By Steve Murray

(Ed. note: This letter was originally written as a testimonial to save the St. Ann’s Rectory. But since the rectory was demolished, we changed the reference of it to past tense. PIP still has a goal of finding the right location for a Resource Center. The building in the photo is 3210 Pacific Ave, the oldest building still standing on Pacific.)

For the last thirty five years I have been directly involved in historic preservation in Cape May County, in particular, the Wildwoods. I was a member of the team that restored and operated the Island’s most important historic structure, the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse,, and authored an award winning book on the Wildwoods’ maritime history. I was extremely honored to receive the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Award in 2005 and the Cape May County Heritage award in 2009. That being said, one could see there is no greater advocate for local historic preservation than myself. 

This letter originally served as my strong support for the preservation of the Saint Ann’s Rectory in Wildwood. It was a beautiful Victorian “Stick Style” building, the last of its kind to survive in the City. This was the same architectural style as the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse. But it’s not just the beautiful old architecture that made it important. Or of its importance as part of the Island’s diverse religious heritage for 111 years. When a building survives for so long, I believe it actually becomes part of the “soul” of a town, an important part of the “sense of place” that is recognized collectively by many generations past, present and future. 

Over many decades, developers and well-meaning but short-sighted civic leaders, thinking only of increased ratables, have already decimated the Island of so many architecturally and historically important structures. Up until recently in the Wildwoods, there were more Victorian era buildings, with a larger variety of unique styles, than there are in Cape May. What a shame. Ask most any visitor or resident if they are happy with what has happened. In my experience the vast majority definitely are not. 

PIP’s goal of restoring a historic building in Wildwood and establishing a Resource Center for Arts, History and Historic Preservation that would benefit all of Cape May County, is one of the best ideas I have heard in decades. There is a great absence of culture on the Island but a great yearning and need for it. A major goal of this project is also to serve as a venue where all of the historic and cultural organizations in the County could meet to work together with their common goals. This center would also enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike and in the long run produce much more economic benefits to the City than ratables would.

Please write to us! We want to hear your support, thoughts and questions about preservation. Send your letter to the editor of Participate in Preservation at preservingthewildwoods@gmail.com and it may appear in the next issue.

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