Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-02-13
BOyhOOd RGCOllGCtiOnS
OF
The Five Churches OF POCOmOk0
City
By EBEN HEARNE
Chapter Three
First Baptist Church

The First Baptist Church of New
town was built in the year 1858. In
point of time, it was the last one of
the five Newtown churches that was
organized and erected. 1t was built
on the same lot now occupied by the
present church edifice at the south
west corner of 4th and Market
Streets, a particularly eligible loca-
ton. The lot was purchased from the
late Rev. S. C. Boston. He was its
first pastor and it was under his
leadership and guidance that the
church was erected in the year stated
above. Mr.. Boston retained the pas
torate until about 1860-61, after sev-
ing several churches elsewhere. Later
he returned to Pocomoke City and be
came pastor of the church for the
second time. In 1853 little did Mr..
Boston dream that after the flight of
nearly ninety years this First Bap-
list Church would be the most CEN
trally located of the six churches of
Pocomoke City of the present day.
My boyhood recollections of Rev.
s. C. Boston and his family date back
to the year 1860. His first wife, the
late Mrs. Mary A. Boston was living
at that time. They had one son,
fine boy, Frank, then in his teens.
Several years later after he had COM
pleted his education, Frank entered
the ministry of the Baptist Church.
The Bostons, at the time | remember
them so well, lived in the house on
Market Street now occupied by Mr.. L.
Griffin Callahan and fimily. At that
time the house was smaller than it
now is, having only the hallway and
the room to the left facing on Market
Street. The room at the right of the
hallway adjoining the residence of
Mr.. Drummond Powell and family
was added several years afterwards.
had occasion to see the members of
the Boston family often, as I was a
frequent visitor at the home of my
grandparents, the Rev. James Muir
ray and wife, who lived in house di-
rectly across Market Street opposite
the Bostons.
The original building of the Baptist
Church of Newtown represented the
style of architecture that prevailed
in this country during the Victorian
period. Rectangular in form, should
say about 80 by go feet, surmounted
by well proportional spire, or steep
le, considered at that time the most
graceful one an any church in town.
An interior gallery extended across
the Market Street side, and the in
terror was we'll lighted, and the whole
was painted white. AS there was a
service at 8 P. NJ, on every other
Sunday, l had an opportunity to at
tend whenever, could arrange to do
20. / also distinctly remember the
Rev. o. F. Flippo, who succeeded Rev.
s. c. Boston as pastor. His wife was
formerly a Miss Collier, 1 think, of
Wicomico County. She had sister,
Miss Marie Collier and a brother, Mr..
Eusebius Collier, who spent much
time at the Hippo home. In fact, Eu-
sebius Collier, who was in his teens
attended School at the old Newtown
Academy and was one of my school
mates, while the late Mr.. John A.
Graves was the Principal of the
school.
will never forget a very interest
ing meeting that 1 attended at the
Baptist Church of Newtown on an
evening during the year 1866. Those
we're the days before the introduce
ton of the automobile, the phono-
graph, the radio, the moving pictures,
Parent-Teacher Associations, Wom-
ems Clubs and other modern innova-
tons of the present century. The
churches had the right of way, so
whenever any church announced a
public meeting of an unusual char
acter, the sponsor was certain that a
large crowd would be present. The
announcement was made that a pub
lie debate would be held on a certain
evening at the Baptist Church. A