The Maryland Inn (04-27)

Historical narrative

The Maryland Inn was one of the many family-run hotels and boarding houses that were part of Ocean City's postwar boom. In the years after the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in 1952, families from Baltimore, Washington, and nearby communities found Ocean City easier to reach, and establishments such as the Maryland Inn offered comfortable accommodations close to the beach and boardwalk. Steve's family was one of them, and he spent many summer vacations there. Staying there in 1957 was a simple but memorable experience. Rooms were clean and unpretentious, often cooled by open windows rather than air conditioning. Guests awoke to the sound of gulls and the smell of salt air drifting in from the Atlantic. The atmosphere was relaxed, friendly, and distinctly small-town, capturing Ocean City's golden age. A small, elegant but unpretentious restaurant occupied the front-right portion of the first floor, where Steve and his family enjoyed many delicious breakfasts.

Watercolor

© Stephen B. Hales — All Rights Reserved