Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-02-20
BOyhOOd RGCOllGCtiOnS
OF
The Five Churches OF POCOmOkG
City
BY EBEN HEARNE
Chapter Four
Pitts Greek Presbyterian Church
of NewtOwn

Soon after Rev. Francis Mackenzie,
who is known as the chief founder of
the Presbyterian Church in America
arrived as an Immigrant from Ireland
in 1888, in Somerset County, he lost
no time in establishing a Presbyter-
ian Church in several localities in that
County. One of the Meeting Houses
probably built of logs was situated
in our little village then known by
the name of Stevens Ferry, then in
Somerset County. During the period
that interviewed between the abandon
ment of the Meeting House that was
located in our little village at the foot
of the present Willow Street near the
PocOmoke River, and whose name
supplanted the name of Stevens Fer
ry (by causing the settlement to be
called Meeting House Landing"), to
the time the present Pitts Creek Pres
byterian Church in Newtown was
built, and dedicated on January 1,
1945, there was no Church of that de-
nomination in this village of New
town. During the interim the adher-
ents of the Presbyterian faith attend
ed the Pitts Greek Presbyterian
Church four miles to the south and
near the Virginia State line and
Beaver Dam Railroad Station. The
church received its name, Pitts Creek
on account of its being located near
the head waters of the little stream
of that name, that is a tributary of
the Pocomoke River.
That church and the present church
in Pocomoke City are unit in name
and each church is known as the Pitts
Creek Presbyterian Church and each
church has its name on the same
church record.
The present church is eligibly To-
Gated on Market Street this city. The
original building, the one remember
so well as it appeared in my boyhood,
consisted only of what is at present
the auditorium of the Sunday School
Room, hence it was one room build
ing,-rectangular in shape, we'll pro-
portioned, and it contained vesti-
bule and gallery. 1t stood farther
from the Market Street side walk
than the present brick main building.
The frame church was surmounted
by cupola in which hung bell.
Chief among the contributors to its
erection were Handy Mills, David
Smith, Jacob Boston, Stephen Hargis,
John S. Stevenson, James T. Dickin-
son and Thomas W. Hargis.
The members of the choir of the
church occupied seats in the gallery
and the cabinet or reed organ was
not introduced until the late 1905.
/ recall that the late Mr.. Emerson
Croft Polk was the leader of the choir
and the remarkably sweet-toned alto
singer was the late Mrs. Sallie Mes
dick Houston. Such a voice as hers
would be a great asset to any choir
at the present day.
The pastor of the church for per-
iod of nearly 20 years was the late
Rev. Joseph Littleton Polk, D. D. l
remember two other ministers that
heard preach when was young, the
Rev. B. G. McPhail was pastor be-
fore my recollection. He was the
minister who conducted the funeral of
my grandfather, Genl Ebenezer
Hearne in January, 1854.
Rev. Joseph L. Polk was fine
preacher and successful pastor Dur
ing the last years of his passionate,
he was also the Principal of the new
Newtown High School for four years
after its erection and occupancy in
November, 1867. He was my teacher
for four years and l owe to him the
major part of my education. He was
what has been termed "a born tea
cher and it was a great pleasure and
a benefit to sit under his instruction
and listen to the words of wisdom
that fell from his inspired lips. 1t is
impossible for me TO say too much in
praise of Mr.. Polk. The very mention
Of his name brings to my mind tender
memories. When an octogenarian
thinks back in terms of years ago.
many thoughts come rushing into his
mind and past events seem real a.
gain. Rev. Joseph L. Polk, the stall
wart Christian, great Churchman, in
tellectual giant, moral leader, gener-
Gus and unselfish friend, died in 1904
aged 81 years. When such man
leaves the world it is as if a great
tree had fallen in a forest and cleft
a lonesome place against the sky"
Mr.. Polk and his family during
the greater part of his pastorate, re,