OurTown Revisited: Snow Hill

Snow Hill, Md. – Many things have changed since WMDT last visited Snow Hill in 1999. That being said, over 25 years later, we found the town still has that same charm.

Past

The town of Snow Hill was chartered in 1686 and has been the seat of Worcester County since 1897. Founded on the Pocomoke River, schooners and stem boats have long carried freight. Fast-forward to 2024, and there’s now a focus on leisure. Diana Nolte has been a business owner for the past 22 years and currently runs Snow Hill Toys. She says preserving the town’s history has been of extreme importance.

According to her, by the town commissioning so many historical markers, it has kept the town’s legacy alive. “You grow your town into a new era by remembering their roots… Today it’s not being used for commercial purposes anymore. Just for entertainment, and recreation. So, we have stand-up paddle boards, canoeing, kayaking, and a lot of fishing, a lot of boating, and nature walks around the river.”

Progression

The Village Inn Restaurant closed its doors long ago, but other restaurants have tried their hand in the same building, keeping that memory alive. The town commissioned a mural dedication to the chef, an African American woman named Evelyn Allen. Diana says this is an example of the unity in that community, despite the racial climate of those times. “She would fry ‘Maryland Fried Chicken’ to order so you had to be very patient. So, we all called it Ms. Evelyn’s even though the right name was Village Inn Restaurant.”

Present

When we visited Snow Hill in 1999, the population was roughly 2200 people. Diana says not much has changed on that front. “We haven’t grown very much. We’re just a little bit above that now, and when you look at the whole rural area around us, we’re at about 5,000 so we’re still considered a very small town. But we get a lot of visitors from outside of the area.”

She says there hasn’t been any development since Hunting Fields which was 52 homes, and hopes that if there is more to come, its honors Snow Hill’s legacy. “There’s been more than one plan and discussion about developing housing around Snow Hill, and I’m sure it’ll happen someday. I just hope that it happens so that it’s consistent with the character of the town.”

Preservation

The city says they plan to continue to document their history by working with organizations like the Beach to Bay Heritage Area to keep these memories alive. They have many historical events at their local library, where they discuss the historic moment and people who have shaped the town. If you are interested in learning more about the town of Snow Hill, visit their website.