“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News and the Evening Journal.
Nov. 18, 1907, The Evening Journal
Dry Saturday down the state; reports from Kent towns declare no drunkenness
Reports from down the state are that the first Saturday night in “dry” Kent and Sussex counties was devoid of any disorder and that the merchants in the principal towns did a thriving business. …
Saturday night is the great night in the down-state towns. Persons flock in from the surrounding country to do their shopping, and many come to get their liquor, part of which they drink and part of which they take away with them. …
But the liquor was missing Saturday night, and none of the incidents that stirred down-state residents in their crusade against the license were seen on the streets.
Residents of Smyrna are highly pleased with their first Saturday night under prohibition. Not a drunken man was seen on the streets, which is unusual for Smyrna on Saturday nights. The town was crowded as usual and all the merchants report having done a big business. …