Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1954 --

• Greeting cards, gifts and visits from local townsfolk have brought Christmas cheer to several residents of Deer’s Head State Hospital. Two arthritis victims said they were especially appreciative of the attention showered on them this week. Paul J. Richardson Jr., 42, blind and bedridden for 11 years, is a former Salisbury Police Clerk who received a long visit from Police Chief William J. Chatham. Edward Richard Hall, 32, who has battled chronic rheumatoid arthritis for 22 years, said he was looking forward to one of his visitors taking him for an automobile ride.
• Richard Polin, 14, of 503 Buena Vista Ave., was injured when he fell off his pony while participating in a fox hunt near Upper Ferry. Polin was being treated at Peninsula General Hospital with a separated shoulder. Polin’s pony was unable to clear a fallen tree. Clifton “Kippy” Helmuth, who was riding immediately behind Polin when the accident occurred, was thrown from his horse, but was not injured.
• The Salisbury City Council has approved a .05-cents tax hike to take effect Jan. 1. The council spent all of 45 seconds voting on the measure at their Monday night meeting. The hike places the tax rate at $1.17; Mayor Rollie W. Hastings’ spending plan is $1.228 million, about $62,000 more than this year’s budget plan. The budget includes a $135,000 provision to extend Mill Street and build a new bridge across the river from Downtown to Camden Avenue, as part of a proposed traffic loop.
• The Pennsylvania Railroad has informed city officials it wants to remove the two crossing watchman positions it funds. Railroad engineers said they would make crossing improvements that would include automated crossing gates. Watchmen are currently positioned at the East Church Street and Division Street rail crossings.
• In Socials News, Dr. and Mrs. William H. Fisher have moved from their home on Park Avenue to the Colliwer Home on Camden Avenue, which they recently purchased. Mr. and Mrs. Filbert Hitch of West College Avenue, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald B. Truitt of East Isabella Street and Mr. and Mrs. E. Stanton Adkins of North Division Street all hosted holiday open houses Sunday in their homes.
• The Wicomico County Free Library on High Street is too small to serve the needs of a growing community, a delegation of library board members told the County Commissioners on Monday. Lawyer and board member Charles E. Hearne Jr. said the library needs to move to a bigger building in Downtown Salisbury. Hearn said a much larger building on the corner of South Division Street and Circle Avenue would be ideal. That structure is owned by L.W. Gunby Co.