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Vol. 14 No. S WEEK OF AUGUST 9 TO AUGUST 15, 1979 JtfSSKS.Vw’i'

CMC Historical Museum

Museum Protects ‘Cherished Yesterdays’

SWAINTON — Somers Corson has a very special job. He is the head protector of Capy May County’s "cherished yesterdays." Corson, a lifelong resident of Seaville who can trace his Cape May County ancestors back to Revolutionary War days, is the director of the Cape May County Historical Museum in Swain ton. His extensive knowledge of the county’s history is evident as he describes various exhibits displayed in the museum ranging from Indian artifacts and whaling implements to military memorabilia and locally made glassware. The museum, located in the historical John Holmes House <c 1738-1796) on Route 9 is tastefully fHlod with meticulously arranged exhibits from all facets of Cape May County's historic life. Operated and maintained by the Cape May County Historical and Genealogical Society, the museum contains a wide array of displays of Indian relics, antique furniture, a period dining room, whaling implements, ancient tools, Victorian, a maritime collection including ships models, pharmaceutical and medical artifacts. The Holmes house is a historical treasure in itself

A HISTORIC TREASURE in JImU te th» Mm Hahncs honw. home of the Cipe May County Historical Museum On Rl. 9.

having recently been officially added to the State Register of Histork

Places.

Situated an a 2H-acre tract of land, the rear

18th century. The houae remained in the Holmes

family until 1885.

A Revolutionary War era bam houses the Indian, whaling and maritime

portion of the home was dinlays

constructed around 1755 by The Historical Society Robert Crease who had acquires the house after . • .. , I : n ^ wnm i A fw! tea t Vie,

purchased a 392 acre tract from the West Jersey

Society.

The house was sold to John Holmes, an Irish

having resided in the basement of the Court House for many years. The museum opened its doors to the public in the Holmes

Immigrant. The main house m 1976.

sections of the house were Among the museum s completed by the end of the most prized exhibits are a

mammoth prismed French-made lens from the old Cape May lighthouse and the Confederate Flag that once waved over the ironclad shiuthe Merrimac. Tw Historical Society maintains a small library adjacent to the museum office where an archives of jenealogical records for ■The county are kept. Genealogical enthusiasts come from many states to use the records. Corson will assist persons desiring to

trace their genealogical history after arrangements are made through the office. The archives is especially helpful to Mayflower researchers as the concentration of Mayflower descendents is reportedly larger in Cape May County than anywhere else in the country. The museum is maintained .through admission fees for guided tours of the building and the historical society membership fees, donations and county funding. The Historical Society currently has 1,000 members. A regulai staff of five wqrks in the office and a corps of 80 historical society volunteers act as host and hostesses on tours. The museum is open from 10-4, MondaySaturday with the last tour starting at 3 p.m. An estimated 6,000 visitors from 20-30 states and several foreign countries tour the museum each year. The museum will be closed in January and February this year because of escalating fuel

easts. Corson said. ■’Recently opened at the museum was a display of Cape May County decoys lhat were collected by the Historical Society's late president Richard V. Anderson. Special events and openhouses are held periodically. A Fall Frolic craft fair is planned for September 15. Special grdup tours are available. There is no charge toCape May County schoolchildren. The Historical Society would like to convert the John Holmes House into a period home with authentic furnishings gracing the rooms. Corson said Anyone desiring to became a member of the Cape May County Historical and Genealogical Society can apply to the museum. Museum supporters are gladly welcomed. Corson said. "A lot of people are surprised lhat the County is as old as it is (established 1692) and that we have the history we do here," Corson said.

Kids Discover Salt Marsh World

rORIC RESTING place. Tills burial plot site the Cape May County Historical turn on Rt. » conUins the graves of early ers dating back to pre-Revolutlonary war

STONE HARBOR - The secret world of salt marsh, teaming with animal and plant life, opened up to a group of children last week as they mucked through the boggy lands surrounding Wetlands Institute. The children ranging from the first tosixth grade age level were participants in an annual Children’s Seashore Ecology Workshop sponsored by the Institute. The course, which provides a firsthand look at fialt marsh birds, insects /and piapts interacting in their natural habitat is both informative and fun, Ann Galli. InsUtute biologist said. The five day course provides the children with an insight into the environmental factors tbat influence the salt marsh habitat. Gain said. Children 4re taught to

identify shells and aquatic life through a scavenger hunt with the whole family invited on the concluding day of the course. Arts and crafts round out the recreational-educational program. The program was "very well received" this year Galli said with a capacity enrollment of 120 students in six classes. Participants came from throughout the county and included both seasonal and year-round residents, she added. Each class is geared toward the participant’s age level, Galli said. Flees for the popular meri^Sere^and*wTfw*non* BEHOLD THE WONDERS of a Horseshoe members Crab. A small magnifying glass affords this Not only Is li • learning |j U | r ojrf „ better look at a horseshoe crab as and fun experience but It's rt of Wetlands Children's Seashore ffisrsSkSShS^i^s, M * rten Gallisaid. Glaspey) ) ; .