From the pages of The Smyrna Times
May 31, 1934
Memorial Day Observed Here
Yesterday was Memorial Day and as usual it was a general holiday in Smyrna with the stores, banks, and schools closed and a day of memories to many.
There was a trend to the various cemeteries about town, many taking advantage of the day to lay their tribute of flowers on the graves of some members of their families.
The main program for the day was in charge of David C. Harrison Post No. 14, American Legion.
There was the Memorial Day parade which took place at 10 o’clock….
The parade was followed by a service at Odd Fellows Cemetery. Rev. Frederick Marx Barton, rector of St. Peter’s Church, Smyrna, gave the invocation, and Rev. C.N. Jones of Townsend gave the principal address….
Sunday evening all the churches dispensed with their usual services and joined the David C. Harrison Post No. 14, American Legion, of Smyrna, in putting on their annual memorial service. This service like last year was held at Como Theatre (Smyrna Town Hall) on Main Street. The auditorium was filled to its capacity.
The stage was decorated with American and Legion flags and emblems. W.E. Matthews Jr., a past local and department commander, presided and introduced Dr. Russell E. Elliott of Laurel, who gave the address. Dr. Elliott substituted for Josiah Sleeper of Chester who, on account of a heart attack, was unable to come.
Dr. Elliott gave a stirring address in which he held up the duty of all to be “good citizens,” tolerant of their religious beliefs and ever zealous and strong for peace instead of war….
Farmers Protest Poor Conditions
Farmers of Delaware joined farmers of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia yesterday, Decoration Day, and held a spirited meeting in protest over the existing conditions.
The parade assembled at Reistertown, Maryland some 10,000 farmers who in automobiles, together with numerous floats, paraded to Baltimore and thence to Carlin’s Park.
They demanded that the Government recognize Agriculture’s right to receive a reasonable return for the products of the farm now used in domestic consumption, based on cost of production, plus a profit, as is provided in the Swank-Thomas Bill.
The farmers assembled from 130 local unions of the National Farmers’ Union and adopted resolutions demanding consideration.
Addressing the meeting were Milo Reno, President of the National Farmers’ Holiday Association; Governor Olson of Minnesota, Senator Elmer Thomas of Oklahoma, Senator Lynn J. Frazier of North Dakota, Congressman William Lemke of North Dakota, and E.E. Kennedy, secretary of the National Farmers’ Union….
Work Restarts on Dual Highway
Work on the dual highway, which has been more or less delayed by the frequent rains, started up in earnest Monday morning.
D.E. O’Connell & Sons Inc., the contractors for the Smyrna end of the job, began last week to lay the southbound concrete section from where the dual roads end, just north of Duck Creek bridge.
Last week they were able to lay the new southbound road across the new and wider bridge on up the grade to near North Street….
The northbound road will come into Smyrna from Dover at the intersection of Leipsic Road, taking off a few feet of the front of Belmont Hall property, close up to the row of trees in front of Odd Fellows Cemetery, on over the new and wider bridge at Lake Como and close up to the properties on the east side of the route through Smyrna, joining up with the new dual road built to Duck Creek bridge….
Smyrna Club Members Join 4-H Rally in Dover
Messrs. Howard Deakyne Jr., Robert Deakyne, Clifford Heinold, Reynolds Bradley, Homer Stevens, Stephen Vogel, Carl Vogel, and Misses Ethel Virginia Roe, Mary Roe, Virginia Heinold, Marie Heinold, Evelyn Wallace, and Ruth Jean Garrison were among those from the Smyrna Wide-Awake 4-H Club to attend the 14th annual rally of Kent County 4-H Clubs held in the State Armory at Dover on Saturday.
Mayor J. Wallace Woodford of Dover extended greetings. He spoke briefly on the subject of “Adventure,” referring to Lindbergh, Admiral Byrd, and others who have accomplished much for the good of science and research.
The winners of the Style Show, which included dresses made by the contestants, were:
First year club work – first prize, Mary Bane of Cheswold; second prize, Freda Archer, Smyrna;
Second year work – first prize, Doris Price of Camden; second prize, Ellen Louise Cullen, Clayton;
Third year work – first prize, Jeannette Dawson, Camden; second prize, Mary Frances Walker, Clayton….
SMYRNA, Del. —
