davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Stockley Colony To
Get Kitchen Unit
Commission To Ask Bids On
New Structure

A One-level, concrete block kitch-
en- will replace the current facili-
ties at the Delaware Colony at
StOckley, members of the Delaware
Commission for the Predetermined
disclosed this week.
Frequently criticized as being
outmOded and inadequate, the
present kitchen will be abolished
and used for storage, office space,
or some other purpose, it was said.
Clyde NJ. Spargo, commission
chairman, said that bids would be
asked on the new construction as
soon as complete plans are re-
ceived from the architect, Samuel
HOmsey..
Estimated cost of the unit-which
will be built in a courtyard and
connect with both wings of the
present infrmary BUILDINGS $780,
900, Mr.. Spargo said.
This amount will come out of the
100000 appropriated to the COM
mission by the 1851 General AS
sembly and earmarked by the 1853
Assembly for kitchen rennOvatiOns
and improvements for the cOlOny's
cottages as well as for the in
firmary.
The most recent barrage of criti-
CONTINUED on page six)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
In
Kent County
Talk Defense
Volunteers At Magnolia
NJ ee tin G Hear State
Officers Discuss Many
Important Problems.

Civil defense problems took up
the majority of the time at meet
ing of the Kent County Volunteer
Firemen's Association in Magnolia
last week.
James Tull, Five Points Fire
Company, deputy fire marshal for
New Castle County. urged all fire
companies to use their radio sys-
TENS properly; explained that the
firemen of the state have had the
best of cooperation and financial
assistance from the Department of
Civil Defense, and also commended
the value of the fire prevention
essay competitions.
Smyrna Chief Speaks
James Truax, chief of the Citi-
zens Hose Company, Smyrna. anC
deputy state fire marshal for Ken
County, expressed his willingness
to assist any fire company needinE
his services provided the redues
for his help comes from the chief
assistant chief. or president of tht
company concerned.
Charles H. Jester, Camden. sec
Ond vice president of the Delawar,
Volunteer Firemen's Association
and president of the Delaware Stat
(conLlnued on page six)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Study Group Plans
Il Pension Survey
VOTERS TURN DOWN
MACHINERY SALE

City Councils proposal to
sell the old municipal power
plant was defeated in a ref
erendum last Friday by 19
votes.
Only 151 out of the $500
eligible voters went to the
polls to express their opinion
on the issue, with 85 against
and 66 in favor of the pro-
pOSal.
The negative vote was a
victory for the faction which
strongly opposed councils
stand on the matter. They
take the view that the
equipment should be retain
ed in case the city decides
to manufacture it's own cur
rent at some distant date.
Mayor Edward C. Evans
and members of council
point out that the equipment
will be obsolete at the ex-
piration of the city's contract
with the Delaware Power
and Light Company. Milford
now purchases it's current
from the utility firm and the
contract has eight years to
run.
Council has voted to sell
the equipment, since the
plant has been closed for
time, if the citizens approved
such a move in a referen-
dunn.
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18

band activities. It is rumOred that
Santa may make a hurried fight
from the North Pole and arrive be-
fore the close of the performance.
Another of the highlights will be
the Interpretation of selections
from the "Nutcracker Suite" by
TschaikOwsky.
At 12:4O, "The Spirit of Christ
mas" will be presented by pupils
from the fourth, fifth and sixth
grades. Teachers and children from
the sixth grade are in charge of the
script and pantOmine. The charac-
ters for the play are Stanley Huey,
Bob Kitchens, and Francis Brad
ley; understudies are Duane Ken
ton, Russell Argo and Wayne Pacz-
kOwski.
A committee composed of teach
ers and pupils from the fifth grade
are working in cooperation with
Mr.. zulick and Mr.. Haight, and
Continued on page 2S)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Will Explore Possibility
And Desirability Of
State Employees Pay
ing Part Of Pension
Costs.

The desirability of having state
employees pay part of the cost of
their pension system is one Of sew
eral possible changes in the system
to be explored by the State En-
plOyes' Pension Study Commission,
it was agreed on Monday at the
commissions meeting.
The commission adopted an oper-
ating program which outlines the
jobs it plans to do.
One of these is to explore Ger
tain aspects of pension administra-
tiOn not currently in effect" These
include employe participation in f.
nancing, "vesting" of rights, and
funding" or reserves.
When an employe has vested
rights in the pension system he has
the right to take certain funds out
of the pension system if he leaves
the employer. Where employees con-
tribute to the pension system they
usually have the right to get back
their contributions if they switch
jobs.
The funding of reserves" refers
to the creation of a special pension
fund, which can be invested, and
from which pension payments are
systematically made. At present
the states pension requirements
are met by appropriations made by
the General Assembly for the needs
of the following two fiscal years
The commission met in Will
mingtOn, with Claude L. Benner
chairman, presiding, and formally
adopted the following operating
program:
I'm enacting the State Pension
Act in 1945 the General Assembly
enunciated for the State of Della
(cOntiOlled IN no pa ei,rN
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18

in Delaware" Fifty-six percent or
$157,914 of the statewide quota will
remain in Delaware for Chapter
use. The remaining 443o will be
sent to National headquarters for
services in military installations.
disaster relief and other essential
activities.
Last year Delaware Chapters
goal was SS12,247 and when the
campaign books were closed $313,-
O66 had been contributed by the
people of this State. The fund
quota which is less than last year
by $3O,3S3, will enable the Della
ware Red Cross to continue its
services to families of men and
women in the Armed Forces, veter-
ans and their families, local hos
pitfalls, institutions and thousands
of individual Delawareans.
For the first time in several
years the local campaign quota in
Continued on page 20
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Group Hospital, Inc,
Tells Of '53 Payments
Huge Sum DiSbursed By Blue
Cross SO Far This Year

Group Hospital Service, Inc,
during the first IL months of 1853,
made payments totalling $2,291,59c
to participating hospitals in Del
aware and nearby New Jersey, it
was reported this week by H. v.
Maybee, managing director.
That amount was received by
nine hospitals, including the four
general hospitals in Wilmington
and those in Lewes, Dover, Mil
ford, SeafOrd, and Salem, New
Jersey.
During the month of November,
payments to these hospitals Is
amounted to S2O4,252. The pay
ments were made for hospital SER
vices to patients who are members
of Group Hospital Service, the
Delaware Blue Cross Plan, and are
protected by its hospital and surgi-
cal-medical insurance plans.
Continued on page sixteen)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Presbyterian Church
To GiUe "The Messiah"
Handlers Famous OratOriO
Will Be Presented Sunday
Evening

The choir of the First Presbyter-
ian Church of Milford will present
the Christmas portion of Handel's
famous Oratorio, "The Messiah, -
Sunday evening, December 20, at
8 o'clock.
Four we'll known chOruses And
the Glory of the Lord" 90 Thou
That Tellest Good Tidings," GLORY
to God" and the "Hallelujah Choir
us" will be sung by the "a voice
choir under the capable direction
of William E. Barnhill, choir di-
rector and Organist.
SOlCists for the musical, are: So
pranO, Mrs. Marie GiltenbOth; con-
traltO, Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett; ten
or, Richard Chambers; baritone
Leon Donovan. All of these have
been frequently heard, both in per-
Continued on page 23)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18

Embarrassing campaign which has
a Kent County goal of $4,000, a
Delaware goal of $165,00O and SIS
million for all 48 states.
Honorable Elbert N. Carvel, State
Chairman of the March Of Dimes"
Campaign, told the group that 1854
was the year for a knockout"
blow to polio. He pointed out that
in years gone by the March of
Dimes and it's charitable support
ers have been on the defensive.
This year, however, the plan is set
for care of past polio victims, pre-
vention of future cases with gam
ma globulin and a trial polio vac
cine, plus an attack on the pelio
virus itself.
This year State Chairman Carvel
pointed out that Delaware is the
7th fastest growing state in the
country. Therefore, with new COM
munities and new people in these
(continued on page az
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Sale OF CITY
Bonds Stopped
By Order OF.
.H. W. BramhalI
Vice Chancellor Issued
Order Restraining City
Council From Selling
Approved $175,OOO
Bond Issue.

The proposed addition to Mil
fOrd's sewage disposal plant was
halted in it's tracks on Tuesday of
this week when Vice Chancellor
Howard w. Bramhall issued re-
straining order preventing the city
from selling a recently approved
$175,000 bond issue.
The restraining order was sought
by a group of Milford residents
headed by former City Councilman
Albert E. Feterman. The group,
through it's attorneys, entered sew
eral objections to the bond issue.
The restraining order was granted
on the objection that the original
bond issue resolution by City Coun-
Gil made no mention of interest
rate.
Action Is Halted
The Milford Council expected to
consider bids on the disposal plant
addition at it's meeting Tuesday
night, but halted all action in view
of the vice chancellOr's ruling.
During the arguments before Mr..
Bramhall, Henry Ridgely, Dover,
attorney, acting as Milford city So
licitOr, admitted that the interest
rate was not mentioned in the reso-
luton.
1t was on this point that the
Chancellor based his order. He
called attention to a similar case of
the Eastern Shore Public Service
Company versus the City of Sea-
! ford.
Other Claims VOided
Additional claims by the citizens
committee in the form of officia
protest were that Justice of the
Peace Maurice Groverman, VIII,
served on the election board. wa
not a resident of Milford prOpe
although he maintains an offic
there. According to the city char
ter, local justice OF the peace an
CONTINUED on page five)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Farm, Home Week
Set For Feb. 22-25

Dates for the 10th annual Farm
and Home Week at the University
of Delaware have been set for
next February 1925.
This announcement comes from
George NJ. Worrilow. director of
the Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton and Extension Service, and
George L. Schuster, dean of the
School of Agriculture.
AS in past years, the agricultural
programs will emphasize newest
developments in the fields of poul-
try, marketing, livestock, agrono-
my, and fruit and vegetable pro-
ductiOn.
For. the women, daily homemak-
(contnued on page 22)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Completing Plans
Under-P privileged
ChiIdren's Parts
Fete Will Be Held At The
VFW Post Home In
Milford Tomorrow
AfternOOn; 125 Are
Expected.

Milford's veterans of wartime
overseas service, member Of much
cited Blue Hen Post #6483, will
accomplish another mission" this
Saturday afternoon, when, as kris
Kringle's KOrpOrals," they help
Santa Claus carry out another "Op-
Grafton Santa Claus" To be more
specific, the local VFW members
will transport more than 100 un-
derprivileged children from their
homes to the VFW Post Home,
where old Santa will greet the kid
dies and with the help of post and
! auxiliary members. give them their
! fill of Christmas goodies along with
as many gaily wrapped gift items
as their little arms will hold.
Operation Santa Claus" or Mil
ford's Annual Christmas Party for
Underprivileged Children, as it is
more formally known, was first
held here five years ago when Ill
children were transported to the
post home, entertained and given
gifts. Each year since on the last
! Saturday prior to Christmas, SINH
lar parties have been held, with
each party bigger and better than
that of the previous year. The 1852
Christmas Party was the most
elaborate to date, with gifts, valued
at more than $1,000, distributed
among more than 125 deserving
youngsters.
Paul J. Duphily, senior vice COM
mander of Blue Hen Post, is chair
man for this years party, and he
and the members of his committee
have been busy the past three
weeks, collecting toys. repairing
toys, and otherwise getting every
thing in readiness for Saturdays
party. Through various state agen-
cies and local sources, the COM
mittee has secured the names and
| addresses of over 100 deserving
/ kiddies, many of whom might have
little Christmas were it not for the
efforts of the veterans and others
who have been assisting the spon
sOring group. The post home ha'
been appropriately decorated will
a beautiful tree and all the Othe
trimmings generally associate,
with Christmas.
Operation Santa Claus" will ge
underway shortly before moo
Saturday, when post members star
out on trips to the youngster'
homes, some as far distant as l
miles from Milford. After gather
ing up their youthful passenger
, the car drivers will head toward
the post home in an effort to hay
every yOungster present and az
counted for by one o'clock. ShOr
ly after the youngsters reach tE
site of the party Old Santa, hin
self, will put in an appearance an
Continued on page 22)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
House
At BurtOn'S S
NOwUnderWa
Each Visitor Will Receive
A Ticket For Free
Grease Job And A
Souvenir.

Plans for the Annual Open
House at l. G. Burton and Com
pany are rapidly being completed.
On Friday, December 18, and Sat
urday, December 10, the whole gar
age will be opened for visitors. In
the show room and shop will be
the 1854 Chevrolet cars and trucks
with 80 much more in '54" All
the employees will be on hand to
demonstrate the many new fea-
lures of the "a Chevrolet. Each
visitor will receive a ticket for
free grease job. There will be
gifts and souvenirs for all and door
prizes.
Last Wednesday. Irwin Burton,
Arch Mills. Richard KINNEY,
George French, Haywood Quillen,
Chuck Wright and Norris Sher-
wood travelled to Washington for
their first glimpse of the '54 Chew
rOlet. They returned with high
enthusiasm for all the new i'm
prOvements. This week the whole
organization of l. G. Burton and
Company are learning, through
movies and slides, all the new fea-
lures so they can demonstrate
them on Friday and Saturday at
the open house.
This annual open house has come
to mean a great deal more than the
chance to see the new Chevrolet.
Irwin Burton and all the men of
l. G. Burton and Company, Inc,
look forward to seeing visitors from
all over Kent and Sussex Counties
The shop and its equipment are
open for inspection. They are
proud of the shop which is the
most completely equipped on the
Eastern Shore. In addition all the
| CONTINUED ON naRA ninetnnrN
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Officers Are
Elected By
Fire Company
Garrett L. Grier Is Again
Choice For President
Of Carlisle Fire Com
pany Of Milford.

At the regular monthly meeting
of The Carlisle Fire Company, Inc,
Milford, held recently, the follow
ing officers were elected for office
for the coming year of 1854:
President, Garrett L. Grier; Vice
President, John G. Jester; Secre-
tary, DOlphus B. wilkins; Treas
urer, Harry J. Pierce; Custodian
of Building and Supplies, C. DON
nan HOlzmueller; Fire Chief, James
G. HOlzmueller; Fire Recorder,
Joseph M. McFaul; Chief Engineer,
Oscar E. MalOney.
Immediately following the cleo
tiOn of officers the following ap-
pOintments were made by the
newly elected officers:
Fire Chief James HOlzmueller
appointed Tom Tribbett and Pete
Lindale as assistant fire chiefs and
Garrett Grier, William Chandler
Harry Harrington and Edward
Jester as fire captains. Chief
HOlzmueller also appointed John
Jester and Frank Nelte as base
station radio operators and mem
bers Of the radio committee.
Garnett Newell, Vail Johnson
and Harry Lindale were appointed
as fire policemen by President
Garrett Grier. The importance of
this job was cited by President
Grier as the three men received
their oath of office.
Chiet Engineer Oscar Maloney
appointed the following men as his
drivers-assistant engineers: Dol
phus wilkins, Roland Parker
Joseph McFaul, Steve Roberts
Thomas Passwaters, Marvin Hitch
Continued on page nineteen)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
NJ. 7. Graves Dies
At Milton Home
Former Community Leader In Sus-
sex Town Suffered Heart Ailment

Former Community Leader In Sus-
sex Town Suffered Heart Ailment
Milton r. Graves, SO, manufac-
turer and farmer and former mayor
of Milton, died last Saturday at
his home. He had been suffering
from a heart ailment and had re-
turned from Pennsylvania Hospital
in Philadelphia only a week ago.
For 80 years he operated the
Graves Garment factory in Milton
and was the owner and manager
of three farms in the Milton area.
in addition to serving as mayor
he also had been a member of Town
Council; had served on the official
board of Goshen Methodist Church
for 25 years, was a member OF
EndeavOr Lodge HI, A. F. and A
NJ; Delaware Consistory, Kent and
Sussex Scottish Rite Club, and
Continued on page 23)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Kent Assessment Unit
VIII Examine Records
Plans To Eye Properties That
Have Not Changed Hands

In making the general assess
ment of real estate in Kent County
for 1854, members of the Kent
County Board of Assessment plan
to examine the records on all pro-
perties that have not changed
hands, or been remOdeled, in re-
cent years.
Existing laws only permits gen.
eral assessment of real estate in
Kent for county tax purposes, every
four years and in previous years
it has been the accepted custom
for a number of property owners
to return their valuation cards
marked "nO change"
Accordingly an examination of
some of the records by members of
the Assessment Board reveals that
the listed valuation on some of the
CONTINUED on page six)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Christ Churchrnen
Elect 1854 Officers

Recently the Christ Church Pa
ish House was the scene Of the
election of the. 1854 officers for the
Christ Cl'urchmen.
Although only a few members
were in attendance, the election
was carried on in accordance with
the organization constitution which
designates a quorum as those in
attendance"
The election was supervised by
James G. CFesson, outgoing pres
ident. The results of the balloting
were: President, Theodore R.
Pyne; vice president, John Glenn;
secretary, c. Harvey Wood, and
treasurer, John Vinyard.
Continued on page 29l
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Joe Martin Sees COP
Victory Next Year
He Thinks Party Will
Pickup 20 House
Seats

House Speaker Joseph w. Mar
tin, Jr., predicted recently Repub-
licans would gain "at least 2O''
congressional seats next year and
added:
81 believe President Dwight Els
enhower will seek reelection in
1856"
The Massachusetts Republican
said Eisenhower was the natural
candidate for the COP nomination
three years from now because che
has proven himself the real leader
of the party"
CONTINUED on page thirteen)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Livestock Raisers
Warned On ListeriOsis

Livestock raisers were warned
this week to watch for signs of
dropping ears and a listless atti-
tude in cattle and sheep during
the next few months.
These may be signs of an out
break of a growing winter disease
threat known as listeriosis, says
the American Foundation for Ami
NAL Health. The worst danger
season for losses from this disease
extends from December through
March, according to the Founda-
tion.
Listeriosis, first recognized in
cattle and sheep less than 90
years ago, appears primarily as a
Continued on page nineteen)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Rev. w. A. Hearn Dies
After Operation
Former Dover District Sup't, Was
Connected With Wesley College

The Rev. DR.. Walter Asbury
Hearn, 6S, of Dover, vice president
OF Wesley Junior College and for
mer superintendent of the Dover
District, Peninsula Methodist Con-
ference, died on Monday in the
Delaware Hospital, in Wilmington,
following an operation.
DR.. Hearn entered the hospital
about two weeks ago but his condi-
tion was not considered serious. He
had been active in his duties at the
college up until then and did addi-
tional preaching and lecturing.
When he retired at the 1853 ses-
sion of the Peninsula Conference
last spring, DR.. Hearn was minis
ter of the Methodist Church at Elk
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Xmas Program At
High School Dec. 81
Combined Music Departments Will
Produce Attraction At s p. NJ.

The annual Christmas Program
by the combined music department
of the Milford High School will
be, presented in the High School
auditorium on Monday, December
21st, at $500 p. m. The program
will first be given for the students
in the afternoon at 1:15 D. m, and
the program will be repeated for
parents and friends in the evening.
The program will be as follows:
Overture, "a Merry Xmas, Band;
Rudolph, the Red-NOse Reindeer,
Girls Choir and Band; Nativity
Scenes, Art Department, Mr.. Zu-
ick, accompanied by Girls Choir;
white Christmas, Band; Twas
the Night Before Christmas"
Mixed Choir; Play-"The Miracle
of Jean the Juggler", Junior and
Senior ChOiTs; Professional and
Community Carol Sing; Recession
al, Choir and Band.
Continued on page sixteen)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
TeenrAge Christmas
Dance December 29
Being Sponsored By Student COun.
Gil And Lions Club

Plans are rapidly being whipped
into shape for the InterschOlastic
Teen-age Christmas Dance, which
is scheduled to be held Tuesday
evening, December 29th, at Mil
ford High School.
The gala affair is being jointly
sponsored by the Student Council
of Milford High School and the
Milford Lions Club, and both
groups are working hard to make
the dance the outstanding social
event of the current school year.
The dance will be semi-formal
and dancing will be from nine o.
clock until II midnight.
Tickets at $500 per couple are
CONTINUED on page six)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Calvary Church Men
Form Organization
Wright Ward Is First President
OF New Group

The Men of Calvary Methodist
Church, Milford, have formed a
Methodist Men of Calvary organi-
ZatiOn.
On Thursday evening upon the
invitation of the President of the
Young Mems Bible Glass, Marshall
Holden, the men from three Church
School Glasses and other members
of Calvary Church attended q
dinner meeting sponsored by the
Young Mems Glass. Following the
dinner the Minister, DOnzel Z
Wildey, introduced the speaker OF
the evening, Fulton Downing, Dover
District Lay Leader. Mr.. Downing
CONTINUED on page four)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Houston Choirs, To
Present Program
Annual Christmas Concert viii Be
Given This Sunday Evening


Given This Sunday Evening
The Chancel Choir and the Junior
Choir of the Houston Methodist
Church, Houston, Delaware, will
present their annual Christmas con-
cert on Sunday evening. December
20. 1858, in The Houston Methodist
Church auditorium, beginning at
1880 o'clock.
The Chancel Choir is under the
direction of Mrs. Robert H. Yerkes,
who also acts as pianist for the
choir. Mrs. Herbert Carter is the
assistant.
The Junior Choir is under the
direction of Mrs. John P. Lennon,
Jr., with Miss Carolyn Davis as
pianist.
The program and choir members
follow:
Organ Prelude, Mrs. Robert H
Yerkes; Song, 20 Little Town oi
Bethlehem" Congregation; InvO-
cation. Rev. Charles Louhoff, pastor
of the church; Part I--Juniol
Choir-SOlo, "Star of the Nicht,
Sharon Johnson; Song, "The Babe
of Bethlehem" Junior Choir; Trio
Continued on page six)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-18
Kent Motor Company
Workers Honor Smith
President And Owner Feted Al
Party Last TEGrSday Night

A surprise birthday party in hon
or of J. Gordon Smith was given
by the employees of the Kent COun-
ty Motor Company, Dover, in the
Caucus Room of LepOre's Restau-
rant last Thursday evening.
Mr.. Smith is president and own
eT of Kent County Motor Company,
Dover, and the Kent-Sussex Mo-
tor Company of Milford and is a
Ccontinued on page four)