August, 1906
(Democratic Messenger-Snow Hill, Md.)
Old Days at Scott's Beach
"Scott's Ocean House," situated on Green Run Beach, this county, was a pleasure resort of more than local celebrity some twenty five or more years ago. The late James Scott was its proprietor and conducted the same successfully and satisfactorily, until the advent of Ocean City, situated some twenty miles to the northward. When Ocean City was laid out, and a corporation, 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 a 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 a small beginning, Captain Scott having at first taken only a few summer boarders, he conceived the plan of erecting a large building for the accommodation of the public. This he did, and it was not long before the fame of the place had so extended that patrons began to pour down upon him, and he was obliged to erect another large building as an annex. Still, this was not sufficient to accommodate his guests, who, in order to secure rooms had to engage them weeks in advance. It is wonderful the distance a 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 season, 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, a quiet retreat, rustic scenes, and nature in her simplest garbs. Many, also, were its patrons from Baltimore, Philadelphia and other large cities. The only place of any importance that competed with it in this particular section was "Coffin's Beach," on the mainland to the south of Ocean City, just in sight of the latter place. The reputation of "Coffin's Beach," as well as of the guests who most frequented it, was distinctly of a local nature.
Before the days of "Scott's Ocean House" a most distressing and heart rendering accident occurred near Coffin's Beach." It seems that what was known as a "bay party" was given by some people of Berlin and Whaleyville, and a number of young men and ladies, full of life and youth, drove gaily 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 a 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 a short time, two of the young ladies of the party were drowned. One of them was a Miss Connoway, a 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 a serious accident of any kind to chronicle in the whole history of Scott's Beach, the untimely death of the late Dr. Ralph Purnell, of this town, did not occur until many years after the place had been abandoned as a summer resort. The death of this promising young man, just entering upon the threshold of life and his profession, was very much lamented.
It is very doubtful if there ever was more genuine, more real pleasure experienced anywhere, or by anybody, than by the patrons of "Scott's Beach." Since 1864 Snow Hill has had steamboat 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[, Md.]" there was kept a public house, and the sloop "Fairfield," the late Captain Frederick Conner, commander, made regular trips from the pier at "Public Landing" to Scott's.
There was a regular line of hacks running from this town to "Public Landing," conveying passengers to and from Scott's. Our hotels did a good business, as did also the public house at the landing.
Those were happy days for the young people of that period, especially. If the old pier at Scott's could talk; if the old porticos, extending the full length of the house, had the faculty of memory and speech; if the sand on the ocean beach possessed the same gift, and chose to impart its knowledge, in the language of the late Horace Greeley, it would be "very interesting," and what tales of love between love sick swains and maidens would be unfolded! It was the custom in those days for the young people to go over in parties, chaperoned by some young married lady, and, whilst this was so, there was no selfishness or clannishness existing. All mingled with each other, each one endeavoring to make the other as happy as possible until the trip was at an end.
The young ladies were all sweet, pretty and attractive, as they are now; the young men were just as attentive and ardent in their wooings as they are now; the sun shone just as brightly as it does now; nature adorned herself then in just as pretty garbs as she does now, and everything went "as merry as a marriage bell."
The place was provided with a spacious hall for dancing purposes, with musicians, a ten pin alley, with a saloon adjoining, where something stronger than water could be obtained, although there was but little inebriety manifest and nothing done or said that could grate harshly on the most modest ears, or give offense to the most tender sensibilities. Perfect order prevailed, and was maintained throughout the history of the place. At sunrise the ox cart was brought around to convey the ladies with gentlemen escorts to the ocean for a bath. The merry party was obliged to traverse a road of a half mile or more before the ocean was reached. Bath houses were provided for both sexes. After a pleasant plunge in the surf, the return trip was made in time for breakfast, which consisted, for the most part, of trout, just caught and fried, together with all the delicacies of the season. It is doubtful if Ocean City, with all its magnificent hotels, its stores, shop, and all the surrounding country to draw from, could surpass Scott's, in the height of its glory, in all that constitutes good, substantial, solid living, and as a place for healthful and genuine recreation.
The arrival and departure of the sloop, "Fairfield," was a great event with the guests; some of whom went down to witness the departure, others the arrival, of friends, also to hear the latest news from home; for, be it remembered, there were no mails to and from the place, there being no post office or anything of the kind at Scott's. Rural Free Delivery was not conceived of in those days, and all correspondence was received at the post office in Snow Hill, to be delivered to the driver of the hack, who in turn delivered it to Capt. Conner. From Capt. Conner, the mail was handed over to Capt. Scott for distribution among his guests.
In addition to the patronage extended the place by our own county, the prominent families of Somerset, Wicomico and Dorchester counties were frequent habitues of the place, coming over in large parties and making extended stays thereto. The young people and others of our town and county were always, and "very much" in evidence at Scott's. The season usually opened about the 20th of June, and closed in the month of September. Many of the young men of those days have become prominent in the political, professional and business life of our county and state, whilst others have crossed the River and gone to the great Beyond, unlike unfathomed and unfathomable to mortal ken.
A great change has taken place at old Scott's, and the section adjacent thereto. In those days there were a great many inhabitants of Green Run Beach. The place was provided with a public school, which was well attended, and with a competent teacher. The advent of Ocean City completely knocked "Scott's Ocean House" out of business. There is now no one living there, or in the neighborhood, save the crew of the Life Saving Station. The windows of the old house have fallen out, and the place that was once the scene of so much fashion, dancing and gayety, has become the abode of bats, crickets and fleas. We have been much impressed recently with the silent gloom of the place. The very echo of the human voice, or footstep is sad, silent and mournful, and the last time we saw Scott's it made us feel like not wishing to see it again, until, at least, a complete rehabilitation should take place and restore it into something like its original self.
Bibliographic Information: "Old Days at Scott's Beach" Democratic Messenger (Snow Hill, Md.: August 18, 1906)
Another article (below) on Green Run Beach was published in a June, 1967 Wicomico County Centennial edition of The Daily Times in Salisbury.
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