Milford chronicle., 1936-08-21

ban folk. They renewed friendships
and talked about the days when
they. were children and went to Oak
Orchard for big Thursday" a half
century ago. Oak Orchard and what
is known as POT Nets" were meet
ing places once each year for the
lower Delaware folk as far back as
the late fifties. This was long before
there were any amusement places or
cottages. Located in a clump Of
woodland. skiTting the banks, 1t is
an ideal place for recreation, and ex-
cellent bathing for small children.
According to the late Judge Henry
c. Conrad, of this city, who was a
historian, the origin Of big Thurs
day" grew out of an act of the Gen
eral Assembly. passed in 1852 which
prdvided for an open season for
catching oysters and other she'll fish
in the Delaware Bay and tributaries.
The act provided that it was unlaw-
full for persons to take oysters trcm
any creek or stream in this State be-
tween May / and August 10 in any
one year. That law remained in full
force until 1877.
May 1, 1852, the first day the law
became effective, fell on Saturday
and August 10 of that year fell on
Tuesday. The law being in effect un-
til August 10. the people waited I'm
til Thursday. Two years later the
day was on Thursday and hence the
second Thursday in August was fix
ed as the time for gathering at the
beaches and longing oysters. Thus
by custom the second Thursday OF
August became big Thursday or
the annual picnic for all folk.
Half a century ago the crowds
we're confined mostly to residents in
the eastern half of lower Delaware
because of the distance that had to
be travelled. With the advent of the
they cOngregate from all
sections of the State, the Eastern
Shore of Maryland. New Jersey and
especially if residents
Of those states have relatives in this
section.
Residents of Wilmington, Phila-
ielphia, Baltimore and many points
throughout Maryland were at Oak
Orchard last Thursday. Many OF
hem spent the day with relatives
md friends. partaking of fried chic
zen and other products of the Sus-
tex farms.
AS this is election year, many pol
ticians were in evidence; but they
we're not quite so numerous as years
gone by.
One reason for the absence Of
many was that 1t was Governors
)ay'' at Camp Theodore Townsend
t Bethany Beach. popular resort On
he Atlantic Ocean, where the Del
ware Nation Guard was encamped.
IOwever, there was a sufficient num-
ler present to make the day lively
n political circles.
Years ago states were made by
10Th parties at this famous resort
n "Big Thursday"
allied For Train Riding
Charged before Justice of the
'eace Patrick J.. Hearn, of Delmar,
nth riding a train and refusing to
ct off, between Greenwood and Del
lar, John Wilson, a knight of the
oad," was arrested by Captain Os-
ar NJ. Thomas of the railroad police
1rce, and committed to the county
iii here for ten days upon failure
, pay a fine Of $40 and costs.
'indsOr. Elliott
Miss Della L. Elliott, daughter Of
II. and Mrs. Clayton G. Elliott, and
ames B. Windsor, son Of Mr.. and /
Irs. James L. Windsor, both of Lau- ,
u, were married last Sunday morn I
lg at II o'clock, at Laurel, by the I
ev. w. A. Hearn, pastor Of Centen- I
~ NJ. e. Church Of laurel. I
riVitts. .Meluney Z
Miss Anna Grace Meluney, daugh- I
II of Mr.. and Mrs. w. e. Meluney. q
Seaford, and Lewis Trivitts. son .
C. E. Trivitts, Of Cannon, between c
and SeafOrd, we're mar
ed on Saturday night. at o'clock, D
Greenwood, by the Rev. J. Milton F
ay, pastor Of the Greenwood Meth v
list Protestant Church. v
yllnskl-K Klelbasa Il
Miss Tessie M. Kielbasa, of Mil
I'd. and Joseph S. Hylinski, Of o
georgetown, were married last Sat 8
day night, in Milford, by the Rev. Il
fred @. Jones, Of the Milford R. c. S
lurch. e