Located on 14th Street, the Commander Hotel was the most northern Boardwalk hotel when built by the Lynch family in 1930.The Commander was famous in the post-World War II era for beachfront clambakes and the quality of its dining rooms. Much of the credit was due to the outstanding work of the African-American waitstaff. Led… Read more »
Ocean City’s Easter parade and sunrise service began in 1947. Centered on the bandstand at Somerset Street, it become an annual tradition for over 25 years.Many locals recall getting dressed up and parading down the Boardwalk in hope of winning a prize for their Easter outfits. Others remember the Lions Club sponsoring an Easter egg… Read more »
The Paddock was one of Ocean City’s most popular nightclubs for 60 years. Built by Gabby Mancini, Sr. on the corner of 18th Street and Philadelphia Avenue in 1953, it featured live entertainment. The Saturday afternoon jam sessions were legendary and drew crowds to what in that era was considered “way up the beach.”The original building… Read more »
A popular form of fishing that is affordable for the average fisherman is on a party boat or “head boat” (so-called because there is a flat charge per angler or “per head.”) These boats provide rods, reels and bait and a mate to untangle lines and help bring fish aboard.One of the most famous was… Read more »
The Hamilton Hotel, a 68-year-old Ocean City landmark on the corner of 3rd Street and the Boardwalk, burned to the ground on Dec. 14, 1969.The early Sunday morning blaze was discovered by Sergeant James Baker of the Ocean City Police Department as he made his rounds. The fire department was on the scene about five… Read more »
Ocean City’s original Pier building was completed in 1907 on the Boardwalk at Wicomico Street. In addition to shops and a dancing pavilion, it also featured a theatre and several refreshment stands. It was also the entrance to the Ocean City Fishing Pier.The building was raised 10 feet above the beach and built on wooden… Read more »
The Dinner Bell was a popular Ocean City restaurant in the years following World War II. Located on the southeast corner of 3rd Street and Baltimore Avenue in the Monticello Hotel, it served homestyle cooking with an Eastern Shore flavor. Many still remember their delicious fresh baked rolls and fried chicken.The waitresses lived in a dormitory… Read more »
Baltimore Avenue was Ocean City’s “Main Street” when this postcard was printed circa 1920. This view looks north from Wicomico Street and includes some of the town’s most historic structures.The building in the left foreground is the Seaside Hotel (built in 1876) and beyond it with the tall brick smokestack is the electric power plant…. Read more »
The first “Lifeguard Ball” was held in 1931 for the purpose of raising funds to buy needed equipment for the Ocean City Beach Patrol. The dance would become a highly anticipated annual event for both the guards and the close knit group of young people who worked in Ocean City each year. For most, it… Read more »
In the years up to and including the 1960s, Baltimore Avenue was a mostly residential area lined with homes and boarding houses such as the Gables, pictured.This changed in the 1990s when lack of adequate parking became a serious issue in the downtown section of Ocean City. Boardwalk hotel owners began buying these properties and… Read more »
