It’s History by Fred Miller

Above: The highlight of the Fourth of July celebration was the unveiling and dedication of the World War memorial monument and tablet in front of City Hall. Left: Lifeguard William Young performs a lifesaving drill using the can buoy flotation device designed by Captain Jernee.

Summer of 1920 in Ocean City

by Fred Miller

In 1920, Chamber of Commerce began using the slogan America’s Greatest Family Resort.

AT THE START of the decade, it didn’t look like the Roaring Twenties were going to come roaring through Ocean City, which was making sure modesty was the order of the beach, boardwalk and streets.

Beach wear was the main topic at the June 28, 1920, City Commission meeting. Rosalie Howe spoke first: “The Ocean City League of Women Voters request that an ordinance be passed pertaining to the immodest and indecent bathing suits worn by men and women on the beach, and to promenading through the streets, shopping and strolling on the Boardwalk of men and women attired in bathing suits unless said suits are covered by a cloak or coat. Also that the women be compelled to wear hose reaching above the knee.

“If such an ordinance is in existence, we ask that it be enforced.” Mayor Joseph G. Champion told Howe there was a law. He read the ordinance: “Be it ordained by the Common Council of the City of Ocean City that no person or persons shall travel in or upon any of the streets or alleys of the city of Ocean City in abbreviated bathing robes, suits or other costumes of similar nature unless a suitable robe or covering shall be worn over said bathing robes or suits to properly cover their persons from public view.”

Champion said, “We are going to enforce the city ordinance bearing on this subject. So long as bathers are modestly and decently dressed, they will not be interfered with.”

On April 20, 1920, the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce chose the following slogan: “America’s Greatest Family Resort.”

“JERNEE TO BE CAPTAIN OF RESORT’S LIFEGUARDS” was the headline of the March 18, 1920 Ocean City Sentinel. The article reported Jernee was a former member of the United States Coast Guard at the Fourth Street station.

Captain Jernee quickly went to work preparing for the summer. The first thing he did was change the name from Ocean City Life Guards to the Ocean City Beach Patrol. He ordered

Right: Captain Alfred R. Smith and his wife Bessie Williams Smith, hold their son Alfred R. Smith Jr. after he won a second place trophy in the best decorated float division of the September 2, 1920 Baby Parade. Smith was a captain in the U. S. Army and had been captain of the Ocean City lifeguards from 1910 to 1920. Far Right: Captain Jack G. Jernee and the 1920 lifeguards pose for a group photo in front of their 10th Street tent.

uniforms, built a first aid tent on the 10th Street beach, built new lifeguard lookout stands, designed a new rescue can, and advertised for lifeguards.

Jernee reported the following men passed the swimming test held on June 5, 1920: Scott H. Adams, P. Andre, W. Ward Beam, Aubrey E. Beauchamp, Arthur R. Behan, W. D. Benson, Julien E. Bodie, Boyd S. Burnett, William R. Clark, H. F. Ellison, George Gardiner, Harvey S. Goff, Richard W. Hartman, Fred V. Hedelt, Dunne Kirby, Joseph P. Krauss, Vaughn McClure, William Orr, F. M. Patton, Elliott Remmy, Carl Schadel, Charles Schock, Alfred E. Senior, Matthew Smith, Wilfred W. Sooy, Elmer E. Unger, J. H. Witherow, and William Young.

The lifeguards were assigned to the following beaches: Park Place, 7th, 8th, 10th, 14th, 31st, 52nd, and 56th streets.

Captain Jernee, assisted by Captain Charles Scully, representing the American Red Cross Lifesaving Corps, and Beach Surgeon Dr. Willits P. Haines, gave a thorough course to all the lifeguards on methods of resuscitation of partly drowned persons taken from the surf. Since both Jernee and Haines were member of the U. S. Coast Guard, the meeting was held at the 4th Street Coast Guard station.

The highlight of the Fourth of July celebration was the unveiling and dedication of the World War memorial monument and tablet in front of City Hall. The ceremony was preceded by a parade which was led by Jernee, Alfred R. Smith, former captain of the lifeguards, and Dr. Haines. The three men were proud that their names were engraved on the tablet.

“BEACH FILLED WITH BATHERS” was the headline in the August 12, 1920, Ocean City Sentinel. The article reported, “There was an immense throng of surf bathers on the beach in this city on Sunday, the greatest number ever seen on the local strand, and the lifeguards were kept on the alert watching those unfamiliar with the tricks of the ocean. Capt. Jernee found it necessary to increase his force of men. Despite the large number of bathers there were few accidents.”

The lifeguards attended lifesaving training programs held in the 4th Street Coast Guard station.

The Casino Club was crowded on Friday, August 27, with people attending a benefit dance for the lifeguards. The highlight of the evening was a speech by Mayor Champion. He said, “The lifeguards this summer are the best the city has ever had, and praise is due Captain Jernee for the efficiency shown by the boys.”

The lifeguards received loud applause as they led the 14th annual Baby Parade on September 2, 1920. Alfred R. Smith Jr., the one-year-old son of the former captain of the lifeguards, won the second place trophy in the best decorated float division.

Rosalie Howe, representing the Ocean City League of Women Voters, stopped by the 10th Street tent on Labor Day and thanked Captain Jernee for his efforts to keep improperly dressed men and women off the beach.

The lifeguards lived up to their good pre-season publicity. Captain Jernee’s end of the summer report contained a complete list of the activities of the OCBP including: zero drownings; 65 rescues; 47 children lost and found; 235 people treated at the 10th Street first aid station.