Delmar DustPan

Today in 1890 the Battle at Wounded Knee Creek occurred. It was the last major armed conflict between the Dakota Sioux and the United States, subsequently described as a "massacre" by General Nelson A. Miles in a letter to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. 500 troops of the 7th Cavalry surrounded 350 Lakota Sioux (only 120 were not women or children)with the intend to escort them to the railroad for transportation to Nebraska. Colonel James W. Forsyth was in charge. The fight broke out and by the end of fighting, which lasted less than an hour, over 150 Lakota had been killed and 50 wounded. In comparison, army casualties numbered 25 dead and 39 wounded. Colonel Forsyth was immediately denounced by General Nelson Miles and relieved of command. The tie in to Delaware is Fort Miles at Cape Henlopen was named after General Nelson Miles.

As Elbert pointed out the last days of the "Virginia C." ferry at Woodland Ferry are here. Monday is the last day it will be used. Now like a number of people I gave up trying to use the ferry a while back. It was either out of order or the tide was low and about everything scraped off the bottom of your car when you drove off of it. The question I have however, is why would you remove a ferry and not have another one ready to take it's place. The new one is being built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury Maryland but it won't be ready for another eleven months, not until November. Not that anyone believes that completion date will actually occur on time. Another example of DelDot planning ability.

The ferry has been there since the 1700's. It was originally known as Cannon's Ferry (not to be confused with the Cannon ferry in Chowan County, N.C.). It's history is interweaved with Patty Cannon. A wooden ferry was used until 1961, when the Virginia C started operation. I can remember crossing on the wooden one, as I remember it it was more like a raft than the current "Virginia C.".

The "Virginia C" was named for the wife of former state highway commissioner Dallas Culver. The ferry was purchased by the state in January 1961 for $47,543. It had ungone a $200,000 retooling in 1989.

The Virginia C. is like an old person who is retiring from a company, everyone says "Oh, what a shame he has been here so long, we are really going miss him", but what they are thinking is "It is about time that old fart left he has screwed up more than what he has successfully completed for the last ten years".

As long as those leaves stay in the storm drains the street are going to flood.

Make Out Wrinkles
Before 1970 all of your clothes were starched and ironed. Permanent press was a word not yet invented. Within an hour after going to school your clothes were usually wrinkled, for the most part they didn't look good and were not something you would like for people to see with one exception - make out wrinkles. Make out wrinkles were the outcome of making out on the front seat of a car with your date. As you and your date twisted your little teenage bodies around to kiss (didn't have bucket seats then), diagonal wrinkles would develop on your starched shirt or her starched blouse. They were always good for bragging rights as making out was the only way those diagonal wrinkles would appear.

A second item I just remembered, the seats in cars were not bucket seats nor were there seat belts, and the seats were usually vinyl covered. You would wax the seats so when you made a right turn your date would side across the seat over next to you.

In this area the needles that fall from pine trees are called shats. It is a word outsiders seem to have difficulty with. I don't know why, as it is an Elizabethans English word meaning needles. Way back when I was in elementary school I was sent to the Principal's office for using the word by a teacher who was from New England. As today, back then Wicomico county liked to hire superintendents in from outside the area so when one was hired from New England, New England teachers begin to appear in our schools to teach the ignorant ass Eastern Shoreman how to speak. It didn't take on me. Now why I would like to sound like someone from New England and talk like I have a mouthful of shit is beyond me. Happily the Principal explained to her the origin of the word and it was not a cuss word.

Today is Wendy Becker's birthday. Happy Birthday Wendy!!!

Two items today from 1942. The first is about someone in Delmar being charged because they did not follow the blackout orders for lights in WWII. The second is an ad from Reads Drug store in Salisbury selling alcohol to burn in your car. As you may recall gasoline was rationed so people burn a lot of different fuels in their cars in order to be able to travel. My grandmother retained her mule and wagon just so she could take short trips to town and back and not use up her gasoline ration stamps.

The Salisbury Times December 29, 1942
Held Under Bond For Violation of Dimout
Delmar, Dec 29 - Justice E. Wessells, arrested by State Police Officer Charles Cullen on charges of violating regulations governing control of lights in the coastal dimout in Delaware, was ordered to arrange bond for $100 for appearance in Court of General Sessions.

Police said Wessels failed to have the lights of his service station properly dimmed. He pleaded guilty.

Magitrate Patrick Hearn said that Delaware Police now have the authority to stop and arrest drivers of cars failing to blackout their headlights or having them properly shaded.

We had a little chimney fire in the neighborhood. It was over at Wayne Barrall Sr house, quite a bit of fire coming out of the chimney.

Looks like they pretty much had it under control when I left.

For those who may do family tree research I have copied the 1917 phone directory over for Delmar. Altho Delmar Delaware is listed on all addresses you can tell, where street addresses are given, Delmar Maryland is included. I have never had any luck putting columns in Blogger so allow for the sloppy columns.

BELL TELEPHONE DIRECTORY JANUARY 20, 1917
DELMAR DEL.

54-5 Adkins, J G, r…………………………….nr Delmar
51-2 Adkins R W, genl mdse……………………….State
4-2 Bank of Delmar, bank………………………...Delmar
54-14 Bradley G H, r …………………………...nr Delmar
22-11 Brayshaw Dr. J, Physician ……………….Delmar
22-2 Brayshaw Dr, J, r ………………………….Delmar
50-2 Brewington A, Autos & Supplier State Delmar Del
32 Citizens Gas Co, Office …………….Railroad Ave
41-13 Culver Irving, “The Orchards” …….nr Delmar Del
29 Culver Irving…………………….Fruit Commissioner
35 Culver Irving ……………………………...Residence
36-3 Culver J Willims, genl Mdse………………...N 2nd
7 Culver J W …………………………………..Residence
48-2 Culver M W , genl Mdse…………...Pine Delmar Del
5-2 Culver S. N., Clothier & Furnisher ……….Delmar Del
59 Culver T S , r……………………………….…Elizabeth
21 Delmar Ice Co, Ice Factory………………….Delmar Del
17-11 Delmar Packing Co, Cannery…………….Delmar Del
19 Del Produce Ex, Inc S M Yingling Agt office Delmar Del
15 Delmar Union Store Co …………………Genl Mdse
8 Ellegood Dr Robt ……………………………...Office
14 Elliott F G……………………………….…Hardware
17-2 Elliott J J, Lumber Factory…………….Delmar Del
51-4 Elliott J J, r…………….cor Maple & Highland Av
42-5 Evans Ernest, r…………………..……..near Melson
10 Faulkner F N, r………………….…..State Delmar Del
25 First National Bank……………………………….….
46 Francis Elder A B, r…………………….…Delmar Del
12 Frazier Jos…………………………………...Residence
24 Freeney J W ………………………………….Residence
43-2 Freeney Miss Rosa L, r………………………..Delmar
43-11 Freeny E E, r…………………………….Delmar Del
16 German & Co, M H…………………………..Dry goods
53-3 Gordy O L Hardware & grocs………………….…State
53-3 Gordy & Holloway, mfrs Cement Blocks………..State
2 Haddock S B, r…………………………………….Delmar
44 Hastings G L ……………………………………….N 2d
3 Hastings & Co …………………...Groceries & Dry Goods
11 Hastings & Co, G L…………………………Wood dealer
9-2 Hearn Albert H, groceries……………………….Delmar
51-11 Hearn Geo E, r……………………...State Delmar Del
54-23 Hearn Geo W, r……………………………..nr Delmar
53-2 Hearn Jos W, r………………………..East Delmar Del
40 Hickey H T…………………………………...Residence
4-11 Holloway Jas, r………………………………...Delmar
28-2 James H B, office………………………..Railroad Ave
26 James H B ………………………………..…Residence
23-3 Jones Geo T, Printing Office………….E Delmar Del
47 Krause S F, r……………………………………….N 2d
56 Long G L, r………………………...Chesnut Delmar Del
13-2 Lowe H S, Farm…………………RD No 3 Delmar Del
42-3 Lowe I S, r…………………………………..nr Delmar
27 Lowe L B …………………………………..…Residence
31 Lynch F E ……………………………………..Residence
36-11 Lynch Dr. Howard, Office…………….……….Delmar
36-2 Lynch Dr. Howard, r…………………………….Delmar
55-2 Marvel Wm S Sr, r……………………Grove Delmar Del
23-4 Melson E J, fancy groceries…………..East Delmar Del
54-31 Mills R J, r…………………………………nr Hebron
54-22 Mills W D, r…………………………………nr Delmar
41-2 Mitchell James W, r…………………………..nr Delmar
42-2 Moore L H, r………………………………….nr Delmar
42-23 Morris J P, r………………………………….nr Delmar
37 P B & W R R co……………………………….Pay station
58 Palm Charles A,r………………………………Delmar Del
23-2 Parker A L Groceries…………….Elizabeth Delmar Del
9-3 Parker Harry L, r…………………..…………..nr Delmar
41-32 Pennewell J J, r…………………..…..……..nr Delmar
1 Salisbury Brick Co, Inc, Brick yard….………………N 2d
30 Slemons S K…………………………………….Residence
49 Stephens W B, r………………..4th & Chesnut Delmar Del
51-3 Sturgis A J, groceries………………..E State Delmar Del
23-11 Sturgis T A, r …………………………………..Delmar
41-11 Tingle Zeno, r ………………………………..nr Delmar
57 Truitt W C, t……………………………….East Delmar Del
34 Veasey Mary Augusta…………………..Stone House, State
38-2 Wainwright M H, Bakery & Fancy Grocs….Railroad Av
48-11 Wainwright M H, r …………….2d & Pine, Delmar Del
6-11 Waller S B, r……………..…………………….…Delmar
54-3 Waller W J,r……………………………………nr Delmar
54-11 Weatherly L B, r………………………………nr Hebron
45 Wells J F, r…………………..….Chesnut & 4th Delmar Del
39 West Nathan,r…………………….………………...Delmar
33 Whayland S H…………………………………..Drug store
17-4 Whayland S H,r…………………………….………Jewel
6-2 Whayland W W, Groceries………………………..Delmar
42-13 White C H …………………………………..Residence
20 Wilson Jas T……………………………………...Clothing

It is the morning after Christmas and I am still suffering from the feeling of being stuffed from Christmas supper. It was a wonderful supper, full of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, Hayman sweet potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato biscuits, casseroles, and coleslaw, in such quantities, that when finished I felt tight as a tick. And I have those great leftovers to look forward to for a few days. So why do we do this to ourselves? If there is a word to describe the period from Thanksgiving to New Years it would be excess. Excess puts the X in Xmas. Excess shopping, excess spending, excess eating, excess stress. All of these accumulates to the zenith of excess and consumption in Christmas day. One of the joys of Christmas day is knowing that it is over with, until next year. Well might as well enjoy the food as we all know that dirty four letter word d-i-e-t will be on the “to do” list this coming New Years.

Of note Elbert has a good Christmas post.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Lifted from Crouchy Old Cripple

Now I enjoy receiving and sending Christmas cards. Receiving a Christmas card is like finding a present under the tree every day in December and sometime January (from those who just can’t get it together by December 25th.) Cards let people know you care and have not forgotten them. Some people say with emails that the annual Christmas card isn’t necessary, but they lie or are living under a false assumption. I don't care if it does save a tree, I want a card. I don’t want embedded graphics, flash attachments, links to bouncy Web animations, etc, I just want a simple Christmas card, with a handwritten note maybe some pictures of them and their children or dog, and have it delivered by a uniformed government employee. And it has to be a real card and signed by real people, not a card from my insurance company. I am however still waiting for my White House Christmas Card, it is getting kinda of late however, perhaps I was too harsh on him in my blog.

There is a pecking order in which I treasure cards, but any card received is great. First and highest in the pecking order is a card with a handwritten letter and photo that says Merry Christmas, no happy holiday bullshit, the reason for Christmas is Christ. Second, a card with a newsletter and photo, but the card has to be hand signed and my name has to be in the card showing they actually wanted to send it to me. Third, is a card with a newsletter and a signed name. Fourth, is a card with a signed name or a photo card. Fifth and lowest is a card that has the senders name printed in the card with no message that it is to you other than the addressed envelope, totally impersonal, I am glad I got a card but they should have saved their money.

Now I know some people complain about the expense of the postage, the cards and any photographs you may include, but in truth it is the cheapest present you are going to give this year

One of the nice things about Christmas is unexpected visitors that you have not seen in a while.

Howard and Kyndra, from the western shore, stopped by. They had been to Pocomoke to put flowers on her parents graves and were returning home and decided to stop and see us.

Erin stopped by to have a little nosh with us. She will be going to Texas shortly to see her husband Kenny graduate from Air Force Basic Training


Christmas Cheer a Christmas poem by Thomas Tusser
Good husband and housewife, now chiefly be glad,
Things handsome to have, as they ought to be had.
They both do provide, against Christmas do come,
To welcome their neighbors, good cheer to have some.

Good bread and good drink, a good fire in the hall,
Brawn, pudding, and souse, and good mustard withal.
Beef, mutton, and pork, and good pies of the best,
Pig, veal, goose, and capon, and turkey well drest,
Cheese, apples and nuts, and good carols to hear,
As then in the country is counted good cheer.

What cost to good husband, is any of this?
Good household provision only it is:
Of other the like, I do leave out a many,
That costeth the husband never a penny.