Fred Miller Books

Ocean City has been called America's Greatest Family Resort since the slogan was adopted by the chamber of commerce in 1920. But it has always been a gathering place for families, beginning in 1879 when the Lake family came here to build a Christian Seaside Resort. Since those early years, Ocean City has evolved into a community of diverse people, with the value of family still holding strong. While famous people, such as actress Grace Kelly and author Gay Talese, called Ocean City home, most of the people in this book are ordinary citizens. Many of these families are third and fourth generation. Some trace their roots back to the Lakes, others have grandparents or great-grandparents who came here as immigrants. Still others have moved here more recently; all contribute to making Ocean City a wonderful place to live and work.

Ocean City, New Jersey, was founded as a "Christian seaside resort" in 1879. Soon thereafter, it became a vibrant year-round community and a highly desirable summer retreat. Hotels were integral to the city's success. The most famous of these was the Flanders Hotel, which opened to much fanfare in 1923. It was built in the Spanish Mission Revival style and named after Belgium's Flanders Field; today, it is in the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to other stately hotels, such as the Brighton, the Biscayne, and the Bellevue, many smaller hotels and guesthouses, like Jernee Manor, the Castle Inn, Locksley Hall, and the Scarborough Inn, were also established. Ocean City's Historic Hotels features the rich architectural and recreational history of this New Jersey coastal town and its many hotels.