Cape May's Elephant

This is a drawing of the elephant made in Cape May in 1884. It was over 40 feet high and the owner charged 10 cents to go inside and up to the pavilion. It was located in South Cape May. It was left to rot and the city tore it down around the turn of the century.

Interesting family history from Aunt Wilda

A long time ago Lucy the elephant was a Coffee Shop. That is where Grandmom's Mother worked,her name was Ida Bacon. She was my Grandmother. My great Grandfather worked at the Barniget Light house, his name was Sam Leamon. Grandmom Miles told me that when she was a little girl, she would visit and play in the Light house.

Lucy is now restored and in Margate, NJ.

Grandmom

We went up to PA to bring Grandmom down for a stay. We came back to NJ by way of Atlantic City along the white horse pike {rte. 30}. We were all fascinated by all the signs on the way into Atlantic City. There were signs made like full size castles, dinosaurs, fish, and just about anything you could think of. It was great fun seeing the sites in Atlantic City, like Lucy the elephant and the tall hotels along the boardwalk.

Dad's Burnt Elbow

Dad was the only person I ever knew that could sleep while sitting in a straight back chair. One night he was doing this and leaned back a little, just enough for his elbow to touch the heater. That woke him up right quick and he ended up with a very large blister.

He always used to read his paper, sleep awhile, then read his paper some more until late in the night. I never could read at night unless I was in bed.

Hamburgers

When Don and Shirl were born, Mother had to stay in the hospital for a week. Dad asked us kids every day what we wanted for supper and we always said hamburgers and ketchup on buns. He did it, every day he went to the market and got fresh hamburger and buns and we all helped cook and fix them. Everyone on 4th ave. was joking about it. Dad said that we would start eating right when Mother got home.

Aunt Wilda Also Liked The Railroad

I liked the railroad also. I would run across the field and wait for the train to come, because I knew I was going to get candy thrown to me. The Engineer got use to me coming out there to wave at the train, so he started bringing me candy and yelling "How are you today?" I told Albert and Margaret Parr about this, and they started coming with me. Who would have known then that one day I would marry an Engineer that would buy me boxes of candy. One thing for sure, He didn't throw them at me.

They Are Taking Black Hill Away

They started hauling away our beloved black hill. Loaders and dump trucks worked on it day and night until it was gone. They built that furniture store "NJ Warehouse" where it once stood. We were all sick about that.

There was a building boom in Wildwood, because the war was over and and people were making up for the 5 years lost. All the empty blocks where there were shrubs and swamps were being cleared and houses were being built on them. I didn't like the change at all.