davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
CHANGERS STRESS ON YOUTH
State Chairman Attends Smyrna
Supper Meeting

Wallace Caulk, state youth
chairman, and Mrs. Caulk, of
Fruitland Grange were guests at
the supper meeting of the Smyr-
ma Grange which was attended by
As persons. Mr.. Caulk gave re-
port on the National Grange youth
program. Pomona Master Harold
McGrath, Smyrna Grange, has an
nounced the appointment of James
Fleming, Jr., as Kent County
youth chairman. Reports were
given by chairmen who attended
the recent leaders conference.
Three applications were accepted
for membership and the degrees
will be conferred on Feb. 13 and
27. The officers will practice the
degree work on Thursday, Jan.
80 at s pm. The Smyrna Grange
will again sponsor the Heart Sun
day drive on Feb. %, and will al
so place the red plastic hearts
for contributions during the
month of February in various
stores and other spots in Smyrna.
Mrs. James Fleming, grange mas
ter, will serve as chairman for
Smyrna and the rural area. Names
of solicitors will be published.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
TOWN
MAYOR, so, DIES
George r. Stevenson, Former
Smyrna Civic Leader, Dies
Near Wilmington
FUNERAL AT SMYRNA

George Reynolds Stevenson, so,
died Sunday at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Sarah Carrow, in
Richardson Park. He was form
er mayor of Smyrna and long
active in civic affairs. He was the
son of the late George NJ and
Alice P. Stevenson. He was a
member of Town Council during
the 1905 and served for several
terms as the president before the
change in the town charter to
create the elective post Of mayor.
He later served as mayor during
the 1950's. He was also a magis-
trate for four terms and served
as late as 1856 when he retired
because of failing health. Since
then he has resided with children
in Wilmington and also visited
last fall at the home of his daugh-
ters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
He Joined the Citizens Hose Com
pany Dec 6, 1904, served on the
board of directors and board of
trustees; was president of the
company for three years, from
1928-30. In his younger days he
was active on many committees
for benefits for the fire company
and also as a fire fighter. Mr..
was the second presi-
dent of the Delmarva Volunteer
Association in 1881.
The honor of being a life member
of the Citizens Hose Company
was conferred on him on March
1, 1852, and it was planned to
honor him at the banquet held
last October, but his health pre-
vented his attendance. He was
of Asbury Methodist
Church. He is survived by nine
children: Mrs. Priscilla Bush, But
Ter, N. j.; George r., Jr., Will
mington; Miss Malvina Stevenson,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida; John,
Marshallton Heights; Mrs. Helen
Parish, Fort Lauderdale, Florida;
Frederick W., Silview; Mrs. Car
Continued from Page One
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
COUNTY DENIES JARMAN BID
Application for Trailer Park Re-
fused by County Board

The New Castle County Board
of Adjustment has this week
denied an application for variance
which would permit another trail
er park on the DUPONT Parkway
near Smyrna. The trailer park
petition came from Harry Jarman,
of Smyrna, who wants to estab-
lish a trailer park two and a half
miles north of the town. The
board dismissed this petition with
the comment that two nearby
trailer parks satisfy the needs
of the area in the foreseeable fu-
ture." The zoning commission has,
however, recommended approval
of request from Jarman to re-
zone small portion of the same
tract to permit the sale of trail
ers. The Levy Court, which has
the final decision in rezoning mat
ters, has not as yet held its hear
ing on this application.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
Police Cases This Week

Six motor vehicle cases were
among those investigated by
Smyrna police and taken before
local courts where fines were i'm
posed as follows: Wilson F. May
berrie, Smyrna, fined $40 for fail
ing to use due care in operating
a motor vehicle; Katherine Kuz-
ian, Cheswold, bucking traffic,
fined $40; George w. Bratcher,
Smyrna, operating an unregister-
ed motor vehicle, fined S25; Lat
ney Green, Smyrna, unregistered
motor vehicle, fined S25; James
E. Banning, fredericksburg, Md,
running through a red light, fined
$40; Johannes Morgenstern, Dow
er, failing to reduce speed, fined
$40; Leroy Sullivan, $40, drunk.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
WILLIAMS AT
KENT KICKOFF
US. Senator John j. Williams
To Address Lincoln Day
Dinner at Camden
BUCKSON TO EMCEE

u. S. Senator John ]. Williams
will be the featured speaker at a
Lincoln Day dinner being spon-
sored by the Kent County Repub-
lican organization The affair.
which is expected to attract Re
publican and Independent voters
from all sections of the state, will
be held Friday evening, Feb. IA,
at Caesar Rodney High School
cafeteria, Camden. The dinner will
commence at Z o'clock. General
chairman for the dinner, which
will be the opener for the 1858
Republican campaign in Kent
County, is John F. Mcdonald of
Dover. 1t Gov. David P. Buck
son will be master of ceremonies.
The Honorable Vera G. Davis,
state treasurer, is chairman in
charge of distinguished guests.
Mrs. Valerie Boggs is chairman
in charge of decorations. Two
young lady members of the Kent
County Republican Committee,
Jackie Newman and Mae North
wood, will be co-chairmen of the
committee on entertainment. Mrs.
Esther Parker is chairman of the
hostesses committee. Robert H.
Yerkes, a former chairman of the
Kent County Republican Commit
tee, has accepted the chairman
ship of the publicity committee.
Harold E. Remley and Robert
Bamberger head the ticket COM
mittee. County chairman w.
Deanne Johnston is in charge of
the program and menu commit
tee. The purchaser of each dinner
ticket will receive a regular size
dinner plate embossed with the
face of President Eisenhower, free.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
FILING DEADLINE NEARS IN
jos YOUNG FARMER CONTEST

George Simpson, of Houston,
will be the speaker at the Out
standing Young Farmer Awards
dinner, spokesmen for the Smyr-
na-Clayton Junior Chamber of
Commerce announced today. The
dinner will be held at The Pad
dock on Tuesday, Feb. IL at z
pm. Plans to honor the young
farmer to be selected by a panel
of judges as top agriculturalist in
this area for 1857 are being COM
pleted by w. Smithers Snow, Jr.,
chairman of the committee for
the event. A trophy will be
awarded the winner which will be
passed on to next years winner,
and there will be prizes awarded
to runners-up. The prizes have
been donated by the area mer-
chants. The trophy will be dis
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
CENTURY CLUB
ART PROGRAM
Raymond Lewis, Sculptor and
Craftsman, to Speak and
Exhibit Original Objects
PUBLIC INVITED

Mrs. Martin Golden, fine arts
chairman, Twentieth Century Club,
has arranged the program for
Thursday, Feb. 13 at 2 pm. She
will present Raymond Lewis, art
teacher at the Stanton School,
who also teaches Saturday morn
ing classes at the Delaware Art
Center. A graduate of the Uni
versity of Delaware, Mr.. Lewis is
a sculptor and craftsman, and
will speak on these subjects and
also have an exhibit of original
objects in sculptor and crafts
made by himself and other art
teachers. An invitation has been
extended to the advanced class at
the Smyrna High School and their
instructor, Thomas Mulligan, to
attend. The meeting will also be
open to the public and interested
persons will be welcomed by the
club. The hostesses for the tea
which will follow the program in
clude Mrs. John Yost, chairman,
Mrs. Sydney Bancroft, Mrs. Ed
win Billeb, Mrs. Avery Clifton,
Mrs. Robert Denney, Mrs. Robert
Hoffecker, Mrs. John L. Johnson,
Mrs. George ", Kirk, Mrs. Harry
Lower, Mrs. G. Ernest Rowland,
and Mrs. Thomas w. Russell.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
BANK OFFICIALS RETURN
Charles M. Gee Represents Equit-
able Security at Chicago Meet

able Security at Chicago Meet
Pierce K. Crompton, vice presi-
dent of the Sixth Street Office of
Equitable Security Trust Com
pany, Wilmington, and Charles M.
Gee, assistant treasurer of their
Smyrna Office, have returned
from Chicago, where they attended
a two-day session of the Ameri-
can Bankers. Association National
Credit Conference. Bank execu-
tives from every part of the coun-
try were in attendance. The con-
ference program occupied five ses-
sions during which the bankers
explored the business and credit
outlook for 1858. Banker
throughout the country are in al
most complete agreement that
business should improve during
1858, but differ as to just when
during the year the start of the
upward trend can be expected.
The views of the bankers reflect
many regional differences in the
current survey. While there is
agreement that the business trend
at present is slightly downward,
reports from the various areas of
the country vary considerably.
City area comments are more
favorable than those from other
areas of the country.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
SHOT CLEANING GUN
Walter Frey Shot in Eye While
Cleaning Gun Thursday Night

Walter Frey, 3O-year old farm
er who lives on the Leipsic road,
Smyrna, accidentally shot him
self in the eye while cleaning a
gun at his home last Thursday
night. He was taken to the Kent
General Hospital, Dover, by George
Scuse and Renee Stevens, friends
who were visiting at the time of
the mishap. Following emergency
treatment he was transferred to
the Delaware Hospital, Whining
ton. Hospital attendants were un-
able to comment whether he would
lose the sight of one eye. Mr..
Frey is employed by Paul Sapp
and is married to the former
Mary Emma Moor.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICE
Firemen Hold Service In Honor
OF George r.. Stevenson

Firemen Hold service III fAoiiOT
OF George r.. Stevenson
The fire bell was tolled eighty
times, once for each year of his
life, at the conclusion of the
memorial service held last night
at 7:30 in honor of George r
Stevenson, who died Sunday. The
service at the fire house was in
charge of the Rev. w. H. Revelle,
Jr., pastor of Asbury Methodist
Church, of which the deceased
was a member, assisted by the
Rev. F. Sydney Bancroft, rector
of st. Peters Episcopal Church,
both chaplains for the Citizens
Hose Company. All members of
the fire company were invited to
attend. At the close of the service
the firemen went to FAIRIES Fun
eral Chapel where the service was
concluded
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
BEGIN
COOKIE SALE
Mrs. Allan MOffitt Directs
Annual Girl Scout Drive
In Local Area
96,2OO BOXES is GOAL

Girl Scouts in the Smyrna area
set out last Friday afternoon on
their annual two-week cookie sale.
Last year the girls in the Will
mington area branch, which in
cludes Smyrna and Clayton, all
New Castle County, and Cecil
County, Md, sold an all-time high
of 175,000 boxes of cookies for
$4,000 and netted the Scouts
$31 800. This year the goal has
been set at 1876, 200 boxes which
would total $78,4S0. Each year
Girl Scouts sell cookies to help in
meeting their expenses. 1t is their
only money-making venture and
the money is for the individual
troops, items needed at the near
by Girl Scout camps, and general
expenses of scouting. The cookies
sell for 40 cents a box, with five
varieties of BURY Biscuit Corpor-
alton products from which to se-
lect. There are the chocolate and
vanilla sandwich creams, the Scot
teas, thin mint teas, Savanahs,
and pixie-dips. The last two types
were added to the variety last
year. The Scouts receive 13 cents
on each box sold. 1t is divided as
follows: individual troop activities
and camp buildings and struc-
lures, five cents; camp program
emphasis, four cents; major camp
equipment, three cents; and mis-
cellaneous, one cent. Mrs. Allan
Moffitt is chairman of sales in
the Smyrna and Clayton areas.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30

ELECT THREE
Wilson, Guy and Rodney Sc
Iected New Vestrymen
For Three Years
HEADED BY GREENWELL

Three vestrymen were elected
to serve for three years each and
reports were heard from all de-
partments at the annual parish
meeting held in the parish house
of st. Peters Episcopal Church
on Wednesday, Jan. %, following
a supper at (which parishioners
were guests of the vestry. The
new vestrymen elected were James
Rodney, Charles M. Guy and John
E. Wilson III. Holdover vestry-
men include J. Frank Greenwell,
Thomas Lamb, James Merrill, c.
F. Metzler, Robert Dunning and
Donald Heinold. At a reorgani-
zation meeting held the following
night the vestry selected Mr..
Greenwell as senior warden; re-
elected Robert Dunning, junior
warden; and named Coleman
Metzler, secretary; and Mr.. Green
well, treasurer. At the parish
meeting, the Rev. F. Sydney Ban
croft presided jand told of increase
in number of communicates and
also of great growth in the church
school. The report of the Wom-
ans Auxiliary was submitted by
Miss T. Ann Scout, and that of
the Altar Guild, by Miss Helen
Scout. Francis B. Gebhart, re-
firing senior warden, reported on
the financial picture in regard to
the proposed new building pro-
gram, and Mr.. Greenwell, a re-
port on church finances. John E.
Wilson III, chairman of the build
ing committee, outlined the pro-
posed plans for the new educa-
tional building program. The new
building will adjoin the present
parish house and will have seven
classrooms, a main hall for meet
ings, and a new kitchen. The
plans call for full basement
which can easily be converted in
ITO additional classrooms or used
for recreational purposes. A re-
cent progress report by the build
ing committee, with sketches of
the proposed plans, has been mail
ed to all parishioners. Those at
tending the parish meeting voted
a resolution of confidence in the
work of the vestry and of the
building committee in the project.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
KIRK RELATES
SCHOOL AIMS
Smyrna Superintendent Ad-
dresses Club Women on
School Standards
PICTURES AID TALK

George '. Kirk, superintendent
of the Smyrna Special School Dis
trict, in a talk before the Twen-
tieth Century Club last Thursday,
said that Smyrna schools have
never been afraid to be first and
as a result Smyrna has been
known for its good and unusually
dynamic educational program"
Many persons living in Smyrna
do not realize how we'll thought
of its schools are, he continued.
One has only to look at what
Smyrna has had in the past to
realize that it had its aims as the
best education possible for the
boys and girls of this area, he
said 1t was the first school
south of the canal to be accredit-
ed in 1928, the same year as Will
mington High was accredited. He
cited the Smyrna High School IL
brary as another attention to real
values in the schools, and said
that on August 10, 1919 at the
meeting that the late c. w. w.
Schantz was elected superintend-
ent of the newly-formed Smyrna
Clayton School District, he re-
ceived approval to procure books
and magazines for a teachers Ii
brary." The idea behind this item
is obvious. He cited other facts
from the years 1919-21 and said
that many of the items that seem
so objective in a minute book
were surrounded by mixed emo
tions and some hard feelings, yet
most people in looking back will
admit that generally these ideas
meant progress. He showed pic
lures numbering about forty, di-
vided into four groups, high
school building, elementary school
building; elementary construction
program; the schools expanding
Institutional program. They in
cluded shots of functional ele-
mentary classrooms; new science
and homemaking equipment; in
dustrial arts shop and agriculture
shop; also, seldom seen areas,
boiler room and offices. Half of
the pictures showed teachers and
students at work.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
GROUP WEIGHS
INDUSTRY PUSH
Acting S "a te Development
Head Urges ROtarians to
Make Possibilities Known
WATER ADVANTAGE

Col. C. B. Shaffer, acting direc-
tor of the Delaware State Devel-
opment Department, speaking at
the meeting of the Smyrna Rot
airy Club, observed that the local
area has much to offer to indus
trial concerns interested in locat-
ing in the state, and urged the
community leaders to plan for the
future by organizing a planning
committee to take full advantage
of Smyrnas possibilities. Water
transportation is still an import
ant element in industry, and Duck
Creek could be developed to re-
gain some of its early Importance
to this area, he continued. The
speaker also told of the scope
and activities of the State Devel-
opment Department since its in
ception in December, 1851. Large
ly through the activities of the
department and its retiring head,
Miles Frederick, a significant %
percent yearly increase in inter-
est in the first state is evidenced
by the many inquiries received
daily, he stated. The department
now has available fifteen informa-
tional pamphlets for distribution,
promoting Delaware's worth in
industrial, commercial, and recre-
ational advantages, according to
the speaker who praised the work
of the Delaware Industrial Devel-
opment Committee, Inc. and it's
president, Lloyd r. Leslie. Mayor
George M. Blendt and newly-ap-
pointed Councilman Guy M. Ed
mondson, Jr., were guests of the
club. James Cooper presided. Mel
son Everhart led group singing
with George V. Kirk as accom-
panist. Samuel Carothers was a
visitor from the New Castle Rot
ary Club. Walter Massey, Walter
Warrington, and Russell Wilson
were visiting Rotarians from Dow
er. The program chairman was
Clarence Collins, Jr.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30

played in the window of Woot-
tens Clothing Store. Members of
the Clayton Lions Club and the
Smyrna Rotary Club will make
nominations for the award and all
interested persons are asked to
suggest names for consideration
by the judges. Nomination forms
may be obtained from the chair
man, at Wootten's and Vance
Coles Barber Shop. Nominations
close on Feb. 8. All farmers aged
81 through 36, are eligible for
nomination. They may be land
owners or renters and may be
any type of farmer as long as he
derives two-thirds of his income
from farming. The judges for the
local contest are Warner w. Price,
Jr., Harry c, Johnson and Walter
AXE.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
TOWN SURVEYS
ALL GAS LEAKS
Public Demonstration of Sur.
vey Arranged by Council
For Saturday
ADVERTISE FOR BIDS

Al llAC ACSuldl AllGGNAlAS VI
Smyrna Town Council Friday
night E. c. Burton, vice president
of the Dover Gas Light Company,
and a representative of the Heath
Survey Co., Wellesley, Mass, were
present and report was made on
the gas leak survey made by
Heath since the explosion at the
home of Wilson FAIRIES in Decem-
ber. They agreed to come to
Smyrna on Saturday, Feb 1, to
demonstrate to council how they
test for leaks. Any interested
citizens may attend this demon
stration, which will start at Town
Hall at 9 am. on Feb. 1. A dele
cation of seven residents of Cot
tage Dale Acres visited council
to inform them of cesspool troub-
les during the past year, and ask
ing about plans for sewers in that
area. They were informed that
engineering has been authorized
and council should have prelim-
mary cost estimates at the next
regular meeting on Feb. IA. Chief
of Police John w. Jacobs, Jr. pre-
sented a detailed annual accident
report compiled by his depart
ment. Town Manager Rex D. Gill
more was authorized to advertise
for bids for a new police car
Quality Belts, Inc, poultry dress
ing plant, asked permission to
hook into water and sewer north
of town where they are planning
to build a new plant outside the
town limits. Council authorized
them to connect to town water
and sewer at the town limits, pro-
viding they furnished the neces-
sary settling basins and screening
and all other State Health De-
partment requirements. Council
reviewed the eight blocks of street
work covered by the 1856 bond
issue, and authorized the adver-
tising of bids to be received Feb.
IA. Plans and specifications for
the well house were reviewed, and
authorization of advertising plans
and specifications during week of
Feb. 3 with bids due Feb. %.
Engineering drawings submitted
by Dover Builders covering water,
sewer, storm drains, streets, etc.
in Parkway Manor were review
ed. After accepting the drawings
in accordance with the Town of
Smyrna subdivision regulations,
council authorized the installation
of water main extensions to the
sample house which has been
completed on North Street. The
deadline for filing for two coun-
Gil seats for three-year terms each
is Feb. IA. The terms of William
E. Jones and William schoolfield
will expire. Mayor Blendt appoint
ed Mrs. Florence Ford as judge
for the town election on Monday,
Feb. "a; Mrs. Homer D. Hudson,
Mrs. Lee Gooden, tellers, and Mrs.
Henry-R. Shapley, alternate tell
er The election will take place
from 2 to Z pm. in the council
room at the town Office. William
r. Manter, CPA, Dover, will have
his audit completed by Tuesday
and the annual statement will be
ready for publication on Feb. 13.
Guy M. Edmondson, Jr., who was
appointed by council to fill the
unexpired term of Alfred E. Mack,
was sworn in by Mayor Blendt
and attended his first session.
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
TOWN LIBRARY
100 YEARS OLD
Smyrna Library Association
Formed by Small Group
January 29, 1858
KNOWLEDGE is POWER"

One hundred years ago a small
group of men with vision and the
realization of the power of books
on the minds and lives of people
assembled to talk over the need
for a library in Smyrna, result
ing in the formation of the Smyr-
ma Library Association on Jan.
20, 1858 The people were living
through the fateful days before
the Civil War, and the "Associa-
ton had its beginnings and the
vigorous early years of its life
in those critical days, which saw
the storm clouds break into the
violent four years of civil strife"
Thus, the Smyrna Public Library,
which grew out of the early sub
scription library, is this week
celebrating its one hundredth
birthday. Picture a town of about
1900 inhabitants, with "12 dry
goods and grocery stores, A cloth
ing stores, 3 coach shops, 8 black
smith shops, 2 harness shops, 4
wheelwright shops, 2 basket fac
tories, l tannery with a capital
of $4,000, 2 hotels, 3 churches, l
select and several district schools,
and 6 physicians. This, then, was
the background to the group of
what now would be termed solid
citizens" meeting in the office of
Daniel Cummins on Main Street.
The preamble to the Constitution
of the Smyrna Library Associa-
ton best expressed their reasons
for their assembly. It follows:
I'VE, the subscribers, being desir-
Gus to adopt the most efficient
means to facilitate mutual inter
course, extend our information
upon subjects of special and gen.
eral utility, promote a spirit of
useful inquiry, and qualify our
selves to discharge properly the
duties of our several professions
and the social offices of life, have
associated ourselves for the pur-
pose of collecting library, estab-
fishing reading room and or
ganizing a system of instruction
by lectures and classes, together
with such other means of mental
improvement as may be found ad-
vantageous and have for our gov
ernment adopted the following
constitution. The two final art
icles in the constitution quantity
read: No member or subscriber
shall be permitted to sit in the
reading room with his hat on,
nor will smoking be allowed in
any of the rooms of the Associa-
ton; also, mo conversation shall
be allowed in the reading room
otherwise than in a whisper" At
the formal Inauguration held on
March 15, 1858 in the new Ii
brary in Wards Hall, now known
as Odd Fellows Hall, a motto,
knowledge Is Power" hung un-
der a large wreath over the desk
of the librarian. The Rev. w. H.
Brisbane held the assembly spell
bound by his matchless eloqence
save when interrupted by bursts
of applause" according to the
newspaper account of that day.
He emphasized the power for good
to individuals, to the community,
the state, and mankind of such an
institution. A special plea for
Smyrna times., 1958-01-30
st. Joseph's Survey of Souls

Plans are being completed for
the Survey of Souls, a census
of each parish in the Wilmington
Diocese of the Catholic Church,
by the Rev. Charles Brown, SSH,
st. Joseph's Church, Clayton.
Charles v. Williams has been
named chairman for the local CEN
sus and James ]. Cantillon, assist
ant chairman. There will be fif-
teen or twenty captains appointed
for the survey which will be made
on Sunday, March 16. An organic
zation meeting will be held Thurs
day, Jan. 30 at 8 pm at the Rec
tory, st. Joseph's Church, Clay
ton. The speaker win be the Rev.
]. G. MCGEE, of Chestertown, Md.