By Greg Bassett

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1953 --

• Salisbury held a prolonged air raid test on Tuesday afternoon, with complete compliance from city residents being reported. Capt. William L. Goetz of Salisbury, an official military observer for the Maryland Military District, said he was stationed on the corner of Main and Division streets when the red alert sounded. He said that moments later the streets were deserted of pedestrians and two passing cars parked immediately, with their drivers getting out and seeking shelter indoors.
• A Hammond Street man died of burns he received in an explosion at his home on Monday. Salisbury Fire Marshal Fred A Grier said the 47-year-old man went into his basement to light a gas water heater when the explosion occurred. Grier said the explosion appeared to be related to bottled gas that had recently been delivered, and not the water heater.
• Just in time for the upcoming baseball World Series, Abbott Bros. Quality Furniture and Appliances on the corner of Camden and South Division streets is holding a sale on new 1954 Philco TVs. Priced at $179.95, the HF-200 Golden Grid models can be financed, with payments as low as $3.50 a week. 
• Radio station WBOC’s chief engineer, Jack Ward, told members of the Salisbury Kiwanis Club on Tuesday that he and others hope to have WBOC-TV on the air and operating before Jan. 1. Station officials are still negotiating with national TV networks that would provide the core of the station’s broadcasts. He said WBOC-TV has been allotted Channel 16 on the high-frequency dial.
• Salisbury officials are leery of a proposal that would see a Class B Minor League Team moved to the city and play at Memorial Field. Eugene Raney, owner of the Piedmont League team now located in Western Maryland’s Hagerstown, is hoping for an offer from Salisbury. To break even, the team would need to draw at least 75,000 fans a year, but only about 800 spectators currently attend Eastern Shore League games held in Salisbury.
• The Salisbury City Council is considering a significant increase in water rates to help pay for a proposed $2 million municipal sewage plant and system. City Executive Secretary Col. Ernest L. McLendon said the city of Richmond had recently raised its water rates 80 percent and used the revenues to pay for a sewage system that will service 16,000 households. The city has about $851,000 in its water capital spending account, which could go toward the sewer project.
• Mayor Rollie W. Hastings was presented the first Community Ticket for the theater group’s upcoming play performance, “Dark Victory,” which will open Nov. 18. Players President Jean Owens said two other productions will be staged this year -- “Suspect,” directed by Roger Roberts, in February and “Over Twenty-One,” directed by Howard Layfield, in May.