The Pocomoke Public Eye: 7/7/24

Saturday, July 13, 2024

She doesn't choose political sides- she chooses America's ideals.

Drug trafficking in Worcester County and nearby-

The Worcester County Sheriff's Office is posting details on results of a recently concluded 8-month drug trafficking investigation in Worcester and Sussex Counties.

(See details:)

https://www.facebook.com/WorcesterSheriff/

(Download the Worcester Sheriff mobile app:)

https://apps.myocv.com/share/a87521863

Recollections from generations past (Elmer A. Brittingham -1)

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Elmer: My name is Elmer A. Brittingham. I live at (redacted) in Pocomoke City,

Maryland.

The Spy in World War I

In April 1917, the United States declared war on Germany. Within a short time,

a detachment of the Pennsylvania State Guard was stationed in Pocomoke to

protect our railroad bridge. The guards lived in a tent camp near the railroad

station and used our school grounds at 4th and Walnut Street for their daily

training. When the draft law was enacted, many of our able-bodied young

men found they had physical defects to keep them out of the service. Others

moved to the farm. In Pocomoke, an infantry company of the Maryland Home

Guard was formed. Captain F. Lee Bonneville, later referred to as Colonel,

was named the local commander. Lt. Clarence Dickerson, who had learned

his military training at Maryland’s St. John’s College, was the drillmaster. The

Pocomoke company was soon proficient in drill and (audio not clear)

used the sand hills in back of Winter Quarters Manor for a rifle range and

continued weekly drills until the end of the war. A drum and bugle corps was

formed at the high school and the cost of the instruments was donated by

Colonel Bonneville. The drum and bugle corps continued to play for parades,

liberty bond drives, and other ceremonies until the armistice.

Yes, we have our own spy story. A German spy arrived in our town in the

summer of 1917. The spy sometimes stayed at our Parker House hotel and at

other times at Townsend’s rooming house. Shortly after the spy came to

Pocomoke, there was a rumor that he could be a spy. The rumor was

discounted when Colonel Bonneville made a public statement that the spy

was a native American and of good character. Thereafter, the spy was well

accepted and attended the Salem Methodist church regularly. The spy owned

or leased a waterfront farm near Girdletree. The spy was known to visit the

vacant farmhouse often. A neighbor watched the spy throw a wire from an

upper window and secure the end to a tree. The neighbor reported this act to

proper authorities and within days the spy was caught sending information

to the Germans. The spy never returned to our town. The spy was caught in

the summer of 1918, about a year after his arrival.

The Pocomoke River

In 1922, my brother and I purchased a used Evinrude outboard motor from

Captain Will Stevenson. We used the outboard motor to propel a 30-foot red

boat. I had a bow net similar to the one used by the Pocomoke Indians for

catching the spring run on rock, shad, and other fish. In addition to fishing,

we took sightseeing trips. Sometimes on holidays and weekends, we would

camp out along the banks of the river. When the party numbered 5 or 6 boys,

we would tow a 15-foot skiff to accommodate the extra riders.

Bridges

Now this is about the history of the bridges: In 1607 (?), Captain William

Stevens established a ferry near the present site of the highway bridge over

US (Route) 13. There were five bridges built in the Pocomoke area. The first

was built by our Indians, perhaps more than a thousand years ago, located

some 40 yards upriver from Winter Quarters. I viewed the remains of this

bridge in 1919 or 1920. It was a period of extremely low tides. The water

covered no more than 1/3 of the area between the banks. It may have been a

geologic fault in this area. A bridge of stones from each bank led toward the

channel and disappeared. It would appear over the centuries, the tides had

partly destroyed the center and perhaps our steamboats with their metal

prows had completed the job. In 1865, at the close of the Civil War, a wooden

draw bridge was completed near the site of Stevens Ferry. In 1880, the iron

railroad bridge was erected to give rail service from New York to Cape

Charles and Norfolk. In 1922, the Market Street bridge was finished. Shortly

thereafter, the old wooden bridge was removed. The dual highway bridge on

US 13 was completed in 1959. During World War I, when the old drawbridge

was closed for repairs, I rode across the ferry and back. The Stevens Ferry

had been pulled by the ferryman, by hand, but the one I rode was pulled by a

pair of horses on each side of the river. There was room on the ferry for a

large farm wagon or two carriages. Young horses often had hoods placed

over their eyes to quiet them.

Steamboats

Steamboats made weekly trips from Baltimore to Pocomoke City and to Snow

Hill. The steamboat was scheduled to arrive at the Market Street wharf at 12

noon. Our merchants used the steamboat for supplies because the rate was

much less than by rail and also faster. In the summer of 1920, I was working

at Vaughn’s Market. I was required to meet the steamer and pick up one or

more large baskets of bananas and push them on my bicycle to the store.

The sooner the better, since many of our farmers came by horse and carriage

and left town to be home by dark. The steamboats were side-wheelers. They

had 3 decks. On the lower deck was the freight, the engine room, and the

galley. On the second deck, there were cabins, a dining room, and an

observation deck. On the top deck was the pilot house, the lifeboats, and the

rafts. Steamboats had a speed of 12 miles per hour and required 24 hours to

make the round trip back to Baltimore. Sewards (?) Ferry was located

(unintelligible)…a part of it run right across the area that the highway bridge

on US 13 now is located, the dual bridge, the new bridge.

Continues next Saturday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye.

Friday, July 12, 2024

City hears Discovery Museum concerns.

Time Machine Preview

This Sunday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye:

PLUS

1939 ..

(Corner of Clarke Ave. & Willow St., Pocomoke)

2004 ..

2008 ..

1928 ..

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Phone scam-

Worcester County Sheriff's Office Alerts Public to Ongoing Phone Scam

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office continues to receive reports from individuals targeted by a phone scam. The scammer impersonates a member of our Command Staff, falsely claiming that the victim has missed Federal Jury Duty and must pay a fine using various methods, including gift cards. The scammer also uses phone number spoofing to make it appear as though the call is originating from our office.

We want to emphasize that our deputies will never call to inform you of missed Jury Duty or demand payment to avoid arrest. Any such call is a scam.

What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Call:

Hang Up Immediately: If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from law enforcement and requesting payment, hang up.

Verify the Call: Contact the law enforcement agency directly using a verified phone number to confirm the legitimacy of the call.

Beware of Spoofing: Be aware that scammers can spoof phone numbers to make them appear as if they are calling from a legitimate business or agency.

Important Reminder: Under no circumstances should you send gift cards or any form of payment to someone claiming you owe them money. Legitimate government agencies will never solicit payments in this manner.

For more information or to report a scam, please contact the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office at 410-632-1111.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Pony Penning soon-

(Chincoteague CC/Shore Daily News)

Festivities begin with the South Herd roundup on Saturday, July 20th and the North Herd roundup on Sunday, July 21st. The North Herd of wild Chincoteague Ponies will join the South Herd to await the “big day” in the traditional Beach Walk on Assateague Island on Monday, July 22nd. Vet checks will be given on Tuesday. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has announced that the swim on Wednesday, July 24th will be between Noon-1 p.m. The auction of foals takes place on Thursday morning July 25th at 8 a.m. at the Carnival Grounds located at 3648 Main Street. Online bidding will also be available and can be accessed from the Chamber Website on Auction Day. The week’s events culminate with the return swim of the South Herd adult ponies to Assateague Island on Friday morning, July 26th (time to be determined after the swim on Wednesday).

(View more on Pony Penning activities:)

Chincoteague Island welcomes Pony Penning spectators - Shore Daily News

and

https://www.chincoteague.com/pony-swim/pony-swim-guide/

Virginia permitting winter crab dredging- Maryland disagrees.

Chesapeake Bay Journal

Virginia’s fishery managers have lifted the longstanding ban on dredging for blue crabs during the winter in the Chesapeake Bay, a seismic policy shift that drew strong criticism from their Maryland counterparts and conservationists.

(View article:)

Virginia moves to end 16-year ban on dredging for crabs during winter - Maryland Matters

New Feature-

Recollections from past generations

Starts this Saturday here at

The Pocomoke Public Eye.

Monday, July 8, 2024

A really "COOL" Pocomoke City event-

Sunday, July 7, 2024

Time Machine: 100 years ago this week in Pocomoke's newspaper; 1860, 1942, 2011, 1987, 1936.

July 4th was on Friday. The dateline on the newspaper reads July 5th but it was made available earlier to its readers on Thursday evening and Friday morning.