TIME MACHINE ... 1921, 1928, 1907, 1961, 1889, 1892

"Friendliest Town On The Eastern Shore."  Our tradition runs deep.  Excerpt from a letter to the editor from a visitor to Newtown, (former name of Pocomoke City) published in the Baltimore Sun, April 28,1847.

This place (Newtown) is a pretty snug little village, containing about 500 clever and hospitable inhabitants; is 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 archive/historical archive material)

July, 1921
The Washington Herald (Washington, D.C.)

Fishermen on Eastern Shore Catch Huge Shark

EXMORE, Va., July 26.-  Fishermen of the Walker Fish Company, of Willis Wharf, have caught what is thought to have been the largest shark ever seen on the Eastern Shore. The monster measured ten feet, six inches in circumference; the distance across its jaws, which encased six rows of vicious looking teeth, being twenty-four inches, and its weight 1,200 pounds.

Upon being dissected the shark was said to contain several smaller sharks and a large sea turtle. The skin, which served as a protecting armor plate, was more than half an inch thick, with a rough surface sufficiently sharp to lacerate the hands of the twenty-odd fishermen who participated in its capture. 

1928

In the 1920's and 1930's Worcester Countian Dale Wimbrow, of Whaleyville, gained acclaim as a composer, recording artist, and writer both away from his Eastern Shore home and locally. Here on the Shore his most popular recording was "The Good Old Eastern Shore."
  
Listen to the recording at the link below, and see more info in the footnote. 

http://jnjreid.com/cdb/TheGoodOldEasternShore.mp3

Footnote:

(From Wikipedia)

Dale Wimbrow (June 6, 1895 – 1954) was an American composer, radio artist and writer. He is best known for the poem, The Guy in the Glass, written in 1934. Earlier in his career, he created several musical recordings in the still-young recording industry, and was known as "The Del-Mar-Va Songster". He occasionally recorded with a quartet of musicians known as the "Rubeville Tuners", and he was also sometimes known as Peter Dale.

Wimbrow's early career was in music and radio. Under his own name and as Old Pete Daley of Whaleysville, he became known for his records and radio performances with orchestras. His credits include a number of recordings in the 1920s, in which he performed as the solo vocalist, and often as his own accompanist (on the ukulele). The majority of those songs were his own creation, and he began turning to songwriting almost exclusively in the later part of the decade. Perhaps his best-known musical composition was the 1930 jazz tune entitled "Accordion Joe". Played by Duke Ellington's band, it appeared that same year as the soundtrack to an animated short film of the same name, starring Betty Boop. The tune has appeared several times over the years in Duke Ellington compilation albums.  

January, 1907
The Crisfield Times

Marion

The article about shelling the streets of Marion, two weeks ago, in the "Times," has been the leading topic of conversation here ever since. It's something that every body wants done. Your correspondent was talking with one of the commissioners a few days ago with reference to shelling our streets. We have an able, broad minded and public Spirited Board of commissioners and we have great confidence in them and trust it will not be betrayed. Shell the streets of Marion and make everybody happy.

September, 1961
The Salisbury Times

(Excerpt)

Pocomoke Students Awarded Certificates

POCOMOKE CITY-  Nine students from the ninth and tenth grades at Pocomoke High School have been awarded Certificates of Merit for finishing in the top one quarter of the State in National Education Develpment tests given last spring.

Those receiving certificates at Pocomoke were: Mary Linda Bailey, John R. Bloxom, Steve M. Jenkins, Anna Sue Lankford, Wayne A. Powell, and Rebecca L. Timmons in the ninth grade; and Barry Spinak, Wilson Sturgis, and Christine Lundstedt in the tenth grade.

July, 1889 (Time Machine archive)
The New York Times

SNOW HILL, Md., July 29-  A rainstorm surpassing all previous ones that have fallen this year in Worcester County began here early Thursday morning last and continued with increased fury throughout Friday.  All railroad communication has been cut off since Friday in consequence of numerous wash-outs, and it will probably be several days before trains can again commence running.

Purnell's Mill, near Snow Hill, was completely swept away Friday night, together with a bridge and a large portion of a dam.  With this last storm is swept away the last remnant of hope for the growing crops in Worcester.  A few farmers most favorably situated will perhaps raise half an average crop of corn, while many others will raise none.

January, 1882
Peninsula Enterprise (Accomac Court House)

Sheep Raising.

We find from the United States census report of 1880 that Accomac county produced 5,379 fleeces from the sheep raised in 1880. Why this quantity should not be ten timeas as large we fail to see. This is sheep country. Everything indicates that this husbandry might be made to produce even more to our farmers than that of sweet potatoes. The grazing and climate are all that could be desired. One thing, and one thing only is in the way of sheep raising — the everlasting "yaller dog" is now, has been, and will be an obstacle, until they are thinned out. How this may be done is the problem. Let us hear from our intelligent farmers on the subject.


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!



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