newjerseynewsroom.com

BY ERIC MODEL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

JOURNEYS INTO NEW JERSEY

Today it’s a migratory bird sanctuary. But once there was a town there.

Founded in 1894, the town of South Cape May had more than 40 homes and hundreds of summer residents in its heyday. The borough of South Cape May once extended 21 blocks west heading toward the famous Cape May lighthouse.

It was originally settled in 1840, and was famous for a Lucy-type elephant, Light of Asia, intended to be an attraction. Unfortunately, according to a local narrative, South Cape May was considered to be a very remote part of the city and, at 10-cents a customer, she didn’t have too many visitors. As the story continues, the train car only came through three times a day and she ended up being a financial loser. By 1900, "Jumbo" was demolished.

There was also a Mount Vernon Hotel at South Cape May, we are told.

For almost half a century developers tried to make South Cape May work. But there were a number of obstacles in the way – such as the aforementioned perception of remoteness.

Mother nature did not help either. As early as 1911 it started to become clear that erosion was a major issue. Serious damage occurred during a nor’easter in 1936.

It all ended when the town was badly wrecked and washed away by the 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane, which hit in September of that year. Soon thereafter the borough was dissolved and returned to Lower Township. The remaining land not underwater became part of the bird sanctuary.

This town that is no more and its story is part of an interesting exhibit, "Remembering South Cape May", now on display until November 6 at the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities in Cape May.

Robert Kenselaar, author of "Remembering South Cape May: The Jersey Shore Town That Vanished Into the Sea," is the guest curator of this new exhibit that examines the rise and fall of the community.

One of the town's last residents, Joseph Bucher, has co-authored a book with his son-in-law, Robert Kenselaar, about life in South Cape May before the Atlantic swallowed this town.

An example of what may be found at the exhibit and in the book can be seen in the accompanying photograph. It was taken in August of 1951. In it Isaac B. Zwalley’s daughter, Patricia, stood in front of an abandoned house which was once home to Francis S. Rutschmann, the mayor of South Cape May from 1905 to 1920.

Related to the exhibit, the Cape May Bird Observatory/New Jersey Audubon are co-sponsoring a free lecture on Friday, May 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and a "Meet the Author" book signing event on Saturday, May 21 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Crystal Room in the Grand Hotel, 1045 Beach Ave., as part of their Spring Cape MAYgration Birding Festival.

This exhibit is presented by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). It is open daily though hours vary. Admission is free.