50 years ago - June 18, 1959

From the pages of The Smyrna Times
June 18, 1959

Former Resident to Appear on TV
    Charlotte Edwards, well-known to residents of Smyrna, will appear on television at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday on the Art Linkletter program.
    Mrs. Edwards now lives in Pomona, Cal., but with her husband, Donald Edwards, a professional photographer, lived in Smyrna when he was stationed at Dover Air Force Base during World War II.
    She is the author of a new book, Heaven in the Home, and also wrote the inspiring volume, Heaven on the Doorstep.
    Mrs. Edwards was formerly a newspaper woman in Rochester, N. Y., and during several years has had stories appear in the Ladies Home Journal and other national magazines. She is the author of a book, The Right Place For Love, written during the war period.
    The family lived in West Cheater, Pa. after moving from Smyrna, and before leaving for the west coast.

1959 Fire Alarms Already Exceed ’58 Total
    The fire alarm at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday was the 74th alarm so far this year, which was the same number as for the entire year of 1958, according to fire officials.
    The volunteers of the Citizens Hose Company responded to a call to the home of John Jewell, South DuPont Parkway, for a flooded oil burner. Forty-four men answered the alarm. No damage resulted.
    On Monday at 1:15 p.m., the firemen were called to the Derrickson farm at Deakyneville, the site of the barn which was destroyed on Tuesday of last week. The blaze was in the remaining debris of the previous fire, almost one week before. Twenty-eight men responded and were in service for one-half hour. Michael Kitschik is a tenant on the farm. This was the 75th alarm for the volunteers so far in 1959.

Faries to Head Library Board
    At a reorganization meeting of the Smyrna Library Commission, J. Wells Faries assumed the presidency made vacant by the death of Mrs. C. Leland Harmonson.
    Mrs. Denney Harmonson Weir was named vice president; Mrs. Louise Denney Clifton, reelected secretary and librarian; Henry C. Webb, treasurer.
    Other members of the commission are Richard C. Price, and Mrs. Fred Lamb, who was newly-appointed a member at the meeting.
    Mrs. Weir and Mrs. Lamb were named to the book committee, with Mrs. Weir serving as chairman.
    A financial report was heard. The annual meeting of the commission is held in January of each year.

College Honors Smyrna Graduate as Valedictorian
    Diana Lee Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard C. Davis, of Rodney Street, Smyrna, was graduated cum laude from Dean Junior College, Franklin, Mass., at commencement exercises held Sunday, June 7. Miss Davis was the valedictorian of her graduating class, and received an Associate in Science degree in Medical Secretarial Science.
    She was also awarded the Adele Chesterton medal and prize.
    Her activities included president of Women’s Student Government, All-College Council, House Basketball, Homecoming, Welcoming Committee, May Day, Christmas activities, Key Cub, and Dean’s List.

Children’s Day at Friendship Church
    Annual Children’s Day service sat Friendship Methodist Church will be conducted this Sunday morning, June 21, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
    The event will be directed by Earl R. Downs, superintendent of the Sunday School. Others members of the school will conduct the service, featuring recitations by the younger students.

Hoffecker Business to Close for Vacation
    George H. Hoffecker, Inc., DuPont Highway north of Smyrna, will close its garage and showroom during the period of June 29 and July 6 so that employees may enjoy an uninterrupted vacation holiday. The firm will reopen for regular business hours on July 6.