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, 1892
The Sun (Baltimore)
Ocean City Making Ready for Season
A large force of mechanics and laborers is being employed getting things ready for the season at Ocean City. Snow Hill has lately been lighted by electricity in its streets, churches and public buildings, also many of the private dwellings. It is expected that the same illuminating agency will become general this season at Ocean City. Arrangements have been made to light the leading hotels and the beach. There will be a change to the railroad track by which cars will run to the beach for the convenience of excursionists. Carpenters, painters and other workmen are busy engaged making improvements in some of the hotels to increase the comfort of the guest. One is the plentiful supply of fresh water for cooking and drinking which will be brought from the mainland by pipes. Sewerage disposal is being seriously considered. Rapid transit would be another item for consideration.
Footnote:
Ocean City's popularity increased rapidly from it's beginning in the mid 1870's. It experienced a real estate boom in the early 1890's following the 1890 opening of the Baltimore and Eastern Shore Railroad's route into Ocean City.
March, 1891
The Sun, (New York)
March, 1975
The Daily Times (Salisbury)
(Excerpt)
Snow Hill's Young Men Forming Jaycees Chapter
SNOW HILL - The Snow Hill Jaycees, after being disbanded for a year and a half, is a reality once again, complete with new faces and new ideas. Twenty young men from the Snow Hill area have organized the chapter which will be officially chartered in ceremonies later this month.
The moving force behind the reorganization of the Jaycees here has been James Feeney, a member of the old Jaycees chapter, serving his first term as mayor of Snow Hill. The last few weeks have found mayor Feeney frequenting the town's various businesses and other establishments, often until last at night, persuading prospective Jaycees of the potential of the chapter.
The original Jaycee chapter disbanded, he said, because most of its members had reached the 35-year-old member's age limit.
May, 1884 (Time Machine archive)
The Denton Journal
(Excerpts)
A Philadelphia correspondent of the Marylander, published at Princess Anne, Somerset County, has found in an old geography some interesting descriptions of Eastern Shore towns as they were in 1800.
(Lower Eastern Shore towns described)
Snow Hill is a port of entry. It is situated on the east side of the Pocomoke River, and is built upon a remarkable sand hill, as white as snow. The tide rises about two feet and a half; the river opposite the town is ten feet deep. The town contains about 70 houses, principally old low wooden buildings. It has a court house, a jail, a Presbyterian and an Episcopal Church. A bridge is built over the river, which is here about 10 yards wide. Snow Hill was established in 1686. The lands for miles around are sandy and barren.
Salisbury contains about 35 houses and an Episcopal Church, and was established in 1732. The inhabitants trade with Baltimore, in lumber, which is conveyed down the river about three miles in flat-bottomed boats, where it is received by larger vessels.
Princess Anne, a post town, and the seat of justice for Somerset County. It is situated at the head of the Manokin River, 15 miles from its entrance into Pocomoke Sound, and contains about 40 dwellings and an elegant Episcopal Church. A bridge is built over the river. Near the west end of the bridge is a Presbyterian Church. Princess Anne was established in 1732, and is 153 miles from Washington city.
Of Deal's Island the book has the following account: "Devil's Island is about four miles long and one and three-quarter miles broad, containing 2,800 acres. Demiquarter is a small island contiguous to Devil's Island. Both islands consist mostly of marsh, not withstanding they have several families living on them."
Footnote: In 1800 Newtown was just a very small settlement along the river in the area that is present day Pocomoke City, however growth was on the horizon. Norma Miles and Robin Chandler-Miles write in their book Images of America Pocomoke City "By 1809, nine lots had been sold, and by 1820, more than 150 people were living in the area in 28 dwellings and supporting seven or eight small businesses." The 1800 geography listed Cambridge as having about 50 houses and 100 residents, and Easton about 200 dwellings and 1,000 inhabitants.
1976.. Some of the Mother's Day dining choices for mom.
(The Daily Times, Salisbury)
From the 1950's its a TV commercial for the big new Studebaker line.
See it at this link, including more vintage Studebaker commercials:
http://archive.org/details/dmbb08710
(Courtesy of Duke University Libraries Digital Collections)
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!
PPE remembers JMMB.
