CDSG REPRESENTATIVE SITE VISIT REPORT
Cape May Military Reservation, New Jersey
Update August 2005
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During the fall 2004 and winter 2005 the Army Corps of Engineers conducted a beach replenishment program at Cape May Point, NJ. The result of this project was to return the Battery 223 site to dry land. Unfortunately, the 6 in. gun blocks and remains of Panama mounts are now burried under some 8 feet of sand. The first picture in January of 2005 shows the restoration about half completed and the second in March of 2005 is the end result. Battery 223 is above the high tide mark instead of in the water. See photo at the bottom of this page for a 2002 photo of Battery 223 when it was “out to sea.”
CDSG Member Submitting Report: Bill Cole
Fort Name: (Military Name/HarborDefense): Cape May Reservation
Dates of Visit: December 31, 2002, January 2, 2003, January 5, 2003
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Current Site Name: Cape May Point State Park
Site Use: (Park, School, Private Ownership, Landfill, Etc.): State Park, Recreational and Nature Area
Is the Site open to the Public?: Yes
Dates and Hours of Operation: Daily Sunrise to Sunset
What type of programs are offered at the Site?: None pertaining to Coast Defense
Living History: none
Tours: Lighthouse Only
Museum Shop: At Cape May Point Lighthouse
Restoration Projects?: An off site Fire Control Tower is being restored. The tower is located on Sunset Blvd. approximately 2/3 mile from the battery site. There are no current signs of restoration.
Are there events that the Site would like to have advertised in the CDSG Newsletter: No.
What is the overall condition of the Site?: Coast Defense installation is being eroded by Atlantic Ocean. It is is poor shape.
What is the condition of the Individual Elements?: Poor
Batteries: Battery 223 poor. Batteries 7&25 totally destroyed by ocean and erosion.
Buildings: Buildings 3 (Officer’s Quarters) & 4 (Infirmary) Still on site. #3 is administrative offices and restrooms, #4 is a small museum mostly dedicated to marine life and local history. There are 2 large aerial photos taken in 1944 and 1953 showing the site including Batteries 223 & 25 plus a photo history of erosion at battery 223 (photos from years 1976-1993). Other buildings are gone from the site.
Other Elements:
What is the protective status of the Site?: New Jersey State Park
National Park:? No
National Register?: No
State or Local Historic Site?: State Park
None?: N/A
Current Site Owner(s): State of New Jersey
Current Site Supervisor: Superintendent, Mr. Dean Cramer
Mailing Address: PO Box 107, Cape May Point, NJ 0821.2
Phone: (609) 884-21.59
Fax:
Web Address: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/parks/capemay.htm
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Support Group: Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts
Mailing Address: 1.048 Washington Street, P.O. Box 340, Cape May, NJ 08204
Email: mac4arts@capemaymac.org
Web Site: http://www.capemaymac.org/
{The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts has received a $250,000.00 grant to restore an offsite fire control tower.}
Other Contacts at the Site:
Mailing Address: As above
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Is the Site or a responsible individual at the site a CDSG member?: No
What information can the CDSG provide to the management of the site?: Information about Fire Control Tower would probably be helpful for restoration project.
Are there any projects at the Site that would benefit from CDSG funding?: There is an existing $250,000.00 grant for off site Fire Control Tower restoration. Is there anyone at the Site that would submit material for the CDSG Journal?:
Fire control tower, Cape May Battery 223 in 2002
Any Special Situations at the Site: Erosion by Atlantic Ocean is claiming Battery 223.
If individual batteries, base-end stations, buildings, etc. are in some way significant, please indicate:
Photographic prints and a photo cd accompany this report. Photos taken Dec. 31, 2002 are marked. They were taken at approximately low tide between 1 :30 and 2:30 PM. Photos taken January 5, 2003 with photo CD are marked so photos correspond to photo numbers on the CD. They were taken at approximately high tide, 1.1.: 1. 5AM. These photos are described on the third page of this report.
Special Note: The site has received informational assistance from: Council on Abandoned Military Posts, P.O. Box 1. 71., Arlington, VA 2221.0.
