Granville Trimper
Ocean City draft registrant, 1917 · active 1917
Ocean City man drawn in the first selective-service call of 1917. His name appears on the Worcester County lists published in the Democratic Messenger on 18 August and 8 September, and again on the December list of men certified to the service. The Trimper family had been at Ocean City since the 1890s; Daniel Trimper, Jr., was an election judge in the town's own precinct in the same year. Nothing else about Granville Trimper's service is recorded in the 1917 papers.
In the record (13)
1917
Worcester County's draft quota is 152; 304 men are summoned, thirty a day, and an Ocean City man sits on the exemption board.
After the registration of 5 June 1917 and the July drawing, the Democratic Messenger of 28 July named the local exemption board for Worcester County: "Messrs. Oliver D. Collins, of Snow Hill, and E. D. Showell Myers, of Ocean City, and Dr. R. Lee Hall, of Pocomoke City." Occupational exemptions went to a district board sitting at Cambridge. The paper of 4 August set out the arithmetic: "The number of persons that will be summoned for physical examination is double the number of Worcester County's quota. The quota being 152, double that number, or 304 persons will be summoned." Examinations began in the Court House at Snow Hill on Tuesday 7 August, thirty men a day, the physicals made by Dr. Hall, Dr. John I. Riley and Dr. A. E. Landers. Of the first ninety examined, forty were accepted, forty-one rejected and nine failed to appear. The published lists carry Ocean City men through the autumn — among them Harry Leslie Wyatt, Irving Mumford, Samuel Joseph Monkhouse, Joshua Thomas Bowden, John Henry Elliott, Charles Lee Quillin, Laurence Edward Adkins, Frank W. Truitt, Emerson Purnell, Harry S. Bunting, Robert Francis Quillen, Thomas H. Purnell, Herman Adkins, Daniel Jefferson Birch, Charles S. Calhoun Jr., Lyle Richard Cropper, Guy Phillip Ralph Dennis, William F. Manuel, Rollie Collins Cropper and Granville Trimper. The paper also warned that the election supervisors' books were being compared against the draft registration and that "arrests are sure to follow" for men aged 21 to 30 who had not registered.
Local Exemption Board for Worcester CountyE. D. Showell Myers
Source · checked 2026-08-06
1919 · 1919-01-05
"Granville O. Trimper, Ocean City, Md." appears on a Washington casualty list — the campaign's first named Ocean City war casualty.
The Washington Herald of 5 January 1919 printed "Today's Casualty List" from the War Department. Under "Wounded Slightly," among the privates: "Granville O. Trimper, Ocean City, Md." (and, two lines above, "Denard J. Baker, Showell, Md."). Trimper is the man the Messenger listed in December 1917 among the Worcester County men certified to the service. The 1917 pass closed with the question of "which of the twenty-odd named draftees served, and who died"; this is the first answer, and it is a wounding rather than a death.
Source · checked 2026-08-06
1931 · 1931-06-12
"Granvil Trimper of Ocean City is running a carnival" on the Selbyville school grounds.
Milford Chronicle, 12 June 1931, in the Selbyville column: "Granvil Trimper of Ocean City is running a carnival in connection [with the Firemen's Carnival] on a percentage basis, being held on the school grounds. The Selbyville boys are chancing off a radio." The Selbyville Firemen's Carnival ran a full week and closed on Saturday 13 June.
The Trimpers are already in the registry, and they are already the amusement business of the Eastern Shore — but this is the family taking its rides on the road twenty miles up into Delaware, on shares with a volunteer fire company, in June 1931. The amusement trade of the Depression, doing what it could.
Source · checked 2026-08-10
1945 · 1945-10-30
A Chamber of Commerce delegation asked Ocean City in October 1945 to keep minors out of the dance halls and night clubs where beer was sold.
Mrs. Virginia Ayers, Dr. C. W. Purnell, Robert Cropper and Parker Smith came from the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Ayers's request was that the council do something towards keeping minors out of dance halls and night clubs where beer was sold. C. Parker Smith wanted better water. Dr. Purnell spoke on the building permit asked by Granville Trimper. Bob Cropper wanted a house moved on the City dump to help in his proposed air field, and also spoke of getting legislation towards State aid in keeping up the Boardwalk. The council's answer to Mrs. Ayers is not recorded. The same meeting received the 1945 financial report as audited by A. M. Ball, and asked Granville Trimper to wait until the zoning bill was completed to see if broader regulation could be made in Amusement Areas.
Unverified — sourced but not confirmed against a primary record.
Ocean City Chamber of CommerceMrs. Virginia AyersDr. Charles Washington Purnell
Source · checked 2026-08-12
1984 · 1984-10-01
Children from the Eastern Shore Christian Academy, a church school in the old Busby Methodist Church on Sinepuxent Road, came to the council to ask for help finding a flagpole
The first item of 1 October 1984 was 'a presentation by Dot Mumford of the Eastern Shore Christian Academy.' Nance Whitlock: 'my friends and I go to the Eastern Shore Christian Academy. We have come to see you tonight to tell you two things.' A classmate: 'We're on the Sinepuxent Road just off Route 50 ... we're in the old Busby Methodist Church.' Others: 'we are a school; we need a flagpole - we wish you would help us find a flagpole. We have three flags - the Christian flag, the Maryland state flag, and Maryland flag. We would like to see our flag flying in the breeze.' Jackie Soulsman said her father was 'Pastor and Religious Administrator of the Berlin, Ocean City Church of God which represents our Church and School.' The youngest were recorded as '(Students did not stand close enough to microphone) Hi, my name is ... and I - bye ... We love you, good night, bye.' President Trimper: 'Don't be nervous because I'm the same way when I get up in front of a crowd.'
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1984 · 1984-10-18
Voters refused to raise a councilman's pay from $5,000 to $6,500 by five votes, 725 for and 730 against, on the same ballot that re-elected the mayor unopposed with 1,458
On 3 September 1984 Councilman Duggan asked that a council raise 'go before the public ... let the citizens of this town decide.' President Trimper: 'The Council is now $5,000.00 a year and $5,500.00 for the President,' and 'most people that serve on this Council will lose far more in their respective businesses through the time spent ... than they'll ever recuperate regardless of what the salary is.' Duggan: 'it takes ten to twenty hours a week out of your schedule.' Councilwoman Conner, 'since I'm not running,' moved '$6,500.00 for Council and $7,500.00 for President'; Father Deutsch, also retiring, seconded, and Trimper put 'a motion and a second by the two "old has-beens"' - unanimous. Deutsch on the mayor: 'He's overpaid now.' At the special session of 18 October Mr. Sterling read the results of 'this past Tuesday': 'For Mayor, Mr. Kelley 1,458 votes; Mr. Duggan for Council 892; Mr. Feehley 938; Mrs. Harman 431; Mr. Meehan 671; Mr. Smith 635; Mr. Steckman 4?0; Mrs. Thomas 582; Mr. Trimper 806; Mr. Trumpower 848 ... The first [ballot question] had to do with Councilman's pay For the ballot question 725; Against 730. The second ballot question had to do with bond issues, For the question 904 and Against 498.' Duggan, Feehley, Trimper and Trumpower were seated.
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1984 · 1984-11-05
Councilwoman Thelma Conner was presented with two photographs of the town for eight years on the council, with Mayor Kelley absent in the hospital, and told the men 'don't stay out so late'
President Trimper opened the meeting of 5 November 1984: 'I'm sorry to report to you all that Mayor Kelley is still in the hospital and not able to be with us this evening. Wish he could be here for the following presentation. Councilwoman Conner would you please come up front ... no councilperson has ever shown more dedication to the job, has worked harder at the various committees as liaisons ... I'd like to present you with these two photographs of our City with a little plate about it ... These are in honor of the eight years you have served on the Council.' Conner: 'Thank you Granville. Thank all of you. This is lovely and I really appreciate it and I would just like to shake hands with everybody. (Applause)' Councilman Duggan called her back for a handshake and kiss, 'because I find it funny hugging John now,' and Conner: 'Thanks all of you, very much. And look fellas, don't stay out so late. (Laughter and applause).' The mayor had also been absent on 24 October; he was back to read a resolution on 19 November.
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1985 · 1985-01-21
At his last council meeting Harry Kelley asked the town to form a commission to raise money for starving children abroad, heard his council call it communist-tainted, and told them to drop it
At the regular meeting of 21 January 1985, the last one Kelley attended, the mayor closed with two items. The second: "I've talked with a lot of people around the City and still with all the modern conveniences we have today we're not exactly that civilized... if a 12 year old youngster can do it - raise money for indigent people such as Cambodia, Indonesia, India - where there's 40,000 youngsters dying per day I think that it would be little that this City could do to form a commission within this City to raise funds for those indigent people particularly the little children." Councilman Duggan said he had wanted to raise the same thing after watching "the T.V. show." Councilman Ellis: "I have a whole bunch of a hard time sending my money to a place like Ethiopia which is a left-wing, communist-oriented, Russian-dominated regime." Kelley: "A child that's 3 or 6 years old does not know that, Ed." Albert Perron of Nautical Lane, citing "my previous job in intelligence work," doubted a dime in the dollar would arrive; President Trimper said the money "is going to further the communist regimes." Nobody would chair it. Trimper: "Mayor I guess if you'd like to form a commission? You certainly have the authority." Kelley: "No. Drop it." The synopsis records: "Discussion died for lack of interest." In the same remarks he pressed again for the one-question mailing on the City Manager government, "Are You Satisfied?", which the council had voted 6 to 1 to send the previous spring and which was still "in the red book." He was absent on 4 February and dead by the 21st.
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1985 · 1985-02-18
Boy Scout Troop 261 came to the first council meeting after Kelley's funeral and were handed 'Supreme Order of Sun Power' certificates the dead mayor had already signed
Regular meeting of 18 February 1985, the evening Granville Trimper took the oath as mayor. President Hurley: "I'd like this evening to recognize our local Boy Scout Troop. I believe I belonged to that Troop at one time - #263 is that the number?" ("261.") Mayor Trimper: "I have some certificates of Supreme Order of Sun Power which Mayor Kelley had signed and if you all would come up as I call your name I'd like to give those to you." He called Trevor Steadman, Scott Hammerbacher, Bruce Bossaker, John Bradford, Chad Dolman, Steve Cropper, Mitch Yunson and Ricky West; one boy, Teddy McCrobie, had no certificate. Councilman Moore: "it's probably one of the last things that the Mayor personally signed so I would definitely hope that you hold on to them forever and Teddy, don't feel too left out because you'll probably get the first signature of the new Mayor on yours." Earlier in the same meeting City Manager Barrett asked that the Washington Police Department be thanked for sending men "to work with our Honor Guard" at the funeral.
Harry W. KelleyAnthony W. Barrett
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1985 · 1985-03-18
The first Grand Ball of Ocean City raised $17,553.01, and its four cheques went to a Harry W. Kelley Scholarship Fund, the recreation council, the senior citizens and the beautification committee
Regular meeting of 18 March 1985. Glenn Steckman, treasurer: "as you know the Grand Ball of Ocean City was a booming success for the first year. We raised $17,553.01 from ticket sales and corporate sponsorships. By the time we finish our books off we'll have allocated approximately $7,100.00 for expenses for this year and for the upcoming year in terms of hall rental, down payment and music down payment." Mayor Trimper presented the cheque to the Harry W. Kelley Scholarship Fund, President Hurley to the Ocean City Recreation Council, Councilman Duggan to the Senior Citizens Program and Councilman Ellis to the Beautification Committee. The Mayor and Council had been the ball's honorees: "as they say, you never looked better in your tuxes." The ball had been held 23 February, two days after the special session on Kelley's funeral expenses; Councilman Moore commended the committee for carrying it off "especially under the circumstances with the Mayor not being able to be there." Jim Whittemore had presented the council its tickets on 21 January.
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1985 · 1985-03-18
Four Ocean City families had twenty trees planted in Israel in memory of Harry Kelley, and the certificate reached the council by mail
Regular meeting of 18 March 1985, comments from the Mayor. Mayor Trimper: "I do have one interesting certificate here. It came in the mail. It says trees have been planted in Israel, twenty trees in loving memory of Harry Kelley, Mayor of Ocean City, by Jeanne and Harold Greenspan, Bea and Al Berger, Robert Givarz and Sam Schramm. I thought that was interesting and very nice that they had done that." The synopsis, item 16: "20 trees planted in Israel in memory of Harry W. Kelley." Robert Givarz appears elsewhere in the year's minutes speaking on the sign ordinance.
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1985 · 1985-06-17
Asked by the state Secretary of Transportation what to name for Harry Kelley, the council chose the Route 50 bridge over Route 90 by four votes to two, and told Annapolis to use his middle initial and spell Kelley his way
Regular meeting of 17 June 1985, comments from the Mayor. Mayor Powell: "I got a call from the Secretary of Transportation; they'd like some input on what we'd like to name for Harry Kelley." Councilman Moore: "I still think it should be Route 50 Bridge." Council President Trimper: "if they're going to do one, do any highway or anything that it be the Route 90 Bridge." Powell counted: "One 50 and one 90." Hurley, Route 50. "Two 50s." Ellis, "Three 50s." Trumpower: "Make it an even two hundred." Meehan: "It's really immaterial to me but I did favor 90." Powell: "It sounds like 50; do you want to go ahead and send it in?" Hurley: "I've read a hundred letters about the man or more and his initial was always in there. I would suggest that the initial be put in." Ellis: "Harry W. Kelley." Trimper: "And make sure they spell Kelley the way he did." The synopsis, item 23: "Vote was 4 for Rte. 50 and 2 for Rte. 90. Letter will be forwarded." The Route 50 bridge is the Harry W. Kelley Memorial Bridge.
Harry W. KelleyRoland E. "Fish" PowellRick Meehan
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1985 · 1985-12-02
Four men led by Archie Elliott came to the council with a plan for a six-to-eight-foot statue of Harry Kelley paid for by about $12,000 in private donations, and the council steered it from the Route 50 entrance park to the City Hall yard
Regular meeting of 2 December 1985. Archie Elliott, Box 441: "There's a group that's got together and we want to donate funds in memory of the late Mayor Harry Kelly to build a statue... We'd like it at the entrance park at the Route 50 bridge. It won't cost the city anything because it's all going to be private funding." Size: "Around 6 to 8 feet." "There's four of us that's got together... Bill Purnell will be in charge of the drives. We're going to have the money set in escrow in care of Bill Purnell and the Bank of Ocean City... The figure's been roughly $12,000." Elliott: "everybody associates the name of Kelley... they're going to come over the Route 50 bridge and that's the first thing they're going to see." Council President Trimper: "since Kelley spent the biggest part of his time here at this building that right out in the yard out here might be a better place." Councilman Ellis: "Where he spent most of his life. Between going to school here and being in politics here." Hurley worried the State Highway Commission might one day "buy up that whole block and loop a road through" the entrance park. Trimper: "Is anyone opposed to the statue project? There you go, Archie. You have our blessings." Councilman Moore asked that the Beautification Committee have input on the sketch.
Source · checked 2026-09-10