1880's Excursion To The Beach

Undated picture from Ocean City Life Saving Museum

An 1888 Pocomoke City newspaper article tells about a fun day at the beach during a group excursion from Pocomoke to Ocean City (and it only took a few hours to get there).

Read the full article on this Sunday's Time Machine here at the Pocomoke Public Eye.

Downtown Fun Friday!

TIME MACHINE: Marva Theater, J. Dawson Clarke.

  Our Little Corner In Space And Time    

(Reader-friendly viewing of news archives/historical archives material)

February, 1958

December, 1958

PPE Footnotes:

Word around town was that  Dawson would remove snips of film that he felt were not suitable for family viewing at the theater. 

Over the instrumental strains of his musical theme "My Happiness" the mellow voice of J. Dawson Clarke greeted his audience from WBOC's Pocomoke City radio studio located on the northeast block of Willow Street. 

His Monday through Friday mid-morning program began in 1950 and aired for more than twenty years. During Dawson's Saturday morning "Teen Town Record Club" kids from about five through early teens crowded the small studio for the live program and a chance for prize giveaways such as candy and records.

During the early days of local television Dawson accompanied Eastern Shore Of Virginia singer Brooks Russell on the piano on entertainment programs (Russell later started WESR radio in Tasley). 

Dawson moved to Pocomoke City from Dover in the 1920's and for many years did professional  photography.

He was a proud booster of Pocomoke City and was elected to nine terms as mayor serving from 1968-1986. He didn't run for a tenth term and passed away in April, 1986 less than a couple of weeks before his 81st birthday. Councilman Curt Lippoldt succeeded him as mayor.

J. Dawson Clarke

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 .


When you're clicking around the Internet remember to check in with The Pocomoke Public Eye.  We strive to be a worthwhile supplement to your choices.