The narrow strip of barrier island on the coast of Maryland known as Ocean City is well loved for its white sandy beaches, entertaining boardwalk scene, many interesting attractions, quality seafood restaurants, good fishing, and so much more! If you were born and raised in Maryland, you might even consider Ocean City a defining fixture in your life. Can you smell the sunscreen and Thrashers fries? Hear the seagulls and ocean waves crashing against the beach? Feel the hot sun and salty ocean spray on your face? In addition to being a popular destination for occasions like spring break, summer vacation, and weekend getaways, Ocean City remains a vibrant place to call home year-round with a tight-knit community feel.
Have you ever noticed the small wood and wire picket fences that line the dunes of those beloved beaches? Well, they were originally installed in the early 1990’s by yours truly, Frederick Fence Company. . .
Once upon a time around the year 1991, Ruppert Landscape Company approached Charlie Powers about a fencing job in Ocean City, MD. A seemly endless amount of “snow” fence covering a SEVEN MILE area was needed to protect the sand dunes and freshly planted dune grass. Could he do it? It was a daunting assignment considering the logistical complications for such an expansive project at a location three hours away from our shop. But the company was in a place where it could really benefit from the work, so Charlie and the Frederick Fence crew accepted the opportunity and the preparations began!
The Bid
Charlie, along with his sales representative Doug Martin, visited the beach to get a grasp of how this project could be accomplished. How long would it take? How much fencing would they be able to complete each day? What equipment would they need? Who would they bring with them? All the logistics had to be considered and worked out. At the end of the day, they settled on a price to provide for their client, Ruppert Landscape, which was accepted.
Housing
Charlie decided to rent a single-family home to house the crew members for the duration of the project, which was to be about three or four months. The house was located in the Ocean Pines community, situated just west of the 62nd Street bridge. The crew would stay during the week while they worked and go home on the weekends. On at least one occasion the office staff came over and used the house for a weekend while they enjoyed some getaway time together in Ocean City.
Sourcing and Storing the Material
The issue of receiving and transporting materials and equipment was a challenge Charlie found a convenient solution for. A local lumber company rented out some surplus space to the team so they could store fence materials and equipment near the job site. The fence materials themselves were purchased from Kalinich Fence Company in Strongville, Ohio and were shipped directly to the local lumber company for ease and convenience.
The Job
Eric Saum was one of the lead foreman on the job working alongside Mike Sweeney and some others. These two guys are still with the company today! Jay McClanathan and Mike Henline, who are still with the company, and JC, who has since passed away, stayed here in Frederick to keep the remainder of the business running. Charlie often stayed and worked with the crew in Ocean City. Since there was also work to be done at home in Frederick, Charlie kindly made an effort to take the guys who were unmarried/without kids to the job site to minimize inconvenience.
The guys had seven miles of beach to cover from the end of the boardwalk at 27th Street to the Delaware line seven miles away. But the fence didn’t go in just one straight line from one end to the other. The team installed fencing up one side of the dunes as they worked their way north and back down the other side as they came south again. Not only that, but the fence also had to be weaved in and out along frequent pathways through the dunes. The crew used a bobcat to drill holes in the sand for the fence posts and tamped to secure them into place. Overall there was consistent, smooth progress for the team, installing between 800’ and 1,000’ of fence each day.
Extra helpers were found in the local Ocean City area. Men of all ages came flocking to apply for work at the great pay Charlie offered. At the time it was good money: $7+/hr. However, none of the workers stayed beyond 2-3 weeks at a time. They were mostly interested in short-term work.
The crew was under strict safety surveillance while the job was in progress. The Army Core of Engineers required guidelines such as hard hats, boots, pants, and long sleeve shirts to be worn at all times. They also endeavored to ensure the safety of passersby while the work was going on with the use of flags and signs.
The beach was packed with people throughout the entire project. Charlie remembers how hot it was working in summertime conditions on the beach. He claims he never even took a dip in the ocean at the time! Eric Saum told a different story when it came to the other crew members. How could you resist the chance to cool off after a hard HOT day’s work on the beach?
Immediate Repairs
Almost immediately after the work was completed, a Nor’easter came through and knocked out a generous amount of the fence. On a couple of occasions the crew returned during the winter to make the necessary repairs. Working on the beach in the winter brought its own conveniences and challenges. On one hand the beach was vacant, making installation work easier, but Eric recalls how there were not many businesses open during the off season. It was difficult to find places to eat and use the restroom.
Looking Back
Charlie recalls the experience with mixed emotions. . .
In a great way, the project provided work for the business and money for the families that the company represented. However, it remains undecided whether the project was truly profitable in the end. Looking back, Charlie says he would probably not choose to do the job again. Several years later Frederick Fence was asked back to Ocean City for more work, but the offer was quickly declined.
Where are they now?
As previously stated, many of the crewmen who worked this job are still with Frederick Fence Company today. We are blessed by the many who have stood by Charlie since those very early years: Eric, Mike H., Mike S., Lil’ Jay, Randy, Kathy, and others. The experience they bring to the table is invaluable. We have gotten to see these team members grow up, raise families, and develop their character through good and hard times. Lord willing, that will continue for many years to come.
In the market for a new or replacement fence? Whether it’s aluminum, vinyl, wood, composite, chain link, or SNOW fence, Frederick Fence has the experience you can rely on! Call for a free estimate today: 301-663-4000
Written by Laura Braden, 6-year Fence Co. team member.
