History

Josephine Hastings

hotelier; builder of the Traymore · active 1922–1923

"Formerly of the Hastings Hotel," Josephine Hastings built and opened a new forty-room hotel on the Ocean City boardwalk in 1923, every room with bath attached, at a cost of $65,000, and named it after Atlantic City's Traymore. It opened to the public on 15 June 1923. The Hastings Hotel itself had been sold for $25,000 in March 1922 to Mrs. George B. Conner. A Mrs. Hastings also opened the Shoreham in April 1923, at that date "the only hotel on the Boardwalk open to guests."

In the record (1)

  1. 1925

    A Maryland Seashore Corporation bought the whole of Block 8 North in Ocean City in the autumn of 1925, and the resort's land market was busy all year.

    Among the Worcester County real-estate transfers printed weekly in the Worcester Democrat: "Maryland Seashore Corp., from Charles S. Walton, Jr., and wife, property comprising the whole block No. 8 North, in Ocean City," and "Maryland Seashore Corp., from W. C. Poole, certain lots in Ocean City, one at the intersection of the East side of Philadelphia avenue and the North side of North Seventh street and 5 lots at the intersection of the Easterly side of Philadelphia avenue with the Southerly side of North Seventh st." (5 December 1925). Other 1925 transfers with real prices attached: "Elijah L. Brittingham from George H. Myers and John W. Staton, Trustees, real estate at the corner of the west side of Atlantic avenue, and the South side of North First street, at Ocean City. Consideration, $13,800" (11 July); "John D. Ayres and Ada T. Ayres, his wife, from Ralph P. Barnard and wife, real estate on the West side of Atlantic avenue, on the north side of Ocean City. Consideration, $2500" (18 July); "Charles W. Purnell from George H. Myers and John W. Staton, Trustees, part of the 'Isaac J. Coffin Farm,' in Synepuxent, in East Berlin Election district. Consideration, $4200" (7 November). Daniel Trimper, Sr. and Lloyd E. Jester both sold mainland ground opposite Ocean City to Frank L. Garey in October, and Josephine Hastings bought at Baltimore Avenue and North Fifth Street in December. On the mainland, the F. B. Bannister Company of 339 St. Paul Place, Baltimore was cutting a "new road to the property from the Ocean City highway" for a lot sale about 15 June, with J. W. Carey as sales manager.

    Nobody in 1925 was buying Ocean City ground because of the pier or the hotels — they were buying it because of the road.

    Maryland Seashore CorporationDr. Charles Washington PurnellDaniel Trimper, Sr.

    Source · checked 2026-08-06