Earlier today, Preservation New Jersey announced their 2021 list of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places. Their 10 Most program highlights “irreplaceable historic, architectural, cultural, and archaeological resources in New Jersey that are in imminent danger of being lost.” Two properties on this year’s list are located in Cape May County: the Allen A.M.E. Church… Read more »
Category: History
Ribbon Cutting at the Harriet Tubman Museum
Yesterday was the official ribbon cutting and tour of the Harriet Tubman Museum in celebration of Emancipation Day.
The Franklin Street School renovation project receives federal grant
We have some good news to share amid the world chaos: Earlier this month, the Franklin Street School renovation project received a $500,000 grant from the African American Civil Rights Grant Program. The program is funded by the Historic Preservation Fund, which is administered by the National Park Service. Franklin Street School is one of… Read more »
National Park Service accepts the Stephen Smith House into Network to Freedom
Since I first wrote about the Stephen Smith House for Cape May Magazine (Fall 2015), word has spread that the unassuming yellow clapboard house on Lafayette and Franklin Streets was the summer home of one of the foremost leaders of the Underground Railroad. Since then, thousands have taken MAC’s Underground Railroad Trolley Tour, which I… Read more »
A look inside the future home of the Harriet Tubman Museum
You’ve probably driven past the Howell House at 632 Lafayette Street and never noticed it. For years, the decaying and vacant parsonage of the Macedonia Baptist Church waited behind a chain-link fence. But in 2020, the house will begin its new life as the home of the Harriet Tubman Museum. First some history. The Howell… Read more »
Video: Musket demonstration with Al Conly
Al Conly demonstrates how to load and operate a Brown Bess musket. You can see this musket demonstration in person at the Colonial House, 653 ½ Washington Street, from 1-4pm on Wednesdays in July.
The Stephen Smith House
The Stephen Smith house has stood at 645 Lafayette Street for nearly 170 years. Maybe you’ve walked past it. Maybe you’ve read the plaque out front that offers a brief summary of Smith’s life. But you might not realize that he was a key figure in the pre-Civil War Underground Railroad. Smith was born into… Read more »
The fire of 1878
Today in 1878, fire broke out in the Ocean House on Perry Street. Less than twelve hours later, it had destroyed forty acres and destroyed commercial properties including Congress Hall, Ocean House, Centre House, Columbia House, Atlantic House, and Merchant’s Hotel. The total loss was estimated at $400,000. Arson was suspected, but the suspect was… Read more »
45 Jackson Street
The Gallagher House still stands today at 45 Jackson Street. In this photograph, a Miss Taylor occupies the upper level, and the Gallagher family the lower.
Washington Street
Washington Street, circa 1900
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