Sunday, March 25, 2012

TIME MACHINE ... "Oh, give me spring by Pocomoke..."

(Reader-friendly viewing of newspaper archives material)

 

May, 1916

(The Washington Post)

ALONG THE SHORES OF POCOMOKE

Folger McKinsey in Baltimore Sun.

Along the shores of Pocomoke the pines and cypress creep,

The honeysuckle buds are out, the winds of morning sweep.

The water laps the twisted boles and round the cypress knees,

The inky flood still comes and goes through all the centuries.

A quiet land of charm and dream,

Where life still sweet and clean

Smiles through the summer's silver gleam

In leagues of living green.

Along the shores of Pocomoke the laurel rears it head,

The air is sweet with southern sun where southern memories tread.

Mimosas and acacias wave their fronded boughs in air,

And life forgets its troubled dreams and lays aside its care.

A lovely world of wood and glade,

Of evergreen and flower,

Where down the river's accolade

Life sweetens hour by hour.

Along the shores of Pocomoke the trumpet flowers are fair,

The sweet Virginia creeper climbs, the wild grape haunts the air.

The cedar and the pine are twins, the cypress dark and sweet,

Kneels to the inky tide that flows in music at its feet.

Oh, give me spring by Pocomoke,

And make a whole life mine.

When honeysuckle comes to deck

The honeysuckle vine! 

 

Pocomoke Area's Early History

(The Daily Times- Salisbury... July 4, 1976 Bicentennial Edition)

(Excerpt)

In the late 1600's and early 1700's people in Worcester County lived largely by hunting and fishing. At Steven's Landing, now Pocomoke City, game was abundant. Deer, bear, and many kinds of waterfowl and fowl were easy to get. A turkey was easy to bag.

The river teemed with fish- rock, catfish, drum, herring, shad, sturgeon and others.

The most important industry was trading of furs. Steven's Landing led in this trade. Furs sent from this section were about one-half the total amount sent from Maryland to the fur markets. One shipment contained nine bear, 42 beaver, 70 otter, 893 mink, 20 wildcats, 2,084 raccoons, 445 fox, 239 dozen muskrats and five cubs.

 

June, 1886

(The Petersburg Daily Index-Appeal - Petersburg, Va.)

The increase in Foxes along the Eastern Shore accounts for the scarcity of diamond back terrapins. The fox regards terrapin eggs as a special delicacy, and during the breeding season, tracks the terrapin in the sand, snatches up the freshly laid eggs and devours them. - Eastern Shore Herald.

 

 

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. Your name won't be used unless you ask that it be. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

1 comment:

  1. Tk- Another great post full of information. Most of all Thank you for finding the poem. That's just great! Never knew it existed.

    ReplyDelete

All comments are the sole responsibility of the poster