LEGISLATURE REUNION 1879

DELAWARE HISTORY

1879 DELAWARE LEGISLATURE MEMBERS

Rehoboth, August 30, 1979 Douglas House Reunion for the members of the Delaware

Legislature, all but four were present. Guest were former Governor Cochran and the Secretary of

State , James Wolcott, representing the Department of State in absence of Governor Hall who was

attending the funeral of Farmer Bank cashier Wilds.

About 60 in the party left on the train from Harrington at noon, arriving at 3 o'clock, taken to

the Douglas House and put in charge of Joe Willard, proprietor. The party consisted of the two house

members, both 'speaker's', press , Senate and House officers and a few invited guest.

Chancellor Saulsbury and governor sent regrets, not being able to attend.

After a few hours for socializing and excursions to the beach and bay, the dinning room was

open and quickly filled to work on the 'Reunion Supper' .

Governor Cochran sat at he head of the table and the Reception Committee Chairman ,

James Ware, sat at the other end. Speakers, Harrington and Dr. Chandler, were seated on either side.

Everyone did justice to the repast, “fames condi mentum optimum est”. No toast nor speeches were

had.

After the meal. Member visited the beaches, the bay, some visited in Lewes, the Life Saving

Station, then back to the porch of the Douglas House.

Senators present were the Speaker Harrington of Farmington, Harry Sharply of Wilmington,

J.W. Cooch of Coochs Bridge, O. H. McWhorter of St. Georges. J. F. Denny of Smyrna, Issac

Conaway of Georgetown, and the clerk Osborne of St. Georges.

Representatives that were there are I.N.fooks of Georgetown, M. Conoway of Leipsic,

J. Savins of Moorstown, Dean of Newark, Riggs of Clayton, Cochran of Middletown,

Giles Lambden of New Castle, Speaker Chandler, Brandywine Springs, Hall, Milford,

Hearn, Greensbourough, Jim Wear, Wilmington, Collins of Smyrna, Houston of Lewes,

Dave Needles of Felton, Sharp of Camden, Clerk John Saulsbury and Landale of Dover.

Guest were P. F. Causey , C. E. Treidler, Milford, John O'Byrne and John Farra,

Wilmington, W. F. Causey, St. Louis, john Salisbury George Shakespear, Librarian, R. R.

Kenney, Librarian, Dover, , George Kerr, Col. Lowbar, Newark, W. T. Crrroasdale, editor

Every Evening Journal, Pete Hardcastle, Kenton, Bob Lamdon, Laurel, W. W. Meridith, New

York City, C. C. Shockley, Paynter Frame, P. C. Purnell, Georgetown, Robert Reynolds, State

Treasurer, Petersburg, and W. A. Comegys, Middletown..

Press embers among the guest were W. Scott Way of the 'Transcript' , Harry Brown of

the 'Gazette', O'Bryan of 'Herald', A. Francis of the 'Republican', H. H. Colclazer, the ' Evening

Journal'.

That evening there was a 'hop' in the Douglas House dinning room, for members and guest,

and now, a number of ladies from Lewes, Milford, and Rehoboth, to dance the hours away until

midnight., when the music retired to the porch and the ladies to their carriages for home. Quite a

few gentlemen sat on the porch to listen to a Negro minstrel with guitar sing ballads until wee

morning hours.

Saturday, special trains took the party home after going to Rehoboth to dine with

Uncle Brinton at the Bright House.

Source: Wilmington News Journal, Monday, September 1, 1879.

Abstract March 13 2018, by Harrison h. for www.delmarhistory.blogspot.com