The Colonial was one of two cottages built by William Warrington on N. 1st Street in the 1890s. In 1897, he attached the two into one hotel and named it “The Colonial.” The hotel fronted on the Boardwalk and was able to host up to 100 guests. It had an oceanfront dining room and wide… Read more »
The worst motel fire in Ocean City’s history took place on June 12, 1988 at the Beachcomber Motel on 12th Street and Edgewater Avenue. It was Senior Week and the motel was full of high school and college kids. In those days sprinklers were not required in buildings under five stories tall; the Beachcomber was only… Read more »
The Inlet, which separates Assateague from Ocean City, did not exist prior to August 23, 1933. On that day a hurricane created a path from the Sinepuxent Bay to the ocean between what was then S. 4th and S. 5th streets. At first only 50 feet wide, it continued to widen and become deeper the… Read more »
The Beach Plaza Hotel was built by Ethel Griffin Kelley and her son Harry, a future mayor of Ocean City, in 1953. Located on the Boardwalk at 13th Street, the modern looking hotel boasted 132 rooms and a large porch with rocking chairs that overlooked the beach.Following Ethel’s death in 1955, Harry Kelley took over… Read more »
In the late 1990s a major revitalization of the old downtown took place. The section of Boardwalk from the Inlet to North Division Street was converted back to wood after being made of concrete since 1955. Additionally, a $6.3 million renovation of Baltimore Avenue was completed. A center island with brick pavers and landscaping was… Read more »
Few of the many people that visit Ocean City each year know that a railroad was once a vital link to Maryland’s famous ocean resort. Between 1876 and 1933 trains brought both passengers and supplies across a wooden trestle bridge that entered town at South Division Street.In the late 19th century and into the mid-1920s… Read more »
Roland “Fish” Powell (1928-2018) lived a long life of service to Ocean City. Fire chief, city councilman, county commissioner and mayor from 1985 to 1996, he was dedicated to his community.As a child he saw the Inlet created by the hurricane of 1933 and as a proud member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company… Read more »
The Samoa and Mario’s were two of Ocean City’s most popular restaurants in the late 1960s. Located on Philadelphia Avenue between 22nd and 23rd streets, the Samoa moved two blocks north in 1969 and is now the location of a Sunsations store.Mario’s was a favorite of Ocean City’s locals and stayed open year-round serving some of the… Read more »
The early 1970s were a period of tremendous growth and change for Ocean City. The end of its era as a seasonal resort was fast approaching.High-rise condos reminiscent of Miami Beach began in 1970 with the construction of the 15-story High Point South (pictured above). Within three years towering buildings would stretch from 94th Street… Read more »
By the mid-1980s, most of the beach in Ocean City had become narrow nearly non-existent on high tide in some areas. It was said you could fish from the Boardwalk on 15th Street during a storm and there was barely enough room to set up an umbrella between 21st and 25th streets. Most of the northern beach was… Read more »