"Friendliest Town On The Eastern Shore." Our tradition runs deep. Excerpt from a letter to the editor from a visitor to Newtown, (former name of Pocomoke City) published in the Baltimore Sun, April 28,1847.
This place (Newtown) is a pretty snug little village, containing about 500 clever and hospitable inhabitants; it has good wide streets, quite clear of that "eye sore," known mostly over the Peninsula by the name of "deep sand"; the houses, though built of frame, are generally built substantially and with some discretion and taste; there are two neat, new, and quite handsome frame churches in it; as for the merchants of the place, suffice it to state that they are very clever and hospitable. F. Mezick, Esq., the landlord with whom I stopped, and his very obliging and jolly assistant, are richly deserving of a passing notice, for the good treatment and the extension of the many civilities to "the stranger."
(Reader-friendly viewing of news archives/historical archives material)
December, 1930..
The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Md.)
Footnote: In 1931 former world champion Jack Dempsey made an appearance at the Pocomoke arena as a guest referee for a couple of matches with a crowd of more than 2,000 in attendance. What happend to the arena? I grew up not far from the Pocomoke Fair Grounds and the arena wasn't there at that time, 1950's. Only thing there, as I recall, was the dirt track used sometimes for exercising harness racing horses. Stock car races were held at the fair grounds track up to about 1950 or so. -tk
October, 1886 (Time Machine archive)
The Boston Sunday Globe
"BOTTLED LIGHTNING,"
And How Maryland and Virginia Prohibitionists are Fighting it.
Baltimore, Md., Oct 9.- The Prohibitionists of both Maryland and Virginia have tried in vain to reach with the law the flourishing saloon of John B. Blizzard on Fox's island. The only house on this little tract of land, which is located seven miles from Crisfield, is the residence and saloon of Blizzard, who is reaping a fortune on his sale of "bottled lightning" to the oystermen. The spot is partly in Maryland and partly in Virginia, yet is amenable to the laws of neither state. On the mainland all around the island in Virginia and Maryland, local option exists. The house is situated partly in Maryland and partly in Virginia, but its exact location cannot be arrived at, as it is not included within the lines of any county or district. Smith's island and Crisfield district lie adjacent to the island, put no portion of it is included within the limits of either of these districts. The proprietor has no license to sell liquor, and not being in any county, as far as the existing lines show, and being unable to locate himself he has no source from which to produce a license, and consequently goes without.
In absence of an authority to grant license there can be, of course, no authority to prohibit him from selling without a license, and not being within the jurisdiction of any county he is not subject to the existing local option laws of the bordering counties. His bar-room, previous to the passage of local option laws in the neighboring counties of Virginia, was located on the Virginia side of the line, but after the passage he has removed it a few feet and over the line, and now conducts his business in Maryland. On this peculiarly situated island a man can stand with one foot in Maryland and the other in Virginia, and drink to the health of both states and defy the authorities of each.
Footnote: The following item was reported in the Peninsula Enterprise of Accomac in May, 1885: Mr. John B. Blizzard of Crisfield, Md., has moved to Foxes Island, this county, which he lately purchased of Mr. Planner Crockett, and proposes to engage largely in the planting of oysters and the soft crab business there, and at no distant day will open a first-class summer resort.
May, 1962
The Salisbury Times
(Excerpts)
Snow Hill Homecoming Celebration Is Tomorrow
SNOW HILL - An auction sale, barbecued chicken, a band concert, and a variety of activities are planned for the annual Snow Hill Homecoming Celebration to be held in Byrd Park tomorrow.
Special guests, the famous character of novel and movies, "Misty," will be on display at the affair. Also traveling with mother to Snow Hill will be "Stormy" the young offspring born to Misty after the March Storm.
Scheduled during the afternoon will be a boat parade on the Pocomoke River, a concert by the Snow Hill High Band, and the ever popular auction.
Offered for sale at the auction are items of every description. This year, according to Mayor James T. Sturgis, an old fashion four-wheel buggy will be sold to the highest bidder. The auction will be under the direction of auctioneer Carol Long of Salisbury.
Officials have reported that the Homecoming grows larger each year. It was reported that more than 1,500 are expected to attend this year's activities.
July, 1948.. Tuning In On The Radio
The Star Democrat (Easton)
1910.. School Days in Parksley, Va.
Eastern Shore Railway Museum photo.
Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers or something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? Please send to tkforppe@yahoo.com .
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