Ocean City, NJ Plus (6/30/2021)

Wednesday, June 30, 2021
How could we say 'no' to an invitation to see "Lucy the Elephant"? Our hosts, Ted and Jean R, treated us to a tour of South Jersey Shore sights. Although hot and humid, it was a bright sunny day!

We started at Cape May at the very southern tip of the state of New Jersey:

First was lunch on a breezy "dock" at the Lobster House for fresh seafood while watching fishing boats and yachts pass by. Refreshing ambiance and conversation!

Emlen Physick Estate (1879, attributed to Frank Furness
in Eastlake or Stick style) is representative of the
many Victorian-style buildings in Cape May

The Southern Mansion (1863, by Samuel Sloan
in Italianate style)

Congress Hall (1879 brick rebuild of 1816 wooden hotel)
is a historic hotel whose owner, Thomas H Hughes, was later
elected to the US Congress, thus several US Presidents,
including Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Ulysses S Grant
and Benjamin Harrison vacationed at Congress Hall

Beach Avenue is lined with Victorian-style buildings, many turned into hotels or B&Bs. Towards the north end of town are the weather-beaten shingle-sided Victorians. In many cases it is hard to distinguish the old originals from the modern facsimiles. However, the overall effect is very charming.

At Cape May Point is Sunset Beach with a giant shipwreck

Not any old shipwreck, but the stern of a concrete ship,
the SS Atlantus (1918, the second of 12 ships built by
Liberty Ship Building Co in GA); in 1926 three of the concrete
ships were purchased to create a ferry dock; however, the
Atlantus broke free of her mooring and ran aground here,
resisting all attempts to free the ship that split in three pieces

Also at Sunset Beach is the former Witmer Stone
Wildlife Sanctuary (est 1935 and named for the "last
of the great" naturalists who worked at the Philadelphia
Academy of Natural Sciences for 51 years)

For those who need a visual reminder not to litter,
here is a "billboard" illustrating how long it takes for
specific items to break down in the marine environment

World War II Lookout Tower/Fire Control
Tower #23 (1942, as one of 15 towers that
helped aim batteries of coastal artillery
stretching from N Wildwood, NJ
to Bethany Beach, DE)

Cape May Lighthouse (1859, automated
in 1946) is still in operation, although
visitors are allowed to climb to the top

From Cape May, we headed north on the Garden State Parkway, bypassing Ocean City out on its barrier island, to end up in Margate, NJ, south of Atlantic City.

Lucy the Elephant (1881, by James Lafferty to promote
his real estate developments) claims to be the largest
(albeit not real) elephant in the world and is in great shape

Lucy has a French pedicure

A photo of when Lucy was being moved two
blocks to her present location (KSS)

The Boardwalk in Ocean City

Ocean City Music Pier (1928-1929, by Vivian B Smith)

Shriver's (1898) is the oldest business on the Boardwalk
in Ocean City and is known for salt water taffy and fudge

Manco & Manco Pizza has three locations on the Boardwalk;
after we sampled their thin crust with plenty of sauce and
cheese pizza, we left to find a long line of waiting customers

We also tasted Johnson's caramel popcorn, another must-try culinary delight.

A hosta-eating rabbit (KSS)

Alas, the day must end. We are so grateful to the Rs for this adventure in new territory full of architecture, history, good eating, and "Roadside America" attractions!