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, 1828
A new weekly newspaper to be published in Princess Anne was to be entitled "The Somerset Iris And Messenger Of Truth." According to the publisher "The proposed periodical will be chiefly devoted to Politics, General Literature, and Morality. It will review with temperance and candour the effusions of contemperaneous writers, and will apply the laws of criticism, or appropriate reprehension, to every lurking sophistry, insideous deception, and unveied or wanton falsehood."
"The Iris will be printed on a super-royal sheet, with entire new type, at Three Dollars for a whole year, to be satisfied by Two Dollars if paid within thirty days, or Two Dollars and Fifty Cents if paid within six months. A subscription will be taken for six months after which it will cease upon the order of the subscriber."
January, 1902
(Peninsula Enterprise- Accomac Court House)
Chandler-Bloxom
Regardless of the snow storm, dark night and other difficulties in the way, the marriage of Mr. Thomas Chandler, a prosperous young man of upper Accomac, and Miss Margaret Bloxom, the beautiful, and accomplished daughter of Mr. C.W. Bloxom. of Parksley, was solemnized at Zion Baptist Church, Wednesday, Jauuary 20th, 1902.
The bridal party entered the church, beautifully decorated with festoons and arches of evergreen, one arch bearing the letter B and another the letter C, with a large bell suspended from centre of main arch, at 8 o'clock to the strains of Mendelssohns wedding march, skillfully rendered by Mrs. Florence Rew, preceded by the ushers, Harry Gillespie and Woods Garland, James Abbott and Willie Marsh up opposite aisles, followed by four of the bride's little Sunday school scholars, Mary Parks and Sarah Core, Mary Wessells and Sadie Parks, each carrying pink satin ribbon, which reached from the door to the arch in the centre of the church which the little girls attached to the arch with long bows of pink satin ribbon. Next came the bride with maid of honor, Miss Elizabeth Mason, up one aisle and the groom with his best man, Prof. V.S. Deitrick, up the other, and were met at the altar by their pastor, Rev. M. F. Sanford, who gracefully performed the ceremony, while "Eventide" was softly and sweetly played, which made them man and wife. Alter the ceremony, while Lohengrins wedding march was being played and amid showers of rice, the bride and groom retired from the church to the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. W. W. Parks where an elegant supper was served to them and numerous guests with old time Virginia hospitality.
The presents were numerous and valuable.
Mr. and Mrs Chandler will be at home to their friends at their beautiful new home at Mappsville which has just been completed, after the 15th of February.
May long life and happiness attend them.
November, 1996
The Capital (Annapolis, Md.)
Church bell back after 100 years
Salisbury- St. Peter's Episcopal Church finally got its bell back- after 108 years.
Several parishioners were on hand Saturday as the 1,500 pound bronze bell was lifted from the tower at the Wicomico County courthouse where it had rested since 1888.
It was after the fire of 1886 in Salisbury, which burned down the church and 200 buildings, that the bell was lent to the city. Two years later, the bell was installed in the courthouse, and its ownership forgotten.
The most persuasive evidence in finding the bell was noting its inscription, from Isaiah 51:1- "Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness, yet that seek the Lord."
The bell will be refurbished before returning to the church tower.
Footnote:
The bell, which alerted Salisbury citizens to the 1886 fire, is now back home.
December, 1959
The Cumberland News (Cumberland, Md.)
(Excerpts)
Tawes May OK Island Bridge
BALTIMORE (AP)- Gov. Tawes indicated Thursday he will approve a proposal for a public authority to construct a bridge between Worcester County and Assateague Island.
Referring to the plan submitted by an executive study commission, the governor said, "I think we'll be able to go along with it."
The commission, headed by Sen. John L. Sanford (D., Worcester), recommended building a $1,217,000 steel and concrete toll bridge reaching 2,800 feet between the Worcester County mainland on the Eastern Shore and the almost barren island, south of Ocean City. The island is now accessible only by boat.
The bridge would be financed through the sale of revenue bonds.
March, 1974
Marylander And Herald (Princess Anne)
FARMER OF THE YEAR
Each year the Somerset County Conservation District honors the farm it feels is outstanding in the field of conservation work completed on the farm.
The 1974 Farmer of the Year, John Murray, Mt. Vernon, was this year's selection.
Mr. Murray's conservation program consists of drainage, ponds, cropland rotations, pasture, hayland and woodland improvement.
Circa early 1960's..
(Ad courtesy of Choppy Layton.)
PPE remembers JMMB.
