Pocomoke Fire Company and the Community Center have windows on Christmas past & present

Stop by the Community Center at the  Pocomoke Fire House and see the charming Christmas windows created for the season.  These are created with lots of nostalgic charm, artistry and creative thought, sure to delight viewers of any age.  I was impressed with the interesting antiques, including an original sign from the soda fountain of the old F.W. Woolworth's store of years ago!

Remember the days when shoppers would descend on downtown Pocomoke to socialize and shop to make the little one's wishes come true?  Did you get a soda at the "dime store" or Clarke's Pharmacy?   Do you have a story to share with our readers about those wonderful days when downtown was bustling on a weekend evening? Make sure you see the collection of nostalgic toys in this window depicting Christmas past!

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads!"  From the favorite Christmas story, "A Night Before Christmas", written by Clement Moore, this window shows a quiet Santa filling the stockings in front of a fireplace.    Did someone read the story over and over and over again when you were young?  Can you recite it from memory today?  

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, are you?  Winter wonderland!  Icicles and snowmen , lights and a train, give this window some sparkle and evoke those memories of going "Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house" for the holidays.  In our case, we took the kids and dog over the Bay Bridge-- but you get the idea!


Put the kids in the mom mobile and stop by the fire house to see these windows!  They tell me that a "right jolly old elf" is arriving by helicopter today at 4 pm!  Come and see!  Get your picture taken with Santa!  Give him your wish list!  

Pocomoke City Police Department Christmas Party and Award Ceremony

Friday night Chief Kelvin Sewell hosted the annual Christmas party and award ceremony for the Pocomoke City Police Department.  About 100 people attended the function held in the beautiful Community Center at the fire house.   After a meal of Eastern Shore favorites, Chief Sewell announced that Sgt. Arthur Hancock was this year's Officer of the Year.  On receiving the award, Sgt. Hancock spoke briefly and acknowledged that his award was possible because of a great team of fellow officers.  Last night's event  had another reason for celebration, Chief Sewell's daughter graduated from UMES in the morning, with family members present from Baltimore!

Worcester County Commissioner Diana Purnell, Pocomoke City Councilmen Rob Clarke & Rev. George Tasker, Councilwoman Diane  Downing, Mayor Bruce Morrison joined Chief Kelvin Sewell & Lt. Craven in congratulating all the officers and support staff for a job well done in 2014.

Sgt. Arthur Hancock was named Officer of the Year by Chief Sewell.

Chief Sewell had a few words to say about the good job done by his officers in the last year.

Sgt. Arthur Hancock said a few  kind words about the Chief.   Hancock and Craven then gave a unique gift to Chief Sewell, recognizing his police service here and in Baltimore City.  The shadow box has badges dating back to 1988 when Sewell first served as an officer on the Baltimore City Police Force.

This display will be an attractive addition to Chief Sewell's office wall.  Thank you for your service, Chief.

December General Membership Luncheon to be Postponed

Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control, the Hartley Hall Nursing & Rehabilitation Center will be unable to host our December General Membership Luncheon next week (Dec 17). They have rescheduled it for Wednesday, January 21, 2015.
At that time our PACC officers will give a short presentation.
There will be NO General Membership Luncheon for December.
More info to follow.

Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commerce

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview

1968.. Big giveaway in holiday promotion by Pocomoke businesses; 1883.. A popular holiday item on the Eastern Shore of Virginia; 1894..Train excursion to Pocomoke City for Christmas shopping; 1908.. View this Christmas ad by a leading Pocomoke City merchant; ; 1885.. A new hotel in Girdletree; 1968.. She served Pocomoke City for 30 years; 1916.. Sears Catalog Christmas decorations.

Although you may not find all of these items in a history book, they are a part of our local history and you can read more about it this Sunday right here at The Pocomoke Public Eye.   

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!

Ferguson Rioting and Looting; Michael Brown

Salisbury Md Christmas Parade Protest

Post by Heather Williams.

Post by Heather Williams.

LAST DAY TO RSVP FOR DECEMBER 11th BAH!

Do you know some deserving individuals?

Please take a moment and consider nominating a person for one of the Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commerce's three awards recognized yearly at our Annual Dinner.  This year the event will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2015 and will have a Mardi Gras theme.

The three award categories are Business Person of the Year, Community at Heart Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award.  Nominations are due at the Chamber office no later than Monday, December 8, 2014.  

Thank you!

Nomination applications can be downloaded at

pocomoke.com

Annual Reverend Tom Wall Memorial Pancake Dinner

The dinner is held annually to honor the memory of Rev. Thomas Wall who was active in making the Samaritan Shelter a warm and protective temporary home for persons who need a warm bed, a hot meal and some companionship during a hard time.  Life is not always easy.  Now managed by Ms Shelly Daniels, the dinner is still an annual event where you see all your neighbors and friends, out for a good meal, and great conversation.   At this year's dinner, Mayor Bruce Morrison presented a check for $3000 to the shelter for their continued expenses.  Shelly Daniels accepted the check from our mayor.  Other funds were raised here through donation cans on the tables and proceeds from the ticket sales.

TIME MACHINE ... 1941,1967, 1887, 1974, 1933, 1885, 1900.

"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; it 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)


Prior to this week's Time Machine items let's take note of December 7, 1941.

December, 1967
Marylander And Herald (Princess Anne)

Holly Auction Set For Dec. 13 In Fruitland

The holly auction at Fruitland will be held Wednesday, December 13, beginning at 10 a.m.

Louis Carey, one of the main buyers, said there will probably be about 50 people show up with wreathes. Maybe there will be 3,000 wreathes offered.

"It's a long way from what the auction used to be," he said.  "It's just about done."

In recent years the number of wreath makers has dwindled to a point where only one sale day is necessary. At one time there were three of more sale days.

Mr. Carey said that this year may have more wreathes than last because of the abundance of holly berries this year. Trees are beautiful, just hanging with berries, he said.

At one time most of the wreathes were sent to city markets. Last year he sent only one small lot to the city.

The Fruitland holly wreath auction is the only such auction known in the world. It is the only place where natural wreathes are sold.

Footnote: From the City Of Fruitland website.. The Fruitland logo incorporates the holly on each side. That is because (the) holly tree is native to the moist woods of Somerset, Worcester, Wicomico and Dorchester Counties. Fruitland held the first (and largest) holly auction every year for three days in December, from the late 1890s until December 1968. The demand for homemade wreaths decreased as artificial wreaths were manufactured. Besides holly, mistletoe was also sold by the bushel basket at the auctions. Wreaths were sold and shipped to brokers in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, but sometimes were shipped as far west as Chicago.


 November, 1887 (Time Machine archive)

The Herald And Torchlight (Hagerstown, Md)

Agents from Farmington, Del., have been in Princess Anne, Somerset County, for several days collecting holly twigs with berries on them.  The twigs are packed in small boxes made for the purpose and shipped direct to Chicago, St. Louis, and Canada, and are used for decorating purposes.  Those who have holly are making a good thing out of it.

 August, 1974
(The DailyTimes- Salisbury)

(Ad)

AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 1974, THE MARVA THEATER IN POCOMOKE CITY WILL SLIGHTLY INCREASE ITS ADMISSION PRICES...

For many years, the Marva Theatre has boasted of the lowest admission prices on the entire Eastern Shore. Now, due to higher expenses of films, film delivery, supplies, maintenance, electricity and heat, a slight increase in prices must be made .. New prices, starting September 1st, will be Adults $1.50, Children 75c, with R rated pictures at all seats $1.50. These new prices will probably still be the lowest on the Shore . . Service charge on all passes will increase from 25c to 50c each ... No X rated pictures are ever shown, a fact that has brought many fine comments to the management. All the best G, PG, and a few R rated will be shown to continue the policy of a "family type old fashion movie house" with a friendly greeting to everyone. 

Footnote: Word around town was that theater operator J. Dawson Clarke would remove snips of film that he felt were not suitable for family viewing. 

March, 1933
The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Md.)

Assembly Must Act Quick Or Many Sections Of State Out Of Luck

BALTIMORE, March 22 (JP) Unless there is quick action in the state General Assembly before its adjournment April 4, more than half of Maryland will be unable to take advantage of legalized beer. 

So intricate are the liquor laws of the state that they present the appearance of a jig saw puzzle.

Eleven of the 23 counties are bone dry; eight have restrictions on importations; two others are wet in spots and only two counties are wide open. Baltimore City, which is a distinct sub-division and not in any county, is wet for the most part but forbids sale of beer or liquor in certain sections.

Baltimore City has already prepared a bill for presentation in the Legislature repealing all old liquor laws and enacting a new law with a new scale of license taxes and new regulations as to sale. Counties are taking steps to repeal their laws. 

The two counties now wide open are Montgomery, which is adjacent to the District of Columbia and includes many of Washington's more exclusive suburbs, and Allegany.

Cumberland, the state's second largest city, has wet and dry spots. Annapolis, the state capital, located in Anne Arundel county, is wide open. 

Most of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, on the Delmarva peninsula, has a "gallon a month" law. These counties are Somerset, Wicomico, Worcester, Kent, Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Queen Anne's.

Garrett, Prince Georges, St. Mary's, Harford, Washington, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Howard (with the exception of Ellicott City) and Charles counties are bone dry.

January, 1885 
Peninsula Enterprise (Accomac Court House)

The Eastern Shore Mails.

Reprinted from Baltimore Sun.

The petition to the Postmaster-General that the Eastern Shore Steamboat Company be allowed to retain the contract for the mails between this city and Somerset and Worcester counties, Md., and Accomac and Northampton counties, Va., sets forth that the steamboats are necessary for the prompt delivery of mail at points inaccessible by rail; that the shipments from the section of country indicated are largely perishable in their nature; that the proposed change to the railroad service would operate disastrously both here and in the country, and requests that definite action be withheld until the business men here can be heard further in the premises. 


 For Christmas, 1900!

                                                             

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!


"Somewhere Over The
Rainbow Bluebirds
fly.."

Flying On For JMMB.
Her Pocomoke Public
Eye postings (April,
2008 to June, 2014)
kept us informed.