| 
 
When you think Cape May what comes to mind? Diamonds? Victorian Sand Ladies? 
Piping Plovers? America’s original seaside resort has been dazzling new and 
veteran visitors alike with her charm, beauty and history; many to the point of 
bringing pen to paper.  
This collection of inspired authors brings different 
views—some fantasy, some spooky, and some factual—on and about Cape Island. 
Collect the nine books as part of your library or wrap a ribbon around a few for 
anyone in love with our seaside town.  
  
 The Sand Lady
by Corinne M. Litzenberg 
Illustrations by Bari A. Edwards 
Natalie loves Cape May as much as you do. One day, as she plays in the sand, 
she creates a Victorian lady. When she places an egret feather in the lady’s 
hat, the feather becomes magical and makes the Sand Lady come to life. They then 
begin a wondrous journey as she takes Natalie back through time to Victorian 
Cape May. Beautiful illustrations make the book as timeless and whimsical as the 
resort itself. 
  
 The Legend of the Cape May Diamond
by Trinka Hakes Noble 
Illustrations by E.B. Lewis 
Love hunting for Cape May Diamonds? Author Trinka Hakes Noble tells how the 
legendary Cape May Diamond came to wash upon its white sandy shores. With this 
children’s tale is also the story of Cape May’s development from early Lenape 
settlers to Cornelius Jacob Mey’s discovery, through Victorian times to current 
day. Full page illustrations make this book a keepsake for any Cape Mayan or 
honorary one.  
  
 Ghosts of Cape May Volumes I, II, III
by Craig McManus 
If you’ve gotten goosebumps walking down Jackson Street or have seen 
something amiss in the third floor window of Martini Beach, it may be time to 
learn about the ghosts of Cape May. Author Craig McManus is a psychic medium and 
paranormal investigator who has been visiting the island since he was a boy, 
always attuned to and fascinated by the ghostly presence on the Cape. Each of 
McManus’ volumes is broken into well-written chapters detailing different 
research experiences. Happy haunting. 
  
 Sentinel of the Jersey Cape: The story of the Cape May Lighthouse
by John Bailey 
Buy a copy from our online store 
Was Cape May dark before 1823? It’s this question that begins John Bailey’s 
story of the Cape May Lighthouse with intriguing evidence that there most likely 
was a lighthouse keeping the shore lit prior to the three known of today. Using 
new and vintage photos, sketches and maps, Bailey’s book weaves a detailed 
history of the tall sentinel standing over Cape May Point and insight into its 
future. 
  
 Early Architecture of Cape May County, New Jersey; 
The Heavy Timber Frame Legacy
by Joan Berkey 
Architectural historian Joan Berkey is on a mission to prove there’s more to 
Cape May County’s architectural landscape than Victorian-era gingerbread houses. 
The county is home to a significant collection of heavy timber frame 
(post-and-beam) buildings, many of which are still standing today. The 
impressive structures are explained using photographs and details to glimpse 
into daily lives of the people who lived in the homes. Floor plans and building 
specs allow for more architectural interest. 
  
 The Shorebird Guide
by Michael O’Brien, Richard Crossley and Kevin Karlson 
With nearly half the book made up of fabulous detailed photos of shorebird 
species, this reference guide is a treat for the eyes. It’s as perfect for 
anyone intrigued by the Sanderlings being chased by waves as it is for a Cape 
May beach homeowner or visitor. Photos and information are broken down by 
species, making the guide easily read and organized. And, bonus, Richard 
Crossley’s column, Brit’s Eye View, appears in this magazine monthly. 
  
 Cape May Point The Illustrated History: 1875 to the Present
by Joe J. Jordan 
Buy a copy from our online store 
When Jordan’s curiosity was piqued about his Cape May Point home being 
identical to a few others nearby, he began researching for an answer. Well, an 
answer didn’t come, but a book on Cape May Point’s history did instead. The 
photos throughout the hardback are impressive, as are awe-inspiring views of 
buildings and people from the rich history of the Point. 
  
 Postcard History Series, Cape May in Vintage Postcards
by Don and Pat Pocher 
If you’ve been fortunate to spend a few minutes (or a few hours) going 
through Don and his late wife, Pat, Pocher’s vast vintage postcard collection, 
you know the feeling of peeking into the senders’ lives even just for a brief 
moment. It’s a bit voyeur-intrigue, a bit history seeker, and well, just plain 
fun. All these feelings arise when flipping through this local book filled with 
images of wool-suited bathers and crowded white sands, the Cape May Lighthouse, 
Convention Hall and beachfront hotels. 
  
 The Summer City by the Sea
by Emil R Salvini 
Using first hand accounts from various publications throughout history, 
Salvini’s Summer City by the Sea recreates the past in such a way that you feel 
you’ve gone back in time, whether it’s getting to Cape Island in 1823 by way of 
Bridgeton or realizing the inadequacy of the fire fighting service during the 
inferno that rocked the city in 1878. Sketches and photographs help to tell the 
story of cool Cape May and its history as the Queen of the Seaside Resorts. 
  
 |