TIME MACHINE ... Celebration At Franklin City!

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July, 1882

(Peninsula Enterprise- Accomac)

Editor of THE ENTERPRISE:

As it was too late to give you the doings on the 4th for your last issue, I propose to send a few lines for your next weeks' paper. About 2800 persons celebrated the Fourth at Franklin City, this county. The exercises were opened by a lively tune, played by the Georgetown brass band; after which Capt. Lloyd F. J. Wilson, on behalf of the committee of reception and the citizens of the place, in a short address welcomed the excursionists to the town, and gave a short history of the rapidly growing and thriving place, at which the first attempt at a National celebration had then commenced. The same speaker then read the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Wm. Dickerson, of Snow Hill, Md., was the orator of the day, and his address was very brilliant and received great applause. Letters had been received by Captain Wilson, the chairman of the committee on oratory, expressing regrets of their inability to attend the celebration and mingle with the people, from Hon. Geo. T. Garrison and Judge Benj. T. Gunter.

The celebration passed off pleasantly, considering the vast number of persons present, and the inclemency of weather. Order was as well or probably better preserved than is usual where so many persons are found together and where liquors are sold, notwithstanding the uncalled for dispatch sent from Georgetown, (Del.) dated the 5th, to the Wilmington (Del.) Gazette that "A perfect pandemonium reigned in Franklin City from 2 to 8 o'clock;" that "whiskey was sold plentifully and hard fighting the order of the day," and that the whole celebration was a miserable farce." Owing to the inclemency of the day, the people were not as comfortably entertained as the committee could have wished, while few, if any, save the author of the dispatch referred to, were the least out of humor on account of the circumstances which somewhat marred the occasion, but over which the citizens could certainly have no control. T. F. Colburn, Esq., the proprietor of the Franklin City Hotel, did his best to accommodate his guests, and but for an "unfortuitous" occurrence that happened in the dining room of the hotel, to a splendid supper which had been prepared and left on the table in a room where the doors were supposed to be locked, intended to entertain the members of the band and the railroad officials at his expense.

Owing to the rain and high wind the boat and tub race did not come off, nor did the glass ball shooting take place from the same cause.

Ice cream, lemonade, confectioneries, oysters, clams and sandwiches were sold at moderate charges.

The display of fire-works at night was not as brilliant as if the atmosphere had been clear and dry.

The train conveying the excursionists to their homes, left Franklin City for Georgetown, at 10 P. M.

No accident to either the train or passengers.

The general supposition is that financially it was a success.
Greenbackville, July 8th

　
January, 1917


(Chester Times- Chester, Pa.)

(Excerpts)

There will be great activity in the Remington Arm's Company's plant from now on until the contract for Enfield rifles is completed.

New Arrivals

Among the new arrivals are Arthur Brittingham, Claude Brittingham, John Brittingham, and Herbert Ross from Pocomoke City, Maryland. They were lucky in securing a boarding place at Ivers House.
　
On being asked if there were any young men remaining in Pocomoke City, they replied that all the young men were leaving and coming to Eddystone, attracted by the higher wages being paid in the plants in the borough. They said the pay for men in their hometown ranged from a dollar a day to a dollar and a half. That a cook's wages were two dollars a week, and board ranged from four and a half to five dollars a week.　

　
November, 1888

(The Denton Journal)
　
About 6,000 acres of land in Worcester County, known at Klej Grange, the settlement of the late Joseph Drexel, the New York banker, has been sold to William G. Strickland for $20,000.


August, 1901

(The Semi-Weekly Landmark- Statesville, N.C.)

Knocked Preacher Down For Kissing His Bride.

Chincoteague, Va., Special, 25th, to Philadelphia Record.

When the minister kissed his bride, Joseph McDuff, the groom, last night knocked down Rev. James Porter, rendering him partially unconscious.

McDuff and Miss Agnes Talley, both of whom reside on Chincoteague Island, drove to the parsonage, and after the ceremony the minister as usual kissed the bride. The next instant McDuff's fist shot out and caught the minister square in the jaw, laying him limp in the corner of the room.
　
Friends seized the angry groom and explained to him that it was the custom of ministers. McDuff was mollified, and as a peace offering drew forth two $10 notes which he tendered to the dazed and surprised clergyman.



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