MEMORIAL FOR THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

DIES 6 JANUARY 1919

Lewes, Delaware, January 31, 2019: 100 years ago :

February 9, is set aside for the tribute to Theodore Roosevelt by the

Governor of Delaware, John Gillis Townsend.

To meet with reverence that day will recognize his influence.

The Governor ask all people, irrespective of race, color, or political

association, to arrange a suitable memorial on the day designated.

In New York City, at the Church of St. Nicholas, 5^th Avenue & 48^th

Street, where he worshiped since childhood, the Roosevelt pew was left

empty, decorated only with a wreath of laurel. Roosevelt attended the church 44 years. As a young boy he had a heart of tendernesss. He was

quick witted too. He was intense for knowledge and had a logical mind

Abstract: Wilmington Morning News, Saturday, February 1, 1919.

ASKECKSY OF SUSSEX HITORY

SUSSEX COUNTY DELAWARE HISTORY

ASKECKSY

Sussex County Delaware History from my delmarhistory.blogspot.com is

a post to facebook pages of my choice for those who are interested.

Askecksy is a historic area in southeast Sussex, latitude 38.6, longitude

3. It is west by west by south of Millsboro, between Ingram’s

Pond and Workman's Corner – Cross Key's Road, which is my choice

of location. Slavins choice, I say is the correct location, is south of

Millsboro between Irons Branch and road 24. Irons branch aka Indian Town Branch in 1800's

Chris Slavins' Peninsula Roots - Winnasoccum post has Askecksy at

the west end of a 'branch' that appears to be named Legyan Branch flowing

into Indian River.

ASKECKSY & INDIAN RIVER INDIANS

September 13, 2015, Chris Slavins wrote :

Delmarva Peninsula Indians which were said to be 'dwindling' were

hearded into settlements. One settlement, Assawamen, on Indian town Branch, aka Dirickson Creek thence moved to the south side of Indian

River, aka, Baltimore River, to Askecksy, aka, Askquessence and other similar names. This was in 1705.

The Indian River Indian chief, Robin, had a request approved for a

settlement of 1000 acres reserved for the tribes private use in 1705.. The Nanticokes and the Choptanks, on behalf of Queen Wyransconmickonous, had agreed to this settlement which was somewhat swampy and had many black bear and timber rattelsnakes. At this time Nanticokes had moved to

Broad Creek Town from Chicacoan near Vienna, Maryland.

1742 the tribes met at a secret powwow and made plans to massacre the

settlers with the help of the French who would land on the coast. The

plot was discovered and failed.

The so called Winnasoccum Uprising having failed, the Peninsula tribes

abandoned their lands and migrated to Pennsylvania. The Indian River

tribe sold it's land to William Burton in 1743, and either went north

or lingered in the area, intermarried with the settlers and adopted English

ways and spawned the Nanticoke Indian Association in 1840.

Abstract: Askecksy & Indian River Indians, by Chris Slavins, September

12, 2015, Peninsula Roots.

BICYCLE HISTORY

BICYCLE HISTORY

1886 - 1900 BICYCLE FEVER

In 1886 the “ Safety “ bike “ was introduced to American cyclists. The

“ Safety “ bike had two wheels the same size, front and rear, then later

fitted with pneumatic tires, now we have a safe, comfortable and easy to ride machine doing away with the old bike with a huge front wheel and

very small rear wheel, hard to ride and dangerous.

1890 saw 40,000 bicycles produced and 1896 there were 1,200,000 bikes

built in America. The “ Safety “ bike sold for $25 to $ 75. Special clothing

for riders was also popular at $5 per suit.

With the number of bikes being riden, yes, there were complaints, like riding on the walkways and night riding with out lights. In Lewes an association

was formed, “ The Baseball & Bicycle Association “, si when there was no base ball game you had a safe place to ride.

As roads became better thoroughfares, the event of the horseless carriages,

the bicycle craze subsided.

A famous Red Head Elgin King was advertised for $14.95 in Delaware

Pilot, May 14, 1897.

Abstract: Harrision H. 1/30/2019, Michael Morgan's Delaware Diary, Delaware Coast Press, January 30, 2019, May 1, 1897 Delaware Pilot.

CLAYTON MELSON, LEWES MORTICAN

CLAYTON HENRY MELSON

LEWES, DELAWARE MORTICAN

January 27, 2019, at Lewes, Delaware the following data was gathered

about Clayton Henry Melson because the family was under discussion

on Facebook pages “Lewes to Ocean City Memories” & “Growing Up in

Rehoboth, Lewes & Dewey Beach” . An post had been made that the original Melson Funeral Home structure being demolished and a lot of traffic had followed. This data was found on the www, at Ancestry.com,

newspaperarchives.com and whatever. Therefore there are probably errors

or misinformation. New data, corrections are invited. My email address

is hryevon@comcast.net for such.

I have used ancestry.com family tree “Melson Family” by cfmmgt, one

of seven Clayton Henry Melson born 1910, family trees.

Clayton Henry Melson, born 5 July 1910, {New Jersey} and died 19

December, 1971. A Sussex County Delaware birth certificate tells he

was born in Lewes, South Street, Sussex County, under the attention of Dr. Richard Beebe. We will see his family was for several generations residents of Lewes and vicinity. The 1940 census has him living in Lewes.

A photo attached to this family tree shows a very handsome man and an

attractive lady that I assume are Clayton and Mary. They were married in

April 1927, he being 17 years of age and she being 19 years old. In 1927

his wife, Mary Page was titled 'Miss South Jersey' in a Vineland New

Jersey beauty contest. Mary Page Melson died in the year 2000.

OK, now we have a family tree page by ' cfmmgt ' telling that Clayton

Henry Melson and Mary Elizabeth Page are husband and wife, with nine

children. In 1930 they lived in Florence, Burlington County, New Jersey, and that a son, Phillip Henry Melson was born the 12^th of August 1933,

in Burlington, New Jersey. It also tells that on 26 April 1936, son Scott Strick Melson was born in Lewes, Delaware.

The ancestry.com 1940 census list Clayton Henry Melson, age 39, wife Mary P., age 31, residents of 511 {Dinsy Ave} Lewes, Clayton being a

mortician. I question the ages listed, thought she was two year senior.

The census list four sons, Clayton, Jr., born 1932, Phillip, born 1934,

Page, born 1935, Scott, born 1936. A “Find A Grave Index” list a

Mary Lou Fisher, aka Mary Louise Melson as a child.

Ancestry Melson Family Tree by cfmmgt list Clayton Henry Melson's

parents as Phillip Henry Melson, 1885 – 1918, died young at 33, born

in Lewes, was a brick mason, and, Cora T. Scott, aka, Cora Townsend

Melson Strick, born August 1887, in Delaware, may have been resident

of Indian River Hundred, died August 1963, Sussex county.

Ancestry ATHEY Family Tree LON by pea247verizonnet, Long Neck,

Delaware (247 names, most all private) list: 1935 resident of Lewes,

wife name , Mary SOPHIA Page, in addition to the four boys before

mentioned, list a child Mary Lou Melson, daughter, Albert Melson, son,

Anna Elizabeth Melson, daughter, another son, 'private' that married

daughter of Henry Hill and Marion Wilson, name 'private' that had daughter

'private' who married the grandson ,by name of 'private', of William Hudson and his wife Marjory Jones.

OK. Back to Clayton seniors parents, Phillip Henry Melson, born

LEWES, 4^th December 1885, and died in Lewes, 16 October 1918, at

age 33. Phillip may have been twice married. The listed wife of Phillip

is Cora T. Scott, aka, Cora Townsend Scott, aka Cora Townsend Strick

Scott Melson and maybe others yet to appear. Cora T. Scott is listed as

born 1887, died 1963, and have son Claytom Henry Melson, 1910 – 1971.

Phillip Henry Melson 1885 – 1918, is buried in Bethel Cemetery, Lewes.

Phillip was a mason, aka, brick layer.

Above Phillip's wife, Cora Townsend Strick Melson, born August 1887,

, in Delaware, died August 1963, Sussex county Delaware, evidently

married twice, once to George W. Strich, aka, George W Strick. Who was

born 1875. There are no children listed for this marriage. Cora's father was Charley G. Scott, 1848 – 1916, who was married to Jane R. Joseph, born 1855 – died 1939. Cora has sister, Hattie Jane,(1890 - 1953) married to a Jerread, a brother, Archie Scott, (1895 - 1960) , brother Andrew Burton

Scott (1897 – 1947), brother Alton Lee Scott, (1899 - 1969), brother Harry

Edward Scott, (183 – 1918), brother John Ralph Scott (1877 - 1937),

another sister, Mary Scott (1879 – 1946) . Cora is buried in Bethel

Cemetery, Lewes. The Scott family probably came from Ireland, through

New Jersey according to records.

OK. We have Clayton Sr's, and his parents data on hand, I think and

hope so. Corrections, additions are welcome.

So, lets try Clayton, Sr's., grandfather and grandmother, Alfred B. &

Laura D. Webb. Data from amcestry.com Melson Family Tree by

dfmmgt. Alfred Burton Melson, born 4 September 1857, Delaware,

died 17 December 1890, Lewes. Here we have a problem. The 1940

census list Alfred, age 82, born 1858, alive, a “Find A Grave” page

list Alfred Burton, born 4 Sept 1857, death date 12 Dec 1940, buried

Bethel , Lewes. So, he lived until 12 December 1940. He was a farmers son, worked the farm, also was a brick layer an in 1930 had his own truck farm. On 13 January 1885 , his age 27, he married Laura D. Webb, who was born 1860 and died 1955. They had sons, Phillip Henry Melson, 1885 -1918, Charles Tunnell Melson, 1887 – 1973, William Orr

Melson, 1894 - 1941, a daughter Addie May Melson, 1891 – 1896.

Larua Webb, his wife, as of 13 January 1885, was born Lewes, 6 December 1860. She died 9 March 1955. Her father was Joshua Webb, her ` mother was Mary E. who died in 1903. She is also buried in Bethel.

Records call Joshua Webb as being born in 1795 New Brunswick Canada,

he died 1888, Blissville, Sunbury, New Brunswick.

Earlier Melson family members are ; Alfred Burton Melson's parents

were William S. (1806 -1890) and Elizabeth Short Melson, (1821 – 1886).

William S. Melson' s parents were Joseph Wesley Melson (1727 – 1809)

and Elizabeth Creighton, (1727 – 1808), Joseph Wesley Melson was son

of Benjamin (1704 – 1771) and Hanna Hammer, born Nanticoke, Somerset Maryland, somerset, Benjamin's father was Samuel (1673 ) of Accomac, Virginia, , his wife Margaret Taylor . Benjamin is son of John Melson, 1645 – 1694) born England, died 1694 in Accomac, Virginia. His wife was

Elizabeth Paynter. John was son of Francis Melson Jr., born 1613

Stutterton, Lincolnshire, England, death 1655. his wife Rebecca. Francis

Nelson, Sr., born 1585 died 1655 was last of this family on record.

E. FRANK ROACH WESTCOAT CORNER

E. FRANK ROACH

OCTOBER 4, 1955

Lewes, Delaware October 5, 1955:

E. Frank Roach, age 53, Westcoats Corner gas station operator,

died Tuesday, October 4, 1955 in Beebe Hospital of a cerebral

hemerrhage.

Frank was born nea r Robinsonville, son of John Coard Roach

and Carolean Johnson Roach. He was active in civic affairs, a

director of Lewes Trust, and well known for his homespun

philosophy.

Surviving are his wife, former Hilda V. Bradshaw of Smith Island,

two sisters, Mrs. Charles Ackerman, Philadelphia, Mrs. Peter

Previli, Atlantic City,, two brothers, Conrad of Nassau, and Alfred

of Milton, a merchant.

E. Frank Roach is buried in Bethel Methodist Cemetery , Lewes.

MANNSIONS OF EASTERN SHORE & DELMARVA PENINSULA

MANSIONS OF THE EASTERN SHORE & DELMARVA PENINSULA

DORCHESTER MARYLAND'S REHOBOTH AT PUCKUM BRANCH.

Rehoboth, aka, Lee Mansion and Turpin Place , sits high and

dry at 5850 Puckum Road, Eldorado, Dorchester county, Maryland.

Rehoboth Mansion,  2-1/2 story Flemish bond brick house,

three bays wide and three bays deep. It stands on a high foundation with

large cellar windows at ground level. Wall's of the house, two brick belt,

vary from 18 inches to 24 inches. The principal facade faces the

southwest, towards Marshy Hope Creek. It has another entrance in the

southeast bay covered by a one bay pedimented porch supported by

fluted Doric columns. The windows are 12/12 sash dormer, at the gables

are round 4 light windows, the southwest gable end has French doors, all

with brick arches. The chimneys are flush with exterior walls. A 1-1/2

story wood frame kitchen wing is attached to the northeast bay.

The interior of Rehoboth was gutted by fire in October 1916.

On February 27, 1917, Frances W. Breuil bought 70 acres of the Rehoboth

Mansion estate which included the four walls. He had the house rebuilt

exact except for a circular three floor staircase.

Rehoboth was linked with Richard Henry Lee and Francis

Lightfoot Lee, each signed the Declaration of Independence and

members of the Virginia Lee family. Rehoboth descended through

the Thomas Simm Lee family, the second elected Governor of Maryland.

The architecture of the house has it's own story.

Abstract: National Register Properties in Maryland.

A Maryland State Road Commission historical sign at Eldorado and

Puckum Road reads, “ Rehoboth” Patented by Captain John Lee of the

State of Virginia, 1673, for 2350 acres, descended through the Lee's

until 1787. Thomas Sim Lee, second governor of Maryland, descended

from the Rehoboth Lee's.

1949 REHOBOTH AIRPORT AOPA SUMMER ROUNDUP

REHOBOTH AIRPORT

THIRD ANNUAL “ SUMMER ROUNDUP”

SEPTEMBER 17 & 18, 1949

A Cape Gazette “Viewpoint” photo of 1949 Rehoboth Airport,

recently shows the airport and a lot of 'dot's' that turn out to be small

aircraft, if magnified, parked around the airport runways.

Questioned at Arby's 8 am coffee by Warren Walls, an instant

research has been made.

The Friday, September 9, 1949. Wilmington News Journal reports

that on Saturday, September 17 & 18, 1949, 800 private planes are to converge on Rehoboth Airport for the third annual “Summer Roundup”

of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Edmund Chamberlain, Rehoboth Airport manager, has been

informed by the AOPA that 800 aircraft, bringing some 2000 persons

are expected. The Chamber of Commerce through May Hall McCabe,

the service clubs of town will make overnight preparations and the parking

of the aircraft as they land.

This year is also the 10^th anniversary of the AOPA.

Saturday night there were ten bonfires for a beach party dinner.

There was an air show by the Delaware National Guard with the F-47

fighters from New Castle airport.

Also in the picture you will see a larger aircraft on the north to south

runway, a two engine passenger plane, which is more than likely an

All American Airways flight that began to use Rehoboth Airport in

May of 1949 after the Delaware Power & Light, the Diamond State

Telephone Companies relocated overhead service wires, so the large

DC-3 passenger plane could land and take off safely.

PUCKUM 2

PUCKUM 2

Puckum is more than just a curious name of a country road and a ditch that

crosses that road and flows into the Marshy Hope Creek. Puckum was an

Indian of Somerset and married a free Negro by name of Johnson.

They were not accepted in Princess Anne and moved up here to Dorchester.

According to old somerset records John Puckum married Jone Johnson,

February 25, 1682. Puckum was of the Monie Tribe living in a village

on the north side of Great Monie Creek. Northeast a few miles on the

south side of Great Monie lived the first free black family of Somerset and

Jone was probably one of this family. There is no record of them having

children and no record of ANY Puckum on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

However, in Laurel, Delaware there were two Puckum families. One was

Amy Puckum, but she did not know of the Puckum Road Puckums. She

did know her people were English and she knew from a book she had that

an Indian had taken up the Puckum name. She felt she might have an

Indian background. Her great, great, grandfather's, Perry Puckum's, picture

showed he was fair skinned, had different hair and might have been Indian

or a mix.

So lets say, John Puckum, brought Jone Johnson Puckum to the Marshy

Hope shores in the last 20 years of the 17^th century. Here he shared land

and dreams with one of the most prominent families in America, the

Lee family of Virginia. In 1673 Captain John Lee patented “Rehoboth”,

a 2500 acre plantation along the northwest branch of the Nanticoke River,

which we know is Marshy Hope Creek. Puckum Road bisects the heart of

the original Lee estate. In the fall of 1673, John Lee died in Virginia, so,

John Lee , never did live at Rehoboth on Marshy Hope Creek. Nor did

descenders who the estate was bequeathed too, Harry Light Horse Lee

nor his son Robert E. Lee ever live there. The mansion is said to have

been built by Thomas Lee, in 1723. Thomas was father of Richard Henry

Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee who were signers of the Declaration of

Independence. The Lee Mansion was devastated by fire in 1916. Another

account has it that Captain John Smoot built the house between 1783 and

1790. It is recorded that John Smoot purchased 200 acres of the Lee's

Rehoboth estate from Lettice Corbin Lee in 1787.

Major Frank Turpin, captain of Dorchester's Militia in the Revolution, was

a resident of the Lee Mansion and was a gracious host, having parties and

balls which continued for days.

Latter, Hal Roth, the writer, visited with Ruth Breuil, the owner, to see if

she had heard of Puckum, which she said was farther down the road.

Ms Breuil was more interested in talking about her father in law, Francis

J. Breuil, of Philadelphia, who came to Dorchester with a great collection of

firearm's and rebuilt the Lee Mansion in 1917 that sits high on a bank, a

distance from the water, all alone where Mrs Ruth Breuil and her spaniel,

General Lee live.

F. J. Breuil, on May 13, 1942 reported he had 1000 quaint firearms and

could equip ten companies of 50 men each if needed by the Dorchester

County Minute Men organized in 1942, five months after Pearl Harbor.

On his way back home on Maiden forest Road, between Reids Grove and

Hawkeye, on route 50, Roth stopped at Rosemary's in Eldorado and

asked a man filling his pickup with gas, “how do I get to Puckum' ?

The man, flung his arm in the direction of a road sign, “that Puckum Road

right there”. Then he asked how would he know he was at Puckum, The

man said to drive down Puckum and if you come to another road, you have gone to far”. Everyone's right, 'you can't get to Puckum from here'.

Abstract: Salisbury Daily Times, 1998, by Hal Roth.

PUCKUM

PUCKUM

Yes, I know Hal Roth wrote “You can't get to Puckum from here” as

have may other items been found in newpapers, books and the internet

on the ' subject' . Lot's of Dorchester native born have said Puckum

is not a place, but an area. I am OK with that.

What I do know is; At Eldorado , say crossroads if you want, it is a small

community with history and a grave yard with my ancestors buried there.

So, it's part of “ me “. At Eldorado, there is a road headed north by the

name of Puckum Road. As I say it is a north and south running road,

which crosses over Puckum Branch before it stops at an east and west

road named Wesley Road which is off of the Finchville to Eldorado Road.

Wesley Road goes toward the Nanticoke River, I suppose I should say the

Marshy Hope Creek, but as I said I am from Dorchester county and call

things as I wish. Anyway, at the 'Creek' Wesley turns north to end at the

Harrison Ferry to Finchville Road, right near Hurlock. South of where

Wesley Road turns north, is some wild county forest lands, and two or three

miles back toward Eldorado or Brookview Bridge, once Crocthers Ferry,

flows the Puckum Branch before it dumps into the river or creek. Puckum

Branch is short. Less that 7 miles long.

So, I am going out on the limb and say I 'consider' Puckum, an area and

not a place, between the Harrison Ferry to Finchville Road and Wesley

Road intersection, south to wild lands and where Puckum Branch flows

into Marshy Hope Creek. Ok. That my Puckum.

According to many of Dorchester, Puckum is where you just passed

through or is just down the road a piece. On the south of Puckum Branch

was a 1732 plantation, Hackett's Adventure, I think the grave yard I have mentioned is on this land, and the ruins of a brick chimney was found that

indicates there was once someone who inhabited this land, maybe Puckum

Another good bet, the Nanticoke Indian tribe had a village on the east side

of the Nanticoke River near what was later Barrens Creek that had the

name Puckamee. There is more to come about “Puckum”

Abstract: Salisbury Daily Times, August 18, 1998, Hal Roth's column .

PUCKUM

PUCKUM

Yes, I know Hal Roth wrote “You can't get to Puckum from here” as

have may other items been found in newpapers, books and the internet

on the ' subject' . Lot's of Dorchester native born have said Puckum

is not a place, but an area. I am OK with that.

What I do know is; At Eldorado , say crossroads if you want, it is a small

community with history and a grave yard with my ancestors buried there.

So, it's part of “ me “. At Eldorado, there is a road headed north by the

name of Puckum Road. As I say it is a north and south running road,

which crosses over Puckum Branch before it stops at an east and west

road named Wesley Road which is off of the Finchville to Eldorado Road.

Wesley Road goes toward the Nanticoke River, I suppose I should say the

Marshy Hope Creek, but as I said I am from Dorchester county and call

things as I wish. Anyway, at the 'Creek' Wesley turns north to end at the

Harrison Ferry to Finchville Road, right near Hurlock. South of where

Wesley Road turns north, is some wild county forest lands, and two or three

miles back toward Eldorado or Brookview Bridge, once Crocthers Ferry,

flows the Puckum Branch before it dumps into the river or creek. Puckum

Branch is short. Less that 7 miles long.

So, I am going out on the limb and say I 'consider' Puckum, an area and

not a place, between the Harrison Ferry to Finchville Road and Wesley

Road intersection, south to wild lands and where Puckum Branch flows

into Marshy Hope Creek. Ok. That my Puckum.

According to many of Dorchester, Puckum is where you just passed

through or is just down the road a piece. On the south of Puckum Branch

was a 1732 plantation, Hackett's Adventure, I think the grave yard I have mentioned is on this land, and the ruins of a brick chimney was found that

indicates there was once someone who inhabited this land, maybe Puckum

Another good bet, the Nanticoke Indian tribe had a village on the east side

of the Nanticoke River near what was later Barrens Creek that had the

name Puckamee. There is more to come about “Puckum”

Abstract: Salisbury Daily Times, August 18, 1998, Hal Roth's column .

CHEER CENTER HISTORY

HISTORY OF SUSSEX CHEER CENTERS

THE WARREN L. & CHARLES C. ALLEN, JR., COMMUNITY & ADULT

DAY CENTER AT GEORGETOWN'S SAND HILL ROAD.

The Salisbury Daily Times on Wednesday January 20^th, 1999 reported

that Sussex county senior citizens will soon have a new 24,000 square

foot, $6 million center at 20520 Sand Hill Road , Georgetown , where

medical assistance for Alzheimer's care, therapy service, social events,

meals, a beauty shop and barber shop, and low cost housing is available

on the 15 acre compound to open June, 1999. It will have a stage in it's

auditorium for plays and weddings. The day care center will have a low

fee of $50 per day, include lunch and nurses. One bedroom apartments with bath, small kitchen, utilities, available for a low fee, will be on

three floors each with washer & dryer. At present there is a four year wait

list.

Abstract: January 20, 1999, Salisbury Daily Times by staff writer Anne

Miller of the Daily Times.

HISTORY PENINSULA ROADS

DELMARVA PENINSULA ROADS HISTORY

A DUSTY ROAD TO OCEAN CITY

The 1^st of July, in 1904, Evertt Jackson, in his horseless carriage, aka

an automobile, finally got to the west side of Sinepuxent Bay with his

friends Allen Benjamin of Salisbury, J Edgar Imams, Ocean City,

hotel owner. The only way to get across the bay to the ocean was by

using the railroad bridge, which they did, before any train arrived, and

in seconds were the first automobile on Ocean City streets.

In 1904 the 30 mile trip from Salisbury to Ocean City could be made

in only 4 hours and 18 minutes, that's with tire repair stops and stops to cool

overheated engines between Willards and Whaleyville. The roads then

were for horse and ox drawn vehicles and Everett evidently ran off the road

a time or two. Bicycles were also in trend and roads were obsessed with

them.

1904 roads were sometimes covered with a layer of crushed stone or oyster

and clam shells. This improved roads for slow moving auto's but when

“speeding" became the game, flaws occurred, like dust. As fast as 20

mph left a dust cloud behind. The dust called for auto drivers and

passengers to wear 'dusters” , a heavy long coat. Then came speed

control, engine governor's and speed bumps in the road.

Ocean City officials found a “bituminous” surface over the crushed stone

kept the dust down. Soon Ocean city street and roads were covered by the

black top material and road to the resort also became covered.

Maintenance of these road became necessary and this is when “ district

engineer's” were created. These new state employee's rode around to

look for 'pot holes' on motorcycles and called “State Patrolmen” earning

$2 a day. They lasted until 1930. Snow removal was another problem, it

was found the cost of repair to roads that did not remove the snow was much

more that the cost of removing the snow. So 'snow plows' became part

of road maintenance.

Abstract: Salisbury Daily Times, January 20, 1999, a Michael Morgan

offering.

AUGUSTUS WRIGHT BEAVER DAM CHAPEL POND.

AUGUSTUS WRIGHT

A NANTICOKE GENTLEMAN

BEAVER DAM'S CHAPEL POND

Gussie Wright kept the peace between the “ little fellers “ that

build the dams which threaten to flood nearby Sussex farmers land

and those land owner and farmers of Indian River Hundred.

Gussie is an old man of Nanticoke Indian ancestry.

Old Gussie Wright knows the effects of nature and is quietly engaged

in keeping man and nature in balance between the farmers and the

beavers around Chapel Pond . Gus takes pride that the pond, after near

a century of absence, is back again with it's pine woods, a nursery for

wood ducks, is next door to ancient St. George's Chapel that has stood

by since 1794 on the site of an 1718 Anglican chapel.

Speeding by on the Robinsonville – Fairmount road one might miss

Chapel Pond for looking at the old brick chapel. The pond doesn’t

look like a pond because of the growth of swamp maples yet to be drowned

out by high water but the old mill dam and the new beaver dam can be seen

from the roadway.

With affectionate care Gus Wright has cleared underbrush but leaving

the cedars, hollies and oaks as decorations. Out of a split log he has

made a swinging footbridge over the spillway.

Chapel Pond grist mill was probably owned and operated by both the

Burton family and the Robinson family. It has been gone a century or more

after the mill dam gave way during a nor'east storm and was not repaired,

leaving the pond to become a swamp with only a trickle of water flowing

through it.

In the early 1930's the Delaware Game & Fish Commission set out a few

pair of beaver in southeastern Sussex with hope they would survive and

multiply to replace the extinct native beavers. The newcomers made

themselves at home along the heads of Guinea creek and Herring creek.

Beaver dams have been destroyed by farmers when the little engineers

have flooded adjacent lands. The Delaware Highway Department has

problems keeping drainage culverts clear of beaver built obstructions.

Several years ago, Gus Wright, who has the farm that adjoins Chapel

Pond, noticed each morning fresh cut swamp maple saplings placed

neatly into the break of the old dam. Week after week this “repairing”

took place, layer upon layer of sticks and branches and black muck were

embedded in the rising dam. The water began to rise behind the dam.

Then came the complaints and threats to tear the whole thing out. But

Gus had other ideas, he would keep both the beavers and farmer happy

by regulating the water level all by himself. He did so by removing

the beavers work, however the beaver had other ideas and brought twice

the amount to top our the dam almost every night. Gus had to go and pull

out each nights work every morning. Near by was his prof , a four foot

high pile of maples sticks which he would burn . Gussie took great pride

in maintaining the delicate balance between farmers and the beavers. He

thought a pond with beavers. Summer duck and other living wild things

was good to have around. Gus would show visitors the old dam and it's

repair, the six inch white oak trees the beavers had felled, the ruins of

the old grist mill.

Augustus Wright, age 84, a Indian River Hundred farmer at Chapel

Pond, died July 5 1963 in Beebe Hospital, Lewes, and is buried at

Indian Mission Church. He is survived by a daughter Mrs. Cornelia

Duplessis of Philadelphia. His death has made a difference to the many

people who knew him. What will happen to the little shady park, Beaver

Falls, at Chapel Pond ? Will the Sussex woods reclaim the pond, the

benches he built of 'twigs' for people to watch the beavers build their

lodge and swim about, the paths and transplanted hollies.

He was proud of his Nanticoke ancestry. On the 9^th of May 1925 he

married Laura Cerney. One account has his parents as Return Wright

and Charlotte Johnson Wright, both born in 1850. His wife Laura was

born 1888 and died 1953.

Abstract: Wilmington Morning News, January28, 947, by Anthony Higgins.

ACCMAC VIRGINIA DEBTORS PRISON

ACCOMAC VIRGINIA

THE DEBTORS' PRISON

Lets take a trip down the peninsula to Accomac county Virginia, which is

the location of early settlement's from which many Sussex county and

Dorchester county pioneers came to settle in the 1600's and 1700's .

The historic Debtors' Prison in Accomac, Virginia was built in 1783 as

the home for the Accomack county jailer. In 1824 it was turned over

as a debtors' prison until 1849. Selby Simpson was it's architect

In design it is a small building, 18' x 30', one story, three bays, built

with Flemish brick and it sat on the southwest corner of a 70 foot square

jailyard. There are two chimney's , he east one is exterior and the west

one is interior.

The interior is typical of a small hall and parlor dwelling most common

in it's ere, having two rooms down stairs and two rooms in the 'attic'. The

lower east room it the larger and in it's southeast corner is an enclosed

staircase to the garrett. There is a fire place.

Significant is that it is the oldest municipal building standing in Accomac

county, and a survivor of a typical 20^th century building which were once

common on Virginia's eastern shore.

Source: WIKIPEDIA .

WILSON LINE MESECK

WILSON LINE

&

SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION

The Wilmington News Journal, January 22, 1968, reported that the 30

year old Wilson Liner, John A. Meseck, is on it's way to Piney Point's

Seafarers International Union seamanship school. She is being towed by

the tug Tern, Captain J. A. Williamson, a 30 hour trip if the ice is not too

bad.

The 1,978 ton Meseck built 1938 as the river steamer Nasushon for the

Hudson River and New York harbor with the Meseck Shiplines.

In 1942 she carried 12 pound guns on deck, one of 8 converted riverboats

which became hospital ships at D Day. After the war she returned to

America and bought by Wilson Lines, Inc, as an excursion boat, then retired

to rusting in the Christina.

The Seafarers Union, the largest maritime union of the United States

members with over 35,000 members, was organized in 1938 to

represent mariners who sail aboard U. S. Flag Ships . It offers access

health care, retirement and educational benefits. The union is active

in political arenas to maintain safe conditions for work aboard vessels

and to ensure high standards in membership training. The union operates

the Paul Hall Center for maritime training and education at Piney Point,

Baltimore, Maryland.

Abstract: Wilmington News Journal, January 22, 1968 by Tom Malone

BLACKWATER CANADA GEESE

DORCHESTER'S BLACKWATER REFUGE

CANADA GEESE FROM UNGAVA, CANADA

In recent years more Canada geese are wintering on the Eastern Shore

than any other locality of North America. Most of these geese had been

wintering farther south, along the Outer Coastal Plain of North Carolina.

One recognized reason for this is 'food'. The modern harvesting of grain

corn leaves near 10% of the farmers crop in the field, thus 'food' for the

geese.

The Eastern Shore geese come from the Ungava Peninsula of far north

Canada. This Ungava Peninsula of Nunavik, Quebec, Canada is bounded by Hudson Bay to the west, Hudson Strait to the north and Ungava Bay

on the east, and is part of the Labrador Peninsula covering 97,000

square miles. The capes of Cape Wolstenholme are it's northernmost

point. The peninsula is a treeless tundra with a large number of rivers and

lakes which flow east to west. Here it is extremely cold.

Banded bird records show that our Eastern Shore birds nest and breed

along east James Bay and Hudson Bay. Band recoveries come from the

Cree Indian and Eskimo villages which depend on the geese as part of

their food source.

The migration corridor begins at James and Hudson Bays east side, south

through Quebec, across Lake Ontario, through central New York state,

eastern Pennsylvania to the Chesapeake. In migrating these birds cruise

around 40 mph and cover 50 mile each day at the height of 2000 to 4000

feet. They try to arrive at Hudson Bay by May 1^st.

Abstract: The 1978 “Blackwater” , National Wildlife Refuge, Dorchester,

Maryland, by Brooke Meanley. By Harrison H, 01/20/19, for Facebook

readers and www.delmarhistory.blogspot.com . My abstracts are brief

quotatios of interesting reviews.

DORCHESTER SWAMP OWL AT BLACKWATER

SWAMP OWL

The marshlands and pine woods and the so called pine swamp in

the Blackwater Refuge of Dorchester County Maryland are where our

community of Swamp Owl's live, also known as a barred owl, along with

it's counterpart , the great horned owl.

Both species of these owl's are nocturnal equivalent of hawks.

The Barred Owl and the red shouldered hawk are friendly species, their

haunts and food habits are similar and use the same nesting areas. There

have been times when both owl eggs and hawks eggs have been found in

each others nest.

The swamp owl eats cratfish, woodcock, blue jays, moles and fish.

Fox squirrels have been taken by Swamp Owl's.

A barred owl and a red tail hawk are the same size

Abstract: “Blackwater” National wildlife Refuge, of Dorchester County

Maryland by Brooke Meanley, 1978.

January 19, 2019 by Harrison H. for www.delmarhistory.blogspot.com

and Facebook pages.

TIMBERDOODLE

THE TIMBERDOODLE

This bird, also known as a woodcock, stays hidden until dusk or dawn's

dim light and like to be around damp pine woods and hardwood swamps.

They feed day or night, probing in soft soil with their very long bills for

earthworms . It's nest are depressions on flat ground in woods or thickets

and it's eggs are mostly eaten by snakes. Young, just hatched birds, leave

the nest within an hour of being hatched. A nest usually contains four eggs.

The most interesting action of this fowl is it's sky dancing during the

spring courtship where it selects a breeding ground to sing and dance

right after nightfall . After five minutes of beeping, it flushes, rises fast to

fifty feet, it's wings create a musical twitter, flying in wide circles, then

hovers as he pours forth a series of chirps and he glides to the ground in

a zig zag course to the spot he launched himself seconds before.

The Timberdoodle migrates south in fall to southeastern marshes.

Abstract: “Blackwater” National Wildlife Refuge, Dorchester county

Maryland, by Brook Meanley

PIONEER POINT

MANSIONS OF THE EASTERN SHORE & DELMARVA PENINSULA

PIONEER POINT, CENTERVILLE, MARYLAND

Pioneer Point, a 1600 acre estate with nine miles of waterfront on the

Chester and Corsican Rivers, built in 1925 for almost three million

dollars by John J. Raskob had 19 rooms and a separate dormitory

for the families 13 children. The Raskob wife, Helena , better known

as Skipper, and the children made the property a working horse farm with

a stable of 36 thoroughbreds and other amenities of wealth.

John Raskob, a financial leader was usually at the side of Pierre S.

duPont, spent most of his time in New York at business, while Skipper

directed the management of Pioneer Point with the help of a 20 year

younger Jack Corcoran. Soon Corcoran became Skippers object of

affection and after Raskob died in 1950 at Pioneer Point she

remarried with Corcoran.

Raskob was close in partnership with duPont and General Motors and had

helped him in the design of the Chemours Building in Wilmington. He was also involved in the design of the Empire State Building at New York.

Raskob first built a residence in Claymont that is now Archmere Academy.

The Raskob's lost two sons in automobile accidents in the early 1930's.

Pioneer Point sold several times and in 1972 the Soviet's bought it as a

pleasure palace for their Washington, D.C. Embassy and it's vistitors.

President Obama evicted the Russian diplomats from the Centerville

estate for spying in the United States.

Abstract: Wilmington News Journal, Monday, January 16, 2017, by

the News Journals Harry Themal, 01/18/19 by Harrison H. for

www.delmarhistory.blogspot.com and Facebook.