A Short History of Cape Charles, Part 3

On July 24, 1905 plans and specifications by Conrad Grimmer to erect a fire house size 25'x25', at a cost not to exceed $1,600 was accepted. The building was erected at the present location of the Municipal Building.

The first newspaper, knows as "The [Cape Charles] Pioneer," was published in 1886 on Strawberry Street by Mr. William Bullitt Fitzhugh. This paper was published for many years. The Northampton Times was the successor to The Pioneer with J. T. Daniel editor, who was also mayor at one time. His son J. W. Daniel, now publishes this paper.

In 1889 Capt. George Savage started a paper, "The [Cape Charles] Headlight," published on Pine Street. In 1890 Mr. Hollis started a paper, "The [Cape Charles] Echo," published in a private house but only ran for a short time.

For many years the business section on Mason Avenue had a tie rack for horses on the north side of the street next to the pavement. The horses pawing in the dirt left big holes in which stagnant water stayed most of the time. The side walk was of brick and in some parts of the residential section there were wooden walkways. Mason Avenue has always been known as "Front Street."

The first street lights were small lamp posts on the corners, lighted with kerosene lamps.

Until 1896 Cape Charles was the only incorporated town in the State of Virginia that was fenced in and as the county had a fence law is was necessary to drive through the Scott Estate to get to the town of Cape Charles.

The first sermon preached in Cape Charles was Rev. Clarence T. Wilson, Northern Methodist, in the railroad waiting room in 1885. The first church built was at the corner of Monroe Avenue and Plum Street where Mr. Joe Coulbourne now lives and built by the Northern Methodists, known as "Bethany." This was in 1885 also. The church was built on the back of the lot because of a long pond to the north and was entered from the west side. I do not remember the first Pastor but the building was sold several years later and is now on Washington Avenue and used as a colored church. In 1888 at the corner of Randolph Avenue and Peach Street the second Northern Methodist Church was built and still called Bethany. Rev. W. A. Wise was the first Pastor and he and his bride boarded with Mr. And Mrs. L. E. Mumford.

The first sermon preached by a Baptist was in a private home and Rev. James Hope, father of Mrs. Conrad Grimmer, conducted the service. On Sunday, March 11, 1888, during the terrible March Blizzard the framing for the first Baptist Church was blown from the foundation, Mr. Conrad Grimmer being the architect. On completion of this building at the corner of Randolph Avenue and Plum Street Rev. Turner, a Welshman, was the first regular Pastor with Mr. Hope as supply. Mr. Hope and his family lived at what is now the Golf Course where his son was farming. The second Baptist Church was built in 1900 on the same lot with Rev. J. W. Reams as Pastor with afternoon service.

In the latter part of 1888 the Ables of Baltimore, owners and publishers of "The Baltimore Sun," sent the Rev. Edward Mickle to direct the Catholic faith, they furnished the money to build the church and rectory. Father Mickle served the town and county well and faithfully for forty years and was buried by special permission of the town between the church and rectory, this being the only grave in the city limits.

The Southern Methodist Church was started in the last part of 1885 or early in 1886 and was located on Tazewell Avenue in the center of the block between Peach and Strawberry Streets. Rev. Jimmy Crowder was the first minister. This building is now being used as a double dwelling. In 1903 this congregation erected a brick edifice on the corner of Tazewell Avenue and Plum Street.

In 1888 the Episcopalians organized and worshipped once a month in Kellam's Hall with Rev. George Easter of Christ's Church, Eastville, as their Rector. Later the Masonic Hall was used, also the Southern Methodist Church for their services. In 1893 under the leadership of Rev. William Nelson Meade the cornerstone for Emanuel Episcopal Church was laid.

In the early 1890's the Presbyterians built a church on the corner of Tazewell Avenue and Plum Street with R. D. Stimson as the first minister holding afternoon services. This membership now worships in a large stone church on the corner of Tazewell Avenue and Strawberry Street. The original building is now used as a [Northampton] Memorial Library for World War I, the first Memorial Library in the State of Virginia.