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OCTOBER 9, 2020
Ocean City Today
Steel Magnolias honored Continued from Page 37 and became its president in 1971. “She was unafraid,” said her son, Shawn, who owns Fish Tales restaurant and Bahia Marina on 21st Street, bayside. “At times she was unfiltered — she would say what everybody was thinking, but was too afraid to say.” Harman said his mother was an advocate and pushed for collaboration between the public and private sectors in order to not only help Ocean City thrive, but also hold its elected officials accountable. “She started the Ocean City HotelMotel-Restaurant Association in an effort to get more pressure on the politicians to make things better for us,” Harman said. Harman said just like other Ocean City women, his mother was the driving force of the family. “All of these people that are up here [the exhibit] have hardworking husbands, but the husbands were in the background and the women were out front,” Harman said. “My father built the motel, but my mother ran it.” Even long after she retired, Harman said his mother remained the matriarch of the family. “She’d come into the restaurant and sit down and everybody would come over and call her ‘Nana’,” Harman said. “They [employees] work for my wife and I, but she was still head of the family.”
Ann Showell played a similar role for her family’s business — the Castle in the Sand Hotel, then motel, located on 37th Street. Although Showell came from an educated background, graduating from Duke University, she spent the first several years of her life in Ocean City playing the role of mother and wife. Once all of the children grew old enough to take care of themselves, however, Showell reentered the business world and began running the financial operations of the Castle in the Sand. “She became the controller of the console, bill paying, income statements and cash flow, because those were details my father, [John Dale], didn’t know too much about,” said her son, Adam Showell, Sr., who owns Castle in the Sand Inc. “He was the visionary and she was the detail person — that’s what made them a great match.” Showell said his parents loved working together and did so happily until Dale retired at the age of 50. Ann did not retire until she turned 75. While Ann was a force to be reckoned with, Showell said his mother maintained a robust social life and made it her priority to take care of her family and others before herself. “Mom was loved by all and she always returned it,” Showell said. “She had the most spectacular friends from living in Ocean City and even though she loved
North Carolina, [where she was born and raised], Ocean City was everything to her.” This year’s history week will look slightly different, but will offer plenty for residents and guests to do. On Saturday, Anna Dolle Bushnell, co-owner of Dolle’s Candyland, will be holding a book signing at the museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for her new book, “Dolle’s Candyland, Inc.,” which will be available for purchase in the museum’s gift shop. On Sunday at 1 p.m., the museum will do a live broadcast of its, “Pieces of Our Past,” program featuring never-beforeseen artifacts. A wooden leg, original rocking chairs from the Commander hotel, and a 1940s chocolate bar in the shape of a whiskey bottle are just a few items that will be showcased. “Pieces of Our Past” is a fundraiser for the George and Suzanne Hurley Memorial Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is open to Stephen Decatur High School graduates who plan on furthering their education at Salisbury University, Wor-
The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum is free for all locals Oct. 10-16 for Ocean City History Week. Visitors will be able to get a glimpse of items such as this antique photo booth. JOSH KIM/ OCEAN CITY TODAY
Wic Community College, or UMES. Visit www.ocmuseum.org/pieces-ofour-past to register. In collaboration with the Worcester County Library in Ocean City on 100th Street, a tour of the museum centered on the life of a U.S. life-saving service keeper will be held on Monday from 1-3 p.m. There will also be a discussion of the book, “In the Heart of the Sea.” To register, call program Director Elena Coelho at 443-783-6164. On Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the library, there will be a screening of the film, “Ash Wednesday Storm,” which documents the storm of 1962. All week long at 1 p.m., the museum, in its boat room, will host a free program called, “History of Our Surfmen,” which will showcase the equipment used by keepers during rescue missions. Visit ocmuseum.org or call 410-2894991 for more information.
NOW PLAYING
BILENKI DUO Coconuts Beach Bar & Grill: Thursday, Oct. 15, 4-8 p.m.
ON THE EDGE Ocean Club: Friday & Saturday, Oct. 9-10, 7 p.m. to midnight
CAPTAIN’S TABLE
OCEAN CLUB NIGHTCLUB
15th St. & Baltimore Ave., Ocean City 410-289-7192 / www.captainstableoc.com Every Friday & Saturday: Phil Perdue on piano, 5-9 p.m.
101st Street, Ocean City In the Horizons Restaurant, in the Clarion Fontainebleau Hotel 410-524-3535 / www.clarionoc.com Oct. 9-10: DJ Dusty, 7-10 p.m.; On The Edge, 7 p.m. to midnight
COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL In the Castle in the Sand Hotel 37th Street Oceanfront, Ocean City 410-289-6846 / www.castleinthesand.com Oct. 9: Natalie Davis Band, 4-8 p.m. Oct. 10: Monkee Paw Duo, noon to 3 p.m.; Kevin Poole & Joe Mama, 4-8 p.m. Oct. 11: Sunny Side Up, noon to 3 p.m.; Rick & Regina, 4-8 p.m. Oct. 15: Bilenki Duo, 4-8 p.m.
SEACRETS 49th Street and the bay, Ocean City 410-524-4900 / www.seacrets.com Oct. 9: High Five Swan Dive Duo, 4-8 p.m.; Stealing Savannah Duo, 8-11:30 p.m. Oct. 10: High Five Swan Dive Duo, 4-8 p.m.; Steal the Sky Duo, 8-11:30 p.m. Oct. 15: John McNutt Duo, 4-8 p.m.
PHIL PERDUE ON PIANO Captain’s Table: Friday & Saturday, Oct. 9-10, 5-9 p.m.
