davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
Death of John A. Wisk

]. August Wisk, rs, died Sept. 80
at his home on the Brenford Road
near Smyrna as result of injur-
les suffered in tractor mishap on
his farm about two months ago.
He had been farmer in the Bren-
ford area for 80 years. Funeral
services were held from st. Johns
Lutheran Church, Dover, on Oct. 8,
with the Rev. Theodore Hafner,
pastor, officiating. Interment was
in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna.
Sons of Mr.. Wisk were the pail
bearers. Mr.. Wisk was member
of st. Johns Church. He is sur
vived by his wife, ten children,
Henry of Little Ferry; Mrs. Ed
ward H. Reichell, Gustav Wisk
and Edward Wisk, all three of Do
yer; William Wisk, Bethel, Pa;
Mrs. Fred VanderPlass, Godfrey,
N. j.; Miss Elizabeth Wisk, who
lives at home, Mrs. James Hutchi-
son, Wilmington; George Wisk,
FELTON,, and Oscar Wisk, also at
home. He also leaves 16 grand
children and one great-grandchild.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
Girl Scout Troop 2I2

Smyrna Girl Scout Troop 212
has started on it's fall and winter
program of activities under new
leadership. Miss Genevieve Car
row is the leader; Mrs. Ruth Ford,
assistant leader; Nancy Knots and
Diane Shortt, senior aides. The
girls plan Halloween dance, and
will continue with their cooking
badge. Patrol leaders have been
selected as follows: Sleepy Hollow
Patrol: Dianne Rodney, leader;
Nancy Boyles, assistant leader;
Cardinal Patrol: Judy Slaughter,
leader; Norma Brittingham, assist
ant leader; Pirates Patrol: Patsy
Baker, leader; Carol Wolford, as
sistant leader; Carol Downes has
been named troop scribe.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
FOOTBALL TOMORROW
Smyrna Eagles to Play RehOboth
at School Here Tomorrow


After defeating a weak Mills
boro eleven on last Friday night
26 to 6, the Smyrna High Eagles
will be up against what is believed
to be their toughest foe tomorrow
evening. They will oppose the
forces of Rehoboth High School as
they will officially open their '53
home football season at s pm. The
Eagles have downed Rehoboth
High only once in the past four
meetings, and even though Reho-
both is favored against the Eagles
in this game, all supporters of the
school are looking forward to an
upset. Co-Coaches Bill Horney and
Frank Stellatella have picked the
following starting team: Bill Den
ney and Charles Cox will be at
ends; John Fortner and Jim Roth
at tackles; Bart Luff and Harry
Jarman at guards; Karl Gebhart
at center; Ed Cox and Bill Cook at
halfbacks; Ed Robinson at quarter
back; and Sam Jacobs at fullback.
Norman Alexander, Phil Voshell,
and Walter Moffett will fill posi-
tions on the defense.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
METHODISTS OF THREE TOWNS
PLAN INTER-CHURCH SERVICES

A series of inter-church evangel-
istic services participated in by
the Kenton Methodist Church,
Ewell's-St. Paul Church, Clayton,
and Asbury Methodist Church,
Smyrna will start on Sunday, Oct.
IL and continue every evening, ex-
cept Saturday, until Friday, Oct.
80. The series will be conducted
by the pastors of the three church.
es, the Rev. Donald e. Dewey, Ken
ton; the Rev. William B. Kitchens,
Clayton; and the Rev. Walter L.
Beckwith, Smyrna. The series has
been planned with the hope that
the united effort between the three
churches will strengthen the spirit
of fellowship in this community.
The first service will be held at
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
CLAYTON CLODHOPPERS

Project Books Examined and Iurh-
ed at Meeting Tuesday Evening
The Clayton Clodhoppers Ali
Club met at the home of their lead
er, Mr.. Harry Cloud for their Oc-
tober meeting on Tuesday evening.
Project books were examined and
turned in. Betty Ann and Earl
Hurd, Gail Lurty, and Joseph Both
ell were appointed as the Hallow-
cen party committee. This COM
mittee will hold special meeting
to complete necessary details. 1t
was decided upon to hold an otf1c-
ers election at the next meeting
which will be at the home of JOS
eph Bothell, R. D., Smyrna on No
vember 8. Assistant leader, Mrs.
Wilbur Clark, Mrs. Earl Hurd and
the following members were pres
ent for this meeting: John Clark,
Frank Ross, Betty Ann Hurd, Mat
thew Fischer, Joseph and William
Bothell. Refreshments were serv-
ed by the host.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
SCOUT LEADER
RESIGNS POST
Mrs. Thomas Russell Drops
Leadership of Troop l
For Other Service
NAME CO-LEADERS

Mrs. Thomas w. Russell has CIV
en- up leadership of Troop / Senior
Girl Scouts after fourteen years of
service to devote full time to her
work as volunteer trainer for Dis
trict 8. Mrs. Martin Golden and
Mrs. Richard c. Price are the new
leaders of the troop, now known as
Troop 1O1. They were formerly
leaders of the intermediate Troop,
which now has Miss Genevieve
Carrow as leader, and Mrs. Ruth
Ford, assistant leader; and Nancy
Knots, and Diane Short, SEN
ior aides. On Oct. 10 Mrs. Russell
will have the first meeting of the
training course at the Youth Cen
ter. There are eight volunteers to
be trained as leaders. If there are
any committee members, or moth
ers of scouts, who are interested in
the course, they are asked to con-
tact Mrs. Russell, Phone Smyrna
1877. The Girl Scouts Neighbor-
hood meeting will be held on Oct.
% at 7:45 pm. Mrs. James Mer-
rill, neighborhood chairman, urges
all leaders and committee members
to be present. Miss Rose Marie
Jenkins, new district director, will
attend, with a member of the day
camp committee. Plans are being
formulated for the cookie sale,
with Mrs. Alan Robinson, Smyrna,
as chairman, and Mrs. w. l..
Wheatley, Clayton, co-chairman.
During Girl Scout Week Girl
Scouts Own will be celebrated
here on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
SERVICE CLUBS
BACK CHIC DRIVE
Rotarians and Lions Support
Fire Company Fund Drive
100 Per Cent
SETS GOOD EXAMPLE

This is Fire Prevention Week
and also the week of the campaign
of the Citizens Hose Company for
funds to maintain their service to
the wide area which comes under
their protection. An impetus was
given the drive by the one hun
dred percent support by the men,
bership of the Smyrna Rotary Club
and the Smyrna Lions Club. The
entire membership OF both clubs
made a donation to the drive and
their contributions were turned in
to the campaign committee before
the actual start of the drive on Oct.
4. This gesture of support by the
two service clubs sets an example
to all of the residents of this area.
The committee says that all rural
residences have their fire identifica-
tion number on the receipt. TIE
use of the farm identification num-
ber will give added protection to
rural dwellers as it will greatly
speed up response to their call for
help. BY its use the firemen save
valuable time in reaching the site
of a fire, thus saving greater loss
es. The fire prevention committee
includes Harry Pusey, assistant
chief, chairman, Alan Robinson,
and Willard Rutter The citizens
committee at work with the fin
ance committee of the fire COM
pany on the drive for funds COM
prises Francis B. Gebhart, George
Bryson, Carlton Blendt, Jr., and
Arthur Short. They cooperate with
Fletcher Truax and E. Reynolds
Bradley, of the fire company.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
BOOKS ADDED
FOR STUDENTS
Library Adds Eleven Volumes
Acceptable For English
Credits at School
BOOKS REQUESTED

In response to a request by high
school students the Smyrna Public
Library has placed on its shelves
eleven volumes, which will be read
by the students and reviewed by
them, for which they will receive
credit in the high school English
classes. The books chosen by the
library commission with the help
of experts in this field, follow:
Strong Winds" by Mabel Louise
Robinson; "Abbie Higgins-Young
Group Work Executive" by Con-
stance Rittenhouse and Iris Vim
ton, a Dodd Mead career book;
1.-THE Jacksons of Tennessee" by
Marguerite Vance, a story of An
drew Jackson and his wife, which
epitomizes the finest in our pioneer
domestic life; "Boy Trouble, by
Rosamond DuJardin, Tobey Hey
don story with the vitality, heart
aches, and humor of modern teen
ayers; a story with a Mexican
background, Alicia, by Florence
Crannell Means; "Stars Over the
Trent, by Florence Musgrave,
suitable for readers aged 10 to ID
years. A special interest to the
boys is the young Peoples Book
of Jet Propulsion, by Frank Ross,
Jr., a story of American jet and
rocket-powered aircraft, the first
of its kind. The American Boy
Anthology, compiled by Franklin
M. Reck, a collection of stories
that have been well loved by thou
sands of boys; "The Black Stall
lion Revolts", by Walter Farley;
1.-THE Spell of the White Sturgeon,
by Jim Kjelgaard; and salty and
exciting story of the crew of a
training ship, "And Not To Yield,
by Alan Villiers. The books are
varied and will suit many tastes,
and the reading of them will be an
enriching experience not only to
young readers, but to adult read
ers as well. The library is used
more by boys and girls than in the
past, and it is the intent of the
commission to provide some books
during year to interest this group.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
ARC DISTRICT
MEETING HELD
Six Areas Represented at
Meeting of Red Cross
In Dover
HEAR PLANS FOR YEAR

Representatives of Red Cross
areas number 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, and IL,
as well as staff officials of the Del
aware Chapter, American Red
Cross attended the meeting held at
Dinner Bell Inn, Dover on Septem-
Der 80 at which plans for the COM
ing year were forwarded. Mrs.
John Brentlinger presided, and
William K. Patton, Dover gave re-
port on a recent board of directors
meeting. Representatives from
the six areas introduced themselv-
es. Mrs. Jean e. Myers, executive
director, outlined the eight basic
services of Red Cross, and empha-
sized the importance of chairman
for each of these services to be
named in each area. The two
major services, named in the char
ter, are disaster preparedness and
relief, and home service. The other
six include Nursing, Junior Red
Cross. Safety Services, Public In
formation, Development of Volunz
teers. and Fund Chairman. AS an
aid to informing the various chair
men of services, and also to give
impetus to the whole program, the
headquarters stoff members had
prepared detailed written outlines
of each phase of the work for use
by branch areas, and also talked
briefly on the material at the meet
ing. The talks revealed that en-
phasis is being laid on Junior Red
Cross activities, for the potential
volunteers for the future will come
from the schools of today; the pro-
motion of home nursing classes and
formation of groups for this tram
ing: the creation of a new first aid
course; the Importance OF pubic
information in all the media avail
able; stress on the Importance OF
home service, probably the most
valuable of all contacts between
the Red Cross and the pubic.
There was emphasis on the need
for more volunteers, and the re-
sponsibilities and duties Of CHAIR
men and officers were explained.
Representing Area No. 4, the
neutrality-suspicious. area, were
Miss Elizabeth Thornley, and Mrs.
Henry C. Webb, Smyrna; and Miss
Catherine Warner and Mrs. Char
les Stewart, Clayton.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
ROTARY HOLDS
NOMINATIONS
State Fire Marshall Guest
Speaker at Fire Preven-
tiOn Program
FTREMEN ARE GUESTS

Due to the change in the Rotary
year, with the district conference
being held Oct. 30-Nov. 2 at Attain
tic City, the Smyrna Rotary Club
proceeded with the nomination of
officers for the new Rotary year.
They follow: George Bryson, Rey-
nolds Pratt, president; Howard
Pletsch, William Willis, vice presi-
dent; William e. Matthews, Jr.,
James Vessel, secretary; Leroy
Piper, Hal Wickham, treasurer;
Kenneth Williams, ]. Bradley, j.
E. Lofiand, Elmer P. Corrie, direc-
tors. The Rotarians had as guest
at their dinner meeting Thursday
night State Fire Marshal for the
rural areas Walter LeRue, in OBJ
servance of Fire Prevention Week
which is being observed by the Cit
izens Hose Company Oct. 4-10. He
said that fire prevention begins in
the home and should be extended
to the schools, as he stressed the
elimination of fire hazards in the
house, garage, and all outbuildings.
He pointed out that fire prevention
causes a drop in insurance rates.
Alan Robinson was chairman of
the program, and James E. Ever
hart gave the response. Leroy
Sayers presided. Nelson Everhart
led singing. George Ehinger was
visitor from the Dover Rotary
Club, and Clifford Phillips from the
Lewes Rotary Club. James Truax
fire chief of Citizens Hose Com
pany, George Knots, and Robert
FAIRIES were guests of the club.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
TO ADDRESS ST.
PETERS AUX.
Mrs. Paul Turner to Speak at
Church Here Tuesday,
October 18th
PLANNING FOR SALE

Mrs. Paul Turner, Wilmington,
vice-president-at-large in charge of
promotion, and past president of
the Diocesan Woman's Auxiliary,
will speak at an evening meeting
of the Woman's Auxiliary of St.
Peters p. E. Church here next
Tuesday, Oct. 13 at eight o'clock.
Mrs. f. S. Bancroft, educational
secretary, has arranged the pro-
gram, and Mrs. Turner will talk on
the missionary and diocesan pledg-
es made by the local group each
year, explaining their meaning.
Mrs. Fred Heinold, Sr., will preside
at this first meeting of the year,
and will be assisted by Mrs. Fred
Torgersen and Mrs. Homer Hudson
as hostesses at the social hour
which will follow the program. The
executive committee of the auxil-
iary met Monday night at the par
ish house to conduct business and
make plans for the activities during
the fall and winter months. Mrs.
Richard w. Comegys was named to
write constitution and bylaws to
present to the group. The Kent
County Devotional Day will be held
on Nov. IL a Christ Church, Mil
ford. The fall meeting of the do
cesan auxiliary will be held at
Christ Church, Greenville, on Oct.
20. A corporate communion on
Sunday, Oct. 18 will mark the fall
in-gathering of the United Thank
Offering. Mrs. v. Wallace Elterich
is custodian. The Advent mission
box will be sent to st. Michaeps
Mission in Wyoming. Mrs. Ban
croft announced that on Monday,
Oct. 26 the Woman's Auxiliary of
Christ Church, Dover has been in
vited to meet with the local auxil-
iary at s pm. at which time the
guest speaker will be the mother of
Bishop Gordon, of Alaska. The
meeting will be open to interested
persons. A White Elephant Sale
will be held on Oct. 1924 in the
garage on South Street in back of
the home of Mrs. James Rodney.
Mrs. Charles Burrous will be CO.
chairman with Mrs. Rodney on this
project. Tentative plans were
made for the annual card party
and the Shrove Tuesday luncheon
sponsored by the group.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08

the Kenton Church on Oct. IL at
7:30 pm. with Mr.. Beckwith as
pastor, Mr.. Dewey as host, and Mr.
Kitchens as evangelistic instruc-
tor. Laymen of the churches will
take part in the evangelistic visi-
tation. Following the week at the
Kenton Church, the services will
start at the Clayton Church on
Oct. 18 and during that week Mr..
Dewey will be the preacher, Mr..
Kitchens the host, and Mr.. Beck
with the instructor. The final week
will start at Smyrna on Oct. 25,
during which Mr.. Kitchens will
preach, Mr.. Beckwith will be the
host, and the instructor will be
Mr.. Dewey
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
PLANS
WORKSHOPS
Grant Garis, District Com
mander of District 8, An
nOunces Plans for Kent
OFFICERS GROUP MEETS

Grant G. Garis, district COM
mander of District 8, Kent County
Posts of the American Legion, an
nounces that the workshops for
the posts in Kent County will be
held jointly with the posts of Dis
trict 4, Sussex County in George
town on Sunday, Oct. IL. Roland
w. O'Day, immediate past depart
ment commander, will serve as
chairman at the commander, ad-
jutant, and finance officer group
meetings; Harry zerby, vice COM
mander of department chairman,
for the post vice commanders and
membership committee members;
William ]. B. Regan, department
chairman for Americanism, Boys
State, accident prevention, and
safety, athletic and junior baseball,
Boy Scout, ceremonies, marksman-
ship, oratorical contests, and
school awards, Sons of Legion
committees. Group meetings on
child welfare and education of or
phans, and for honor awards will
be conducted by George Ehinger
Dover, chairman of the department
child welfare committee, and Col
William A. McWilliams, Dover
chairman honor awards. James E
CONTINUED ON Page Fourl
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB
To Open Their Years Work With
Covered-Dish Luncheon at IL Noon

To Open Their Years Work With
Covered-Dish Luncheon at IL Noon
The Twentieth Century Club will
open their years work with a COW
ered-dish luncheon at IL noon on
Friday, Oct. 9 at the club house.
Those attending are asked to bring
a covered dish and thirty-five
cents, and club members may bring
guests. There will be musical
program and an informal social
hour. A Halloween party is
scheduled for Friday, Oct. % at 8
pm. with Mrs. Glenn Busker as
chairman. The club will sponsor
another rummage sale on Satur-
day, Oct. 10 at Mrs. MessicRs Of
flee, Main Street. A meeting of
the executive committee was held
Monday night at the club house
with Mrs. Robert H. Denney pre-
siding.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
CHILDREN VISIT FIRE HOUSE
Members of Mrs. Kings Class Wis
it Fire House and View Equipment

Members of Mrs. Kings Class Wis
it Fire House and View Equipment
AS a feature of Fire Prevention
Week the members of Mrs. Charles
Kings homeroom class at the
Smyrna Elementary School visited
the fire house where they were
shown the fire equipment, the radio
room, how an alarm comes in, and
were allowed to sit in one of the
engines. A particular thrill for
one of the boys was being allowed
to pull the cord which opens the
doors to the fire house. This tour
of the fire house was conducted by
a member of the fire prevention
committee who also gave a dem
onstration in the backyard of the
fire house, of extinguishing burn
ing rag. The children formed a
circle at some distance from the
small blaze and watched as it was
put out by the fireman. The small
boys and girls have had a valuable
lesson in fire prevention and in the
efficient set-up at the fire house for
the protection of this community.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
Grange to Meet Tonight

The regular meeting of the
Smyrna Grange will be held to-
night, Thursday, Oct. 8. On Thurs
day, Oct. Is an open meeting of
the Grange will be held and Boost
er Night will be observed. State
Master Harry c. Johnson, member
of the local grange, will present
the program. Members are priv
ileged to bring their families,
friends, or prospective members.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
TO ADDRESS CLUB
U. S. Senator j. j. Williams to Ad-
dress BPW Women Here Oct. 10

U. y. Senator u. J. WlllldmS 10 Au-
dress BPW Women Here Oct. 10
u. S. Senator John ]. Williams
and Mrs. Williams have been in
vited to attend the dinner meeting
of the Smyrna-Clayton Business
and Professional Women's Club to
be held on Monday, Oct. 19 at the
Wayside Inn. Senator Williams
will give a non-partisan talk on
National and State Economy"
An invitation will be extended to
all organizations in the Smyrna
Clayton community to attend, as
well as to all former members of
the BPW Club. Members of other
BPW Clubs in the state will also
be invited to be present. Mrs. Mae
Parker will preside. Reservations
for the dinner are in the hands of
Mrs. Ann Mills, phone Smyrna
6801, and the deadline is Oct. IA.
The program has been arranged by
Miss Florence Lurty, chairman
public affairs.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
GET-ACQUANTED MEET
PTA To Hold First Meeting at
New school Tonight

New School Tonight
A get-acquainted meeting, the
first of the school year, will be held
tonight, Thursday, Oct. s at eight
o'clock in the cafetorium of the
new Elementary School. This will
be the first PTA meeting to be held
at the new building on School
Lane, corner of South Street. Old
members of the PTA are asked to
renew their memberships and also
to bring new members. There will
be an opportunity afforded for indi-
vidual parent-teacher conferences,
and new members of the staff will
be introduced. Brinton Reynolds,
the president elected at the close
of the school year in the spring,
will preside. A social hour will
follow in charge of Mrs. James G.
Warren and Mrs. Howard B. Mel
son, hospitality chairmen. Sug-
gestions and plans for the program
for the october meeting, as well
as for the monthly meetings for
several future months, have been
made by the program committee:
James E. Everhart, chairman, and
Kenneth c. Williams, elementary
school principal, and have been
considered by the executive COM
mittee of the PTA.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
TO HOLD FASHION SHOW
Sponsored by Daughters of Amer
lean Revolution at LongwOOd

ican Revolution at LOngwOOd
A fashion show and card party
will be sponsored by the Daughters
of the American Revolution at
Longwood Gardens at pm. on
Wednesday, Oct. 21 for the pur-
pose of raising funds to re-furnish
the Delaware Room in Washing
ton. Mrs. Carl Wright, Smyrna,
Regent of the Elizabeth Cook
Chapter, is a member of the state
committee on plans, and Mrs. w.
Harman Money, Vice Regent of the
local chapter, is state chairman of
the Delaware Room. Tickets for
the event are $1.50 and may be
procured through Mrs. Wright,
Mrs. w. Roland Ford, snd Mrs.
Richard w. Comegys. The fashion
show will date from the early
zoos to the present time, and
Mrs. Roland Ford will model a
gown worn by her great-grand-
mother, Mrs. George Jones, of Will
mington, date 1914. There will be
prizes for every table, and many
door prizes; baked goods and
candy will pe on sale. The Eliza
beth Cook Chapter will open the
year with a meeting at the home of
Mrs. Wright on Thursday, Oct. Is
at six o'clock when covered dish
supper will be served.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
SEVERE BURNS
PROVE FATAL
Tragic Death of G. Harvey
Wright Saddens Entire
Community
REAL ESTATE BROKER

Smyrna was stunned by the
tragedy which occurred last Friday
afternoon and greatly saddened at
the death that night of G. Harvey
Wright, who suffered severe burns
following an explosion when he at
tempted to revive fire in the
furnace at his home with the use
of kerosene. According to firemen
the first indication of the trouble
came when Mr.. Wright ran up
into the back of his home with his
clothing on fire and called for Mrs.
Wright to help. She summoned
her neighbors, Mrs. David Mills
and the Rev. o. c. Jones who help
ed her wrap blankets around him
in the yard. BY the time the fire.
men and ambulance arrived his
clothes had been completely burn
ed away. Mrs. Wright had also
tried to contact DR.. Harold Lagg-
ner, who lives across the street
from her home. He was not at
home, but Mrs. Laggner hurried tc
the scene and assisted in prelimin-
ary first aid. The new American
Legion ambulance was used to take
Mr.. Wright to Kent General Hos
pital, Dover. George D. Wright
accompanied his father in the am.
bulance, and he had the assistance
on the trip of one of the volunteer
firemen, E. Reynolds Bradley. The
ambulance was driven by Lex
FAIRIES, president of the Citizens
Hose Company. Funeral services
were held at FAIRIES Funeral Chap
ell, Smyrna, on Monday, Oct. 5
with the Rev. Walter L. Beckwith
pastor of Asbury Methodist
Church, officiating, assisted by the
Rev. o. C. Jones, pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church. Inter
ment was at Odd Fellows Gem.
etery. The survivors include his
wife, Mrs. Lillian Hart Wright
Smyrna; three children, Mrs. Mary
w. Stinson, and Miss Sarah Ellen
Wright, of Philadelphia; anc
George D. Wright, Clayton; also
four grandchildren. Two sisters
Mrs. w. T. Bryan, Philadelphia
and Mrs. Lillian Reinhard, Norris.
town, Pa. Mr.. Wright had beer
engaged in the real estate business
here for twenty years, and prev
iously had served as Postmaster
for five years during the Hoover
administration, and also associated
in an automobile business. He was
member of the official board ot
Asbury Methodist Church. The
deceased was the son of the late
George d. Wright and Sarah York
both of the state of Delaware.
Smyrna times., 1953-10-08
Clayton PTA To Install Officers

The first regular monthly meet
ing of the Clayton PTA will be
held Wednesday, october 14th at
8 pm, in the School Cafeteria.
There will be the installation of
officers for the new school year,
Kent County vice president of Del
aware Congress of PTA. Mrs.
will also give brief
talk on the function and work of
the PTA.