Wednesday, September 3, IMP

onUNULMtO by t« O'May Iron Horse Helped Establish Stone Harbor

“On The Way to Cape May” one can Follow The Gull on the Ocean Highway from Ocean City to the Point. One can savor the bracing sea breezes while cruising along in a four-wheeled gas-propelled contrivance called the motorcar. But before Mr. Ford invented his fabulous flivver, other means of transportation had to be depended

upon.

Many would-be seashore visitors decided to "forget it" because the trip in Jersey Wagons over hot, dusty roads' was pure torture. Most thoroughfares were little more than cowpaths. Imagiqp leaving Camden at 4 a.m. and arriving at Cape May at mMnight. All of this to get away from “summercomplaints." CAPE MAY HAD THE EDGE on other Jersey shore spots because of its waterways. In the early 1800s packets began .plying the Delaware on a two-day sail from Philadelphia to Cape May, stopping at New Castle to take on passengers who would come overland from Baltimore. Cargo ships sailing along the Atlantic Coast from Georgia and New England, also would take on passengers and discharge them at Cape May. The War of 1812 changed the picture when British warships bottled up Delaware Bay, but resourceful packet captains often would squeeze through or tie up at one of the creeks and take their vacationers the rest of-the way by wagfcn. On the way to Cape Island the packe'ts would pick up oysters in the Cohansey, for which Uk^ hotels would pay pretty prices. By 1840 Cape May had become the most popular resort in the country. s % ' \AROUND THE 1850s THE "iron horse” started steaming towards the shore. The first railroad was built to Absecon Island which we identify today as Casino City. Thence south to Ocean City and Sea Isle, over Townsend's Inlet to Seven Mile Beach. The first train came to Stone Harbor in 1889 when the West Jersey Railroad Company was given right-of-way to the entire length of this island. After this momfentous * event, “cottages" began to spring up and the.Abbotsford Inn was built. Seven cottages formed the original cplony, grouped from 80th to 83rd Sts. On July 3, 1911, a bridge was erected over the Great Channel, and signs were placed at strategic points along the route from the north to divert motorists from continuing on to Wildwood and Cape May. From that day forward business activity at 96th St. has continued to grow — and grow!

Tax Dollars <-SYomPagel) historically when it comes to the share of the tax dollar going to municipal government although here the difference is reversed. IN 1980, for example, taxpayers throughout New Jersey will spend 22 cents of every dollar for local government services while Jersey Cape taxpayers are spending 35 percent of their taxes to the municipality. In 1969, while municipal taxes statewide took a 23 cent bite out of each tax dollar, taxpayers in this county were spending 43 cents of each dollar for municipal government. The similarity between taxpayers in Cape May countv and the rest of the state when it comes to paying county taxes also follows thru the 12-year period. Out of each 1980 tax dollar, 27 cents goes to county government here while statewide the figure is 23 cents. In 1969 the figures were 23 cents here and 20 cents statewide. THE OVERALL figures would seem to reflect the tremendous summertime influx. And the fact that the municipal share of the overall tax dollar here dropped from 43 cents in 1969 to 35 cents this year may well show the results of beach fees that revenue' has helped ease the burden an the local taxpayer to support the large lifeguard contingent that non-resort municipalities in most other areas of the state don’t need. IN ACTUAL doUars, a total property taxes In support of all three levels

of government (local, schools and county( in . Cape May County this year amount to almost $58 . million. Of that, almost $23 million goes for schools, $21 million for municipal government, and $16 million for county government services. In 1969 the total was just under $17 million and of' that $6 million went for schools, $8 million for municipal services, and $4 million to the county. Statewide, property taxes in the Garden State have gone from $1.7 billion in '69 to $3.8 billion this year. Editor's Note: This analysis deals with property taxes on a countywide basis. There are individual school districts — municipalities — in the county where more than the state average share of tax dollars goes to support education.) Parvovirus — (From Page 1) home and yard as much as possible, always walk it on a leash avoiding contact with other dogs and any deposits which can be seen, and never let it run free. If there is a wall, corner of the property nearby or fire hydrant which other do& frequently use as a pit stop - wash it down with a mixture of one part Clorox added to 30 parts water. Additional Clorox diminishes rather than increases the effectiveness of the solution.

Hie Herald and The Lantern

, in* u MASTER OF THE KEYBOARD. Ward Marston. held the audience in his hands at the 27th Blind Artists Concert in Wildwood Community Center last week. The program, also highlighted by the talents of tenor Walter Fredericks and soprano Catherine Deraco, ranged from operatic to jazz.

Page 3

First Call— (From Page 1) housing, overnight lodging; and senior, single parent and displaced homemaker needs). There has also been more emphasis placed on the areas «f abortion, pregnancy testing, adoption and VD. First Call For Help links clients with the service support they need when they have a problem which they can’t iolve. The number, in soperation round the clock, is 729-2255 (remember: 729-CALL). ..Not only individuals make use of the free ser vice. Out of county agencies have been utilizing First Call as a resource to find out about county services. THE N.J. DIV. OF Women, Bureau of Transitional Services, Native American Cultural Center, and the stateDept. of Energy all contacted First Call in July alone to reach their clients and agencies in Cape May County. As a pilot project for New Jersey Title XX funds.

First Call has been demonstrating Information and Referral-Case Management to state representatives and agencies from Burlii^ton, Atlantic, and Cumberland counties who are interested in initiating Title XX funded I & R systems. \ First Call has been active in agency coordination particularly „ with Emergency Energy Assistance (helped clients and agencies find alternate resources for fuel when they were out of funds) and Emergency Assistance Program Screening (by using emergency fund sources on a rotating basis, a more equitable use of agencies and better coordination of resources was established.) i n its first 10 months of operation, First Call For Help has processed 4,500 calls.

Since November the program has been averaging 500 calls per month. There has also been an 80 percent client followup on referral calk.

Legion Parade September 6

WILDWOOD — More than 20,000 spectators are expected to line Atlantic Ave. this Saturday afternoon for the

annual American Legion Parade.

The traditional post-Labor Day event will conclude the 62nd Annual State Convention of the American Legion. The line of maffch will be from I6th St. in North Wildwood 42 blocks south to Heather Rd. in Wildwood Crest. AMONG Ntew ENTRIES IN THIS year’s parade will be the Superstars Band of the Burlington County Special Services School District, consisting of mentally and

physically handicapped students from the district’s six schoob. "They are impaired, but not impeded," according to their director David Hersh, “and they paint a picture of dedication, perseverance and love wherever they perform." The Junior and Senior Color Guard Contest, along with a music festival, begins 7 p.m. Friday in ConvenUon Hall. The Junior and Senior Drum and Bugle Corps Contests commence 7 a.m. Saturday at Maxwell Field.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

Start the Savings Habit Pay Yqurself First Instead of trying to save what little remains from the weekly paycheck (usually nothing), a growing number df our customers save by paying themselves first. In other words, savings is an expense which has to be paid regularly just as the mortgage payment, car payment and other bills. Open an account. Pay yourself regularly and sopn you will have established a healthy nest egg. Marine National Bank helps you save in many ways. These ways include regular passbook savings accounts, certificates of deposit and Christmas Clubs. No matter which savings plan is best suited for you, we will be happy to discuss it with you. Stop at any of our five convenient offices and you’ll get to know what we mean when we say “We’re Here to Help”. Marine # M v At ir « it 111 it it t e 11 r r OCg National Bank Member of Federal Reserve-System and FDIC Each Depositor insured up to $to0,000. OFFICES Wildwood • North Wildwood • WUdwood Crest Lower Township • Middle Township

•“We Should Be Your Bank”