Ocean City Firsts
A Look Backat Ocean City 1880—First public sale of lots 1880—First hotel—The Brighton 1881—First postmaster—William H. Burrell 1881—First doctor—Gilbert E. Palen 1882—First school—built on Central Avenue 1883—First bridge to mainland opens 1884—First county freeholder...
Remembering the Park Theatre fire
A Look Back “Park Fire Loss Set at $75,000” was the headline on the Sept. 12, 1930, Ocean City Sentinel-Ledger. The article reported, “Less than 48 hours (after) it had closed for the season, the Park Theatre, at Park Place and the Boardwalk, was destroyed by fire,...
The first Miss America pageant
A Look Back at Ocean City One hundred and four years ago, September 8, 1921, the first Miss America pageant was won by Margaret Gorman of Washington, D.C. She was named “America’s Most Beautiful Bathing Girl” (a year later, her title was shortened to...
Remembering when an OC lifeguard won Olympic gold medals
A Look Back The Ocean City Beach Patrol’s tradition of winning intercity rowing and swimming has its roots in the Olympic Games. Long before the lifeguards won either a Cape May County or South Jersey championship, OCBP Hall of Famer John B. Kelly Sr. was wearing...
National Marbles Tournament at The Flanders
A Look Back June 28, 1929 was the fifth and final day of the 8th annual National Marbles Tournament held at the Flanders Hotel. It was the first time the event was held in Ocean City. It started in 1922 by the Scripps Howard newspaper chain as the nationwide contest...
