MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW FOR THE ANNUAL DINNER!

Can't make it to New Orleans in early 2015? Don't fret! Join us for  Mardi Gras on Saturday, January 17, 2015! See flyer below for Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commere's Annual Dinner details! Make your  prepaid reservations now! Don't miss the fun!

The Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commerce  wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and  Happy New Year!

Rescheduled  General Membership Luncheon to be held at Hartley Hall Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 1006 Market Street in Pocomoke City Wednesday, January 21, 2015 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM The menu for this event includes:  Fried Seafood Platter, Baked Chicken Breast, Tossed Salad, Baked Potato, Asparagus, Cornbread & Dessert There is no charge for this luncheon.  You are asked to bring paper goods, canned foods or any non perishable items for the Hartley Hall Senior Housing tenants. This is an independent living apartment complex located behind the Hartley Hall facility. Spaces are limited! Please register online or email Deb at pocomokechamber@gmail .com  Registration Deadline is Monday, January 19, 2015 Please confirm you can attend the luncheon on January 21 even if you already signed up for the December date.  Thanks!

TIME MACHINE ... Holiday Edition

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


A print ad from Christmas, 1951...

December, 1956 (Time Machine archive)
(The Salisbury Times)

POCOMOKE CITY IS COLLECTING GIFTS FOR YULE

POCOMOKE CITY- During a recent meeting of the Pocomoke City Community Civic Council, the president, Fred Henderson, announced plans for the annual Christmas drive, and called upon the community for cooperation.

The council is made up of representatives from each of the clubs and organizations in Pocomoke, and was set up to serve as a coordinating agency for the charitable activities.

Clubs and organizations of Pocomoke have responded with gifts of new and used toys, clothing and shoes, canned goods, groceries, meats, and gifts of money. But more is needed , Mr. Henderson said. 

The council has prepared boxes and has placed them in most of the Pocomoke stores to receive donations.

Donations may be left at the Pocomoke Firehouse on Fifth Street, or at St. Mary's Parish House on Third Street.  Those donating money should make checks payable to the Community Civic Council.

For anyone unable to send donations to the firehouse or the Parish House, a pick-up service is available by calling Mrs. Lee Graff, 476-W, or the Rev. Roger C. Jones, 1023, or the Rev. William M. Reed, 967.  


December, 1955
The Crisfield Post

Letters To Santa Claus

Marion Sta., Md., Dec. 12, 1955

Dear Santa:

I just can't wait til Christmas. I hope you will have a very merry Christmas! And I hope Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen and all of your reindeer have a merry Christmas.

And now to get to the point for Christmas. I want a farm set and a Dennis the menace mischief kit, and so a merry, merry Christmas to you and a good night.

Yours sincerely, 

Wayne Connor. 

(For more of the Letters To Santa, click on the address below to access the newspaper page. It might take a minute or so to load. If you get a message that the page is unresponsive just click on the option "Wait"  and the page should soon come up for viewing. Pressing 'Control' and + will enlarge the text on many computer applications.) 

http://somersetcountymd.archivalweb.com/imageViewer.php?i=281661&q=Christmas&s=q%3DChristmas%26p%3D6%26r%3D0




Christmas, 1942...
(Image and text courtesy of Duke University Libraries)

An American looking forward to baking delicious treats for the holidays in 1942 would have been intimately familiar with War Ration Book One. The Office of Price Administration issued Ration Order No. 3 in April of that year, and distributed the ration books via elementary schools in the first week of May. Holders could purchase one pound of sugar every two weeks between May 5 and June 27. By the end of the year, butter, coffee, and other foods joined the list of regulated goods.

As the holidays approached, the newspapers ran articles advising homemakers how to cope with the unavailability of key ingredients. Vegetable shortening could help stretch butter, molasses made cookies prone to burning, and fruit juice was a natural sweetener.

December, 1972 (Time Machine archive)

Pocomoke's annual Christmas concert by the Salem United Methodist Church choir was scheduled with members of other area church choirs also participating. Barry Tull of Pocomoke City would play trumpet and Miss Carol Cherrix of Snow Hill would be flutist.  Choir director Mrs. Naomi Stevenson would be organist. Vocal soloists from Pocomoke would include Miss Julia Ann Ball, Mrs. Betsy C. Massey, Mrs. Peter Thompson, Miss Susan Humphreys, Mrs. Frederick White, and Miss Nancy Henderson, plus Mrs. Elwyn Cooper of Stockton.  



 It's Motorola TV and radio for Christmas, 1950... 
(Ladies Home Journal ad)

1930's-1980's...

Take a journey back to view the pages of Christmas catalogs from the 1930's to the 1980's... Spiegel..Wards..JC Penny..Sears..Lord & Taylor..FAO Schwarz..Eaton's.

Click the address below (and we wish you enjoyable holidays and all the best for 2015!):

http://www.wishbookweb.com/


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. 

Princess Anne Police Department special request

A special request from our Brothers at the Somerset County (MD) Sheriff's Office. Let's help this good man and his family out!!
We have a Deputy who is in need of our assistance this holiday season. Deputy Chuck Salvas is terminally ill with only a short time. His only wish is to take a trip with his family after the holidays. We need to raise some money so this can happen. Im asking for the community's assistance. Any donations can be dropped off at the Somerset Co. Sheriffs Office. Please make checks or money orders payable to the Somerset Co. Sheriffs Office c/o George Nelson. You can put Chuck Salvas Fund in the memo section of your check. Please help us with this cause.

Somerset County Sheriff's Office
c/o George Nelson
30426 A Sam Barnes Rd.
Westover, MD 21871

Governor-elect Hogan announces four Cabinet Secretary appointees

Office of the Governor-elect
PRESS RELEASE


For Immediate Release:
December 17, 2014
Contact: Hannah Marr
hmarr@hoganforgovernor.com
O: (443) 221-4450 M: (443) 935-3684
                                               
Governor-elect Hogan announces four Cabinet Secretary appointees

ANNAPOLIS, MD – December 17, 2014 – Governor-elect Larry Hogan announced four Cabinet Secretary appointees today at a press conference in Annapolis. The appointees include: Delegate Kelly Schulz for secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation; Bel Air Town Administrator, Dr. Jim Fielder for Appointments secretary; President & CEO of TCE, Incorporated, Gail Bassette for Secretary of the Department of General Services; and Secretary of Juvenile Services Sam Abed, to continue in that role.

"I want to sincerely thank all four of these distinguished and talented individuals for their willingness to join us in public service to our great state," Governor-elect Hogan said. "I look forward to working very closely with each of them over the next four years, as our new team endeavors to put Maryland on a new path and change Maryland for the better."

A diverse group, each appointee brings a wealth of experience to their new role. Dr. Jim Fielder, former secretary of DLLR, currently serves as Town Administrator of Bel Air, Harford County. He has also served as the deputy secretary of the Department of Business and Economic Development, and has a long record of accomplishment in government, academia, and the private sector. He has served as Vice President, Director, and Chief Development Officer of Business Development in the IT and accounting industries, and has served as Vice President of Finance and Administration at Towson University, as well as Director of Budget, HR, and Analysis at the University of Michigan.

Gail Bassette is President & CEO of TCE, Incorporated, a management consulting firm in Laurel. She has over 25 years of experience in Broadcast Media, Business Development, and Project Management. As a government contractor, Bassette understands the challenges faced by small businesses in doing business with government, and understands the importance of delivering services on time and under budget.

Current secretary of the Department Juvenile Services Sam Abed will reprise his position under the Hogan administration. Abed has served as secretary of DJS since 2011, and has led over 2,000 employees and overseen all services of the agency, including probation, supervision, and the treatment and aftercare of committed youth. Prior to his work in Maryland, Abed served as deputy Director of Operations at the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice.

Finally, Delegate Kelly Schulz has been a member of the House of Delegates since 2011, representing Frederick County, and has sat on the House Economic Matters Committee. She is a former federal appointee to the Environmental Protection Agency, and has experience in the private sector.

#   #   #

For more information or to request an interview, contact Hannah Marr at hmarr@hoganforgovernor.com (443) 935-3684

Web: www.hoganforgovernor.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/Hogan4Governor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChangeMaryland

Authority: Hogan-Rutherford Committee to Change Maryland, John C. Wobensmith, Treasurer.
.

Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commerce Rescheduled General Membership Luncheon to be held at Hartley Hall

December 18, 2014

Can't make it to New Orleans in early 2015? Don't fret! Join us for  Mardi Gras on Saturday, January 17, 2015! See flyer below for Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commere's Annual Dinner details!

Upcoming Events See more at pocomoke.com Downtown Pocomoke Winter Wonderland! Santa House Saturday, December 20, 11 AM - 2 PM In the Mini Park, corner of Clarke Ave & Market Street Holiday Train Garden Saturday, December 20, 10 AM - 5 PM Sunday, December 21, 10 AM - 5 PM 145 Market Street, next to Enchanted Florist

Rescheduled  General Membership Luncheon to be held at Hartley Hall Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 1006 Market Street in Pocomoke City Wednesday, January 21, 2015 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM The menu for this event includes:  Fried Seafood Platter, Baked Chicken Breast, Tossed Salad, Baked Potato, Asparagus, Cornbread & Dessert There is no charge for this luncheon.  You are asked to bring paper goods, canned foods or any non perishable items for the Hartley Hall Senior Housing tenants. This is an independent living apartment complex located behind the Hartley Hall facility. Spaces are limited! Please register online or email Deb at pocomokechamber@gmail .com  Registration Deadline is Monday, January 19, 2015 Please confirm you can attend the luncheon on January 21 even if you already signed up for the December date.  Thanks!

US probe links N. Korea to Sony hacking

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal investigators have now connected the hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. to North Korea, a U.S. official said Wednesday, though it remained unclear how the federal government would respond to a break-in that exposed sensitive documents and ultimately led to terrorist threats against moviegoers.

The official, who said a more formal statement might come soon, spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to openly discuss an ongoing criminal case. A security professional with knowledge of the breach also said investigators had strong circumstantial evidence and technical commonalities pointing to North Korea.

Until Wednesday, the Obama administration had been saying it was not immediately clear who might have been responsible for the computer break-in. North Korea has publicly denied it was involved, though it did issue a statement earlier this month describing the hack as a "righteous deed."

The unidentified hackers had demanded that Sony cancel its release of the movie "The Interview," a comedy that included a gruesome scene depicting the assassination of North Korea's leader. Sony on Wednesday canceled the Dec. 25 release, citing the threats of violence at movie theaters that planned to show the movie, and later said there were no further plans to release the film.

The disclosure about North Korea's involvement came just after Sony hired FireEye Inc.'s Mandiant forensics unit, which last year published a landmark report with evidence accusing a Chinese Army organization, Unit 61398, of hacking into more than 140 companies over the years.

Tracing the origins of hacker break-ins and identities of those responsible is exceedingly difficult and often involves surmise and circumstantial evidence, but Mandiant's work on its highly regarded China investigation provides some clues to its methods.

Investigators typically disassemble any hacking tools left behind at the crime scene and scour them for unique characteristics that might identify who built or deployed them. Hints about origin might include a tool's programming code, how or when it was activated and where in the world it transmitted any stolen materials.

In some cases, investigators will trace break-ins by hackers to "command and control" computers or web servers, and logs in those machines or information in Internet registration records might provide further clues about who is behind the hack. Sometimes, hackers using aliases are identified on social media networks or in chat rooms discussing targets or techniques.

In the Sony breach, investigators first examined the malware, or malicious software, from the cyberattack. That was key because it had many commonalities with pre-existing malware - specifically Operation Troy and DarkSeoul - used in North Korea-linked cyberattacks on South Korean media and its financial institutions in recent years, according to the security professional, who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Security professionals looked at the code structure, the language setting and time zone, and then looked at what infrastructure the malware was using to communicate, the professional said. In the end, a singular IP address in Bolivia seemed to match the server used in the DarkSeoul attack, while two others led to Singapore and Thailand.

Because North Korea is highly controlled in its connection to the outside world, links back to it are almost always to proxies or presumed connections to the country, the security professional said.
Beyond the technical commonalities, the professional said, the circumstantial evidence was strong, including a June declaration by the North Korean foreign ministry that the movie would be considered an "act of war."

It wasn't immediately clear how the U.S. government was preparing to respond to the Sony hack. Bernadette Meehan, National Security Council spokeswoman, said the United States was "considering a range of options."

In May, the Justice Department took the highly unusual step of announcing indictments against five Chinese military officials accused of vast cyberespionage against major American corporations. But months later, none of those defendants has been prosecuted in the United States, illustrating the challenge of using the American criminal justice system against cybercriminals operating in foreign countries.

Jonathan Zittrain, a professor of law and computer science at Harvard University, said Sony was unquestionably facing anger over the breach and the resulting disclosure of thousands of sensitive documents. But the movie studio may be able to mitigate that reaction and potential legal exposure if it's established that North Korea was behind the attack.

"If Sony can characterize this as direct interference by or at the behest of a nation-state, might that somehow earn them the kind of immunity from liability that you might see other companies getting when there's physical terrorism involved, sponsored by a state?" Zittrain said.

Story [CLICK HERE]

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's HOLIDAY Edition Preview

1951.. Who's the U.S. future world leader featured in a Christmas cigarette print ad?..view the ad; 1956.. Pocomoke City is collecting gifts for Yule; 1955.. Letters to Santa from The Crisfield Post; 1972.. Maybe someone you know or remember is named in this item about the Christmas Concert by Pocomoke's Salem United Methodist Church; 1950 Ladies Home Journal Christmas ad features the latest Motorola TV's and radios; 1930's-1980's.. Take a journey through pages of popular Christmas Catalogs of the era. 

Although you may not find these items in a history book, they are a part of our local and national history and culture, and you can see and 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!

Santa arrives in a most unusual way!

Santa Claus arrived in Pocomoke this cloudy Sunday afternoon in a most unusual way!
As the helicopter flew over my house, I sprang to my feet to see all the clatter!  Away to 14th Street I flew like a flash, just to see the jolly old man for myself.
I saw all the children with their rosy red cheeks, standing out in the cold, just for a peek.
Anxious parents accompanying their tots,  just face it, they too, love Santa Claus lots!

It's a bird.  It's a plane. NO!  Look closely children!  It's a helicopter!   Who is that passenger in the red suit and white beard?

Why it is Santa, on loan this afternoon from the blustery North Pole!

Mrs. Claus is smiling as she leads the main man to the chair by the fireplace to visit the children.

Once Santa was inside the Community Center the crowds gathered, lining up patiently.

 Excitement surrounded the crowd as they waited to enter the building.

 Grownups peeked at the beautiful window displays.

 The line of children wove past the train gardens.

Trains are fun for young and old!

Finally the children get to tell Santa about their wish lists for this year.

May all your wishes come true!

TIME MACHINE ... 1968, 1883, 1894, 1908, 1885, 1968, 1916.

"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; 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 archive/historical archive material)

December, 1968 (Time Machine archive)

A new 1969 Camaro would be given away in a Shop Pocomoke promotion sponsored by the Pocomoke City Businessmen's Association.  Members of the Association were: Bata Shore Store...Burnett White of Pocomoke...W.H. Clarke & Company...City Service Oil Company (C.K. Duncan)...The Democratic Messenger...George's Furniture...Guy's Implement Company... Hancock's Grocery...Lankford & Cutler Hardware...Montgomery Ward Catalog Store...Midway Auto...Miller-Massey Auto...Somers-Kirby Motor Company...Miller's Ladies Shop...Modern Floor Company... J.J.Newberry... Outten Brothers...Pocomoke City Flower Shop...Pocomoke City Pharmacy... Pocomoke Machine & Implement Company...R.E.Powell & Company... Scher's...  Scher's...Schoolfield & Ham...Sears Catalog Store...Sherwin Williams...Silco...Vincent's Jewelers...Webb's Grocery... Western Auto... George E. Young Auto Parts.

 December, 1883 (Time Machine archive)
(Peninsula Enterprise- Accomac)

Onancock.
The "hardware dealers" are making preparations on a large scale to have a fine line of "Guilford trifle" for the holidays.

Footnote.. Wikipedia: Trifle is an English dessert dish made from thick (or often solidified) custard, fruit, sponge cake (often soaked in sherry or other fortified wine), fruit juice or jelly (gelatin in American English), and whippedcream. These ingredients are usually arranged in layers.


December, 1894 (Time Machine archive)
(Peninsula Enterprise- Accomac Court House)

Excursion.

The N. Y. P. & N. R. R. Co., will run an excursion train from Keller station to Pocomoke, next Tuesday, 18th, at regular excursion rates, leaving Keller at 8:10 a. m., Melfa 8:15, Onley 8:22, Tasley 8:28, Parksley 8:39, Bloxom 8:51, Hallwood 9:00, Bloomtown 9:05, Oak Hall 9:10, New Church 9:25, arriving at Pocomoke 4 p. m., giving all who go six hours to visit and examine the large stores which are just loaded with Christmas goods. Special bargains will be offered to all who go. Those wishing Xmas goods will more than make their expenses by taking advantage of this cheap trip.

Footnote:  Assuming 4 p.m. arrival time is an error.  Perhaps 4 p.m.was the departure time from Pocomoke. 

December, 1908

See the big newspaper ad for the many Christmas gift suggestions available at Dickinson's in Pocomoke, "Headquarters For Holiday Shoppers."  

Peninsula Enterprise (Accomac Court House)

(Click on below address)

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn94060041/1908-12-19/ed-1/seq-1/#words=[u'ACCOMAC',%20u'Accomac']&date1=1836&date2=1922&searchType=advanced&language=eng&sequence=1&lccn=sn94060041&proxdistance=5&rows=50&ortext=Accomac&proxtext=&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=37


January, 1885
Peninsula Enterprise (Accomac Court House)

(Ad)

White Hotel, Girdletree Hill, Worcester county, Md.

A. I. White, Prop'r

This hotel located on the railroad, recently built, and with rooms large, airy, convenient and newly furnished is now open to the patronage of the public.

Special accommodations provided for those fond of gunning, fishing, &c., on the waters near at hand and charges reasonable.

December, 1968 (Time Machine archive)

Pocomoke City residents were remembering Miss Mildred Schoolfield who passed away at age 65.  Miss Schoolfield served as Pocomoke's town clerk for 30 years until her retirement six months earlier. 


Decorations for Christmas from the 1916 Sears Roebuck Catalog...

   

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. 

Pocomoke Fire Company and the Community Center have windows on Christmas past & present

Stop by the Community Center at the  Pocomoke Fire House and see the charming Christmas windows created for the season.  These are created with lots of nostalgic charm, artistry and creative thought, sure to delight viewers of any age.  I was impressed with the interesting antiques, including an original sign from the soda fountain of the old F.W. Woolworth's store of years ago!

Remember the days when shoppers would descend on downtown Pocomoke to socialize and shop to make the little one's wishes come true?  Did you get a soda at the "dime store" or Clarke's Pharmacy?   Do you have a story to share with our readers about those wonderful days when downtown was bustling on a weekend evening? Make sure you see the collection of nostalgic toys in this window depicting Christmas past!

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads!"  From the favorite Christmas story, "A Night Before Christmas", written by Clement Moore, this window shows a quiet Santa filling the stockings in front of a fireplace.    Did someone read the story over and over and over again when you were young?  Can you recite it from memory today?  

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, are you?  Winter wonderland!  Icicles and snowmen , lights and a train, give this window some sparkle and evoke those memories of going "Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house" for the holidays.  In our case, we took the kids and dog over the Bay Bridge-- but you get the idea!


Put the kids in the mom mobile and stop by the fire house to see these windows!  They tell me that a "right jolly old elf" is arriving by helicopter today at 4 pm!  Come and see!  Get your picture taken with Santa!  Give him your wish list!  

Pocomoke City Police Department Christmas Party and Award Ceremony

Friday night Chief Kelvin Sewell hosted the annual Christmas party and award ceremony for the Pocomoke City Police Department.  About 100 people attended the function held in the beautiful Community Center at the fire house.   After a meal of Eastern Shore favorites, Chief Sewell announced that Sgt. Arthur Hancock was this year's Officer of the Year.  On receiving the award, Sgt. Hancock spoke briefly and acknowledged that his award was possible because of a great team of fellow officers.  Last night's event  had another reason for celebration, Chief Sewell's daughter graduated from UMES in the morning, with family members present from Baltimore!

Worcester County Commissioner Diana Purnell, Pocomoke City Councilmen Rob Clarke & Rev. George Tasker, Councilwoman Diane  Downing, Mayor Bruce Morrison joined Chief Kelvin Sewell & Lt. Craven in congratulating all the officers and support staff for a job well done in 2014.

Sgt. Arthur Hancock was named Officer of the Year by Chief Sewell.

Chief Sewell had a few words to say about the good job done by his officers in the last year.

Sgt. Arthur Hancock said a few  kind words about the Chief.   Hancock and Craven then gave a unique gift to Chief Sewell, recognizing his police service here and in Baltimore City.  The shadow box has badges dating back to 1988 when Sewell first served as an officer on the Baltimore City Police Force.

This display will be an attractive addition to Chief Sewell's office wall.  Thank you for your service, Chief.

December General Membership Luncheon to be Postponed

Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control, the Hartley Hall Nursing & Rehabilitation Center will be unable to host our December General Membership Luncheon next week (Dec 17). They have rescheduled it for Wednesday, January 21, 2015.
At that time our PACC officers will give a short presentation.
There will be NO General Membership Luncheon for December.
More info to follow.

Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commerce

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview

1968.. Big giveaway in holiday promotion by Pocomoke businesses; 1883.. A popular holiday item on the Eastern Shore of Virginia; 1894..Train excursion to Pocomoke City for Christmas shopping; 1908.. View this Christmas ad by a leading Pocomoke City merchant; ; 1885.. A new hotel in Girdletree; 1968.. She served Pocomoke City for 30 years; 1916.. Sears Catalog Christmas decorations.

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!

Ferguson Rioting and Looting; Michael Brown

Salisbury Md Christmas Parade Protest

Post by Heather Williams.

Post by Heather Williams.

LAST DAY TO RSVP FOR DECEMBER 11th BAH!

Do you know some deserving individuals?

Please take a moment and consider nominating a person for one of the Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commerce's three awards recognized yearly at our Annual Dinner.  This year the event will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2015 and will have a Mardi Gras theme.

The three award categories are Business Person of the Year, Community at Heart Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award.  Nominations are due at the Chamber office no later than Monday, December 8, 2014.  

Thank you!

Nomination applications can be downloaded at

pocomoke.com

Annual Reverend Tom Wall Memorial Pancake Dinner

The dinner is held annually to honor the memory of Rev. Thomas Wall who was active in making the Samaritan Shelter a warm and protective temporary home for persons who need a warm bed, a hot meal and some companionship during a hard time.  Life is not always easy.  Now managed by Ms Shelly Daniels, the dinner is still an annual event where you see all your neighbors and friends, out for a good meal, and great conversation.   At this year's dinner, Mayor Bruce Morrison presented a check for $3000 to the shelter for their continued expenses.  Shelly Daniels accepted the check from our mayor.  Other funds were raised here through donation cans on the tables and proceeds from the ticket sales.

TIME MACHINE ... 1941,1967, 1887, 1974, 1933, 1885, 1900.

"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; 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 archive/historical archive material)


Prior to this week's Time Machine items let's take note of December 7, 1941.

December, 1967
Marylander And Herald (Princess Anne)

Holly Auction Set For Dec. 13 In Fruitland

The holly auction at Fruitland will be held Wednesday, December 13, beginning at 10 a.m.

Louis Carey, one of the main buyers, said there will probably be about 50 people show up with wreathes. Maybe there will be 3,000 wreathes offered.

"It's a long way from what the auction used to be," he said.  "It's just about done."

In recent years the number of wreath makers has dwindled to a point where only one sale day is necessary. At one time there were three of more sale days.

Mr. Carey said that this year may have more wreathes than last because of the abundance of holly berries this year. Trees are beautiful, just hanging with berries, he said.

At one time most of the wreathes were sent to city markets. Last year he sent only one small lot to the city.

The Fruitland holly wreath auction is the only such auction known in the world. It is the only place where natural wreathes are sold.

Footnote: From the City Of Fruitland website.. The Fruitland logo incorporates the holly on each side. That is because (the) holly tree is native to the moist woods of Somerset, Worcester, Wicomico and Dorchester Counties. Fruitland held the first (and largest) holly auction every year for three days in December, from the late 1890s until December 1968. The demand for homemade wreaths decreased as artificial wreaths were manufactured. Besides holly, mistletoe was also sold by the bushel basket at the auctions. Wreaths were sold and shipped to brokers in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, but sometimes were shipped as far west as Chicago.


 November, 1887 (Time Machine archive)

The Herald And Torchlight (Hagerstown, Md)

Agents from Farmington, Del., have been in Princess Anne, Somerset County, for several days collecting holly twigs with berries on them.  The twigs are packed in small boxes made for the purpose and shipped direct to Chicago, St. Louis, and Canada, and are used for decorating purposes.  Those who have holly are making a good thing out of it.

 August, 1974
(The DailyTimes- Salisbury)

(Ad)

AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 1974, THE MARVA THEATER IN POCOMOKE CITY WILL SLIGHTLY INCREASE ITS ADMISSION PRICES...

For many years, the Marva Theatre has boasted of the lowest admission prices on the entire Eastern Shore. Now, due to higher expenses of films, film delivery, supplies, maintenance, electricity and heat, a slight increase in prices must be made .. New prices, starting September 1st, will be Adults $1.50, Children 75c, with R rated pictures at all seats $1.50. These new prices will probably still be the lowest on the Shore . . Service charge on all passes will increase from 25c to 50c each ... No X rated pictures are ever shown, a fact that has brought many fine comments to the management. All the best G, PG, and a few R rated will be shown to continue the policy of a "family type old fashion movie house" with a friendly greeting to everyone. 

Footnote: Word around town was that theater operator J. Dawson Clarke would remove snips of film that he felt were not suitable for family viewing. 

March, 1933
The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Md.)

Assembly Must Act Quick Or Many Sections Of State Out Of Luck

BALTIMORE, March 22 (JP) Unless there is quick action in the state General Assembly before its adjournment April 4, more than half of Maryland will be unable to take advantage of legalized beer. 

So intricate are the liquor laws of the state that they present the appearance of a jig saw puzzle.

Eleven of the 23 counties are bone dry; eight have restrictions on importations; two others are wet in spots and only two counties are wide open. Baltimore City, which is a distinct sub-division and not in any county, is wet for the most part but forbids sale of beer or liquor in certain sections.

Baltimore City has already prepared a bill for presentation in the Legislature repealing all old liquor laws and enacting a new law with a new scale of license taxes and new regulations as to sale. Counties are taking steps to repeal their laws. 

The two counties now wide open are Montgomery, which is adjacent to the District of Columbia and includes many of Washington's more exclusive suburbs, and Allegany.

Cumberland, the state's second largest city, has wet and dry spots. Annapolis, the state capital, located in Anne Arundel county, is wide open. 

Most of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, on the Delmarva peninsula, has a "gallon a month" law. These counties are Somerset, Wicomico, Worcester, Kent, Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Queen Anne's.

Garrett, Prince Georges, St. Mary's, Harford, Washington, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Howard (with the exception of Ellicott City) and Charles counties are bone dry.

January, 1885 
Peninsula Enterprise (Accomac Court House)

The Eastern Shore Mails.

Reprinted from Baltimore Sun.

The petition to the Postmaster-General that the Eastern Shore Steamboat Company be allowed to retain the contract for the mails between this city and Somerset and Worcester counties, Md., and Accomac and Northampton counties, Va., sets forth that the steamboats are necessary for the prompt delivery of mail at points inaccessible by rail; that the shipments from the section of country indicated are largely perishable in their nature; that the proposed change to the railroad service would operate disastrously both here and in the country, and requests that definite action be withheld until the business men here can be heard further in the premises. 


 For Christmas, 1900!

                                                             

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