davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Passwaters Heads
Newly-Organiized
.Cotillion Club

A Smyrna Cotillion Club has
been formed and officers have
been named, with the stated
purpose of holding at least one
formal dance each year. The Of
ficers are Joseph Passwaters,
president; Alan Robinson, vice
president; Francis Passwaters,
treasurer; and Gordon Miller,
secretary. Election of officers
will take place on the first We'd
nesday of March each year, and
any vacancy will be filled by
appointment of the remaining
officers. All residents within a
radius of six miles from the
city limits of Smyrna will be
eligible for membership, and the
organization will be limited to
60 members. Dues will be ten
dollars per year, paid on or be-
fore June first of each year, and
five dollars initiation fee. For
memberships, or other inquiries,
address Smyrna Cotllion Club,
Box 469, Smyrna.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Community Asks
Too Much OF Its
Schools, Teachers
Convention Told

Time is valuable asset, it is
democratic, we all have the
same amount, we cannot store
it and there are no dividends,
Richard D. Batchelder, North
east Regional Director of the
N i on a | Education Associa-
tion's Department of Classroom
Teachers, told the teachers as
sembled at the 38th annual con-
vention of the Kent County Ed
ucation Association here on Fri
day. Speaking on Quality
Teaching Demands Time," he
expressed concern that the COM
munity expects too much of the
school, as he listed magazine
drives, competition b etwe cen
teams, record keeping, lunch
duty, bank day, and asked: do
we need them in SCHOOL," The
schools have listened to the
pressures of the community and
there is little of precious time
to teach, which is both funny
and tragic, he said. Schools
struggle to become consolidat-
ed, he continued, then size be-
comes a problem, and 1--WE work
like mad to undo what we have
DONE" Mr.. Batchelder, a native
of Massachusetts,, is a teacher
of United States history and
psychology at Newton High
School, Newton, Mass, where
there are $500 students. There
is need for flexibility at the sec
ondary level" he said, and the
quality of teaching is better at
the elementary level than the
secondary level. Unless there is
an awakening in the next de-
cade education will be in a
plight, he continued, because
teachers do not have a strong
enough voice. There is no need
for a masters degree for the
keeping of records, or running
a mimeograph machine. and his
suggestions included the use of
machines for records; and urged
that we explore the use of non
or semi-professional help; inves-
tigate class size, the advance
ment placement program, and
CONTINUED on Page Six) q
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
School Lacking Sufficient Funds
To Operate Remainder Of the Year

these expenses, salaries and op-
Grating expenses cannot be paid.
A bill is now pending in the cur
rent session of the Legislature
which would grant increased al
lotments to schools burdened
with enrolment problems. Com
munications were acknowledged
from DR.. George R. Miller, State
Superintendent of Public In
struction, concerning a recent
opinion stated by the Attorney
General that all residents of the
district, both white and colored,
can and must be taxed for
school purposes. Special regula-
tions regarding transportation in
hazardous areas was also dis
cussed A program for Saturday
Continued on Page Seven
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Varieties Book
Many New Acts

Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Pass
waters, co-chairmen for the Var
ieties of SO to be sponsored by
the Young Married Couples of
the First Presbyterian Church
on March 25, have announced
a partial list of the acts to be
presented, two of which are re-
turn appearances from the '5S
show. The program will include
The Starlighters orchestra, with
vocalist; a monologue by Mrs.
Sam Johnson; Rock and Roll,
Turk Chambers, a return per-
Torrance; Charleston dancers,
local bellies; a repeat perform
ance, vocal solo by Paul B.
Grier. Featured also will be the
Easter Parade" of spring fash
ions. The full program will be
released next week. The show is
scheduled for w e d n e S d y
March 25 at 8 pm. in the audi
torium of the John Bassett
Moore High School. Admission
will be one dollar for adults, and
fifty cents for children.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Easter Fashions:
Preview Slated
At Century Club

The Twentieth Century Club
will meet today at 2 pm. at the
club house when Mrs. Marjorie
w. Speakman will present a
program on pre-Easter fashions
and gift suggestions from Bird
Speakman, Inc, Wilmington.
The models will be Mrs. Walter
w. Speakman and Mrs. Richard
Bobzin, with commentary by
Mrs. Speakman. The clothes
that will be modelled include
those for the Easter and sum-
mer season, as we'll as travel
clothes, and there will be dis
cussion on proper cosmetics.
Mrs. Kenneth D. Mihills, presi-
dent, will conduct the business
session. Mrs. James Rodney and
Mrs. Charles Almond are CO.
chairmen of the hostess COM
mittee which includes Mrs.
Charles M. Gee, Mrs. Martin
Golden, Mrs. Margaret M.
O'Neill, Mrs. George w. Wright,
Mrs. John L. Johnson, Mrs.
Clark Knotts, and Miss Florence
Lurty. Mrs. ]. Everett Lofland,
chairman of the local sewing
contest, will present the club
members in a showing of the
dresses they have designed to
be entered in the state contest
at a luncheon to be held at
Wanamaker's on April 16. At
the recent meeting of the execu-
tive committee at the home of
Mrs. Perkins Stats a decision
was made to purchase char
coal grill for use at the beach at
Lake Como during the summer,
as part of the clubs commun-
ity service project. The club will
later assist in the planting of
shrubbery at the lake front. The
committee also voted in favor
of a contribution to the current
foreign student-exchange pro-
gram being conducted in the
Smyrna Special School District.
Plans for the annual club lunch
con on April % include the pre-
sentation of a one-act play by
of the Kent Theater
Guild, Dover.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Attorney Speaks
At Rotary Club

Harrison Turner, attorney,
was the speaker at the meeting
of the Smyrna Rotary Club
Thursday night, and was pre-
sented by Edward S. Wilson, Jr.,
past president. The speaker said
that an attorney leads very
active community life, in pre-
ventive line of legal advice to
those in distress. Among the
every day occurrences in an at
torney's life are the searching
of titles to properties, he stated
He emphasized the Importance
of making wills to avoid many
legal entanglements, and told
his hearers not to feel apprehen-
sive about consulting an attor-
ney on any legal matter. The
response on behalf of the club
was made by James Cooper. Le-
roy Sayers directed group sing
ing, with George V. Kirk as ac-
companist. Rex D. Gilmore con-
Quoted the business session.
Milton LaRivere was a visiting
Rotarian from New York City
and had as his guest Robert
tombstone.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Mrs. Clay Bailey
Heads Red Cross
Campaign In Area

Mrs. Ethel ]. Myers, execu-
tive director, Delaware Chapter,
American Red Cross, presided
at a meeting of the 1859 plan
ming committee for Area 4 in
the current drive for funds, held
at The Wayside Inn recently.
Miss Dorothy Thompson, Red
Cross home service case work.
er, Dover was also present. Mrs.
Louise Denney Clifton was NAM
ed treasurer, taking the place of
Grant G. Garis who resigned
due to his removal to Southern
California to live. Mrs. John M.
Brentlinger, Sr., chapter vice
chairman for the office of volun-
teers, attended the meeting.
Mrs. Clay Bailey was named
fund drive chairman for the
area and will have the assist
ance of a group of volunteer So
licitors in Kenton, Clayton,
Woodland Beach and the rural
areas. Anyone in the area who
wishes to make a contribution
to the Red Cross during the
month of March when the drive
is on may send their check to
Miss Henrietta Denney, secre-
tary, at the office of Delaware
Real Estate & Insurance Com
pany, Commerce Street. Or,
they may stop and leave their
contribution at the Office, if
more convenient. Campaign ma
terial was distributed to volun-
teer solicitors who attended the
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Hospital Building Fund Tops 72%
OF Coal AS General Canvass Begins

Enthusiasm was the keynote
of the dinner meeting attended
by several hundred volunteer
workers for the current Kent
General Hospital Building Fund
Campaign last Thursday night
at the Caesar Rodney School,
Camden-Wyoming. At that time
the total had reached $29O,25O
toward the 100000 goal. U. S.
Senator ]. Allen Frear, Jr. gen.
eral chairman, presided. "The
spirit of the town meeting lives
on" Wilfred D. Gillen, president
of the Diamond State Telephone
Company, said as he lauded the
community spirit exemplified in
the effort. 1t is Americas heri-
tage to lend the helping hand,
he said, affirming the need for
provincial consciousness, the
life shared, the common goals,
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Sporting Goods
Robbery*:Solved;
Bulb Shooters"
Are eApptehended

Detainers have been filed
against Frederick Gawronski
and Joseph Palmer of Whining
ton by Smyrna police for break
ing and entering following a
robbery at Smyrna Sporting
Goods Store where they smash
ed a window. They are now
serving time at the New Castle
County Correctional Institution
for prowling and carrying con-
cealed deadly weapons on
charges by the Wilmington po-
lice; also for taking cars with
out the owners consent, one of
the said cars used to come to
Smyrna and commit the robbery
and return to Wilmington. The
Smyrna police have been inves-
tigating for several weeks the
shooting of bulbs of street lights,
the loss amounting to approx
mately $400. Three adults and
two juveniles. have been picked
up so far by the police and
questioned and have admitted
taking part in the "bulb-shoot-
ing SPREE" They are also involv-
ed in stealing lights from the
municipal Christmas tree at the
Post Office and breaking them.
The investigation is being con-
tinued. They have used air rifles
and the police caution parents
about letting boys use air rifles
and beebe guns, which is against
the law in town. One juvenile
was picked up for throwing
a brick through the second floor
apartment window of Mrs. Sam
Pappas while she was talking
to a guest, thus endangering the
person. The police also have the
names of the persons purchas-
ing fireworks out of state, bring
ing them in and selling them to
small children. The police eau
Continued on Page Six)
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Silver Eagles 9th
Annual Banquet
Set Monday; FBI
Agent To Speak

Inspector Bernard M. Suttler,
a member of the staff of ]. Ed
gar Hoover of the Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation, will be the
guest speaker at the Silve r
Eagles sixth annual banquet to
be held on Monday evening,
March l6, at $50. Inspector
Suttler is a native of Atlanta,
Georgia. He completed his high
school education in Atlanta and
later attended the eorg a
School of Technology from 1927
to 1881, where he received his
Bachelor of Law degree from
Woodrow Wilson College of
Law in Atlanta in 1885. Mr..
Suttler entered the practice of
law in Atlanta in 1885 and in
July, 1885 became affiliated with
the F.B.I. as a special agent. He
was assigned to the New Or
leans, La. office of the F.B.I. He
later served in Little Rock, Ark.
and Richmond, Va. during 1898,
after which he was transferred
to the F.B.I. headquarters in
Washington. He has served on
the directors staff since that
time. The Silver Eagles presi-
dent, Richard Cole, will intro
duce the speaker. Approximate
ly 80 members, honorary mem
bers, and guests have accepted
the invitation to attend the BAN
quet. A special feature of the
banquet will be the presentation
of Silver Eagles pins to the past
presidents of the organization.
The presentation will be made
by Barry Pritchard, vice presi-
dent.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
State Red Cross
Disaster Service
Tops, Lions Told

Speaking on what makes a
Red Cross volunteer tick" Har-
old E. Rodgers, volunteer in
disaster service with the Della
ware Chapter, Red Cross, told
the members of the Smyrna
Lions Club Monday night that
if it had not been for the Red
Cross food packages many
American prisoners of the Ger
mans in World War II would
not have come home. When he
returned, he realized that he
could not pay in money for
what he had received, but he
"could repay his debt in SER
vice" In a dispassionate voice
he told of the plane shot down
and his landing in a parachute,
of capture by the Germans, of
various phases Of their impris-
onment, solitary confinement at
first, then in compounds. A
dramatic phase was the march
for five months by Americans
across Europe just before their
liberation, and he termed it a
miracle that the white trucks
with the Red Cross found them,"
and of the morale booster the
food and contact were to the
men. He was enthusiastic in
his praise of the disaster service
of the Red Cross in Delaware,
listing the part they play in such
disasters as floods, shipwrecks,
hurricanes, and blizzards, tell
ing of first aid, feeding services,
survey personnel, and motor
service, and emphasized that
every community should have a
disaster service. The Red Cross
is chartered by the Congress OF
the United States, and disaster
and family service are two
"musts." The Red Cross also
works with and backs up Civil
Defense, he said. He was pre-
sented by Richard Jones and at
the close of his talks many
Lions stayed to talk informally,
some of whom had been in the
services. They also were inter-
ested in a Red Cross map of
that period showing location of
the camps and the Red Cross.
F. S. Bancroft, president, well
coined Joseph Orlando as a new
member of the club. Mr.. Jones,
program chairman, announced
that Farmers Night will be OBJ
served on Monday, March %,
when Gen. Norman Lack will
be the speaker.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Gym Equipment
Purchase Okayed

Purchase of equipment for the
new gymnasium being built at
Smyrna High School has been
approved by the district build
ing commission. Included in the
purchase are parallel bars,
horses, horizonal bars, rings,
ropes, and mats. The commits
sion noted that construction on
the new structure is well behind
schedule. 1t had been hoped that
the new building would be COM
pleted for use during the past
basketball season. Officials at
the school now are pointing for
a May ! completion, that the
facilities may be used for the
May Day festivities.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Police Charge
) Airmen With
Records Theft:
10 Cases Tried

Among the sixteen cases in
vestigated by Smyrna police and
disposed of at local courts re-
Gently were 5, destroying pri-
vate property; A, disorderly con-
duct; 3, assault and battery, and
4, motor vehicle violations. Five
men at Dover Air Force Base
were each fined $25 on the
charge of destroying private
property. They were John M.
Moody, Charles C. Anderson,
Lawrence V. Fleming, Ronald
R. Boyer, and Wayne E. Moeh-
lenkamp. They had picked up a
box from the car of Gil Perry,
proprietor of the Wagon Wheel,
after leaving the restaurant on
Dupont Parkway, which con-
tanned all of his tax records
which had been processed. They
threw the box and part of its
contents out near Smyrna, and
in doing so threw out the title
of their car which was mixed
in, thus giving the police lead.
The title to the car was in the
name of Moehlenkamp who was
picked up by local police and af-
ter lengthy questioning involved
the others. Moehlenkamp then
took the officers to a woods near
Milford where they had thrown
the balance of the papers, which
were recovered by police. Moeh-
lenkamp had a previous record
with Dover city police for petty
larceny, and Boyer was involved
with him in that offense. The
other cases included Merrill E.
Palmer, Wilmington, reckless
driving, fined $40; Alvin c.
Epps, Smyrna, assault and bat
terry, fined $40; Alma Battle, dis
orderly conduct, and Helen
Murray, assault and battery,
both of Smyrna, each fined SIS;
Arthur Gearhart, Townsend,
reckless driving, fined $40;
Glenn R. McGinnis, Townsend,
Larry Jay Sartin, Townsend and
Jerry Claude Austin, Middle
town, held on charge of disor-
CONTINUED on Page Six)
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12

Officials of the Smyrna Spec
ial School District are confront
ed with the pressing problem of
insufficient funds to meet the
payroll for the remainder of the
school year. This fact was ac-
knowledged in the financial
report presented at the monthly
meeting of the Board of Educa-
ton held Monday evening. In
creased enrolment in all district
schools has necessitated the hir-
ing of 5 additional teachers. The
budget, initially set up to oper-
ate on funds for 81 educators,
has instead been employing 62
teachers. These funds have been
exhausted and, unless the Leg
islature takes immediate steps
to reimburse the district for
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
5 Alarms In Week
Swell SO Total;
Home Burned

Once again during a rehearsal
of the band of the Citizens
Hose Company on Sunday after
noon the fire siren blew for a
grass fire on the property of
Earl Downs, Fleming's Landing
Road. The rehearsal continued
after the volunteers and equip
ment left the fire house. The
alarm came at 2:l0 pm. and the
men returned at 2::45 pm. Forty
men responded. On Saturday at
l1:55 am. the volunteers were
summoned for fire at the home
of George Hart, South Street
Extended where the combina-
alton kitchen-dining room was
Quilted. The blaze apparently re-
suited from cigarette left in a
davenport. Forty-four volun-
teers were at the scene for
three-quarters of an hour. Resi-
dents in the area of the town
garage, Union Street, turned in
an alarm at 7:l5 pm. Thursday
when they heard the sound of
an explosion of the oil burner
in the garage and thought there
was a fire. There was no dam
age. Volunteers were called out
twice on Monday. They re-
sponded at 1914 pm. to a grass
fire on the property of John FL
lingsworth, Eagles Nest Road,
and again at TOP pm. for a call
to a blaze in a small shop on
East Street at the rear of the
property of Mrs. Florence Polk.
The fire was out on arrival OF
the firemen.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Business Woman
Back From ParIey

Mrs. Marjorie w. Speakman
has returned to Belmont Hall
from Washington, D. C. where
she attended a meeting of the
National Council of Consultants
to the Small Business Admins
tration. She stayed at the ma
tional headquarters of the Lea
que of American Pen Women
and was present at a luncheon
meeting attended by national
presi d ent Catherine Urban.
While in the capital she was an
overnight guest of Mr.. and Mrs.
Oscar Holder at their home in
Chevy Chase. Mr.. Holder is with
the State Department and has
recently been stationed at Saltz-
burg.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Elementary Tots
Move Into New
School Cafeteria

Elementary students of the
Smyrna District had their first
taste of the new multipurpose
room and cafeteria recently con-
structed at South and School
Lane, on Monday, March 9,
when they were served for the
first time in the new element
ary cafeteria. School officials
pointed out that it was not eX-
pected originally that the cafe
terra would be complete until
August, 1859, but that the con-
tractor, j. Roland Dashiell of
Salisbury, Md, has completed
the elementary building well
ahead of schedule. AS a result,
cafeteria equipment and sup
plies were moved to the new
cafeteria over the long weekend
period, due to Kent County
Teachers meeting, and opening
day for the new cafeteria began
without any serious problems.
The building commission in
spected the cafeteria, kitchen,
multipurpose room, stage and
six new classrooms on Tuesday,
March 10. Available now for
elementary school use are %
classrooms with the capacity of
$50 pupils. Six hundred and
twenty-one pupils are currently
enrolled.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
B.P.W. Meets Monday

The regular March meeting of
the Smyrna-Clayton Business
and Professional Women's Club
will be held next Monday even
ing at 7:30 pm. at the Colonial
Hotel with Mrs. Mary Jane Beh-
rens as hostess. Mrs. Lillian
Smith will be co-hostess, and
Mrs. Laura S. Myers, career ad-
vancement C h irm an, is in
charge of the program. Club
members have been invited to
the fifth anniversary meeting of
the Claymont Club March II at
the Dupont Country Club, Will
mington.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Appraisers Complete Work

Raymond Imhoff, representing
the ]. M. Cleminshaw Company,
appraisers, has been in Smyrna
for several days for the purpose
of appraising new homes since
the recent complete appraisal of
the town. He is expected to
complete his work today. His
appraisal covered a total of
fifty-five properties, including
new homes and conversions and
building lots.
Smyrna times., 1959-03-12
Group Square Dance Saturday

The first activity of the Eel
lowship Group recently organ
lied at St. Peters Episcopal
Church, will be a square dance
and box social to be held in the
parish house on Saturday,
March ID at 7:30 pm. Lester
Grandine, of Wilmington, dance
instructor, will be present. In
terested persons in the church
are invited to attend. At the
box social phase of the program
the auctioneer will be Guy M.
Edmondson, Jr. 1t is suggested
that sports clothes will be in
order for the festivities.
Milford chronicle., 1959-06-19
Reserve NOn-C0ms
Are Upgraded

Two hundred ninety-eight Ma
tional Guard and Army Reserve
on-commissioned officers of the
Second U. S. Army area will join
the Active Duty Forces in theln new
pay grade structure under the Mil
itary Pay Bill passed by the S5th
Congress. The new pay grades
went into effect for the Active
Forces a year ago.
Non-commissioned officers in u.
s. Army Reserve and National
Guard units with a current grade
of EFT will be considered for pro-
motion to grade Els. Selection
will be on a best qualified basis
for those meeting the following
minimum eligibility requirements:
"a be qualified to perform duties
of First Sergeant or Sergeant Ma
jor and be occupying such duty po-
sition at the time final action is
taken on promotion; (2) have COM
pleted "a months in grade Ell; (3)
be in a promotable status as detin-
ed in Army Regulations 140-15S ):
(4) for Reserve personnel and Ma
tional Guardsmen, have completed
Is total years Of service creditable
for pay purposes, eight of which
must be cumulative enlisted SER
vice; (5) be recommended by their
immediate commander. So
Authorized quotas for promotion
in the Army Reserve to pay grade
Els are for the period l June 1858,
through Fiscal Year 1860. The, Xxx
u. S. Army Corps (Reserve) re-
ceived a quota of IA promotions OF
grade Els and XXI u. S.. Army
Corps (Reserve) received quota
of 95 promotions of grade E-S.
Pay grades, Els and E-9, will be
used to accommodate key leader
ship positions in the Reserve Com
ponents similar to that of the Ac-
tive Army, such as First Sergeants,
Sergeants Major. and positions oc-
cupied by technically qualified non
commissioned officers in critical
areas and selected critical special
list personnel.
Promotions into the newly au-
thorized grades will be phased over
three years, with the initial pro-
motions being limited TO pay
grades Els and E-9 for personnel
selected to occupy First Sergeant
and Sergeant Major positions. The
phasing of subsequent promotions
into key leadership and critical
specialist positions will be initi-
ated during Fiscal Year 1861.
The titles for non-commissioned
officers of these two grades are the
same for both, Active and Reserve
Components of the Army.