History

Curtis W. Long

lawyer; former State's Attorney for Wicomico County

Salisbury lawyer and former State's Attorney for Wicomico County who, with an unidentified fellow bather and a lifeboat, pulled the Salisbury storekeeper Chris Shames out of the surf at Ocean City in August 1928 after Shames swam beyond the breakers near a jetty and called for help. Reported from Salisbury by the Washington Times of 9 August 1928.

In the record (2)

  1. 1928 · 1928-08-09

    A Salisbury storekeeper is pulled out of the surf near a jetty by Wicomico County's former State's Attorney and an unnamed bather.

    Washington Times, 9 August 1928, datelined Salisbury: "Chris Shames, local store proprietor, was saved from drowning in the surf at Ocean City by Curtis W. Long, this city, former State's attorney for Wicomico county, and a fellow bather whose identity was not learned. Swimming beyond the breakers near a jetty, [Shames], finding his strength waning and unable to make shore, called for help. The pair responded, as did also a lifeboat."

    Two years before the Beach Patrol existed, this is what rescue at Ocean City looked like: a lawyer, a stranger and a boat. Note also the geography — 'near a jetty' — which puts the shore-protection works in the water where people were swimming, three days before the storm that came over the boardwalk.

    Ocean City Beach Patrol

    Source · checked 2026-08-06

  2. 1937 · 1937-02-08

    Ocean City granted at least twenty building permits in 1937, and the first seven of them came in February

    On 8 February 1937 the council granted permits to Curtis W. Long (Block 24, dwelling, 30 by 42), Ethel Kelly (addition to hotel, 34 by 62), Chas. S. Powell (apartment, 28 by 40), Sam Ayers (two buildings, 13 by 27), E. H. Benson (apartment, 36 by 42), Ed Lee Carey (dwelling) and Ada Cox (addition, 18 by 28). More followed through the year: Ella E. Dennis's two apartments and a 46-by-96 three-storey Curtis property with a restaurant on the ground floor taken under consideration on 31 March; J. M. Mumford, John H. Price, the C & D Garage and Rudolph Dolle in March; Violet C. Davis, Mrs. P. C. Dennis and Mrs. Bedowick in May; Herman Parsons and E. E. Dennis in April; and on 9 November Wm. Gibbs (apartment on Philadelphia Avenue between Second and Third), C. S. Powell (two apartments at the corner of Third), Calvin Pruitt (apartment and rooming house on Ninth Street) and John B. Lynch (a dwelling back of his hotel in Block 54). Two applications were refused or withdrawn - B. D. Mason's on 16 June, after his neighbours objected, and J. D. Showell's application to close a porch at the Oceanic on 7 September.

    Ethel KelleyRudolph DolleJohn M. MumfordJohn B. LynchWilliam E. Gibbs

    Source · checked 2026-08-11