Museum to Teach Children How to Build Models

The Ocean City Historical Museum will hold a model-building event on April 27.

Model-building is a fascinating world and has many facets. It’s a way to express your creativity, to better understand construction and design, and to learn about the past. Join the Ocean City Historical Museum on April 27, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as it delves into the world of models. The museum will have models of all sorts on display, and you’ll be able to ask questions and learn from veteran model-builders. You are sure to learn something, and you might even have some fun! Held at the Ocean City Community Center’s Senior Center, this event is for children age 8 and up. Admission will be $10, and all children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration and payment shall be made in advance.  Lunch will be served, so please…

• Photos (1)

Then and Now

Historical Images: Many Buildings on the 800 Block of Asbury Avenue Pass Test of Time

A new weekly feature includes photographs from the Ocean City Historical Museum collection and from the modern era.

This week's "Then and Now" features views of the 800 block of Asbury Avenue from the top of the Crown Bank building at Eighth Street and Asbury Avenue. The first photo looks south at the bustling downtown in the late 1920s. The second photo shows the same view in August 2010. You might notice a number of the buildings on the bay side of Asbury Avenue are still there today, as is the Transportation Center at 10th Street and Haven Avenue. In the distance, you see the expandable tanks. These were used for natural gas storage.  To see more historical photos of Ocean City, visit the Ocean City Historical Museum located in the Community Center at 1735 Simpson Ave.

•  6 Comments
• Photos (2)

Historical Images: 1100 Block of Ocean Avenue

Our weekly feature includes photographs from the Ocean City Historical Museum collection and from the modern era.

This week's "Then and Now" features the 1100 Block of Ocean Avenue in the mid-1920s. The first image is the view looking north from 12th Street and Boardwalk prior to development of the Surf Theater, now the Surf Mall and the Tahiti Inn on the corner of 12th Street and Ocean Avenue. The second image is the view from 12th and Ocean looking north. A number of the buildings on the left side of the second image can be seen in the first image. To see more historical photos of Ocean City, visit the Ocean City Historical Museum in the Community Center at 1735 Simpson Ave.

• Photos (2)

Then and Now

Historical Images: Bourse Building at Eighth and Asbury

Our weekly feature includes photographs from the Ocean City Historical Museum collection and from the modern era.

This week's "Then and Now" features the Bourse Building, located on the northeast corner of Eighth Street and Asbury Avenue. Built circa 1895, the building is shown in the first image in the early 1900s. It then was home to Frank Darby Real Estate, Maddock’s Pharmacy, and Hole in the Wall by the Sea Light Lunch with an entrance on Eighth Street. The Bourse Building later was home to the first national chain store in Ocean City: G.C Murphy’s 5 & 10, which opened circa 1930. The second image shows the Bourse Building today. Located there is Interiors by Joann, Ocean Abstract, Christina Amey Architect LLC and Joel Mott's law office. To see more historical photos of Ocean City, visit the Ocean City Historical Museum in the Community Center at …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)

Eric Sauder

2:18 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013

Gee look at that. Architecture.   more ›

Then and Now

Historical Images: From 1895 Mayor's House to a Rooming House

Our weekly feature includes photographs from the Ocean City Historical Museum collection and from the modern era.

This week's "Then and Now" features the home located on the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Wesley Avenue. The home shown in the first image was built circa 1890 for Robert Fisher, who was among Ocean City's first year-round residents. Fisher was a native of Ireland and served as mayor in 1895. As shown in the second image, the home still stands, although its appearance has changed a bit. Today, it is used as a rooming house for seasonal workers.  To see more historical photos of Ocean City, visit the Ocean City Historical Museum in the Community Center at 1735 Simpson Ave.

• Photos (2)

Then and Now

Historical Images: 10th Street and Ocean Avenue

Our weekly feature includes photographs from the Ocean City Historical Museum collection and from the modern era.

This week's "Then and Now" features a streetscape looking southwest down the 1000 block of Ocean Avenue.  The first image shows the historic block circa 1920. Note the street was unpaved but graded with curbs and drainage. The street light on the left side of the image is suspended from a pulley so the light could be lowered for repairs. Midway down the block there was a home with its own tennis court that is now a parking lot.  The second image is the street as it appears today. As you look down the block, of the first four houses from the corner, three remain standing. The condominum on the corner uses design elements from the home that stood there before such as the wrap-around porch and brick columns. At the far end of the block is …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (2)

EXiT REALTY OCEAN CITY

10:55 am on Monday, February 25, 2013

I enjoy looking at the “Then and Now” pics. It is interesting to see the changes and non changes made to the City. Keep up the good work. Joseph Landicini, Broker 1301 West A-1 OCNJ 609.525.9901 Ext 14   more ›

Then and Now

Historical Images: Johnstone's at 858 Asbury Avenue

Our weekly feature includes photographs from the Ocean City Historical Museum collection and from the modern era.

This week's "Then and Now" features a downtown landmark that has been standing for more than 100 years and is located at 858 Asbury Ave. In the first image, taken in 1939, the building was occupied by Johnstone's Restaurant. Take note of the businesses name in the sidewalk. The second image shows the building as it appears today, home to Spinning Wheel Florist since 1973. Johnstone's name is still in the sidewalk. To see more historical photos of Ocean City, visit the Ocean City Historical Museum in the Community Center at 1735 Simpson Ave.

•  6 Comments
• Photos (2)

Historical Images: Ocean City Baptist Church

Our weekly feature includes photographs from the Ocean City Historical Museum collection and from the modern era.

This week's "Then and Now" features Ocean City Baptist Church, located at 10th Street & Wesley Avenue.  When Ocean City Baptist Church was formed in 1898, it was known as Immanuel Baptist Church and met on Asbury Avenue between 8th and 9th Street. The church later moved to the corner of 9th Street and Wesley Avenue. Sometime after 1910, it was moved to its permanent location at 10th and Wesley. Construction of the current building was begun in 1926 and was completed in 1927. At this time he church changed its name to First Baptist Church and in 1933, the church was reorganized and incorporated as Ocean City Baptist Church. An addition was built in mid 1960’s and dedicated in 1966.  The first image shows the church in circa 1940.  The …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)

Eric Sauder

5:43 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Truly a time warp. I remember going there as a kid and it really hasn't changed all that much.   more ›

Museum Director to Lead Free Class in Tracing Family History

Historical Museum Director Jeff McGranahan can help people take advantage of the library's free subscription to Ancestry.com.

  The Internet has revolutionized the search for family history. Ancestry.com advertises that it’s as easy as clicking on a leaf, but is it really?  Most people don’t know that the Ocean City Free Public Library has a subscription to Ancestry.com that anyone with a library card can use.  The trick is you have to be in the Library’s Computer Center to use it, but once you are there you get access to other useful databases, too! To help you get started Jeff McGranahan, director of the Ocean City Historical Museum will lead a five-week class titled, "Genealogy 101: Techniques and Tutorials," that will give you some background, share some of his experience and provide assistance as you being to navigate the past online and off.  The classes …

• Photos (1)

Then and Now

Historical Images: Haven Ave. Garage Has Serviced Cars Since the 1920s

A weekly feature includes photographs from the Ocean City Historical Museum collection and from the modern era.

This week's "Then an Now" features the garage located on the northeast corner of Seventh Street and Haven Avenue. The first image shows the garage circa 1925. The vehicle shown is a 1925 Flint B-40 Touring, an American auto marque made from 1923 to 1927. Note the train tracks running down Haven Avenue and the gas pub on the curb along Seventh Street. The sign on the side of the building advertises "The Flint Six - Sales and Service." In the 1930s, the building was used as Ocean City Beach Patrol's Boat House. The building has maintained its original purpose as a garage and is home to Christopher's Foreign Cars as seen in the second image. A third image shows the same building during the morning high tide of Oct. 29, 2012, as Hurricane …

•  24 Comments
• Photos (3)