Frankford
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111AtlanticAve.,Suite2
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Wepresenttoyou...Frankford
Small-towncharmispartofthepast, presentand,hopefully,thefutureof thisquietplace.
Frankford’sheydayseemstohave passedforthetimebeing.Afterall,the trainsonlyshipgrainorpetroleumnowadays,andthemultiplegroceryandhat storescloseddecadesago.
Butitboastsadedicatedfirecompany, severalsmalleateries,athrivinglibraryand renovatedparkthatmanyseeascenterstage forthefutureofcommunitytogetherness. Smallbusinessesscatteredalongthehighwayanddowntownareaincludethrift shops,carlotsandotherspecialtystores.
Frankford’sfuturecouldlikelybeinthe realestatemarket,aswideswathsoffarm-
COVER:erailroadthatoncemade Frankfordabustlingtownstillcurves intothefuture. PhotobyBobBertram.
JoanneYoung
landattractthebeachhousehuntersmigratingfromthecityinsearchofaquieter, coastallife.
Withtherightplanning,Frankford couldbuildontheservicesandbusinesses alreadyfoundinorneartown.Willitever needahotelortrainstationagain?Willit evergetafull-sizedgrocerystore,likeneighboringtowns?Maybe.We’llletyouknow onecenturyfromnow.
Untilthen,we’vefoundatownwhere peoplearen’talwaysinahurrytoleave.Peoplecomeandgo,buthere,lifelongresidents rangefromBabyBoomerstoMillennials. erearesomanythatit’stoughtofeature everyonewhoshouldbementioned.
Butforsomenewcomers,thestoryis justbeginning.
WelcometoFrankford. v
—LauraWalter
I truly believe that buying real estate can be a fun experience and have been making
Originally from Berlin, MD, I have lived in Sussex County since 1967. I worked in the motel business in Ocean City, MD for 20 years before beginning work in real estate. I have been successful through the years as a top producing agent covering Bethany Beach and its inland areas.
I am a specialist in seniors real estate but enjoy clients of all ages. I love working with clients and developing that rela onship into friendship. That’s when my job becomes so much more!
I am married to a wonderful man and have two children and two precious grandchildren. I enjoy gardening, reading and traveling. I am ac ve in the prayer ministry at Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist in Ocean View and a volunteer for Delaware Hospice.
‘Thistownwasbooming’
Frankfordhistoryflowedfromwatertorailroadtorural
SesleepytownofFrankfordiswakingup, althoughdreamslingerofitsbrightpast.Stores, trainsandjustenoughindustrymadeFrankforda rural,butactive,littletown.
ItissituatedbetweenBaltimoreandDagsboroHundreds,butnoonetrulyknowswherethename“Frankford” originated.Itsimplypopsintooldliteraturearound1820.
Likemanysmalltowns,Frankfordbeganasacountry store.Historydoesn’tpointtoanyspecificNativeAmericanactivity,butonlyto DavidLongSr.’splantation,“Forest Flower,”around1750(later“Partnership”and“Jacob’sMill Pond”).
IsaiahLonghadtherightideabyopening“Long’s Store”in1808,whichled topermanentsettlementon Vine’sBranch,ahandylittlewaterway.By1812,mostpeopleknewtheareaas“Gum’sStore”(forstorekeeperManaenGum)andthen“Frankford”asearlyas1820.
efederalgovernmentset“Frankford”instonewith apostofficein1848.(Anyone’sbestguesswasthatthe townwasnamedforsomeonenamed“Frank”wholivedat a fordofthestream.)
Butyearsofactivityflowedinandoutbeforethe townofficiallyincorporatedwithacharterin1980.
Theearly1900shad suchacolderclimate that FrankGum’s grandfathercouldice skatethroughtown. Hestrappedblades ontohiswintershoes andskateddown thefrequently frozenditches.
Inthe1870s,the railroadconnected Frankfordtotheoutside world(andagricultural customers)ina wholenewway.
Courtesy AlbertFranklin
Aconvenientcanal
atcherStreetistheeasternroadthatonceplayed secondstringtothetinycreekitborders.Practicallyjusta wideditchtoday,VinesBranchcanalwasFrankford’smain modeoftransportintheearly1800s.ecanal’scommercialhubwasneartheintersectionofatcherandMain streets.
eIndianRivertributaryconnectedlittleFrankford withtheAtlanticEasternSeaboard.Originatinginthe GreatCypressSwamp,thecreeksweptnortheastthrough Frankfordtowardatcher’sLandingatVinesCreek.
Frankford’spopulationincludedseveralseacaptains,a testamenttotheusefulnessoftheVinesBranch,according toEugeneF.CastrovilloJr.’s1979“eHistoryofFrankford,Delaware:18thand19thCentury.”
Cargotooheavyforthecanalcouldstilltravelby horseandwagon.ResidentAlbert“Ab”Franklin,79,said hisgrandmotherusedtohelpunloadshinglesthere,asa 12-year-old.
Settlersmadealivingwithgrist-andsawmills.ey loggedtheGreatCypressSwampinthesoutheasttobuild morehousesandbusinesses,especiallyintheGumSaw Mill.Frankfordhadatleastsixcountrystoresinthe1860s.
Abarrel-makingbusinessreplacedtheoldGumMillin themid-1870s,whichgrewintoasteam-poweredfactory where300men,womenandchildrenproducedwoodveneers,baskets,plaques,platesandothernovelties,accordingtoCastrovillo.Frankford’seconomyslumpedwhenthe businessmovedtoGeorgetownin1883.
Trainstakeoff
Businessactivitymigratedtotherailroadtracksafter theCivilWar.
Intheearly1870s,theJunction,Breakwater&FrankfordRailroadrolleddownthroughFrankfordtoSelbyville.
Peopledidn’thavetorelyonsmallboatstoimport andexportgoodsanymore.Railroadcarscouldhandleactualfreight.Frankfordwasalwaysarelativelysimpletown, butthisbroughtanewlevelofindustry.
SoonconnectedtothePennsylvaniaRailroad, Frankfordwasexportingcropsandimportingtraveling salesmen.
GuestssleptatLemuelandSallyTingle’sboarding houseonMainStreetorCapt.JohnLong’sBoulevard HotelonRailroadAvenue,justbehindtherailroadstation.(It’sbelieved thataHollowayHotelopenedin 1857onMainStreet,accordingtoRaeLong’s2003 “MemoriesofFrankford.”)
Everythingwasfaster,andFrankfordcouldgrow, butstillnotasrapidlyasnortherntowns.
Despiteleapsinagriculture,somedownstatefarmingmethodswerestilloutdated,suchashand-feeding upto18,000chickens,saidSteveCarey.
Vine’sCreekBranch wasoncethemajor waterroutelinking Frankfordcommerce totheIndianRiver andAtlanticOcean, picturedyearslater inthispostcard mailedin1908.
Courtesy AlbertFranklin
duPontwantedtobuildacentralroadwaylinkingtheentirestate,toptobottom.Incash-poorSussex,peoplewere waryofsuchaproject,whichmustsurelyhavestringsattached.
ButgroundwasbrokeninSelbyvillein1911,andthe first20milesofDelaware’sfree DuPontHighwaywere dedicatedin1917.
“eprofoundisolationthathadcharacterizedlifein southernDelawareforgenerationswasendedforever,” wrotehistorianRichardB.Carterinhis2001re-releaseof “ClearingNewGround:eLifeofJohnG.TownsendJr.” Automobilesandroadconstructionwereontherise
BythetimeCareywasbornin1952,therailroadonly shippedgoods,notpeople,totheFrankforddepot.
“erewasnopassengertravelthatIknewof,”except fortheoccasionalmischievouslittleboyswhohappenedto jumponacarandrideitdownthetracks,”Careyquipped.
Roadsreplacetrains
Attheturnofthecentury,philanthropistT.Coleman
afterWorldWarII.Oyster-shellstreetswerereplacedby modernpavedroad.
en,nearly100yearsafterenteringFrankford,the PennsylvaniaRailroadslumped intoanearlyruinous merger.(Today,localtrainsstillshipMountairegrainand Pep-Uppropane,thankstoNorfolkSouthernandthe Maryland&DelawareRailroad.)
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thelonepaved driveway;swimminginVine’sBranch.
Goodtimes,fromoperatokick-the-can Peoplewillalwayscreatetheirownentertainment, whethertheybuild,imagineordrivetoit.Startingin1919, silentmovieswereshownfor12centsperticketatJones OperaHouseonReedStreet,withlocal
musiciansplayingbackgroundmusic.Intermissionswereheldeverytimeareelneededchanging,accordingtoRaeLong.
Showswerealsoperformedbylocalschoolchildren andbyatheatergroupfromChautauqua,N.Y.
Butthenewtalkingpicturesweretoocostly,andthe 1930sbroughtanendtotheoldoperahouse.Eventually,it disappearedinacontrolledburnbytheFrankfordVolunteerFireCompany.
eannualHalloweenParadewasalwaysabigevent. DianeBunting,67,andhertwinsisterusuallyhadhomemadecostumesmadefromcrêpepaper.John“Mack” McMillon,62,marchedintheschoolband,playingsaxophone.
“Itwasamuchmoregentlertime.Firstofall,you kneweverybody,”saidJames“Jim”Bunting,66,andittruly tookavillagetoraiseachild.
Momkicked thekidsoutdoorstoplay,whichwas fine,becausevideogamesdidn’texist,JimBuntingsaid. FamiliesgrewupsocloselythatDianeBuntingsaidher neighborswerelikebrotherandsistertoher.
“Wegottogether,andyoujustplayed,”saidDiane Bunting.
Mostimportantly,Frankfordkidshavealwaysgrown uponbicycles.
“Growingup,wewouldgototheFrankfordPark,” saidWhitneyMcMillon,28.“Mybestmemoryisriding uptoJay’s[Market]andgettingicecreamandcandy.And CountryHeaven,”sheaddedoftheFrankfordAvenuegift shopthatincludedacandycounter.
“Askids,wewanderedthestreets.Whereveryouhappenedtofallatnoontime,thatmothertookyouinandfed oulunch,”saidFrankGum,70.
Otherparentsdidn’thesitatetopunisheachother’s kidsformisbehaving,either.
Smallchildrengotathrillonamakeshift“train”ride Past continuedfrompage5
atmeantmarbles;lightningbugs;rollerskating; CubScouts;kickthecan;Lo-DelLittleLeague;adventuresinthewoods;baseballinthebarnyard;basketballon
“Andtheteachers—theywerejustasmuchapartof yourlivesasyourparents,”saidJimBunting.Ifhemisbehaved,“Iknewdarnwell”thattheteacherwouldtellhis motheronSundayatchurch.
ewhitehorse(center) maybethesameone wellknownforcarrying thelocaldoctor’scarton Frankford’sdirtand oyster-shellstreets.
eBoulevardHotel boastsofhaving‘All modernconveniences’ inthisclassicpostcard.
Courtesy AlbertFranklin
Delaware’smostlyflatterrainisuselessforsledding, butthatdidn’tslowkidsdown.JimBuntingrecalledBill Long’ssleigh,pulledbymulesoratractor.Itbustled throughtownwithacabfullofparents,draggingaflurry ofchildren’ssledsbehind.
“Itwasacommunitything,”Buntingsaid.
Parentsalsodraggedsledsbehindtheircars—which isdefinitelyillegalnow—sometimesallthewaytoSelbyville’sDel-Airdrive-inforahotchocolate,saidhiswife, DianeBunting.
Dozensofkidssleddeddowntheslopingbackyards ofatcherStreettowardVinesBranch.
DaredevilsSteveCareyandhisfriendscreated “primitive”skateboardsbyattachingroller-skatestoaboardand flyingdownthehillintoDagsboro.
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2015 ResortQuest Delaware Top Producing Team
“We refer Dayna often as she has gone beyond what any other agent we have worked with has done.”
-Linda C.
“Jeff is an asset to your companygood job- excellent, highly recommended.”
-Bernard D.
“Kae did a fantastic job! I would recommend her to anyone. She made our sale smooth and easy.”
-Jennifer M.
“Cannot say enough! Tammy (M) was always kind, cheerful, efficient and honest. She looked out for us as if we were family.”
-Kay H.
“Tammy (H) was extremely knowledgeable, responsive, helpful, and personable. We would definitely use her again.”
-Hal S.
“The Dayna Feher Team offers unparalleled service to ALL clients in the Frankford, Delaware real estate market and all of the surrounding areas. Your complete satisfaction with our service and representation is our number one priority.”
Past
continuedfrompage6
duringonesummer.Accordingtoanundatednewspaper, MasseyGumsometimeshitchedupalineofchildren’s wagonstohistractoranddrovethemonafree,two-mile triptoDagsboro.
Young’unsstartedearlytomakeafewextradollars. “ekidsdidlotoffarmwork,pickingstrawberries,
Workersbreakfrom theirjobswith Hudson& McComrick Poultry. Courtesy AlbertFranklin
Jayne’sRELIABLE
Furniture & Sundries
cucumbers,stufflikethat,makingextra money,”saidMcMillon,whosefirst,shortlivedjobinhighschoolwasatH&HPoultry Co.inSelbyville.HesoonbeganalifelongcareerwithDelawareStateParks.
GeorgeBeckett,87,workedthefieldsat thesamefarmashisfather,pickingcropsand shuckingcorn.(HelaterbecameaFrankford schoolcustodian.)AcrosstheEasternShore, hisfuturewife,Rosie,wasalsopickingcrops formaybe10centsabucketor3centsa pound.
JimBuntingcutgrassanddelivered newspapers,thenbecameateenagelifeguard. DianeBuntingwaitressedbriefly,thenstayed homewithherlittlesister.(eywouldlater takeovertheBunting’sPackageStorefamilybusiness.)
Asareward,JoyFreeze(today,thelocationofthe FrankfordFamilyDiner)wastheplaceforanafterschool milkshakeandapackofLancecrackers,saidDiane Bunting.Butthatwasnotaweekendhangout.
Onweekends,Dagsborowastheplacetobe.Withlittleentertainmentintheirhometown,Frankfordkids turnedtotheirneighbors.Afterall,thetwotownsalready
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Oldest Original 1950’s Sik City Diner in Delaware
continuedfrompage8
sharedaschool.
Aftervisitingthe Claytoneatre,kids couldgrabasodanext door.
Occasionally,Carey venturedtotheS&J Drive-In,butheriskedseeinghistwoolderbrothers atthatteenagehotspot.
“Usually,you’djust cruisearound.You’dprofile…like‘AmericanGraffiti,’”JimBuntingsaid.
AlongVinesCreekoutsideofDagsboro,Sandy LandingwasthepicnicspotonIndependenceDay.People packedhomemadefriedchicken,thenboughtlemonade andpeanutsthere.
“atwasabigthing.atplacewaspacked ,”BarbaraFranklinsaid.
CampOtonkawasapopularsummercampnear SandyLanding,withalongpierperfectforcrabbing.
OnSaturdaynights,therecordhopinBishopville,
PoliceofficerJoseph Franklinwasn’ttall, buthewastough, saidhisgrandson. He’spicturedhere withCharlesand SewellFranklin.
Courtesy AlbertFranklin
Md.,“wassothickwith peoplethatsometimes youcouldn’tmovein there,”Gumsaid.
Gumrecalledthe Saturday-afternoonmatineestarringLashLaRue, whocouldbullwhipacigaretteoutofpeople’s mouths.
Parentsdropped theirkidsattheBethany Beachboardwalk,so FrankfordandLordBaltimorekidsbecamefriends therethroughbowlingandfire-halldances.
“Basically,becauseofthefactwewereallowedtoroam sofree,wemetalotofpeoplefromBethany,madealotof friendshipsontheboardwalk,”Gumsaid.
RehobothBeachandOceanCity,Md.,providedeven moredistractions.
Whenteenagerswerepulledoverbythetowncop, therewasnosuchthingasgoingtocourt,Gumsaid.
“eworstthingintheworldthathappenedwashe tookyouhomeandasked foryourfather.”
Gumdoesn’trememberseriouscrimeintown,just childhoodmischief,likeshootingatpigeonsintheabandonedEaglePoultryplant.
“ey’restillpointingfingersaboutwhoshotthered lightoutinDagsboro,”Gumquippedregardingarecent 50-yearclassreunion.
Crimewasn’tamajorissueinthemid-1900s,said Gum.“Doorswerenotlocked.”
AbFranklinsaidhisgrandfather,JosephFranklin, wasthetown’sfirstcop,intheearlier1900s.
“Hewasn’tverytall,buthewastough,”AbFranklin said.“Heneverdroveacar.Hewouldjustwalk,patrol, blowthewhistle.”Ifaspeedingcardidn’tstop,he’djustcopy thelicensetagnumber.Hesaidhisgrandfather’sattitude was,“‘I’llget’emwhenhecomesbackthroughtown.’”
Kidswalkedaroundtofindfriends,ortheytelephonedtomakeplans.“Butwehadpartylines,soeverybodycouldhearwhatyouweresaying!”saidMcMillon.
Inthepre-integrationdays, African-Americansgot big-nameentertainmentinOakOrchardfromtheearly 1900stothe1970s.Peopledrovefrommilesaroundto RosedaleBeachHotel&ResorttoseelegendslikeLouis Armstrong,CountBasie,JamesBrown,RayCharles, EllaFitzgeraldandArethaFranklin.
“Itwasahappeningplace,”McMillonsaidofthe baysidebeachhotelandresort.
Schoolhouses,unite!
AlthoughFrankfordschoolshavedistinguished themselvesinmodernyears,theyweren’texactlycelebrated 100yearsago.
Around1900,childrenmightattendschoolfor justafewyearstogetthebasicsthey’dneedforalifeof farming,wroteCarolE.Hoffeckerinher2000work “HonestJohnWilliams:U.S.SenatorFrom Delaware.”
By1919,theNewYorkTimesMagazinewas lamentingthedilapidatededucationsysteminwhat wasoncethefirststate.
‘Myparentslivedin Selbyvilleuntilthe Depressiontime.They lostthefarmand everything.They movedtothepeach orchardthen.’
—BarbaraFranklin
there.Bothroomshadapot-belliedstoveforwarmth,plus aschoolyardwaterpumpandtwoouthouses.
“Mydadwouldrideahorsetoschool,”saidGum. Schoolbusingbeganin1928,thesameyeartheFrankford basketballteamwonthestatechampionship.
eJohnM.Claytonschoolwasbuiltin1932,aconsolidationofFrankfordandDagsboroschoolsforgrades1 to12.
AbandBarbFranklinattendedall12yearsinthat school,attendingfourpromstogetherandbothgraduating withabout25otherkids,in1954and1956,respectively.
JMCsportsteamscompetedagainsttheothernearby highschoolsofLordBaltimore,SelbyvilleandMillsboro, butnotfarintoKentandNewCastlecounties,liketoday’s teamsdo.
Aroundthecorner,justoutsidetownlimitsontoday’s FrankfordSchoolRoad,African-AmericanchildrenattendedGeorgeWashingtonCarverSchoolthrougheighth grade.Itwasoneof86minorityschoolsPierreS.DuPont funded in1919.
Educationwasseparateandunequal,somostblack
Tinyschoolhouseswereslowlyconsolidatingin Delaware’sattempttoimprovethings.But,likeotherSussextowns,“veryfewstudentsintheFrankfordarearemained inschoolthroughthehighschoolyears,”wrote Hoffecker.“In1922onlytwostudentsreceiveddiplomasin Frankford’sfirstyearasafour-yearhighschool.”
eFrankfordSchoolopenedinthelate-1800s,for whitechildren,inthetallatcherStreetbuildingthathas becomeMelsonFuneralServices.ItlaterbecameFrankfordHighSchoolforuppergrades.(Youngergradeswere alsotaughtatlocationsaroundtown.)
Studentsandteachershandledthejanitorialduties
Whitechildren attendedFrankford Schoolstartingin thelate1800s. ebuildingisnow MelsonFuneral Services.
Courtesy AlbertFranklin
childrendidn’tevenhavehighschoolopportunitiesuntilthe1950s.
AftercompletingeighthgradeatCarver,Beckettpaid toattendhighschoolattheDelawareStateCollegeCampusinDover,livinginLaurelatthetime.
Heleftafter“aboutahalf-yearofcollege.Ididn’thave themoneytogoon.Ireallyhadtoquit.”
Startingin1950,blackhigh-schoolersattendedthe WilliamC.JasonComprehensiveHighSchoolinGeorgetown.In1953,itexpandedtoincludegrades7and8.
Ittooksomearm-twistingtoconvinceDelawaretointegrateschools,butthathelpedtocreatetheIndianRiver
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SchoolDistrictin1969.
eJasonSchoolclosedin1967for desegregation,bringingtherestofFrankford’sminorityteenagersbackhome.In 1968,consolidationbroughtolderLordBaltimorestudentstoJMC.Selbyvillestudents joinedthemin1968.
ecommunityvotedonanewname, mascotandcolorscheme,andIndianRiver HighSchool’sgreen,goldandwhitearose fromtheJMCBears’purpleandgold,Lord BaltimoreEagles’greenandwhite,andSelbyvilleRebels’blueandwhite.
JimBuntingwatched allthisplanning occurduringhissenioryear.Hegraduated inthespringof1968,withareally“tight”groupofstudents. “WewerereallyproudtobethelastclassatJohnM.Clayton,”Buntingsaid.
Meanwhile,theoldblackschoolsbecame elementaryschools,includingPhillipC.Showell,EastMillsboroandtheformerFrankford Elementary,whichhasnowmoved intothe JohnM.ClaytonbuildingasJohnM.Clayton Elementary.
ButafterleavingtheCarverSchool,12year-oldMcMillonwasn’teagertoattendIndianRiverHighSchoolinsteadoftheJason School.
“Itwaskindahardforme.Forthefirstsix yearsofschool,youwerecompletelysurroundedbyyourownkind—yourownpeople,”hesaid.“enyougetthrownin.It’sa shock.”
JMCwaspartlydesegregated,withfour inth-gradegirls,Careysaid,beforecomplete consolidation.
“Iwaskindatickled,becauseyoutookprideinyour town,”headded.“I’vegotsomefriendsinMillsborothatI hatedonthefieldofplay.Youknewallthatrivalrywas gonnagoaway.”
Aladyin Frankford, September,1923.
Courtesy AlbertFranklin
“I’msureitwastoughonthosegirls,”saidCarey,a whitejunioratthetime,thoughhedidn’trememberany majortrouble.“Weknewmostofthosekidsfromtown.” Afterall,kidsofbothraceshadbeenplayingbaseballor workingonfarmstogetherfordecades.
“First,itwaskindatense,”saidMcMillon,amember
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oftheClassof1971,buttensionseasedafterthefirstyearorso,especiallyaftereveryonegotinvolvedinsports.”Heplayedfootball,rantrack andtookcollege-prepclasses.
“WeneverhadanyriotsorproteststhatIremember,”saidCarey ofdesegregation.
Butheknowslifewasn’tperfect.“erewerethingssaidwhenyou wentuptotown,”Careyrecalled.McMillonrememberseggsbeing thrownatmarchingbandmembersduringtheHalloweenparade.
HURRICANE
Segregation
SussexCountyhaslongheldconservativebeliefs. Itspeopleweren’tfondofAbrahamLincoln’spolitical party,andtheyheldsegregationwasawayoflife.But Frankforddidn’texperiencedramaticlevelsofcivilrightsstrife.
“Intheearlytwentiethcentury,racerelations throughoutDelawarewereseparateandunequal,but unstrainedcomparedtootherstates,”wroteHoffecker,basedonobservationsbyAliceDunbarNelson,ablackteacher.“Generallyspeaking,the conventionsofcoexistencewerewellunderstoodon bothsides.”
“Wewerefriends.Weneverreallysawit.Inever understoodit’tilIwenttomilitaryschool,”saidGum, whoiswhite.“at’stheinnocenceofthatage.”
“eonlythingIcansayis:we’veneverhad problemswithotherpeople,”saidBeckett.“ewhitesandblacks,we allgotalongtogether.”
Differentraceslivedincloseproximitybuthadtheirownsections oftown.Whitefolkswerefoundtowardthetowncenter,whileblack folkswereslightlyontheoutskirts.JohnMcMillon’sfather,Robert, owned apatchofsmallrentalhousesandmobilehomes,calledBob Miller’sCamp.
eblackandwhitecommunitiesineveryDelawaretownhad theirownchurches,schoolsandentertainments,Hoffeckerwrote.
“Butwhenitcametogoingtothestore,thefuneralhome,thedoctor—anykindofservice—ifitwasprovidedbyawhiteperson,there wasnoproblem,”saidDouglasMelson,awhitefuneraldirector.Henoticed thatAfrican-Americanspreferredtohostfuneralsatchurch,while whitestypicallystayedatthefuneralhome.
eClaytoneatreseparatedmoviegoers,withblacksinthe balconyandwhitesonthefloor.Meanwhile,whitescouldroamthe OceanCity,Md.,boardwalkyear-round,thougheachyearafewdays weresetasidetoallowminoritiesthesameright.RosieBeckett’sfamily wouldplantheirvacationfromDetroittocoincidewiththatday.
Restaurantswouldsometimesserveminoritiesatthebackdoor, evenlettingthemsitinthekitchen.
BlackfamilieswerewelcomeonDuPontBoulevard,wherethe ClarkfamilyownedOliver’sTeaRoom,laterknownastheZanzibar. “eyservedfoodandsodas,coffee,”Beckettsaid.“Itwasfairlynice,at leasttous,anyway.…Itwasagatheringplace,andtheysoldfood.”
“IwenttherewhenIwassmall,”saidMcMillon.“Likealittleminirestaurant,butthenyoualsohadajukeboxanddancing.”
DanLong’sstoreonMainStreetandFrankfordAvenue. CourtesyAlbertFranklin
WorldWarII
MostpeoplestayedclosetoFrankford, usuallymovingnofartherthanafewstreets away.
ButWorldWarIIwasthefirstmajor eventthatpulledSteveCarey’sfatheraway fromFrankford.HewassenttoPearlHarborat19.Heservedninemonthsbefore witnessingtheJapaneseattackinDecember of1942andremainedinthePacificeater withtheArmyforthewholewar.
osewereliterallydarkdays,with blackair-raidcurtains hangingineach home.
Closetothecoast,peoplepaintedthe tophalfoftheirautomobiles’headlampsblacksothey wouldn’tshineupinthesky,saidBarbaraFranklin,justa childduringthewar.
SundaynightswerereservedfortheCivilAirPatrol, asAbFranklin’sfather,Charles,monitoredthepassingaircraftwithapairofbinoculars,fromatopthefirehall.
Farmingforwork
Agriculturewasatthecenterofthecommunity,almostliterallyembodiedintheplacementofMountaire feed silos.
“Whenyou’recomingfromthesouth,whenyouget closetoFrankford,whatdoyouactuallysee?”Mountaire’s tallfeedtowers,Melsonsaid.“It’sanopticalillusion.Itlooks likeit’sinthemiddleofthehighway,comingnorth.”
In1988,MountaireFarmsreplacedCargill,which openedafterMurrayFeedburneddownaround1960. (“atfirelastedaboutaweek,”Gumsaid.“atwasone ofthebiggestthingsthathappenedintown.)
Fordecades,Sussexfarmers havesupportedthelarger broilerindustry.eyraisedchickensformarket,grew cropsforchickenfeedandlateraddedhatcheries.
Selbyvillegotthefirstlarge-scalepoultryplantin
GeorgeBeckett,87,stillremembersattendingtheA.M.E.ChurchCamp meetingasaboy.Hisfamilyborrowedahorse-drawnwagonforthesummer retreat,dugholesinthegroundsothewagonwouldn’tmove,andsleptthereall weeklong.Forsomechildren,itwaslikeattendingthefair.eoriginal Antiochchurchwasestablishedin1856,andtheannualmeetingisstilla highlight.Peopletravelfarfordailyservicesheldinanoutdoorpavilion,or ‘bower.’Guestsstillsleepinaringoftinycottages, or‘tents,’builtdecadesago.
PhotobyLauraWalter
1937,butFrankfordgotthebiggest,replacingthetomato canneriesofyesteryear.Today,emptylandisoccupieswhat wasoncethelocationofFrankford’sbooming-estbusiness.
“EaglePoultryCompanywaslargestprocessingcompanyinworld,”saidAbFranklin.Itwasoncelocatedbetweentoday’swaterplantandRoute113.Atdifferent times,thepoultryplantwasaworkassignmentforGermanprisoners-of-warheldatBearTrapandGeorgetown, andlateraproducerofkoshermeatforbigcities.
Bythemid-1900s,mostofthedelicatestrawberry andpeachcropswerereplacedbyhardiercorn,soybeans andpoultry.
Localroadswerepackedduringharvesttime,espe-
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ciallyasfarmtrucksdeliveredgraintothefeedsilos.
“Youalwayshadthistruck-after-truck-after-truckparade.Youwouldhavecornonthestreets.[Trucks]would belinedupdownthestreets,”Melsonsaid.
Butpeoplehadgeneralfarms,too,raisingalittle bitofeverythingfortheirfamilies.Kidscouldevensell abumpercropofpeppersforsparechange.
erewasalsoCress’dairyfarm,locatedalong Vine’sBranch,ontheroadleadingsouthoutof town.
“Wewerevery involvedinthefarm,”saidSteve Carey,whosegrandfather’s60acresmostlycontainedcorn,hay,strawandbarnyardanimals.“Fortunatelyforus,wewentto thebeach,sowedidn’thavetofarm asmuchasotherkids”inthe humidsummertime,thankstoa FenwickIslandsummercottage.
Shop’tilyoudrop
Localtownsweremoreself-sufficient,withclothing, groceriesandmechanicsjustaroundthecorner.Ladieshad noshortageofaccessoriesatthreehatshops:JennyBrian’s onClaytonAvenue,SallyHall’sonMainStreetandthe BettyDelDressShoppe.
“erewerethreeorfourgrocerystoresintownand acouplewomen’sstores,butthereweren’tanystoresfor themen,”Lynchsaid.“So,ifyouwantedsomething, ouhadtogotoSelbyvilleororderfromthe Sears,Roebuck[&Co.]catalogue.”
Specialtyitemsweren’tfar.InSelbyville,Scotty’shadtheniceneckties, shoesandJMCjackets.
WhenSteveCarey’sfather camehomefromWorldWarIIto tryhisownhandatfarming,heraised egg-layinghens,buthelaterenteredthebroiler industry,likeeveryoneelse.His18,000birdswouldbe considered “nothing”bytoday’sbigfarmingstandards, SteveCareysaid.
Kidswereinfatuatedwithatoy storejustnorthof town(whichinrecentyearshouseda PaylessFurnitureanda soccerleague).
“Itwasveryrustic,”Gumsaid,describingthehorse hitchingposthesawinoldpicturesofhisfamilyhouse, builtbyseacaptainRobertDasey.
“erewasnogarbagepickup,”saidGum,exceptfor twotrashdumpsonprivatepropertiesintheoutskirtsof town.erewerenopaymentsoroversightthatheremembers.
osewhodidn’tmakeacareerofagricultureoften turnedtoDelmarvaPower&Light,theDuPontfactoryin SeafordorNationalCashRegisterinMillsboro.
Aclassicfirehelmet fromAlbert Franklin’scollection.
Photoby LauraWalter
“Asakid,goingtoTrimper’s ToylandwaslikegoingtoDisneyland.It hadeverythingagain,thatakidcouldwant,” saidJimBunting.AlsoknownforhisRehobothBeach boardwalkamusements,“Mr.Trimper,atChristmas—we probablythoughthehadthebiggesttrainsetintheworld.”
Peopledidn’tdriveoftentothenearbycitycenter,Salisbury,Md.,whichhadnicedowntowndepartmentstores, butnomallandnoRoute50highway.
“Itwaslikegoingforquitearide,”saidSteveCarey. DrivingtoWilmingtonwasanall-weekendtrip.“Roads weremuchmoreprimitive—justtookyoulonger.”
WhenDupontHighwaywasdualizedinthe late 1960s,theroadwasfaster,butnotnearlyasbusyastoday, Careysaid.
DaveandMaryBuntingowned agroceryatthecornerofatcherandKnoxstreets,withthestaples,suchas
SeePastpage18
continuedfrompage16
breadandmeat.AyoungFrankGumcouldpick-upgroceriesforhisparentswithouthavingtocarryadime.
Purchaseswereoftenaddedtoaweeklytab,especially helpfulforafarmer’sincomeschedule.
andtaqueria,firstcalledElGranCharro,thenTacoTown.
Gray’sTowingService&AutoRepairssoldgasoline formanyyears,
Firefightersandthefuneralhome
“EverySaturdayevening,my dadwentoverwiththiswallet,and hepaidhisbillweekly.Nocredit cards,noinvoicing.”Later,thestore becameJimRickards’shop,where Gumpumpedgasat28centsagallon.
Ittookamajorhousefiretoinspirethefoundingof theFrankfordVolunteerFireCompany.Untilthe1930s, laddersandbucketswerestoredbetweenAsherGodfrey’s generalstoreandthebank.
“Intheeventofafire,thecitizenswouldtaketheir blanketsanddrapethemovertheirroofsandonthesides oftheirhomes,”accordingtoWaltonJohnsonJr.’s“Unselfish Devotion:Frankford&ItsFiremen,1933-1983.”“Using theladdersandbuckets,theywouldthenproceed towet theblanketsandhopethatthiswouldpreventtheclapboardsidingandcedar-shingleroofsfromigniting.”
Localbusinessesweremore likelytoallowpaymentplans, whereasbiggercompaniespreferred interest-bearingpayments.
“It’salwaysbeenawayinasmallruralcommunity wherepeoplekneweachotherandtheirfamilies,personally.erewasalwaysanelementoftrustthatwentintofinancing.”at’srareinbig,“cold”cities,Melsonsaid.“It makesadifferencewhenpeoplekneweachother.”
Frankford’slastdowntowngrocerystoreclosedinthe mid-1990s.Locatedbesidethepostoffice,JohnA.Tingle’s IGAhasbeenreplacedbythefirehallparkinglotandelectronicsign.Ithadalittleofeverything,fromdairytomeat. Inlateryears,onHalloween,childrencouldpickoutafree pieceofnickelcandy.
Asagasstationconveniencestore,Jay’sMarketon Route113wasknownforhand-scoopedHershey’sice creamandasmallgrill.Itclosedintheearly2000s.e buildinghassincebecomeaMexican-stylefoodmarket
Ayoung
AbFranklinposes withtheoldFrankford PostOfficeonthewest sideofMainStreet.
NettieLittletonused thisPennsylvania Railroadpostcardto tellaMillsboroclient thatherdress wasready.
Courtesy AlbertFranklin
Inthespringof1933,SteveCarey’sgrandparents werevisitingfamilyinWilmingtonwhena devastatingfire strucktheir ClaytonAvenuehome (acrossfrom today’splayground).
e Millsboroand Selbyvillefire companies responded, whileresidents formedabucketbrigade.PosibyahandpumpontheCareyfarm(today’spark), theypassedbucketsofwatertoMillsboro’sboostertank. (Selbyville’struckgotstuckinmud200yardsaway.)
DanielandMaeCareycamehomewiththeir12year-oldson,tofindeverythinggone.Dan’sresponsewas tobecomeFrankford’sfirstfirechief.
“Fromtheashesofthisdevastatingfirecamethebirth ofthefirecompanyasweknowittoday,”wroteJohnson.
InMayof1933,manyofthebucketbrigadebecame foundingmembersoftheFVFC.ByNovember,thevolunteerssawaFrankfordtraindelivertheirfirstfireengine fromOhio.efirstambulancecamein1937.
eoldpowerstationgainednewlifeasFrankford’s firstfirehall,beforeitsMainStreetlocation.
Yetfirefighterscouldn’tstaffthebuilding24/7,and 911wasdecadesaway.
Butbackthen,funeralhomeswerealsoactualhomes, occupieddayandnight.eycouldhelp.
“Backinthosedays,oneofthereasonstheylived therewasthatnoteverybodyhadtelephones,”saidMelson. Apparently,Watson’sfuneralhomeshadafewoftheonly telephonesinFrankfordandinMillsboro.
So,inanemergency,peoplecalledorvisitedtheirlocal funeralhome.estaffhadalistofambulancedriversto call.
Later,afiresirenwasinstalledatthefuneralhome.So ifsomeonecalled,thefuneralstaffhitthesiren.Whenvolunteershadassembledatthefirehouse,theytelephoned Watson’sfordetails.
“efuneralhomewasthecenterofthecommunity backinthosedays,becausetherewasoneineverycommunity,”Melsonsaid.
Frankford’sfuneralhomehadoperatedunderseveral partnerships,leadingtoClintonWatsonandVollieGray. DougMelson,then20,washiredin1963,laterbecoming apartner.HeandSharonMelsonboughtthebusinessin 1965,tobecomefuneraldirector/ownerofMelsonFuneralServices.
‘erewereghostsbackthere’
Catman’sGravehauntedthemindsofsomeyoung adventure-seekers.
“Ineverwentbackthere.Storieswerethattherewere ghostsbackthere,”JohnMcMillonsaid.
AmausoleumoncestoodonthewestsideofRoute 113intheCol.ArmwellLongCemetery.eroadis calledCatMan’sRoadfortheghostwholegendarily hauntstheoldfamilygraveyard,whereGum’sancestorsare buried.
eBennettfamily’soldmausoleumwasgrowingdecrepit,andcracksrevealedthetomb’sinteriortotheoutside world.
“Itwasarealdrawforthekids,thehorrorstories. You’dpeekinthere,andeverybodywouldseebonesor skulls,”Gumsaid.“atwastheplacetogoparkingatone time.”
Gum’sfather,Babe,cleanedupthegraveyardabout 30yearsago,tohelpthedeadrestmorepeacefully.
esecludedatmospherewasperfectforthe legendoftheCatmantoarise.Accordingto StrangeUSA.com,“Amanwithcat-likefeatures usedtobeacaretaker.…Hewouldscareoff teenagersthatwouldcomeandpartyatthegraveyardhetookcareof.”Accordingtothelegend,whenhe died,hewasplacedinanabovegroundtombandcontinuedtowatchoverthegraveyard,evenindeath.
Rumorsalsodescribescratchmarksaroundthe
WorldWarIends
PrincipalClifford
Timmonsdeclareda recesswhenthe Nov.11trucewas announced.“Theentire schoolassembled outsideandparaded throughtown,stopping ateachhomewherea memberofthatfamily wasinmilitaryservice. Duerespectwasgiven forthatfamilymember. Churchbellsrangand whistlesblew.”
—UnknownFrankford HighSchoolAlumnus
gravestones.
“ManybelievetheCatmanstillkeepsaneyeonthe graveyard.eysayifyoudriveouttothecemetery,gotoa brickwalllocatedbehinditandknockthreetimes,theCatmanwillappearandmesswithyourcar.Preventstheenginefromturningover.He’llevenwanderthegraveyardin searchofyou,”stateda2010postfromParanormalStories.blogspot.com.
Meanwhile,theGreatCypressSwampwasaplace forolderbrotherstotormentkidsbydrivingthroughand tellingscarystoriesabouttheSelbyvilleSwampMonster.
AteenageDianeBuntingsawtheswampmonsterfor herself,atage16.Driving throughtheswampwithher friendsin1964,shesawthetall,grizzled,hairybeaststandingupontwolegs.Itwassonerve-wrackingthatsheand hersisterhadtosleepneartheirparentsformorethanone night.
“Iwaspetrifiedforalongtime,”Buntingsaid.“Dad knewtherewasnoswampmonster.”
Hewasright.eprankoccurredafewtimesfora newspapergagbyRalphGrapperhaus,editoroftheDelmarvaNews,andlocalpranksterandcostumeenthusiast FredStevens.
emonster sightingsendedwhenpeoplestarted bringinggunstotheswamp.enewspaperrequestedan interviewwitheyewitnessDiane,butherfatherrefused.
“Itwassoreal,”shesaid,butbycontinuingtoseekthe monster,“wewerejustaskingforit.”
Volunteerfire companiesstillprotect Delawareans withfireand ambulanceservice.
Courtesy AlbertFranklin Photoby LauraWalter
Publicservices
Today’sTownHallstilldisplaystheoriginalstained glassstatingthebuilding’soriginalpurpose:BANK.e FirstNationalBankofFrankfordorganizedin1907,accordingtoafinancialmagazinefromthatyear.In1952,a newbankbuildingopened acrossthestreet.eoldbuild-
SeePastpage21
ingsoonbecameTownHall,withthelibraryinthefront roomandtownbusinessintheback.
eFrankfordPublicLibraryhadbeenestablishedin 1931,with28books,inasmallshopformerlyusedbya tinsmith.WhentheFirstNationalBankmovedagain, acrossMainStreet,in1981,itlefttheemptybuildingasa gifttotheFrankfordlibrary.
ebankbecameaSussexTrustbranchin1983, thenaWilmingtonTrustbranchin1992.ebankbuildingitselfclosedaroundthenewmillenniumbutwassoon re-purposed asaJusticeofthePeaceCourt.
eFrankfordPublicLibraryhasthrived,however, gettingseveralrenovationsovertheyears,includingasizetriplingexpansionin2013.
emoststorieddoctorsinthetown’shistorywere FrancisManaenGumSr.,whoworkedbetween1845 and1924andwaswell-knownforhislongwhite beardandhorse-and-buggyhousecalls,andDr. RobertLong,whoservedinlaterdayswithanofficeat hisfamilyhome,builtonatcherStreetin1929,but alsomadehouse-calls.
“Irememberatonetime,whoeverthedoctorwas cametothehousewiththeblackbag,likeyouseeon [TV],”saidJohnMcMillon,bornathomein1953, sonofacarmechanicandhousekeeper.
Hereisthechurch,hereisthesteeple “egluetothetownwasthetwochurches,in myopinion,”saidGum.
eMethodistsoriginallybuiltachurchnorth oftownin1820,butFrankfordUnitedMethodist Churchwasdedicatedin1853,whereMainStreet turnsintoClaytonAvenue.Overtheyears,expansion includedanewspire,secondstoryandfellowshiphall.
KidsmetonSundaynightsforMethodistYouth Fellowship(MYF),whichincludedactivitiessuchas bowlingandskating.
‘Nottoomanypeople getappointedtheirjob bythePresidentofthe UnitedStates,and it’salifelong appointment.’
—BernardLynch,
formerpostmaster underPresident LyndonB.Johnson
inganothergentlemancut.Hisson,Ab,remembersa20centhaircutor10-centshaveinthetinybuildingthatnow servesasCountryHeavengiftshoponFrankfordAvenue, ownedbyCrystalHudson.
Atonetime,generalstoresowned byHerman Campbell,DanLongandtheTinglebrothers,aswellas SamuelLockwood’shaberdashery“wereallwithinshoutingdistanceofeachother”onMainStreetandFrankford Avenue,wroteJohnson.“Inadditiontobeingabletobuy mostoflife’snecessitiesinthesestores,youcouldalso gatheraroundacoalstoveanddiscusstheimportantissues oftheday.”
FoodhasbeenfoundthroughtheyearsatLacey Morris’SodaShop,SquirrelyMurray’sSweetShop,Tally Ho,Gray’sRestaurant,theToonervilleandtheGreasy Spoon.
FrankfordPresbyterianChurchwasorganized around1875,asanoutpostofBlackwaterPresbyterian, withmeetingsintheschoolhousebeforeconstructionat ReedandKnoxStreetin1880,accordingtoFrankR.Zebley’s“eChurchesofDelaware.”
eGum familylaterdonated landonMainStreet, sothechurchwasphysicallymovedaroundthecornerby thesamepersonwhomovedtheCapeHenlopenLighthouse,saidGum.
CharlieFranklinwasatownbarberforabout70 years.Asateenagerin1919,helearnedthetradebywatch-
Grocerystoreswere sometimesjusta blockaway.Here,a youngMikeFisher standsinfrontof localgrocerystore, JohnA.Tingle’s IGA.
Courtesy AlbertFranklin
Businessesovertheyearsincluded alaundry,blacksmith,beautyshop,gas/servicestations,hardwarecompanies,hatshops,afurnitureupholstererandastackoffeed suppliers.FrankfordAvenuewasevenontheShortLine busroute.
“Itwasjustasmalltown,”Beckettsaid.But,onsecond thought,“Actually,wehadmorestoresherethen.”
“It’snotgrownlikesomeofthetowns.It’sgoingtobe alate-bloomer,Ihope,”Gumsaid.“It’sbeenstaticforever.… Hopefully,itwillgrow.Maybeit’sablessing,becauseit’s keepingthatsmall-townfeel.” v
StorybyLauraWalter
Aquiet town with vibrant potential
eFrankfordVolunteerFire Companyhashelpedprotect residentsfromharmsince1933. PhotobyBobBertram
Althoughitmaynotresemblethebustling,vibrant townofyore,Frankfordisnowaquietcommunity.
“It’saquiettown,butitseemslikeitkindastayedin thepast.Itdoesn’thaveawholelotofnewthingsthat camealong.It’sstillagoodplacetolive,butitneedsother thingsinorderforyoungerpeopletowanttolivehere. Andtohavesomethingtodo,”saidJohn“Mack”McMillon,alifelongresidentofFrankfordSchoolRoad.“Idon’t haveanyregretsfornotmovingaway.…Ijustfeelmore comfortablebeinghere.”
“IwoulddefinitelydescribeFrankfordasanicesmall townwhereeveryoneknowseverybody.It’snotmuch there,butwehaveenough.WehaveBailey’s…andwe haveadiner.It’sdefinitelyanicesmalltowntogrowupin,” saidhisdaughter,28-year-oldWhitneyMcMillon,alsoa lifelongresident..“IautomaticallymovedbacktoFrankford[aftercollege].It’ssomewherewhereIwantmyson, Ashton,togrowupin,aslongaseverythingstaysthe same.”
etownonceboastedabank,restaurants,gasstationsandgrocerystoresbuttodayhasfewerstoresandactivitiesavailabletoitsresidents.oselookingforfuntend totraveltoRehobothBeachorBethanyBeach,Ocean City,Md.,orevenOceanDownsRacetrack.
“Welostallofourstores,”saidBarbaraFranklin,a lifelongFrankfordresident.
“It’saquietcommunity,Ithink.Butdon’tcomehere lookingforwork.Itusedtobeyouhadthefeedhouse… Bigcompaniesknockedtheselittlestoresout—Food Lion,Walmart.Youcan’tcompetewiththem,pricewise,” addedherhusband,Albert.
“Weneedsomekindofbusiness,Ithink.Ifyougot that,peoplecomeandspendtheirmoneyhere.Ifyouhad ithere,it’dbearevenueforyou,”Franklinsaid.“Justlike peoplethatwanttogetintothetown—acceptthem. You’dgettaxes,waterbills.”
“Wedon’thavesomewherewecanjustrunto quicklyandjustgetmilkandbread,”saidWhitney McMillon.“I’mnotsureifwedon’thaveitbecauseSelbyvilleandMillsborodo.…Wedon’thaveagasstation.”
Somestoreshavemanagedtosurvive,andthrive— theFrankfordFamilyDinerandFrankfordCustom Woodworks,forexample.Bunting’sPackageStore,which wasopenedin1964,hasbeenafamily-ownedand-operatedbusinesssincethestart.
“It’sjustkindofsettledintoasmallcommunity,”said ownerJames“Jim”Bunting.“We’reaproudsupporterof thiscommunity.We’vetriedto,asastore—eventhough
e are proud to have been serving the Town of Frankford and area communities for the last 83 years. Our motto of “Unselfish Devotion” is witnessed every day by the brave men and women who give of their time to serve.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are constantly searching for new members to join our family
OYSTER SANDWICHES
Friday nights in the Fall • 4pm–7pm
OYSTER& BULLROAST
Februaryeachyear • dateTBD HALL RENTALS
Our hall is available for birthday parties, weddings and other special events
For more information about volunteering or hall rentals visit our station at 7 Main Street or call us at (302) 732-6662
Frankfordfire.com
it’saliquorstore—trytobeproactiveinthe town.”
Buntingsaidit’sgreattoseethatmanyof theyoungpeoplewhogrewupintheareaarereturninghometowork.
“We’vebeenblessedtohavealotofour
Builtin1878,theCaptainEbe ChandlerHousewasremodeled intoaVictorianbeautyin1918. Afteranadventurouslifeatsea,he becameapublicservant,andinlater yearswasoftenfoundrockingonthe frontporch.ehouseisonthe NationalRegisterofHistoric Places.
localkidkidscomebacktoourschools,”hesaid. “Youwannamakemehappy?Comeback,give back…”It’sgreattosee“alltheseguysIcoached comeback,”tocoachorteach.
“ItwasneveraquestionwhenIgraduated.I knewIwascomingbackhome.Iwashopingto findajobinthisarea,”saidWhitneyMcMillon,a teacherwhosefirstteachingjobwasatIndian RiverHighSchool,heralmamater.“Ican’tthink
HOCKER’S
ofabetterschooldistrictorabetterplacetowork.It’sa perfectfitforme.”
CommunityOutreach
Inthepastyear,FrankfordTownParkhasbecomea communitygatheringarea.Whilesomeonepassingthe parkwillmostlikelyfinditoccupiedbyyoungfamilies,or agroupplayingbasketballorsoccer,itisalsoaplacefor everyonetocometogether.
Inthefallof2015,theFrankfordFallFestivalwasrevivedbytheFrankfordVolunteerFireCompany,withthe helpoftheTown,localchurchesandlibrary.
e event,whichhelpedkickofftrick-or-treatingin thetown,includedaparade,costumecontestandfun family-friendlyactivities.
eTownalsoholdsanannualtree-lightingceremony;however,in2015,followingthesuccessoftheFall Festival,thefiredepartmentrevampedtheeventtocreate ChristmasinthePark.
EachweekendleadinguptoChristmas,following anksgiving,theparkwasopentothepublicsothey couldenjoythelights,meetSantaandMrs.Claus,and enjoyhotchocolate,cookiesandentertainmentprovided bylocalchurches.
“Ithinkit’ssonicetoseethedifferentchurches pullingtogetheranddoingthingstogetherandmakingit acompletetown,”BarbaraFranklinsaid.
“It’snicenow.eyexpandedit.It’snicethatthe townhasChristmastime.eyaddedthelightsandhad SantaClaus.at’ssomethingthatwedidn’thavewhenI wasgrowingup.Itwasniceforthenextgenerationgrowinguptohave,”addedMcMillon.“IalwaysseealotofpeoplewalkingupthereonSaturdays.
“It’sjustanicesmalltown.Wecouldbeoutsideatmy momanddad’shouse,andfour,fivepeoplewouldrideby andbeep.Ifit’ssomeoneIdon’tknow,they’reprobably justbeingfriendly,”saidMcMillon.
enewFrankfordPublicLibraryopenedin2013, goingfrom1,900to6,200squarefeet—morethan triplinginsize.enewfacilityallowsformorespacefor computer,magazine,children’s,bookandmediazones,as wellasateenroom,studytablesandreadingspace.Italso boastsameetingroomwithaudio-visualequipmentthat canhostcommunitygroups,movienightsandmore.
elibraryconstantlyhostseventsforresidentsand
communitymembers.Fromhomeworkhelp,tosewing classesandreadingchallenges—there’ssomethingfor everyone.
“Itlooksveryniceinthere.eyhavealotofprogramsinthereforkidsandevents,”saidMcMillon.
FrankfordalsohousestheGeorgeWashington CarverCenter,partoftheIndianRiverSchoolDistrict.
eTownofFrankfordpropercoversjust.7square miles.However,unincorporatedFrankfordspreadsmuch farther,throughthemassive19945ZIPcode.
“WhenwetalkaboutFrankford,people…don’trealizetheFrankfordaddressitselfiftotallydifferentfrom thetownofFrankford,”saidDougMelson,funeraldirectorofMelson’sFuneralHome.“Youcandrivethrough Frankfordinaminute.ButFrankfordisoneofthelargest ruraladdressesinthestateofDelaware.”
AccordingtotheU.S.Census,in2010thetownhad apopulationof847,an18.6percentincreaseintheprior 10years.
“We’reseeingpeoplecomingin,andwedon’tknow them.And,actually,they’refromaway,”saidGeorgeBeckett,formercustodianatFrankfordElementaryandIR HighSchoolandalifelongresident.“Ineverlivedanywhereelse.Neverwantedtomoveanywhere.Allmypeoplewerehere,alotof’em.”
eTown’sstaffincludesPoliceChiefMichaelWarchol,whowashiredin2015,andanotherfull-timeofficer. Warcholhasbeenworkingoncommunitypolicing,attendingtownevents,andplanstooffermorecommunity outreachprograms,suchasCoffeewithaCop.
eMounairefeed millislocatedin thecenteroftown, connecting Frankford’sold agriculturalroots tomodern industry.
PhotobyLauraWalter
WhenFrankford Elementarymovedinto theoldIndianRiver HighSchoolbuildingin 2010,itbecame JohnM.Clayton ElementarySchool. TheG.W.CarverCenter gotitsoldnameback, servingasapreschool, alternativeschool, andparent/adult educationcenter.
Inrecentmonths,thetown’sgovernmenthasundergonesomemajorchanges,withmultiplecouncilmembers resigningfromtheirpositions.However,anactivegroup ofresidentsandpropertyownerscontinuetoattend meetingsandbeactiveintheirtown.ey’veevenstarted anEnvisionFrankfordcommitteetohelpbringthetown intothefuture.
Currently,thecouncilisworkingonimprovingthe Town’swatersystem,havingapprovedafeasibilitystudy andaimingtoreceivefederalandstatefundingforwater projectstoincludeexpansiontoDelawareAvenue,anarea ofunincorporatedSussexCountythatabutsthetown andwhoseresidentshavebeenworkingtogetcentral watertotheirpropertiessincethe1990s.
efeasibilitystudywilllookatmultipleprojects throughoutthetown,andidentifyandprioritizethem,as wellasgiveanestimatedcostofthework.efunding could alsohelptheTownpayformaintenanceforits watertower.
Alongwithworkingonthewaterprojects,theTown alsoapprovedanassetmanagementplanfortheTown’s watersystem.
Movingintothefuture,thetownislookingintoimprovingcommunityactivities,andintoexpanding, throughpossibleannexations.
“It’saquietplace,”saidBeckett.“eydon’thavea wholelotplacestogo,buteverythingtheyneedisso close.” v
—StorybyMariaCounts
Abigger,brighter futureenvisionedfor small-townFrankford
WillFrankfordseealargershareofthe growththatsomesurroundingtowns haveseeninrecentyears?Willthetown retainitssmall-town“Mayberry”-likefeel?Willthe towncontinuetobenefitfromarecentsurgeincommunityinvolvement?
It’shardtosayjustyet,butresidentsandtownofficialsalikearehopefulthatFrankfordwillmakesome significantstridesforwardinthecomingyears,while maintaininganappreciationforapastthat’ssteepedin small-towntraditions.
Asanewtowncouncilmember,GregWelchhas onlyattendedtwocouncilmeetingssincebeingap-
Linkingbackto Frankford’sroots, therailroadstill curvesaroundto facethetown’s future.
PhotobyLauraWalter
pointedtothatroleandadmits“Idon’tknowwherethe townisheaded.”But,asaresidentandregularcouncil meetingattendeesince2000,Welch—acarpenterby trade—saidhehaswatchedthetowngothrougha majortransitioninleadershipandinfocus.
Welch,51,whomovedtoFrankford13yearsago fromtheBaltimore,Md.,area,saidFrankfordis“areal niceplacetolive.Ithinkit’sagreatplacetoraisekids,” hesaid.“It’slikeMayberry;it’sanicelittletown.Everybodyknowseverybody.Noteverybodylikeseverybody,butthat’sOK.”
See Future page30
Future
continuedfrompage28
Asforthefuture,WelchsaidhefeelsgrowthisinevitableforFrankford.
“TheSussexCountyareaisgrowing,”hesaid. “WhentheyrunoutofroominBethanyandRehoboth,thenaturalprogressionistomovewestward.”
Inthemeantime,Welchsaid,theTownispoised tofocusonmakingthetownmorelivableonanumber offronts.Hesaidofficialsarelookingtoimprovethe town’sinfrastructure,especiallyitswatertowerandthe waterdistributionsystem.Upgradestobotharecrucial tothesuccessfuloperationoftheTown’snewwater plant,hesaid.
Anothernewcouncilmember,MartyPresley, echoedWelch’sassessment.Presley,whohasbeena memberofthecouncilforaboutsixmonths,saidinfrastructureimprovementsgohand-in-handwiththe Town’seffortstoannexlandacrossRoute113thatis slatedforcommercialdevelopment.
“We’rehopingitturnsintoanall-encompassing thing,”PresleysaidofeffortstomoveFrankfordfor-
‘Ifyoucan’tafford
groundzero [thebeach],thefarther youbackupinland, thecheaperthereal estatepricesare.’
—DouglasMelson
wardwithnotonlyinfrastructureimprovementsand annexations,butimprovementstomorevisibleaspects ofthetown.
ThroughtheeffortsofthenewlyformedEnvision Frankfordcommunitygroup,Presleysaid,plansare beingmadeforprojectsrangingfromhomerepairsto increaseduseofthetownparkfortownfestivals.
“We’rehopingtotakeapageoutofBerlin’sbook,” PresleysaidofthenearbyMarylandtownthathasbecomeknownforquaintshopsandathrivingdowntownarea,namedAmerica’sCoolestSmallTownin 2014.“Wewanttobeautifythedowntownarea,”he said.“TherearealotofhistorichomesonMainStreet thatneedsomework.”
TheTowniscurrentlyintheprocessofclosingon thepurchaseoftwoacresadjacenttothetownpark, partofwhichisintendedtobeusedasparkingforthe park,Presleysaid.
ThesuccessoftowncelebrationssuchasChristmasinthePark,Presleysaid,goesalongwitharecent changeinthetown’sattitudeaboutitself.
“Inthepastyeartoyearandahalf,townspeople havereallygotteninvolvedinmakingitabetterplace,” hesaid.“Hopefully,wecanbuildonthattogether.”
Meanwhile,someofthosetownspeoplearehopingthat Frankfordcatchesupwiththeprogressseeninneighboringtowns —somethingthat,sofar,seemstohavebypassedtheirowntown.
John“Mack”McMillon,62,isalifelongresidentwholiveson FrankfordSchoolRoad,justoutsidetownlimits.
“Iexpecttoseesometypeofdevelopmentforstores,of course.Idon’tknowtoomuchabouttheinfrastructure,asfaras sewerandwater,butinordertohavegrowth,thathastobebetter,
See Future page33
How does pain affect your life?
Route113isakeyareathat couldaffordFrankfordthe opportunityandspacetogrow inthefuture.
PhotobyShaunM.Lambert
e’re r W eady e r
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Future
too.Itseemsallthetownsallaroundusareprogressing …butitseemswe’rejuststuckinthemiddle,”McMillonsaid.
“I’mhopingthatsomedayit’llstartgrowing,” McMillonsaidabouttheprospectofmorestoresand businessesdowntownandalongRoute113.
“Iguessthetownistryingtodosomethingforthe park.…It’sastart,”McMillonsaid.
James“Jim”Bunting,66,andhiswifeDiane Bunting,67,haveownedBunting’sPackageStoresince 1986;Jim’sfatheropenedthestorein1964.Bunting alsocoachedandtaughtatSelbyvilleMiddleSchool andIndianRiverHighSchool.
Buntingsaidhewasparticularlyimpressedwith the2015ChristmasintheParkevent,where,hesaid, peoplewereshakinghandswithpeopletheylaterrealizedweretheirneighbors.
“Yougottagivethemsomethingtotakeholdof,” Buntingsaid.“Wehitahomerunthatnight.Ifthis councilinthenextyearcreatesprojects[likethat],I
‘Littledopeopleknow
whenthey’rewalking intheirfrontyard they’rewalkingina strawberryfield.’
—DouglasMelson, onhousingdevelopment
thinkyou’llseepeoplecomeout.”
Buntingsaidhehopesthetowncouncilwilltake stepstomakethetownmorebusiness-friendly.Successfulbusinesses,hesaid,bringmorebusinessesto town,aswellasmorepeoplevisitingthosebusinesses, aswellasmoreresidentswhowillfeelthetownhas moretooffer.
Frankfordshouldnothesitatetotootitsown horninordertoshowwhatitcanbe,hesaid.“You’ve gottosellthetownalittlebit,too.”
Thesmall-towncharacterthatitsresidentslove couldhelprevitalizeFrankford,Buntingsaid,usinghis ownstoreasanexample.
“Peoplelikethepersonaltouch”ofhisstore,he said.Often,Buntingsaid,it’sassimpleasafriendly conversation.“Theyjustwantsomebodytotalkto. Mosttimes,peoplewouldrathercomeherebecauseit’s aniceplacetoland.”
Frankfordneedsmoresmallbusinessesthatprovideneededgoodsandservicesforresidents,Bunting said,addingthatpeoplesometimescometohisliquor storeaskingforpersonalitems,likerazorbladesand shavingcream.
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“Thistownwasonceavibranttown,”Bunting said.“Thattellsmeitcouldbeonceagain.”
Anotherlongtimebusinessownersaidhebelieves Frankfordwilleventuallyfollowmanyofitsneighbors inbecomingaretirement-focusedcommunity.
DougMelson,alongwithhiswife,Sharon,has ownedMelsonFuneralServicesonThatcherStreet since1965.Thecoupleraisedtheirtwochildreninthe houseonThatcherStreetwheretheystilllive,across thestreetfromthefuneralhome.Thesedays,though, theyspendweekendsinFenwickIsland.
MelsonsaidFrankfordmaynothavealotofthe servicesonetypicallythinksofinretirementcommunities,suchashealthcareandrestaurants,but“in15minutes,youcouldhaveanyofthoseservicesinyourcar.”
“Ithinkyou’regoingtoseearetirementcommunity,”Melsonsaid.“That’sthedestinationofFrankford. Frankfordissevenmilesfromtheocean.Inthetownof Frankford,there’salotofagriculturallandbeingused forfarmingtoday,andthatwillbedevelopedinthefu-
Frankford’soldwater towerwaspurchased secondhandfrom RehobothBeachin 1932.Itwasreplaced in1981witha new120,000-gallon tankbuiltby CaldwellTankInc.
ture.It’llbearetirementcommunity.It’llneverbedevelopedforcommercial.”
WhitneyMcMillon,28,hasalsolivedonFrankfordSchoolRoadallherlife.AproductofFrankford ElementarySchool,SelbyvilleMiddleSchoolandIndianRiverHighSchool,McMillonwentontoattend DelawareStateUniversitybeforereturningtoher hometownandteachingatIRHS.
McMillonsaidshetreasureschildhoodmemories ofgrowingupinFrankfordandthatshemissesthe hand-dippedicecreamatJay’sMarket.“Ireallyhope wecangetaconveniencestore.Just…something,”she said.
WhileFrankfordlackstheamenitiesofbigger cities,McMillonsaiditisstillworthcominghometo.
“Idefinitelyhopethatthekidsthataregrowing up,thattheyhavethesamerespectforFrankfordthat Ido.Ihopetheyunderstandthat,eventhoughyou justcomefromasmalltown,theycanalwayscome backandbejustassuccessfulhere.Ihopethatitcontinuestobethesamenicesmalltownthatit’sbeen,”she said. v
StorybyKerinMagill
