because the
town was the grain shipping center
of this section. The house on the
corner of Main and Mt. Vernon
Streets was erected as a double
dwelling in 1917 by Robert Patter-
son. In 1887 it was converted into
a hotel, known as the Upper" or
Steamboat Hotel" 1t was owned
by Joseph Hoffecker and sold in
1856 by his heirs to DR.. S. M. Fis-
Ter. It was improved and remodel
ed by him and opened April 26,
1856 as Delaware House. Farmers
from west of Smyrna in Delaware
and Maryland used it as their stop
ping place on the way to the Smyr-
ma River. The towns earliest hotel
was the Indian King Hotel, built
in 1887, on the site of the present
Post Office; it was here the Legis-
lature met in 1892. The hotel was
later moved to Commerce street
and is now The Colonial Hotel.
Previous to the construction of the
railroad the mail was carried daily
to Smyrna from Dover.
GreyDOxo on Nam Street
One of the three places to be
open for those making the Dover
Day pilgrimage will be "Greyoox",
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. c. L.
Harnonson, which is part of
"Gravesend", large tract describ-
ed in 1774 as being at Duck Creek
Crossroads where the Kings Road
crosses the road to The Landing"
The two-story brick house, which
is the northern part of "Greybox"
was built between 1889 and 1910.
1t was owned by the Marin fam
lily from 1889 until 1927, and was
owned and occupied by members
of the Fisler family for SO years
until sold to the present owners
in 1925. The eastern part of the
present grounds abuts on the old
Kings Highway, traversed by Cae-
sar Rodney in his historic ride to
the Continental Congress at Phil
adelphia in 1776. A priceless one
hundred-year old lockwood garden
may be seen from the drawing
room windows. This was laid out
by Philadelphia gardeners for the
mother of Mrs. Caroline Fisler
Cavendar at the time of her birth,
and was presented to her on her
18th birthday. The interior of the
house has great charm and beauty,
due not alone to the fine proper
tions, but to the thoughtful ex-
preston of the present owners in
creating a "home with a SOUL"
Featured on Dover Day will be
Colonial and Victorian flower ar
rangements. In the dining-room
will be found display of Canton
china, old glass, an original George
III silver coffee urn, and silver
spoons Circa 1880. For those whose
interest lies in old deeds, there may
be found grants and deeds of
Deer Park" (now Blackiston)
from Lord Baltimore to Benjamin
Blackiston; also grant of another
tract, Reserve" to same. There
will also be shown Staffordshire
figurines of Thomas Jefferson and
Alexander Hamilton, and a grand
fathers clock made blythe famous
clock-maker William Huston, of
Philadelphia. Quilts of the early
18O0's will be on display, including
one of the Star of Bethlehem,
worked in a lovely combination of
colors in 1885, an Album quilt; and
a 10th century 'Log-Cabin" quilt
pieced in velvet and silk; and
others.