From The Smyrna Times,
Dec. 31, 1954
Christmas marred by fatal accident
The Christmas season in Smyrna was marred this year when an 87-year-old Middletown woman was killed in a two-car collision at the intersection of Main Street and Glenwood Avenue last Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 23. Fatally injured in the crash was Miss Effie Bendler, a passenger in one of the vehicles, who was pronounced dead on arrival at the Kent General Hospital, Dover….
Critically hurt in the collision was Mrs. Ethel E. Hulshizer, 67, also of Middletown, who was transferred from Dover to the Delaware Hospital, Wilmington, where she underwent an operation for a head injury. She remains in critical condition.
Police said the women were in a car driven by Mrs. Margaret Pearce of Middletown, operator of a nursing home there at which the two injured women were residents. Mrs. Pearce, police said, ran through a stop sign on Main Street heading south into the Smyrna business section and hit a car driven by Elbert Bishop, 46, of Clayton, which was traveling east on Glenwood Avenue. Mrs. Margaret Bishop, his wife, was admitted to Kent General Hospital with chest injuries….
The Middletown women were on their way to attend a viewing of the late Mrs. Ida Collins, 92-year-old resident of the Pearce Nursing Home who had died Dec. 21.
Prizes awarded in holiday decoration contest
Mrs. Raymond D. Pusey won the $25 first prize in the exterior decoration contest for Smyrna electric customers. The prize was awarded Sunday night. Mrs. Pusey won for a clever arrangement on the lawn at her home on the shore of Lake Como of an automobile with two passengers in an evergreen setting with blinking lights.
Second prize of $15 was awarded to Charles L. Rebar, Cottage Dale Acres, and third place and $10 went to John E. Wilson III of South Street….
The judges were representatives of several service clubs and included Norman G. Wilder, Smyrna Lions Club; Mrs. Raymond G. Luce, Twentieth Century Club; James H. Everett, Smyrna Rotary Club; Barry Pritchard, Silver Eagles, and Lloyd A. Pleasanton, a member of Town Council.
Fulbright Scholarship granted to Smyrna High School Principal
A Fulbright Scholarship grant for two months of study in European schools was awarded on Monday to Charles V. Williams, principal of the Smyrna High School. Williams is one of 40 U.S. school administrators selected to participate in one of two seminars in Europe during February and March.
Announcement of his selection was made by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in Washington.
Williams will depart on his trip Feb. 1, flying by Scandinavian Airlines to Helsinki, Finland, where he will attend the first seminar Feb. 2-27. The second phase of the seminar will be held in France March 1-24. The trip will include a study of the European school systems and lectures on social and economic conditions….
Lions Club dance tops Christmas social calendar
The Christmas dance of the Smyrna Lions Club, held at the Allan McLane Armory Saturday night, was a gala affair, with many out of town guests present, and several private parties preceding the dance….
A large lighted and decorated Christmas tree highlighted the stand of The Starlighters orchestra which played for the event.
Norman G. Wilder, club president, and Mrs. Wilder greeted the guests at the tables.
The Lions committee in charge of arrangements for the dance included Joseph Passwaters, chairman; Walter Gibe, William Rawley, Frank Greenwell, and Richard Jones.
The Lions dance has come to be traditionally the high spot in the Christmas social season here.
Eagles quintet opens season Tuesday against Milford
Smyrna High’s sparse basketball ranks buckle down to serious drills this week for the season opener next Tuesday night at Milford.
Coach Richardson Tritt’s varsity quintet, owners of a successful 9-8 campaign last season, are faced with a rebuilding task and a stronger schedule.
Veterans of past-season play expected to form the nucleus of this year’s squad are Wayne Cole, star football halfback; Joe Walker, promising senior candidate; Bob Eckhart, a standout on last year’s team; and Luther (Chub) Lucas, a reserve who is expected to nail down a starting berth.
Other candidates vying for starting jobs are Bill McIntyre, a standout football end who is trying the winter sport for the first time; Corrado Melega, foreign exchange student who is also a novice; and Newlin Wood, Dave Passmore, Jim Fischer, and Bob Boyer, all returnees from the 1959 aggregation….
Smyrna Theatre, Smyrna, Del. (advertisement)
Thurs., Dec. 31 LAST DAY – Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in “Artists and Models” at 7:00 p.m. and “Hollywood or Bust” at 9:15 p.m.
Fri., Sat., Jan. 1, 2 – There’s no thrill like the thrill of “The FBI Story” starring James Stewart and Vera Miles, 6:45 and 9:20 p.m. Sat. matinee at 2 p.m.
Sun., Mon., Tues., Jan. 3, 4, 5 – Inside the female jungle, “The Best of Everything,” starring Hope Lange, Stephen Boyd, Suzy Parker, Martha Hyer, Diane Baker, and Brian Aherne. Sun. show at 8:15. Mon. & Tues. shows at 7:00 and 9:10 p.m.
Wed., Thurs., Jan. 6, 7 – Millie Perkins starring in “The Diary of Anne Frank,” with Joseph Schildkraut, Shelley Winters, Richard Beymer, Gusti Huber and Ed Wynn. One show each evening at 7:30 p.m.
