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Photo credit: Paul Baker Touart, 04/2002

Pocomoke City Historic District

Inventory No.: WO-187

Date Listed: 12/23/2004

Location: Pocomoke City, Worcester County

Category: District

Period/Date of Construction: 1830-1946

Resources: 725 (611 contributing, 112 non-contributing)

Description: Pocomoke City is located along the south side of the Pocomoke River in southern Worcester County adjacent to its boundary with Somerset County. The river town is laid out in an uneven grid plan with the principal avenue, Market Street (Business US 13), oriented on a northwest/southeast axis. Principal road access to Pocomoke City is provided by a modern four-lane highway, US Route 13, which passes through the town limits on its northeastern side. The city's historic business district is clustered primarily between the Pocomoke River and Third Street with commercial blocks largely facing Market, Willow, and Front Streets and Clarke Avenue. The central business district of Pocomoke city is defined by an important collection of late-19th century and early-20th century commercial and public architecture, constituting the most significant array of Victorian, Colonial Revival, and Beaux-Arts influenced designs in any town in Worcester County. The oldest commercial buildings are located on the west side of Market Street between Front Street and Clarke Avenue. Several late-19th and early-20th century churches are concentrated in the area of Market Street. The riverfront, once lined with commercial and industrial activities, has shifted to recreational uses. A wharf for recreational boats lines the south shore, and a generously sized public park occupies the waterfront between Market Street and Bridge Street. Defining the city on its southwest side is the right-of-way of the former New York, Philadelphia, an Norfolk Railroad, near where several industrial and commercial firms still conduct business. The city's residential districts are located north, south, and west of Market Street. The historic housing stock of Pocomoke City ranges in age from the second quarter of the 19th century to the mid 20th century with the majority dating from 1870 to 1940. A few mid-19th century two-story side hall/parlor an center hall/single-pile plan dwellings with Greek inspired exterior finishes survive within the district, but massive fires in 1888 and 1922 cleared the oldest section of town of its earliest structures. The town is well represented by a host of third quarter of the 19th century dwellings inspired by the range of romantic revival styles that swept the county before and after the Civil War. Walnut Street between Second and Third streets is characterized by an especially distinctive collection of revival-style houses. A regional vernacular house form that occurs widely in Pocomoke City is the 2 1/2-story, three-bay, center hall plan house featuring a cross-gable facade, with a rear service wing. Also common are the L- or T-shaped Victorian houses illustrated in late-19th century popular literature. Many of the city's streets are lined with a variety of early-20th century popular house types, including bungalows, American Foursquares, Colonial Revival center hall plan dwellings, and 1 1/2-story Cape Cod types. A concentration of modest two-story, one- or two-bay frame houses with side gables or gable-front orientations occurs along several streets on the east and west sides of the district, initially erected as tenant housing for workers in the city's manufacturing concerns.

Significance: The Pocomoke City Historic District is historically significant for its association with the economic development of Maryland's Eastern Shore region. Named for the river on which the community grew, Pocomoke City developed during the 19th century and early 20th century into one of the principal commercial shipping and manufacturing centers on the lower end of the Delmarva peninsula, serving a large populace in Maryland as well as in adjacent Virginia. Due to the deep-water channel in the Pocomoke River and its proximity to the Chesapeake, the town was a center for local commerce and manufacturing until the second quarter of the 20th century. The commercial advantages of Pocomoke city were augmented with a connection to the peninsular railroad network by 1872. The district derives additional significance as an example of a type of prosperous river town that characterized the region during the period, which retains an exceptional collection of 19th and 20th century building forms. Pocomoke City's housing stock dating from this period is the largest and most diverse in Worcester County. Outstanding among the district's architectural resources are the late-19th century eclectic houses on Walnut Avenue, the greatest concentration of early-20th century bungalows and Foursquares in the county, and the largest surviving group of factory workers' housing on the lower Eastern Shore. The central business district constitutes the most significant array of Victorian, Colonial Revival, and Beaux-Arts influenced commercial and public architecture in Worcester County. The town was at the peak of its economic development between the years 1830 and 1946, during which time it achieved its existing architectural character. The district has a high degree of integrity, and clearly conveys a distinctive sense of time and place through its streetscapes, layout, and built resources.

District Resources (725) (611 contributing, 112 non-contributing)

From associated listing in National Register nomination form. C = Contributing, NC = non-contributing, blank = not evaluated.

Address	Status	Resource Name and MIHP (if any)
205 10th Street	C
207 10th Street	C
209 10th Street	C
204 11th Street	C
214 11th Street	C
203 8th Street	C
205 8th Street	C
400 Bank Street	C
405 Bank Street	C
420 Bank Street	C
422 Bank Street	C
424 Bank Street	C
432 Bank Street	C
433 Bank Street	C
434 Bank Street	C
435 Bank Street	C
436 Bank Street	C
438 Bank Street	C
403 Bonneville Avenue	C
405 Bonneville Avenue	C
407 Bonneville Avenue	C
409 Bonneville Avenue	C
411 Bonneville Avenue	C
413 Bonneville Avenue	C
204 Bonneville Street	C
7 Bridge Street	C
203 Broad Street	C
Cedar and 8th streets	C
Cedar Street	C
104 Cedar Street	C
202 Cedar Street	C
204 Cedar Street	C
205 Cedar Street	C
206 Cedar Street	C
207 Cedar Street	C
208 Cedar Street	C
211 Cedar Street	C
213 Cedar Street	C
214 Cedar Street	C
216 Cedar Street	C
217 Cedar Street	C
219 Cedar Street	C
221 Cedar Street	C
402 Cedar Street	C
406 Cedar Street	C
414 Cedar Street	C
505 Cedar Street	C
507 Cedar Street	C
508 Cedar Street	C
600 Cedar Street	C
600 Cedar Street	C
603 Cedar Street	C
622 Cedar Street	C	St. John's A.M.E. Church
622 Cedar Street	C
624 Cedar Street	C
626 Cedar Street	C
701 Cedar Street	C
702 Cedar Street	C
703 Cedar Street	C
704 Cedar Street	C
705 Cedar Street	C
706 Cedar Street	C
707 Cedar Street	C
708 Cedar Street	C
709 Cedar Street	C
711 Cedar Street	C
712 Cedar Street	C
713 Cedar Street	C
714 Cedar Street	C
804 Cedar Street	C
805 Cedar Street	C
806 Cedar Street	C
807 Cedar Street	C
808 Cedar Street	C
809 Cedar Street	C
810 Cedar Street	C
900 Cedar Street	C
901 Cedar Street	C
902 Cedar Street	C
903 Cedar Street	C
905 Cedar Street	C
906 Cedar Street	C
912 Cedar Street	C
913 Cedar Street	C
915 Cedar Street	C
1015 Cedar Street	C
Cedarhall Road	C	WO-277 -- Old New York, PA & Norfolk RR Station (Pocomoke Depot)
103 Center Street	C
106 Cherry Street	C
107 Cherry Street	C
110 Cherry Street	C
3 Church Street	C
5 Church Street	C
7 Church Street	C
Clarke Avenue	C
Clarke Avenue	C	Cassatt Tower
Clarke Avenue	C	Pocomoke City Hall
3 Clarke Avenue	C
5 Clarke Avenue	C
7 Clarke Avenue	C
9 Clarke Avenue	C
11 Clarke Avenue	C
13 Clarke Avenue	C
14 Clarke Avenue	C
15 Clarke Avenue	C
17 Clarke Avenue	C
19 Clarke Avenue	C
21 Clarke Avenue	C
202 Clarke Avenue	C
204 Clarke Avenue	C
205 Clarke Avenue	C
207 Clarke Avenue	C
208 Clarke Avenue	C
209 Clarke Avenue	C
601 Clarke Avenue	C	Unionville Lodge
615 Clarke Avenue	C
617 Clarke Avenue	C
619 Clarke Avenue	C
703 Clarke Avenue	C
705 Clarke Avenue	C
707 Clarke Avenue	C
709 Clarke Avenue	C
723 Clarke Avenue	C
803 Clarke Avenue	C
805 Clarke Avenue	C
903 Clarke Avenue	C
909 Clarke Avenue	C
911 Clarke Avenue	C
913 Clarke Avenue	C
Corner of Linden Street and Bank Street	C
Corner of Market and Second Street	C
404 Dudley Avenue	C
405 Dudley Avenue	C
406 Dudley Avenue	C
407 Dudley Avenue	C
408 Dudley Avenue	C
409 Dudley Avenue	C
410 Dudley Avenue	C
411 Dudley Avenue	C
204 Eighth Street	C
206 Eighth Street	C
504 Eighth Street	C
506 Eighth Street	C
5 Fifth Street	C	Pocomoke City Fire Department
202 Fifth Street	C
204 Fifth Street	C
405 Fifth Street	C
507 Fifth Street	C
706 Fifth Street	C
708 Fifth Street	C
714 Fifth Street	C
1002 Fifth Street	C
7 Fourth Street	C
9 Fourth Street	C
101 Fourth Street	C
103 Fourth Street	C
105 Fourth Street	C
107 Fourth Street	C
109 Fourth Street	C
201 Fourth Street	C
502 Fourth Street	C
506 Fourth Street	C
600 Fourth Street	C
601 Fourth Street	C
602 Fourth Street	C
604 Fourth Street	C
703 Fourth Street	C
704 Fourth Street	C
706 Fourth Street	C
713 Fourth Street	C
714 Fourth Street	C
802 Fourth Street	C
804 Fourth Street	C
806 Fourth Street	C
814 Fourth Street	C
2 Front Street	C
4 Front Street	C
5 Front Street	C
6 Front Street	C
7 Front Street	C
8 Front Street	C
9 Front Street	C
11 Front Street	C
13 Front Street	C
14 Front Street	C
100 Front Street	C
101 Front Street	C
102 Front Street	C
103 Front Street	C
104 Front Street	C
105 Front Street	C
106 Front Street	C
109 Front Street	C
4 Gray Street	C
6-8 Gray Street	C
10-12 Gray Street	C
102 Laurel Street	C
103 Laurel Street	C
104 Laurel Street	C
105 Laurel Street	C
106 Laurel Street	C
108 Laurel Street	C
202 Laurel Street	C
203 Laurel Street	C
204 Laurel Street	C
205 Laurel Street	C
206 Laurel Street	C
207 Laurel Street	C
208 Laurel Street	C
209 Laurel Street	C
210 Laurel Street	C
211 Laurel Street	C
214 Laurel Street	C
215 Laurel Street	C
216 Laurel Street	C
217 Laurel Street	C
218 Laurel Street	C
219 Laurel Street	C
220 Laurel Street	C
222 Laurel Street	C
400 Laurel Street	C
404 Laurel Street	C
405 Laurel Street	C
408 Laurel Street	C
410 Laurel Street	C
413 Laurel Street	C
415 Laurel Street	C
419 Laurel Street	C
501 Laurel Street	C
503 Laurel Street	C
509 Laurel Street	C
604 Laurel Street	C
606 Laurel Street	C
608 Laurel Street	C
610 Laurel Street	C
612 Laurel Street	C
101 Linden Avenue	C
105 Linden Avenue	C
112 Linden Avenue	C
203 Linden Avenue	C
204 Linden Avenue	C
205 Linden Avenue	C
206 Linden Avenue	C
208 Linden Avenue	C
210 Linden Avenue	C
302 Linden Avenue	C
327 Linden Avenue	C
401 Linden Avenue	C
405 Linden Avenue	C
408 Linden Avenue	C
410 Linden Avenue	C
412 Linden Avenue	C
414 Linden Avenue	C	WO-445 -- Stephen H. Long House
418 Linden Avenue	C
422 Linden Avenue	C
426 Linden Avenue	C
Maple Street	C
206 Maple Street	C
Market Street	C
2 Market Street	C	WO-361 -- Duncan Brothers' Garage
29 Market Street	C
103 Market Street	C	WO-363 -- Mar-Va Theater
107 Market Street	C
114 Market Street	C
120-126 Market Street	C
128 Market Street	C
132 Market Street	C
138 Market Street	C	Scher's
140 Market Street	C	Scher's
142 Market Street	C
143 Market Street	C
145 Market Street	C
146 Market Street	C
147 Market Street	C
148 Market Street	C
151 Market Street	C
207 Market Street	C	Post Office
208 Market Street	C
209 Market Street	C
210 Market Street	C	WO-371 -- Pitts Creek Presbyterian Church
215 Market Street	C	WO-370 -- Jane Jones House (Mary A. Dryden House)
302 Market Street	C
303 Market Street	C
305 Market Street	C
306 Market Street	C	First Baptist Church
400 Market Street	C
401 Market Street	C
402 Market Street	C
405 Market Street	C	WO-388 -- Young-Sartorius House (James H. Young Homeplace)
407 Market Street	C
408 Market Street	C
409 Market Street	C
410 Market Street	C
411 Market Street	C
412 Market Street	C
413 Market Street	C
415 Market Street	C
501 Market Street	C
503 Market Street	C
505 Market Street	C
507 Market Street	C
508 Market Street	C
509 Market Street	C
510 Market Street	C
511 Market Street	C
512 Market Street	C
514 Market Street	C
600 Market Street	C
601 Market Street	C
603 Market Street	C
604 Market Street	C
605 Market Street	C
606 Market Street	C
607 Market Street	C
612 Market Street	C
613 Market Street	C
614 Market Street	C
615 Market Street	C
616 Market Street	C
617 Market Street	C
618 Market Street	C
701 Market Street	C
702 Market Street	C
704 Market Street	C
710 Market Street	C
800 Market Street	C
801 Market Street	C
803 Market Street	C
804 Market Street	C
805 Market Street	C
806 Market Street	C
807 Market Street	C
809 Market Street	C
813 Market Street	C
900 Market Street	C
901 Market Street	C
903 Market Street	C
904 Market Street	C
905 Market Street	C
906 Market Street	C
907 Market Street	C
908 Market Street	C
909 Market Street	C	WO-128 -- Crockett House (Sally Jones House, Cowley, Cannon Prop)
910 Market Street	C
912 Market Street	C
913 Market Street	C
915 Market Street	C
1000 Market Street	C
1001 Market Street	C
1003 Market Street	C
1005 Market Street	C
1007 Market Street	C
1009 Market Street	C
1011 Market Street	C
1012 Market Street	C
1015 Market Street	C
1017 Market Street	C
Market Street (MD 675)	C	WO-368 -- Bethany United Methodist (M.E.) Church
105 Market Street (MD 675)	C	WO-385 -- Citizens National Bank
144 Market Street (MD 675)	C	WO-390 -- Calvin B. Taylor Bank
206 Market Street (MD 675)	C	WO-132 -- Dr. Isaac T. Costen House
213 Market Street (MD 675)	C
Market Street (MD 675) & Front Street	C	WO-362 -- Atlantic Red Star Gas Station
Meadow Lane	C	Pitts Creek Presbyterian Cemetery
200 Meadow Lane	C
201 Meadow Lane	C
104 Oak Street	C
105 Oak Street	C
108 Oak Street	C
109 Oak Street	C
110 Oak Street	C
111 Oak Street	C
Oxford Street	C
411 Oxford Street	C
415 Oxford Street	C
423 Oxford Street	C
425 Oxford Street	C
426 Oxford Street	C
427 Oxford Street	C
429 Oxford Street	C
Penn Central Railroad over Pocomoke River	C
Railroad Alley	C
Railroad Avenue	C
Railroad Avenue	C
Railroad Avenue	C
Railroad Avenue	C
102 Railroad Avenue	C
104 Railroad Avenue	C
110 Railroad Avenue	C
112 Railroad Avenue	C
112 Railroad Avenue	C
1 Second Street	C
2 Second Street	C
3 Second Street	C
5 Second Street	C
6 Second Street	C
7 Second Street	C
8 Second Street	C
11 Second Street	C
12 Second Street	C
14 Second Street	C
103 Second Street	C
203 Second Street	C	WO-352 -- Dr. Nock's Office
205 Second Street	C	WO-351 -- Dr. James T. Nock House
300 Second Street	C	Police Department
400 Second Street	C
401 Second Street	C
402 Second Street	C
403 Second Street	C
404 Second Street	C
406 Second Street	C
407 Second Street	C	WO-296 -- Littleton T. Clarke House (Captain J. Speights House)
500 Second Street	C	Salem Methodist Church
501 Second Street	C
601 Second Street	C
603 Second Street	C
605 Second Street	C
607 Second Street	C
609 Second Street	C
700 Second Street	C
701 Second Street	C
702 Second Street	C
703 Second Street	C
704 Second Street	C
705 Second Street	C
706 Second Street	C
707 Second Street	C
708 Second Street	C
709 Second Street	C
710 Second Street	C
711 Second Street	C
712 Second Street	C
713 Second Street	C
803 Second Street	C
805 Second Street	C
806 Second Street	C
807 Second Street	C
809 Second Street	C
810 Second Street	C
811 Second Street	C
812 Second Street	C
813 Second Street	C
815 Second Street	C
816 Second Street	C
817 Second Street	C
819 Second Street	C
820 Second Street	C
821 Second Street	C
822 Second Street	C
823 Second Street	C
824 Second Street	C
825 Second Street	C	Mitchell's Market
826 Second Street	C
828 Second Street	C
901 Second Street	C
902 Second Street	C
903 Second Street	C
904 Second Street	C
906 Second Street	C
907 Second Street	C
908 Second Street	C
909 Second Street	C
910 Second Street	C
912 Second Street	C
914 Second Street	C
915 Second Street	C
917 Second Street	C
922 Second Street	C
924 Second Street	C
926 Second Street	C
928 Second Street	C
930 Second Street	C
1002 Second Street	C
1004 Second Street	C
1006 Second Street	C
202 Seventh Street	C
203 Seventh Street	C
205 Seventh Street	C
208 Seventh Street	C
209 Seventh Street	C
210 Seventh Street	C
700 Seventh Street	C
106 Sixth Street	C
110 Sixth Street	C
118 Sixth Street	C
121 Sixth Street	C
201 Sixth Street	C
202 Sixth Street	C
203 Sixth Street	C
204 Sixth Street	C
205 Sixth Street	C
206 Sixth Street	C
207 Sixth Street	C
208 Sixth Street	C
209 Sixth Street	C
211 Sixth Street	C
213 Sixth Street	C
Third Street	C	St. Mary's P.E. Church cemetery
Third Street	C	St. Mary's P.E. Church
1 Third Street	C
5 Third Street	C
6 Third Street	C
20 Third Street	C
US Route 13 (Market Street) over Pocomoke River	C
Vine Street	C
101 Vine Street	C
107 Vine Street	C
109-111 Vine Street	C
202 Walnut Street	C
203 Walnut Street	C
204 Walnut Street	C
205 Walnut Street	C
206 Walnut Street	C
207 Walnut Street	C
208 Walnut Street	C
209 Walnut Street	C
210 Walnut Street	C
211 Walnut Street	C
212 Walnut Street	C
214 Walnut Street	C
215 Walnut Street	C
216 Walnut Street	C
217 Walnut Street	C
218 Walnut Street	C
219 Walnut Street	C
500 Walnut Street	C
501 Walnut Street	C
502 Walnut Street	C
503 Walnut Street	C
504 Walnut Street	C
505 Walnut Street	C
506 Walnut Street	C
507 Walnut Street	C
508 Walnut Street	C
509 Walnut Street	C
510 Walnut Street	C
511 Walnut Street	C
512 Walnut Street	C
600 Walnut Street	C
602 Walnut Street	C
606 Walnut Street	C
608 Walnut Street	C
609 Walnut Street	C
610 Walnut Street	C
611 Walnut Street	C
612 Walnut Street	C
613 Walnut Street	C
614 Walnut Street	C
615 Walnut Street	C
616 Walnut Street	C
618 Walnut Street	C
619 Walnut Street	C
621 Walnut Street	C	Masonic Temple
701 Walnut Street	C
702 Walnut Street	C
703 Walnut Street	C
704 Walnut Street	C
705 Walnut Street	C
706 Walnut Street	C
707 Walnut Street	C
708 Walnut Street	C
709 Walnut Street	C
710 Walnut Street	C
711 Walnut Street	C
712 Walnut Street	C
714 Walnut Street	C
715 Walnut Street	C
800 Walnut Street	C
801 Walnut Street	C
802 Walnut Street	C
803 Walnut Street	C
804 Walnut Street	C
805 Walnut Street	C
806 Walnut Street	C
807 Walnut Street	C
808 Walnut Street	C
810 Walnut Street	C
811 Walnut Street	C
900 Walnut Street	C
901 Walnut Street	C
902 Walnut Street	C
903 Walnut Street	C
904 Walnut Street	C
905 Walnut Street	C
906 Walnut Street	C
908 Walnut Street	C
910 Walnut Street	C
911 Walnut Street	C
912 Walnut Street	C
914 Walnut Street	C
915 Walnut Street	C
109 Willow Street	C
111 Willow Street	C
113 Willow Street	C
126 Willow Street	C
128-134 Willow Street	C
209 Willow Street	C
1 Winter Quarters Drive	C
2 Winter Quarters Drive	C
3 Winter Quarters Drive	C
4 Winter Quarters Drive	C
6 Winter Quarters Drive	C
7 Winter Quarters Drive	C
8 Winter Quarters Drive	C
101 Winter Quarters Drive	C
102 Winter Quarters Drive	C
103 Winter Quarters Drive	C
105 Winter Quarters Drive	C
106 Winter Quarters Drive	C
107 Winter Quarters Drive	C
109 Winter Quarters Drive	C
204 10th Street	NC
206 10th Street	NC
208 10th Street	NC
208 11th Street	NC
210 11th Street	NC
212 11th Street	NC
Bank Street	NC
402 Bank Street	NC
408 Bank Street	NC
410 Bank Street	NC
423 Bank Street	NC
425 Bank Street	NC
427 Bank Street	NC
201 Beech Street	NC
202 Beech Street	NC
Bridge Street	NC
Broad Street	NC
205 Broad Street	NC
Cedar Street	NC
Cedar Street	NC
106 Cedar Street	NC
210 Cedar Street	NC
218 Cedar Street	NC
503 Cedar Street	NC
506 Cedar Street	NC
509 Cedar Street	NC
511 Cedar Street	NC
512 Cedar Street	NC
602 Cedar Street	NC
604 Cedar Street	NC
612 Cedar Street	NC
615 Cedar Street	NC
904 Cedar Street	NC
907 Cedar Street	NC
911 Cedar Street	NC
104 Cherry Street	NC
108 Cherry Street	NC
112 Cherry Street	NC
Clarke Avenue	NC
Clarke Avenue	NC
10 Clarke Avenue	NC
611 Clarke Avenue	NC
915 Clarke Avenue	NC
Eighth Street	NC
206 Fifth Street	NC
503 Fifth Street	NC
505 Fifth Street	NC
702 Fifth Street	NC
6 Fourth Street	NC
8 Fourth Street	NC
400 Fourth Street	NC
401 Fourth Street	NC
707 Fourth Street	NC
808 Fourth Street	NC
Front Street	NC
10 Front Street	NC
12 Front Street	NC
110 Front Street	NC
114 Front Street	NC
513 Laurel Street	NC
517 Laurel Street	NC
521 Laurel Street	NC
601 Laurel Street	NC
603 Laurel Street	NC
603A Laurel Street	NC
605 Laurel Street	NC
103 Linden Avenue	NC
Maple Street	NC
212 Maple Street	NC
Market Street	NC
Market Street	NC
Market Street	NC
Market Street	NC	Harley Hall Nursing Home
101 Market Street	NC
204 Market Street	NC	First Baptist Church Hall
301 Market Street	NC
403 Market Street	NC	WO-133 -- 403 Market Street
406 Market Street	NC
502 Market Street	NC
513 Market Street	NC
700 Market Street	NC
808 Market Street	NC
114 Oak Street	NC
Oxford Street	NC
404 Oxford Street	NC
406 Oxford Street	NC
407 Oxford Street	NC	Mt. Zion Church
408 Oxford Street	NC
410 Oxford Street	NC
414 Oxford Street	NC
River Street	NC
Schoolfield Alley	NC
Second Street	NC
600 Second Street	NC
800 Second Street	NC
802 Second Street	NC
911 Second Street	NC
916 Second Street	NC
918-920 Second Street	NC
206 Seventh Street	NC
701 Seventh Street	NC
703 Seventh Street	NC
116 Sixth Street	NC
210 Sixth Street	NC
Third Street	NC
3 Third Street	NC
18 Third Street	NC
400 Walnut Street	NC
700 Walnut Street	NC
809 Walnut Street	NC
907 Walnut Street	NC
909 Walnut Street	NC
102 Sixth Street	C/NC
413 Bank Street