Ph.D. - Ocean City Vol I

We owe a debt of thanks to the many who helped us put this book together. We are grateful for the research materials theyve extended to us, and the time theyve given us in countless personal and phone interviews, as well as through e-mails and letters. If any name is accidentally omitted here, know that we appreciate all you have done. So with deep appreciation we thank the following: Suzanne Hurley, historian and director of the Ocean City Lifesaving Museum, for all her time and generosity in answering endless questions; her book (with George M. Hurley), Ocean City: A Pictorial History , has been an immense help to us; Mary Corddry, historian and author, for her kindness in answering questions and for the use of her book: City on the Sand ; Donna Abbott, public relations director of Ocean City, for her help; Ocean City Chamber of Commerce for the written materials; Landy Taylor, operator of Santa Maria Motel, for a history of motels; Carleton and Dorothy Bloodgood of the Metropolitan Postcard Club of New York City and New Jersey for meeting with us and sharing their postcards; Vera Mariani for her contacts and input; David Dypsky for allowing us to borrow cards from his collection; Frances Massey Black for her sage comments; Imogene Pierce for sharing her memories; Roscoe Nelson for his insights on West Ocean City; Louis McBriety for his special remembrances; William Quigley Bennett for his personal photo album; William Ahtes for his advice on Ocean Citys flying history; Dr. F.J. Townsend for a personal interview and his photo; our agent, Ivy Fischer Stone of the Fifi Oscard Agency, who is a postcard collector herself, for her wisdom and the materials she sent us; the late Fred Brueckmann for his great photographic skills and for his permission in allowing us to reprint his postcards; and to his wife, Frances, for searching their archives and gathering and making available to us their personal pictures, newspapers, books, and other materials; Ocean City engineers, officers, business owners, and the many others who gave of their time, knowledge, and remembrances; John Jacob for his years of collecting postcards and his generosity in presenting them in this book; and to the following postcard publishers and photographers for permitting us to include their fine work in our book. Forgive us if we accidentally overlooked anyone: Tingle Postcards; Harry P. Cann & Bros.; Fred Brueckmann; M; C.H. Ruth; Washington Pharmacy; Delmarva Postcards; W. Quigley Bennett; Roland Bynaker, Trade Winds; Rinn Publishing; Paul Smith, Eastern Shore Photography; The Chessler Co.; Frontier Town; R.D. Driscoll; Edward Stores; National Press; Bill Bard & Associates; Beals; William Campion; C.T. American Art; Chuck West; Curt Teich & Co.; Christoff; Albertype Co.; HPS/Pulling; Dexter Press; Spetzler, Connor & Coffin; Tichnor Bros.; C.P. Coffin; Arthur Livingston; Coffins Bazaar; E.B. Thomas; Louis Kaufmann & Sons; Aladdin; Franz Huld; Illustrated Postcard Co.; Art Baltrotsky, photographer; and Billy Waterman.

Additionally, we are eternally grateful to the following writers/researchers for their perseverance in gathering facts and for their endless help in putting this book together: Kyle Spolski, Mike Heinlein; Sean Niner, Erik Finkelstein; Kelly Choy, Tara Dillworth; Matt Cwalina, Chris Stellaccio; Kenna Bringham, Carol Hussey; Robert Finkbeiner, Jeff Disharoon; Kelly Cassell, Holly Anne McCardell; Megan Coombs, and a special thanks to Bo Bennett who did extensive research for us.

We especially want to thank our editor, Christine Riley, who has been more than understanding and helpful throughout this project. Always she was there for us, willing to give up her time to gently guide us and ardently encourage us. Thanks, Christine.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Corddry, Mary. City on the Sand . Centreville, MD: Tidewater Publishers, 1991.

Hurley, George M. and Suzanne B. Hurley. Ocean City, A Pictorial History . Virginia Beach: Donning Company/Publishers, 1979.

Matthews, Katie Gashin and William Russell Matthews. Worcester County: A Pictorial History .

Atlantic Flyer Aviation News . V 13. November 8, 1998.

Airport Apron Project . October 27, 1998.

City Meeting Minutes . Tuesday October 28, 1958December 8, 1960.

Coastal Fisherman . Ive Worn Down my Own Path, Dale Timmons, Jr., p.27. May 11, 1995.

The Comprehensive Plan for Ocean City 1997 . Mayor & City Council; Planning and Zoning Commission; Department of Planning & Community Development.

Dispatch Interview . p. 68. April 3, 1998.

Grant Agreement . US DOT, FAA. June 29, 1998.

Harrison, Sandra. A History of Worcester County, Maryland .

Mumford, Mary Ellen. A History of Ocean City, Maryland . Mayor & Council of Berlin, MD; Mayor & Council of Ocean City, MD; Calvin B. Taylor Banking Co, Berlin, MD. 16 pages.

Maryland Aviation Administration . Airport Data Sheet . October 27, 1998.

Kanamine, Linda. No Boardless Walk for Ocean City. Government. October 26, 1985.

Ferguson, Anita. Ocean City Mulls Parking Lot. Maryland Times Press .

Ocean City Revisited 1998 . Lipman, Frizzell & Mitchell LLC; Baltimore, MD.

Visitor Guides . 1998, 1999. Year 2000, Sea for Yourself. Town of Ocean City MD; Dept of Tourism; Ocean City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Ocean City PR Division.

Sportfishing . Ocean City Marlin Club, 1998.

Sunny Day Guides . Ocean City, Maryland

Town of Ocean City: Ocean City, Maryland: A Report for All Seasons . September 28, 1998.

Brigham, Kenna and Carol Hussey. Ocean City, Maryland Churches ; November 1998; and Ocean City, Marylands Boardwalk Through the Years . December 1998

Finkbeiner, Robert, and Jeff Disharoon. The Annexation of Ocean City. October 1998.

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One

TRAIN TRAVEL AND BRIDGES

When Ocean City was founded in 1875, the only way to visit was by private carriage to Sinepuxent Bay and then by ferry across the bay. In 1876, the Wicomico and Pocomoke Railroad built an extension of its line to Berlin and a low-trestle bridge across the Sinepuxent, allowing wood-burning locomotives to chuff their way into Ocean City. Initially, tracks were laid to run up Baltimore Avenue to the Atlantic and Seaside hotels, then the train had to back down Baltimore Avenue far enough for the engine to swing left and go back across the bridge. Since there was no other bridge into Ocean City, planks were put on the bridge so pedestrians, wagons, carriages, and, later, automobiles could cross by paying a toll of 5 per wheel (a pedestrian counted as one wheel). In 1908, Worcester County made a deal with the Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic Railroad (successor to the Wicomico and Pocomoke) to pay $1,250 per year in lieu of tolls and to permit alternating one-way crossing of the bridge.

The first coal-fired locomotive arrived in Ocean City in 1893. The BC&A, more familiarly known as the Black Cinders and Ashes, ran excursions on the weekends from Claiborne to Ocean City. The train met a boat from Baltimore and made a high-speed run to Ocean City, leaving the excursionist approximately two hours in Ocean City. Railroad service to Ocean City terminated when the railroad bridge was washed away in the storm of 1933 and was not rebuilt.