Celebrate 90 Years of Flanders History at Nov. 17 Gala

More than 400 people attended the grand opening gala of the Flanders Hotel 90 years ago on July 28, 1923.

An editorial in the Aug. 4, 1923 issue of the Ocean City Ledger began, “The opening of the Flanders Hotel, this resort’s beautiful beach-front hostelry, last Saturday evening, was an occasion that will go down in the annals of Ocean City as most notable.”

The Flanders Hotel was built as “a project of the community, by the community, and for the community, and every resident of the community, both permanent and summer,” was given the opportunity to purchase stock in the hotel at $100 per share.

The Flanders Hotel, now on the National Register of Historic Places, has served the community well, both as a meeting place and a venue for memorable events.

On Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., another gala, this one celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Flanders Hotel, will be held.

This celebration will include a display of Flanders memorabilia and antiques, a power-point presentation of the history of the Flanders from 1923 to the present, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, music, and dancing. All profits from this event will benefit the Ocean City Historical Museum, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Tickets, which must be bought in advance, are $50 per person. They can be purchased at the Ocean City Historical Museum, 609-399-1801 or the Flanders Hotel, 609-399-1000.

• Butlered hors d’oeuvres
  
• Antique cars displayed
• A 1923 dressed doorman to greet guests
• Ocean City High School Ensemble to perform before and during dinner
• Old time photo booth
• Door prizes
• Evening attire and your best roaring '20s attire
• Historical Museum display of memorabilia, antiques and a presentation

Tickets are available to purchase around the clock by calling 609-399-1000.

— By Fred Miller