This Coastal Connection is sponsored by Baths by Spicer Bros.
OCEAN PINES, Md. - Inside the Ocean Pines Administration Building, a quiet but important mission is unfolding — one aimed at preserving the rich history of the community before it’s lost to time.
For the past nine months, a group of dedicated local volunteers has been meeting regularly as part of the Ocean Pines Historical Task Force. Among them are Elaine Brady and Jenny Cropper-Rines, who spend countless hours sorting through hundreds of old photographs and memorabilia that document the community’s evolution.
“We're sort of at a crossroads where the history is going to be gone if we don't do something with it,” Cropper-Rines said.
A group of dedicated local volunteers has been meeting regularly as part of the Ocean Pines Historical Task Force.
The task force, which currently includes about a dozen members, has images that trace Ocean Pines’ transformation over the decades — from the digging of the canals in 1969 to the early days of the Yacht Club, now considered a cornerstone of the community. Other highlights include before-and-after photos of the Golf Club building and the Ocean Pines Beach Club in Ocean City.
One particularly unique find is a hand-crafted model boat built in 1955 by a local resident, offering a tangible link to the past.
Brady said these efforts are not just about nostalgia — they’re about fostering a deeper connection within the community. “People are very, very active and very friendly because they've come from all over. And so they want to make new friendships here,” she said.
For those eager to explore the area's history, a book chronicling Ocean Pines’ development from 1968 to 1998 is currently available for $20.
For those eager to explore the area's history, a book chronicling Ocean Pines’ development from 1968 to 1998 is currently available for $20. But the task force isn’t stopping there.
Brady revealed that plans are underway for a second book — a more visual, coffee table-style edition that will bring the history of Ocean Pines to life in an accessible format.
“I think the biggest thing that we'll be looking at is to do a coffee table book,” Brady said. “That's something that people have a lot of interest in, and it's an easy way to learn about Ocean Pines from the beginning to the present.”
That new volume is still in its early stages and expected to take about two years to complete. In the meantime, the volunteers continue to dig deep — determined to ensure Ocean Pines’ past has a permanent place in its future.