Many Black workers and entertainers traveled to Ocean City in the early to mid-20th century. However, most had no place to stay overnight since the town remained largely segregated for many of those years.
Louisa (also known as Emma) Henry and, later, Lyncia Pearl Bonner were the first Black women to own and operate a hotel in Ocean City. At The Henry Hotel at S. Division and S. Baltimore Streets, these hotel owners welcomed customers who would be turned away elsewhere. The brown shingle structure is still standing and has endured blazing summers, hurricanes and 24/7 salt air for several generations.
The hotel was built by White investors for local Black workers around 1916, according to current Henry family members. In 1926, local mail carrier Charles T. Henry and his wife purchased it and the name became “Henry’s Colored Hotel.” Mrs. Henry took over the business when Charles died in 1942.
In 1956, Lyncia Pearl Bonner, a teacher from nearby Berlin, became the hotel’s manager and upgraded its amenities and reputation. She then purchased it for $15,500 in 1964.
For 40 years, this single mother and her three daughters ran the 20-room hotel and dining room with care. Her time there coincided with the mid-century growth of Ocean City. Mrs. Bonner lived to be 100 years old and died January 26, 2003.
“I try to take care of all my business in a business-like way, and I do unto others as I’d have them do unto me at all times. That’s my motto.” Lyncia Pearl Bonner.
The Henry Hotel Foundation aims to create a museum and learning center that will preserve the stories of Louisa Henry and Lyncia Bonner as well as the customers who lodged there. A 2024 Maryland Historical Trust Grant will support the project.
A mural that celebrates The Henry Hotel and Mrs. Bonner’s legacy of sheltering Black visitors to Ocean City was created by Jay F. Coleman, sponsored by the Beach to Bay Heritage Area and dedicated in September 2025.
Sources and more reading:
A Feminine Touch: The story of the women who had a hand in shaping a town is a permanent exhibit at the Ocean City Lifeguard Museum and includes Mrs. Bonner along with other Ocean City memorable women.
The Brightside: Henry’s Hotel, WMDT, Erica Murphy, February 19, 2019, accessed 08/11/2026
Maryland 250, Henry Hotel, accessed 8/1126
History of the Henry Hotel, accessed 8/11/2026
Officials unveil new mural near historic Henry Hotel, by Bethany Hooper, Associate Editor, OC Today Dispatch, accessed 08/11/2026
Click on photos below to read captions. Photos courtesy of the Henry Hotel Foundation.
