PROCLAMATION Chief Kelvin D. Sewell of Pocomoke City, Maryland

WHEREAS, the safety and security of the citizens of Pocomoke City, Maryland and surrounding areas are vitally important; and

WHEREAS, a large percentage of our citizens regularly drive or ride in motor vehicles on our roadways; and
WHEREAS, the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 12,174 lives in 2012; and
WHEREAS, regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes;
WHEREAS, the use of seat belts is supported by the laws of Maryland;
WHEREAS, May 18 through May 31, 2015, has been selected as the national Click It or Ticket mobilization enforcement period;
WHEREAS, across the country law enforcement officers will actively be participating in the mobilization to ensure all motor vehicle occupants are buckled up day and night to reduce the risk of injury and death caused in traffic crashes;
AND WHEREAS, increased enforcement of seat belt laws coupled with publicity has proven to be an effective method to increase seat belt use rates and decrease fatal crashes;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Chief Kelvin D. Sewell, Pocomoke City Police Department, do hereby proclaim and announce May 18 to May 31, 2015, as the Click It or Ticket Mobilization in Maryland, for Pocomoke City, Worcester County, Maryland, and urge all citizens to always wear seat belts when driving or riding on our roadways.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand on behalf of the Pocomoke City Police Department.
Chief Kelvin D. Sewell
Pocomoke City Police Department
15 May 2015

FLAGS FOR HEROES

The Pocomoke City Rotary Club is sponsoring "Flags 

for Heroes" to honor those heroes who have served in 

the military, local law enforcement, fire and rescue,

health care, teaching or any individuals who have made 

a difference in the lives of others in our community. 

With a donation of $50.00, a flag will be displayed in 

honor of your hero in a prominent location in town 


Proceeds will go to support our local veteran's 

charities, Pocomoke fire, rescue & police departments. 

For further information, contact Tom Moskios, Rotary

Vice President, at 443-437-7111.

Downtown Pocomoke hosts 4th Friday Art Stroll

For Immediate Release

May 14, 2015

Pocomoke City –

On Friday, May 22, 2015, the Downtown Pocomoke Association and the City of Pocomoke will host their monthly Fourth Friday Art Stroll in Downtown Pocomoke, beginning at 5:00pm and ending at 8:00pm. The event will be held within the two blocks of Market Street between Front Street and Second Street for a block party style event.

Local artists and craftsmen will fill the sidewalks of Downtown Pocomoke City to sell their art, including; paintings, photography, jewelry, home decor, fabric art, soaps and much more! Local retail stores are encouraged to stay open until 8:00pm.

Visitors of the Art Stroll will enjoy live music from Aaron Rohrer.

Refreshments will be available for purchase.

There’s fun for the kids too, including a moon bounce, face-painting, cornhole, sidewalk chalk art at the Sturgis One Room School, and wildlife presentations from the Delmarva Discovery Center. Local museums will offer free admission during Art Stroll hours.

The American Cancer Society Jail and Bail event benefiting Pocomoke City’s 15th Annual Relay for Life will take place during the Art Stroll. Each Jailee is asked to raise $300 and the proceeds will go directly to their designated team and benefit cancer research nationwide.

An after-stroll party will be held at Riverside Grill with $5.00 orange and lime crushes, specials on house wines and live music from 9:00pm to close.

For more information or to register as an artist, please visit downtownpocomoke.com or our Facebook pages “4^th Friday” and “City of Pocomoke”.

In the event of rain the Art Stroll will be cancelled and will resume the following month.

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview.

2002.. May storms hit Worcester County, tornado confirmed; 1974.. Pocomoke City girl is crowned Miss Delmarva; 1654.. New Maryland law will deal harshest of penalties for stealing of Indians; 2004.. Somerset County's teacher of the year is named; 1852.. Worcester County real estate transactions of note; 1992 technology- here's how you can listen to a CD in your car!

It's this Sunday right here at The Pocomoke Public Eye!


Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

TIME MACHINE ... 1892, 1891, 1975, 1884, 1976, 1950's.

"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)


May, 1892
The Sun (Baltimore)

Ocean City Making Ready for Season

A large force of mechanics and laborers is being employed getting things ready for the season at Ocean City. Snow Hill has lately been lighted by electricity in its streets, churches and public buildings, also many of the private dwellings. It is expected that the same illuminating agency will become general this season at Ocean City. Arrangements have been made to light the leading hotels and the beach. There will be a change to the railroad track by which cars will run to the beach for the convenience of excursionists. Carpenters, painters and other workmen are busy engaged making improvements in some of the hotels to increase the comfort of the guest. One is the plentiful supply of fresh water for cooking and drinking which will be brought from the mainland by pipes. Sewerage disposal is being seriously considered. Rapid transit would be another item for consideration. 

Footnote:

Ocean City's popularity increased rapidly from it's beginning in the mid 1870's.  It experienced a real estate boom in the early 1890's following the 1890 opening of the Baltimore and Eastern Shore Railroad's route into Ocean City.



 March, 1891 

                                                                           The Sun, (New York)

March, 1975
The Daily Times (Salisbury)

(Excerpt)

Snow Hill's Young Men Forming Jaycees Chapter

SNOW HILL - The Snow Hill Jaycees, after being disbanded for a year and a half, is a reality once again, complete with new faces and new ideas. Twenty young men from the Snow Hill area have organized the chapter which will be officially chartered in ceremonies later this month.

The moving force behind the reorganization of the Jaycees here has been James Feeney, a member of the old Jaycees chapter, serving his first term as mayor of Snow Hill. The last few weeks have found mayor Feeney frequenting the town's various businesses and other establishments, often until last at night, persuading  prospective Jaycees of the potential of the chapter.

The original Jaycee chapter disbanded, he said, because most of its members had reached the 35-year-old member's age limit.    


May, 1884 (Time Machine archive)
The Denton Journal

(Excerpts)

A Philadelphia correspondent of the Marylander, published at Princess Anne, Somerset County, has found in an old geography some interesting descriptions of Eastern Shore towns as they were in 1800.

(Lower Eastern Shore towns described)

Snow Hill is a port of entry.  It is situated on the east side of the Pocomoke River, and is built upon a remarkable sand hill, as white as snow.  The tide rises about two feet and a half; the river opposite the town is ten feet deep.  The town contains about 70 houses, principally old low wooden buildings.  It has a court house, a jail, a Presbyterian and an Episcopal Church.  A bridge is built over the river, which is here about 10 yards wide.  Snow Hill was established in 1686.  The lands for miles around are sandy and barren.

Salisbury contains about 35 houses and an Episcopal Church, and was established in 1732.  The inhabitants trade with Baltimore, in lumber, which is conveyed down the river about three miles in flat-bottomed boats, where it is received by larger vessels.

Princess Anne, a post town, and the seat of justice for Somerset County.  It is situated at the head of the Manokin River, 15 miles from its entrance into Pocomoke Sound, and contains about 40 dwellings and an elegant Episcopal Church.  A bridge is built over the river.  Near the west end of the bridge is a Presbyterian Church.  Princess Anne was established in 1732, and is 153 miles from Washington city. 

Of Deal's Island the book has the following account: "Devil's Island is about four miles long and one and three-quarter miles broad, containing 2,800 acres. Demiquarter is a small island contiguous to Devil's Island.  Both islands consist mostly of marsh, not withstanding they have several families living on them."

Footnote:  In 1800 Newtown was just a very small settlement along the river in the area that is present day Pocomoke City, however growth was on the horizon. Norma Miles and Robin Chandler-Miles write in their book Images of America Pocomoke City  "By 1809, nine lots had been sold, and by 1820, more than 150 people were living in the area in 28 dwellings and supporting seven or eight small businesses."  The 1800 geography listed Cambridge as having about 50 houses and 100 residents, and Easton about 200 dwellings and 1,000 inhabitants.

1976..  Some of the Mother's Day dining choices for mom.  
(The Daily Times, Salisbury)

From the 1950's its a TV commercial for the big new Studebaker line.

See it at this link, including more vintage Studebaker commercials:

http://archive.org/details/dmbb08710

(Courtesy of Duke University Libraries Digital Collections)


Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!



PPE remembers JMMB.