February 13, 2025  

Then and Now: Commander Hotel Ocean City MD 1930

Few hotels in Ocean City can celebrate continually trading for over 90 years.  The family owners can trace their local history back over 200 years. There have been many changes in the world of travel at that time, but The Commander’s beachfront boardwalk location remains as special today as it was on the day it all began.

Commander Hotel (THEN): The Commander Hotel first opened on Memorial Day in 1930, offering 62 rooms, a full American Plan dining room, and a kitchen equipped with wood-burning stoves. The hotel featured the city’s first elevator, in-room telephone service, and both ocean and boardwalk-facing front porch with rocking chairs. During the World War II era, the hotel welcomed doctors, lawyers, and executives. Each room was equipped with blackout curtains for use at night, which protected the windows from enemy shelling from offshore submarines.

Commander Hotel Ocean City MD

Commander Hotel on the boardwalk at Ocean City, Maryland. Photo by Lewis Reed, ca. 1930

Commander Hotel (NOW): The same view today.  The Commander Hotel was, for a long time, the northernmost hotel on the Boardwalk. Its dining room was famous and the Commander outranked many other hotels, enjoying “elite” status. The facility underwent a two-stage renovation in 1979, and in 1992 the cabanas near the pool were rebuilt. The original structure was razed in 1997 and the current eight-story Commander was constructed on the 14th Street site the following year.

Commander Hotel today

Commander Hotel today

 

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About Reed Brothers

I am a co-owner of the former Reed Brothers Dodge in Rockville, Maryland. Lewis Reed, the founder of Reed Brothers Dodge was my grandfather. We were a family-owned and operated car dealership in Rockville for almost a century. I served in the United States Air Force for 30 years before retiring in the top enlisted grade of Chief Master Sergeant in July 2006. In 2016, I received the Arthur M. Wagman Award for Historic Preservation Communication from Peerless Rockville for documenting the history of Reed Brothers Dodge in both blog and book format. This distinguished honor recognizes outstanding achievement by writers, educators, and historians whose work has heightened public awareness of Rockville’s architectural and cultural heritage, growth and development.

6 responses to “Then and Now: Commander Hotel Ocean City MD 1930”

  1. folksnake's avatar
    folksnake says :

    I may be the only one, but I far prefer the 1930 version of the hotel. Oh well! Progress, right? :^)

    Reply
    • Reed Brothers's avatar
      Reed Brothers says :

      There’s something truly magical about staying in a hotel steeped in history. Imagine the stories those places could tell. I remember staying at the old Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel in Atlantic City with my parents when I was growing up. Such an incredibly majestic building. It’s only a memory now.

      Reply
  2. Mark Brezler's avatar
    Mark Brezler says :

    Our family visited The Commander many times in the 70’s. 1st class place. They offered Modified American Plan.?.. If recall … breakfast and dinner offered. Folks dressed for both. Not jacket and ties but polo’s etc. There was an African American gentleman very pleasant and welcoming. Possibly the Maitre d ? At that time he was probably in his 60’s..He would move from table to table refreshing coffee etc. Piano playing in the background. After visiting for a number of years.. and getting to know the dining room staff. Prime seating became available . lol

    Many fond memories

    Reply
    • Reed Brothers's avatar
      Reed Brothers says :

      Hi Mark, my apologies for the delayed response! What wonderful memories. Really appreciate you adding that personal history here. Best regards, Jeanne

      Reply

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