From the Sun-Times,
Jan. 17, 1990
Smyrna was booming economic area in early 19th century
By John Flood
Dozens of archaeological digs have been conducted up and down the length of the Rt. 13 Relief Route, but the oldest find so far was made just outside of Smyrna on Rt. 6. The site holds clues to a boom and bust economic period in the early 19th century.
David Grettler, a doctoral student of history at the University of Delaware, spoke about the find before the Duck Creek Historical Society last Thursday....
The find is the John Darrach Store Site. Archaeologists from the University of Delaware Center for Archaeological Research conducted the dig from July to December and found the remains of a large brick store, a young woman, several wells and other features containing late eighteenth and early nineteenth century artifacts....
According to Grettler, Smyrna Landing was a lively shipping port, taking grain form the rich fields of Kent and New Castle counties to the market in Philadelphia. Before and during the War of 1812, as the fields of Europe lay fallow, the market for grain was strong and the farmers and merchants of Duck Creek made enormous amounts of money....
Richard Bailey to open art show in Annapolis
By John Flood
Smyrna sculptor Richard H. Bailey will open a show of his work at the Annapolis Marine Art Gallery tomorrow.
The Smyrna artist continues to find a healthy market in Delaware, Annapolis and Florida for his stone sculptures of fish, bears, turtles, and abstracts and commands prices between $900 and $4,500.
A graduate of Smyrna High School, Bailey is the only Delaware artist who works exclusively in stone. His studio on Woodland Beach Rd. is filled with dozens of pieces of marble, onyx, fluorite and other stones on their way to becoming beautiful, polished fish and other animals....
Finally, statewide paramedics
Legislative Report by 28th District Rep. Bruce Ennis
Senate action this week on the compromise House Amendment No.1 to Senate Substitute No.1 for Senate Bill No.1 has ensured Governor Castle’s signature and enactment soon of the legislation to initiate the nation’s first statewide advanced life support (paramedic) program. I and other proponents believe that through the amendment the administration has embraced all the original provisions of our legislation....
Enactment of this legislation culminates over three and one-half years of traveling throughout the state and working with emergency medicine specialists, hospital administrators, volunteer fire and ambulance organizations, local governments, paramedics and the administration. All are highly commended for their input and participation in the legislation.
The primary purpose of government is the protection of its citizens. This is best accomplished in my opinion, through our fire, police and emergency medical service providers....
