Reverdy J. Dennis

In the record (4)

1. 1898

   Board at Ocean City in 1898 runs $7 to $10 a week; a new furnished ten-room cottage lets for $150 for the season.

   From the Washington Evening Star's summer-resort columns: 'SEASIDE HOTEL, OCEAN CITY, MD.; admirably located; 88 rooms; refurnished; greatly improved; modern luxuries and conveniences; rates, $7 to $10 per week. Address Mrs. A. B. Showell, Proprietress.' (By late August the same house advertised '$7 to $9 per week.') 'THE COLONNADE, Near the beach. Superior table. Terms $7 to $10 weekly. Mrs. Massey, Ocean City, Md., formerly of "The Gables."' And in the Washington Times of 3 July 1898: 'FOR RENT — At Ocean City, Md., a new ten-room cottage; furnished; unobstructed view of ocean and bay; terms $150. Apply to R. J. Dennis, Ocean City, Md.' Dennis was elected to the city council four weeks later. The Colonial offered 'special discounts made for September if booked in August'; the Plimhimmon, under Mrs. R. T. Shreve, advertised electric light, hot and cold baths, ball rooms, an orchestra and Chattolanee spring water served without extra charge, and opened 15 June.

   Two years earlier the county paper complained that Ocean City's prices were 'beyond the reach of many that would delight to spend a week': the Isle of Wight Cottage wanted up to $17.50 a week. In 1898 the same proprietress, Mrs. A. B. Showell, was asking $7 at a bigger house. The town had heard the complaint.

   Mrs. A. B. ShowellRosalie Tilghman Shreve

   Source · checked 2026-08-06

2. 1898 · 1898-08-01

   At the first election under the new charter, Ocean City elects a resident mayor — postmaster James Z. Powell — in 'a complete victory for home rule' over the non-resident lot owners.

   The Wilmington Evening Journal of 3 August 1898, from a dispatch datelined Ocean City, Md., August 3, under the head 'OCEAN CITY'S RESIDENT MAYOR — ELECTED IN OPPOSITION TO THE WISHES OF NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY OWNERS': 'The first town election under the new charter which was passed by the last Legislature was held in Ocean City Monday. It resulted in a complete victory for home rule. Heretofore the mayor and City Council have been non-residents. The ticket elected is as follows: Mayor — James Z. Powell, of Ocean City. City Council — Cornelius F. Coffin, of Cape Charles City, Va.; David S. Adkins, of Berlin, Md.; and Reverdy J. Dennis, of Ocean City. Some non-resident property owners who were entitled to vote named a ticket composed of non-residents, but withdrew it later in the day, after seeing that the towns people were so thoroughly united, and there was no possible chance of them winning.' The paper adds that George M. Upshur of Baltimore 'refused to be a candidate again'; that the new mayor 'is at present postmaster'; that 'the balloting was done almost entirely by the resident population'; that the newly elected officers assume their functions in September; and — the whole nineteenth-century municipal problem again — 'There is no salary attached to any of the offices.' The Maryland Manual's mayors list independently gives Powell 1898-1900. 'David S. Adkins, of Berlin' is David J. Adkins, the Berlin contractor returned for a third consecutive council; he is the only man to sit on the 1894-96, 1896-98 and 1898-1900 boards.

   In 1896 three of the four men elected to govern Ocean City lived somewhere else, and the county paper ran the headline 'Lot Owners from Far and Near Vote.' Two years later the residents took the town back — and the losing side did not even bother to go to the polls.

   James Z. PowellDavid J. AdkinsCornelius F. CoffinGeorge M. Upshur

   Source · checked 2026-08-06

3. 1901

   The 1901 hotel roster: eleven Ocean City houses advertised in Washington, from the Atlantic's Venetian doors to the Dennis at $6 a week.

   The Evening Star's summer-resort columns carried Ocean City, Md. as a standing heading through 1901, and the year's houses can be listed almost completely from them. THE ATLANTIC HOTEL - "Opens for the season 1901 June 29. Thoroughly renovated. Many newly furnished rooms. Rooms single and en suite, with bath. Venetian doors to every bed room... Rock spring water served to guests at table and rooms. Finest bathing beach on the Atlantic coast. Lots for sale; cottages for rent" - Chas. Webb of J., manager, at 700 14th St NW until June 15 and at Ocean City after. THE PLIMHIMMON - opened 25 April, the earliest opening of the year, "refurnished and enlarged; ocean-front dining room; capacity 200; surf bathing absolutely safe; bath houses connected with the house; Chattolanee Spring water served at table", Mrs. R. T. Shreve. THE MT. PLEASANT - W. E. Buell, "directly on the beach... porches and sun parlor; new sanitary plumbing". THE COLONIAL - W. J. Warrington, "ocean front. Sanitary plumbing. Buena Vista water." THE DENNIS - Mrs. R. J. Dennis, "home comforts; unobstructed view of ocean and bay; excellent table; terms, $6 to $10 per week; use of bath rooms free of charge." THE GLENMORE - Miss Mary A. Bennett, "ocean front. Large new house." THE GABLES - Mrs. D. J. Barry, "under new management." THE LINDEN COTTAGES - Paul & Hanson, "directly on beach." TARRY-A-WHILE - advertised in June under A. W. Lyman, manager, and in July as a "new house; full ocean view; double piazzas; soft beds" over the name of Geo. W. Dietrick of Washington. NEPTUNE VILLA - "sea front; electric lights; modern improvements." Congress Hall, the Hotel Hamilton and the Isle of Wight Hotel appear in guest lists and in the Delaware papers.

   Atlantic HotelPlimhimmon Hotel / Plim PlazaRosalie Tilghman ShreveWilliam J. Warrington

   Source · checked 2026-08-11

4. 1904 · 1904-08-01

   Two tickets, one warm but good-natured fight: Capt. Christopher Ludlam is re-elected mayor and the People's ticket loses.

   'The election for Mayor and City Council of Ocean City was held Monday afternoon. Two tickets were in the field, and the fight was a warm but good natured one, resulting in a victory for the regulars who represent the faction already in power, over the people's ticket, which was headed by Wm. T. Taber. Capt. Christopher Ludlam was re-elected Mayor and the following councilmen were also elected: James Z. Powell, Reverdy J. Dennis, Thomas J. Cropper, John D. Showell and John L. Johnson.' The paper adds that the Mayor and City Council 'will enter upon their new terms on September 1st'; the charter as re-enacted the same spring (Ch. 457 of 1904) says the term runs from the second Monday in September, which in 1904 was 12 September.

   This is the first Ocean City municipal election this campaign has been able to read as an election — two slates, a named challenger, and a full council. The town's own books had been stolen in 1896 and the eleven-year blank that followed is the reason a one-paragraph item in a Snow Hill weekly is the best surviving record of who governed the beach.

   The Commissioners of Ocean CityChristopher LudlamJames Z. PowellThomas J. CropperJohn D. ShowellJohn L. JohnsonWilliam T. Taber

   Source · checked 2026-08-06