Fire Investigation Update

(From WBOC.com)

Juvenile Charges Pending After Pocomoke Warehouse Fire

Posted: Apr 13, 2016 11:01 AM EDTUpdated: Apr 13, 2016 5:16 PM EDT

POCOMOKE, Md. - State fire marshals have ruled that three children started a fire at a vacant warehouse in Pocomoke Sunday night.

According to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, investigators determined the fire began on the a second floor of the 18,000 square foot building. Fire marshals did not specify how the three kids, ranging in age from nine to 11, started the fire, only that the cause was "incendiary."

The individuals have been identified and referred to the Department of Juvenile Services on several fire related charges, state fire marshals said.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

Pocomoke Fire Investigation

The State Fire Marshal's office is seeking information on Pocomoke's spectacular fire Sunday night at the former Somerset Packing Company building. Anyone having information regarding the fire is asked to to call (410) 713-3780.

                                                                  (Lorie Ann Strout photo via WBOC.com)

See article at http://www.wboc.com/story/31690907/fire-ruins-warehouse-building-in-pocomoke-city

TIME MACHINE.. 1922, 1960, 1891, 1949.

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


April, 1922 (Time Machine Archive)
Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Va.)

FROST BLACKENS EASTERN SHORE'S BIG POTATO FIELDS

Great Territory of Growing Vines Nipped by Cold Wave.

(By Associated Press)
CAPE CHARLES, VA., April 24,.- A Killing frost, with ice, covered the entire peninsula from Delaware through Maryland, and down to the lower end of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, in Accomac and Northampton Counties Saturday and Sunday nights, with resultant damages to crops in all sections.

Through the Eastern Shore of Virginia in Northampton and Accomac Counties, potato fields are today black with frost-killed potatoes. Farmers of this section are hard hit, especially after last year's short crop. 

Before Saturday night the potato fields in this section were pictures of well-advanced vines. Today they look as if a fire had swept over them.

November, 1960

(The Salisbury Times)

November, 1891

(The News, Frederick, Md.)

May, 1949

(The Maryland Gazette, Annapolis)

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Your Opportunity To Comment

Time Machine.. 1975, 1843, 1920's.

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

December, 1975..

(The Daily Times, Salisbury)  

1843..

                    

1920's..

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Spring Clean Up!

TIME MACHINE.. 1968, 1922, 1904, 1948.

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

November, 1968..

(The Daily Times, Salisbury)

The Empire Theater, pictured below, survived the devastating Pocomoke City fire of 1922 along with other buildings on the west side of Market Street,

(Pocomoke City Fire Department picture)

1948.. Gas Refrigerator

Servel manufactured gas and kerosene powered refrigerators, gas air conditioners, and gas water heaters. The company was in existence from 1927 to 1956.

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New Job For Former Chief Sewell

The Baltimore Sun reports that former Pocomoke City Police Chief Kelvin Sewell has been hired as a contract employee of the Baltimore State's Attorney's office as an investigator.

The Sun's article, including their version of Chief Sewell's departure from the Pocomoke City police department, is here if you care to read their take on the story..

 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-sewell-states-attorney-hired-20160322-story.html

Honors For Pocomoke High Principal!

                         (Daily Times photo)


Pocomoke High School Principal Annette Wallace receives Principal Of The Year honors!

Read article..

http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2016/03/21/head-class-pocomokes-wallace-wins-principal-award/81981848/

TIME MACHINE..1975, 1899, 1910, 1960.

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

January, 1975

(The Capital, Annapolis, Md.)

March, 1899

(The Evening Times, Washington, D.C.)

April, 1910

          

              

(The Times Dispatch, Richmond, Va.)

May, 1960

(The Salisbury Times)

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TIME MACHINE.. 1925, 1905.

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

March, 1925

(The Denton Journal, Denton, Md.)

1905

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Comments..

Have an opinion to express or an item of interest to share with Pocomoke Public Eye readers?

TIME MACHINE ... 1942, 1922, 1948

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

January, 1942

                 

(The Salisbury Times)

April, 1922   
(Maryland State Archives)

Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1922


Be it Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the State Roads Commission be, and is hereby requested to complete as soon as practical, the road from Pocomoke to Stockton, via Girdletree to Snow Hill, from Snow Hill to Public Landing, from Snow Hill to Salisbury, from Bishop to Bishopville, from Berlin to Powellville, via Liberty, from Trappe Mills to 
Lower Sinepuxent, from Showell to St. Martin's Station, from Showell to Gray's Corner...


1948

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Save This Date..

TIME MACHINE ... 1967, 1909, 1975.

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

November, 1967

July, 1909

(Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, Pa.)

1975

A TV commercial from the 1970's..  "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun."  View it here: 

http://www.bestoldcommercials.com/mcdonalds-big-mac-jingle/



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Worcester CCC Camp

A recent comment regarding the old CCC Camp between Pocomoke City and Snow Hill:

RangerJ said...

For more information on the CCC camp located near Milburn's Landing, see http://milburnccc.weebly.com

The site is more a repository for facts and guesses than a real website but it does have a couple of photos, including an undated one of the whole crew at one point in time.

If you do visit the site, especially if you have some facts or memories to share, please use the respond button near the top right of the page.

I am interested in hearing stories about the camp, identifying enrollees, and seeing photos.

(Time Machine posting from October, 2015.)

January, 1935 (Time Machine archive)
(The Titusville Herald- Titusville, Pa.)

LIFE IN CCC CAMP

Editor Of The Herald.

Dear Sir:-  I am a CCC boy and my home is in Diamond, Pa. My folks and friends take The Titusville Herald and (I) would like to have you publish this letter.  You may send me a copy of it.

My temporary home is now in the CCC Co. No. 1318 S-62 Snow Hill, Md.  I enlisted on October 8, 1934 for a period of six months, was sent to Fort Meade, Md., for a medical examination and a few simple army and camp instructions.

I was kept at Fort Meade for six weeks and later sent here to my temporary home.

This camp is located in amongst large pines of varying heights, 100 to 150 feet, and off the state highway about 1/2 mile, between Pocomoke City and Snow Hill, Md.

We have a good outfit here, the best in the third corps area, with 250 boys. Life here is different than on the outside.  It builds up the boys physically and mentally. Every day is something different, so we get some experience here that was never done on the outside,- from dish washing down on the line to cutting trees in swamps and changing clothes after falling in a swamp hole.  Therefore, we are being prepared for everything that gets in our way in the line of work and play.

I am in the CCC going on four months and like it quite well, except for dish washing which I get for Sunday K.P. about twice a month, which means standing over a big tub  3 x 3 x 4 feet, filled with water and soap, standing there for three solid hours except for about a half hour or so of gold bricking, washing 250 plates, knives, spoons, forks, cups and bowls, not to mention what other boys on K.P. have to do with greasy pots and pans.  I mean its fun if you take it that way.

Although we get plenty to eat, some outsiders say that we are being fed too well, for some of the boys look like as if they were over fed.  It isn't the eats, its the G.I. grease.  It gives us strength and health, with lots of fresh air, which we need to cut down those pines which are of varying heights.

Our work here consists of cutting down defective trees, clearing away underbrush, and building fire trails.

One thousand acres of state forest land here have to be cleared and it will take the rest of our two months to put a kink in it. Most of the boys are excellent workers and are rated according to their work.  Now, I mean when we work, it's work.   

We ride to work on trucks and to see us coming resembles a funeral.  Five stake body trucks and ten dump trucks, all loaded with men.  We ride to work and back for we have 1 1/2 miles to go.

We work 40 hours a week, 8 hours a day, rain or shine. Saturday afternoon and Sunday we get off.  Saturday morning until noon we have to work in camp.  In camp- scrub barracks floor, wash clothes, clean windows, stoves and arrange our clothing for inspection.  After dinner is dress inspection.  We line up in front of the U.S. flag on the parade grounds, stand at attention until the captain O. K.'s our dress.  Then we are free to roam anywhere until 6 a. m. Monday morning.  We have to sign in the recreation hall on a book when we come back or leave camp, so as to keep tally on us.  Anyone leaving camp without signing out gets extra duty of 72 hours in the kitchen as K. P.

Monday mornings we must all be in camp.  Reveille is at 6:45 a.m.  The sergeant in the barracks yells out , "crawl out, boys, and push on the mops."  We have to mop the floor every morning besides Saturday, make our bunk, and eat chow at 7 a. m. 7:30 a. m. we polish up the camp area, pick up all match sticks,  paper and cigarette stubs that have been thrown away carelessly over Saturday and Sunday. 8 a. m. call for work detail, line up and be on our way with axes and saws, to the wood, ready to do work and fill the woods with the ringing of the saws and and echoes of our axes, until 4 p. m., when the days work is done.

Hurrah for the CCC, for every boy is a man when he leaves.

Now friends, if you doubt what I've said come down to Co. No. 1318 S-62 CCC Snow Hill, Md., at your own expense and find out.

Your CCC friend,

Steve J. Brenner 

Movie "War Room" To Be Shown

TIME MACHINE .... 1845, 1941, 1968.

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

June, 1845

                                 


 February, 1941

(Wilkes-Barre Times Leader,The Evening News. Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

1968

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ALCOHOL RETAILERS CHECKED

      ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE CHECKS CONDUCTED IN SOMERSET COUNTY

February 19, 2016

(Somerset County, MD) On Wednesday, February 17, 2016, troopers from the Maryland State Police and officers from the Princess Anne Police Department conducted a collaborative effort and performed numerous alcohol compliance checks at retail establishments in Somerset County.

Law enforcement officers throughout Somerset County ensured that various retail establishments which hold a Somerset County Liquor License are denying sales of alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 21 years old.

A total of 18 retail establishments were checked.  The following retail establishments complied with the provisions of the law and denied the sale of alcoholic beverage to minors:

• Arby’s General Store, Wenona, Maryland
• Brew Thru, Crisfield, Maryland
• Eden Quick Stop, Eden, Maryland
• Junior’s Stop and Shop, Princess Anne, Maryland
• Kash and Karry, Princess Anne, Maryland
• Oscar’s Bar and Grill, Princess Anne, Maryland
• Peaky’s Restaurant, Princess Anne, Maryland
• Goose Creek, Princess Anne, Maryland
• Somer’s Cove Market, Crisfield, Maryland
• Spike’s Pub and Subs, Princess Anne, Maryland
• Dash Inn, Westover, Maryland
• Goose Creek, Westover, Maryland
• Crisfield Oceanic, Crisfield, Maryland
• Shore Stop, Crisfield, Maryland
• King’s Creek Market, Princess Anne, Maryland
• 
  

The following retail establishments were not in compliance with the provisions of the law and sold alcoholic beverages to a minor:

• Somerset County Liquor Dispensary, Princess Anne, Maryland
• Becky’s Market, Princess Anne, Maryland
• Lucky’s Last Chance, Chance, Maryland
• 
  

The establishments which sold alcoholic beverages will be required to appear before the Somerset County Liquor Board and face possible sanctions from that board. The individuals who sold alcoholic beverages to a person under the age of 21 years old will be required to appear in the District Court of Maryland for Somerset County for selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of 21 years old.

In an effort to reduce the access of alcoholic beverages to minors, Troopers and Officers will continue with unannounced compliance checks to ensure that alcoholic beverages stay out of the hands of minors.  With homecoming activities going on at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, St. Patrick’s Day, and Washington High School and Crisfield High School’s proms right around the corner, law enforcement will be making a collaborative effort to ensure the safety of our youth.  After the compliance checks were conducted, establishments were provided with educational literature which can be used to help them determine the authenticity of identification documents.  This collaborative effort amongst law enforcement partners will continue throughout the year in an effort to keep everyone safe.

Funding for this initiative was provided by the Somerset County Local Management Board Inc.

Astronomy Program At Wallops

Winter Astronomy Series  

Lagoon Nebula

Credits: Mike Potter

February 19, and March 18

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

The NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center will continue the Astronomy and Night Sky Winter Series on Friday, February 19 from 7 – 10 p.m.

During each event, participants will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities that include an Astronomy 101 presentation, astronomy-themed movies, and hands-on activities and crafts. The Delmarva Space Sciences Foundation will be on-site to provide expertise and high-powered telescope views of objects in the winter night sky.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will occur regardless of weather, however, telescope viewing is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. 

TIME MACHINE

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

January, 1970

                                                      

(The Daily Times, Salisbury)

The armory, of course, was later acquired by Pocomoke City and for many years was home to our police department, but is there still a future for the building?  Last month at a meeting of Citizens For A Better Pocomoke there was a suggestion to form a volunteer group to look into saving the armory. Here are some recent comments from Pocomoke Public Eye readers. If you have an opinion about the armory please leave your comment.

good luck saving the armory, I would start fundraising immediately and ask the city to donate the building to your organization, all you would need to do is pay the taxes each year and the city would be glad to give it to you probably. last i saw, you could still use the gym

Forget the armory, even if the City gives it to you for free. It's a fire trap and the insurance premiums would be astronomical. Liability insurance would be out of sight, as well. Repairs to the plumbing and heating systems would bankrupt any civic organization. There is a reason it is vacant; no one with any business sense is willing to touch it.

Sorry to say, but you may as well forget the armory. The building is almost 100 years old and is basically a toxic waste site. It is loaded with asbestos, lead paint, lead from the bullets in the shooting range, mold and mildew. The city received a very cursory estimate to rehab the building and bring it up to current code. That estimate exceeded one million dollars. The plumbing, heating and electrical systems are all obsolete. Slim is right, there is a reason the building is empty. It needs to be torn down and the sooner the better.

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