davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-11-09
Legion Chief Asserts
Soviet Wants u. 5.
To Go IsoIationist'
By Robert ]. Lewis
Star Staff Correspondent

CLEVELAND. Nov. 9.-The
national commander of the
American Legion today told the
Nations realtors that one Of the
Soviet governments primary
aims is to encourage the United
States to "go isolationist."
Addressing the 47th annual
convention Of the National AS
sociation Of Real Estate Boards,
Seaborn r. Collins said the Rus
slams are concentrating sharply
on trying to force the United
States into an isolation or nom
participation role in the field of
world affairs"
Here is the point of greatest
danger to our country" he said.
Mr.. Collins, q Las Cruces IN.
Mex real estate dealer, said the
Communists have been hoping
for collapse Of our economy, and
"are disappointed that such
problems as unemployment,
labor management relations,
farm prices and urban planning
are being met with creative goth
century American planning and
action
Gen. Sturgis Addresses Session.
Earlier today, Mai. Gen. s. D.
Sturgis, jr., chief of the Army
Corps of Engineers, told the
realtors the country's efforts to
build fortress walls" around i'm
portant cities and defense sites
will have an important bearing
on real estate activity.
"This welter Of military con-
struction for defense involves
real estate actions all over the
world-real estate that is I'M
proved and unimproved, deserts,
Government lands. farm fields,
suburban sites, parks, cemeteries,
industrial and commercial plots
actually it involves the whole
ganut of real estate classical
tion," he said.
Defenses Ring Cities.
The Army engineers chief
said vital cities and industrial
areas "are. being ringed with
anti-aircrah defenses'' and that
"bases and facilities Of severy
conceivable variety, purpose and
size have been or are being built,
enlarged. and improved, as re-
adjustment Is made to changed
defense requirements"
More than so Washington area
real estate brokers and flnan-
ciers are attending sessions here
that will last through Thursday.
History has caught up with
us in America and we are now
beginning to feel the new and
unWelcome experience of living
IN an armed camp" Gen. Sturgis
declared. Former Secretary of
War Patrick j. Hurley was a
guest of the session.
Money Declared Ample.
Oliver M. Walker of Washing
ton. chairman Of NAREB'S
Mortgage Council, told a council
session yesterday there is ample
money, at the present rates, to
meet all legitimate demands, "
and that there may be enough
to absorb many Of the uneco-
nomic projects now being pro-
noted"
MIR. Walker said, he did not
"expect a major change in the
economic picture which will
affect the mortgage market"
At another session, Richard
B. Hall of Washington was
elected a director of the National
Association of Real Estate
Counselors.
Hugh v. Gittinger. jr., execu-
tive secretary of the Washington
Real Estate Board, was elected
regional vice president of the
secretaries council.
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04

The stage is set and tonight at
eight o'clock the curtains in the
high school auditorium will part
and we will hear again Eddie
Rocker, well-liked master of cere-
monies and vocalist of last years
show, spraking the seven profess
sional acts. He has grown in sta
ture since last year and is now fea-
tured on radio and television. He
comes by his vocal talents natural
ly; his father was a featured tenor
with the famous Dufon't Min
strels. The popular singer appear
ed first in Philadelphia radio en-
gagements, with Eugene Ormandy
and the Philadelphia Orchestra in
the Magic Key program. He rose
to stardonf on CBS's "Pick and
Pat" program. Followed ten years
in operetta in such shows as The
Desert Song and The Vagabond
King, recently starred in a coast
forecast revival in the former. He
is known as the record breaker in
light opera circles, with fan clubs
in his honor. Rocker
leaves on the first of June to re-
sumo his light opera career in Kan
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
NAME COMMITTEES
Annual Bird-SpealSman Fashion
Show to be Held March 26

Annual Bird-Spealxman Fashion
Show to be Held March 26
Mrs. William B. owens, general
chairman for the Fashion Show
to be staged here by Bird-Speak-
man, Inc. Wilmington, and Mar
jorie w. Spealman, Inc, Greenville
on Friday evening, March 26, has
announced the following commit
tee chairmen: Tickets, Mrs. Rich
ard w. Comegys; Children models,
Mrs. Harry Cannon and Mrs. Wal
ter w. Speakman; Decorations,
Mrs. John E. Wilson III, chairman,
Mrs. James Rodney, Mrs. Howard
Davis, Mrs. Louise H. Burs-
lem. Mrs. Owens will be in
charge of adult local models. The
show will be sponsored by the
Woman's Auxiliary of st. Peters
Church, and will be the usual col
orful and dramatic show which has
come to be expected each year.
More details about the models and
the clothing to be shown will be re-
leased in the near future. 1t will be
held in the auditorium of the high
school at eight o'clock.
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
P.T.A. TO HOLD MEETING

Plans Are Laid for April Meeting;
ITO Hold Election of Officers
The next meeting of the Smyrna
Special District School Parent
Teacher Association will be held on
Thursday, March IL at 8 pm. at
the Smyrna Elementary School. A
program entitled do 1t Yourself"
will be presented. At a recent exc
cutive committee meeting plans
were made for the April meeting
of the PTA. At that time an elec-
tion of officers for the following
year will be held. Mrs. Viola Nay
lor, of the home economics depart
ment of the John Bassett Moore
High School, will present her clas-
ses in a fashion show. Twelve
of the executive commit
tee attended the meeting with
Brinton Reynolds presiding.
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
CURTAIN GOING UP ON LIONS
VARIETIES OF 1854 TONIGHT

isas City Starlight Opera; Toronto
in New Moon" and in Hollywood
at the famous Greek Theatre do
ing annie Get Your Gun" His
magnificent voice will be heard
here and his artistry again shown
before a local audience. Dave
Monaghan, xylophone artist, plus
'@The Puppet-Aires', who sing and
dance and play the instrument in
original musical novelties, will en-
tertain children as well as adults;
Walter Walters, Jr., a versatile
ventriloquist, can sing in three
voices at one time, two male and
one female. He will feature
Woody, 'Mary Lou," the dummy
with voice, and 'Mr. Raymond"
Other acts scheduled are Nat Rave,
comedienne ala Judy Canova;
Glen Foust, the European comedy
juggling artist seen here last year;
Jean Janess, a daring and breath
taking acrobatic wonder. An in
strumental trio will accompany all
acts and will play throughout the
entire show. Tickets are one dollar
and no seats are reserved.
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
RED CROSS
CAMPAIGN ON
"Answer the Call-JOin and
Serve" Slogan of This
Years Drive
CONTINUES THRU MARCH

The annual Red Cross fund drive
is now under way and will continue
through the month of March, with
the slogan: Answer the Call
Join and Serve. The simple act
of joining the Red Cross enables
eveyone to serve his neighbors in
distress or need, wherever they
may be. When you join the Red
Cross, you identify yourself with
each individual act of mercy this
great organizations pc rf m S
everywhere in the world. Just as
these calls for help-thousands of
them each day-by your member
ship in the Red Cross. You are
there when the shattered lives and
homes of disaster victims are re-
built; when blood saves a life;
when emergency help is given to
servicemen, veterans, of their fam
Continued on Page Five)
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
ORDER CLUB JACKETS
Honorary Member, Marine William
Vaughn, Guest of Silver Eagles

FhA&S nMS UutSb VI SILVER Eagles
Members of the Silver Eagles
Club will soon be the proud wear
ers of new club Jackets, which will
be maroon and white, the club col
ors, with the owners nickname on
the front and the name of the club
on the back. They have been or
dered at Wootten's Clothing Store
and are being awaited eagerly by
the club members. At the last
meeting of the group the young
men were pleased to see an honor
ary member, Bill Vaughn, who is
now serving with the u. S. Marine
Corps. Two other members of the
club will also be leaving soon to
serve in the armed forces. Roger
Hudson, club treasurer, is going
into the Air Force, and Walter
Ramsey, in the Marines. Brooks
Banta was appointed by President
Kenneth Marsh to succeed Roger
as treasurer, and James Roth to
succeed Walter on the membership
committee. The Silver Eagles re-
mind all teenagers of the commun-
ity that they are still holding
dances at the Century Club each
Saturday night.
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
SCHOOL TAX
RATE REDUCED
DR.. c. ]. Prickett, President
of School Board, Announces
New Tax Rate
2S CENTS PER HUNDRED

Announcement is made by DR..
G. J. Prickett, President of the
Board of Education, that a reduc-
tion in taxes for the Smyrna
Special School District will be ef-
fective on the 1854 assessment.
This reduction in taxes amounts to
four cents per one hundred dollars
of assessed valuation on real es-
tate. The 1854 tax rate will be
twenty-eight cents per one dund-
red dollars of assessed valuation
and two dollars capitation tax.
This reduction, continued DR..
Prickett, is in keeping with the
policy of the Board of Education
to keep the school taxes as low as
possible commensurate with good
schools. The Board at their regu-
lar February meeting approved the
application for the use of the ele-
school cafetorium by the
Smyrna Grange on March 6. The
Board of Education also announces
the maturity of seven hundred
dollars in United States Savings
Bonds purchased by the Board of
Education in 1912 at the time the
annual trip to Washington was
discontinued due to the war. THE
funds for the purchase of these
bonds in 1912 had accumulated
from the small balances left by
preceding classes from their Wash
ington trip and did not belong to
any one class. These funds will be
used for the purchase of a memor-
ial to the alumni of the school,
with the purchase deferred until
CONTINUED on Page Ten)
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
TO HOLD WORLD
DAY OF PRAYER
World Day of Prayer To Be
Observed at First Pres
byterian Church
FRIDAY, MARCH 5

World Day of Prayer. Ere we
awaken Friday morning Salote,
Queen of the Tonga Islands on the
international date line, was lead
ing her people in prayer and praise
Successfully the sun had shone on
services in thatched-roofed chapels,
in cathedrals, in little rural, and in
big city, churches, in fields where
migrants work, in radio and TV
stations where microphones chan
mel the message. The air waves
about us are vibrant with prayer,
prayer uttered not along in our
English language but in hundreds
of tongues of the earth. The day
proclaims again the reign of God
on earth. Wherever we are, may
we for a moment be still and know
that God does reign. With renewed
hope and courage may we go forth
to help answer our prayers by our
action. At no period in history has
mankind been in so great need.
American cannot rest in safety on
her plateau of plenty while the
great majority of the worlds peo-
pie suffer in the valley of poverty,
hunger, and sickness. There is but
one answer to our prayer, 'Thy
CONTINUED on Page Ffvel
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
LOCAL A.A.U.N.
HELD MEETING
Mrs. Marjorie w. Speakman
Presided at Meeting in
Parish House Here
MEET IN WILMINGTON

The second meeting of the new
ly-formed Kent County chapter of
the American Association For the
United Nations was held recently
in the parish house of st. Peters
Church, with Mrs. Marjorie w.
Speakman, temporary president,
presiding. Mrs. Edith Bohn, of
Wilmington, was present to offer
her assistance in guiding the
group. Mrs. Bohn told of the plans
for the appearance in Wilmington
on Wednesday, March "a of Mrs.
Eleanor Roosevelt, who will speak
that night at the P. S. DUPONT
High School. There will also be an
informal meeting at the Hotel Du-
Pont in the afternoon, at which
Clark M. Eichelberger, executive
director, AAUN, will speak, fol-
lowed by a dinner at the hotel.
Members Of the local AAUN
group will attend both the dinner
and the evening meeting. The local
session was attended by represen-
tatives from Dover, Clayton, and
Smyrna. Miss Florence Lurty was
named temporary vice president.
The president of the group will
make an effort to get more men,
bers throughout the country. 1t is
CONTINUED on Page Ffve)
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
ISHS FACULTY
FACES EAGLES
Smyrna High Faculty to Play
Varsity Basketball Team
Friday Night
BASEBALL BENEFIT

On Friday night the residents of
Smyrna will be able to see their
sons and daughters oppose the
faculty of Smyrna High in a bas-
ketball and volleyball game. The
women of the faculty will match
talents with the students girls in
an All Star volleyball preliminary
while the men on the schools staff
will oppose the Eagles" the var
sity basketball team in the main
attraction of the evening. The
game is being staged in order to
raise funds to help support the
baseball team of Smyrna High.
The following persons will partici-
pate: On the faculty will be Mr..
Robert Everett, MIR. Charles Will
lians, Mr.. William Horney, Mr..
Frank Stellatella, Mr.. Leonard
Hitch, Mr.. Kenneth Williams, Mr.
John Dickinson, and Mr.. Leon
Tabb. The varsity will be composed
of Bill Denney, Leroy Everett, Hal
Bodley, Sam Jacobs, Ronnie Stew
ems, Jim Gray, Phil Voshell, Ken
dali Hudson, and James Orvis. The
girls "All Star" team consists of 2
girls from each class. On the
faculty volleyball team will be Mrs.
Ruth Williams, Mrs. Evelyn Men
denhall, Miss Miriam Brown, Miss
Joyce Riley, Miss Theresa Dona-
hoe( and Miss Jane Reed. This is
the first time that an event such
as this has taken place in Smyrna,
for many years, and every one is
looking forward to an enjoyable
evening. The volleyball contest will
take place at 700 P. M with the
basketball game Immediately fol-
lowing.
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
GROUP
DISCUSS PLANS
Mrs. Francis O'Neill AnnOun-
ces Girls State Program to
be Held June 2S-July 2
ESSAY JUDGES NAMED

The March meeting of the Aux
iliary to the David c. Harrison
Post No. ID American Legion was
held Monday night at the home of
Mrs. Grant G. Garis, with Mrs,
George David as co-hostess. Mrs.
James Rogers presided. Mrs. Fran
els O'Neill, Girls State chairman,
announced that this year Girls
State will be held from June 28
to July 2. The share of the local
unit in Girl State will be $73.95.
Mrs. Bertha Pierce, Americanism
chairman, announced the local
judges for the annual essay con-
test. They are Miss Anna B. Beck
EFT, Mrs. S. Allan Moffitt, and Mrs.
Thomas w. Russell. Mrs. O'Neill
announced that the national presi-
dent, Mrs Elizabeth Burdette will
visit Delaware May II, and that
night a dinner will be held in her
honor in Dover. Mrs. John Long
botham, department president, re-
ports that one of the project this
year will be providing six bedside
tables at Delaware Colony, Stoke
ley. The local unit donated five
dollars to this project. The April
meeting will be an opening meet
ing and invitations will be extend
ed to all local organizations to at
tend. The speaker will be George
Ehinger, Dover, national chairman
of child welfare for the American
Legion.
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
Christian Association

An association of Christian
minded young men and women
will be effected at meeting to be
held at Town Hall on Friday even
ing, March IL. Organization of the
group, which is sponsored by all
of the churches of the community,
will take place at that time. The
group will include young people
from a wide area, west to the
Maryland line and east to the Del
aware Bay. 1t had its inception at
Asbury Methodist Church, but it
will be non-denominational, and
for all of the youth of the vicin-
ity. There will be dacing before
and after the meeting.
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
FIRE DESTROYS
FURCHES HOME
Home of Robert A. Furches
Destroyed by Fire Early
Monday Morning
DAMAGE SET AT $4,000

Five alarms were answered by
the volunteers of the Citizens Hose
Company between 2:30 am. Satur'
day and 6 pm. Monday. The larg-
est fire was at 3:15 am. on Mon
day when fire destroyed the home
of Robert A. Furches, three miles
east of Smyrna on the Leipsic
Road. The fire had gained headway
when discovered by Mr.. Furches
who, with his wife and father-in-
law were asleep on the first floor
He called his son, Roy, and the
family then made every effort to
get w. L. Miller, Mrs. Furches
father, safely from the house. He
is eighty-five years old and par
tally paralyzed. According to the
son they could not reach the phone
as the second floor was ablaze and
one end of the first floor burning
when they removed the invalid
They drove to Smyrna and gave
the alarm, and then went right on
to leave the invalid at the home
of a relative, F. A. Furches, at
Peach Bottom, Pa, west of Viii.
mington. Meanwhile the state pol
ice, after the fire had been seer
by state trooper riding on Route
13, Thirty-four volunteers re-
sponded and the first truck was
on the street ready to go four min
utes after the alarm was received
The house was gutted with the ex-
ception of the kitchen and the
family has decided to live in that
room until the house can get re-
built. Damage was estimated by
firemen at $4,000. High winds
were blowing at the time but for
tunately in the opposite direction
from a large barn and other farm
buildings. BY the time the fire
men arrived the roof had collapsed
but they managed to save the kit
Continued on Page Ten]
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
NEW SPORTING GOODS STORE
Walter and Gene Handsberry To
Open New Store Saturday

With the announcement of the
opening of a new sporting goods
store here next Saturday the busi-
ness area of Smyrna will have ano-
ther addition to the Four Corners
area which will add to the new
look given by the new Smyrna
Gift Shop on the corner. The store
will be known as Smyrna Sporting
Goods and will be in charge of
Walter and Gene Handsberry.
Among the articles featured will
be baseball, football, and basket
ball equipment; fishing tackle,
guns, and shells, cunning clothes,
and sporting boots. Also, many
other articles sought by sportmen
in this community. The store will
serve a need, and its opening will
mark still further growth in the
life of the town.
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
MAYOR NAMES
COMMITTEES
Mayor John ]. Hurd Appoints
Committees at First Meet
ing of New Council
HEAR REPORTS

All members of Town Council
were present Friday night for the
first regular meeting since the or
ganization meeting. Mayor John ].
Hurd conducted the session. Chief
of Police John w. Jacobs reported
on several matters, chief among
them the safety program which
will be sponsored during the en-
tire year by the local police depart
ment in cooperation with the Gov
ernor's Highway Safety Commit
tee. He outlined the plans, which
include a project each month to
focus the attention of the citi-
zens on safety. During February
display in Golden's Pharmacy has
caused much interest by the pub
lie. Marking of crosswalks, stop
signs, publicity, including talks be-
fore all service clubs on the topic
of highway safety are among the
plans at this time.
Two Local Police to Attend School
Chief Jacobs was granted per-
mission by council to send two
members of the local police force
to a school in Dover to be conduct
ed for three days each week for
five weeks, sponsored by the Del
aware State Police in cooperation
with the Wilmington Bureau OF
Police and the Federal Bureau OF
Investigation. The other members
of the force will work overtime SO
that the town will have its usual
24-hour a day protection. An Of
flee for the newly-appointed aller-
man will be set up in the police
office, and furniture and appoint
ments will be purchased at once
Jack Carson, State Highway De-
partment, showed drawings of the
proposed new street and road to be
laid by the department east Of
Route 13 on East Commerce Street
and an agreement with the town
will be signed in the near future.
Committees Appointed
Mayor Hurd announced commit
tee appointments on council, as
follows: Police, George w. Blendtt
John E. Wilson III; Electric, Mr.
Blendt, Richard G. Price; Build
ings, William Staats, Mr.. Wilson;
Continued on Page Nve)
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
CAMPAIGN FOR
HOSPITAL ON
Mrs. Harmonson Weir, Smyr-
ma Chairman, Releases List
of Workers for Drive
EN'TERTAINS AIDS

Mrs. Harmonson Weir is chair
man for Smyrna of the annual
membership drive sponsored by
the Woman's Auxiliary for Kent
General Hospital, Dover. The pro-
ceeds are used for linens, silver
ware, and dishes for use at the
hospital. Mrs. Weir entertained her
aides at her home, "Greybox" last
week to map out plans for the
campaign here. Mrs. Weir will
have the assistance of the follow
ing women: Mrs. Henry R. Shap-
ley, Mrs. Henry T. Price, Mrs. Will
liam Carson, Mrs. John F. Sinp-
son, Mrs. Robert Newman, Mrs.
David Mills, Mrs. William School
field; Mrs. G. l.. Harmonson, Mrs
H. E. Wickham, Mrs. w. w. Price,
Jr., Mrs. Victor Ennis, Mrs.
George w. Wright, Mrs. John Uri-
an, Mrs. Ralph B. Jones, Mrs. Mar
tin Golden, Mrs. William Joyce
Mrs. Guy Edmondson, Jr.; Mrs
Lee Slaughter, Mrs. James Turner,
Sr., Mrs. Creadick Ennis, Mrs
Kenneth Smith, Mrs. Walter w
Speakman, Mrs. Francis B. Geb-
hart, Mrs. Frank Ryan, and Mrs
Ronald Grier. The drive starts on
March 1 and continues through
March is.
Smyrna times., 1954-03-04
CLAYTON DRIVE SUCCESS
Kent General Hospital Campaign
In CLAYTON Nets SI39.I3

Kent General Hospital Campaign
In Clayton Nets $l39.I3
The recent drive in Clayton for
the Auxiliary of the Kent General
Hospital in Dover resulted in a to-
tai of $139.13. This money was
turned over to Mrs, A. G. Hopkins,
General Chairman of the Drive,
and will be used to furnish linens
and materials for the hospital. Mrs.
Richard w. Comegys, Chairman, of
Clayton, reported a very crafty
ing response from the people and
expressed appreciation to those
women who gave their time and
energies in the door to door can
vass. Those assisting were as fol-
lows: Mrs. Esther Orvis, Mrs. Vir-
ginia Cubbage, Mrs. Manetta Car
row, Mrs. Lena Ballard, Mrs. Nell
lie Loder, Mrs. Ruth Wright, Mrs.
Katherine Norman, Mrs. Marguer-
ite Argo, Mrs. Mae Turner, Mrs.
Ruth Smith and Miss Mary Smith,
and Misses Eleanor, Mary and Nan
Burke. Kent General Hospital is an
emergency hospital and serves a
real need in the community of Dov-
er and the surrounding area Speci-
al recognition of this service was
shown by the generous checks of
few donors and subscription to
membership in the Auxiliary by q
great many donors. This drive re-
placed the usual donation Day.,
held about Armistice Day in Nov
ember.