Girl Scout Sunday - 1990

From the State Register March 23, 1990

Girl Scout Sunday was observed March 11 at St. Stephen's UMC with Girl Scout Troop 208 attending as a group. Leading in the impressive service were co-leaders Karen Gordy, Joanne Gum and Elaine Messick. Processionist was Kara Gordy, and greeters were Karen Hill and Kristy Short.

The following were ushers; Dawn Palmer - head, Alice Perchin, Shawn Scott, Jeanna Cooper and Michelle Messick. Acolyte was Brandy Smith with presentation by Rachel Gum, Erica Wagenhals, Emily Wilson and Michele Messick.

Drinking in Delmar - 1904

From the "Delmar News" May 20, 1904

A DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR

One of the most disgraceful affairs that has taken place in Delmar for some time past occurred last Saturday night. The participants in this affair were several young men from Salisbury, ably assisted by some from Delmar. The Salisbury boys came up on train No. 80, arriving here at 10 p.m. with the intention of having a good time drinking brandy, purchased from a nearby distillery. They loaded up in a wagon and drove out into the country where it is said that all the brandy that was for sale was purchased. They returned to town and by the time they arrived here things were beginning to look double to them. From that time until the south bound passenger train at 2:50 a.m. they had a big time at least it seemed so to them. Several pistol shots were fired, and they had lots of amusement all to themselves, making things miserable for all who were unfortunate enough to be in the locality of the depot.

That young men will engage in anything so degrading is a disgrace to mankind, and there should be a law to prevent such affairs. It also appears to us that if we are to have no saloon we should also not tolerate such an affair as that of Saturday night. When the saloon was allowed to exist in Delmar we were not disgraced to any greater extent than this affair is a disgrace. If we are to have no saloon why should not the law affecting the sale of intoxicants be enforced to it's fullest extent?

James A Tull - USS Indianapolis

On July 30th, 1945 Anthony Daniello, Harry Hickey, William Rue of Wilmington, and James Tull of Laurel, 4 Delaware sailors, died in the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in the Pacific in the last hours of the war.
Taken From This Day in Delaware History from our Delaware Public archives

1990 Visit of Dan Quayle

On Monday, November 5, 1990 Vice-President Dan Quayle and his wife Marilyn, plus secret service agents, were in Salisbury Maryland for 90 minutes as part of a last minute six-city campaign tour. He landed at the airport in a DC-9 jet with the United States of America seal on it. He went from the airport to the Acme Supermarket in the Twilley Shopping Center where he shook hands with shoppers. He then went to the Wicomico Middle School where 300 students cheered him. From there to a rally for Wayne Gilchrest at the Sheraton Salisbury Inn.

About 100 protesters lined the streets around the Sheraton with signs that read "Did Seniors Pay For This Trip", "Republicans Insensitive to Senior Citizens", and "Gilchrest Wants To Cut Medicare".

1990 New Mayor

From the Tuesday November 6, 1990 edition of The Daily Times

NEW DELMAR MAYOR SWORN IN

The shifting sands of town politics finally settled here Monday night when a new Mayor, two councilmen and an alderman took the oath of office.

Mayor John McDonnell and Councilmen Reginald Lizotte and Daniel Church, all newcomers to town politics, were sworn in and took seats behind the council table. McDonnell’s first act as mayor was giving an oath to former Councilman Don Godfrey, who resigned two weeks before his term would have expired to become the Delaware town’s alderman.

McDonnell, 39, defeated incumbent Mayor Samuel Bynum Sr, in an election last month. He slipped into Bynum chair and Bynum left immediately, carrying his pen, papers and nameplate.

“You may have the seat but not the name,” the ex-mayor said good naturedly after the two men shook hands.

McDonnell told the 45 residents present he would serve the town behind the council table and in his home. He gave out his phone number and said people should call him day or night with problems and questions.

“This is the first public office I’ve ever run for, and I wasn’t really sure I knew what I was getting into. After almost getting through this first council meeting, I’m still not sure what I’m getting into,” McDonald said.

“Whatever I do, I try to do the best I can whether it be washing my car, working at Western Publishing Co. in Cambridge, or being the mayor of this town.

Lizotte, 34, an electrician; Church, 35, a maintenance supervisor for a wood company; and McDonnell were all backed by a group called Concerned Citizens of Delmar. Both Lizotte and Church thanked members of the group saying they wouldn’t be on the town council without the help of the Concerned Citizens.

“I appreciate your nomination, everyone here who was involved,” Church said “I will do my absolute best to live up to the standards someone else has set for me.”

Long-time Town Manager Karen E. Horsman resigned after last month’s election to pursue other job opportunities. It will take several months to hire someone with expertise to handle the bi-state town’s affairs. McDonnell said. Meanwhile former Councilmen Carl Pollitt, who did not seek re-election in October, will serve as acting town manager.

“I only want to be here as long as I have to be. I’ll stay as long as I’m needed, but I don’t want this job. It’s just a little bit beyond me.” Pollitt said, “The laws are different and what is applicable in Maryland is not in Delaware and vice versa. It’s very, very complicated. I can assure you that I did not fully appreciate the job Karen did until she left.”

1913 Delmar Maryland Spending

Below is a list of disbursements for the year for the Town of Delmar Maryland as of May 1, 1913

Sussex Light and Power Co ------------------- $451.17
Note in the Bank of Delmar -------------------$200.00
Chester Smith - Surveying & Grading -----------$77.00
Hollis Lowe - Surveying & Grading ------------$18.82
NYR&N RR Co - Frt on Shells--------------------$45.00
Joseph Polyette - 2 cars of shells-------------$75.00
C. W. Mitchell - shells------------------------$ 2.76
E E Freeny - hauling dirt ------------------$ 9.30
T S Culver -Hauling Dirt --------------------$ 6.35
Delmar Lbr Mfg Co - Lumber ------------------$7.42
N B LeCates - damage assessed by opening 6th st- $50.00
A Brewington - Looking after fire engine repairs -$28.30
W L Sirman - Ground rent yrs 1911 & 1912 -----$33.55
L A Truitt & Co - coal------------------------$ 5.12
John W. Culver - cement crossing on 4th st alley-$18.88
T G Elliott - pipe, hdwe & Etc ---------------$44.25
L W Gunby - pipe ----------------------------$11.01
Delaware Buggy Hdwe Co ------------------------$10.50
Chas W. Hudson - work on street---------------$ 9.30
Geo T Jones - Printing notices receipts &Etc--$11.75
E W Hastings - dirt --------------------------$ 3.45
W B Stephens - office rent--------------------$ 6.00
Gordy & Holloway - Cement Crossing-------------$72.40
Earl B Elliott - Cement Crossing---------------$62.50
R H Lowe - ½ cement crossing at V H Gordy------$ 9.00
E W Palmer, D H Foskey, and T L Long – Service on 7th st-$ 9.50
Jos F Wells and W W Culver - moving trees------$ 4.00
M H German - assisting surveyor, comm. On licenses and property-$29.29
D H O’Neal - commission collecting St Taxes------$ 4.52
C P Sturgis, W J Calhoun – shells--------------$16.08
Minus LeCates------------------------------------$ 2.32
J W Freeny - assessing property & Grade stakes---$ 3.25
H L Elliott - hauling shells on 4th st-----------$ 2.60
W B Dunn - commission on collecting taxes--------$ 4.91
W S Marvel – Screen for ditch--------------------$ 1.00
Jas H Cordrey, Chas E Hearn – assisting surveyor--$16.13
S Truitt, Thos W Hitchens, Thos E Hearn – assisting Surveyor-$ 9.50
W B Elliott – commission collecting St taxes-----$32.40
W B Elliott – work on street---------------------$451.16
E E Gordy – commission Collecting Cor taxes------$101.53
E E Gordy – stationary and postage---------------$10.80

Total Disbursements-----------------------------$1,963.89

1939 The First Delmar Traffic Light

From the Bi-State weekly May 26, 1939

DELMAR GETS BLINKER LIGHT FOR HIGHWAY

After one year's work the Delmar Lions Club was successful in having a blinker light placed at the intersection of US Route 13 and State Street in Delmar this week, when employes of the Eastern Shore Public Service Co. placed the pole and put up the light.

The club began its fight for a light last May after a series of accidents had happened at the intersection. Route 13 is a straight road for two miles on approaching the intersection and there it comes to a dead end. The club is still trying to contact the Maryland authorities in an effort to have a similar light placed at the Maryland intersection. The Delaware State Highway Department notified the club some months ago that a light had been purchased for the corner, but right-of-way have held up the project for four months. The intersection has been characterized by the Delaware State Police as one of the worst traffic hazards in the Delaware road system.

The light will show red on Route 13 and yellow for caution on State Street in Delmar. For many years officers, judges of the town, and town officials have disagreed as to whether or not Route 13 was a through street or State was the through street. With the placing of the red light on Route 13, this indicates that the state authorities feel that State Street is the main thoroughfare through the town.