January, 1942
(The Salisbury Times)
WORCESTER TO HAVE BLACKOUT TEST JAN. 14
Practice To Be Held In All Sections Of County
(Excerpts)
Snow Hill, Jan. 8- Darkness will envelope 16 towns and villages throughout Worcester County next Wednesday night, during a one-half hour practice blackout, sponsored by the Worcester County Council of Defense.
The county-wide test, largest in scope yet attempted in Maryland, will be held between the hours of 10p.m. and 12 midnight.
Initial steps for the practice blackout were taken today when Sheriff J. William Hall, County Chief of Public Safety and Police, began the task of deputizing each of the 56 air raid wardens.
Fire sirens and steam whistles in all county towns and villages will be the signal for the blackout.
Maryland State Troopers are expected to assist in the test. Troopers will be stationed at all highways entering Worcester County and will halt all incoming traffic. County roads bordering Delaware, Wicomico county, Somerset county and the Eastern Shore of Virginia will be patrolled.
Worcester County towns and villages that have completed plans for the simultaneous blackout next Wednesday night are Bishopville, Showell, Friendship, Berlin, St. Martins, Whaleyville, Taylorsville, Ocean City, Newark, Public Landing, Snow Hill, Girdletree, Stockton, Goodwill and Pocomoke City.
Final instructions to the public of Worcester County on what to do will be given by qualified civilian air raid wardens at seven county meetings to be held tomorrow night at eight o'clock.
Footnote: (From previous postings)
The preceding month Eastern Shore residents and other Marylanders were urged to tune in to a special statewide radio broadcast "When The Blitz Comes, Know Your Task." In February, 1942, an enemy submarine torpedoed and sank a freighter just 23 miles off of Ocean City. The next month a complete blackout of Ocean City was ordered by Maryland's State Defense Council until a plan could be devised to prevent light reflections that could silhouette ships on the ocean. The same month the executive director for Civil Defense for Maryland issued a warning to all county defense directors that every Eastern Shore county must immediately put partial blackouts into effect every night until further notice.
December, 1898
The assistance of Pocomoke and Salisbury firemen, arriving by rail, was credited with preventing a major blaze in Princess Anne from spreading throughout the town. The fire claimed the Somerset Hotel and a number of other structures but according to a published news report: but for the promptness with which the adjacent cities of Salisbury and Pocomoke responded to the call for aid the entire town might now be in ruins.
August, 1900
(The Denton Journal)
It is proposed to change the name of Ocean City, Md., to Sinepuxent or Isle Of Wight.
August, 1950
(The Denton Journal)
REED-SCOTT STOCK CAR FEATURE WINNERS
Pocomoke City Raceway was the scene of 3 ten lap heats and a 30-lap feature race on Sunday with Norris Reed of Denton driving car No. 38 owned by Mary and Ed Henry to victory in the 15-mile thriller. Reed defeated such veteran drivers as Bill Scott in car No. 1, Jack Jones of car 75 and Roland Sammons driving No. 24 to turn the fast 1/2 mile track in 15 minutes and 21 seconds. A beautiful wrist watch was Reed's prize as feature winner.
Footnote: Pocomoke stock car races were held at the track on the old Fair Grounds.
February, 1960
A heart attack claimed the life of Pocomoke City's young mayor, Dr. Fred Parsons. The 36-year-old dentist opened his practice in 1953 when he moved to Pocomoke and was elected mayor in 1958.
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