1st August 2005
Ocean City is small city of around 15,000 in Cape May county, in south New Jersey, to the south of Atlantic City. It is a fairly popular family vacation resort on the Jersey shore that has prohibited the sales of alcoholic beverages within its limits since the city's founding in 1879. Ocean City possesses miles of guarded beaches, a 2.5 mile boardwalk, and a quaint downtown. In 2005, Ocean City was rated as the Best Family Beach of 2005. It was ranked the third best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. In the 2009 Top 10 Beaches Contest, Ocean City ranked first. Apparently, during the season, the population swells to some 130,000.
If you want to go on the Number One beach in New Jersey, you have to purchase a tag from early June through Labor Day, at $5 a day, $10 a week, or $20 for the entire season. Not exactly cripplingly expensive. It is a nice, clean beach too.
If you want to go on the Number One beach in New Jersey, you have to purchase a tag from early June through Labor Day, at $5 a day, $10 a week, or $20 for the entire season. Not exactly cripplingly expensive. It is a nice, clean beach too.
Peck's Beach
Known first as Peck's Beach, a seven-mile stretch of sand dunes, meadows and cedar swamps was probably named for John Peck, a whaler who used the island as a staging spot for his whaling operation.
The island had served as a summer fishing camp for local Native Americans, a grazing land for cattle driven out from the mainland and an occasional hunting or picnic spot for mainland residents who would come out by boat. Original ownership of the land was by the Somers family.
Several individuals had made their home on the island, most notable of which was Parker Miller who had served as an agent for marine insurance companies. He and his family lived in a home at about what is now the southwest corner of Seventh Street and Asbury Avenue.
On September 10, 1879, four Methodist ministers, Ezra B. Lake, James Lake, S. Wesley Lake and William Burrell chose the island as a suitable spot to establish a Christian retreat and camp meeting on the order of Ocean Grove. It was they who named this part of New Jersey Ocean City
The island had served as a summer fishing camp for local Native Americans, a grazing land for cattle driven out from the mainland and an occasional hunting or picnic spot for mainland residents who would come out by boat. Original ownership of the land was by the Somers family.
Several individuals had made their home on the island, most notable of which was Parker Miller who had served as an agent for marine insurance companies. He and his family lived in a home at about what is now the southwest corner of Seventh Street and Asbury Avenue.
On September 10, 1879, four Methodist ministers, Ezra B. Lake, James Lake, S. Wesley Lake and William Burrell chose the island as a suitable spot to establish a Christian retreat and camp meeting on the order of Ocean Grove. It was they who named this part of New Jersey Ocean City
Modern Ocean City
From these beginnings Ocean City has grown into the town as it exists today. The first bridge was built to the island in 1883, while the first railroad soon followed. The first school began in 1881. The boardwalk grew and was relocated several times. The ship Sindia joined other shipwrecks on the beach on December 15, 1901, on its way to New York City from Kobe, Japan, but has since sunk below the sand. A failed salvage attempt was launched in the 1970s, but none have been tried since. It was assumed by treasure hunters that after sailing back from Asia large amounts of treasure and plunder from the Boxer Rebellion had been on board, although both crew and captain said otherwise. A large fire in 1927 changed the town significantly.
Nice Place To Live
Amongst the rich and famous (past and present) with places here are:
- David Akers (Eagles kicker)
- Rich Gannon (former Oakland Raiders QB, League MVP in 2002, who famously choked in the Stuporbowl against Chucky Gruden’s Tampa Bay Bucs (do I sound bitter?))
- Grace Kelly
- James Stewart
- Dave Mustaine (ginger Metal God)
- Walter Trout (musician)
- Kurt Loder (former editor of Rolling Stone magazine)
- Walter Diemer (he invented bubble gum)
- The Wrigley family (the chewing gum people)
- Todd Rundgren’s mum
- Mike Tyson
- Brian Westbrook (Eagles RB)
Thanks to Wikipedia for most of the information on this page.
Where would we be without that inestimable fount of universal knowledge and wisdom?
Where would we be without that inestimable fount of universal knowledge and wisdom?
As nice as Ocean City actually is, I wasn't here to visit the beach, hang out with Mike Tyson, Todd Rundgren`s mum, or to deliver retribution to Rich Gannon (although I would probably have stalked Walter Trout and Dave Mustaine had I known at the time that they lived here (sometimes)).
No, I was a man on a mission.
I was here to see Sonny Landreth and Derek Trucks. Click on the links to see the reviews and photos from the gig.
No, I was a man on a mission.
I was here to see Sonny Landreth and Derek Trucks. Click on the links to see the reviews and photos from the gig.