These oral histories document the history of the growth and development of the City of Salisbury through memories beginning in 1930. Special attention has been given to Salisbury's Downtown district as well as the Eastern and Northern corridor along RT.13. These narrators speak about their memories, obstacles faced, and allies who helped secure Salisbury's growth as the primary commercial center in the Delmarva region. Compiled transcriptions are attached.

The City of Salisbury was founded in 1742 but did not become incorporated until 1854. During the nineteenth century Salisbury experienced both tremendous growth and tradgedy as sections of the city burned from two separate fires in 1860 and 1886. While not a city comparing in size or scale to Baltimore, Salisbury emerged as the regional commercial hub for Delmarva in the twentieth century and has continued to grow into the twenty-first century in part to several key industries. These oral histories depict significant changes to the city of Salisbury such as the addition of the Route 50 throughway and desegregation.

Jim Morris, interviewed by Erik Gaskill on September 27th, 2018 in Salisbury, Maryland for the Salisbury Growth and Development oral history project of the Edward H. Nabb Center for Delmarva History and Culture. Jim Morris was born in Salisbury and is involved with Greater Salisbury Committee. Additionally his father, Frank Morris was Mayor of Salisbury 1962-1966. He talks about his memories of how Salisbury has changed during the late 20th century and explains why development occurred in specific areas due to a variety of reasons.

William Ahtes, interviewed by Erik Gaskill on October 9th, 2018 in Salisbury, MD for Salisbury Growth and Development oral history project of the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture. Mr. Ahtes speaks about his memories of Salisbury and Salisbury’s Downtown during the 20th Century. William Ahtes (Bill), used to own the Wicomico Hotel as well as 51 other buildings in the Salisbury Downtown area and has lived in Salisbury, Maryland since 1930, except for his time spent in the Navy and then Air Force. Bill Ahtes, age 88 at the time of the interview, has been directly involved with several downtown renovation projects and claims Downtown went into a nosedive decline starting in 1981.

Norman H. Conway, interviewed by Erik Gaskill on October 11th, 2018 in Salisbury Maryland for the Salisbury Growth and Development oral history project of the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture. Mr. Conway is a very prominent figure on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, specifically Salisbury as he is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates and Salisbury’s City Council. Mr. Conway talks about his memories of Salisbury, areas that have changed dramatically, and offers a perspective from the local government’s standpoint.

Barrie P. Tilghman, interviewed by Erik Gaskill on October 25th, 2018 in Salisbury Maryland for the Salisbury Growth and Development oral history project of the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture. Barrie Tilghman served as mayor of Salisbury, MD from 1998-2009. Mayor Tilghman speaks about her memories of Salisbury’s Downtown during the fifties and sixties, growing up in unincorporated Allen just outside of Salisbury, historic preservation, attending high school, and her motivations to get involved in local politics.

Henry Hanna, interviewed by Erik Gaskill on November 7th, 2018 in Salisbury, Maryland for the Salisbury Growth and Development oral history project of the Edward H. Nabb Center for Delmarva History and Culture. In this interview Henry Hanna speaks about his memories of growing up in Salisbury and how it has changed during 1960's. Mr. Hanna offers an insider’s view as he brokered numerous commercial real estate deals beginning during the late eighties.

Harry Church, interviewed by Erik Gaskill on February 27th, 2019 in Delmar, Maryland for the Salisbury Growth and Development oral history project of the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture. Harry Church, age 84 at the date of the interview speaks about growing up on Delmarva and working for the Dorchester County Board of Education. Mr. Church’s property rests on what was his great grandfather’s farm. Mr. Church’s great grandfather was a slave, fought in the Civil War and used the pay received to purchase the land. Harry Church’s family has been on Delmarva since the Civil War era.

Jane Fields, interviewed by Ian Post on May 23rd, 2019 for the Salisbury Growth and Development oral history project of the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture. Jane Fields speaks about living in her family's store in downtown Salisbury, the relationships in the community, and the looting of her father's jewelry store in 1968 during tense race relations.

Archive.org Links:

1. https://archive.org/details/ncoh000900001
2. https://archive.org/details/ncoh000900002
3. https://archive.org/details/ncoh000900003
4. https://archive.org/details/ncoh000900004
5. https://archive.org/details/ncoh000900005
6. https://archive.org/details/ncoh000900006
7. https://archive.org/details/ncoh000900007

Oral history interviews are arranged by date of the interviews conducted and files are given unique identifiers. Administrative files are arranged alphabetically by interviewee surnames.