National Register Listing

St. Paul's by-the-sea Protestant Episcopal Church

a.k.a. WO-326

302 N. Baltimore St., Ocean City, MD
Local significance of the building:
Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

architecture
Maryland was once a center of the slave trade: Maryland was one of the thirteen colonies that allowed slavery, and by the mid-18th century, it had become a major center of the domestic slave trade. Maryland slave traders sold enslaved people to plantation owners in other southern colonies and to the Caribbean.
Maryland random facts
Worcester County, Maryland, located on the Delmarva Peninsula, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The region was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Assateague and Pocomoke peoples, who thrived off the area's fertile lands and bountiful waters. European explorers, including John Smith, visited the area in the 17th century, but it was English settlers who eventually established permanent colonies in the late 1600s.

In 1674, Worcester County was officially established as part of the Province of Maryland. The county was named after the English county of the same name, from which many early settlers originated. During the colonial period, agriculture, particularly tobacco farming, became the backbone of the local economy. The county also became an important center for trade, with thriving ports and numerous mills producing goods for export.

Worcester County played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War, with many residents actively supporting the cause of independence. After the war, the county experienced a shift in its economic focus. The decline in tobacco cultivation led to a rise in the seafood industry, including fishing and oystering. These industries became primary sources of income for many local residents, and they continue to be major economic drivers in the county today.

In the 20th century, Worcester County went through a period of modernization, with the development of infrastructure, improved transportation, and the growth of tourism. Beach towns along the Atlantic Ocean, such as Ocean City, became popular vacation destinations, drawing visitors from all over the region. Today, Worcester County remains a vibrant and historic region, renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and thriving tourism industry.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Worcester County, Maryland.

  • 1666 - Worcester County is established as part of the Province of Maryland.
  • 1672 - The county's first courthouse is constructed in the settlement of Colliton.
  • 1742 - The county seat is moved from Colliton to the newly established town of Snow Hill.
  • 1791 - Worcester County becomes part of the newly formed state of Maryland.
  • 1864 - Jarrettsville Pike, the first toll road in the county, opens.
  • 1886 - The Pocomoke Sound Railroad is completed, connecting Snow Hill to the Eastern Shore Railroad.
  • 1933 - The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is completed, providing a direct connection to the western shore of Maryland.
  • 1996 - The Worcester County Library opens its new main branch in Berlin.