Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-03-31
EASTER MONDAY RECALLS
BIG FIRE OF A YEAR AGO
Completed And Contemplated Structures Prove That POGO
moke Will Arise From Its Ashes Bigger And Better
City.-Spring Construction Work Soon To Begin

Easter Monday arrives just a little
earlier this year than it did last. In
1922 it occurred in April II; this year,
on April 2.
This holiday last year saw the
breaking out in Pocomoke City of the
greatest confagration in the history
Of the place. In 1888 the flames de-
4troyed nearly the whole business sec
ton; and again in 1892 second fiery
tempest swept almost the same space.
But the latest blaze outdid them all,
and laid waste an area covered by
nearly $2,000,000 worth of property.
In the first two calamities, the peo-
pie displayed wonderful recuperative
powers. With spirit Of determina-
ton to retrieve all losses, repair all
damage, and replace all burned build
ings, the town arose bigger and better
after each disaster.
History is repeating itself in the
case of the 1922 fire, and bigger
and better city is in evidence more
than ever.
On that fateful Eastertide the lit
tie flame and smoke, which started in
a hay loft, so small that a cup of
water in the beginning might have
drowned it out, grew into an uncon
trollable, seething, mass of consuming
fire (which stopped only when its
tongues of flame could find nothing
left to draw within its ravening maw.
Beginning in stable on Maple
street and driven by wind that swept
diagonally across the town, in a few
hours the Mortified townspeople saw
building after building crumble and
fall under the devouring element
whose appetite seemed unappeasible.
From Maple street, where every
house in the path Of the impelling
wind was burned, the blaze swept on
to Willow, and there licked up house
after house, leaped across to Market,
and from Second to Front on the north
side, laid low the most valued section
of our thriving little city.
From Market to Front was only a
step. The greedy element cleared it
with a bound, fed its hunger on the
dwellings everywhere, and opened up
to view the swamps leading to the
River.
Then having done its worst, having
exhausted every material substance
in its reach, it slowly died away, leav-
irg a PROSTATE and benumbed citi-
zenry.
But not for long. Almost as soon
rs the following day dawned, the
sound of hammer and saw began to be
heard. Our merchants began to hunt
for unused places in which to set up
business. Burned out families were
sheltered by those more fortunate.
Plans for municipal improvement
were started. Smiles and good cheer
took the place of fatigue and horror.
Before offers of assistance began to
pour in, Pocomoke's population had
found itself, had called to its rescue
that independent spirit so character
istic, and had let it be known that
they were able to take care of them
selves, although filled with gratitude
for outside offers.
Immediately plans were set in oper-
alton for the widening of streets in
the burned sections. Market, Second.
and Vine streets were to be widened;
Clarke avenue extended; brick struc-
lures erected and every precaution
taken to prevent recurrence Of the
catastrophe.
In a little while bigger and better
buildings began to rise from the ash
es. Clarke avenue and Market street
soon saw H. w. Callahan & Sons in
a new and better home; r. J. Lamb
den & Son and Lloyd & Blaine soon
followed, housed in buildings far sur
passing the old ones in comfort, con-
venience, and equipment.
Goodwin, a newcomer, began the e.
rection of his splendid Department
store on the corner of Market and
Second; dwelling houses on Front
street and Linden avenue sprang up
then winter set in and put stop to
building operations.
Sprng is now upon us. It sees the
completion Of the wonderful Hargis
Department store, also that of God
wins. These two emporiums are the
latest things in up-to-date establish
lments. They place metropolitan shop