TIME MACHINE... 1963, 1968, 1904, 1839, 1943, 1910

"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; is 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 newspaper archives/historical archives material)

April, 1963
The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Md.)

BALTIMORE (AP)-  U.S. Circuit Court has been asked to declare unconstitutional Maryland's motion picture censorship law.

A Baltimore distributor, Robert T. Mahrenke, charged Wednesday that the censorship law violates the fourteenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the first article of the constitution.

The complaint was brought after the state board of motion picture censors banned the showing of the film, "The Peep Shows Of Paris," at the Pocomoke Drive-in Theater in Pocomoke City.

(Follow-up to last week's article)
June, 1968
The Capital (Annapolis, Md.)

Wage Pact Accepted

PRINCESS ANNE-  Somerset County teaches have accepted a salary package proposed by county commissioners that will raise starting salaries from ..(illegible)..to $5,700.  The teachers voted 111-51 yesterday to "reluctantly accept the $5,700 proposal" with the notation that in the fall their negotiating committee would meet again with commissioners to discuss their original request for the next school year. The salary scale will rise to a maximum of $8,550 after 11 years of experience under terms of the commissioners' proposal.  Teachers had sought $6,000 starting salaries in their proposal.

August, 1904
Peninsula Enterprise (Accomac Court House)

FAIR.- THE COLORED PEOPLE Will Hold Their Sixth Annual Fair On Their Grounds at Tasley, Va., Aug. 23, 24, 25, 26, 1904. 

The officers are using every effort to make this one of the grandest Fairs ever held on Eastern Shore, Va. 

Automobile Excursions daily around the track. Come and see this greatest of modern inventions run faster than a horse around the track- and get a ride on it. 

The Ladies Hall will be filled to overflowing with things of art and domestic science. Each department will be greatly improved over the past year. 

There will be some very fine speed trials in the horse department. Some very fast horses from off the Shore will be here this year with also our fine speedy home horses to compete for premiums. 

There will also be a very fine Merry-go-Round, for those who may wish a ride. 

You cannot afford to miss this Fair, so come to the Central Agril'l. Fair Association grounds, on the above dates; meet your old friends, make new ones, and have a good time. 

The Grounds are within five minutes walk of Tasley Station, Va , situated within a beautiful grove of trees, where there is shade throughout the whole day, with plenty of cool water in their midst. 

The N.Y.P.& N.R.R. will run excursion trains to and from Tasley each day of the Fair with greatly reduced rates, including one admission to the Fair. 

Educational Day. Thursday, Aug. 25th will be known as Educational Day, as some of our prominent and very noted men will deliver speeches and lectures on education and negro advancement, touching upon many other leading issues of the day. lt will be a great treat to you to hear such men as Prof. F. Trigg, of Princess Anne Academy, Rev. F. H. Butler, secretary Delaware M. E. Conference, Rev. N. F. Turner, pastor Franktown A. M E. Church. There will be many others named later. 

The half has never been told. Come, see and hear for yourself. Admission-Adults 25 cents, Children 15 cents, Grand Stand 10 cents. 

Samuel L. Burton, Pres., Onancock, Va. Jas. D. Uzzle, Sec., Onancock, Va.

July, 1839 (Time Machine archive)  

Marylanders who wished to be considered to deliver U.S. mail in the state, effective January 1st, 1840, through June 30th, 1844, were advised though newspaper publication of the available routes, some of which included mail stops along the way.  Some of the Eastern Shore routes were given as follows:

Leave Cambridge every Wednesday and Saturday at 6 a.m., arrive at Snow Hill next day by 4 p.m.  Leave Snow Hill every Monday and Thursday at 6 a.m., arrive in Cambridge next day by 4 p.m.

Leave Princess Anne every Wednesday at 6 a.m., arrive at Rehoboth (Rehobeth) same day by 11 a.m.  Leave Rehoboth (Rehobeth) every Wednesday at 1p.m., arrive in Princess Anne same day by 6 p.m.

Leave Salisbury every Thursday at 8 a.m., arrive in Berlin same day by 6 p.m. Leave Berlin every Friday at 6 a.m., arrive in Salisbury same day by 4 p.m.

October, 1943
The Salisbury Times

Airport To Be Dedicated

The Salisbury-Wicomico county airport will be dedicated here on Armistice Day. Planes and troops will participate in the ceremonies and stores will be closed that afternoon.

October, 1910
The Washington Times

VICTORY CAUSES JOY IN POCOMOKE

POCOMOKE CITY, Md., Oct. 18.-   Pocomoke City is baseball crazy on account of yesterday's victory by the Athletics over the Chicago club.

Twenty-five died in the wool fans went to the Quaker City for the games. Some of them will follow the American League champions to Chicago.

Frank Baker, the Athletics third baseman, was a member of a fast semi-professional team which represented Pocomoke City three years ago. Hence the enthusiasm. There is not a Cub rooter to be found in Pocomoke City. 


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!



"Somewhere over
the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.."

Flying on for JMMB.
Her Pocomoke Public
Eye postings (April,
2008 to June, 2014)
kept us informed. 

Lt. Col. Allen West headlines Wicomico County Patriot's Dinner to be held September 27

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lt. Col. Allen West headlines Wicomico County Patriot's Dinner to be held September 27

Former Congressman and Iraqi war hero headlines election prelude and fundraiser

The Wicomico County Republican Central Committee is proud to announce their first Patriot's Dinner will feature former Congressman, Lt. Col. Allen West.

Describing himself as “steadfast and loyal,” Lt. Col. West grew up in the same Atlanta neighborhood where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once preached. After serving 22 years in the Army, including combat in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Afghanistan, West retired in 2004, later serving as a civilian military adviser in Afghanistan.

In 2010 he was elected to serve in Congress, representing Florida's 22^nd District. After being redistricted to the 18^th District, he lost a bid for re-election in 2012 by less than 1% of the vote. Since serving in Congress, West has become a Fox News Contributor, a Senior Fellow at the London Center for Policy Research, and regularly writes for numerous media outlets. He recently served as a guest host for Sean Hannity's radio show.

“This will be an opportunity for local residents to meet and hear the most famous conservative to visit the Lower Shore within memory,” said Wicomico County Republican Party Chair Dave Parker. “West loves his country and its Constitution more than its government or his own skin color, and proves that people of every race can be Christian, patriotic, and conservative.”

"Every time I've had the honor to hear Lt. Col. West speak, I have been invigorated and encouraged,” added Wicomico County Republican Club president Jackie Wellfonder. “We are very grateful for the opportunity to have him here on the Eastern Shore as we get closer to election day in November. It is my hope that his message will promote a deeper level of engagement with our local conservative base.”

A number of public and private events are slated with West:

• 4:30 p.m. - Private reception with the Salisbury University College Republicans.
• 5:00 p.m. - Allen West Guardian Roundtable, to benefit West's Guardian Fund PAC. Donation is $1,000 for Host, $500 for Patron, $250 for Sponsor. Attendees also receive an autographed copy of West's new book, Guardian of the Republic.
• 6:00 p.m. - VIP Reception and Pictures with West, to benefit the Maryland Republican Party. Donation is $150/person or $270/couple.
• 7:00 p.m. - Patriot's Dinner featuring Allen West, to benefit the Lower Shore county Republican parties. Donation is $65/person or $115/couple.

The College Republican reception, Guardian Roundtable, and VIP Reception will be held at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, 909 South Schumaker Avenue in Salisbury. The Patriot's Dinner will be held at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, 500 Glen Avenue in Salisbury. Attendees of the Guardian Roundtable or VIP Reception will also get free admission to the Patriot's Dinner.

The Republican Central Committee asks that those interested in attending the VIP Reception or Patriot's Dinner register and pay through their website: http://www.wicomicogop.org/allen-west-dinner/ or mail check payable to WCRCC with the mail-in form at the above site by September 20, to WCRCC, PO Box 252, Salisbury, MD 21803.

Media contact:

Dave Parker, WCRCC Chair

(410) 749-4030

WicoGOPChair@yahoo.com

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview

1963.. Pocomoke Drive-In Theater case challenges censorship law; 1968.. Somerset teachers reluctantly accept a salary offer; 1904.. "Colored" Fair at Tasley offers fun and educational attractions. 1839..The long, long hours of Eastern Shore mail carriers; 1943.. Salisbury airport is dedicated; 1910.. Pocomoke City is "baseball crazy" following Philadelphia's championship victory.

Although you may not find all of these items in a history book, they are a part of our local history and you can read more about it 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!

Welcome to our new Executive Director

Welcome to Our New Executive Director 

Debbie Brown

We are excited to welcome Debbie Brown as the new Executive Director of the Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commerce!  She has a solid leadership background through her work with the Chincoteague Natural History Association and as a school administrator in Loudoun County, VA.  In addition Debbie has a warm and welcoming personality perfect for the "Friendliest Town on the Eastern Shore." Please stop by the Chamber office at 6 Market and say "Hi!"

Shakespeare in the Park

For Immediate Release
September 8, 2014

Pocomoke City - 

The City of Pocomoke presents “Shakespeare in the Park” on Friday, September 19^th, 2014 at 7:30pm under the Cypress Park Pavilion in Pocomoke City, Maryland.

Brown Box Theatre Project returns to the Eastern Shore with a live performance of William Shakespeare’s famous play “Macbeth”.

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy this free performance with a beautiful view of the scenic Pocomoke River. Bleacher seating is also available. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

In the event of rain, the performance will be held inside Pocomoke High School.

For more information and a calendar of events please visit downtownpocomoke.com or call 410-957-1333.

Karah Lacey
410-957-1333 x111



 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ; Our Child Passenger Safety Twitter Chat is Coming Up!

Join us September 17 on Twitter to chat about #therightseat A child’s safety is every parent’s priority. Yet many parents think their child is safe when they’re in their car seat, and the truth is that they may not be. Too often, car seats aren’t installed properly, or the car seat may not be the right fit for the age and size of the child riding in it. Car crashes are still a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old. Car seats make the difference: they reduce the likelihood of death in a car for infants by 71 percent and a toddler by 54 percent. Having a child in the right seat for their age and size, and having the car seat properly installed, is crucial. Having a car seat registered is just as important. We need your help to educate parents and caregivers on why car seat registration matters. It’s the best way to know if a car seat has been recalled. Registering a car seat is part of keeping children safe on the road. This is where you come in. We’re hosting a Twitter chat on Wednesday, September 17, starting at 3pm ET. We’ll be sharing life-saving tips about car seats, from how to find the right car seat for your child’s age and size, to how to register a car seat. We need you to share this message with your followers and invite them to join and learn. Use #therightseat to follow the conversation or to ask questions; our experts will be on hand for the hour to answer them all. Here are some quick social media messages you can share with your followers: Join @NHTSAgov on 9/17 at 3pm ET for tips and info about car seat safety. Follow with #therightseat Get the facts on car seat registration and why it matters from @NHTSAgov on 9/17 at 3pm ET with #therightseat. Want to know which car seat is best for your child? Ask @NHTSAgov on 9/17 at 3pm ET with #therightseat. Do you know for sure that your child is in #therightseat? Ask @NHTSAgov on 9/17, starting at 3pm ET! We’re supporting @NHTSAgov’s Twitter chat on Child Passenger Safety on 9/17, at 3pm ET; join us with #therightseat During Child Passenger Safety Week, many communities will have certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians available to provide free, hands-on, car seat education and inspections. Our Twitter chat is just another way to get involved in helping save children’s lives and giving parents everywhere vital information. Join us on Twitter and spread the word to your followers about #therightseat. You can also find more free materials for Child Passenger Safety Week on TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov. Forward this on to your followers/readers and encourage anyone interested in vehicle and child safety to join our conversation on Facebook and Twitter. >> Download Android version from google Play >> Download Apple version from the iTunes store  SaferCar App Can Help Keep Your Family Safe Check out our SaferCar app for your mobile device, which gives you immediate access to key safety information to help you make informed decisions, with features including: Help with car seats: Quickly get driving directions to the nearest child-seat inspection station and get assistance to properly install car seats and boosters. Information for buying a car: Access our 5-Star Safety Ratings and compare different makes and models before you decide to buy. Stay connected: Be notified of safety issues for your vehicles. Use the app to register a vehicle and we will notify you if we find it has a safety issue. The SaferCar app also makes it simple to submit complaints to NHTSA regarding possible safety problems with your car. Safety Headlines and Alerts: Receive important news and information from NHTSA, as well as recall notices and push notices on your vehicles. NHTSA on YouTube Our "5 to Drive" campaign PSA is in an easy to view place: NHTSA's YouTube channel. Additional videos for multiple campaigns, along with vehicle crash test videos, can be found through our YouTube page.

September Treat For Some..

HARVEST MOON




             (Picture- 9/8/14)

Last nights super moon. #Vancouver #PacificSpiritPark

Photograph by: @shimsher, Twitter

Well, unfortunately, the cloud cover prevented us from viewing the Harvest Moon Monday night here on the Eastern Shore. Elsewhere, where conditions were favorable, eyes to the sky gazed at the lunar treat. 

Pocomoketoberfest in the beautiful waterfront Cypress Park!

The Pocomoketoberfest was held on Saturday.  In spite of the heat and humidity, vendors and               
visitors were having a great time.  Local wineries and breweries showed off some of their finest products and answered questions from  visitors.

Sparking bottles of wine from St. Michael's Winery.

                                                                   Layton's Choice!

Ready to sample?




Artists came to downtown Pocomoke on Friday and Saturday,  painting  "Plein Air" on Market Street and in the park.  By 3:30  on Saturday afternoon, the freshly painted canvases were on display.  Standing in the shade of the buildings, I watched one lady work, as she was taking some artistic license in painting some very familiar downtown businesses.    As she worked, the familiar fragrance of oil paints and solvents assaulted my senses, making me want to join her in the colorful quest of putting art on canvas.

-

 Artist Kathy Gibson painted a scene of Bill Hudson's office and The Pincushion.

Complete with tartan kilt, Gus the Troubador from Accomack VA, sang ballads in a comical brogue voice.  Very entertaining songs were perfect for the beer and wine fest!  

Creative displays of handmade crafts were juried. 

  For the juried show, Amused Studios won 1st place in Fine Art for the ceramic art "Telluric", Guy Shover 2nd for his bronze and wood snail. in Crafts, Linda Muir won 1st place for her crab goblets, and Marilyn Deihle won 2nd for her Baby Circles Afghan.  In jewelry, Mona Margarita won 1st for her "Epic Fairy Wing" and Dana Smith 2nd for her "Take Me to Your Leader."

Winners of the Scarecrow contest will be announced on Monday.

Pocomoke City Councilman Clarke, Mayor Bruce Morrison & Councilwoman Tracey Cottman

, enjoying the Pocomoketoberfest.

TIME MACHINE ... 1968, 1922, 1977, 1939, 1953, 1902

"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; is 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 archive/historical archive material)

May, 1968
The Capital (Annapolis, Md.)

Teachers Threaten

PRINCESS ANNE-  The Somerset County Teachers Association says 85% of the county teachers and school administrators have agreed to sign letters threatening to resign if their salary demands are not met. Jack C. Morgan, association president, said he had received about 155 signed letters and expects more by tonight, when he plans to present them to the county school board.  There are about 180 teachers and 25 administrators in the county. The teachers want a salary package which would give starting teachers $6,000 a year and provide a $300 salary increase for each year of experience up to a maximum of $8,700 after 10 years.

April, 1922
The Washington Times (Washington, D.C.)

RICH MAN ACCUSED OF ABANDONING BABY BUYS FREEDOM

Girl Jointly Accused Also Released From Prison by Virginia Authorities.

FINDER TO KEEP INFANT 

NORFOLK, Va., April 29.-  William E. Thursby, wealthy yachtman, and a young woman posing as his daughter, both of whom were arrested a week ago on a charge of abandoning a baby, placing it in a basket and hanging it to a gate post, have been released from the Accomac county jail through the payment of $800 and the deeding of a half-interest in a costly home to the child.

The money has been paid to J. A. Brasure, who conducts a general merchandising store in Chlncoteague, Va., and on whose gate post the baby was hung.

Lived in a "Pretty House."

Thursby and the woman have been occupying a luxuriously furnished home on Assateague Island. Other inhabitants of the island called it the "Pretty House." Thursby and the woman have spent the best part of a year cruising up and down the Atlantic coast. They always returned to the "Pretty House."

The night of December 7, J. A. Brasure and his wife heard the cries of a baby. While his wlfe held a lamp at the front door, Brasure explored the yard. He found a basket hanging on his gate post. 

In the basket was a baby, just a few days old. It was wrapped in costly garments. There was money and a warm bottle of milk in the basket. The baby was taken in by Brasure. The next morning he reported the case to the county authorities. He also assumed the role of detective.

Causes Couple's Arrest.

Ten days ago he caused the arrest of Thursby and the woman. He said he was unable to secure sufficient evidence sooner to cause the arrest. He accused Thursby and his woman companion of leaving the baby on his gate post. Both denied the charge. The woman said she was Thursby's daughter and she threatened to "make it hot" for Brasure for subjecting her to arrest.

Thursby and the woman were placed in jail in Accomac. They had money enough to secure their release on bail, but the authorities decided they could not go on their own bond. They were told they would have to secure some person who owned real estate In Virginia.

The prisoners made no further effort to secure bail. They lingered in jail several days.

By some unexplained method, Thursby and Brasure reached an agreement whereby neither the man nor woman would he prosecuted for abandoning the baby, although such an offense is criminal in Virginia.

The authorities agreed to the compromise.

Thursby agreed to pay and has paid Brasure the money, which Is to be used, according to the agreement, for the support of the baby; a half interest in the "pretty house" at Assateague was deeded over to the baby until such time as it is competent to handle its own affairs.

Case May Be Reopened.

Despite the agreement between Thursby and Brrasure, the authorities may be called to terms for permitting Thursby and the woman to go free without answering to the laws of the State for abandoning an infant. Had the child died of exposure before it was found, those guilty of abandoning it could have been held on a murder charge.

The Accomac county authorities offer no explanation for the release of Thursby and the woman, excepting the compromise reached with Brasure. The case has attracted unusual interest on the eastern shore of Virginia and elsewhere since the facts were published.

Thursby claims his home is in Flushing, N. Y. He is said to be very wealthy. The identity of the woman Is a secret.

April, 1977
The Daily Times (Salisbury)

(Excerpts)

Deal Island Observing Week Of Rediscovery

DEAL ISLAND-  This Sunday, designated as Joshua Thomas Day, launches Deal Island Rediscovery Week.

But the big day will be next Saturday when an all-day program will be highlighted by a talk by newly named Puliter Prize winner William W. Warner of Washington.

Each day will have a different designation and special mail cachets will be sold at 50-cents apiece and there will also be a special postal cancellation.

Monday, (is) Heritage On Display Day; Tuesday, Flag Day, when new American and state flags will be dedicated at the Deal Island school; Wednesday, Oral History Day; Thursday, Skipjack Day; and Friday. Family Heritage Day.

Footnote: Mr. Warren's Pulitzer writiing prize was for his book "Beautiful Swimmers, Watermen, Crabs and the Chesapeake Bay."  Rediscovery Week was sponsored by the Deal Island Regional Bicentennial Committee, with college student Craig E. Webster as its executive director.

May, 1939
The Cumberland News (Cumberland, Md.)

Heating Asphalt Starts Fire At Snow Hill

Snow Hill, Md., May, 18 (AP)-  An attempt to heat asphalt with a blow torch today caused a $16,000 fire which destroyed a tank truck and the State Roads Commission warehouse.

L. H. Steuart, commission secretary, said employees told him Luther Jones, driver of the truck, was attempting to heat the asphalt so it would flow from the truck and the warehouse was soon enveloped in flames. 

February, 1953 (Time Machine archive)

The Elks Club of Pocomoke City was sponsoring a big stage show at the Marva Theater featuring The Barter Players of Virginia in 'The Virginian.'  "Don't Miss This Fine Entertainment By This Well Known Group Of Professional Players.  No Expense Spared In Settings, Costumes, Lights And Music."  Ticket price was $1.80 for general admission and $2.40 for reserved seats.  Tickets in advance were available at Marva Soda Parlor, Ward's Barber Shop, Pocomoke City Pharmacy, and C.W. Renninger Esso Servicenter.

August, 1902
The Times (Washington, D.C.)

(Conclusion of Tangier Island article from last week)

Sunday, however, is the great day of the week. Not by any means a day given to mirth or sport, for the boats are all anchored and all of the islanders are at home for the purpose of attending church, and there is service of some kind for nearly every hour of the day, from 9 in the morning until twilight. The one street at this time presents a busy appearance for on account of its long, narrow character it seems literally crowded from the time of the tolling of the church bell until the service has commenced. All of the services seem to be well attended and young and old are very constant in attendance upon church.

The final service of the day closes a little after sunset, and at its close the young men take the young women of their choice and promenade the narrow street, the only boulevard of the town. There is noted an absence of the noise and gayety that might be expected from so many young people. As they walk along some of them hum selections from the gospel hymns or converse in a quiet manner. Occasionally some young fellow without a partner stops a promenadlng couple with the inqiuiry, "Who's best?" and if the young lady desires a change of partners she accepts the arm of the newcomer and leaves number one disconsolate, but such affairs are few and far between, and love seems to run as smoothly as it might be expected in Arcadia.

The promenade lasts but a little time and at an early hour the street is deserted, for the men are obliged to be on the crabbing grounds at an early hoar the next morning. The day of the week has passed and life until the next Saturday afternoon will be filled with the exciting struggle of dipping a livelihood from the sea.


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!


"Somewhere over
the rainbow
Bluebirds fly..."

Flying on for JMMB

Keeping an EYE on some good news hiding behind the headlines...

Mother Nature's good news..


A HARVEST MOON!  


The night of September 8-9 will have a 

beautiful bright full-looking moon, as seen

from around the globe. So will the night of

September 9-10.


The Harvest Moon is known for ushering

in a procession of moonlit nights. 

Here's more..

http://earthsky.org/space/harvest-moon-2

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview

1968.. Somerset County teachers push for $6,000 a year starting salary; 1922.. A surprising development in abandoned baby case in Accomac; 1977.. A special week celebrates Deal Island; 1939.. A blow torch and asphalt create a big problem in Snow Hill; 1953.. Pocomoke Elks bringing big stage show to the Marva Theater; And the concluding portion of a 1902 article about Tangier Island.

Although you may not find all of these items in a history book, they are a part of our local history and you can read more about it 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!

2014 Christmas Production: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

OPEN AUDITION DATES: September 6 10 AM - 2 PM Check in 9:30 AM 

September 9 7:30 PM - 9 PM Check in 7 PM 

*English accents required.* 

WHERE: Mar-Va Theater, 103 Market Street Pocomoke, MD 21851 

What Do I Need to Do to Audition? 
- Bring A Theatrical Resume 
- If you have no experience, an application will be available at the audition. We encourage anyone interested to audition. This is not a professional production. - Bring a recent, non-returnable photo 
- Be prepared to do a cold reading from the show 
- Wear comfortable clothing that allows for ease of movement 

Regarding questions, please call:
 Kathryn Redden, Producer - 443.614.0830 

Rehearsal Schedule: To Be Determined 

Performance Schedule: 
December 5 at 8 PM 
December 6, 12, 13 at 7:30 PM 
Decemeber 7 & 14 at 2 PM Weekday Matinees: 
December 3 & 10 at 10 AM

Keeping an EYE on some good news hiding behind the headlines...

(Excerpts: WBOC.com)

Shorebirds' Season Closes On High Note

Salisbury, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds finished the 2014 season with a 5-3 victory over the Hickory Crawdads on Labor Day Monday. Meanwhile, Chance Sisco clinched the league batting title with a franchise-record .340 average, the first ever Shorebird to win the batting crown.

The Shorebirds finished the 2014 season with a 66-73 record, the most wins since 2009. Delmarva saw several franchise records set, including seven midseason All-Star selections. Drew Dosch passed his manager Ryan Minor for the most hits by a Shorebird in a single season with 157 base hits.

Full story here...
http://www.wboc.com/story/26421148/shorebirds-season-closes-on-high-note

More Photos from the Car Show

 Travelers on Rt 13 were attracted to the show.

 Blue 1954 Plymouth Savoy owned by John & Peggy Hess of Shelltown Md & the yellow 1955 Chevy Bel Air is owned by Albert Banks of Pocomoke City MD

TIME MACHINE ... 1922, 1961, 1996, 1908, 1942, 1902

"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; is 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 archive/historical archive material)


April, 1922
The Washington Times (Washington, D.C.)

BABY ABANDONED, RICH MAN IS JAILED

Girl Who Claims to Be Daughter Also Arrested in Desertion of Infant.

NORFOLK, Va., April 22.-  Snatched from a luxuriously furnished home on an island and lodged in cells in the jail at Accomac. Va., small town on the Eastern Shore of Virginia- that is the unusual.. (print illegible)..which William E. Thursby and a pretty woman find themselves. They are accused of abandoning a baby.

Claims to Be Daughter.

Thursby is a wealthy man. He owns a yacht and a magnificent home on Assateague Island. The furnishings in the home alone are said to have cost a good sized fortune.

The young woman says she is Thursby's daughter. The authorities say otherwise.

On the night of December 7 a baby was found in a basket hanging to the gate post at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Brasure. The baby was dressed in costly garments. There was some money in the basket in which the little bit of humanity was tucked. There was a bottle of warm milk In the basket. There was a note there, too, in which it was stated that the baby would be properly provided for if the finder would take care of it.

The authorities of Accomac county and in fact the entire Eastern Shore were aroused by the "baby case" as It was called. The baby could not have been abandoned by residents of Accomac it was said.

An investigation was begun and it was learned, according to the police, that the baby came from the luxurious home maintained by Thursby.

Says It is All a Mistake.

The police found also that Thursby and the young woman had been cruising around Assateague and Chesapeake bay for almost a year. The people at Assateague, a few fishermen and their women folks, had noticed the young woman and the man. They said the woman frequently made trips on the yacht and then the pair would return to the beautiful home on the island.

When the baby was found on the gate post and the people of Assateague heard about it, they said it came from the pretty house on the island. The police arrested Thursby and the woman several days ago. They are still in jail.

The woman says the authorities have made a horrible mistake. The man denies any connection with the baby. He says his home is in Flushing, N. Y. The authorities say they have enough evidence to present to the grand Jury for indictment. The case will not be heard before June.

FOOTNOTE:  Next week an update to this article regarding a surprising development.

October, 1961
The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Md.)

(Excerpts)

Mother Of Two Named Mayor Of Pocomoke City On Shore

POCOMOKE CITY, Md. (AP)-  Selection of Mrs. Evelyn C. Parsons as the new mayor surprised just about everybody in this lower Eastern Shore city.

It also surprised Mrs. Parsons.

She was sworn in Tuesday to succeed former Mayor Leroy Conant who resigned last summer.  The 36-year-old mother of two children and widow of a former mayor had been questioned about the job before her selection.

"But it was still a big surprise when they telephoned my the other night," she went on.

"When they said 'You're the new Mayor of Pocomoke.' I hesitated a second or two, then I just accepted it." she said.

Mrs. Parsons is attractive at 115 pounds with blue eyes and short brown hair. Her late husband, Dr. Fred Parsons, served as mayor from 1958 until his death in 1960.

She is Pocomoke City's first woman mayor.  She was chosen by the City Council to serve for seven more months in the unexpired term of Conant.  

Mrs. Parsons is a graduate of Radford College and she taught several subjects in schools in three states.  Her children are Patty, 7, and Ann, 11.

Footnote: Five months later Mayor Parsons spearheaded a drive by the mayors of Pocomoke City, Salisbury, Snow Hill, and Princess Anne to provide food, clothing, and furniture to Chincoteague in the aftermath of the historic storm of March, 1962.  She was quoted in the Salisbury Daily Times as saying, "In Pocomoke items were coming in so fast they had to use vacant buildings for storage.  It's the most wonderful response I ever saw in my life. It shows what you can do when everyone pulls together." 

September, 1996
(The New York Times)

Spiro T. Agnew, Ex-Vice President, Dies at 77

Spiro T. Agnew, who was forced to resign as the 39th Vice-President of the United States in 1973 when he pleaded no contest to a charge of income tax invasion, died yesterday in Berlin, Md.  He was 77 years-old. 

John Ulrich, the owner of the Ulrich Funeral Home in Berlin, Md., said Mr. Agnew died at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.  A spokeswoman for Atlantic General Hospital would provide no details about his death.

Mr. Agnew, a Greek immigrant's son whose rise to high office seemed to be a reaffirmation of the American dream, was nearly unknown outside his native state of Maryland when Richard M. Nixon chose him as a running-mate in 1968.  And Mr. Agnew might have been as little remembered as most Vice-Presidents without the notoriety of his enforced departure.

Mr. Agnew's political experience, before he won the Vice Presidency, included three years as an appointed member of the local zoning appeals board in Baltimore County, four years as Executive, the equivalent of mayor of that suburban county, and less than two years as Governor of Maryland.

Footnote:  Agnew maintained a residence in Ocean City.

June, 1908
(Peninsula Enterprise- Accomac Court House)

Quite a lot of excitement was caused in our town Monday by the appearance of a strange and mysterious machine on Main St.  Some of the old heads got together and after a lengthy discussion voted it was the long awaited road machine.  A general holiday was at once proclaimed, everyone stopped work and celebrated the event in royal style. Engineer West is to be congratulated on the good work he did, working the street and putting it in such good order as it was never put before.

January, 1942 (Time Machine archive)
(The Salisbury Times)

WORCESTER TO HAVE BLACKOUT TEST JAN. 14

Practice To Be Held In All Sections Of County

(Excerpts)

Snow Hill, Jan. 8- Darkness will envelope 16 towns and villages throughout Worcester County next Wednesday night, during a one-half hour practice blackout, sponsored by the Worcester County Council of Defense.

The county-wide test, largest in scope yet attempted in Maryland, will be held between the hours of 10p.m. and 12 midnight.

Initial steps for the practice blackout were taken today when Sheriff J. William Hall, County Chief of Public Safety and Police, began the task of deputizing each of the 56 air raid wardens.

Fire sirens and steam whistles in all county towns and villages will be the signal for the blackout.

Maryland State Troopers are expected to assist in the test. Troopers will be stationed at all highways entering Worcester County and will halt all incoming traffic. County roads bordering Delaware, Wicomico county, Somerset county and the Eastern Shore of Virginia will be patrolled.

Worcester County towns and villages that have completed plans for the simultaneous blackout next Wednesday night are Bishopville, Showell, Friendship, Berlin, St. Martins, Whaleyville, Taylorsville, Ocean City, Newark, Public Landing, Snow Hill, Girdletree, Stockton, Goodwill and Pocomoke City.  

Final instructions to the public of Worcester County on what to do will be given by qualified civilian air raid wardens at seven county meetings to be held tomorrow night at eight o'clock.

August, 1902
The Times (Washington, D.C.)

(Continuation of Tangier Island article from last week)

The prevalence of the sunbonnet is one of the marked features of outdoor life in Tangier, and the sunbonnets can be seen in almost any direction. Sometimes the wearer may be seen punting a boat across the fields, for in that flat country the tiny canals are completely hidden at a short distance by the long marsh grass; at other times the sunbonnets sprinkle the one street of the island, and especially is this true at the hours when purchases are needed for the family table, or when the daily mail arrives from Crisfield, an event of moment, for there is no daily train to furnish excitement for this quiet spot.

At 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoons the sunbonnets vanish as if by magic, and the girls and the matrons who are now seen on the street are usually bareheaded, or wearing becoming hats, the aprons have been put aside for the day, and perhaps you may meet on the street some very handsome women tastefully gowned, whom you have seen at an earlier hour of the day going to the store or the post office barefooted and wearing a generous sized sunbonnet, for the women do not seem to think it strange to go barefooted during the working hours of the day if they are so inclined.

(Conclusion of this article next Sunday)


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