Header photo from Town of Smyrna website (www.smyrna.delaware.gov).
Residents of Smyrna, Delaware, are gearing up for 2018 when we will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our historic town. A series of celebratory and promotional events will take place throughout the year. Presently, the planning has begun at weekly meetings. If you would like to get involved, attend meetings, contribute your ideas or help in other capacities, connect and keep abreast of occurrences on the Smyrna 250 Facebook page.
In 1768 a small community named Salisbury, or more popularly known as Duck Creek, was formed by farmers, merchants, and shippers on the banks of Duck Creek and near the crossroads of the major north-south road, The King’s Highway, and an east-west route connecting the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays, The Maryland Road. The area was especially attractive for farming, timber and shipping due to its safe port just west of the Delaware Bay. In 1806, the village was renamed Smyrna after the thriving Turkish seaport of biblical times by an act of the Delaware Assembly. Seventy years later, busy Smyrna, with new wharves and warehouses, was a distinguished center noted for grain, lumber and peaches. The town’s center, originally extending one quarter mile in each direction from the crossroads, known still today as The Four Corners, has expanded through the years.
Throughout Smyrna’s history, its residents have celebrated the town’s rich architectural heritage and its historical downtown. Now Smyrna is a progressive modern community with an independent spirit and charm harkening back to those village days. Smyrna has retained much of its architectural integrity despite many challenges. The Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association has committed itself to keeping that tradition alive for future generations.
Discover the spirit of Smyrna. Friendly, gracious residents and shopkeepers, good food, live entertainment, historic architecture and the small town environment combine to evoke a sense of place. Family activities abound. The town’s strategic location makes Smyrna a popular stop on the way to the Delaware beaches. Situated only about ten minutes north of Dover, a half hour south of Wilmington, and within an easy drive from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., Smyrna retains its small town atmosphere yet provides a competitive location for business.
Citizens take great pride in their quality of life and their superior education system. Among towns with 5,000-15,000 population, Smyrna ranks tops in the nation and the state. Explore historic Four Corners downtown. Enjoy personal service when you shop quaint stores featuring antique toys, collectibles, fine jewelry, local art, candles, herbs, and Delaware souvenirs and collectables. Take the self-guided walking tour of the historic architecture. See inside Smyrna’s finest historic homes during the annual Walking Tour or join in the family fun at the Autumn in Duck Creek festivities. Better yet, enjoy a program at the restored Victorian Smyrna Opera House, built in 1870 to unite the community at the end of the Civil War.
Take the kids for an ice cream or stop for a sandwich or a cool draft at a pub; stay for dinner.
And, it’s all tax free. You may discover Smyrna to be the perfect place to find yourself or your special someone that unique treasure.
Rich Schuman, local wood artisan demonstrating with turning on a spring pole lathe at the historic Plank House, built in the early 1700s. https://forwoodnesssake.wordpress.com.