Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-12-28
VALUABLE FIND
IN FOUNDATION
OF OLD HOUSE
WOrkmen Uncover A Sealed Tin
Box In Base Of Chimney
Of High School
INTERESTING HISTORICAL
DOCUMENTS REVEALED

W0fKmen emplOyeO III Tearing uo"H
the old high school building in this
city, discovered imbedded in the foun-
dation a tin box, securely soldered
and containing documents of historical
value and interest. These were: A
copy of "The Newtown Record" Of
date June %, 1867, and published by
Albert J. Merrill and Company;
copy of "The Baptist Visitor" a
monthly publication of June 1867 date,
and edited and published by the Revs.
o. F. Hippo and J. L. Lodge; a copy
of the "First Annual Report of the
State Superintendent of Schools, the
Rev. L. Van Bokkelen, 1867; a copy
of the Annual Report of the State
Treasury Department, for 1867;
copy of an "Act providing for uni
form system of public schools in the
State of Maryland; copy of a
handful, signed by "James H. Young,
Chairman" and calling for meeting
of the friends of Education" in the
M. P. Church for the purpose of rails
ing funds to complete the high school
building; a beautifully executed speci-
men of penmanship in the form of
manuscript setting forth the cost OF
the building, how the funds were rails
ed and the names of the individual
contributors, with the amounts SUBJ
scribed; and some coins minted in 1867
"a copper cent, two-cent piece, a
three-cent piece, and five-cent piece.
All the contents were, of course, in
a good state of preservation.
The manuscript referred to above is
of special interest. From specimens
Of his chirography available, it was
written bv the late Francis H. Dry
den, father of Mrs. A. A. Parker, this
city, and, in full, is as follows:
NEwTOwN HIGH SCHOOL
This building was erected in the
year eighteen hundred and sixty sew
en- by Thomas F. Stevenson and Jos.
C. Riley, contractors, for the sum of
fifty two hundred dollars. The ground
cost nine hundred and fifty dollars,
and the total cost is estimated at sew
en- Thousand Dollars.
The Building Committee were Capt.
James H. Young, DR.. John T. B. Nc
Master, Thomas F. Stevenson, William
S. Dickinson and John p. Hargis,
Esqs.
The funds for the ground and build
ing were obtained as follows: dona-
ton of twenty-five hundred dollars
from Capt. Henry Long, in trust, to
the County Commissioners for the pur
pose of Education in and around New
town, which they generously handed
over to the School Board for this
Building. Fifteen hundred dollars
from the County School Board out of
a Building fund in their hands, and
the proceeds of the sale of the New
town Academy (eight hundred dol
lars) which was given by the Trus-
tees under authority of the General
|
building. The balance was raised by
private subscription. The names of
the donors, with the amounts given
up to the time this record was de-
posted are hereunto appended:
$100-Capt. James II. Young.
| $50-Wm. J. S. Clarke, Rev. r. Sem
pie Rowe, VIM. S. Dickinson, Sr, Rev.
o. F. Flippo.
$25-Major T. Hall, Chas. w. B.
Marshall, Rev. Jos. L. Mills, DR.. John
T. B. McMaster, Stephen E. Mason,
Christopher C. Lloyd, John P. Hargis,
Jerome B. Hall, William J. Aydelotte,
Rev. Jos. L. Polk.
$20-James A. Melvin, Rowland E.
Bevans, John H. Allen, John B.
White, S. Douglas Melvin, William T.
Redden, William S. C. Polk, William
T. Hargis, A. w. Crammer, Levin At
kinson, Samuel S. McMaster.
$15-George w. Landing, John E.
Hayward, ST., I. Harrison Merrill,
Levi Merrill, John w. Blades.
$10-Wm. H. S. Merrill, Edward N.
Young, DR.. John L. Hearn. Chas. E.
Harr, Alexander Ebberts, A. Sidney
Stevens, John T. Mills, DR.. Isaac T.
Costen, Jacob f. Stevenson, Edward
S. Young, l.. j. M. p. Broadwater. Ed
ward R. Benson, John S. Merrill,
Continued on Page 81