Eunice Q. Sorin (1924-2011) was a fun-loving free spirit whose generosity and zest for life will long be remembered in Ocean City.A resident of Berlin and an award-winning hair stylist, Eunice and her husband, Herman Sorin, built the Nassau Motel on 61st Street (now the site of the Meridian Condominium) in 1966. The Nassau was considered… Read more »
Ocean City’s first hotels were located in what today is the area from S. Division Street to 3rd Street. The original Atlantic (1875), Seaside (1877), Congress Hall (1878) and the Plimhimmon (1895) were famous in their time but all are gone now, lost to fires over the years.Lumber for the old hotels was milled in Salisbury… Read more »
An aerial view of the area between 12th to 15th streets reveals the less developed Ocean City of the mid-1960s.The beginning of Motel Row with the departed Sea Scape and Santa Maria motels can be seen in the upper left corner with two of the town’s iconic hotels – Harrison Hall and the original Commander… Read more »
The original Morbid Manor was the ultimate “haunted house” with live actors portraying ghosts, goblins and ghouls of all shapes and sizes. It even featured a plane crash on the third floor of the spooky building located on the Fishing Pier at Wicomico Street and the beach.The screams of frightened visitors could be heard on… Read more »
In the 1950s, a new town known as Ocean Beach was being promoted on the northern end of Assateague Island about five miles south of Ocean City.The development faced several problems, however, including access — there was no bridge to Assateague in those days and the small ferry could only carry three cars. Another problem… Read more »
Ocean City dates its “official” birthday to July 4, 1875, the day the original Atlantic Hotel opened on what was then a remote barrier island. There was no bridge from the mainland that first year and the only way to reach the new hotel was by boat.There was no Boardwalk at that time nor were… Read more »
This aerial photo shows the creation of the Inlet in August 1933 and the separation between Ocean City and Assateague Island from the most historic storm to ever hit the region.The photo clearly shows the existence of a new 50-foot wide, eight-foot deep Inlet at the south end of town. The huge waves that pounded… Read more »
The Ocean City beachfront has changed dramatically over the past 65 years. In this picture (circa 1955) taken from a balcony at the old Commander Hotel, the narrowness of the beach in that era is evident, and the photo was taken on low tide.The placement of the umbrellas suggests a windy day and an old… Read more »
Shantytown Village was developed by Daniel Trimper IV and opened in 1976 next to the Route 50 Bridge in West Ocean City. It was designed to resemble a New England fishing village and was modeled on photos taken by Trimper during a visit to Nantucket Island.It was a popular attraction for Ocean City’s visitors and… Read more »
The railroad era in Ocean City began in 1876 and lasted for 57 years. During this time passenger train service played a major role with nearly all the summer visitors prior to the 1920s arriving by rail.The original terminal was located on Baltimore Avenue at S. Division Street but was moved to Philadelphia Avenue and… Read more »