Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-08-18

ScOtt ocean HOUSE, Situdteu WI
Green Run Beach, this county. was a
pleasure resort of more than local celeb
rity some twenty five or more years
ago. The late James Scott was its
proprietor and conducted the same sue
cessfully and satisfactorily. until the
advent of Ocean City. situated some
twenty miles to the northward. When
Ocean City was laid out. and corpora
tion, known as the Atlantic Hotel
Company" erected the Atlantic Hotel.
which is even now the leading hotel of
the place, "Scott's Ocean House,
dwindled in Importance. and it has
never regained the prestige it enjoyed
in former years.
What is known as "Scott's Ocean
House" was situated on shallow cove.
making up from Synepuxent Bay. on
the eastern side Of Green Run Beach.
just opposite the farm on the mainland
known and called Watermelon Point. =
From the year 1865 up to the year 1876
the place was decidedly on the boom.
From small beginning. Captain Scott
having at first taken only few summer
boarders, he conceived the plan of erect
ing large building for the accommoda-
ton of the public. This he did. and
it was not long before the fame of the
place had so extended that patrons be-
gan to pour down upon him, and he was
obliged to erect another large building
as an annex. Still, this was not suf
ficient to accommodate his guests, who,
in order to secure rooms had TO engage
them weeks in advance. II is wonder
ful the distance number of his guests
hailed from, some coming every season
from points in Ohio, and many from
Wheeling, West Virginia The then
Catholic Bishop of Wheeling. with a
number of his clergy. were accustomed
to come to "Scott's Beach" every sea
son, no other resort, whether in the
mountains or on the seashore suiting
them so well, they said. They found
here in Worcester County, just what
they wanted. viz, delightful bathing,
quiet retreat, rustic scenes. and ma
ture in her simplest garbs. Many, also,
were its patrons from Baltimore. Phila-
delphia and other large cities. The
only place Of any Importance that com
peted with it in this particular section
was "Coffin's Beach, ''-en the mainland
to the south of Ocean City. just in
sight of the latter place. The reputa-
ton of "Coffin's Beach. as well as of
the guests who most frequented it. was
distinctly of local nature.
Before the days of "Scott's Ocean
House" most distressing and heart
rending accident occurred near Collins
Beach" 1t seems that what was
known as ''bay party" was given by
some people of Berlin and Whaleyville,
and number Of young men and ladies',
full of life and youth, drove gayly down
one warm summer day, bent upon
having a happy time. They danced and
had refreshments. and. before departing.
it was suggested that they take bath
in the bay. They entered the water
with zest and lightness Of heart. none
of the party knowing what the future
had in store for them. In short time,
two of the young ladies of the party
were drowned One of them was a
Miss Connoway. sister of the late h.
Clay Connoway. of Berlin; the other a
Miss Mumford, a sister of the late Mrs.
James A. Ennis, of Snow Hill. Both
of the young ladies' were very young
and popular, and the sad event cast a
gloom over the entire community.
Very providentially. it would seem,
there never was serious accident of
any kind to chronicle in the whole his
tory of Scott's Beach, the untimely
death of the late DIR. Ralph Purnell, of
this town, did not occur until many
wears after the place had been aban-
doned as d summer resort. The death
of this promising young man, just
entering upon the threshold of life and
his profession, was very much lamented.
II is very doubtful If there ever was
more genuine, more real pleasure ex-
perienced anywhere. or by anybody,
than by the patrons of Scots Beach. "
Since 1864 Snow Hill has had steam
boat communications with Baltimore.
and a few years afterwards the railroad
was completed to Snow Hill. which was
its terminus for many years. Down at
"Public Landing" there was kept q