50 years ago - Jan. 14, 1960

From The Smyrna Times,
Jan. 14, 1960

Kerosene heater blaze destroys home

Members of three fire companies fought a fire on Saturday morning at Black Diamond, five miles north of Smyrna. The Citizens’ Hose Company had the assistance of Clayton and Townsend fire companies in controlling a fire from a kerosene stove in a frame home. The home was destroyed and ten persons in a nearby apartment house were endangered.

It marked the second kerosene stove fire of a serious nature within Delaware in a week. The previous week, two girls, 6 and 3, lost their lives in a kerosene-fed fire in their home near Newark.
In addition to the apartment house nearby at the Black Diamond fire, a tractor-trailer truck parked near the center of the flames was involved.

According to Fire Chief Reynolds Bradley, one of the occupants, James Williams, said that the fire in the one-story imitation brick side-walled house started from the stove after he lighted it. Williams said he went outside to get some wood for a wood stove in the living room of the five room house. When he returned to the kitchen it was ablaze….

Support mounting for fire victims

The Auxiliary to the David C. Harrison Post No. 14, American Legion, and the Red Cross have come to the aid of the family of Mr. and Mrs. James Williams who lost their home and possessions in the Saturday morning fire north of Smyrna on Route 13. The family has three children of school age, and the women of the auxiliary are collecting clothing needed for the family.

Clinton Robertson, disaster chairman, Area 4, Delaware Red Cross, came to their help immediately, providing the emergency needs. A member of the Clayton Fire Company, he was at the scene of the fire….

Referendum Feb. 6 on proposed hike in teacher wage

Officials of the Smyrna Special School District announced this week that February 6 has been set for a referendum for residents to vote on the issue of additional salaries to teachers of the Smyrna district.

The Smyrna Board of Education presented the needs for additional salaries at the September PTA meeting and again at a citizens committee meeting in November. In order for Smyrna to continue to obtain an adequately prepared teaching staff, and in order that the district might keep good teachers within its system, it is deemed necessary that salaries be raised.

It was pointed out that most school districts in New Castle County have supplementary scales for teachers. Middletown has just passed a supplementary scale of $400-$600 per teacher. Dover, Milford, Rehoboth, Lewes, Newark, Mt. Pleasant, Delaware City, Newport and Conrad are others now paying supplementary salaries.

According to Smyrna School officials, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain good teachers to fill vacancies.

Johnson concludes career as rural mail carrier

Harry C. Johnson, a rural mail carrier for almost thirty-six years, retired December 31 after serving since February 1, 1924. He joined the State Rural Letter Carriers Association on February 22, 1924 and served as state president for two separate terms of one year each. He represented the state association at the National Rural Letter Carriers convention several times during his 35 years.

According to Postmaster Mary B. Goldsborough, “He was a dedicated man to his service, beloved by all on his route, and will be greatly missed.”

Active in the community life in Smyrna, he is Past Grand representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has held state and national offices in the Grange and Masons. At present he serves as president of the Board of Trustees of Asbury Methodist Church, and is director and secretary of the Grange Insurance Company.

Eagles clash at Dover tomorrow

A hot and cold Smyrna High quintet comes face to face with another major obstacle Friday evening when it battles Dover on the Senators Court. Both squads will be going all out to score an impressive victory. The Eagles will enter the fray in hopes of continuing their sports dominance over the Senators following Thanksgiving Day’s upset 6-0 football triumph.

Smyrna has been strengthened this week with the return of three standout performers. Bob Boyer, Barry Pritchard, and Harold Moffett should aid Coach Richardson Tritt considerably. The trio, sidelined until this week by doctor’s orders, will add punch to the scoring attack and strengthen the thin reserve ranks of the Eagles’ bench.

Joe Walker has blossomed as the Eagles’ main offensive threat off his 27-point outburst against Middletown. Teaming with lanky Bob Eckhart, Walker gives the Red and White an explosive one-two punch that could spell the difference. Eckhart dropped in 18 last Friday….