Delmar DustPan

The Delmar Post Office received two new trucks today. All bright and shiny and ready for the Christmas rush.

The Delmar Christmas Parade will be held Saturday at 2 PM. I not entirely sure of the route but I assume it will form up on Pennsylvania Ave and go down State Street and end up at the high school. Regretfully, the publicity for the parade has been limited. I looked at the Chamber of Commerce website and the Town of Delmar website and nothing is given about the parade on either one.

So come early for the parade and go to the Delmarva Model Railroad exhibit at Camelot Hall (next to St. Stephens Church - 1st street and State street). It is always a great display and after this weekend you can't see it again until January 2008.

And as usual thanks to the Delmar Police and Delmar Public Works department for the work they will be doing on the parade Saturday.

Delmar has always had a successful football team. The above photo is from The Bi-State Weekly in December of 1938.

The Delmar (Del.) High School football team, coached by Harold Mitchell, former Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College player turned in its most successful season since 1933 by winning eight out of nine games played and scoring 163 points to 66 for the opposition. Delmar defeated Laurel (twice), Seaford, Ferris (twice), Georgetown, Cambridge, and tumbled Salisbury from the unbeaten ranks on Thanksgiving Day. The only defeat was at the hands of Milford High, 26-19.

Members of the squad are, front row, left to right; Paul Ellis, Bill Hearn, Levin Twilley, Roy Aydelotte, Joe Dickerson, Byard Brumbley, Ray Wilkinson, Red Rider, and Sonny Cooke. Second row, left to right; Coach Mitchell, Irvin Aydelotte, Wesley Short, Hugh Penuel, Glen Hastings, Randolph Cooper, Pet Culver, William Gillis, Curtis Taylor, Thomas Marando, Gene Ellis, and Co-manager James Evans. Back row, left to right; Co-manager Howard Stoeckel, Claudene Hovatter, Jack Whitley, Skeeter Ellis, Walter Lowe, Charles Beauchamp, John Sample, Robert Wright, Ralph Phillips, Howard Davis, and Principal H. C. Whiteside.

Citizens of Delmar gave a victory banquet for the team Wednesday night at 6:30 o'clock at the school. Glenn S. (Pop) Warner, Temple football coach, and Jimmy Foxx, American Leaque baseball star were among the invited guests. The committee in charge comprised Edgar Hastings, chairman; Leroy Lockerman, Merle Nelson, Edward Hantwerker, Albert Williams, H. C. Whiteside, Francis Nunvar, assistant coach, and Hugh Penuel.

I would guess Archie White's was the building that would become Dryden's Tires by Little Red Hen.

While surfing around I came across this blog devoted to the old Salisbury Mall.

Some people have asked me to do a post on the old Whayland Store. The Store was on the corner of State and Pennsylvania Avenue on the Maryland side of town. From what I can gather the building was originally built by Theodore Veasey in 1893 as a hotel. In addition to the 24 room hotel there was a popular bar located in it. The hotel was called the Veasey House. In 1903 Wicomico County decided to go dry putting a stop to the lucrative bar business. Mr. Veasey built another hotel across the street in Delaware called the Stone House. This hotel was about opposite the Bank of Delmar Drive thru window and a couple of years ago burnt and was torn down. In 1908 Sussex County went dry putting Mr. Veasey once again out of the bar business. After Mr. Veasey death the hotel in Maryland was sold to Walter W. Whayland.

Mr. Whayland changed to name to the Whayland Building and ran a grocery business out of the center part of the building. Rooms continued to be rented. Biddy Hudson ran a Pool Hall on the State Street side of the building and on the Pennsylvania Avenue side was Austin's restaurant. After Mr. Whayland death the Bank of Delmar purchased the building. In 1945 it was in bad shape and was torn down. A parking lot for the Bank of Delmar now occupies the space.

One of the things I believe is if a report is presented to a town commission or council at a public meeting that report should be made available to the public for their review. For those very few who attend the Police Commission meetings, you are aware that the Delmar Police Chief presents the Commission members with a quarterly report. This report is not made available to the public. I filed a Freedom of Information Request to see the October Quarterly report. Last week, the town manager said after discussion with the Maryland town attorney, Bob Benson, a sanitized (my wording, not hers) version of the report could be released to the public. Since there are issues that are marked confidential pending investigation or trial those pages must be withheld. She also said at future Police Commissions meeting there would be a report for the public with those confidential items removed.

Okay, at least a small step has been made. After looking over the October sanitized report there was very little left except statistics. So if you are looking for titillating information on your neighbors I don’t think you will see it in the report. What I was looking for is where is the crime being committed in town and what are the police doing. Statistics like 58 Delaware Traffic Citations issued and 234 Maryland Traffic Citations issued are fine but is that all the police do? Is the Delmar Police just an extension of the Drug Enforcement Agency? People in town would like to know. Typically when you wake up in the morning on a weekend and hear gunshots I would like to think it is a hunter outside of Delmar shooting instead of shots from East East Street. We may never hear about it from the police.

Delmar Delaware Councilperson Mary Lee Pase talked last night at the Delmar Joint Council Meeting about the need for toy donations for needy children. She said she had been approached by parents asking for help for Christmas. She said there were about 40 children of parents in need. Mary Lee Pase works as a school nurse at Delmar Elementary School. She said clothing and shoes could be found at a number of places but children like to receive toys for Christmas and there was a need for people to donate them. She said if you will drop the toy off to Delmar Elementary School she would handle the distribution of them.

I just noticed, was the dealership named Auto Sales and Service? and did they ever just use the initials?

The Delmar Joint Council Meeting was held November 26th, 2007 at Town Hall. All members were present. Let me say that what I write about is just my opinion on what went on at the council meeting and I do not write about all items discussed at the meeting only those I found interesting, if you want to know what is happening at the meetings attend them, or read the on-line minutes the town post on their website in another month or so.

The results of the election on the Maryland side of town was read. As previously posted Luther Hitchens was reelected and Marlena Hodgins was newly elected. Of interest to me, Marlena Hodgins was not in the audience at the council meeting. She must be saving her energy for future meetings. Matter of fact very few were in the audience tonight, even the group from Woodcreek did not attend. Everyone was concerned over the poor turnout of voters (5% of the 1,227 registered voters). Ways were discussed to increase voter turnout. Mayor Outten suggested the creation of voting districts in Delmar as he think with only 60 people voting, a development could muster that many people and control the council. A Maryland meeting will be on December 10th to swear in new Elected Commissioners.

Mayor Niblett said a letter had been sent to the Maryland Highway department to clean out the catch basin at RT54 and 675.

Copies of the ethics law ordinances were passed out. Since Maryland and Delaware Laws are different they would like for them to be the same and in place by February.

There was an attempted discussion about the price of the land on Foskey Lane where a new public safety building may be put. It is 4.6 acres and the town has made an offer and the owner has made a counter offer. Some Council members had not received the information however so a discussion could not proceed. The Maryland side wanted to know how the Delaware side was going to pay their share of the cost( I thought we always let the Maryland side pay for this stuff, I think they take it out of the street repair budget).

The Parks and Recreation Report consisted of Carrie Williams making a plea for people to join the Delmar parks and recreation committee.

Delmar Revitalization Report, Chris Walter said next years "Heritage Day" would be September 20th and in 2009 Delmar will be 150 years old. Special events are planned.

Police Report; one police car is out of service due to hitting a deer and another police car has a blown engine.

Everyone thanked Commissioner Joan Tisinger for serving the many years she served. She said she would seek reelection in the future.

Commissioner Carl Anderton, who looked particularly dapper in his suit with the many flashy badges on it, said there was spray graffiti at the ball field that needs to removed or covered up.

Councilperson Mary Lee Pase asked when WaWa was going to pay the fire department and town for the prize money won at the hogie making contest at the grand opening of WaWa. She also said there was a need for toys to be donated for needy kids for Christmas. She said they could be dropped off at the elementary school where she is a nurse and she would handle the distribution.

Councilperson Buckley said it had been 54 days since her last cigarette (Beware people and stay out of her way). She said Thursday was the Citizen of the Year, Joyce Figgs, dinner at the VFW. She mentioned the parade at 2PM on Saturday, with a rain date of 2 PM on Sunday. She said the Chamber of Commerce would put up 12 new Christmas banners (at $134 each) this year.

The Utility Commission discussed the agreement between the town and Tidewater Utilities again. New issues have surfaced in the form of Blackwater, the large development west of town, and Tidewater are suggesting that Blackwater tied into the proposed sewage plant to be built and run by Tidewater. Blackwater is suggesting they will donate to the town money to offset some of the town services if they are allowed to hook into the sewage system. I am against it. I will write more about this at a later date. I think since we have no agreement with Tidewater we should reopen discussions with Artesian Water Company.

The Town manager told us how well she thought the new billing system was doing. It is saving several manhours in sorting and preparing the bills for mailing.

Chris Walter told the commission there was a water leak around the furniture store and he had told public works about it and so fore nothing has been done.

Monday November 26th 6:00 PM Delmar Public Works Meeting
Monday November 26th 6:30 PM Delmar Utility Meeting
Monday November 26th 7:00 PM Delmar Joint Council Meeting
Tuesday November 27th 7:30 PM Maryland Boad of Zoning AppealsSpecial Exceptions for Heron Pond and Pheasant Lake
Tuesday November 27th 10:00 AM Sussex County Council Meeting Delmar Citizen of the Year proclamation Read.
Saturday December 1, 2007 11 to 5 PM Delmarva Model Train Club open house
Saturday December 1, 2007 2 PM Delmar Christmas Parade - start Pennsylvania Ave ends at High School.
Sunday December 2, 2007 12 to 5 Pm Delmarva Model Train Club Open House

I have had several inquires about where to buy Hayman Sweet potatoes. we bought ours at a produce stand on RT50. It closed down for the winter shortly after we bought them. That said Razor Edge sent in information that Blue Crab bay Co. sells Haymans. They sell them for $14.99 plus shipping of $8.50 for an 8 pound box.

Turner Hill Produce (410-742-0759) sells them for $18 a box (about 34 lbs) I don't know if they ship.
Harris Market in Salisbury MD usually also has them but I don't know if they ship.

The first actual water system for Delmar Delaware and Maryland was created on October 9, 1911 when the Maryland and Delaware councils gave a franchise to Hugh T. Downing of Philadelphia to create a water works in the two towns. By July 1913 the Delmar Water Works system was in operation. The well and storage tank was located in the North West part of Delmar Delaware (same location as today). My guess is this location was selected because of an existing ice plant, built in 1907 next to the railroad. The ice plant supplied ice to the rail cars loaded with produce. Since an ice plant needs good water to make the ice they must have had an existing well that supplied that “good” water and the Delmar Water Works decided to duplicate that supply source.

The system in 1923 had a 100,000 gallon storage tank (standpipe) that was 12’ by 115’, a 20’ by 40’ pump house, four wells, two Deming Triplex pumps, 44 fire hydrants and five miles of pipe. It was know as the Delmar Water Works. There were smaller water systems in Delmar prior to this one but they served very localized areas and not the entire town. The standpipe served the town from 1913 until about 2000. As with any water tower it was a landmark and reference point for the town. The water mains serves both sides of town. Each town at that time was approximately one half square mile in size.

Since fire was a driving force for the water system (The town had two major fires, one in 1892 and another in 1901) scattered thru out the 1911 franchise are references to the fire department requirements; “The system of water works constructed under the franchise proposed to be granted shall be built so as to provide for an ample protection against fire…”, “would be 33 pounds per square inch of water pressure for domestic purposes and water pressure to throw a stream of water through two hundred feet of hose with a one inch nozzle to a height of at least 30 feet.” “a standpipe will be constructed to insure sufficient pressure of water in case of the breaking out of fire”, and “20 Fire Hydrants will be supplied”

The water rates spelled out in the 1911 franchise were;
The town will pay $20 per fire hydrant, per annum
Individual Customers would pay;
For one spigot, per annum $6.00
For each additional spigot, per annum $1.00
For stationary wash stand, per annum $1.25
For bath tubs, per annum$2.50
For horse trough per annum $4.00
For stables (first cow or horse) , per annum$1.00
For stables (each additional cow or horse) , per annum $1.00
By Water Meter per 1000 gal. per annum $0.30

Tomorrow is Black Friday, not a day I plan on driving anywhere around the Wal-Mart/Target complex in North Salisbury. For those who do plan on being there, think about having lunch in Delmar, after all there is only so many people that Chili's and Applebee's can hold.

Some of the places you can sit down, order a sandwich or meal, and regroup your thoughts are;

Delmar Diner - On Rt13 prior to the State Line traffic Light on left
Pizza Boys/ Hardee's - also On Rt13 prior to the State Line traffic Light on right

Bistro 54 - After the RT13 traffic Light on the right, (Serves Mixed Drinks)
Delmar Pizza (Italian restaurant) - after the RT 13 traffic Light on the left (serves alcohol)

Goodfellas Italian Restaurant - In town at State and BiState (the other Delmar traffic light)
Sweet Delights Bake Shop - In town at State and BiState (The other traffic light) - good place for a sugar injection.

Linda's Railroad Cafe - Opposite the railroad tracks
Top Hat Cafe - Opposite the railroad tracks

Well, of the Republican Candidates, I would have to say I lean toward Ron Paul. He is in favor of most of the things I am in favor of, not that I have any hope of him actually coming thru and doing them if he is elected president. The first election I voted in was the 1964 election in which Lyndon Johnson, Barry Goldwater, and George Romney (Father of Mitt Romney) ran. I think I voted for Goldwater simply because I have an affinity for Arizona. Of the people elected to office I think I have been disappointed in all of them. In spite of this I do still vote in the elections in a continual hope that one day one of them will actually do what they say with their election promises. It is pitiful for some one to say they are not going to vote in an election because nothing is going to change regardless of your vote. Did you see that big 5% turnout of Delmar Maryland people voting in this past election?

I will wait and see how far he goes in this election, I guess my backups are Huckabee, McCain, Romney and Thompson.

Mostly Cajun likes to put Cajun Jokes in his blog and I had to copy this one over to share with you.

Boudreaux's Thanksgiving Dinner
Boudreaux, him, he calls his son who’s working in California. “Son,” he says, “me an’ yo’ momma is gittin’ one a dem divorces. After all dese years, me, I’m tired a puttin’ up wit’ her crap.”

“But Pop,” stammered the son, “you and Momma wuz good wit’ each udder….”

“Mais, no, son,” says Boudreaux. “Me, I’m tired a’ dis crap. We gittin’ a divorce. I’m so mad, I cain’t talk, me. You call your sister in Arizona an’ tole her what’s happenin’….”

“Pop, don’t you do nuttin’. Lemme call Sis,” said the son.

A little while later, Boudreaux’s phone rings. “Bon jour,” he says.

“Pop, me an’ Sis is gonna be there tomorrow. Don’t you and Mom do nuttin’ until we get there.”

“Okay, son,” says Boudreaux. He hangs up the phone and turns smiling to his wife Clotile. “Hon,” he says, “Boaf our kids is gonna be here for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow and they payin’ dey own way!”

As you may know a lot of people are mad about the tolls paid in Delaware to use I-95. Joe Long sent me an E Mail about this article by Michael Dresser who did an article on ways to avoid I-95 and the toll. Now the interesting part, in the article he said Curt Kinder of Green Cove Springs, Fla. wrote Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner to protest the turnpike's tolls and backups. The Delaware Turnpike spokesman Robert B. King replied to him stating "I would hasten to point out that deliberate toll evasion within this state, as in most other states, is illegal and subject to enforcement,". When Robert King was called about his statement he took the traditional State Employee tactic of pointing the finger to someone else, in this case turnpike official P. J. Wilkins had told him it could be a ticketable offense. Finally calling the the Delaware State Police, Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh said motorists are free to choose toll bypass routes.

At 5 in the morning on November 21, 1889 the Steamship Manhattan collided with the four masted schooner Agnes Manning about eight miles off the Fenwick Island Lightship. At first it was not thought there was that much damage and the Agnes Manning sailed on. The Manhattan sank in 15 minutes and the Schooner Agnes Manning limped on to Philadelphia. As the crew realized the ship was going down faster than expected panic set in and eight crewmen and three passengers lost their lives in the accident. The schooner Van Name and King picked up the survivors.

An 1883 advertisement for bricks from the M. H. German & Co of Delmar Delaware

I understand the Maryland election results are;
Mayor Doug Niblett received 57 votes, ran unopposed so he continues as Mayor
Luther Hitchens with 39 votes will continue as Commissioner
Marlena Hodgins with 36 votes will be a new Commissioner

Reginald Lizotte received 19 votes
Chris Pittas received 28 votes

There was 67 voters plus one absentee vote out of 1,300 register voters. So about 5% of the registered voters voted in this election.

There will be a special Maryland council meeting on December 10th to swear in the newly elected people.

Today in 1966 the musical "Cabaret" opened at the Broadhurst Theater in New York City. Now I don't know anything about the play, but the movie "Cabaret" is one of my favorites. It came out about 6 years after the play and of course had Lisa Minnelli (in possibly the only role she is known for), Michael York and Joel Grey in it. My favorite song from the movie is "Tomorrow Belongs To Me".

Today is the day Delmar Maryland people! Get out there and vote at the Town Hall from 7 AM to 7 PM.

My daughter, Susan, has been letting her hair grow for quite a while in order to donate it to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is an organization that provides wigs to children with long term medical loss of hair problems. Last night was the night, so she went to a saloon (About Faces) in Salisbury to have it cut it, packaged, and mailed it off to "Locks of Love". She still has enough left for it to be shoulder length.

I think it was a nice gesture Susan made. Locks of Love does have it detractors however, mainly they will sell the hair if it is not of the quality to make a wig and cancer patients, because the hair loss is temporary, may not always receive a wig.

This week is election time for the Delmar Maryland side of town. The people running are Luther Hitchens, Marlena Hodgins, Reginald Lizotte, and Chris Pittas. I rode around this morning to see if I could see any campaign signs, below are a couple.


I would have rode around a while longer looking for signs but frankly the Maryland side of town has such bad streets I gave up. The streets seem to be one mass of road cuts, pot holes and deteriorating patches. I think the worst street on the Delaware side is better than the best street on the Maryland side of town. Yet, I rarely see any one show up to the Joint Council to complain about Delmar Maryland Streets, maybe they are happy with them - who knows.

Tuesday November 20th from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM the Delmar Maryland General Election.

Of course the 22nd is Thanksgiving and Town Hall is closed the 22nd and 23rd.

Altho not in Delmar, on Saturday November 24th at 12:30 PM is a free production of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" given by the First State Children Theatre Company at the Laurel library.

While driving between Selbyville and Gumboro yesterday I remembered that, that was an area that has a number of whale wallows. Whale Wallows are depressions in the ground, usually with a sandy rim around it. They tend to be circular or elliptical and oriented in a southeast to northeast direction. The name comes from the way people thought they developed. Back in ancient times when this area was flooded by oceans it is thought that they were formed by whales being stranded in these areas and they wallowed around as the water receded. There are other thoughts on their formation such as chunks of ice coming to rest in that area and melting after the last ice age, or meteors showers hitting the ground. Like a drainage pond they usually have water in them unless it is a dry spell as this past summer. They have a wide range of bugs, frogs and plants and are considered wet lands. They are not restricted to Delmarva and are in New Jersey, and the Carolinas. The name I am familiar with is Whale wallows but they are called by other names such as Delmarva Bays, Carolina Bays, kettles, sink hole, potholes, or vernal pools. Perhaps JWC of the blog The Shores of Delmarva will do a post on them as he gets out into the woods more frequently than I do.

Located North of Frankford, Delaware on Clayton Street is the camp meeting grounds for the Antioch African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1890 the trustees purchased the church from a white congregation. They started an annual camp meeting that continues today. It was known as “Big Camp” or “Frankford Camp”. Originally they used covered wagons to live in during the meeting and later built wooden "tents'. Today there are about 33 units left. They are of the classic camp meeting style of a story and a half wooden building. The camp layout is also of classic design with the units in a circle around the meeting "tent" or "Bower".




The "Bower"

Inside of the "Bower"










Closer to home, Mt. Nebo Church (West of Delmar) had camp grounds at one time. they were called the Fruitlands Camp Meeting Grounds. The Campgrounds, once situated southeast of the church, were abandoned at the end of the camp meeting era. No tents or other buildings remain. Any information, comments or photos of this camp would be appreciated.

Bethany Beach was found in 1901 as a Summer Camp Meeting spot for the Disciples of Christ. The Water Treatment Class, I am attending, had a field trip to the Bethany Beach Water Department today. Below are photos of their system.


Bethany Beach Water Department is located on the west side of Route 1 on Collins Street, it is surrounded by homes. The current facility was built in 1992. The engineers were Davis, Bowen and Friedel. Since it is Summer beach community the demand for water will go from 1.4 million gallons a day in the summer down to 100,000 gallons per day in the winter. A three man crew handles the water department including meter reading.

The tour was given by Ron Foreman, head of the Bethany Beach water Department. This is our group at one of the five wells that serve Bethany Beach. Ron Foreman is to the left and Anita Beckel, our instructor, is in the center. Bethany has an iron problem. their well puts out about 14 parts per million of iron.

The water will enter an aerator (the green box in the left corner). This will introduce air into the water and oxidize the iron. It will also help remove hydrogen sulfide(that rotten egg smell)and increase the pH of the water.

Chemicals are mixed with the water to help make the iron and other material clump up and the water sits in this clarifer until the material settles to the bottom.

Clarifier with Anita Beckel and Ron Foreman.

Watching the clear water roll over the weir.

The clumped up material from the clarifier is pumped to a Sludge pond.

The Chemical Shed, it holds the potassium permanganate and Polyaluminium chloride used to help remove the iron and precusors that form trihalomethane later when mixed with chlorine.

Bethany Beach uses Accu tab to disinfect the water. This is the Control Panel.

Ron Foreman said that because the water treatment plant was located in a developed area they did not want to use chlorine gas, due to the dangers of gas. The type of chlorine they use is produced by putting tablets in the Chlorinator and water is sprayed across the tablet and mixed with the water. This will disinfect the water. There is not a chlorine smell when you stand next to the unit.

As you can see the chlorinator also makes a great arm rest.

The tablets come in 55 pound Buckets. Ron Foreman said he has encounters problems with PPG Industries manufacturing standards for the tablets and this has caused problems.

The water is filtered thru Four Greensand Filters to remove iron etc.

Bethany Beach adds Sodium Fluoride to their water. The State requires municipalities to add fluoride to their water. It does not require private water systems to do so. Fluoride is supposedly good for children's teeth but as people become adults it does not have much of an effect. In fact in older people the fluoride will cause bones to become more brittle. Bethany Beach has no schools on it's systems, for the most part their population is older adults, those children that do come to Bethany are on vacation and are only there for a week or so, so why does Bethany need to have fluoride in their water?

This is Bethany Beach's One Million Gallon Standpipe

For an idea of Bethany Beach Water quality click on Water Quality Report

The State of Delaware put them on the State Drinking water alert For Trihalomethanes Trihalomethanes is a compound that forms when natural organic substances from decaying vegetation and soil reacts with chlorine. The potassium Permanganate fed into the system is suppose to act as an oxidant on the humic and fulvic acids from the decaying vegetation and soil and allow chlorine to be used later in the system.

An entertaining history of Bethany Beach

Riley W. Adkins, who ran a well known and successful general store in Delmar, died on November 15th, 1944. He had been in business in Delmar for 35 years. He was a member of Delmar Lodge No. 582 Loyal Order of the Moose and of Wicomico Tribe No. 13, Improved Order of Red Men. He was the son of John Adkins.

I went to Wicomico Middle School tonight to watch a sanitized more politically correct version of Huck Finn, called "Huck Finn's High Tailin Adventures". Middle School Drama is always difficult what with the range of ages and the age of the students. I think Allison Pullen, Colin Dennis, Jamie Goslee, Blake Barrett Yein Ha, and Jenna Miles gave excellent performances for their age.

In 1962 the Agriculture Division of Hoffman-La Roche Inc of Nutley, N. J. announced it was leasing an 11,200 square foot concrete block warehouse in Delmar, Delaware to serve the boiler and East Coast livestock Industries. A 1,600 square foot two story wing will be added to the warehouse for a lunchroom, offices, weighting and labeling. The blended vitamins produced by the plant will be marketed under the Ray Ewing Company subsidiary of the Hoffman-La Roche Agricultural division.

From the November 15, 1938 edition of the Bi-State Weekly

ARMISTICE DAY PROGRAMS AT MD. SCHOOL

The Maryland High School enjoyed a program on the afternoon of November 11th, presented by the seniors. This program was dedicated to those who have given their efforts and even their lives for one of the greatest forces of democracy - Freedom of Speech. The program was presented in the form of a radio script and all the members of the class took part.

The cast was as follows:
Announcer .......Norman Hancock
Socrates.........Lloyd McClaine
Savonarois.......Edward Culver
Moderator........Robert Lecates
Miles Standish...Clayton Cugler
Parson Brown.....Bobby Vincent
Sam Adams........Lloyd McCains
Gov. Hutchinson..William Ellis
Paul Revere......Lloyd McCains
Major Otis.......George Elliott
Garrison.........Edwin Kircher
Labor leader.....Norman Hancock

Other members of the cast supplied the voices of the crowd.

Many of the former graduates of the school, as well as many parents and patrons of the school enjoyed the program with the pupils of the High School.

Following the High School program the pupils of the seventh grade gave the following program with the elementary school and several parents as an audience:

Song: America; Bible reading; 122nd psalm followed by prayer, Adelia Waller recited "Armistice Day Vision".

A short play entitled "Mary Peace Club" was presented by the following cast;
Mary......Jean Hastings
Peggy.....Mary Ellen Hearn
Betty.....Betty Blades
Tom.......Russel Kerley
Ted.......Merrill Nichols
Bink......Alvin Culver

This play was about six friends who wanted to do something to help promote world peace.

The program was closed by singing "America, the Beautiful".

The Delmar Planning and Zoning Meeting was held tonight, all members except Ed Ferro was present. Among the item discussed;

F P Barnard, John Middleton and Tracy Middleton of J & F Contractors presented plans for a two story home (24' by 28') they plan to build at 410 East State street. There was a house there before and it was torn down. After some discussion approval was given with contingent that they would provide a better plat, add an additional window, and a few other cosmetic changes.

Ralph Krum of RK Real estate representing Alex Navarro and Maria Arias, who have a house at 412 E. Walnut, requested a positive recommendation from Planning and Zoning for the Maryland Board of Zoning Appeals to have the addition on their house considered a rental property. At some point in the history of the property a mother-In_Law apartment was added to the existing house. The Navarro's want to make it a rental apartment. Planning and Zoning gave them a favorable recommendation.

Debbie Huddleston presented a draft of the Well Head Protection Ordinance. After much discussion it was agreed it needed a lot more work.

The December Planning and Zoning meeting date has been changed to December 11th. Two developers who hope to develop the land recently annexed in to town off of Stage Road on the Delaware side of town will be there to present plans for their developments.

Today in 1984 the Wicomico County Board of Education approved the recommendation of Evelyn Holman to close the Sharptown Elementary School. Only William G. Duvall voted against this recommendation. The date of June 1986 was set for the closing date.

In Today's Daily Times was an article about a robbery at the Top Hat Cafe. A masked man wielding a handgun demanded the purses of two people at the Top Hat cafe at 7 PM Wednesday night. He was wearing an orange mask, blue jacket, jeans and black shoes.

It is a dead give a way, the guy must have been local as he was dressed in Wildcat colors.

Tuesday, November 13th 6:30 PM Sussex County Council Meeting

Thursday November 15th, 7:00 PM Delmar Planning and Zoning

Saturday, November 17th, 10:00 AM Delmar Police Abandon Vehicle Auction changed from Oct 27th

There is a Blog Reading Level website called the blog readability test . It determines what level of education is required to understand your blog. Just enter the URL of the blog you want to test. I won't say what level my blog came in at(somewhere between Redneck to Mensa).

Today in 1918 at 11 AM an armistice went into effect to stop the fighting in World War I. The Armistice however had been signed at 5:10 AM that morning and in order to ensure the word reached everyone that the fighting should stop, a time of 11 AM (The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month), was selected for a cease fire. Between 5:10 AM until 11 AM that morning close to eleven thousand troops would die or be wounded in battle knowing that if they could make it to 11 AM they would live. A Stupid, Stupid waste of lives, all because the allied generals (not the Germans this time) wanted to gain as much land as possible before the fighting stopped. They had an outlook of there is no glory in not fighting, only in fighting, of course they weren't the ones in the trenches or going "over the hill".

Nine out of 16 American divisions allowed the scheduled attacks on Germany positions to proceed that day until 11 AM. Artillery batteries fired their cannons until 11 AM in order not to have left over unused artillery shells. General John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing was the American General in charge of the American troops and he ordered the fighting to continue until 11 AM.

As Laurence Vance said in an article; If the fighting had stopped at 5:10 then there might be around today some descendants of George Price, the last Canadian killed in the war, G. E. Ellison, the last Briton killed in the war, Joseph Trebuchon, the last Frenchman killed in the war, and Henry Gunther, the last American killed in the war. Henry Gunther died one minute before the armistice took effect. A VFW post in Baltimore honors his memory.

A good book on this armistice day fiasco is "Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918 World War I and Its Violent Climax" by Joseph E. Persico.

A good PBS interview with him about the book and day is at interview with Joseph Persico

Excerpt from The Leader and State Register August 29, 1983

Ten persons were arrested on Pennsylvania Avenue in Delmar, Friday night as part of an ongoing effort to "clean up downtown."

Police Chief Hunter Nelms said an undercover police officer observing the area from a vantage point between 10 P. M. and midnight aided police in the arrests.

"No matter what it takes, we're going to make a concentrated effort to get downtown in shape," Nelms said. "Whether they're smoking a joint or littering, we are going to let them know they can't do it here."

Arrested and fined were Timothy Moore,23, of South Memorial Drive, Delmar, MD, drinking in public; Robert D. Parsons,24, 204 S. Maryland Ave, Delmar, MD, drinking in public;

Thomas A. Austin, 19, 100 E. Delaware Ave., Delmar, DE, disorderly conduct; Darrell G. Downes, 20, 8 Delaware Ave., Delmar, DE, disorderly conduct;

Daniel V. Graves, age unavailable, Northwood Drive, Salisbury, MD disorderly conduct; Wayne B. Jones, 19, 9 W. East St. Delmar, MD, littering,

Howard W. Hall, 56, RD 1, Salisbury, disorderly conduct; Terry D. Force, 21, 603 E. Pine St, Delmar, MD , disorderly conduct;

Richard B. Curtis, age unavailable, 205 N. Second St. Delmar, DE, possession of an alcoholic beverage by a minor and consumption of alcohol in a public place.

Charged and awaiting a court hearing is Steve Searcey, 18, 100 W. East st. Delmar, MD, littering and disorderly conduct.

Police said they will make additional arrests in conjunction with Friday night's stake out.

Mary Mallon was born on September 23, 1869 in Cookstown, Ireland, at the age of 15 she immigrated to America where she found employment as a domestic servant and cook. She changed jobs often, due to her temper and the general prejudice against single Irish woman working as domestics. A trail of sickness was following her from job to job however. From 1900 to 1907 she worked at 8 jobs and 27 people became ill and one died from typhoid fever. George Soper,an engineer with Typhoid fever experience, tracked a typhoid problem to Mary. He turned the case over to the New York Health Department. The health department determined Mary was a carrier of Typhoid even though she did not display symptoms of the disease. She was locked up in isolation for three years. The Health department released her in 1910 making her sign a document saying she would not work as a cook again. Though commonly known at the time that typhoid could be spread by water or food products, people who are infected by the typhoid bacillus could also pass the disease from their infected stool onto food via unwashed hands. For this reason, infected persons who were cooks (like Mary Mallon) or food handlers had the most likelihood of spreading the disease. No doubt part of the reason for those signs in the restrooms of restaurants that say Employees must wash their hands.

In 1915 Mary Mallon was found to be working as a cook again when 25 people became ill in Sloane Maternity Hospital in Manhattan. Mary was sent to North Brother Island, part of Riverside Hospital, where she would stay imprisoned for the next 23 years. She died on November 11, 1938 at the age of 69 from pneumonia. Her body was cremated. In her lifetime she caused 47 illnesses and 3 deaths.

During her lifetime and after her death she left many questions about the rights a state has to imprison someone without a trial nor breaking any laws. Today we are so accustom to imprisonment without trial we would not even raise an eyebrow. She was best known by the nickname the press gave her of Typhoid Mary.

Under cloudy skies and cool weather the Delmar Heritage Day Festival happened.









Car show



The Caboose was open

People in the pie eating contest

The things you do when you are an elected official, kiss babies, shake hands, agree with everyone, and participate in a pie eating contest. For some reason Commissioner Carl Anderton and Deputy Mayor Luther Hitchens hung back letting Vice Mayor Michael Houlihan and Mayor Doug Niblett be the elected officials in the pie eating contest.

Vice Mayor Houlihan eating Pie

Pie Eating Contest

Mayor Niblett digging into that pie

People watching the pie eating contest


Pie Eaters

The Winner Standing, notice Doug Niblett sitting down

Pie Eaters Cleaning Up

Excerpts from the State Register April 28, 1982

Approximately four weeks ago, the Delmar Police Department inaugurated a mini program of exercise for local youngsters between the ages of 12 and 15.

Off duty officers brought a punching bag, weights and skip ropes and placed them in the limited space of one of the rooms in the police station.

Chief Harry Hodgins said this week that the project was going well. "The kids that come in and use our facilities are beginning to realize that cops aren't "bad Guys". It also gives our officers an opportunity to get to know our kids. Another plus is the fact these kids can't be getting into trouble when they are engaged in a healthy body building program." Chief Hodgins said.

According to the chief, Pfc Harold Saylor, who was a college athlete, was one of the prime movers of the idea of making exercise equipment available to local youths.

A few days before the end of World War I, the steamer Saetia was returning from France. As the ship made it's way to Delaware Bay it struck a floating mine placed by a German submarine about 25 miles off Ocean City. Within 15 minutes the ship sunk in 300 feet of water. The Ocean City Coast Guard station heard the alarm and responded, also many of the local fisherman took their boats to the area where the ship sunk. They returned with 65 crew members. The Town of Ocean City opened the Seaside Hotel so they had a place to stay and food was prepared for the survivors. It was referred to as the Election day Disaster as elections were held the 10th of November that year, 1918.

The 1929 Penna railroad caboose was receiving a final touchup paint job today.




I noticed the curbing and white parking lines were re painted.

The Second Grade was out for a trip today.

For the last three years a murder trial has been going on in Delaware. Irina Malinovskaya is accused of killing the girlfriend of an ex boyfriend. The third trial for her has once again ended in a mistrial. The woman has been in jail for three years going thru these trials. Sometime justice isn't fair and I would have to say after three attempts by the state to convict her it is time to stop and set her free. Since she is Russian and here on a student visa she is sure to be deported back to Russia after her release.

I have been working on a project, not related to this blog, that required some research into the 1981 to 1983 time frame in Delmar. I had forgotten what a bad time it was for Delmar in that time period. Let me do some recapping for those who may not remember that time period.

The Town manager Bob Martin, whose pay came half from the Maryland side of Town and half from the Delaware side of town was fired by the Maryland side of town but kept working for the Delaware side of town. Later Bob Martin is rehired by the Maryland side of Town. Bob Martin quits and takes a job with Sussex County.

Karen Horsmen is made acting town manager. She brings a sexual discrimination law suit against the town because she isn't making the same money as the previous town manager.

The town hires Joseph Edward Cate as town manager. On the day he is suppose to start work he tells the town he quits.

John Pick is hired as town manager. After an extremely rough year he quits

Karen Horsmen is made Town manager.

Delmar Maryland annexes the land out to Foskey Lane so the new South Water Tower and well will be in town.

Delmar Maryland is given it's own zip code by the postal department.

The old sewage plant was still being used and residents around it were complaining of the smell. Sludge had to be cleaned out of it and the cost was about $4,000. Maryland Commissioner Ed McClaine commented "We should not pump off the sludge to keep a few peons happy. They don't even pay taxes anyway - let them squawk"

A 1.1 Million dollar water improvement project was under way. This mainly consisted of new water mains, a new south well, and a new south water tower.

A 17 year old, Tammy McGinnis and two other girls June Jackson, age 14, and Stephanie Parsons, age 16, were charged with placing a Molotov Cocktail and a fake bomb in the High School. They than called in a bomb threat. The school was evacuated and the bombs found.

The high school boiler broke, no heat for several days, school continued anyway.

Pennsylvania Avenue became a rougher place to be at night with public drinking and robbery occurring.

Tim's Bar changes hands and becomes Red Dog's.

Seven homosexuals were arrested at the rest stop on Route 13 outside of Delmar for sex charges. This caused the rest stop to be closed down.

A couple at the Greenway Inn Apartments were charged with making porno Movies.

Those last two events caused Heidi Hickey, girl reporter for the State Register, to write an article called (Delmar) Pornotown, USA?

Delmar Police Chief Harry Hodgins, after 6 months on the job, and Pfc James Harris are charged with brutality when they beat a suspect with a tire iron, pointed a 12 gauge shotgun at his head, had him disrobe and threaten to shove a metal rod up his rectum. They eventually are terminated.

Other Policemen resign and Corporal Harold Saylor and Robert Moses becomes a two man police force.

Hunter Nelms is made Police Chief of Delmar.

One of the town's two police cars falls apart. The council suggest the police force can use the town's public works pickup truck.

The state police threatens to not allow the Delmar police cars on the road due to the poor conditions of the tires.

The town budget is approved with no pay raises given to town employees that year. This was based on recommendations from the Delmar Citizens Committee. Chief Hunter Nelms addressed the council saying; "Poverty level for a non-farm family of four is $9,800. You start your police officers at $9,600. I have men eligible for food stamps and public assistance".

A new 13 acre park in Delmar was opened.

Samuel Willey is elected Mayor of Delmar Delaware. He serves one month and resigns. James Smith, newly elected councilman, was appointed Mayor.

The first big complains of rust in the town water supply start to crop up.

The new South Well has a well collapse and the town enters into a year long finger pointing contest with Delmarva Drilling as to whose fault it was.

Delmar Delaware has severe money problems at one point there was concern if the town payroll could be paid.

Jackie Lovett of Delmar kills two people in a drug deal.

Ford Brewington decides to stage a protest by painting a "letter" on the side of his house.

The Maryland Council wants to get rid of Commissioner Edward C. P. Feeney because he doesn't go along with them.

The big planning work on the new Sewage treatment plant starts. The State of Maryland threatens to fine Delmar if the new treatment plant is not built real fast.

The rust problem in Delmar's water becomes worst. A citizens committee, called the Delmar Citizens Water Committee, is formed and lead by Frank and Jane Bonsell. Eventually this committee would call the shots on the town water supply and town direction and budgets. The town had really bad water for about a year.

A pump goes bad in the north water well and the town has to depends on the new south well for a few weeks.

Frank Gully is elected Mayor of Delmar Maryland.

Except from The Daily Times 1984

DELMAR- An Easton man was being held this morning on $10,000 bond in the Sussex Correctional Institution on a kidnapping charge, according to police here.

Officer Alan Dickerson said John William Cooper, 36, turned himself into police late Monday afternoon.

Police went to the Red Dog Restaurant on North Pennsylvania Avenue after receiving a call that a man, who had pointed a gun at Margaret Veasey, of Gumboro, later forced her to leave with him. Veasey was not harmed, police said. Cooper is also charged with carrying a concealed dangerous weapon and reckless endangering.

This weekend (Saturday) is Delmar Heritage day. The Street downtown will be closed, a car show will be exhibited, games will be played and food will be available. There is a Possibility Elected officials will be called on for a pie eating contest (it will be unfair if the Maryland side of town enlists Rick Pollitt in this event). I understand opening ceremonies will start at 10 AM and the brick placement will be at noon.

The caboose has got a new coat of paint on it. Yes, that is suppose to be red.

Come early and have a scrapple and egg sandwich at Linda's or the Top Hat.

Delmar Delaware Down town

The Delmar High Ball Signal, maybe this year some prankster won't hang women's underwear from it.

So come early and stake out a stool at the Sports Nuts bar and watch the events.

Remember to stay clear of the Lecates building on the corner as it may fall on you.

Do stop in to Delmarva furniture and look around.

From the Wicomico News November 7, 1929

PRETTYMAN IS JAILED, TOOK OFFICER'S CAR

Raymond Prettyman, whose desire for automobiles has won for him more than one free boarding under the auspices of the state of Maryland and various counties, is again in jail.

He is charges with the theft Monday night of the car of Edward Hearn Delmar Police officer. Officer Hearn's car was taken from a position approximately one hundred yards from the Delmar (Del) police station without arousing the patrolman.

The Maryland policeman in Delmar had seen a Salisbury youth loitering near the car shortly before it was taken and Officer Hearn came at once to Salisbury.

With the aid of Officer Furniss, City police, the officer's car was located parked on Water street behind the jail. Prettyman and two companions were in it at the time, the officers said.

Prettyman was carried over to the jail and later taken back to Delaware. He will go on trial for the theft of the officer's car.

The man has had a checkered career on the peninsula. In October 1927 he was sentenced to two years in the Maryland House of Correction. His term in the institution was shortened as he proved to be a model prisoner and he was released months ahead of time.

He returned to Salisbury and had been here about one week when the car of Donald Graham was taken from Camden street. The car was later found abandon in Berlin.

Later local Officers found that Prettyman had returned to the House of Correction in a car identical to that of Graham's and had made a brief visit there. He offered no explanation of the car and was apparently not questioned about it at the institution.

If a conviction is not obtained against him in Delaware he will be returned to Salisbury to face trial for the theft of Mr. Graham's car.

An excerpt form the "Daily Times" November 1984.

DELMAR Police here are continuing their investigation into a burglary at the Dukes Jewelry store earlier this week in which $38,000 in merchandise was taken.

Chief Harold Saylor said officers were called to the store Monday morning when the incident was discovered. Saylor said the Pennsylvania Avenue store was apparently entered through the roof. The Delaware State Police crime lab experts were called in to assist in the investigation.

According to Saylor "a sizable quantity" of jewelry was taken from a safe which had been forced open Saylor said his department believes the latest break in may be part of a series of incidents in the Laurel Delmar area in the last several weeks.

Two things about this article stands out. First, in 1984 Delmar was still making public statements about some of the police activity they were doing. At least it lets the public know they are doing something. Today they keep a news blackout on what they are doing unless it is murder or some high profile case.

Second, Chief Saylor has been with the Delmar Police Force so long he is becoming part of my historical commentaries on Delmar.

I receive notification of Delaware State auctions, most of the time they are the usual beat up surplus equipment you find at State Auctions. I did receive a notice today of an online auction that has a 1995 Ducati Motorcycle which is a nice change of pace. No idea what kind of shape it is in. You can inspect it at;
Delaware State Police Headquarters, Maintenance Garage
1441 North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901
from November 7, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The Delmar Public Library is collecting canned goods and non-perishable items to be donated to Harvest Ministries for aiding community members in need. The Thanksgiving collection is underway now and will continue until November 20th.

From The Wicomico News November 3, 1932

2 DELMAR MEN ROBBED, ONE IS WOUNDED

Maryland and Delaware State police, county authorities and scores of citizens formed a posse Fri. night and unsuccessfully scoured the town of Delmar and adjacent countryside for a negro who had perpetrated two holdups and shot one of his victims.

Herbert Hearn, postal employee, was the man shot. The bullet entered his stomach and after treatment at Peninsula General Hospital it was said he would recover.

Hearn told officers he was in his automobile parked near the high school when the negro suddenly appeared and commanded him to put up his hands. When he refused Hearn said the bandit thrust a pistol into his face and pulled the trigger.

There was a click, then another click as the cartridge failed to fire. Believing the pistol unloaded Hearn leaped from the car but as he did there was a report from the Negro's pistol and Hearn felt the bullet.

The negro then fled. Hearn companion, a Miss Fisher, was not molested....

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
We see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Yes it is Guy Fawkes Day. After V is Vendetta even people in America can repeat the nursery rhyme.

Guy Fawkes was part of the Gunpowder plot which attempted to blow up parliament and kill King James I on November 5, 1605.

A look at other blogs mentioning Guy Fawkes day;
Britannica Blog

Mama Lisa

and some recipes for Guy Fawkes day;
Bonfire Nights Recipes

A Few Photos of Punkin Chunkin on Sunday


















;

The Delmar Fire Department had their Sportsman Give a way Saturday. Judging from the vehicles parked in a five block radius of the fire department and how packed it was inside, it was a success. I stopped by for a Cheeseburger but it was too crowded for me. Since no one has called me to tell me I won a prize I guess that was my first $25 Cheeseburger.

Well the game tonight (7:30 PM) creates as much excitement in Delmar as Homecoming, maybe more. My wife and daughters, who as I have said before are the sports fans in the family, have been trying to decide for most of the week which outfit of orange clothing to wear to the game. It will not be a home game but instead held in the suburbs (Laurel) of Delmar. The traditional rivalry between Laurel and Delmar will of course end in the foregone conclusion of another Delmar win. GO WILDCATS!!

The News Journal today recorded the death of Lorelle Ward. She was 84 and lived in the New Castle area. Mrs. Ward was the first woman in Delaware to enlist in the Navy WAVES in World War II. She trained in New York state and was stationed in Washington DC during the war. She will be buried at Graceland Memorial Park with full military honors.

The WAVES, or "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" was established in 1942 and ceased to exist in 1948. Large numbers of them, including Mrs. Ward, performed traditionally female secretarial and clerical.

Today, in the "Daily Times" is a Letter to the Editor about Delmar Code Enforcement practices. Entitled Why are only select stores targeted for violations? and written by Gary Reichrath of Mattress Express here in Delmar. Altho parts of his letter may not be entirely true, it is true that code enforcement in Delmar is selective. It is certainly one reason why some stores and housing developments can put out flags and others can't. It is the reason why the Lecates building has continue to be an eyesore in Delmar with no penalties put toward the owner.