The Ocean City Historic District Walking Tour! This self-guided tour has been arranged to showcase some of Ocean City’s most significant structures. Although many other public and private buildings contribute to the rich and historic content of our resort town, the destinations on this guide may be visited in a leisurely 45 minutes. It is with great pride that the members of the Historic Preservation Commission invite you to take your time. Josh Loeper, Chairman Jeff Frost, Vice Chairman Gretchen Bingham Jack Snyder, R.A. Donald Doll, Jr. Jane Glenn Fred Miller Marian Talese Richard Vetter Henry “Bud” Knight, Mayor of Ocean City City Council Larry Carnuccio, President Andy Jernee Ray Jones Jeanne Crotty Bill McCarthy Jody Alessandrine Frank McCall “The design of Ocean City was to provide a summer home for as many Christian families as might desire to come where they would be free from the vices and temptations usually found at irreligious resorts.” “After being convinced of the duty of the church to provide moral and temperance resorts along the coast for the people of the interior, my mind naturally turned to Peck’s Beach, one of the finest beaches in South Jersey which God has reserved apparently for this very purpose.” “… and when it is better known no doubt the people will come in crowds to spend their summer months in this beautiful city by the sea.” Thus wrote S. Wesley Lake in the July 19, 1893 edition of the Ocean City Sentinel. Wesley, his brothers Ezra and James, Reverend William Burrell, and Reverend William B. Wood founded the Camp Meeting Association of October 20, 1879. 1. Ocean City Tabernacle 500 Block of Wesley-Asbury This is the site where the founding fathers established Ocean City as a Christian seaside resort in 1879. The islands first house of worship was a wooden structure built here in 1881 and destroyed by the 1944 hurricane; it was then rebuilt. In 1957 it was replaced by this modern brick building that still provides religious services to an interdenominational congregation during the summer months. The front addition and cross were added in 1990. Cover photograph: The Original Tabernacle, Circa 1993 2. Memorial Park 500 block Wesley-Ocean This site was originally used as a campground for all the tents which sprang up every summer during the Methodist camp meetings held from 1880 to the early 1900’s. Tents were rented from the Ocean City Association by visitors for 4 week periods at a cost of $1.00 to $5.25 per week depending on the size of the tent. As the tent dwellings became obsolete, the grounds became a War Memorial and is preserved as such today, honoring those who served in W.W.I and II, Korean and Vietnam. 3. The Parkside 501 Fifth Street A charming Second Empire Victorian seaside hotel, now a B&B was built in 1880, and was originally called the Piqua. Wealthier tourists stayed here, right across from the rest of the camp-goers who slept in tests. Visitors are welcome to view the lobby during the course of their tour. 4. The New Brighton Inn 519 Fifth Street This Queen Anne style Victorian was built in 1882 by one of Ocean City’s founders, Reverend William Burrell. It was called the “marrying house” because of the hundreds of weddings he performed there. One story is told that the first Tabernacle meeting was held on the side lawn using a barrel as a pulpit. 5. Scotch Hall 435 Wesley Avenue An example of an eclectic Colonial Revival, it was built in 1881 and was the home of another one of Ocean City’s founders, the Reverend Ezra B. Lake. His home was used by the Presbyterian Church as a manse, then as a maternity hospital and convalescent home from 1913 to the 1930’s. In later years it was used by the Army as a Coast Guard Barracks. Since the 1940’d it has served as a restaurant. 6. Lake Memorial Park 400 Block of Wesley Avenue This is the site of the old circa 1913 Wesley Avenue School turned Arts Center and Historical Museum which was torn down in 1988. Through the efforts of local citizens, the empty lot was transformed into a park filled with samples of Ocean City’s natural vegetation. 7. Original Tabernacle Cottages They can be seen across the alley, behind the park at 416 and 418 Ocean Avenue. Visitors who came here for camp meetings would rent these cottages and others like them which were built by the Tabernacle Association. There were 22 of them originally located on the dunes by the corner of 4th and Atlantic, which was a beach at that time. There are still a few cottages remaining along the alleys in the Historic District, although most have been altered somewhat through the years. 8. 300 Block of Central Avenue This street is a good example of the way Ocean City looked 100 years ago, both in the architecture of the homes and the large collection of cedar, pine and holly trees still growing there. Some fine examples of the various types of architecture that were popular at the turn of the century can be seen here, including Late Folk Victorian, Second Empire Mansard, American Foursquare, and Colonial Revival. * 400 Block of 5th Street Simon Wesley Lake’s home, just north of the Tabernacle, looks much as it did in 1880. Mr. Lake was one of the founders of Ocean City. 9. Fourth St. and Atlantic Ave. The 4th Street Life Saving Station built in 1885 is the only one of the three stations built in Ocean City that is still standing. In the winter months the stations were manned by a captain and crew of six men who could handle life boats in rough surf in order to save the lives of those whose ships were wrecked off our coast. In the summer, the men mostly saved drowning bathers at the beach. It was originally surrounded by dunes, but in later years houses were built over most of the land from the station’s life boat doors to the ocean. Today it is a private residence. 10. 420 Ocean Avenue This Folk Victorian was built in 1895 by Captain Mackay Corson (of the 4th Street Lifesaving Station). The house stayed in the Corson family until the late 1930’s. It was then owned by Al and Lavinia Senior of Senior Studios from 1939 to 1972. Most of the many historic photos of Ocean City we have today were taken by Al Senior. 11. The Gingerbread House 604 Sixth Street This gem was built by a ships carpenter in the Philadelphia area and brought to Ocean City by boat, where the sections were then bolted together. It was used during the early camp meetings at the Tabernacle in the 1880’s. The front porch of this unique structure is graced by intricate “lacework” gingerbread and the remainder of the house is covered with board and batten vertical siding. 12. 705 Central Avenue This Folk Victorian home was built in 1891 for John Voss and his wife Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Parker Miller, the first permanent resident of the island. The Millers settled in Ocean City in the 1850’s. Parked was hired as an agent form marine insurance companies to protect their interests in abandoned ships wrecked off our coast. He also raised cattle and farmed the land near his home which stood on the site of today’s Woolworths store on Asbury Avenue. 13. 800 Block of Wesley Avenue This block features some of the best preserved examples of the large guest houses built here at the turn of the century to accommodate summer visitors. They arrived by train and ferry and then could travel the length of the island by trolley, which ran along Wesley Avenue at that point. POINTS OF INTEREST BEYOND THE HISTORIC DISTRICT Music Pier (Moorlyn Terrace – Boardwalk) This Spanish Revival building was constructed in 1928-29 after the Fire of 1927 destroyed much of the boardwalk. It has served as the social, cultural, and recreational center for the city since that time. City Hall (9th Street – Asbury Avenue) Built in 1914, it originally housed the police department, complete with eight jail cells, and the fire department. It still is used today as our city administration building and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Train Station (10th Street – Haven Avenue) In 1889 the South Jersey Railroads built a direct line from Tuckahoe to Ocean City and in 1900 this station was built. It continued to serve as a train station until 1981 when rail travel was discontinued. At present, it is used as the OC Transportation Center and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sindia (17th Street – Boardwalk) This Sindia, a four mated, 329 foot, steel bark, en route from Kobe, Japan to New York City, was stranded in Ocean City during a southeast storm on December 15, 1901. She lies broad-side to the boardwalk, with her bow pointing south. Carrying a cargo of porcelain, fine china, bamboo matting, camphor oil, manganese ore and wax, the ship broke in half and flooded on the third day and the cargo was lost. There was no loss of life due to the efforts of the Ocean City 4th Street Life Saving Station, under the command of Captain J.M. Corson. This building is still located at the corner of 4th Street and Ocean Avenue. Artifacts and a video story of the Sindia can be seen at the Ocean City Historical Museum at 17th Street and Simpson Avenue. Bayside Center (520 Bay Avenue) This property is one of the only remaining bayfront estates. It was once owned by the Diesel family as a summer home. It is now open to the public for historical, environmental and recreational use.