Time Machine: 100 years ago this week in Pocomoke's newspaper; The Holiday Season- 1898, 1966, 1995, 1942, 1909, 1979.

 December,1898

Peninsula Enterprise

December,1966

Pocomoke Messenger

December,1995

Salisbury Daily Times

December,1942

Worcester Democrat

December,1909

Democratic Messenger

November,1979

Salisbury Daily Times

 

(link)

cparr@co.worcester.md.us

When Pocomoke Was Young- A continuing weekly feature.

 

(Chapter flow:)

ITS ORIGIN AND TOWN LIMITS

TOWN LIMITS

GROWTH, CHANGE OF NAME, ETC.

MERCANTILE ASPECT

MANUFACTURING

TRADES ETC.

SHIPPING INTERESTS

EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO.

SHIP BUILDING ETC.

HOTELS, LIVERY STABLES, ETC.

PHYSICIANS

LAWYERS

POST OFFICE

PRINTING OFFICES

SOCIAL ASPECT, ETC.

MORAL ASPECT

TEMPERANCE CAUSE

SCHOOLS

CHURCHES

Note:  In duplicating this material for publishing on The Pocomoke Public Eye we have made minor adjustments to correct some of the spelling, punctuation, etc. We believe the errors were not in Rev. Murray's original writing but occurred in the process of formatting the material to a digital format for viewing online.

MERCANTILE ASPECT (CONTINUED). 

After the death of Edward Stevenson, David Long, 
who was his chief clerk, married his widow, settled his 
estate, and commenced merchandising, in his own name, 
at the same stand where he had been clerking. 

He sold goods until 1832, during which year he died. 
He was buried on his father's farm, at present occupied by 
William W. Quinn. 

Upon his tomb stone is the following inscription: 
"In memory of David Long, who was born the 23rd 
day of November, 1788, and died the 4th day of May, 
1832, Aged forty-three years, five months, and eleven 
days." 

"Ye whose cheek the tear of pity stains, 
Draw near with pious reverence and attend. 
Here lie the loving husband's dear remains, 

The tender father and the generous friend, 
The pitying heart that felt for human woe, 

The dauntless heart that feared no human pride, 
The friend of man, to vice alone a foe; 

For even his failings leaned to virtue's side." 

As David Long was one of the most successful mer- 
chants in the early history of New Town, it is but just to- 
his memory that a brief sketch of his life should here be 
inserted. 

He was born the 23rd day of November, 1778, and 
reared on his father's farm until he entered Edward 
Stevenson's store as clerk. 

How old he was when this change in his life took place 
we are left to conjecture, at all events he must have been 
quite a large boy. 

As it was attended with no little difficulty in getting 
even the rudiments of an education, in those days, it is 
presumable that the advantages which he had in the store, 
in the use of the pen, and figures, was of great service to 
him in developing his latent powers as an accountant. He 
commenced business for himself when he was twenty- 
seven years old, and for sixteen years he applied himself 
closely to business. When he died, in 1832, he had 
amassed, what might be called, an Eastern Shore fortune, 
the probable sum of $40,000. 

He was a man of even temperament, with an amiable 
disposition, polite, obliging, and very winning in his man- 
ners, consequently he was very popular; indeed, he had 
won the respect and confidence of the entire surrounding 
country, and it would have been a futile effort in anyone 
to have sought to divide the patronage that went into his 
store. 

Captain John W. Long commenced the mercantile 
business, in New Town, in 1815. During this year he 
married Miss Sally Laws Henderson, a young lady of 
intellectual culture and high moral worth. 

Captain Long was a brother to David Long and was 
his senior by two years. While yet a youth he chose 
the life of a sailor, and made his first voyage to Amster- 
dam, in a brig built on the dividing creek. He rose, from 
before the mast, to be captain of a ship. 

During the Berlin and Milan decrees, under Napoleon 
Bonaparte, he was taken prisoner and carried to Naples; 
upon his release, he returned home, and, as already 
stated, he commenced merchandising in New Town. 

His store ranked as first-class, though he did not do 
business to the extent that his brother David did. He 
was engaged in the sale of goods nineteen years. He was 
the father of four children, only two of whom are now 
living: Rev. John D. Long and David H. Long, and was 
grandfather of William W. and John L. Quinn. 

Captain Long was an intelligent, unassuming and 
strictly honest man. He was the poor man's friend, a kind 
husband and father, and died honored and loved by all who 
knew him. I have the following from the old family 
Bible, now in the possession of William W. Quinn: 

"Captain John W. Long, was born the 22nd day of 
October, 1786, near New Town, and died the 27th day of 
May, 1834, in the 48th year of his age." 

There were other stores in New Town at the time of 
which I have been speaking, namely: Jacob Riggin and 
John Burnett, doing business under the firm of Riggin 
& Burnett; their store ranked as first-class. 

The others were kept by Samuel Carey, McKimmie 
Lecompte, father of the venerable James Lecompte, of 
Snow Hill; and Nicholas Jones. John Burnett was uncle- 
to William S. Dickinson, Mrs. Sally Blain and Mrs. 
Elizabeth Hughes; and was the best penman in New 
Town, in his day. He finally moved to the City of Balti- 
more, where he died. 

John S. Stevenson succeeded David Long, and com- 
menced the sale of goods in 1833. He sold goods about, 
nine years, when he retired from mercantile life. 

Mr. Stevenson was very popular, indeed, he was the 
leading spirit of the place, in his day, he seemed to seek 
more the public good than his own emolument. 

He was quite a mechanical genius, could construct 
almost any agricultural implement that would make labor 
easier, and in this direction he was much sought after. 
In 1833, he conceived the idea of stretching a rope 
across the river, at Steven's Ferry, by which the propul- 
sion of the ferry boat was conducted with greater ease. 

Before this event, the boat was propelled by oars, which 
mode of crossing, in stormy weather, was attended with 
great danger. 

He had a high sense of moral rectitude, was strictly 
honest in his dealings, was a warm friend, and out-spoken 
and un-compromising in his denunciations of those he 
conceived to be in the wrong. 

In 1854, he went to the state of Missouri, and in 1867 he 
died, in the city of Hannibal, in the 60th year of his age. 

About the year 1833, Colonel William H. Merrill com- 
menced merchandising, in New Town, he was also engaged 
in the shipping business; he had an extensive trade, and 
made considerable money; he sold goods about thirty 
years, and retired from active life. 

Colonel Merrill was a native of Worcester County, 
served an apprenticeship at the hatting business with Jacob 
Rogers, in the city of Baltimore. 

He commenced the hatting business for himself in Snow 
Hill, married Miss Eliza Stevenson, of this place, and 
moved here, where he continued the hatting business until 
the above named period, when he commenced to sell 
goods. 

He was quite a business man, accommodating, obliging, 
polite, and dignified in his manners; was a warm friend 
and quite genial in social bearing. 

He lived to a good old age, and died at home, in the 
midst of his friends, at the age of seventy-two years; his 
remains were deposited in the Protestant Episcopal Church 
Burying Ground, of this place.

CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.

TV feature "Travels With Charlie" comes to an end.

 (WBOC)

(View Travels With Charlie interview that aired 12/15/23)

Travels With Charlie: The Final Travels (Part 2 of 2) | Travels With Charlie | wboc.com

DELMARVA - After three decades, WBOC’s Charles Paparella is starting a new adventure as he enters a retirement sure to be plentiful with even more stories to tell. Today we take a look back at Charlie’s incredible career at WBOC and how he became one of the most well-known faces and voices on the Delmarva Peninsula.

A Delmarva native through-and-through, Charlie is originally from Somerset County and attended Crisfield High School. He then attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore before pursuing an array of interests and undertakings, including music, cabinet making, research, and muskrat trapping (according to Charlie).

Finally, Charlie found himself in a career as a television news photographer. The rest, as they say, is history.

Charlie began at WBOC as a photographer under the tutelage of the great Scorchy Tawes. Scorchy’s love of the Peninsula, its people, and their stories clearly made a lasting impression on Charlie, who would carry on that legacy after Scorchy’s retirement. Today, Charlie is just as well-known and well-loved on Delmarva as his legendary mentor and friend.

The very first Travels with Charlie aired in August of 2002. Over two decades and about 8,000 Travels with Charlie stories later, he has cemented himself as Delmarva’s most recognizable minstrel.

“You couldn’t ask for a more bountiful harvest of stories and people than this peninsula,” Charlie told Steve Hammond as the two looked back on their 30-year career together at WBOC.

“I was very lucky with the people I got to talk to and the places I got to go.”

Charlie says Travels never would have happened without the support of his wife and soulmate Becky, though. Riding with him on his many Travels, Becky was his partner not only in life, but also in storytelling. 

“It was never just mine,” Charlie says. “It was always ours.”

Few cultural institutions on Delmarva would be unfamiliar with the pleasant voice and affable attitude of Charles Paparella. Travels with Charlie saw him frequenting The Mar-Va Theater, the Berlin Peach Festival, the Mount Hermon Plow Days, the Camden Avenue Farmers Market, among many, many others. Music and performing arts have especially been common focuses in Travels.

“The arts always need a bump,” Charlie says. “People don’t understand how important those things are.”

Charlie says he also has a special appreciation for Delmarva’s many churches and religious institutions.

“The people in the churches are so wonderful,” he says.

Charlie’s skills as a photographer never dulled in his thirty years with WBOC, and it seems there is nothing small enough to evade his keen eye. From crabgrass to caterpillars, dung beetles to solitary dandelions, Charlie can find poetry in things most of us would never have noticed. The miniscule has obviously never carried any less importance or inspiration than the grand with Charlie.

That fascination with nature, philosophy, and the universe at large ensured that Travels with Charlie has always been as educational as it was poetic. Few can strike that balance like Charlie does.

The first part of the Final Travels with Charlie aired on WBOC on December 13th, and you can watch it here.  Travels With Charlie: The Final Travels (Part 1 of 2) | Travels With Charlie | wboc.com

WBOC and all of us at Draper Media wish Charlie continued safe travels. Thank you for all the stories, the music, the laughs, and the memories, Charles Paparella.

Time Machine Preview

 This Sunday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye:

PLUS

1898

1966

1995

1942

1909

1979

(Updated: comment). Say it isn't so!

Have you heard?  

It's true.  After a long career at WBOC-TV Charles Paparella is retiring.  

Viewers, of course, know Charlie for his long-time running "Travels With Charlie" features on the evening news.

Here's Charlies's bio that's posted on the WBOC website.  We're sure Charlie wrote at least 100% of it.

                                                            Video Journalist

Charles Paparella is a photographer, writer, and editor.

The winding road that led him to WBOC began (for our purposes) in olde Somerset County, Maryland, in the charming hamlet of Marion Station.

Charlie attended Crisfield High School where he was actually elected president of the student government in his senior year. (This was due to a cleverly humorous campaign, and nothing more. He was a funny candidate but a terrible president.)

He attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore where he received a record number of parking citations and the school record for dropped courses.

Charlie continued his education at the Mark Twain School of Doing Interesting Things and worked (very diligently) at being a musician; printer's devil; plant propagator, muskrat trapper; cabinet-maker; dish-washer; ride-operator; aide-de-camp; accounting clerk; research analyst; computer programmer; news photographer; web-weasel; until finally settling down as a television news photographer, which he remains to this posting.

Charlie produces a segment called Travels with Charlie, which you will recall is a novel by John Steinbeck. (In the book, Steinbeck does the traveling, and Charley is a dog. Our Charlie doesn't like comparisons, but feels he could hold his own against any dog, although we'd have to see the dog, to be sure.)

(View Part 1:)

Travels With Charlie: The Final Travels (Part 1 of 2) | Travels With Charlie | wboc.com

Part 2 airs Friday (12/15) on the WBOC-TV 6pm news.

Best wishes Charlie

 and 

THANK YOU!

1. Anonymous said...

I heard that Charlie was not planning to retire. Is that true?

tkforPPE says:

A former co-worker of Charlie's tells The Pocomoke Public Eye that WBOC chose not to renew Charlie's working agreement with the station. 

1.  

Worcester public schools score high

 

WORCESTER COUNTY SCHOOLS OUTPERFORM STATE IN LATEST MD SCHOOL REPORT CARD

Worcester County Public Schools

DEC 13, 2023

Newark, MD, December 13, 2023– The Maryland State Department of Education released its annual update to the Maryland Report Card website today, containing performance data for every school in the State, including eleven schools in Worcester County.

In Worcester County, 73 percent of eligible schools earned a four-star rating and the remaining earning three-star status. In this year’s release, which includes additional measures, only 37 percent of all schools in the State earned a four- or five-star rating. 

(View press release:)

Worcester County Schools Outperform State in Latest MD School Report Card | WORCESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (worcesterk12.org)

 

Thank you everyone for the responses and helping feed animals in need in our community!  

We appreciate the support!

Our pet pantry is low on cat & dog food, and in recent months, demand has been greater than normal.  Please help those in need if you are able!  Thank you!

Savinganimals@worcestercountyhumanesociety.org

Phone (410) 213-0146

 

The Pocomoke Public Eye would like to hear from you if you'd be interested in sharing highlights of Pocomoke City Council meetings with our readers, either attending the meetings or viewing the meetings on Zoom and emailing us a recap.  

Interested? Let us know: email tkforppe@yahoo.com .

Christmas Cheer At The Great Pocomoke Fairgrounds

 

Pocomoke City's Community Christmas Tree

 

· 

🎄🎅 Pocomoke City Mayor Todd J Nock:

Calling all citizens, businesses, and organizations! 

 Spread the holiday cheer and be a part of our new Community Christmas Tree tradition! 🌟🎄

 We invite you to join us in decorating the beautiful Christmas tree located on the top step of city hall. Let's make it a symbol of unity and joy for everyone in our town.

 Whether you're an individual, a local business, or part of an organization, we encourage you to hang an ornament on the tree. It's a wonderful opportunity to showcase your creativity and contribute to the festive spirit that fills our community during this special time of the year.

 The tree will be up until the new year, so there's plenty of time to add your personal touch. Let's make it the most dazzling and heartwarming tree our town has ever seen!

Meteor Shower December 15th

  Weather permitting, join us outside

 for a chance to spot meteors 

during the Geminids meteor shower. 

Wallops Visitor Center Events and Programs - NASA