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Thursday, June 21, 2018

Vanishing Ocean City With Bunk Mann

Prior to the mid-1970s, Ocean City was a seasonal resort. The tourist season ran from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day and it was said, “you could fire a cannon down Baltimore Avenue the day after Labor Day and not hit a soul.” Less than 900 people lived in town year-round.

This aerial photo from the spring of 1955 shows a mostly vacant town with the Oceanic Motel down by the Inlet in the final stages of construction. The large dark building in the upper left is the Atlantic Hotel and the Inlet Lodge can be see on the far right. The building facing the Boardwalk with the cupola still houses Trimper’s beautiful 1912 carousel and popular kiddie rides but the Tidal Wave Roller Coaster was still 30 years in the future.

The Inlet Parking Lot was in its infancy and was only two lanes deep along a much more narrow beach.

Photo by Liz Sacca Kuczinski

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aah, the good old days, when the locals could acually enjoy our hometown.

Anonymous said...

Those were the days, my friend. We thought they'd never end. And then the city slickers showed up and ruined everything.

Anonymous said...

I was born in Worcester County 69 years ago and have lived here all my life. Ocean City used to be the jewel in the crown of our county but has now reached the point where I would be happy if it slid into the ocean, never to be seen again.

Anonymous said...

Alot of life long residents of Worcester County got enormously wealthy exploiting that barrier island.Dont blame the city slickers.You build it,they will come.

Anonymous said...

That is so correct 9:51...we built it and they came! Not a soul to blame but the City fathers!

Anonymous said...

Memories abound. I remember mom packing lunch and we rode the train to Ocean City for the day... Didn’t spend money(didn’t have any) & ride was free for employees family, but got sunburned.

Anonymous said...

The reporter is related to Mike Sacca, the fireman that died in the restaurant fire in Ocean City some years ago. Probably the only firefighter to die in the line of duty from a structure fire.