75 years ago - June 7, 1934

From the pages of The Smyrna Times
June 7, 1934

Smyrna Had No Water for 7 Hours
    Smyrna was without a water supply Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., caused from a break in the pumping station water main that runs directly to the water tower and supplies the whole town.
    W.W. Truitt & co., road contractors on the dual highway job from Duck Creek Bridge to Leipsic Road intersection, in using the pile driving type hammer in breaking the cement in the gutters at Mill Street and the Boulevard, broke the water pipe which was only about 12 inches from the surface of the ground.
    Unable to secure the needed parts at Dover, it was necessary to send to Wilmington, thus leaving the town without a water supply a much longer time.
    The sudden break taking place without any warning to water takers in Smyrna, caught a majority without any water on hand and for the time being showed how absolutely dependent citizens are for drinking water.
    Those having cars sought all available pumps in and near Smyrna and got along the best they could until the water was turned on….

Smyrna High Commencement Week Festivities Start Sunday
    The Senior Class of Smyrna Special School District, Class of 1934, will begin its commencement week Sunday with the baccalaureate sermon, ending with the graduating exercises Friday of next week.
    The class, 27 strong, with their chaperones, left for their annual trip to Washington this morning. They proceeded to Washington by way of Elkton and Baltimore and will return by Annapolis and Matapeake. They will spend two full days in the Nation’s Capital, during which time they will visit the Smithsonian Institute, the Capitol, the Congressional Library, and other government buildings. On the return trip, the class will visit the United States Naval Academy….
    Next week is commencement week. The Baccalaureate sermon will be preached by Reverend James R. Gailey on Sunday, June 11 at 11 a.m. in the Presbyterian Church.
    On Wednesday, June 13 at 8 p.m., the Class Night Exercises will be held in the high school auditorium.
    Thursday night, June 14, has been set aside for the Junior-Senior Prom, the social event of the year.
    On Friday night, June 15, Commencement proper will take place in the high school auditorium.
4-H Club Elects Officers
    The Smyrna 4-H Club met at the home of Stephen and Karl Vogel at Blackbird on Friday evening with the newly elected officers taking charge.
    The officers are President Reynolds Bradley; Vice-President Homer Stevens; Secretary, Mary Louise Hurd, and Treasurer, Elsie Lockerman.
    Following the business meeting and program, a very enjoyable time was spent on the lawn, roasting weenies and marshmallows.

Musical Treat Takes Asbury
    One of the most delightful musical events given in Asbury Church for many years was that of last Sunday night when the Senior Choir and the Ladies’ Glee Club, assisted by four artists from Seaford and Laurel, presented a program of music to the delight of the large audience present.
    The service began with the singing of that great hymn of the Church, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” After the invocation and offering, the large chorus of the church sang, “O Be Joyful in the Lord,” written by Mr. Charles VanLeer, who was responsible for the presence of the visitors. The rendition of the number thrilled the audience. The pastor then presented Mr. VanLeer, who introduced the visiting artists and accompanied each of them….
    The Ladies’ Glee Club was at its best in its presentation of “Floating with the Tide,” (Wilson).
    As a final climax, the presentation of “The Gloria” from Twelfth Mass, Mozart, by the choir of 32 voices made it an event long to be remembered by all lovers of music.
    The congregation stood as a token of appreciation for the splendid contribution to the success of the occasion by the visitors, and the pastor expressed the gratitude of himself and the whole church for the fine work of the choir with Mrs. Coverdale directing, and that of the Glee Club under the direction of Miss Jean Easton.

Students Enroll in Swimming Classes at Lake Como
    The 15th Delaware Red Cross Swimming and Life Saving Campaign for Delaware school children will be carried on at Lake Como in Smyrna the week of July 9, under the direction of Arthur M. Potter, Executive Secretary.
    Those in the swimmers’ class are Catherine Attix, Leon Collins, James Clough, Orville Gooden, Robert J. Jacobs, Robert Lower, Samuel Moffitt, Franklin Morris, Robert Scorah, Lee Slaughter, Helen Jane Stevenson, Carroll VanPelt, James W. Anthony, William F. Bull, Allen J. Cook, Marian Viola Cook, William Keiser, Lloyd Pleasanton, James Pugh, and Clarence Rawley.
    Those taking the life savers’ class are Elizabeth Attix, Marshall Clough, Howard Deakyne Jr., Elizabeth Phillips, Chipman Shockley, Miles Staats, Clifton Still, James Turner, William VanDyke, Clinton Wolleyhand, Jesse Dixon, Thomas Herbert Dixon, Donald Ennis, Bernie Grier, Russell Francis, and John Stevenson.