Great Fire of 1922

Monday, April 1, 2024

The fire of 1922 as quoted by the Worcester Democrat on April 22, 1922, as "The most disastrous conflagration in Pocomoke's History."  The April 18 fire originated in an alley in the rear of the store owned by N. Davis and Sons and adjoining the stables of Frances M. Wilson on Maple Street.  It swept away the main business section of town, many residences on Second, Willow, and Market Streets, and the entire residential section of Front and Bridge Streets.  Not one home on the latter named thoroughfare remained standing when the holocaust had spent itself. 
"Neighboring towns sent help including fire departments from Snow Hill MD, Crisfield MD, Princess Anne MD, Seaford DE, Berlin MD, and Ocean City MD.  It was their heroic and timely assistance that the Parker House, the Ford House, Cloggs' Garage, the business blocks on Clarke Avenue from Maple Street to Callahan's Store and the west side of Market Street from Matthews & Lankfords' to the Empire Theater are still standing.  They, with our local fire company saved this entire section of our town, perhaps our entire city."
The Pocomoke Fire Department did an outstanding job under the direction of Chief Andrew Pickens.  One of the stories relating to this fire by the firemen of the past was that the city water pressure and supply on this day was not sufficient to stop the original fire.  By the time the engines were moved to the river and the lines were laid, the fire had spread and was out of control.  Another fire department arrived to help and connected their hose to the fire hydrant on the corner of Second and Market Streets.  When they turned the fire hydrant on and realized that no water was available, the heat and flames were so intense that their fire hose burned before they could move it. 
The main reason the history of the Pocomoke Fire Department is so sketchy is that the fire house burned in the fire along with all records.  The records of the fire department after 1922 are still kept by the department. 
After the fire of 1922, the town became more aware of the need for equipment and the means to fight fires.  A new brick fire house was erected on Willow Street by the city to house the volunteers.  Since the town had experienced four major fires the buildings had been mostly wood frame.  It was decided more masonry buildings should be built in the business section to help prevent the spreading of fires.

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