"Yacht
Basin at Sunset (1950) - Ocean City, Maryland" by Paul McGehee. In 1933
a major hurricane struck the town of Ocean City. As buildings were torn
asunder in the gale, the Atlantic Ocean surf ripped across the beach,
forming a new channel of water later known as the Ocean City Inlet.
What was originally looked upon as a natural disaster turned into a
great asset, as there was now easy access by boat from the waters of
Sinepuxent Bay out to the Atlantic and a safe harbor for oceangoing
fishing boats. Soon, deep sea fishing became a financial boon to Ocean
City. The sport fishing docks and the Yacht Basin, located on the
bayside of the famous Maryland beach resort near the bridge, became a
haven for charter fishing boats and sportsmen's yachts which would
venture out into the Atlantic seeking everything from flounder to big
sport fish like marlin and bluefish. In the late 1940s and early 50s,
headboats such as "Answer" (so named because a rival headboat was named
"Question Mark") would take people out for a day of fishing and fun.
"Answer" can be seen in the foreground of this view from the bridge
into town, as can the "Pisces" off in the distance towards the right.
At the Talbot Street Pier towards the left you can see Captain
Bunting's docks and the Bunting family's venerable Angler Restaurant,
which has been there for over 75 years. Towards the middle of the scene
is the Dorchester Street Marina as you look south. At Somerset Street
beyond and to the right was the Magee Yacht Basin. The smell of the
salt air brings back fond memories of Ocean City, the "White Marlin
Capital of the World." "Yacht Basin at Sunset (1950) - Ocean City,
Maryland" is
faithfully reproduced as an archival-quality print from McGehee's
original color pencil drawing issued in a limited edition of only 500
pieces,
each hand-signed and numbered by the artist.
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