Time Machine: 100 years ago this week in Pocomoke's newspaper; 1942,1915, 2006, 1986, 1975, 1939.

 

(a piano was given away)

September, 1942

Worcester Democrat

May, 1915

Baltimore Sun

August, 2006

The Star Democrat (Easton)

*November, 1986

Salisbury Daily Times

*March, 1975

Salisbury Daily Times

*July, 1939

Worcester Democrat

tkforppe@yahoo.com

Recollections from generations past (Flossie Douglas- 1)

 

Mrs. Flossie B. Douglas (1897-1990)

From interview recorded January, 1972.

(obituary excerpt)

I came to Worcester County in 1926, from Kansas City, Missouri and was assigned to the one room school at Box Iron, which was about 4 miles from Snow Hill on the old Girdletree- Stockton Road. The school was a small one room framed building located on the county road leading to Box Iron to Truitt’s Landing by Girdletree. The building had no lights and only a small wood burning heater for cold weather. The fire had to be taken care of everyday and sometimes the larger boys and other people in the community, who lived near the school, would help with the fire. 

The enrollment from November to March was 68-70 people with people sitting two in a seat. The enrollment from September- November was an average of 34-38 pupils. The larger pupils had to help with the farm crops in the fall and spring, while the smaller ones were able to attend school. 

There were no cabinets of any kind in the building, their lunches had to be kept in their desks. The desks were very old and some of the textbooks were ragged. We had seven grades in this small room and one teacher. Some of the pupils were 10 and 11 years of age in the first grade. The larger boys had to carry our drinking water from a farm across the road in a large galvanized bucket and a dipper with a long handle was used for drinking. I had the pupils to bring their own small cups later and they were kept in their desks with their lunches. 

Some of the pupils had to walk 3, 4, and even 5 miles to school each day. I walked about one fourth mile from my boarding place to the school. The school was located near the county road leading to Box Iron and there was very little space for a playground. There was nothing but woodland in the back of the building. There were no screens in the windows, and we were annoyed with flies and mosquitoes in the fall and spring. 

At that time there was only one store in the community and two churches. One church still remains, the Saint Matthew’s United Methodist Church. The store was later used for our tenant house. The only industry in the community at that time was farming and the seafood industry. There were several large farms with corn and tomatoes as two of the leading crops. The men had their own boats for the seafood industry, which they used for oystering, crabbing, and clamming. They worked from Scott’s Landing and Truitt’s Landing. Their day’s work started at 5 AM or 6 AM and they had finished by 11 AM. The trucks came from Crisfield, MD to buy their seafood in barrels. 

We tried to have parent teacher meetings often, as often as we could. The only light we had was lamps and lanterns hanging on the inside of the building. When I visited the parents I had to walk 2,3, and sometimes 4 miles and the parents would bring me home in a horse and buggy. There were very few automobiles at that time. The parents were always willing to help. I enjoyed the 5 years at Box Iron and did not give up. I am sure I helped someone. The Board of Education then decided to move me to Snow Hill. 

My first experience in Snow Hill was at Snow Hill B in 1931. We had a very small four room building again with no light and very small blackboard space. During my very first experience two of the rooms upstairs were used for the high school and the other two elementary classrooms were moved across town to the old Odd Fellows Hall. We had a pot belly stove in each classroom and coal was used and the fires were kept overnight. There was a janitor for cleaning and for taking care of the fires. The desks were old and broken. The textbooks again were ragged and torn. The floor was made of rough heavy boards.

We had to climb 18 steps to get upstairs each day. The building had no playground, only ashes and cinders. Part of the playground was a hillside. There was only one water fountain in the small back hall for 150 pupils. The larger people had to hold or lift up the smaller ones so they could get a drink of water. One outside toilet for boys and one for girls. The only light we had for a number of years was the sunlight. In later years the building was wired. We were expected to follow or carry on the same schedule as the modern building and we really tried. 

All pupils that came to high school from Stockton, Girdletree, or Berlin or any other areas had to ride in covered trucks. The covering was used to protect them from the rain and snow. Some people found it difficult to ride such a long distance in a truck every day, so they found boarding places in Snow Hill until the weekend. Later there were a few buses to bring the people from Hutt’s and Friendship areas because they were closing those schools. Some had to be transferred to the Mount Wesley area.

We were able, with all of these problems to be eligible for the school lunch program. The meals were planned, and the lady next door prepared the food in her home. And the larger pupils and the teachers helped with the serving of the lunches. It helped so many pupils. 

Often, we had to wait days and sometimes weeks for any repair work that was needed to be done on the building. After 18 years of service I remember Snow Hill B slightly leaning on its foundation from a strong wind from a hurricane that came up the Atlantic Coast. It really was leaning...  we would be so nervous and when any of the supervisors any of them would come up we would say, do you think it’s safe for all of us?  Yes, I think it’s alright I don’t think there’s anything. It was slightly leaning on that foundation. We were scared to death to stay but we kept going.

INTERVIEWER: Now where in Snow Hill was that?

FLOSSIE: Up on Collins Street right there above where, well now it was burned down you know. It was right there across from our cemetery I would say in that space above Moore’s.

(Continues next Saturday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye.)

Early voting has started in Virginia.

 

(Shore Daily News)

The polls are open at registrar’s offices in Accomack and Northampton Counties.   The offices will open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.   Voters will be able to vote from now until November 2 at your local registrar’s office.  Voting in precincts is only on election day in November.  All early voters will need to bring an ID.

Registrars offices will be open for early voting the two Saturdays prior to election day.  The last day to register to vote for the upcoming election is October 15 again at your county registrar’s office.

Accomack Voters can vote at the registrar’s office at Sawmill Park in Accomac.  Northampton voters can vote at the registrars office on Courthouse Ave. in Eastville.

Funds reallocation puts Mayor Nock at odds with Worcester Commissioners.

 

FROM POCOMOKE MAYOR TODD NOCK:

During Tuesdays County Commissioners meeting, county leaders made a deeply troubling decision that has significant implications for Pocomoke City. The commissioners voted to reallocate infrastructure grant funds intended for our "Safe Paths" Initiative to the newly formed Pocomoke City Development Corporation (PCDC), completely ignoring our formal request.

Let me be clear: these funds were not up for grabs. They were promised to Pocomoke City for the specific purpose of repaving our roads and sidewalks to ensure the safety and mobility of our residents. In a letter dated August 29th, I requested the reallocation of $96,766 in unspent FY23 and FY24 grant funds for this very purpose. To my dismay, our request was barely discussed.

It is deeply disturbing that our commissioner would undermine our city because of personal grievances. As elected officials, we are entrusted with the responsibility to rise above personal conflicts and make decisions that are in the best interests of our communities. Instead, we were completely blindsided by this decision. The PCDC was not working with the city on this project prior to the commissioners' vote, and my office was not aware that they were even in consideration for the grant funds that had been earmarked for our town.

I am extremely disappointed in the county commissioners. This undermining must stop. While this decision is a snag in our road and sidewalk initiative, it will not stop our efforts. We remain committed to improving our city's infrastructure and safeguarding the well-being of our residents.

We will continue to fight for what is rightfully ours and ensure that our infrastructure projects proceed as planned.

Mayor Todd Nock

Wallops without the major P3 research operation addressed.

 

The Director of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility addressed the Accomack County Board of Supervisors this week regarding the recently announced plan to relocate one of NASA Wallops important operations.

(View Shore Daily News story:)

NASA Director addresses Accomack Board on transfer of P3 Aircraft to Langley - Shore Daily News

First inductees- Worcester County Public Schools Hall Of Fame-

 

(View announcement and pictures:)

First WCPS Hall of Fame Class Inducted | WORCESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (worcesterk12.org)

Anonymous

These inductees are just kids, still wet behind their ears. What about the true heroes like Louella Tatem, Tom Dorman, Floyd Bassett or even Verlin C. Krabill?

Pocomoke house fire-

 

(WMDT)

     Pocomoke Volunteer Fire Company picture.

(View news story:)

Pocomoke house fire under investigation - 47abc (wmdt.com)

Sheriff Crisafulli on SCHOOL SAFETY-

 

Worcester County,

I have spoken with many parents who have great concerns following today’s school safety alert. I want to ensure you that our children will always be the number one priority of both my administration and our school system officials. Their safety comes first, and it always has! 

Our recent investigations of social media threats found them to be non-credible. With that said, my team of School Resource Deputies (SRDs) will continue to investigate each threat that is brought to our attention.  We will act swiftly on these reported threats and handle them with the seriousness they deserve to ensure the safety of our students, school personnel and visitors.

To help us more efficiently address reports of this nature, here are a few tips to remember: 

 

DURING THE SCHOOL DAY: 

-  If your child shows you a screenshot or a post with a school-related threat, please immediately call 410-632–1112. If the threat was originated or seen at school, please ask to speak to the School Resource Division Supervisor. If the threat is deemed credible, you will receive further instructions from your child’s school. 

-  If your child is in school and sees a post or a screenshot of a concerning nature, they can immediately take it to the assigned School Resource Deputy or School Administrator for immediate action. 

OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS:

-  If your child shows you a screenshot of a post or school related threat, please immediately call 410-632-1112, and ask to speak to a Deputy. Relay all the information and concerns to that Deputy. They will take the appropriate action and contact the Supervisor of the School Resource Division to ensure that the investigation is conducted properly. If the threat is deemed credible, you will receive information from your child’s school with further instructions. 

ANONYMOUS REPORTING OPTIONS:

If you see something, say (and report) something! If your child hears or becomes aware of a threat against the school, they or a parent can anonymously report it to us two ways:

-  Use the Safe School TIPS section of our app. To download the Worcester Sheriff mobile app, please visit:

Worcester County Sheriff's Office (MD) App Store Links (myocv.com)

-  Use the Maryland Safe Schools Tipline by calling 1-833-MD-B-SAFE or online at www.SafeSchoolsMD.org .

Timing is critical, so we strongly encourage to report any concerns immediately upon hearing of a threat. We continue to work in unison with our school system and allied partners to ensure that we have the safest schools as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns on anything in this correspondence, please call the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office at 410-632-1112.

Thank you, Worcester County!

Sheriff Matthew Crisafulli

A new face on local TV news-

                                Tami Weber

(View Tami's bio:)

Tami Weber | Bios | wboc.com

Maryland's congressional delegation is rated-

Note: According to Wikipedia:

Sometimes identified as liberal-leaning, Common Cause has also been identified as nonpartisan and advocates government reform. It is identified with the reformist "good government" movement and is often described as a watchdog group.

Political reform group delivers report card on Maryland congressional delegation

 (View news article:)

Political reform group delivers report card on Maryland congressional delegation - Maryland Matters

UPDATE- School Safety.

 9/17/24

Worcester County Public Schools MD

In follow up to our previous School Safety message, the Worcester County Sheriff's Office has notified WCPS that the previously referenced nationwide social media threat has been deemed non-credible. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our families throughout this matter, and we thank the Worcester County Sheriff's Office for their continued partnership.

(Previous)

Worcester County Public Schools and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office are aware of a nationwide social media threat that has been circulating. The Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of the post circulating within our community since yesterday evening. WCPS wants to make all of our families aware that this threat is being investigated by law enforcement, and out of an abundance of caution, an increased presence of law enforcement will be at our schools today.  Schools are operating as normal today.  We thank the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office for their continued partnership on this matter.

'Dining With Docs' at Dockside-

 

The Atlantic General Hospital Foundation is pleased to announce its upcoming ‘Dining with Docs’ event, to be held Wednesday, September 25, at 12:30 p.m. at Dockside Pocomoke Restaurant.

The event gives participants the opportunity to connect with a medical provider in an informal, relaxed setting, in which they can ask questions and learn about the provider’s area of expertise. The featured provider is Dr. Nikki, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES, Atlantic General Hospital’s diabetes education coordinator, who will discuss diabetes management techniques, common myths surrounding diabetes and examples of low-carb snacks and drinks. Dr. Nikki will be open to questions throughout the entirety of the lunch.

Participants will be treated to a buffet-style lunch catered by the host Dockside Pocomoke Restaurant. Admission is $20 per person, and RSVPs can be sent to AGH Foundation’s Michael Cylc at duckltd@aol.com .

Smith Island-

 

Golf cart mishap turns deadly.

 

(From media reports)

A 54-year-old man died early Sunday afternoon in a mishap involving a golf cart he was driving.  Virginia State Police said Robert Jude Vandornick Jr. took a curve too short and drove over an embankment.  The golf cart overturned and landed on top of him.  Location of the accident was given as Robin Lane in Horntown, within the Trails End Campground.

Medical waste closed area beaches Sunday.

 (WRDE)

OCEAN CITY, Md. — Medical waste, such as hypodermic needles, have been reported to wash ashore Sunday in Fenwick Island, Ocean City, Dewey Beach, the Indian River Inlet and Assateague Island. The waste is prompting multiple beach closures, according to authorities.

(View WRDE news story:)

UPDATE: Medical waste washes ashore, prompting beach closures across Delmarva | News | coasttv.com

(View WBOC video news story:)

Medical Waste Washes Ashore Delmarva Coast | Local News | wboc.com