Pocomoke Neck and Sykes
'Tis said, that the greatest room in the world is for improvement. In my meanderings through Accomac, of late, I have noticed almost everywhere marks of progress; but it is more noticeable in some parts than others. I wish to call attention especially to what is known as Pocomoke Neck in this letter, including Sykes Island. Starting at the river by the store of Capt. Gaskins, with the road running by Pocomoke church, by the new Baptist Church to Marsh Market, including the entire neck between the Pocomoke, and Messongo creeks, there is no section of Accomac covering the same amount of territory, that has made the same amount of improvement in ten years, and excepting Roanoke City, there is perhaps no place in the State that has made so much substantial development. Some evidences of improvement. A few years ago there was no school in that country. Mrs. Hall was teaching one near the line to which a few children would go. The rest were left to be educated, or left in ignorance just as the parents chose. A good school house was built in the neck. First they had but one room and one teacher, a Miss Robins. Now they have a very creditable graded school, taught by Mr. Kellam and Mrs. Lewis. In the place of no school on the island, they have a good one and they are clamoring for a graded school there. They are becoming educated, not merely a few but the masses.
The great circulating educators are doing their work there. The ENTERPRISE is in many houses. Nor is the local papers alone. Many of the leading secular and religious journals can be found there also.
Where there were but two stores a few years ago on the mainland and one on the island, now there are nine on the mainland and three on the island -- perhaps an oversupply -- where there was no mantua-maker or millinery establishment in that section, now there are two good ones.
The Eastern Shore Steamboat Company from their wharf at Sanford, formerly called Hammock, the schooners, pungies, sloops etc., convey from here to the cities, both land and water products.
When thirteen years ago the petition was gotten up to first make a public road to the Hammock and then one to Sykes Island, many thought it was a useless expense. To-day the taxable property on the island and along the Hammock road is more than treble in value what is was then.
Jenkin's Bridge was the nearest post office a few years ago. Now there are three within this territory -- Marsh Market, Sanford, and Sykes Island.
Pocomoke Church has been enlarged by the removal of the vestibule. A new and attractive Baptist church has been erected, and Sanford church, a commodious and comfortable Methodist church in which Rev. Mr. Carroll is holding a great revival, is not yet finished. On the island they built a new church a few years ago, but they have outgrown it and are talking of building again.
The dwelling houses a few years ago were unattractive, and many of them uncomfortable. To-day they are not only comfortable but tasty, and many of them would be attractive anywhere. What has brought about the change? is a question we may appropriately ask. The railroad has had nothing to do with it, for the further you get from the road the greater the improvement. Immigration has had but little to do with it. The few that have come would be an honor anywhere. Accomac can boast of no cleverer than the Withams, or more industrious than the Husseys. But very few have come. Nor have the times been more favorable. But there was material in them to work up, and the church, the school and the press have worked it up to a wonderful extent. With them instead of drunkenness, there is sobriety -- instead of laziness, there is energy -- instead of thoughtless waste, there is thoughtful economy -- instead of dishonor, there is honor. Sober, energetical, economical, honorable -- could they be otherwise than thrifty? They have always had many good citizens: now nearly every citizen is a good one.