New Exhibit:ATaleofTwoFamilies - Greater Cape May Historical

Greater Cape May Historical Society
P.O. Box 495
Cape May, NJ 08204
Contribution to
Pat Pennington Pocher Fund
$______________
Make check payable to
“Greater Cape May Historical Society” and mail to:
P.O. Box 495, Cape May, NJ 08204
Dues are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.
Contribution to Fund
to restore the Colonial House
$______________
Gift
I want to become a member, renew membership
or give a gift membership in the Historical Society:
The Greater Cape May Historical Society
invites residents and visitors to view its latest
exhibit at the Colonial House. The Colonial
House is located behind Alexander's Inn on
Washington Street in Cape May, and is open
most days from 10am to 2pm.
The mission of this society is to collect, preserve, document, interpret and share the
history of Greater Cape May and to enhance appreciation of that history through the society's
historic site, collections, research, exhibits, educational programs and publications. In addition,
as steward of the Colonial House, the Society will seek to perpetuate the heritage of early Cape
Island.
G.C.M.H.S. Mission
The current exhibit features “A Tale of
Two Families.” The family of William J.
Moore of West Cape May highlights the long
and successful career of a local educator, and
the nation's first and longest-lived tennis pro.
The exhibit is enhanced by a generous loan
of tennis memorabilia from Cape May's
William J. Moore Tennis Center.
The Greater Cape May Historical Society
worked with local family members Miss
Amaleta Moore and Harry Bellangy. Lois
Harris, Exhibit Coordinator, arranged the
exhibition with assistance from Maureen
Savage and Harry Bellangy.
The exhibit also features the Bennett/
Bellangy family of Cape May. Seventeen
generations span over 500 years of family
history, with an emphasis on the twentieth
century. It too has family articles for viewing.
New Exhibit: A Tale of Two Families
Summer 2006
harrycb@verizon.net
RECORDING SECRETARY
Harry Bellangy
884-6472
Standing Committees
886-6282
Tour Guides,
Curator - Maureen Savage - 898-0725 - hmsavage@webtv.net
Publicity - Ruth & Bob Mitchell - 884-0951 - rrmitch@aol.com
Program Director - Open
Newsletter - D.J. Petit, Editor - 898-4291 - pinewood@dandy.net
Museum
Curator - Maureen Savage - 898-0725 - hmsavage@webtv.net
Membership - Sava Leffand - 898-0214 - mike2@snip.net
Fund Raising - Open
Building & Grounds- Dave Brown - 898-0997 - fiat@snip.net
HISTORIAN
Walt Campbell
TREASURER & MEMBERSHIP CHAIRPERSON
Joan Green
898-1236
gsuslark@aol.com
EXHIBIT COORDINATOR
Lois Harris
884-1976
hmsavage@webtv.net
mike2@snip.net
898-0725
VICE PRESIDENT
Maureen Savage
hmsavage@webtv.net
Email
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Sava Leffand
898-0214
898-0725
Phone
Executive Board
PRESIDENT
Harry Savage
Current Elected Officers - 2006
The Greater Cape May Historical Society newsletter, Homespun, is
published quarterly. Copyright 1998 Greater Cape May Historical
Society, P.O. Box 495, Cape May, NJ 08204.
Permission for reproduction in whole or in part is granted for
personal use and to other historical societies for non-profit use provided:
1. Reprints are not altered; 2. Proper credit is given to the author and this
publication; 3.At least one copy of the specific issue of that publication is
sent to the attention of “Newsletter Editor.” All other historical societies:
if your organization would like to exchange newsletters, please add us to
your mailing list and send your current issue indicating month and year
of expiration to the Newsletter Editor, c/o Greater Cape May Historical
Society, P.O. Box 495, Cape May, NJ 08204.
Founded July 2, 1974
Greater Cape May
Historical Society
~2~
ATTENTION WOMEN MEMBERS! - Vice President
Maureen Savage, in speaking on “Women's
Suffrage” at our March meeting, reminded us
that women in the USA did not have the right
to vote until 1920.
PROFESSOR HARRY SAVAGE REVEALS
FASCINATING HISTORY OF CUSTER'S LAST
STAND, 1876 - The audience at Greater Cape
May Historical Society's May 25, 2006 meeting
heard Professor Harry Savage answer the
question, “Is being a General and a hero an
automatic stepping stone to the Presidency?
…not if your name is Fremont or Custer.”
THE WORLD WAR II TROLLEY TOUR was held on
Thursday, June 22 in place of our last formal
GCMHS meeting of the season. The next
meeting of the Society will be held in
September. Location and subject to be
announced.
NEW BOARD MEMBER - Lois Harris was appointed
by the Board of Officers to serve as Exhibit
Coordinator.
- NEWS BITES -
— Harry Savage
I write this as we approach Cape May's
busiest time of the year. The World War II
Trolley Tour, June 22, will leave West Cape May
Bourugh Hall at 10:30am, and will last about 2
hours. This is just ahead of us, as is our annual
“Antiques and Fine Crafts Fair” on September 9.
Hours for this event are 8am to 4pm, a
Saturday, at Wilbraham Park. (Rain date is
Sunday, September 10.) The Executive
Committee of Bellangy, Harris and M. Savage is
busy preparing our 2006 Colonial House to
open on Memorial Day Weekend.
Walt Campbell's program “packed them in”
at Congress Hall in April. The board is trying to
vary both the location and times of day for
programs. This is a “no one size fits all”
problem: Morning vs. evening, availability of
parking, are there stairs to climb?, etc.
Thanks to our hardworking B&G chairman,
Dave Brown, progress is being made on moving
the Colonial House to a more accessible
location. In fact he has great news.
Have a good summer!
Message from the President
THE JOHN WESLEY INN, 30
Gurney St., Cape May. Circa
1869. True splendor and
grandeur from the Victorian Age.
½ block from beach. Bed &
Breakfast or apartments. 609-8841012. Bonnie & Lance Pontin,
Innkeepers.
INN AT THE PARK (circa 1893),
1002 Washington St., Cape May.
Casual elegance, gourmet
breakfasts and afternoon hors
d’oeurves. On site parking. Your
hosts, Jay & Maryann Gorrick,
experts/advisors on most Cape May
restaurants. 609-884-8406;
innattheparknj.com.
FAIRTHORNE BED & BREAKFAST
INN, 111-115 Ocean St. Best
front porch in Cape May. Center of
Historic District. Beach, shopping,
restaurants within a two-block
radius. PO Box 2381, Cape May.
Diane & Ed Hutchison 800-4388742; fairthorne.com.
THE DUKE OF WINDSOR, 817
Washington St. Bed and Breakfast
Inn -Romantic Elegance Patricia
Joyce, Innkeeper. 609-884-1355,
800-826-8973.
innkeeper@dukeofwindsorinn.com
CONGRESS HALL HOTEL, 251
Beach Ave., PO Box 150. Blue
Pig Restaurant. Nightclub.
Cocktail Lounge. On-site
parking. Imposing view of the
Beach. 609-884-8421, 888-9441816.
bpflum@congresshall.com.
www.congresshall.com.
~7~
WINDWARD HOUSE INN, 24
Jackson St., Cape May. OPEN ALL
YEAR. Spacious antique-filled
rooms; queen & king beds; private
baths. Spectacular ocean-view sun
deck. Full gourmet breakfasts &
afternoon teas. Free parking.
One-half block to beaches and
Victorian Mall. Near most
restaurants. Sandra Miller,
Innkeeper. 609-884-3368.
www.windwardhouseinn.com.
THE QUEEN VICTORIA BED &
BREAKFAST and QUEEN’S
HOTEL, 102 Ocean St., Cape
May. 609-884-8702. Email:
doug@queenvictoria.com.
THE VIRGINIA HOTEL, 25
Jackson St., Cape May. All the
amenities in 24 custom furnished
luxurious guest rooms, plus
thoughtfulness, taste and personal
touches found nowhere else.
Cape May’s premier hotel is open
all year round. Dine in the
acclaimed Ebbitt Room. 609884-5700, 800-732-4236.
www.virginiahotel.com.
THE MAINSTAY INN, 635
Columbia Ave. Bed and Breakfast.
Most Lavishly and Faithfully
Restored Inn. 609-884-8690.
mainstayinn@comcast.net.
Diane K. Clark & Kathy Smiley.
LA MER BEACH FRONT INN
1317 Beach Ave. Across from
the Ocean. 609-884-9000.
www.capemaylamer.com.
Businesses, continued from page 5
Join as a Business Member for
$35/year or more, and you’ll receive a
full year of listings in our “Patronize
These Businesses” section of
Homespun!
Bonus for
Business Members!
BEST BOOKS of POETRY
Truly uplifting poetry by Dr.
Andrea Lippi. Poetry filled with
love of our Country and God.
‘Say something good about
America/ Praise her every day...’
‘’Tis He that protecteth me; And
not my skill or cunning.’
Catherine Lippi, Lippi Publishing
LLC, Box 188, Goshen NJ
08218.
www.AndreaLippiPoet.com.
BEST PLACE TO CAMP
SEASHORE CAMPSITES, 720
Seashore Rd. Heated swimming
pool and kiddie pool. Lake. 609884-4010. cshore@comcast.net
www.seashorecampsites.com
WOODLEIGH HOUSE BED &
BREAKFAST INN, 808 Washington
St., Cape May. Rockers, Romance
& Remembrances. Heart of
Historic District. Off street
parking. Open all year round.
609-884-7123. Joe & Jo Anne
Tornambe, Innkeepers.
DONATIONS
Welcome, New Members!
BUSINESS
Archie L. Kirk, Bedford Inn,
Cape May
Bonnie C. and Lance Pontin,
John Wesley Inn, Cape May
Catherine Lippi, Lippi Publishing
LLC, Goshen, NJ
Eric Greenberg, Virginia Hotel,
Cape May
~6~
PATRON
Sturdy Savings Bank, Cape May
and Cape May Court House
JOINT
Robert and Barbara S. Oberholtzer
Villas, NJ
INDIVIDUAL
Jean Davis, West Cape May
Beverly Linn, Cape May
EDITOR - D.J. Petit
HISTORIAN - Walter Campbell
MUSEUM CURATOR - Maureen Savage
LAYOUT - Doree Bardes
Homespun Staff
Donations of $100 and less
Edith W. MacGuire, New York, NY
Gloria MacLeod, Cape May
Mike and Sandy Wieber, Baltimore,
MD
Gifts of $200 and above
John and Nancy Miller, Leesburg,
VA
Gifts of $100 and less
Catherine Disbrow, Burlington,
Ontario, Canada
Stephanie Garrett, Port Charles, Fl
and Town Bank, NJ
Edith W. MacGuire, New York, NY
Lance and Bonnie C. Pontin, John
Wesley Inn, Cape May
Elizabeth H. Unger, Wayne, PA
DONATIONS TO THE PAT
PENNINGTON POCHER MEMORIAL
GARDEN
DONATIONS TO THE COLONIAL
HOUSE MUSEUM RESTORATION
FUND
BY
~3~
See DAIRY on page 4
The 1880 census listed Charles
Campbell, who was raised by my Great
Grandfather, as a dairyman at age 13. The
January 1901 Star of the Cape listed him as
'conducting a milk, cream, butter and egg
business.' It is said that due to his strict
attention and honest methods he built up
such a good trade that he had to add a
second delivery truck. The paper also
indicated that he had the largest creamery
A small stream
extended along
Columbia down to
Jefferson and over to
Sewell. Often the cows
stood in water while grazing near Jefferson
Street.
this area when she was
growing up in Cape
May. Jack Sayre, a
retired agriculture
teacher from Lower
Township, recalls
grazing their cow in this
area during the Great
Depression in the
1930s. He said there
was a small dump in the
area where the Cape
May water tower is now
located.
WALT CAMPBELL AND HARRY C. BELLANGY
My Great Grandfather, Thomas
Campbell, owned a dairy located at 828
Corgie Street in Cape May on property he
purchased in 1862. He immigrated to the
United States from Ireland in 1850 and
became a citizen in 1856. He purchased
land opposite the Old Brick Church in Cold
Spring he later moved to Cape May.
Corgie Street had not yet been extended to
Madison Avenue. That did not occur until
1868. As shown on the map of 1877, the
meadow land extended from Corgie and
Jefferson over to Columbia Avenue. Etta
Mae Bennett Bellangy, Harry Bellangy's
Grandmother, told him of cows grazing in
Cape May as it appeared in 1877.
SUBMITTED
There Was a Dairy on Corgie Street
My Great Grandfather passed away in
1904 and my Mother Edith Homan
Campbell said he was the first police chief
in Cape May. In the picture of the Cape
May Police and Fire Department he is
second from the left in the front row.
prominent in politics and real estate. His
real-estate office was located next to Star of
the Sea Church.
~4~
This picture shows the old Franklin Street firehouse along with the fire apparatus and horses in front of the
building. To the right you can see part of the “Annex,” the segregated black elementary school located on
Franklin Street. This is now the location of the Cape May fire house, ca. 1870.
in the area. He became the local Cape
May Assessor during the late 1890s and
was elected to office despite his being a
Democrat. He had a dairy store on
Decatur Street where the Home Restaurant
was located. This is now the location of
the Dellas Store building. He purchased
what is now known as the Saltwood on
Jackson Street in 1906. He became quite
DAIRY, continued from page 3
GREAT WHITE SHARK, 312
Washington Mall. Amazing and
Amusing T -Shirts. 609-8844808.
THE ORIGINAL FUDGE
KITCHEN, 513 Washington Mall.
The World's Best Fudge. Joe
Bogle, 609-884-3442
BEST PLACES TO SHOP
CAROLINE BOUTIQUE, 400
Carpenters Ln., Cape May. An
upscale and stylish women’s
clothing store, in a two-story,
130-year-old carriage house. 609884-5055.
BEST INSURANCE
N.J. National Associates, 510
Bank St. 609-884-8431.
BEST ACTORS & PLAYS
EAST LYNNE THEATER
COMPANY, 121 Fourth Ave., W.
Cape May, performing in residence
at First Presbyterian Church,
Hughes & Decatur Sts., Cape May.
Great performances of American
classics and new works based on
American literature and history.
Skilled & evocative performances
by expert Equity actors.. 609-8845898 or www.eastlynnetheater.org.
CAPE SAVINGS BANK, 217
Jackson St. 609-884-0900.
STURDY SAVINGS BANK,
Finance Dept. 506 S. Main St.,
PO Box 900, Cape May Court
House 08210. 609-463-5206.
BEST PLACE TO BANK
STURDY SAVINGS BANK, 701
Washington St. 609-884-1213.
BEST PLACES TO DlNE
ALEXANDER'S INN, 653
Washington St. Gourmet Dining in
an Elegant Setting 609-884-2555
www.alexandersinn.com
~5~
THE EBBITT ROOM at the
Virginia Hotel, 25 Jackson St.,
Cape May. Superb and
spectacular dining. Open year
round. Piano entertainment.
Valet Parking weekends & in
season. 609-884-5700, 800732-4236.
See Businesses, page 7
CHALFONTE HOTEL, 301
Howard St. Magnolia Room
Restaurant & King Edward Bar
609-884-8409.
www.info@chalfonte.com.
BEDFORD INN, 805 Stockton
Avenue, Cape May. Victorian Bed
& Breakfast. “Honeymoon suites &
rooms, all with private baths. One
block to beach. 609-884-4158.
www.bedfordinn.com.
info@bedfordinn.com. Archie L.
Kirk, Innkeeper.
BLUE AMBER MOTEL, 605
MadisonAve., corner of Virginia
Ave. Heated Pool. Short walk to
the Beach. 609-884-8266 800371-8266. The Kahanes.
BEST READS IN CAPE MAY
EXIT ZERO, 783 Stimpson Lane,
Cape May, NJ. From Girls to
Ghosts, from Fashions to Fetes,
replete with great Fotos, the
Spriteliest, most With-It
magazine you will ever read.
Jack Wright serves it up!
CHALFONTE HOTEL, 301
Howard St., Cape May.
MAGNOLIA ROOM
RESTAURANT & KING EDWARD
BAR. 609-884-8409.
www.info@chalfonte.com.
THE ATLAS INN AND BEACH
RESORT, 1035 Beach Ave. Pool
and Poolside Bar. Beach Front
Hotel with Free Parking.
Complimentary Breakfast in on-site
Yesterday's Heroes Ballpark Cafe
Restaurant. 609-884-7000 888285-2746.
SUZANNE’S WEB STUDIO,
Website design & development.
Suzanne Haggerty. 609-898-2324.
sh@suzanneswebstudio.com.
MAD BATTER at the Carroll Villa
Hotel, 19 Jackson St., Cape May.
Award-winning breakfast, lunch
& dinner on our porch or in our
air-conditioned Sky-lit dining
room. Happy Hour daily. 609884-5970
www.carrollvilla.com.
www.virginiahotel.com.
BEST PLACES TO STAY
ANTOINETTE'S, 717 Washington
St. Guest Apartments. Children
Welcome. Convenient to Mall
and Beach. 609-898-0502.
Deanna Brown, your innkeeper.
Email: DeannaB@snip.net.
INTERNET SERVICES
CapeMay.com. Bernie Haas.
P.O. Box 2383, Cape May, NJ
08204-2383.
SWEDE THINGS in AMERICA,
307 Washington St. Mall.
Scandinavian Crafts & Furniture.
Fresh, entrancing lace. Exquisite
candles and holders. Amusing
decoratives. Barbara and Preben
Poulsen, Proprietors. 609-8845811. Fax 609-884-6063.
Please Patronize These Businesses Which Support the
Greater Cape May Historical Society and the Colonial House Museum