A Look Back
By Fred Miller
‘Finest and Safest Bathing Beach Along the New Jersey Coast’ was the headline on the front page of the April 18, 1924, Ocean City Sentinel-Ledger. The article, which was in the special Easter Souvenir edition, bragged about the local lifeguards’ efficiency: “Ocean City Beach Patrol, comprised of more than thirty-five stalwart and good-looking young college athletes, has for years been noted as one of the best organizations of its kind along the Jersey Coast, and members of the crew, with their hard-working, energetic commander, Capt. Jack Jernee, are deserving of the praise accorded them. No lives have been lost since Capt. Jernee took charge. The beach patrol for the coming season will consist for the most part of young men who were on duty last summer.”
A total of 19 rookie lifeguards were hired for the 1924 summer. The beach surgeon was Dr. Marcia Smith.
The lifeguards paused for a moment of silence on June 21, 1924, to remember Ocean City’s first lifeguard, Joseph P. Krauss. The water safety pioneer died on Feb. 10, 1924, at the age of 79. He was protecting bathers during the summer of 1893.
The first intercity swim meet to be held in the newly opened pool at the Flanders Hotel was held on Friday evening, July 25, 1924, between the Ocean City and Ventnor lifeguards. The next day the Atlantic City Daily Press reported the results: “The Ventnor City Beach Patrol, with a number of Atlantic City high school’s famous ‘Water Mermen’ constituting its backbone, last night defeated the Ocean City Beach Patrol in the open-air pool of the Flanders Hotel, 37 points to 16. They received a handsome silver loving cup emblematic of the victory.”
Saturday, Aug. 23, 1924, was a day of intra-squad competition for the local lifeguards. It began at 5:30 p.m. with the annual doubles rowing race on the 10th Street beach. Lloyd Sheppard and Bertrand L. Carey won the 1-mile rowing race crossing the finish line 10 seconds ahead of Jack Brady and Thomas A. Williams.
That evening, the area surrounding the Flanders’ pool was crowded with spectators cheering for their favorite lifeguard as they competed in swimming, diving, water polo, and canoe tilting contests.
Thanks to the lifeguards, there were no drowning during the summer of 1924.
