Ewter Edition

CAPE MAY COUNTY TIMES, SEA ISLE CITY, N. J.

Friday April 6,1917

Page 5

Sea Isle City, the Beauty Spot of the New Jersey Coast

When the question, "Where shall we go this tier,” confronts the average man or woman, ere is nothing so pertinent to its solution as r a place that is readily accecsible, and s everything that the heart of the visi- . could desire. Such a place is Sea Isle City, New Jersey. Situated on Ludlam Island, three miles from y inlet, free from cross-currents, with an uni bathing beach with a gentle slope for early four hundred feet, Sea Isle City is closer Philadelphia than any other seashore resort, excepting alone Atlantic City. There is frequent train service on both the Pennsylvania and Reading roads, and the actual running time from Philadelphia is less than seventy-five minutes. There is good trolley and train connections from Atlantic City and other coast resorts. No other resort on the New Jersey coast is so admirably situated from a standpoint of climate and natural advantages. The summers are cool, swept by the breezes of old Ocean, and the winters are warm. There is unbounded boating, bathing, fishing, crabbing and sailing, both in the surf and in the deep inland waterway. A boardwalk extends for four miles along the ocean’s edge, which at night is made as bright ' as day through a new lighting system. Here you cay'walk, or sit on the benches provided, with an unobstructed view of the sea, and the surf breaking under your very feet The city has recently spent $35,000 for a Sewage Plant $5000 for an Automobile Fire Truck, $20,000 for Improved Paving, and $20,000 for a School House. A model Gas Plant has been erected and is now in pperation. The City Hall is a model of modem construction. Artesian water of certified purity. Electric Lighting,'Artificial Ice Plant and Trolley Service are in full operation. There is ample church accommodations for Catholic and Protestants. Diversified amusements for the enjoyment of all. The Inland Waterway, which separates Sea Isle City from the mainland, is a navigable channel uijder State control and is now open from Atlantic City to Cape May, allowing easy passage, in a well staked route at all stages of the tide. It is the popular course for Motor Boat Races of the country, being 60 miles long and passing 12 Yacht Club Houses. It is also becoming a favorite location for cottages and boat houses. Sea Isle City’s splendidly appointed Yacht Club has had a successful life for eight years, and has one of the best Club Houses on the coast It has a record of more blue ribbons than any other club during its activity and has the best racing course on the coast At no resort on the coast can city lots with Gas, Water, Electric Light, Sewage, Sidewalks and Trollevs be obtained at such reasonable prices for desirable locations. Ocean frontages are offered at one-quarter the prices charged elsewhere; fashion lias not yet spoiled the town. It is a place for quiet life for women and children and relaxation and comfort for men. There is almost no dust or smoke in Sea Isle and laundry bills need be very small. With cheap food and clothing, our outdoor life and absence of doctors’ bills, the months spent at Sea Isle arc the most economical of the year. Fruits, Vegetables, Berries, Melons, from a large number of truck farmer> on the main'and, have* easy access to the city Hy perfect County road. As the supply far exceeds the demand and the distance short. Sea Isle ha.* a unique advantage over other shore resorts, being served daily by the farmers with best quality at lowest prices. Only one other place on the Jersey Coast does an export fishing business'. Hundreds of barrels of fish are often shipped daily from Sea Isle to Philadelphia, New York and other coast

towns. Residents of Sea Isle meet.the boats as they come in from the fishing banks and buy the choicest fish, mackerel, bonita, bars, king, butterfish (often still alive), from five to eight cents per pound. Crabs, oysters and clams are also abundant and cheap. Corson's Inlet and Townsend Inlet, at the ends of the island, with good trolley connections, are celebrated fishing grounds and offer as good line fishing as can be found on the coast Hotels, Furnished Cottages and Boarding Houses are good, well kept moderate in charges and in sufficient number to meet all comers. Few locations present more natural beauties. The sun rises out of the ocean, and sets over a stretch of three miles of meadow, as beautiful in its changing colors as the Roman Campagna. Only in the early forfinoon is there a glare of sunshine from the ocean. Soon the reflection is away from the land and walking on the beach is a delight The moonlight on the ocean is a wonderful vision of beauty. The ocean sounds

sea gull lent weirdness to the garden spot that was to be. Soon after Mr. Landis’ purchase, the first house in Sea Isle City was built It was the summer home of the now Mayor, R. M. Atwater. This building was erected on the beach front and still stands at the foot of what is now Minerva street. The only method of transportation in the early days was by means of a stagecoach line that made two trips daily to the South Seaville station of the Pennsylvania Railway and entered Sea Isle City by the old plank road that led to the mainland. Water was carried from the mainland to the shore at so much per barrel, and life here was devoid of the great conveniences now to be found. So great and wonderful was the attraction of old ocean and the picturesque surroundings of Sea Isle City that constantly increasing numbers of city residents flocked here during the summers, despite the discomforts. With increased travel, the first railroad was

Fishing is good at Sea Isle City

its diapason of music as a ground tone, delighting the ear and lulling to sound repose. The eye strained by long devotion to study or desk work or the close environment of city life is relieved by the long vistas of sea marsh and sky. The whole body u renewed by the tonic of the sea air and for the time being one lives in the realm of pure nature, unspoiled by the hand of man and the arts of civilization—close to the unaltered handiwork of the Creator. A BIT OF EARLY HISTORY. In 1891, Chan. K. Landis, encouraged by the success he attained in founding the model city of Vineland, N. J., purchased Ludlam’s Island and founded Sea Isle City. This island was then seven miles of beautiful meadow land and white sand dunes, extending from Townsend’s Inlet, at the south, to Corson’s Inlet, at the north, and presented to the lover of nature, and the practical founder of the city, a virgin isle that bordered the vast expanse of blue sea. On the hard sandy beach great white-capped breakers rolled incessantly and the shrill cry of the

built into the city and from then until today the advancement of the city has been rapid. From its inceptioi,, this resort owes its upbuilding and prosperity principally to Philadelphians, the first people to recognize that Nature had dealt w*ith lavish hand in adorning this island resort with all the varied beauties in her gift There is no finer marine scenery to be found anywhere on the New Jersey coast than here, where old ocean, so majestic and never wearying in charm, is seen in all his grandeur. No less picturesque are the bays and labyrinths of streams, coursing through the green meadow land that stretches from these island shores to the wooded mainland. Sea Isle City is a thoroughly modern resort, affording to visitors every opportunity to enjoy the conveniences found only in the best regulated communities. Its broad avenues are brilliantly lighted by electricity; it has a perfect sewerage system, and its water, the purest and most sparkling, is drawn from artesian wells nearly 900 feet deep.

A trolley road traverses the length of the island, affording the rider through its entire length a view of the ocean. This trolley connects with Atlantic City, Ocean City, Wildwood, Cape May and the entire line 01 coast resorts, by inland boat lines, affording pleasant trips. As a pleasant health resort Sea isle City is unsurpassed on the Atlantic coast. On this sea-girt isle pleasure-seekers will find escape irom the stilling heat of the cities and inland towns, in the summer days mere is waited from the open sea, bracing, exhilarating air, imparting health and bringing comfort to the tired visitors. Sea Isle City is on the highest land between Long Branch and Cape May, portions of it being 36 leet above sea level, and as the island is only a quartix of a mile wide at its extreme width, it is swept continuously by cool salt water breezes, no matter which way the wind blows. The temperature always registers- several degrees cooler than Atlantic City and other watering places. Its refreshing climate has doubtless done much to help Sea Isle City attain its proud distinction of being, in point of years, one of the oldest resorts on the Atlantic coast and in point of spirit, one of the youngest in me world. REAL ESTATE VALLES. The raise in real estate values in Sea Isle City has been steady and sure. In 19U9, seven years ago, the valuation of the entire city was $1,225,lil. Today, in 1917, the value is $1,900,000, an increase of practically $700,000. The growth of Sea Isle City has not been of tlie unstable kind suen as we hnd in some resorts, due to the activities of promoters. Tne increase in values nas been natural, and at no period of its existence, save lor a lew years in its early days, has s>ea isle City been auvanced and promoted by real estate speculators. In 190b, Lhas. h, tianuis, jr., son 01 the founder of Sea isle City, orgamzeu a company for tne purpose 01 developing a section 01 the city to be known as Vemcoan Bara. Work was started at once, anu touay tins section, which was men valueless meadow land, s tan us as one ui tne nnest resiutjntial sections of uie city. ttroad streets, tine sidewalks and euros, dotted with handsome residences. Venicean Park is the garden spot of the resort. Each lot faces “ and backs to a canal, with direct connection with the Inland Waterway. Thus one can keep a motor boat at one’s backdoor, with a private landing, and fish from the "kitchen window.” T he park is planned on the lines of vemce, with its beautiful streets and canals, hence its name, “Venicean Park.” BATHING, FISHING AND GUNNING. Sea Isle City has a beach that is as near perfect as Nature could make it. 1- or a distance of eight miles, from Townsend's Inlet to Corson's, it extends in a level, unbroken surface, hard and,firm, w-ith not an indentation to mar its beauty. aWide and gently sloping, it forms an ideal bathing ground, where childret^nd adults may enjoy the finest of bathing in peFk -t safety, being located in a cove of the ocean\hich prevents undertow and makes bathing absolutely without peril. Hot and cold sea water baths are also to be enjoyea. lo the Nimrod, the meadows and waterways adjacent to Sea Isle City offer the finest sport. Encircling the island are miles of salt water bays and streams that teem with fish, while on the marshes great flocks of plover and snipe halt in their spring and fall migrations. Tne marsh hen in countless numbers rears happy lamilies, innocent of its fate for the gunners to claim their offspring m the early lall, and that they do not wait in vain is proved by manv a well-filled game bag. From June until October all varieties of fiih, weak, king, black bass and flounder, abound in profusion in all of the larger streams dose to the city. In the gullies along the beach, at both Corson's and Townsend’s Inlets, drum fish, great big fellows, weighing from fifteen to seventy pounds, are taken in goodly numbers, all through the summer at the railroad bridges at

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EDWARD B. ARNETT BUILDING CONTRACTOR Paris Street Both Phones Sea Isle City

SEA ISLE CITY LUMBER CO. tVERVTIilNG IN Tiff BUILDING UNI I

■111

A. G. RICE & CO. "The Leader Store

Office and Yards, Landis and West Jersey

Avenues, Sea Isle City, N. J.

HBMHmiHHHaNHroKMtM HI:

Plumbing: Hardware

Housefurnishing’s

1 313 and 315 S. Landis Ave., SEA ISLE CITY 1 ■ m

Bell Phone 4-3 keystone 22-Y