TTie Herald and The Lantern

Wednesday, May 7,1960

'Inventment in Future’

State Agrees to Buy Wildwood Rail Spur ^WASHINGTON — me," poralbty "to luDOort contacted Penn

SHORELMES

Page 31

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WASHINGTON - Congrarniinn BUI Hughee ^1* received word that the New Jertey Department of Tranaportatton will begin negotiations to purchase

—, possibly “to support recreational trips to the shore communities and an energy contingency [dan.” GAMBACCINT8 letter followed several months at

tZ? . J |naa«awc KMIUWCU Bcverai monins of the abondoned Wildwood \ activity by Ht«hes aimed railroad spur from the at convincing Trenton at

opaai ll mil III

Penn Central Corporation. In a letter to the South

Jeney Lawmaker, DOT Commlaaloner- Louis Gembaccini stated that the spur "should be purchased and maintained for future

Return On Hospital’s Insurance TRENTON - Burdette

Tomlin Hospital is among 69 hospitals in New Jersey that will share in a $7 million malpractice in-

surance premium refund. Burdette will be

^receiving $n,835 in returned premiums on an earned premium of $55,828 for 1977. All the hospitals receiving the return are members of the Health

Care Insurance Exchange. The non-profit HCIE was

formed in 1976 by the N.J. Hospital Assn, in response to problems of availability and affordability besetting

the commercial suppliers of malpractice insurance. According to state Insurance Commissioner James Sheeran, the

refunds are possible . because of the state’s continuing review of the

HCIE experience; with

that portion of the premium dollar returned which went beyond claims, expenses and reserves for

pending claims.'

the need to reunite the Wildwood right-of-way with the Cane May branch of the PennsylvanlaReading Seashore Line. The PRSL is now owned by NJDOT and serves Atlantic City, Ocean City, Gape May and several inland communities with a rail link to

LindenwoM.

“I am very happy that , Commissioner Qambaccini has agreed in principle to make this important purchase,” Hughes said. “In absence, It is an investment in the future that will pay huge dividends in terms of revitalization of the railroad industry in South Jersey, and will help our country save precious

gasoline."

THE CONGRESSMAN is currently sponsoring legislation aimed at clearing the way for the establishment of direct rail service between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. He said he envisions this line as the background of a regional rail system which will eventually run into Wildwood, Vineland and Toms River as well. In February, Hughes

Beautification Underway

AVALON — "Avalon has long been one of the most beautiful shore communities. In an effort to continue this, the borough council has sent letters to various community civic organizations to ask them to donate funds to landscape the islands along Dune Dr.," Councilmember Rachael Sloan noted recently. The Avalon Garden Club has already contributed the funds for two islands, and at a recent council meeting, the Avalon Home and Landowners Association presented Mayor Ellsworth Armacost and Mrs. Sloan a check for the landscaping of another island.

"We hope to be able to do five or six islands each year, and that the groups who contribute to them will keep check that they are in good shape," commented

Mrs. Sloan.

The borough will install pop-up water nozzles for watering during dry periods or after new plantings, but they will not water each day, she said. Each island will be marked with an appropriate plaque noting which organization made the donation for its beautification. All the planters along the 30th Street entrante to the borough will be filled with blooming plants.

Holy Eucharist At St. Mary’s

STONE HARBOR - Rector Wesley H. Martin of St. Mary's Episcopal Church will celebrate the Holy Eucharist, 8 a.m. and conduct Morning Prayer and deliver the sermon at

10a.m.

The Episcopal Church Women have scheduled a rummage sale, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 16, and 9:30 to

noon May 17.

Celling fans have now been installed in the church through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Casper of Stone Harbor. The chapel has been painted, thanks to the work

of volunteers.

International

Mothcr-Diughter Woman Speaker

Banquet Planned RIO GRANDE - There will be a covered dish Mother-Daughter banquet, 6 p.m. May 16 in the basement of Grace Gospel Chapel. This Sunday, Pastor Guy Rathmell will preach on “An Old EYoblem" during the 11 a.m. service, apd "A New Look" at the 7 p.m. service.

CAPE MAY - The women of the First United Presbyterian Church will lead the Mother’s Day worship service this Sunday when the guest speaker will be Prakai Nontawasee of Thailand. Mrs. Nontawasee served as president of Thailand Seminary from 1975 to 1979 afid also chaired the International Committee for World Day of Prayer.

contacted Penn Central after learning that the firm still owned the Wildwood spur. Thi spur wasn’t bought i|t by Conrail in 1976 when the newlycreated agency assumed control of moat Northeast rail routea, because the line carried no traffic and waa considered valulesa by Conraii. * PENN CENTRAL then forwarded to Congressman Hughes a sale agreement that called for the sale of the entire right of way, from Wildwood Junction south of WMtesboro in Middle Township to the terminus of the old line In Wildwood, for 1135,000, of which 10 per cent would be paid by the purchaser immediately as a down-

payment.

Hughes then sent this agreement to Commissioner Gambaccini and asked that he give the proposal every consideration. Gambaccini has told Hughes that tW asking price will be negotiated between DOT and Penn Central. "THE COMMISSIONER told me he is anxious to talk

to the company about ttas purchase and I’ve urged him to begin theae discussions as soon as possible," Hughes Mid. "With the Wildwood right-of-way in place. I car. then turn my efforts toward having DOT replace the tracks, ties and signals along this spur and refurhiahing the bridge and treaties that cross the Intncoastal Waterway, if

heeded.”

Hughes noted the rails and ties were sold for scrap several years ago, and that the cantilever bridge is now deliberately stuck in a raised position. However, he has been assured that the bridge's motors and gears will still function If reconnected to their power

source.

"DOT advised me several weeks ago that It would probably coat about 9200.000 a mile to reinstall the railroad bed and track," Hughes stated. "Since this spur is only about four miles In length, it's reasonable to believe that the entire spur could he rebuilt for under a million dollars.”

Whether rain or enow er heat O' hall stone Harbor gets its dally mall.

And it has come a long way since the first post office was opened in our town 66 years ago It those days, a window waa set up In a business establishment and everybody came there for the mail Over the years, our post office occupied several different stores. (FreoheH'a Pharmacy was the first.) ft’ must have been really hectic during the summer months, with both year-round residents and vactionera tn line to purchase penny poathards. and the storekeeper trying to do business at the same time. THE MODERN building at Second Ave. and 96th St was erected in 1967. and shdhly thereafter door-to-door delivery began. Robert Rittetihouse. our postmaster, tells me that mail service now covers 2,900 homes and 172 businesses In Stone Harbor. Harry “Jake" Hark was the first year-round mall carrier, and his (ellow

workers are Steves Garrison. Joseph DeRose, Robert DoBree and Dolares Jenkins Extra • workers are added in the summer. Did you know that on Aug 3, 1912, the first coastal airmail flight in the history of New Jersey landed on the Slone Harbor -beach? A TWO-PROP, single engine Job. held together with bicycle chains and costing about two grand, was transported from Philadelphia to Ocean City by ferry. It must have Been a truly exleltlng day when that plane dropped a bag of mail on our beach. A return bag waa located and il arrived safely at its destination in Ocean City 29 miriules later (It it believed that some envelopes carried on this flight are still around - truly collector's items!) Stone Harbor will soon be buzzing with wall-to-wall people, but it doesn't phase our Post Office staff You'll get your mail with a smile'

$100,000 INSURANCE Ion all accountsI

Effective immediately Sturdy^Savings accounts of all types are insured up to $100,000. Recent changes in federal law allow this important new development whether you are saving in a regular passbook account, 90 day or one year certificates of deposit, the popular 6 month or 30 month money market CD, your deposits are insured up »o $100,000 by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. The May interest rate for 30 month Sturdiest Certificate is 10.75 percent, yielding 11.34 percent for a minimum deposit of $500. All certificates subject to penalty for early withdrawal.

Stone Harbor 94th St. A 3rd Ave.

2629 Dune Or. At. 47 A Woodbine ltd.