davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
235,OOO State Folk
Blue Cross Members
Two Out OF Every Three Citizens
Are New Affiliates

Over 235,000 Delawareans = two
out of three-are members of the
Delaware Blue Cross-Blue Shield
Plan. And since the beginning of
the Plan in Delaware in October
of 1885, the many members who
required disqualification have found
their Blue Cross Identification card
an "open sesame" to the hospital
door.
One of the grateful members of
the Delaware Blue Cross Plan, Mr..
j. Elmer Powell, yardmaster of the
Delmarya Division of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. issued the fourth
statement in the series of state
ments by Delawareans in all walks
of life declaring his blue Cross
Identification card has always been
better than having money"
The testimonial statements are
being issued in connection with the
twentieth anniversary of Group
Hospital Service, Inc, the non-prof1t
community health organization. The
first statement was issued by How
ard NJ. Buckson, an advisor to the
Delaware Trust Company's Dover
office who is one of the original
members of Blue Cross in Del
CONTINUED on page seven)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Mrs.LynnPratt
Succumbs To
Heart Attack
Was Widow Of The Late
DIR. j. Lynn Pratt; Ac-
tive For Years In New
Century Club.

Mrs. Lucille Scott Pratt, one of
the best known ladies in this city,
died last Sunday shortly after
O'Clock in the afternoon in Mill
ford Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Pratt, who would have been
"a years old in November, was ac-
tive until last Saturday night when
she entertained at a social function.
She was stricken with heart at
tack Sunday morning and was re-
moved to the hospital.
The widow of DR.. j. Lynn Pratt,
we'll known Milford physician who
died several years ago, she was
prominent in Christ Episcopal
Church, Milford, and in all EpiscO-
pal Church work. She also was ac-
tive in social circles throughout the
state.
Mrs. Pratt was q charter member
of the Milford New Century Club,
and served as its president for three
terms. For many years she was Mil
ford's registrar of vital statistics,
and was known for advancing the
cultural side of this community,
having conducted dancing school
in Milford for several years. In
1918, during a shortage of teachers
during World War /, Mrs. Pratt
filled in on the faculty of the North
Milford High School. She was a
lifelong Democrat.
CONTINUED on page three)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Makes Changes
In Personnel
At M a S t c n
Trucking Co.
Harvey j. Shafer Elected
First Preside ent In
Charge OF Operations;
Leslie Davidson Named
His Assistant.

Masten Trucking Co. Inc, Mil
ford, Delaware. has announced sew
eraf personnel changes which have
taken place in the past three
months. Harvey j. Shafer, who has
served the transportation Industry
in many capacities during the past
twenty-three years, has been elect
eaa Vice President in Charge OF
Operations.
Leslie Davidson, formerly mem
Der of the sales department, has
been transferred 10 Milford from
Salisbury, Maryland, and has been
appointed assistant to Mr.. Snafer.
Mr. Davidson attended Boston Uni
versity prior to his employment in
1853 with Masten. Trucking Com
pany at its Milford terminal. In
June, 1854, he became member OF
the sales staff and he and his fam
lily moved to Salisbury. Among
other duties. Mr. Davidson will as
sumo entire responsibility of Mas
tens safety program.
Leo ]. Schaefer, who has made
his home in Salisbury for a number
of years. has recently joined the
Masten organization and has as
sumed Mr.. Davidson's former duties
as sales representative in the Sails
bury area.
William l.. Stayton has been ap-
pointed terminal manager of Mas
tens Milford terminal. Mr.. Stayton
has been associated with the COM
pany in its Milford operations for
the past six years. In his new posi-
tion he will assume full charge of
CONTINUED on page three)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Blue Hen Post
To Be HOnOred
At National
Session At Boston, Mass,
August % To Septem-
ber 2 Will See Local
Veterans Ladies Aux
Hilary Cited.

Word has just been received here
TO the effect that the local V. F. w.
units, Blue Hen Post No. 6483, and
it Ladies Auxiliary will be honored
at the Both Annual National En-
campmeat of the Veterans of For
eign Wars, being held at Boston,
August 2Sth to September End. This
will consist of presentation of
awards in recognition of the Mil
ford units havings been chosen
among the top 25 winners in ma
tion-wide Community Service COM
petition among more than 10000
Veterans of Foreign Wars units.
The prize winning entries of the
Milford units will also be on dis
play at the Hotel Bradford, Boston,
throughout the week-long encamp-
ment and will be seen by thous-
ands of delegates and other visitors.
In notifying Post Commander
Walter Quering of selection of the
Blue Hen Post entry as a national
prize winner, Mark Kinsey, V. #. w.
Americanism director at the Kansas
City national headquarters, wrote:
Winning recognition among the
TOP 25 is something your post can
be proud of, since you were COM
peting with nearly 1000 other
V. F. w. posts and auxiliaries in
all states and territories. They re-
ported more than $4,000 Com
munity Service projects for the
contest period, April l, 1854 to
March 81, 1855, and were tough
competition"
In expressing his pleasure at see
ing his post given additional nat
ional recognition, Comdr. Quering
stated that credit for such recogni-
ton was due all those who partici-
pated in Blue Hen Posts many
faceted community service program
and emphasized the role played by
the Blue Hen Ladies'. The local
Continued on page sikh
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Tri-State Truck
Rodeo Sept. $40
Judges Selected For Camden, N. j..
Fete Include z DeIawareans

Seven Delawareans have been
named among the judges for the
tri-state truck roadeo September
$40 at the Camden Airport, Cam
den, N. j., it was announced today
by Fred ]. Sieyers, general man.
ager, Delaware Motor Transport
Association.
In addition, Col. Harry S. Shew,
superintendent of the Delaware
State Police, has accepted an invi-
tation to serve as honorary Judge.
: The DMTA is joining with the
Pennsylvania and New Jersey
trucking associations in staging the
championship event, the first re-
gional roadeo ever held by the in
dustry. 1t also will mark the first
time that the Delaware association
has entered truck roadeo.
The Delaware judges, who will
serve with an equal number from
the other two states, are: Francis
j. Jamison and E. Irwin LeKites,
Delaware Safety Council; Carlton
w. Hobbs, Carolina Casualty In
surance Co.; Walter II. Powell,
ground safety director, 4710th Air
Defense Command, New Castle Air
Force Base; Captain John McPar-
lin, surface transportation officer,
1607th Air Transport Wing, Dover
Air Base; George Fl. Tunison, safe
ty director, United States Aero
plane Carriers, Inc, Dover; and
Continued on page three)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Laura Walls Gives
Ex-Teachers Party
Many Attended Affair At Her
Slaughter Beach Cottage

Laura Walls. gave the ex-tea-
chers who were disabled in SER
vice party recently at her COM
modious cottage at Slaughter
Beach
In addition to many of the tea
chers. there were present for the
program. and refreshments, some
of those persons who together with
Mrs Walls. have worked diligent-
ly through the years to gain recog-
nition and compensation commen-
surate with their years of service
for this particular group of tea
chers. who until 1945. were on the
part of the State OF Delaware, the
forgotten men and women of their
profession.
To those present It seemed that
Mrs. Walls, who has labored for
so many years to achieve a decent
pension for the disabled teachers.
the marty should have been rendered
the hostess as a mark of appreci-
alton for her untiring effort on be-
half of this group throughout the
years.
{cotsfspt,ed an pape f5yal
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Racing Season
At, Harrington
Starts Aug. y
Applications Have Been
Received For $50 HOrs-
es; New Mutuel Line
Is Completed.

The trotting scene will shift from
Maryland to Delaware on August
22nd for 20 nights of racing at
Harrington followed by 80 nights
of racing at Brandywine to wind
up the Delaware-Maryland circuit
t. B. Holloway announced today
that work has been completed on
the new 4000-seat grandstand and
a complete new mutuel line to bet
ter serve the race patrons.
Applications have been received
for $50 horses to race at Harring-
ton and all stalls will be filled by
race time.
There will be nine races nightly
for the 20-day meet with post-time
for the first race at $3.50 p. m.
The Delaware Harness. Racing
Commission has selected the fol-
lowing race officials for the Har-
rington meet.
Robert S. Steele, presiding judge,
the commissions; Har-
vey Hartman and Charles Cushwa,
associate judges; Cecil Wheatley,
Joseph Reagan and Ormand r,
Schiller, patrol judges.
The popular race secretary and
Handicapped, Dick Case of Ocean
City, Md, will prepare the condi-
tions and classes of races from the
horses stabbed here for each nights
program.
A new innovation in starting
horses will be introduced by off
cial starter, Dale Fetrow, by the in
stallation of two-way radio sys-
tenn whereby the judges from atop
the stand can be in constant con-
tact with thes starter and the driv-
ers until they have been given the
official word to go.
Many of the horses from the Del
marva Peninsula will race at Har-
rington and Brandywine for the so
days and then return to Harrington
for winter training.
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Wilson Boys PAGER
Wins At Westbury
Sp0tty Fingo, Owned By Houston
Brothers, Racks Third Win

Spotty Fingo. a four-year-o
Calumet Fingo pacing gelding own
ed by Ben and Elmer Wilson of
Houston, and driven by Robert
Camper, recorded his third victory
Of the season at Roosevelt Race
way, by three parts of length over
Hal Gray, in 2:07.
The Houston ambler making his
farewell appearance at the West
bury oval, had to take to the out
side at the half way mark to move
into contention. Finding racing
room at the top of the stretch,
Spotty Fingo tucked into second
place behind W. S. Primrose.
Midway through the homestretch,
Spotty Fingo drew clear of the fad
ing pacesetter, to lead Hal Gray
to the finish by three-quarters of
length.
The winner returned s6.40 as the
favorite.
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Kent Election Dept.
Is Planning Fight
Court Asked To Throw Out Ripper
Created Group

The legality of still another Dem
atic-controlled governmental ag-
ency, created by so-called ripper
legislation" Of the General Assem-
bly,, has been contested with the
filing in Superior Court this week
of a complaint against the new
Kent County Department of Elec-
tions.
Charges of partisan politics
and ripperism are included in the
complaint.
A similar action, asking that the
new act creating the new five-mem-
Der Delaware Alcoholic Beverage
Control Commission, be declared in
valid, was filed Aug. 2 in the Su-
perior Court of New Castle County
by the COP Other such legal con-
tests have been mentioned for the
newly-organized State Highway De-
partment.
CONTINUED on page two)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Child Die
In Millsbor0 Fire
STORM ALERT is
EXPLAINED

The hurricane alert" post
ed in connection with Hurri-
cane Connie was not as bad
as it may have sounded,
weather experts explained
following the blow.
Thousands along coastal
points including New Jersey,
Delaware, New York and
lower New England worried
by the latest advices on the
tempest, may be exaggerating
their fears, the experts said.
"An alert means simply"
they said, that we are say
ing there is an outside chance
the hurricane may strike
sometime in the next II TO "a
hours, but there is no GER
tainty it will. If a hurricane
warning is given that means
that the prediction is it will
hit a certain area"
1t will be well for our citi-
zens to remember this when
the radios blare forth much
irresponsible chatter and the
daily newspapers print scare
heads when the next blow
approaches. Use your own
good Judgment and a due
amount of caution. Forget
much of the professional gen.
Grated fright.
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Blanche Price Jehu Evans
atally Hurt Recovery Fund
Last Saturday Is Growing
Retired DUPONT Company
Employee Fell Down
Stairs At Her Brothers
Home During Storm.

Miss N. Blanche Price, IL year.
old retired DUPONT Company. work
er in the company's Wilmington
offices, was killed in the home of
her brother six miles west of Fell
ton early last Saturday morning.
While the winds from Hurricane
Connie roared through the little
community of Hollandsville about
8 a. m, Saturday, Miss Price lost
her balance and toppled from the
second to the first floor. The storm
had nothing TO do with her fatal
fall, stale police at Bridgeville said.
But the winds.fro the hurricane
swept a small bridge over a creek
and leading up to the house from
its foundations, requiring an am
bulance crew from Harrington to
carry Miss Price from the house
and through the water to the wait
ing ambulance, according to police.
The victim was pronounced dead
at the Milford Memorial Hospital.
Coroner Vollie Grey of Sussex
County reported she died from null
tiple decorations of the head.
Miss Price was visiting her bro
ther, Fletcher Price, when the acci-
dent occurred in the latter's home.
Police theorized that she had
gone to the second-f1oor bathroom
and had refrained from turning on
the lights because she did not want
to awaken others in the house.
Hearing the fall and discovering
the accident, the other occupants
called Mrs. Mary Gott, a nurse and
neighbor, who had difficulty reach
ing the Price home because of the
storm. Mrs. Gott had just crossed
the bridge when it was swept away
by the Storm" police investigator
said.
CONTINUED on page seven)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Donkey Ball Game
At Frederica Aug. "a
Affair Being Sponsored BY The
Murderkill Lions Club

The Murderkill Lions Club is
sponsoring a. Donkey Baseball
game to be held at the Frederick
School Grounds on Wednesday,
August oath. The game time is $3.50
p. m., and the grounds will be
lighted. Plan to arrive early as
we will have plenty of refresh
ments for sale, and also plan to
have some games before game time.
Come out and knock down the
old milk bottles or enter the old
potato race Come out and have an
evening of fun and laughter and at
the same time help a good cause.
Proceeds will be set aside for needy
causes as they arise. One OF our
most important activities is furnish
ing glasses for underprivileged
school children. We will appreciate
your help.
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Stan Marvel Is
Rotary Speaker
City Manager Presented To Group
By Irwin G. Burton

City Manager Stanford C. "Skin-
ny" Marvel was guest speaker at
the weekly Rotary Club dinner
meeting on Monday evening of this
week Mr.. Marvel was introduced
by program chairman Irwin G. Bur
ton. The talk given by Mr.. Marvel
follows.
Irv Burton asked me to talk to
you members of the Milford Rotary
Club about the present growth and
the prospects for future growth of
Milford. This is not talk but a
report to you on the operation of
your City.
We are expanding and we see fur
thef expansion for the not too dis
tant future.
Milford is not bursting at the
seams. 1t has burst, and the seams
are completely gone. No matter how
hard some may try to hold back the
rising tide of progress-it will con-
tinue.
Continued on page eight)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19

This years season will thus be-
20 days long.
Flights on all Flyways are ex-
pected to be the best since 1852"
the service said in announcing the
new basic Migratory Waterfowl
Hunting Regulations for 1856.
The new regulations fix the over
all length of the season for hunt
ing migratory waterfowl to run
from Oct. l to Jan. Is, 1856. This is
an extension of five days over last
years basic framework. Within
those dates, hunting seasons for the
individual states will be selected
by their game administrators.
The Mississippi Flyway states
will have 20 days, instead of 55.
Central Flyway states will have
rs shooting days for ducks, instead
of 60, but the season on geese will
remain at so days.
Pacific Flyway states, which got
an increase of five days last year
Continued on page eighteen)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Veterans Complete
Reorganization
Property Holding Company For
VFW Elects Directors

With the election of Charles
Gordon Kicker 'as a director, mem
ber-at-large classification, the Mil
ford Veterans of Foreign Wars AS
sociation, Inc- property-holding
company for the local V. F. w. unit,
has completed its annual re-or-
ganization.
Previously, holdover directors
and recent additions to the 14-man
board had met, and reelected Glenn
ent j. Nevins, as president; David
6. Hugg. as secretary: and Eurie
VI. Savage, Jr., as treasurer, and
elected Walter w. Quering as vice
president of. the board. In addition
70 Messrs. Nevins, Quering. Hugg,
Savage and Kicker, the re-organized
board includes Paul J. Duphily,
Charles w. Sigler. Frank l.. Hall,
Ralph E. Scott, Donald r. Currie.
Edgar Burlingame, Louis j. Pack.
James r. West and Harold r.
Welch, Jr.
Mr.. Nevins has announced the
following committee assignments
for the ensuing year: auditing, Du-
phily, Hugg and Savage; building
and grounds. Quering, Burlingame,
Currie and Kicker. membership.
Welch, Hall and Savage: house.
West, Sigler and Pack; bylaws.
Hugg, Duphily. and Scott:s resident
agent, Hall.
The corporation. which owns and
operates the V. F. w. Post Home
and the tract adjacent to the Post
Home. has completed plans for a
s7.p0 addition to the present build
ing and work on this addition is to
begin in the very near future. When
CONTINUED on page three)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Hurricane Connie
Causes No Damage
Was Preceded, However,
By A Freak Storm Last
Friday Afternoon That
Did Cause Some DAM
age.

Though much heralded Hurricane
Connie apparently missed Sussex
County, she was preceded Friday
afternoon by a violent disturbance
described differently by different
people, which ripped through the
southeastern corner of the county
and left some damage in its wake.
In this area, there was little OF
no damage reported. A few trees
lost limbs, and country roads were
flooded, temporarily making driving
hazardous. Milford stores closed
Friday evening because of the
winds and rain, but no damage was
reported.
Some people called it ''twister"
others, two twisters"; and still
others, a young tornado; but
whatever its name or cause, il
plunged large area into darkness,
tore down and whipped the waters
of the Indian River to a frenzy.
Even as late as Saturday noon,
when the rest of the county had
long since rejoiced that all predict
able danger had passed, the wind
was still blowing at gale force at
Oak Orchard and the waves dash
ing over the piers and onto the
roadways.
The wind at its peak late last
Friday afternoon, had torn up many
old trees whose clutch on Mother
Earth had been weakened by the
heavy rains, damaging houses al
Oak Orchard, Ocean View and prob
ably ether spots in that area.
Tie absence of electricity in the
area not only brought darkness but
lack of water, electrically pumped,
to Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach,
Millville, Ocean View and Oak
Orchard.
Evacuation was begun and the
centers already set up by the Red
Cross and Civil Defense were put
into operation. There were some
200 evacuees at the Lord Baltimore
School in the Ocean View-Millville
area and an unreported number,
possibly reaching 100,. at the Salem
Center in Selbyville. A few OF
these were said to have come from
such points as Ocean City, Md. The
WV Hall in Millsboro was put into
service and there were some 175
there for supper, but only so oi
these remained for the night.
Most badly damaged of all was
the Indian River Yacht Club where
the twister lifted the pavilion from
the dock, complete with two boats
CONTINUED on page six)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Peeping Tom Case
SOlUed At Georgetown
Howard Cramer Gets Six
Months For Actions At
County Seat

The assault upon Mrs. Oliver ID.
Robinson last December and at
least two Peeping Tom cases in
Georgetown have been cleared up,
according to State and Georgetown
police, with the arrest of Howard
Cramer, 26, South Front Street,
Georgetown.
Cramer is now in Sussex County
Prison in default of bond of $1,000
for the assault on Ms. Robinson,
and is serving a three months sem
tence on each of the Peeping Tom
charges. In addition, he was fined
800 each on the latter charges.
He was taken before Magistrate
CONTINUED on page three)
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Established BY The Joint
Efforts Of Glendale
Fire Co. And Milford
FLA Chapter.

The Jehu Evans Recovery Fund,
established by the joint effort of
the Milford Chapter, Future Farm
ers of America and the Glendale
Volunteer Fire Company, has been
augmented by S257 contributed by
the sympathetic hand of communi-
ty friendship. Friends throughout
the area have been anxious to as
sist the fund although they are not
connected with either organization.
1t is expected that Jehu Evans
will be transferred today from the
Wilmington Hospital by the Ellen
dale Volunteer Fire Company am
bulance to the Beebe Hospital in
Lewas. This transfer has been
mate possible by a slight improve
ment in the young mans condition
and is being done primarily to re-
lieve the physical and financial
strain on the family who have been
making daily trips to Wilmington
from their home near Glendale for
the past ten weeks. 1t is anticlpa-
ted that Jehu Evans will return to
the Wilmington Hospital at later
date for surgery that is hoped will
complete his recovery.
The young friends of Jehu Evans
have rallied strongly to add their
little to the Fund in the anticipa-
ton that it will aid in the complete
recovery Of their friend. The great
majority of young people are not
the near-criminals that many arti-
cles on Juvenile delinquency would
have us believe they are. The
F. F. A. and the Ellendale Fire
Company salutes these young peo-
pie.
Anyone wishing to participate in
this Recovery Fund may contact
any member of the Milford Chapter
F. F. A. or A. c. Davidson. Milford,
Delaware, as well as any member
of the Ellendale Fire Company or
Mr.. Lawrence Sammons, Ellen
dale. Delaware.
Milford chronicle., 1955-08-19
Mrs. Evelyn West, SO, Is
Fatally Burned In At
tempt To Rescue Her
Daughter.

A 3s-year-old mother and her
three -year-old daughter died from
burns after the parent attempted
TO rescue the child and her cloth
ing was set afire by the blazing gar
ments on the little girl in their
home south of Millsboro last Sat
urday afternoon.
Mrs. Evelyn e. West, prominent
Sussex County woman and we'll
known musician, died from third
degree burns in the Milford Memo
rial Hospital at 2:15 a. m, on Sun
day.
Denise, her daughter died in the
same hospital at 1870 p. m, last
Saturday. Both were burned from
head to foot, according to state
police. All the clothing they wore
was burned off.
The accident happened last Sat
urday afternoon in the basement
of the West home at Piney Neck.
A can of paint thinner, accident
ly overturned by another daughter,
Gayle, 10, as she started up the
basement stairs, caused an explo-
sion that set fire TO the clothing of
Denise.
Carries Child Outside
! The mother, hearing her young
daughters screams. fought through
the flames and carried the child to
the rear yard, both of them engulfed
in flames.
The freak accident is believed
to have been caused when the fumes
from the paint thinner exploded as
they reached the pilot light on a hot
water heater.
Meanwhile. Gayle ran across the
road to the home of her grandma
ther, Mrs Elsie Vickers HUMPHREYS,
and other neighbors came running
to the scene. The mother and daugh-
ter were removed to the hospital in
the James ambulance of Millsboro.
Firemen from Mfllsboro and
Dagsboro were summoned but the
fire burned only briefly.
The husband and father is /.
Preston West, partner in the Mills
boro Furniture Company.
Mrs. West was a director of sew
eral musical shows in Sussex Coun-
ty and recently coached the Tall
Cedars of Lebanon minstrel in
She was a gifted musi-
clan on the piano and organ and
also played the saxophone and clari-
Continued on page seven)