(Chapter flow:)
ITS ORIGIN AND TOWN LIMITS
TOWN LIMITS
GROWTH, CHANGE OF NAME, ETC.
MERCANTILE ASPECT
MANUFACTURING
TRADES ETC.
SHIPPING INTERESTS
EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO.
SHIP BUILDING ETC.
HOTELS, LIVERY STABLES, ETC.
PHYSICIANS
LAWYERS
POST OFFICE
PRINTING OFFICES
SOCIAL ASPECT, ETC.
MORAL ASPECT
TEMPERANCE CAUSE
SCHOOLS
CHURCHES
Note: In duplicating this material for publishing on The Pocomoke Public Eye we have made minor adjustments to correct some of the spelling, punctuation, etc. We believe the errors were not in Rev. Murray's original writing but occurred in the process of formatting the material to a digital format for viewing online.
PRINTING OFFICES.
In 1865, Albert J. Merrill established a printing press in
New Town. He edited and published a weekly paper
called the Record. This was the first paper ever pub-
lished in New Town. It was creditable, neat and highly
prized by the people. In 1865, William L. Clarke, a
native of Worcester County, who had been living in
Wellsvile, Ohio, for several years, and had published a
paper there called the Wellsville Patriot, returned to this,
his native county, and established a printing press in New
Town, and edited and published a paper called the Gazette.
This paper, also, was neatly gotten up, and was a credit
to its editor, and highly prized by its patrons.
These two editors sent out their weekly issues down to
1872, when A. J. Merrill, Esq., bought out William L.
Clarke, Esq., and consolidated the two papers into one,
called the Record and Gazette, under the editorial man-
agement and control of A. J. Merrill, Esq.
In 1879, Dr. S. S. Quinn bought one half of the press,
and its appurtenances, and had the editorial management
of the paper under the firm of A. J. Merrill and S. S.
Quinn, until 1882, when J. Shiles Crocket became one-
third owner of the press and paper, and is now the editor
and manager of the same, under the firm of Merrill,
Quinn & Crocket. SOCIAL ASPECT, Etc.
The social aspect of New Town, now Pocomoke City.
The reader may be anxious to learn something of the
habits and social bearing of the citizens during its early
history. Well, to begin, the citizens, with very few excep-
tions, would take their toddy; hence, the common practice
which was followed by parents of mixing a glass of toddy
before breakfast and handing it to each member of the
family, from the oldest to the youngest. This practice was
as common as the days rolled round, when I was a little
boy. Again, when friends would visit each other the decan-
ter of liquor, glasses, sugar and water would be set out, and
an invitation given to come up and help themselves. Again,
when citizens and men from the country would congregate,
on Saturday, at the stores, (for the stores were the chief
places of resort) a pint of liquor would be called for. The
pint cup would be set out with tumblers and pitcher of
water, and the invitation given to all present to come up,
"come up gentlemen and help yourselves." Then toasts
would be drank, something after the following order, with
the glass in hand, addressing the company: "well gentle-
men! here is luck and a plenty." Frequently they would
get quite mellow over the pint cup before they left it; and
likely enough a few brushes of the fist would follow.
Another feature of social life was that of families visiting
each other to eat the social meal. At such times they
would remain after supper with the family until usual bed-
time, passing the time in such conversation as would be
agreeable to all. The family code at that day was: that
children could be seen but must not be heard while the
older persons were talking.
A little incident occurred one night, on one of those
occasions, in relation to myself, which will be somewhat
amusing to the reader: Some neighbors had called in to
take supper with my father and mother, and staid till after
night. The little folks had received orders to sit and listen
but must not talk, if they did, the one so offending must
march off up stairs to bed. Somehow or other I broke
the law, I was discovered talking to the boys, who with
myself, with this single exception, were as mute as mice,
the result was I had to go to bed. While lying in bed,
reviewing my conduct during the day and night, I knew I
had been a bad boy. Conscience was supreme and
hurled its thunderbolts at me. I began to cast my thoughts
around and contemplate the possibility of Satan's coming
after me that night, and if so what should I do. Just at
that moment, while under such terrible reflections, the
house cat, which by means of the room door being left
open, had crept into the room and jumped upon the bed,
in doing which it jumped in my face. The reader may, if
he can, imagine my feelings; to me they were beyond
description. I grabbed the cat with both hands, and
threw it in another part of the room. But, oh! the terror
that seized me. I screamed at the top of my voice. As
soon as I took hold of the cat I knew what it was, but the
fact of its being the cat did not abate my screaming. 1
thought the Devil was about to lay hold of me. My
mother was swift to my rescue, and carried me down
stairs, and I was once more happy in being seated in the
corner with the children listening to the old folks at home.
Again, the social life was exhibited in the various amuse-
ments and pastimes of the day. For instance, the game
of fives with the trapball was a favorite sport with both men
and boys; the playing of cards was also frequently prac-
ticed in families; shooting at the mark for turkeys, quarters
of beef, etc. Wrestling was much in vogue in the early
history of New Town. Men and boys both would engage
in it. Boxing was also practiced.
I have beheld such sports and have seen men kick each
other like horses. Sometimes death would be the result
of such exercises. There were men in New Town and
the surrounding county who prided themselves upon their
manhood. Sometimes they would exhibit their strength
by lifting the fifty-six pound weights, which were used in
the tobacco warehouse for weighing tobacco. The two
heaviest lifts were as follows: one lifted eleven the other
fourteen fifty-six pound weights, each man aggregating
respectively 616 pounds and 784 pounds. Query: Are
there two men in Pocomoke City at the present who can
come up to this. Those shooting, wrestling' and boxing
matches were attended with a spirit of rivalry which would
sometimes culminate in a pitched battle. I have seen men
strip themselves to the waist and commence their brutal-
ity. Those fights would be equal in brutality, if not so
scientific, to the prize fights of recent years. Again, social
life would be seen in the cotton pickings, quiltings and
dances. After the cotton picking or quilting had been
attended to, the plays would commence. For instance, a
family had a quilt to be quilted, they would invite the
young ladies to come in the afternoon and the gentlemen
would go after supper. By supper time the quilt would be
finished. After supper the plays would commence by
singing those songs that used to be sung on such occa-
sions "in the days of yore." Of course they had kissing
in the plays, for that was the most enjoyable part of them.
On a certain occasion it was the fortune of a certain young
man to call out a lady whom it would be his pleasure, as
he thought, to kiss. The call was made, the young lady
came out upon the floor, she was very tall and he was low
of stature, she was aristocratic and was mortified at being
called out by him; he attempted to kiss her, but she held
her head well up and snuffed her nose at him, so that he
could not succeed, but he was equal to the emergency.
"Stop! stop!" said he, " let me draw my boots and climb. "
The take-off was so good that it raised a great titter in
the company and that young lady's pride got a fall that
night. I have spoken of the songs in those plays, one of
which I will mention as illustrative of the character of
the rest.
"Here we go to Baltimore,
Two behind and two before;
Round and round and round we go,
Where oats, peas, beans
And barley grows."
From the best information that I can get this is an Irish
song. The word Baltimore was originally spelled " Bailte
Mor" and signified a proprietary of a barony or large
town. On a certain occasion there was a social gathering
at the house of an old gentleman. The young folks were
formed in a ring, holding on to each other's hands, and
singing the above song. As they were marching round
and round, a certain young man was in reach of the old
gentleman as he sat in the corner of the hearth-place,
when he slapped him on the shoulder, exclaiming: ''Johnnie,
honey, don't you love the gals!" The answer was prompt:
"Oh, yes, Uncle Davie!" still singing as they swung
around the circle. CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.
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