Local Election Flyer

This Witham Urban District Council election flyer is for the election in 1926. Unusually for us, who are used to our elections being held on a Thursday, this was held on a Saturday on 27th March. It was held in the National Schools, in Guithavon Street, which stood where Newlands Drive Car Park is now. The recipients of this leaflet is identified on the front as Mr and Mrs Allshorn who resided at 61 Newland Street, now the Town Hall. Mr Alfred Samuel Allshorn was the manager of Barclays Bank at 61 Newland Street from 1922-1930. Barclays moved out of the building in 1939.

The candidate courting the vote of Mr & Mrs Allshorn was Ebenezer Smith. Mr Smith had first been elected to Witham Urban District Council in 1920 and was here seeking re-election. Mr Smith moved to Witham in 1900 and worked on the railways as a signalman from 1910. Among his many accomplishments, Mr Smith was a first aider and ambulanceman, a Justice of the Peace and a preacher.

Ebenezer Smith was elected Chairman of Witham Urban District Council in 1933, serving until 1935. His picture can be found in the stairwell of the Town Hall, along with other former chairmen of Witham Urban District Council.

Upon his death in 1946, aged 74, a new road on the Church Street development was named in his honour, Ebenezer Close.

More details can be found on Janet Gyford's website: https://www.janetgyford.com/people/ebenezer-smith/