Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-08-18
City Swept By Flames In 1922
Now Booming With Big 4
Trade Influx
MERCHANTS BENEFIT
FROM POTATO CROP

more Sun, the following very inter-
esting write-up Of Pocomoke City was
published, and it is reproduced for
the benefit of the Democrats readers:
Saturday night reflected the pota-
to prosperity of the Eastern Shore
of Maryland and Virginia far better
than any array of figures. The story
has been written of the $4,000, 900
that has come rolling down from the
North to what is considered the jump
ing off place of the two States, It
has not been told, however, that the
trading place of the Lower Shore is
this little city that refuses to stay
burned.
"It has been scarcely more than a
year since the whole State of Mary
land was shocked with the news that
Pocomoke was burning. Even in Bal
timore the authorities hastened to
offer the States resources to the
stricken town. Over here the situation
was different. One large merchant
was fighting the several fire compa-
nies that had responded to the call
for assistance because they would not
cool off his lot that he might get to
work at daylight toward the construc-
tion Of new place Of business.
AS the sun was Going to rest. last
evening the streets of Pocomoke be-
gan to fill with automobiles, wagons
and saddled horses. Shoppers came
from Worcester, Somerset and Wi
comico counties in Maryland and from
Accomac and Northampton in Virs
ginia. Scarcely had the light of day
given away to electricity before park
ing space was at premium.
Travelling men say that Pocomoke
is the greatest little business place
upon the "Shore," and a visit to the
town on any Saturday night will
prove their assertion true. just now
the harvest Of the white variety of
potatoes is finished, the bills Of the
last two years of famine are satisfied,
the realization that the income from
the Sweets. will be velvet, and the
need to replenish the neglected wear
ing apparel sent swarms Of buyers
into the town.
visitors ito the ."City Nearest the
Capes" found the stores Of that town
prepared for the fulfilling of their
needs. In the short year since the
entire business part was destroyed
there has sprung up a new city, the
like Of which is not in either State.
Instead of wooden fire traps the
streets are lined with such places as
one sees on the main streets of Balti-
more.
The stage was set and the audience
had arrived. By 8. o'clock traffic had
been diverted from the most travelled
streets to those paralleling. The
main avenues were given over to the
shoppers. In an hour the loading of
the cars was well under way and the
early shoppers were making way for
the later comers. To those who are
painting the picture Of farm pessi-
nism there was a lesson. The visit
ors came in cars that were the latest
thing. Cheap ones were as rare on
the streets as shoddy goods were in
the shops. There was no indication
in this city Of famine or desolation,
and while the parents were found
driving bargains in the stores the
younger members of the tribe were
filling the movies with laughter.
"This last year has been one of
hard toll to the Eastern Shoremen,
but the result Of their work, and not
talk, was seen here last night when
they gathered to spend the weekly ap-
portionment of that $4,000, 900 pota-
to money.