Wilcher Park

Wilcher Park is east of Holloway Town and North of the Elementary school.  It is located in Delmar Maryland.  The development is located on the 200/300 block of Popular Street and Spruce Street and most of it is outside of Delmar, Maryland town limits.  The original 1958 Plat called for 28 houses. Wilcher is a combination of the son and daughter names of the developer J. William Gordy.  Most of the homes are the “rancher” style from the 1960’s  and in fact most were built in the 1960’s.  As was the thing for developments of that era there are not sidewalks in the development, with the exception of those lots bordering Second Street which are in the town limits.  The rest of the lots are out of the town limits with the exception of four lots that are split between being part in town and part out of town.   The development was owned by J. William Gordy Fuel Co and was developed by J. William Gordy.  The lot sizes are generally about a quarter acre (85 ft by 140 ft) .  Due to the lot size Wicomico County would not allow them to drill a well and have a sewage system on the each lot.  There was an agreement signed that the town of Delmar would provide sewage to the lot owner when they built on their lot and the owner of the lot would provide a well of their own.  

1935 Esslingers Ale

1935
Esslinger Brewing was in business from 1873-1920 and again after Prohibition from 1933 to 1964.  One of several large regional breweries that operated in Philadelphia in the 1940s and 1950s it used the little Esslinger waiter on its logo for many years .

Locked in Box Car 1914

Boy Locked in Box Car

Ernest Henderson, eighteen years of age, was saved from death from starvation at Seaford Thursday morning.  Car Inspector O. O. Ellis was making a trip through the freight yard, when he was attracted by faint cries from a refrigerator car, and found the young man helpless from cold and lack of food.

After partly regaining his strength the young man told his rescuers that he had boarded a freight train in Wilmington about a week, ago, With the intention of beating his way to Delmar to visit his step-father, and fearing detection on the open cars, he crawled into the refrigerator car, the doors of which he supposed were closed by a brakeman.

As soon as the lad regained sufficient strength he was sent to Delmar on a passenger train.

Above from The Middletown Transcript Jan 17 1914

1904 Store Front Ad Southern Foundry Co

1904 ad from the Delmar News Newspaper

Paregoric

Paregoric was a great drug for stomach problems and making a cranky baby happy.  It contained a small amount of opium so in the 1936/1937 period most states made it a prescription drug due to the abuse of the drug, Delaware and Maryland included.  However Virginia continued to sell it as an over the counter drug until 1972 when the Federal government forced the state to join the other states in requiring a prescription.  Prescriptions were not hard to obtain.

1971 ad for Wilmington DE drugs store, a 120cc bottle of Paregoric sold for $1.39.

The large "X" shows it is a exempt narcotic and could be sold without a prescription.

The 1938 Case Against W Frank Pilgrim

In December of 1938, 66 year-old Justice of the Peace for Delmar, Wicomico county, W Frank Pilgrim, was found guilty by People Court Judge Marion A. Humphry of four criminal charges and sentenced to six months in jail and a ten dollar fine.  He was convicted of two charges of assault and two charges of indecent exposure.  The charges were filed by two sisters; Mrs Alice Whaley and Mrs Grace Hearn. 

The two sisters were the daughters of Charles Marvel Wilson (1870-1957) and Eva D. Conoway Wilson (1877-1957).    Alice Conoway Whaley (1899-1973) was married to Harley Benjamin Whaley (1898-1952) and Grace Laura Hearn (1908-1978) was married to Clifford George Marvel Hearn (1904-1976).

William Frank Pilgim (1875-1943) was born in Iowa, the son of Charles and Nancy Boyer Pilgrim.  In 1901 he married Anna Mae Elwick (1875-1947).  While living in Iowa they adopted Mildred A. Krauss (1904- ).  Mildred would marry Clarence Cooper Bradley and their offsprings would reside in Delmar until their death.  They also adopted Harold William Krauss (1900-1945).  Harold would marry Helen Alice Sanborn and they would live in Honolulu Hawaii.  By 1920 the family had moved to Punge, Princess Anne County Virginia where he continued to farm.  About 1923 the family arrived in Delmar, Maryland to farm and being strong Republicans they became active in the Republicans party in Wicomico County.  While in Delmar He accumulated a few properties he rented out. 

The fourth player in this trial was Judge Marion A. Humphry.  Marion A Humphreys  (1875-1942) lived in the Tony Tank part of Salisbury.  He started work at Jackson Brothers lumber company and William P Jackson took him under his wing to bring him into Republican politics and in the Jackson Bros Lumber business. He ruled the Republican party in Wicomico county and was a classic party hack.  He was postmaster in Salisbury from 1900 to 1912.   He was appointed Judge to the People’s Court in 1935.  He set on the board of numerous businesses in Salisbury. 

In the trial it developed that on Oct 12^th,  Alice Whaley went to Pilgrims office to discuss renting a house in Delmar from him.  At that time she was working for Feldman and sons a pants manufacturer in Delmar.   Pilgrim discussed the rental, then propositioned her and made an indecent exposure.

Mrs.  Grace Hearn was renting from Pilgrim and was $83 in arrears on her rent.  Both Grace and Alice had borrowed $20 from him and he was holding a bad check from Alice’s husband, Harley B Whaley.    Grace Hearn’s husband, Clifford G Hearn, had been indicted for Larceny of machine parts from the Salisbury Brick Company in June of 1937 and it is assumed he was in jail at the time.   Alice’s husband Hartley Whaley in 1925 had been damaged in a cement mixer accident and had his arm mangled limiting his work ability. Pilgrim said the charges were brought by the women “Out of Spite” after he refused twice to loan them anymore money.

The public, in general, likes it anytime charges are brought against an elected or appointed official so the courtroom was overflowing with over three hundred spectators lined up three deep to watch the show.   Early on in the trial it became obvious Judge Humphry had decided Pilgrim was guilty so the outcome of the trial was not that much of a surprise.  Pilgrim by way of his attorney, Edgar Porter, filed an appeal . 

The appeal took until April of 1939 and a jury found Pilgrim not guilty of all charges.  While the appeal was going on charges were brought against Judge Humphry for acting in a disorderly manner in the Wicomico courthouse.  His case was heard by Justice of Peace W Frank Pilgrim who of course found him guilty.  Chief Justice Benjamin A Johnson and Associate Judge Sangston T Insley granted motions in April to squash the proceeding against Humphry  due to a number of mistakes made in the trial by Pilgrim.

In April of 1939 W Frank Pilgrim was replaced as Justice of the Peace by Harry Hudson, a Democrat and Marion Humphry was replaced by E Sheldon Jones.   Humphry would die in 1942 and Pilgrim would die in 1943.

In 1939 Grace Hearn gave birth to Joyce Ann Hearn. Shortly after that her marriage to Clifford Hearn broke up and she married Lester Nibblett a few years later.

A & P Pilgrim Turkey 1935

1953 RPO Mail Sack Label

1953 Railroad Post Office Mail Sack Label with Christmas message

1938 football

Thanksgiving Special 1964

Father Charles Albert Whaley

Charles Albert "Bert" Whaley (1905-1986) was the son of Charles L and Anna Elliott Whaley.  He was born in Laurel, Delaware.  He would spent his life helping and giving direction to people.  He worked at the Ferris school for Boys in the 1920s and married Mary Elizabeth Hearthway (1909-2002) in 1926 while he worked at Ferris.  In the the 1940s he worked in Georgetown and lived in Rehoboth as the Chief Probation officer for Juvenile Court.    In 1951 the family moved to Delmar and lived at 407 E Pine street.  He had been confirmed into the Episcopal Church in 1937.  After moving to Delmar he was asked by Father Marvin Hummell to read the lesson and after that he became a Lay Reader.  At age 67 he was confirmed in as an ordained deacon.  At the same time he had served four two year terms as President (Mayor) of the Delmar Maryland commissioners.

above 1968
and at the same time he worked as manager of the restaurant at the Trailways Bus Terminal in Salisbury. 

The Whaleys had two sons James G Whaley and William Albert Whaley (1927-1991).  Both were school teachers.

The Last Doctor's Office

Since 1986 when Dr Robert C Ferber opened an office in this building (8 Grove street) there has been doctors in it but it may be coming to an end as you see the moving truck is there.

Last week I received the below

Now this isn't the last Doctor's office in Delmar as we have a couple of medical offices that must have MDs associated with them but the way it looks this office in this building may be the last. 

Laconia Industries Ho Gauge

The Barri Jay Dress Shop

above 1951

The Barri-Jay Dress Shop was run by Carrie Green (1917-1994).  Carrie was originally a Calloway, daughter of Benjamin and Sallie Gravenor Calloway.  She would marry Elton Woodrow Harrington (1912-1983) first and then Julius (Jay) Gilbert Green, a railroad worker who was killed  when he fell under a railcar in Hurlock, Md in 1949.  Her third husband was Frank Barry Sample (1917-1997).  The shop was named after her two sons; Barry Wood Harrington and Jay Gilbert Green.

The dress shop seem to go out of business around 1954, Carrie Sample would work as a manager at Deckers retiring in 1979. 

1951 Delmar High School Basketball Schedule

1951 Basketball Schedule from the Shirley Martin Collection

1940 Count Basie

1940 Advertisement for Count Basie at the Comedy Club in Salisbury Maryland.  The Comedy Club operated in the 1940s.   The owner James "Slim" Richard Marshall died in 1959.  He was from Tennessee, a World War One Veteran, He worked briefly as a laborer for the Erie railroad in Erie New York, a band leader of Smiley Billy Stewart Band, Leader of the Slim Marshall Orchestra (They had a spot on WBOC Radio in 1941), with his wife, Nellie, he was owner of the Blue Moon Restaurant and Night Club, manager and owner of the Maryland Clippers who played in the American Negro Baseball league,  and active in a large number of Negro organizations in Salisbury.

He played In Delmar at the Coliseum

His Night Club, The Blue Moon ,was over top Polan's 5 and Dime store and in 1958  it had a fire and after that he pretty well shut down.

1957 Delmar Football squad

from the Shirley Martin Collection

Fire Siren Froze 1979

February 19th 1979 The Daily Times reported that due to the deep snow and cold temperatures the Delmar Fire Department had their fire siren freeze and they had to keep a man at the station all night to work it manually.

Earl Scheib Paint Jobs 1976

1976 - It was worth the drive to Baltimore.  The Car arrived early in the morning and was ready by late afternoon.  Minimum masking, if you left the windows down they would paint the seats too. If the car was moving and you didn't look too hard the paint job was great.

Ernest Lee Poulson Retires 1958

above August 1950 waiting for train #455 in Delmar going to Norfolk

The two train people E. L Poulson Flagman (center) might well be Ernest Lee Poulson (1890-1972) and J. F. Long Conductor (on right) might be John Frank Long. Norman Elzey is the one in light clothing

William H Streett

William H Street was music director at Delmar from 1950 to 1953.  He replaced Henry D Funk as Music Director.  In 1953 he moved to Dover and worked in schools there.

Clipping from the Shirley Martin Collection

What Is It?

Yes it is a darning egg, placed in a sock to mend the threads.  In those days when you didn't throw the socks away because they had holes in them.  The egg went into the sock to stretch it as if a foot was in it.

so how do you darn?  Here is a website that shows it being done
https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-darn-a-sock/

The Lewes Historical Society Endowment

In a recent issue of the Lewes Historical Society newsletter was the below article.  I reprinted here because first John Farrace was a Pennsylvania Railroad employee and second he made an endowment to an organization he was not a member of.

Endowment Profile

John Farrace

In 1989, then-Lewes Historical Society President Judy Roberts received  letter that most heads of non-profit organizations only dream of receiving -- The Lewes Historical Society was the sole beneficiary of the estate of John Farrace.

Farrace, a quiet man, was not a member of the Society and mostly kept to himself. A former employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad who vacationed frequently in Lewes, he was known as a great collector of Americana and Delawareana and on several occasions opened his collections to the public through displays at his home on Savannah Road and exhibits at the Zwaanendael Museum. Occasionally, John visited with Fred Hudson -- the Society's Maintenance Supervisor -- to see if there was a piece of wood available that would match a damaged antique or to share a cup of coffee. Outwardly, there was no sign that he held a special place for the Society or any other organization in Lewes.

Slowly, as Judy Roberts read that letter that fateful day in 1989, the realization struck her that this was a transforming gift. The Lewes Historical Society could move forward, confidently. Much needed repairs could be made, the size of the collections more than doubled and the heart of an Endowment Fund was finally in place. Roberts read that truly the entire estate was to be transferred to the Society -- real estate holdings, personal affects, finances.

John Farrace's gift transformed the Society and allowed it to grow in ways he most likely could have never imagined. The Society was able to consolidate its holdings into one large parcel at the Historic Complex by purchasing the Hiram Rodney Burton House, c. 1725, re-roof and re-shingle several historic house museums through the interest of his estate and the income the Society received renting his house. Ultimately, the sale of his property at 312 Savannah Road and the sale of Society property on Third Street, Market Street and Chestnut Street would be funneled into The Future of the Past Endowment Fund, ensuring that John Farrace's selfless gift in 1989 would continue to transform and enhance The Lewes Historical Society into the future.

For more information about the Society, the Endowment, or to discuss a potential donation or estate planning in confidence, please contact the Society at 302-645-7670.

Teter or Peter Dumser At The Hammond Organ

above 1958
So at Broyles Skateland in 1958 Teter Dumser played the Organ.  Teter was really Peter and the next day the newspaper issued a correction

anyway Peter Frederick Dumser (1926-1987) was from Portland Maine and was a professional musician.  The name Dumser may sound familiar because in 1959 he married Gladys Wagner Thrush of Ocean City who had Bernies Dairyland (previous husband was Bernie Thrush) .  After the marriage the name was changed to Dumser's Dairyland.  They sold it much later and retired to Florida where he died.  He played in many places  from Maine to Pennsylvania to Maryland to Florida - always the Organ.

In August of 1958 Skateland burnt.  It was located about where Pep Boys is today.

above the remains of Skateland

1949 May Day Queen Delmar Maryland High School

This was the last May Day Queen for the Delmar Maryland High School.  The high school was consolidated the next year with Delmar Delaware High School.  Over 500 people attended the event because the residents always enjoyed these events and  they knew it was be the last one.

The Wicomico Children's Home

The Wicomico Children Home was started about 1929 by Mrs Charles Watson, W H Morton and Mrs. Ray Hare. The picture above is how it looked in 1935.  It was located on Ocean City Boulevard in Salisbury.  The home was situated on about three acres of land and the house had 12 rooms and 4 baths plus an attic and a basement.  The purpose was to take in children between the ages of 4 to 16. from broken homes and give them care and training.  They had room for 30 but usually only had  about 20 in the home.  The home ceased operation about 1954 and was sold in 1956.

The matron or superintendent of the home only lasted  about 2 to 3 years.  Some of them were Mrs Rehetta Duffus (lasted the longest) , Mrs Sarah Beye, Mrs Ethel Johnson, Rev and Mrs William Reed, and Mr and Mrs Edward G Rapp.

above from 1939

 above 1931 with Mother Duffus in the middle

A list of children placed there is not available but in 1937 this ad appeared with their names or at least those residents who could write.

now looking at the names we can see a couple of groups of last names, such as Mittleman, Shockley, Tingle, and Baker.  These were brother and sisters kept together at the home.
William Myer Mittleman (1925-2000) and Carolyn Jane Mittleman  were the son and daughter of Charles and Mary Jones Mittleman.  They had gotten a divorce in 1927.  Who is missing is their son Charles Franklin Mittleman who is not in the home.  He may have already been sent to a Foster Home with Mrs Murray.  Mary Wenonah Jones Mittleman would be married a couple more times after Charles Mittleman.  Carolyn would marry Jacob Edward Jones from Delmar.

  The Baker kids were Ida D, Pearl, Helen and Raymond.  Their parents were Elisha and Birdie Mitchell Baker.

P R Wilson Station Master Exmore

Exmore Pennsylvania Rail Road Station Master Paul Ryall Wilson (1888-1948) undated but looks to be in the 1930s.  Mr Wilson was the son of Richard Washington Wilson and Mary Ryall.  He was born in Fruitland Maryland.  He started at an early age working for the railroad as a telegrapher in Hallwood, Virginia.  About 1906 he left the Pennsylvania Rail Road and went to work with the New York New Haven and Hartford Rail Road in New London Connecticut.  But after a couple of years he was back with the Pennsylvania and working in Exmore.

Selling The Troops

This November 11th will be the 100th anniversary of the ending of World War One.  As in any place with a large number of military men there are retail companies that try to make a business of selling to the men in the military.  From the more base vice habits to the simple clothing stores they all try to provide a service to the men.  Looking at the ads in the Paris edition of Stars and Stripes in 1918 we can see the type of advertisements aimed at American troops.

Delmar Delaware High School 1938

From the 1995 Reminisce Magazine.  Photo sent to Delmar Historical and Arts Society by Eleanor Hickey.