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About this City Journal

Cape May County is the southernmost county in New Jersey. It has been a popular tourist destination since colonial times. and the city of Cape May claims to be the nation's oldest seashore...

Entries in this City Journal

Jetty Jockey
<DISCLAIMER > Lots of pics, so please be patient waiting for them to load In today's update, we visit southwestern Middle Township to look at the towns of Green Creek and Del Haven. Green Creek (pronounced by the locals as Green Crick) is a small rural town located between the headwaters of Green Creek ( top, right) and Fishing Creek ( bottom, left and right corners). It is the southernmost of the "Crikker" towns . ( See update 2-26, "Crikkers" for explanation). The area was settled in the mid 1700s , and...
Jetty Jockey
After a bit of a hiatus, I'm picking up the journal where I left off. A lot has happened in the past year. Cape May County is recovering nicely from the damage dealt by Hurricane Sandy, and I've had a few events in my personal life, like getting married and buying a house and doing all the little things that go along with them . The good news ( for fans of the journal) is my new home is in Cape May Court House and is a more centralized location , making fact finding explorations a lot easier than the half...
Jetty Jockey
Greetings, friends, and Happy New Year. Sorry for the delay in getting a post up, but as you can expect, things have been a bit crazy here along the Jersey Shore the past few months. Compared to the devastation experienced to the northern end of the state, we here in Cape May County got off relatively easy. It's been two months since Sandy pummelled the area, and Cape May County is recovering well. There was no gas rationing here. Power was restored to most of the county by the end of the week ( giving a...
Jetty Jockey
Well, most of my hurricane preparations are complete so I figure I'll update y'all on the situation here before I lose power. At the moment, the core of the hurricane is about 100 miles offshore, and is due to hit within 4 to 6 hours. Winds at the center have increased to 90 mph, making this a potentially devastating storm. The morning's high tide brought severe flooding to the barrier island communities, and the water has risen over the Garden State Parkway and all the causeways. Those left on the islands...
Jetty Jockey
Well, most of my hurricane preparations are complete so I figure I'll update y'all on the situation here before I lose power. At the moment, the core of the hurricane is about 100 miles offshore, and is due to hit within 4 to 6 hours. Winds at the center have increased to 90 mph, making this a potentially devastating storm. The morning's high tide brought severe flooding to the barrier island communities, and the water has risen over the Garden State Parkway and all the causeways. Those left on the islands...
Jetty Jockey

Storm Warning

By Jetty Jockey,

Hello all. As I write this, Cape May County is again in the crosshairs of a hurricane. Tropical Storm Sandy is predicted to strengthen to hurricane force before striking Cape May County's beaches. Unlike past storms, which sideswiped the region on thier way north, this one is hitting the region dead on. The slow moving storm, which is has been described as a hurricane wrapped in a nor'easter, will pound the county for three days with high winds, heavy rains and catastrophic flooding. 15 to 25 foot waves on...
Jetty Jockey
Time for another reality check, this time looking at Middle Township and Seven Mile Beach Island. < CLICK ON PICS FOR LARGER IMAGE > Satellite view . Sim version, western Middle Township Eastern Middle and Seven Mile Beach Island. REPLIES : Hmm, do not like the eating muskrat business Everything else looks really great, though. Love how organic the layout is. I haven't sampled it yet. I hear it's an acquired taste. Mostly, muskrat are trapped for thier pelts. From an ecological view, I guess it's a good...
Jetty Jockey

2 - 26 : Crikkers

By Jetty Jockey,

In today's update we return to the Delaware Bayshore. This is a rural section of western Middle Township, between Dias Creek ( pronounced by the locals as Dye-az Crick ) and Green Creek (Green Crick). The inhabitants of this area are referred to as "Crikkers" by uppity folks from the islands and other more ""civilized" areas of the county , a term meaning "hick" or "redneck". They are a simple folk; farmers, trappers, fishermen, and tradesmen who spend most of thier workday outdoors . Crikkers would rather...
Jetty Jockey
Wow, so many replies to the Stone Harbor update! I really do appreciate the feedback. Rather than take up space in the next update, which should be ready later in the weekend, I'll answer them here. While ya read, You can listen to "On the Way to Cape May". Written in 1961 by Buddy Nugent, the tune circulated from one band to another around Cape May County in the second half of the 20th Century. It became regionally popular when Al Alberts recorded it and increased its broadcast exposure on radio and TV....
Jetty Jockey

2-25 : Stone Harbor

By Jetty Jockey,

In today's installment we continue south along Seven Mile Beach Island to the town of Stone Harbor. Stone Harbor was undeveloped until the middle of the 19th century. The first building, an inn, was erected in 1891 near what is now 80th Street. Seven cottages formed the original resort. It is claimed that the name came from an English seaman, Captain Stone, who sought refuge here during a storm. In 1907, the dunes were leveled and the marshes filled in, and basins were dredged from land adjacent to the...
Jetty Jockey
In today's update we continue south along Seven Mile Beach Island to the upscale resort of Avalon. < CLICK ON PICS FOR A LARGER VERSION> The island was originally covered by a thriving juniper forest, and used by the Lenni-Lenape for fishing. In 1722, Aaron Leaming purchased the land for 79 pounds, 10 shillings. It was used for grazing cattle and harvesting timber, and was uninhabited for over 100 years due to a lack of a fresh water supply. It is rumored that Captain Kidd and other pirates used the...
Jetty Jockey

2-23: Townsend's Inlet

By Jetty Jockey,

In today's update , we move back offshore to the Townsend's Inlet tile. Townsend's Inlet seperates Ludlam's Beach Island from Seven Mile Beach Island. On the northern shore is the Townsend's Inlet section of Dennis Township. South of the inlet is the northermost section of the incorporated borough of Avalon. Ocean Drive ( County Road 619) connects to Sea Isle City to the north and to downtown Avalon to the south. There are no connections to the mainland from this tile. Aerial view of Townsend's Inlet, the...
Jetty Jockey
Hello ! In today's update we will be looking at Middle Township east of Cape May Court House East of Court House are the Scotch Bonnet, Benny's Landing, and Shellbay landing tiles. This is one of the few locations in the county where development has infringed upon the tidemarsh. The Scotch Bonnet section of Middle Township is a collection of homes lining the side of the Stone Harbor causeway. The roadbed is raised a few feet above the tidal marsh to make it accessible during higher tides. The area takes...
Jetty Jockey
Hello and happy Labor Day ! In today's update we will be visiting the town of Cape May Court House in Middle Township. Grab a snack and settle in, as this is a fairly lengthy update <CLICK ON PICS FOR LARGER IMAGES> Cape May Court House is the county seat of Cape May County, and the center of government for both the county and the township of Middle. In 1695, prominent whaler Shagmar Hand purchased over 1100 acres of land from the West Jersey Society. After the first survey by Shagmar's nephew Jeremiah,...
Jetty Jockey
Hello again. Work is ongoing on the Cape May Court House tile. At the moment it's about 60% complete. So while we wait, we'll visit the Crest Haven tile. East of the County Park is the Crest Haven section of Middle Township. Located east of the Garden State Parkway at exit 11 , the Crest Haven Complex is home to several of the county's agencies and utilities. A trash to steam plant at the County Municipal Utilities Authority helps fulfill the county's waste disposal needs. Cape May Tech provides an...
Jetty Jockey
In today's entry , we will be looking at the Cape May County Park tile in Middle Township Located in Middle Township just north of Cape May Court House, the Cape May County Park and Zoo cover about 220 acres of woodland, ponds, and marshes. Located between US Route 9 (easternmost north - south road) and Dennisville Road ( western FAR road, CR 657), this section of the county has been set aside for the recreation of residents and tourists alike. While there is some development along US 9 and a few homes...
Jetty Jockey
In today's posting, we continue our trek south along the Delaware Bayshore. Today's focus is on western Middle Township, in particular, the town of Dias Creek and Cook's and Kimble's Beach . NJ 47 runs north to south through Dias Creek, following the track of the colonial stagecoach route. In the late 1700s and early 1800s , development of Dennis Creek and Cape Island (Cape May) brought prosperity to the tiny bayshore towns in between them. One of these was Dyer's Creek ( renamed Dias Creek at a later...
Jetty Jockey
In today's update we return to the western shore of the county, focusing on the area around Reed's Beach. It is a sparsely populated section of Middle Township, comprised mostly of salt marsh and farmland. Heading south on NJ 47 from Goshen, the road crosses Bidwell's Creek. Upstream of the bridge the creek branches, with Bidwell's Creek heading east and Skeeter Island Creek turning south. Skeeter Island ( east of the creek) is a Federal Wildlife sanctuary and access is prohibited. About a mile south of...
Jetty Jockey
Hello again ! In today's update, we take a look at the southern end of Swainton and the Seigtown tile. There is no town of South Seaville, nor is there a Seigtown . This section of Middle Township is technically part of Cape May Court House. (hey, I had to call it something) Most of the development is along US Route 9 ( north - south road, center), Swainton - Goshen Road ( County Road 646, northernmost east-west road) , and Seigtown Road (County Road 652 , the southern east-west road) . The Primary...
Jetty Jockey

Road Work

By Jetty Jockey,

Cape May County's transportation network has changed relatively little in the 300 plus years of its existance. Before the coming of the Europeans, the Lenni Lenape natives had built an extensive network of trails across southern New Jersey. These were used for their seasonal migrations to the coast in early summer , where they would hunt, fish and collect shells for making wampum. These trails, generally two to three feet across, traversed the easiest paths, avoiding swamps, creeks and other difficult...
Jetty Jockey
There have been eight updates since the last reality check. Time again to compare my Sim version of Cape May County against the real thing . Dennis Township is now complete, as are the towns of Woodbine and Sea Isle City. This finishes the northern third of the map. CLICK ON THE PICS TO GET A LARGER VERSION This one is from Bing ™ Maps. I like Bing for thier "Bird's Eye View" , which tilts the aerial pic to give a SC4 like view. ... and the Sim version. I'll be working on mainland sections of Middle...
Jetty Jockey
In today's update we leave Dennis Township and continue south on US Route 9 to view the northern half of Swainton. Swainton is an unincorporated section of northeastern Middle Township. Once just rural farmland, it has in recent years been developed into a pleasant bedroom community. The older structures are along Seashore Road (US Route 9). Newer developments are on tree lined streets that branch out east and west from US Route 9. At the southern end of the tile, County Road 601 ( Avalon Boulevard) heads...
Jetty Jockey
Welcome ! In today's update we return to the mainland for a look at the Clermont tile. < CLICK ON PICS FOR LARGER IMAGES > Clermont is an unincorporated section of Dennis Township, located at the southeastern corner of the township. It sits on the relatively high ground that runs along the eastern side of the county, 13 feet above sea level. East of the tile is the tidemarsh seperating the mainland from the barrier islands. To the west is the Beaver Swamp, one of the county's many wildlife refuges....
Jetty Jockey
Hello again! In this installment I'm going to fill out the rest of Ludlam's Beach Island before returning to the mainland. Due to the length of the Sea Isle City update, I didn't include them there. North of downtown Sea Isle City are the Whale Beach section of the city and the southern end of the town of Strathmere, in Upper Township. Whale Beach is so named because Joeseph Ludlam and colleagues operated a whaling operation here in the 18th century. They built thier fortunes at the expense of the great...
Jetty Jockey
Hello ! Here it is June at the Jersey Shore and we haven't been to the beach yet. In today's update we are going offshore to Ludlam's Beach Island to visit the resort of Sea Isle City. Get comfortable, this is a fairly lengthy update . The first visitors to the island were Leni-Lenape natives, who journeyed from the mainland to fish and to collect shells for wampum, which was made from the purple lining of clam shells. Joeseph Ludlam was the first owner of the island, purchasing the land in 1692 from the...
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