CAPE MAY COUNTY HERALD TV LISTINGS VOLUME 13 NUMBER 28 WEEK OF JANUARY 18 TO 24, 1979 NEW HISTORICAL SITE "IN CAPE MAY COUNTY”

(HERALD Photo by Alan Eckert) The Avalon Life Saving Station was recently added to the State Register of Historic Places and will be nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The Life Saving Service was started in 1849, and men and equipment were stationed at spots all along the Jersey Shore to rescue the victims of shipwrecks. The waters bordering the coast were busy highways, as land transportation was difficult. Boats carrying merchandise and passengers continually passed the often treacherous waters off the coast. These vessels not only serviced Cape May County, but many voyaged to and from the Caribbean and the Far East with their holds filled with exotic goods. Fishing, one of the County's main industries added to the shipping traffic. Wrecks were not an unusual occurrence off the underpopulated barrier beaches, and the establishment of the Life Saving Service helped to save many lives. Buildings were constructed to house the men and equipment in almost every community along the shore. Avalon's Station was built in 1894. As more sophisticated methods of protection were introduced, many of the original stations were either demolished or converted to other uses. The Avalon Station was bought from the Coast Guard in 1962, and used as a private home.