Owen Quinn

Vows A Fresh Approach

AVALON - A frwh approach That, says mayoral candidate Owen Quinn is what he will bring to Avalon's Borough government "I don't like politicians. They get lax in their ways after they're in office too long, " Quinn said. The 43-year oki Borough corhmtssioner has li^ed in Avalon for 34 yeari He says he would like to see the town returned to its original family resort atmosphere The former Avalon policeman and part-owner of Sullivan's Deportment Store on Dune Dr said stiff

fines should be imposed against law offenders that disturb the peace and damage property In Avalon He is agaiast outdoor bars and said mounting public opinion supports on this issue Dredging is one of the most important issues Quinn saiu he will push if elected In addition, he said he would appoint a well qualified person to spearhead a streets im provement program rather than oversee the entire project himself Quinn foresees no problems with the tran-

sition to a Mayor-Council form of government and feels he can work quite successfully with the recently elected councilpersons Under the new mayorcouncil form of govern ment the mayor is given generous power, power that must be exercised carefully. Quinn said. Replying to Mayor Ellsworth Armacost’s charges that the current campaign has been a dirty one with unfair references to the mayor's winter Florida vacations. Quinn said.

if there has been any dirt it's been his dirt. Quinn replied "I think the facts have been presented '' Quinn has been a Borough Commissioner of Recreation and Public Safety for about six months He does not think a comparison of length of experience with Armacost s will hurt him. •Sometimes experience hurts more than it helps.'' he said. What qualifies Quinn to be mayor? i know this town and I know what it needs." he said

Ellsworth Armacost

Incumbent Vows Dedication

AVALON — Dedication to what he considers “the best town on the Coast" is the driving force behind Avalon Mayor Ellsworth Armaeost's bid for a third term ia office, according to the Mayor "I think in my own heart I am dedicated to Avalon," Armacost said last week as the June 12 runoff election between Armacost and opposing candidate Owen Quinn drew near A run off election for the

new mayor-council form of government was necessitated because none of the three mayoral candidates in the regular May # received a 50 percent plus one vote majority Armacost led the field with a comfortable ai^vote lead. Quinn drew 309 votes with candidate Thomas White trailing at 257 votes. Armacost. a native of Baltimore is a 14-year resident of Avalon. Experience is the pivoUl

point of a campaign in which the mayor claims i have nothing to hide. My record of stable, economical and progressive government is clear and well known." Armacost said •ft has been my honor to serve the people of Avalon during the period of our Borough s greatest growth and progress." he added The mayor prides himsetfwon having run a campaipk free of mud-

slinging and empty campaign promises "1 want to-tell the people w hat I can do. not condemn someone else." Armacost said "Ido not make campaign promises, but the few I do make can be relied on—totally." he said. Heated criticism of Armacost's winter Florida vacations and absence during last winter's bliz zard have not gone un (Continued on Page 28)

Seaville Meeting House

Oldest County Church Nears Third Century By Jane A. Cunningham

SEAVILLE - Cape May County is rich in historical places ■ of worship The Seaville Meeting House is the oldest in the county, as well as one of the oldest surviving houses of worship in the state of New Jersey. Located on Route 9. more or less follows an Indian Trail and later became a stagecoach route, the Meeting House and its surroundings will take you back to th£ early 18th century When Cape May County was first settled is the late 1 GOO's. most of those who settled in the upper section of the county belonged to the Society of Friends or Quakers While most were of British descent, there were also some Swedes and Dutch Quakers in New England and in the old world were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. When the southern part of the state, known as West Jersey, was acquired in the 1670’s by a group which included prominent Quaker William Penn, pppy who yearned for religious freedom emmigrated to this area Those ' who landed on the south shores of Great Egg Harbor were fishermen, whdters and shipbuilders In the beginning, the colonists met in each others laimes to practice their religion Old records show that as early as 1693. meetings were held in the home of John Towasend in Ocean View (His house, the oldest in Cape May County. still stands across from Magnolia Lake > Later, meetings were held in the Garretson home in

Upper Township where the majority of the Quakers lived As the congregation grew, the members decided to build a per manent structure in Beesley's Point In the early 1700 s the Old Cedar Meeting House was moved to its present location on Shore Road. Early records list the names of some of the first members, many of which are found in Cape May County today Somers. Leeds. Ireland. Ingersull. Smith. Corday. Woodward. Steelman. Townsend. Willets. Garretson. Corson. Badcock. Baner and Shaw The Quakers were among the first religious groups to actively oppose the practice of slavery. By the begirmirtg of the 1800's. Cape May County Friends, along with those in the rest of New Jersey and Pennsylvania were publicly denouncing slavery It may have been primarily through their pressure that in 1820 the New Jersey Legislature passed a law emancipating the slaves The Meeting House stands as a memorial to all the members of the Society Of Friends who have b^n influential in making Cape May County's history Family Plaiiiiinf> Information COtfRT HOUSE For information about Family Planning Services call the Cape May County Health Department ’465.1181 between 9 a m, and 4 p rn Monday through Friday

HISTORIC GRAVEYARD. The mting places of Revolutionary War soldier John Candy born in I74i and Lydia Candy, who died in 1828 are among those in the churchyard at the Seaville Friends Meeting House.