Worcester Democrat

The Worcester Democrat was a weekly newspaper published from 1898 to February 22, 1973, in Pocomoke City, Worcester County, Maryland.^[1][2] It was founded by Samuel M. Crockett, a Democratic politician who served in the Maryland House of Delegates for two terms, 1920–1922.^[3] Crockett had learned the newspaper business as a young man working at the Somerset Herald in Princess Anne, Maryland,^[4] and was also owner of another local paper, the Peninsula-Ledger.^[5] In January 1921, the publication changed its name to the Worcester Democrat and the Ledger-Enterprise^[6] after it absorbed the successor of the Peninsula-Ledger,^[7] the Ledger-Enterprise.^[8] This remained the title until September 24, 1953, when it was changed back to its original Worcester Democrat.^[9] On March 1, 1973, the Democrat merged with nearby Snow Hill's Democratic Messenger to form the Worcester County Messenger.^[10] This newspaper remained in publication until at least 1980.^[11][12]

Worcester Democrat

Cover page of the January 8, 1921 issue of the Worcester Democrat
Type	Weekly newspaper
Founder(s)	Samuel M. Crockett
Founded	1898
Ceased publication	February 2, 1973
Relaunched	March 1973, as Worcester County Messenger
Headquarters	Snow Hill, Maryland
OCLC number	20135210

The Democrat reported mostly on local industry and events, with the yearly Pocomoke Fair running from 1901 to 1917 becoming an anticipated event.^[13][14] On October 17, 1933, the paper reported on the lynching of a local man by a mob in Princess Anne; this would be the last known lynching in Maryland.^{[15][16][17][18]}

References

1. "About Worcester Democrat". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
2. Miles, Norma; Chandler-Miles, Robin (2008). Pocomoke City. Arcadia Publishing. p. 104. ISBN 978-0738553498.
3. Papenfuse, Edward C. (1990). Archives of Maryland, Historical List: House of Delegates, Worcester County (1790-1974). Vol. 1. Annapolis, MD: Maryland State Archives.
4. "S. M. Crockett Died in Norfolk". Democratic Messenger. 26 August 1922. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
5. "The Peninsula Ledger". The Baltimore Sun. 8 January 1895. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
6. "About Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
7. "About Peninsula ledger". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
8. "About Ledger-enterprise". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
9. "About Worcester Democrat". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
10. Preston, Dickson J. (1986). Newspapers of Maryland's Eastern Shore. Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0870333364.
11. "About Worcester County messenger". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
12. Wennersten, John (1992). Maryland's Eastern Shore: A Journey in Time and Space. Centreville: Tidewater Publishers.
13. Heland, Victoria (1984). Worcester Memories, 1890-1933. Snow Hill, MD: Worcester Heritage Committee.
14. Murray, James (1888). History of Pocomoke City, Formerly New Town. Baltimore: Curry, Clay and Co.
15. Ifill, Sherrilyn A. (2007). On the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the Twenty-First Century. Beacon Press. ISBN 978-0807009888. On the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the 21st Century.
16. Jacob, John E.; Carter, Janet; Wainwright, Ellis (2000). Worcester County: Images of America Series. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0738505773.
17. Matthews, Katie Gaskins; Matthews, William Russell (1985). Worcester County: A Pictorial History. Norfolk: Donning Co.
18. Truitt, Reginald V.; Les Callette, Millard B. (1977). Worcester County, Maryland's Arcadia. Snow Hill: Worcester County Historical Society.