davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
564 Serious Auto
MishGPs In November
Number Reported Is 73
Over Same Month In
1852

There were 564 accidents involv-
ing damages in excess of $100 on
Delaware highways during the
month of November, according to
a report compiled by Harry p.
Jones, Director Of the Financial
Responsibility Division of the
Motor Vehicle Department.
The total number of these acci-
dents in November were 81 more
than the total reported for October
and likewise was an increase of
% over the same month last year.
The accidents involving less than
S100 damages are not included in
this report.
OF the accidents taking place in
November, 365 were in New Castle
County, 81 in Kent County and
107 in Sussex County. OF the driv-
ers involved 21O we're from out OF
state and 1875 did not have insur-
ance.
There were 1876 persons injured
in the accidents reported during
November and property damage
amounted to S245,472. During the
month ia persons had their regis,
tratiOn and operation privileges
suspended for failure to comply
with the requirement of the finan,
Cial responsibility law.
Records in the office of Mr.
Jones reveal that the damages
from motor vehicle accidents il
CONTINUED on page fifteen)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Choir Program
This Sunday At
Avenue Church
Group Will Present Fred
Warnings Arrangement
Of "The Song Of
Christmas, At 4 P. NJ.

This Sunday, December 18th, at
4 p. m, is the day the Avenue
Methodist Sanctuary Choir will
present the Fred Waring Choral
arrangement The Song of Christ
mas" by Roy Ringwald in Avenue
Methodist Church, Milford.
THE Song of Christmas" was
performed by Fred Waring and the
Pennsylvanians, Christmas Day Ton
NBC) in 1945. 1t is presented by
this famous group each year during
the Christmas season.
This is the first time this has
been presented in Milford. The
Avenue Choir wishes to extend {
cordial invitation to the public tC
attend this sacred choral concert
The complete. program and the
names of the members of the choir
are as follows:
"Adoramus te, Christie" Avenue
Sanctuary Choir, THE Angel Ga
briel." the choir, when Sing We
All Both Great and Small" thu
choir. "Believest Thou The Angel,
baritone sOloist, James Hazard
20 Come, o Come Emmanuel" male
chorus and choir, "At Bethlehem
City" mixed quartet, Dorothy KOsci
Dorothy Dewey, Roger Dewey, ant
William Wilson, with the choir
Strange Sight Within a Stabl
Old. the choir. "While Shepherd
Watched Their FlOcks," sopran
(contlnued ON oage siXl
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Federal Jurist From New
Castle Tells Ladies
Interesting Points On
State Colonial History.

Richard S. Rodney, of New Cas-
tie, Federal judge, president of the
Delaware Historical Society and
proud son of the Diamond State.
spoke before the members of the
Captain Jonathan Caldwell Chap
ter, Daughters of the American
Revolution, on Saturday, at a
meeting held in the Parish House
of Christ Church. Judge Rodney
was presented to his audience by
the chapter program chairman,
Mrs. o. T. Roberts of Harrington.
1t has been the custom of the
Chapter to have a guest day cele-
brating Delaware Day, since the
beginning of the chapter and Sat
urday was the chosen day. Judge
Rodney began his discourse by
COngTatulating the local cnaptel
on its choice of a name so siGnifi.
cant with the early history of the
State and related Captain Lald
wells war record as a member o
the Colonel Haslet's regiment, ia
miliarly known as 'The Blue Hem
Chickens. He gave a bit of tht
( early colonial history when thi
State labOred with the growing
pains of the time and then told 0
/ it's signing of Constitution Ina
made Delaware the first state. Thi
history is always of interest. fC
each person who tells of it chose
CONTINUED on page 22)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Plan Next Years
Chick Flock Now

It's not too early to think about
your next brOoding season, County
Agent George K. Vapaa reminds
pOultrymen. You have. to order
early to get the number and quail
ty of chicks you want.
Profitable chicks are free from
pullorum disease, and possess an
inherited ability to grow rapidly
and lay a large number of eggs.
1t is essential to consider only pull
lorum-clean chicks, stresses the
county agent. A list of pullOrum-
clean breeder hatcheries and pOul-
try fiocks can be obtained from H.
r. Baker, State Board of Agricul-
ture, Dover, Delaware.
To determine which breed or
strain has the best growth and egg
laying characteristics, observe how
q strain does in the hands of pro-
ducers. Inquire about the perform
ance of strains in your locality
check for. growth, featheTing, NOR
tality, mature weight, age al ma
] turity, production and egg size.
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Houston, FELTON,, Fire
Companies Election
Kent Volunteer Group Prepares
For Coming Year

On December 7th, 1858, election
of officers for 1854 were made by
the Houston Volunteer Fire Com
pany, Houston. Delaware. The fol-
lowing officers will take Office on
January /, 1854: President, Ernest
Harding; Vice President, Leonard
ROllison; Secretary, William Dav-
is; Treasurer, J. Benton Counsel
man; Custodian, Charles Hayes;
Superintendent of Supplies, Emory
Webb; Fire Recorder, Chester Ben
son; Fire Chief, Russell Hayes
Chief Engineer, Eugene Sharp.
The annual Houston Community
Children's Christmas Party will be
held on Monday evening, Decem-
Der 21st, 1853. The Party will be
held at the Houston Volunteer
Fire Hall and will be sponsored
by the Houston Volunteer Fire
Company. All children of the HOus-
ton community are cordially in.
vited.
The FELTON, Community Fire
Company recently held it's annua
election of officers. New Officers
continued on page sevenl
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
State Farmers ShOw
Swing To Vegetables
Records In Office OF Directors OF Markets
Ralph w. Wine, Discloses Changes In
Delaware.

Some slight changes were noted
in the agricultural crops grown in
Delaware during the past season,
in comparison with former years,
according to the records in the off
ice of Ralph w. Wine, director of
the bureau of markets for the
State Board of Agriculture.
These changes were noted prin-
cipally in what has been termed
vegetable crops since the acreage
of grain commodities was general
ly stable and the poultry industry
was about on the same level.
Earlier this year Mr.. Wine re-
ported on the rapid decline in the
number of fruit trees in CONNER
cial orchards in this state which
showed among other things that
these trees were reduced by about
so per cent in Kent County alone
over a twO-year period.
The swing to the growing of the
vegetable crops has been in pro-
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11

as Republican nominee for the Sem
ate seat now held by ]. Allen Frear,
Jr., of Dover.
Mr.. DUPONT, who served for more
than 25 years as chairman of the
State Highway Commission, and is
presently commissioner for the
U. S. Bureau of Public Roads, was
suggested for the post at a recent
meeting of top party leaders in Will
mington, and Immediately received
their unanimous endorsement
Acceptance Accepted
One member of the group, accord
ing to source high in the party,
was named to solicit Mr.. duPont's S
acceptance of the candidacy, and
it is believed this will be forth
coming as soon as the commissioner
has had the opportunity to assure
himself that party workers through
out the state are 'for him."
Mr.. dupont would be following in
the footsteps of his father, the late
T. Coleman dupont, in the U. S
Senate. The elder dupont was
Senator from Delaware from July
z, 1921, to Nov, z, 1929, appointed tc
fill the unexpired term of JOSIAH
WOlcOtt, resigned, and was elected
to that post in 1924, serving until
his resignation because of health il
1928.
CONTINUED on page 22)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Dover, Milford
Seeking Funds
For School
vt.
Influx Of Youngsters Of
Parents Coming To
Dover Air Base Given
AS Reason For The
Request.

Two more special school districts
in Delaware expecting their stu
dent enrOllments to be swelled
considerably by children of service
men to be stationed at the Dover
Air Force Base, have requested the
federal government for nearly a
half-milliOn dollars to help defray
the costs of additional school build
ing facilities that will be required.
The Dover and Milford Special
School Districts, located in areas
that will have to furnish housing
for the families of airmen and
officers, have Joined the Caesar
Rodney School District in their ap-
peals for federal funds. The lat
ter district announced it's request
last Wednesday but did not dis
close the amount being sought.
David M. Green, Superintendent
of the Dover Special School Dis
trict, disclosed recently that his
district is seeking $431, ,25O from the
federal government. Dover has the
largest individual school building
program of the three districts.
Although the exact amount being
sought from the federal government
by the Milford district could not be
determined last night. this schOO
district was given the gO-aheaC
signal by the 117th General AS
sembly for a $15O,OOO building pro
gram, with 100000 in state funds
and the rest in local appropriations
An official of the Milford Board o
/ Education has confirmed tha
tho federal aid has been requested
The Dover district, where officials
/ feel they will bo called UDOn to sup
NV the great bulk of the privat,
housing for the scrvicemPn whel
! thew arrive at Dover. has plans fo
a new 25-roOm elementary school 4
( cost 81 100000.
I The district has had $720000 ap
Continued on mage seven)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11

of $768, ,958,453 was an increase of
nearly S2OO,000,000 over the prev
iOus year.
In even sharper contrast as the
state approaches the billion dollar
mark in federal tax collections are
the figures for &c years ago, which
were less than half the total for
last year.
The figure for 1942-43, the first
full year of war. the Delaware total
was S3I5,3G7. .566.
The larger share of the increase
this year was contributed by in
diyidual income and employment
taxes. Last years total income and
employment tax collections were
$256,253,409. an increase of $46,-
74O,479 over the $2O9,512,93O col
lected in 1951-52.
AS in the past more than half OF
the Delaware tax bill was paid by
corporations. The total corpora
ton tax last year was $576,603,837
an increase of $3O,6O0,973 over the
$546,OO2,864 collected the previous
year.
This was an increase of more
than % per cent in the individual
income and employment taxes, anC
an increase of more than five pei
cent in corporation taxes.
In the breakdown within the
total for individual taxes there wal
continued on page 23)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Wilson And GeFOW
Store Is Looted
ShOtguns Cash. Etc. Is
Taken From Frederica
Emporium

burglars carried away a wide
selection of loot valued at $3.50
from the Wilson and GerOw hard
ware store in Frederick last Fri
day night or early last Saturday
morning after forcing open a rear
door to gain entrance.
The loot ranged from cash and
an express wagon to shOtguns, BIZ
cycles, and radios.
State Police of the Dover Troop
coupled their investigation of the
latest of a series of breaking and
enterings in Kent County with an
alert to business establishments of
the county to take all possible
steps to prevent similar Occurren-
ces at their places of operation.
In urging the exercise of extra
precautions, the police suggested
that merchants keep their places
we'll illuminated during the night.
make certain doors and windows
are locked securely and that locks
are adequate, and in every possible
way guard against entering of their
continued on page six)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Open House At Judge Rodney
|. G. BurtOn's Speaker At
Dec. 1919 OAR Meeting
New Chevrolet For 1854
Will Be On Display
Those Two Days; Door
Prizes And Souvenirs.

Friday, December 18th, and Sat
urday, December 18th, are the
dates for the annual Open House
at l. G. Burton and Co, Inc, on
RehObOth Highway. Mr.. Burton
will welcome all the folks of the
Kent and Sussex Counties to come
on those dates to see the 1854
with so much more
for '54" AS usual, the entire gar
age will be open for inspection
and all the members of /. G. Bur
ton and Co., will be on hand to
demonstrate the '54 Chevrolet and
the modern equipment in the Ser
vice and Parts Departments. There
will be gifts and door prizes and
each visitor will receive a ticket
for a free grease job. Remember
the dates-Friday, the 18th, anC
i Saturday, the 18th.
Since it's inception, severa
years ago, the annual Open House
at /. G. Burton and Co., Inc, has
grown until last year nearly TIVE
Continued on page seven)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Acme Super
Market Will Be
Opened Here
Next Thursday
New Store Is Modern In
Every Respect And
There Are Facilities
Adjacent To Building
For Parking 100 Cars.

The American Stores Company
will open a new handsome Super
Acme Market at the corner of
Montgomery and South East Front
Streets, Milford, next Thursday
morning, December 18th, at nine
o'clock.
The new modern structure con-
tains 1900 feet of floor space and
is 1874 feet in depth by sixty feet
wide.
Featured in the new Super"
which includes all the latest inO-
vatiOns in progressive merchandis-
ing service are a complete meat
department featuring seventy run
ming feet of display cases all of
which are refrigerated, eighty
five feet of vegetable display bins,
thirty-five feet of frozen food cases.
In the center of the store are
four mammoth grocery gOndolas,
each one sixty-fOur feet long.
In the front of the store are To-
Gated five ultra modern electric
cOnveyOr-type checkout counters.
This up-to-the-minute set-up is de-
signed to expedite check-out time
and eliminate waiting in line time
to a minimum.
OF especial interest in the dietetiC
food department featuring all types
of food for persons on diets anC
also sugarless food for diebetics
While there is not and will nOt
be COW in sight of the thirty-fivC
foot long dairy department, it will
feature everything in the line o
/ cheeses and dairy foods.
All kinds of bread and rolls ant
sweet stuff, direct from tn
Worlds largest bakery, all unde
one roof in Philadelphia, will b
/ displayed in the twenty-foOt lon
bakery department.
With plastic household items a
the rage" and highly practical he
sides, a complete section is bein
devoted to these articles.
A complete drug department wi
/ provide every ordinary need in tha
line.
Robert Wink, the manager 0
the store, is particularly proud O
CONTINUED on page siX)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11

gress for several years with the
largest gains in the acreage for
these commodities being noted this
year.
Lima beans and tomatoes were
the leaders in the acreage devoted
to the growing of vegetable crops
for commercial purposes with
practically all of the crop being
used by packing concerns in can
ming plants located mostly in this
state.
The estimated acreage for lima
beans was placed at $4,000 while
the acreage devoted to the growing
of tomatoes was placed at about
$500.
On the other hand the tomato
acreage was scattered all through
the state with perhaps the largest
portion being in Kent and Sussex
Counties.
Mr.. Wine reports that the Bureau
CONTINUED on page siX)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11

by methods ordinarily available.
To help prevent home fires dur
ing the holiday season, Mrs. Cam
offers IA simple Christmas tree
precautions.
1. Buy a fresh tree. Be wary
of trees sold as "frepTOOf." And
don't attempt to flameprOOf Christ
mas trees with chemical solutions.
2. Keep your tree in a cold
place-an unheated garage is fine
until ready to set it up. And do
not set it up until you are ready
to use it,
3. Before setting up the tree,
saw off diagOnally at least an inch
of trunk, and place base in a
water-containing holder. Keep wa
ter reservoir filled.
4. Locate your tree well away
from fireplaces, radiators, televisiOn
sets, powerful electric lights and
other source of heat.
5. Never use candles for deco
ratiOns. Use only electric lights,
and be sure these bear the Under
writer's Laboratories label. Always
check wires for defects and loose
sockets before putting them ON
the tree.
6. Too many light circuits on
one outlet may overload the house
wiring and blow a fuse. Reduce the
load or connect part to another
CONTINUED on page 24l
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Sussex Man
Observes His
IOlst Birthday
Robert Francis Leden-
ham, Of Bridgeville,
Looks Back On Cen
tury In County.

One hundred and one years ago
Thursday, a child was born in Sus-
sex County, who was destined to
far exceed the life expectancy of
that period.
Robert Francis Ledenham OF
Bridgeyille, today, when the aged
form large proportion of the pop
ulatiOn, leads all the rest in point
of longevity.
On his Tooth birthday anniversary
last December, Mr.. Ledenham was
able to enjoy talking to members of
his family and to appreciate the 100
yellow roses, the birthday cakes and
other gifts.
While he is more feeble now, his
mind is still alert. Rest in bed seems
more pleasant, as he passes another
milestone in his long journey.
Sussex County. has been home to
the centenarian, either on his farm
at ScOtt's Store or at his home in
Bridgeville, except during his youth,
when his parents, Noah and Emily
Adams Ledenham, lived in Phila-
delphia for a time.
Two members of Mr.. Ledenhatl's
family went into the Methodist min
istry as members of the Philadel-
phia Conference. One of the min
listers wrote "The Rise of Method
ism in America" while the other
gave up the ministry to devote his
time to his orange grove at Or
landO, Fla, where he died.
Farming appealed to Mr.. Leden-
ham,, particularly on land that had
been in his family so long. The
brick house built in 1882 by his
grandfather was a little out of date
in 1882, so Mr.. Ledenham tore il
down and built a frame house more
in the Victorian tradition.
Mr.. Ledenham cannot attribute
his longevity to descent from /;
long-lived family, for his fathel
died at a comparatively early agC
and his mother failed to reach thu
CONTINUED on page sevenD
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
HOd Derrickson, Dies
AtOcean View Home
Funeral Held On Tuesday For
Veteran Republican Leader

J. Horace BeriCksOn, 70, a Re-
publican leader in I6wer Delaware
for many years, died suddenly last
Saturday night, December 5th, at
his home at Ocean View. Known to
a wide circle of friends as "HOd" ,
he served as secretary of the State
Senate in 1887 and also was secre-
tary to the late Wilmer Steele when
the latter was president pro TEN
of the Senate. He served as Senate
parliamentarian in 1889.
Mr.. DericksOn was born in Selby-
vile and graduated from the high
school there, and taught in the
rural schools near Selbyville for a
number of years.
He was engaged in the retail
business at Ocean View and sold
the business in the early 1920s to
go to Philadelphia where he was
engaged in the rural real estate
business. He returned to Delaware
in the early 1930s.
He was a member of DOric Lodge
No. 80, AT and AM, and an active
member of Bethel Mariner MethO
dist Church, Ocean View. He haC
also formerly served as a member
of the Ocean View school board anC
CONTINUED on page 23)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Citizenry Will Determine
By Ballot Whe. her Or
Not They Desire To
Sell Obsolete Equip
ment At Plant.

The tax paying citizens of Mil
ford, who for the past several
months have been afforded num-
erous opportunities to exercise
their franchise, are again respect
fully requested to vote their SEN
timents at a special election to be
held this afternoon, Friday, De-
cembeT H.. between the hours of
II noon and six o'clock.
The election is being held in
the Milford Community Building as
have all the past municipal cleo
tions for the past several years.
The. election, called pursuant to
a resolution passed by City COun-
Gil in regular meeting and duly
advertised in the Milford Chronicle
for the past several weeks, is be-
ing held to afford the citizens of
Milford an opportunity of voting
to sell or not to sell the obsolete
equipment in the old power plant
building.
AS far back as April, 1851. the
power plant committee offered to
council the recommendation that
council sell this obsolete equip
ment. This is now being present
ed to the citizens by council for
their approval or rejection via
I the ballot.
Under the provisions of the Mil
/ ford City Charter for holding this
/ type of special election each voter
is allowed one vote and each per.
son qualified to vote at the las
regular election held in January
1858, is entitled to vote at thi
election.
In an exclusive interview wit
; a member of the Chronicle repoI
torial staff Mayor Edward c. EV
+ ans stated that despite rumors I
! the contrary. the sale of the obsC
lete equipment at the plant wOul
? not adversely affect the preseI
sum of $4,000 per year, which Del
aware Power and Light Compan
is paying the City of Milford, 70
maintaining a standby set-up.
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Santa Claus
Given Royal
Reception On
Arrival Here
Huge Crowd On Hand To
Greet JOvial Old Saint
Who PilOted His Own
Plane From The North
Pole.

Jolly Old st. Nicholas arrived
in Milford last Saturday afternoon,
and a huge crowd of people was
on hand to o-greet him. While chill
dren predominated, there was
quite a sprinkling of adults in the
group, who supposedly were on
hand to help look after the kid
dies. but deep down in their hearts
they wanted to see the jolly Old
Elf themselves.
Santa really did himself proud
this year, arriving at Milford Air
port at 1870 p. m, ina plane, which
was loaned for the occasion by the
Milford Stitching Company of Mil
ford. Arrangements for the use of
the plane were made by Willard
Jackson, owner and operator Of
the Milford Airport. Representa-
tives of the Milford Police Force
were present and acted excellently
as Santa's assistants.
Cal Ball, President of the Mil
ford Chamber of Commerce, and
Robert H. Yerkes, Secretary, COM
prised the official greeting COM
mittee and escorted Santa to his
abode in the Story Book House on
the Walnut Street Bridge Panel.
Santa Claus is at his headquar-
ters in the "Story Book House" on
the Walnut Street bridge panel
each day from two until five in the
afternoons and from seven until
nine in the evenings.
This week, the joint committee
from the city and the Chamber of
Commerce has been busy getting
the Nativity Scene erected on the
vacant lot adjacent to the Odd
Fellows Temple On North Walnut
Street.
CONTINUED on page seVen)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
To Hold Election
On Milford Light
Plant Machinery
MERCHANTS LIST STORE
HOURS FOR CHRISTMAS

Milford merchants have by
unanimous consent set up the
following schedule of store
hours for the current holiday
season. This evening, Fri
day, December 11th, the local
stores will remain open until
nine o'clock. Saturday hours
will be the same as always.
Next Monday evening, De-
cember 14th, the local stores
will start remaining open
evenings and will be open
every evening through and
including Christmas Eve Iun-
til nine o'clock. They are
now open every Wednesday
afternoon and this Wednes-
day all-day opening will con-
tinue until Wednesday, De-
cember Both.
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Many From State Are
Attending Milk Meet
Ten Towns And Communities Rep.
resented At Interstate Session

Twenty-three delegates and alter
mates from 10 towns and cOmmuni-
ties in Delaware are attending the
two-day annual meeting of the In
ter-State Milk Producers COOperas
tive in Philadelphia.
DR.. H. c. (Curley) Byrd, presi-
dent of the University of Maryland,
was the principal speaker at the
COOperative's annual banquet in
the ballroom of the Benjamin
Franklin Hotel at p. m, yester-
day.
Delegates from Delaware attend
ing the meeting are:
District Nine: KirkwoOd, Middle
town, Newark and Town Ray
mond C. Laws of Kirkwood; Sam
uel COverdale, of R. D., Middle
(continued on page 23)
Milford chronicle., 1953-12-11
Population Survey Due
Here Week Of Dec. IA
will Provide Up.TO.Date Figures
On Employment, Unemployment

The Current Population Survey
will be conducted in this area dur
ing the week of December 14th,
according to Supervisor o. c..
Demaree of the U. S. Census Bur
eau district office at Baltimore. Md.
The Current Population Survey,
taken monthly here and in 229
other areas throughout the coun-
try, provides up-tO-date national
figures on employment and unem-
plOyment. This information is used
CONTINUED on page fifteen)