St. Mary By-The-Sea - Property Tour - Cape May Point
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- St. Mary By-The-Sea - Property Tour - Cape May Point
Saint Mary by-the-Sea has an incredible history here in Cape May Point.
It was first built as a the Shoreham hotel in 1889 and then was purchased by the Sisters of St Joseph who made it into St Mary by-the-Sea retreat house.
The fate of St Mary by-the-Sea is currently up in the air. The Sisters of St. Joseph haven’t decided yet on what they want to do with the current building.
Here at the Wildwood Video Archive we do everything possible to preserve history. We do that by digitalizing 8mm, Super 8mm and 16mm film and putting them online for everyone to see.
We also try to save buildings before they are lost to history.
Since we don’t know what will be happening to this beautiful historic building I wanted to document the entire property.
With the permission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, we got to walk every room and film it for future generations.
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![Early Cape May [Part 5 - The Spectacular History of the New Jersey Shore]](/img/n.gif)
God Bless all The Sisters
Of St Joseph's 🙏
Thanks For all of There Hard
Work and Prayers over the
Last 100 Year's...
Hi Joey, I told my sister to watch it because she just came back from retreat. She said she saw you in the attic but didn't realize what you were doing. Watching the video made her cry again at the thought of it closing. Thank you for making this video.
So glad I came across their video. I was just there yesterday -climbed the Cape May lighthouse- spotted the crosses on the roof of that building and became so intrigued. Walked around but saw no identifying signs. When I began to ask people no one knew anything? Even our hotel desk clerk (Congress Hall) did not know about this building!
Thank you so much for the entire story! I truly enjoyed it.
The nuns were always very clean and took great care of things. I did not see any heating ducts or radiators so this great building was only intended to be used in the summer. Rest of the year great Saint Joe nuns were teaching.
Fantastic Joe! Always wanted to see inside. I hope they can save it.
Thank you so much for this video Joey. Always wondered what it looked like on the inside. I hope this beautiful historic building is saved, it doesn’t deserve to be torn down. The old buildings have so much charm. Thanks again for the video, you did an awesome job!
Thank you. Hope this property can continue its journey. God bless 🙏
Thank you for documenting this Joey , I wish some one would have documented the Christian Admiral . I hate loosing these old treasures .
I grew up a few blocks away and I am not gonna lie every night riding my bike past there always made me go a little bit faster.
@@matttrella262we must have been neighbors! I grew up on Pittsburgh Ave, bout a block away from the Admiral ..we used to explore and play ... even in the mid-80s it was deserted & creepy 😂
Glad u thought of documenting such an historic beautiful building. If walls could talk! I attended Catholic school back in the day & had the Sisters of St. Joseph…all in habit…& strictness!😇
I cannot believe that building might not be there when I return next year. I am so grateful for the tour and the drone footage at the end was spectacular. I loved the original wood flooring and the ceiling at the steps that was wood, as well as the two tubs in the attic! I hope whomever is in need gets the beds if they are in good shape and hope some things are reused and not end up in a landfill someplace. I am a bit teary eyed at the end of this video and also wonder who has purchased the land and the building. I guess we shall see.
The woodwork, layout, windows, and porches remind me so much of the Chalfonte in Cape May. I’ve biked and run past the property so many times wondering what it was like inside. Thank you Sisters for allowing Joey to archive the building. What a great place to have a retreat. Joey, thank you for the history and fantastic video.
Incredible video
Beautiful place
Thanks for another awesome video
Thank you Thank you Thank you! I was on the light house beach for my Wedding last weekend. I took my family over to see this knowing it may be the last time i see it standing. Thank you for the memories. Would love to meet you someday and share life long stories. Thank you again. I will be there this coming weekend.
No, it's standing and will continue. See my replies to others dated 5/19/2022 after my quick Google search of Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper. In fact, it looks like it may be open to the public for the first time (maybe).
Thank you so much for the tour. Such a wonderful piece of history.Spending many Summers in Wildwood and Cape May, I always wondered what it looked like inside.A real shame if it has to be torn down.
See my replies to several people above. 5/19/2022.
Awsomme tour Joey i never knew that place excisted i hope they keep it ¬ destroy it history must be preserved
See my reply to others dated 5/19/2022 after a quick Google search.
very glad it's still standing!!
It would be great as a hotel again!
Nope, see my reply to others dated 5/19/2022. Data from quick Google search, mostly from Philadelphia Inquirer.
Thank you Joe for doing this. I always wondered what it looked like. I love old historic places. Is it a definate tear down?? I hope it gets preserved. Pls.keep us in the loop. Joe can you find out if there selling any of the pews? I own a historic home and would love to have one if available. Thanks.🙏⛵🐟🐬🌴🌞😎😇💒
No, from what I read 5/19/2022, it's been turned over to a Conservation Society. The deed has wording that no commercial property can be built there, but, instead, it should naturally return to the sea. But, please verify my info. I just got it from a quick Google search 5/19/2022. I worked in Cape May in the 2005 area and this place was STUNNING. But I never saw more than a handful of females on the porch.
Joey, I can remember going to summer school there ,for years that was held on the porch , if it rained you were aloud to go inside , funny thing was , I always had to wait for a ride back to 17th and surf and if you walked around porch to look at the sea , you could see the nun run out the back door in swim suit ,what a shock!!!!!!! your teacher could take all that grab off and change into a human running to the beach , I went there from about 1956 to 1960 .there was light bulbs hanging in the hallway , not modern at all . thanks for the memories , Bill
Good memory. I worked in Cape May in 2005 and I never saw more than a handful of females on the porch. But, truth, I didn't go by every day, just now and then. See my post dated 5/19/2022 for update on sale, not any demolition.
There are no kneelers in the chapel. I found that interesting. The loss of beach and the inevitable loss to the ocean; the cost of insurance and maintenance, and the loss of nuns, I can only imagine how much it was costing the Catholic Church to keep this up. I saw it from the outside when I worked at Cape May for the summer and it was STUNNING! Why modern baths in the hot attic?? Notice handrails about 31:00 and elevated toilet seat and recliners --- nuns are aging. No, I strongly doubt that is an original rocking chair with the painting on it near the end of the video. Within the past 40 years, these were VERY popular in furniture stores; at his young age, he wouldn't know that.
Thank you. I believe they had retreat here. What a nice place. What a shame to tear it down. Can't this be considered a historical building. Great document.
Not tearing down. See my replies to others dated 5/19/2022 from a quick Google search.
Those chairs with can seating can be repaired. Caning is not that difficult. Either a whole piece/spline or worked with long cane. Antiques. I've been to the Point and walked up the lighthouse. Amazing structure. Thanks. When they tore down a convent locally years ago, the massive wooden future was just beautiful.
Grandparents had a house on 12th. St. We had a tub like that one. Ran out of hot water before we could fill it.😁
In the late "80s the Sisters held a porch sale there. My husband and I bought some of the light fixtures for our brownstone in Jersey City. There were boxes and boxes of them. We moved from there in 1988. Wonder if the fixtures are still there.
Wow, 30 years ago. With demographics changing, I guess they saw a need to "downsize" many years ago..
Hi Joey, thank you for this video.. I hope this can be saved!! Makes me sad watching this.. I never got to Wildwood or Cape May this summer. Do you know if Victorian week is on this year?
Sad thing about the bedrooms appear to be smaller then some jail cells. Joey please let us know what happens to this great building.
Each of the rooms had a bed, desk & chair, a rocking or sitting chair, & a wood coat rack to hang beach towels etc. While it appears small, it had everything needed for a retreat.
See my results from a quick Google search dated 5/19/2022. Philadelphia Inquirer says been sold with covenant that will never turn into a commercial property, but instead, go into the sea, naturally. Current value (or sale price) $4.1 Million. But, please verify.
1962 was the Ash Wednesday noreaster that ripped up the beach and homes.
I think the "mess hall" might have been called the refectory or something.
Declining religious vocations had a hand in the demise of this beautiful place. Imagine it in it's heyday - busy as a hive with sisters vacationing!
Thank you for this amazing video...We drove past it many times just to see it during our many summer vacations...
I have always wondered what it looked like inside. What was it's purpose? Was it for retired nuns ?? I heard it was a nice place for them to retire!
St Mary by the Sea was used for the sisters retreats or vacations. Since it doesn’t have central air or heating, it was used April-October I think.
@@lauriespellmeyer7302 I worked in Cape May for "the season". Although I didn't look every day, I never saw more than a handful of females on the porches.
Any word on the ability to salvage pieces of the building? Would love to renovate our attic space in cape may using the doors or flooring, keep a piece of it there.
They have not given any information yet.
@@WildwoodVideoArchive after a quick Google search 5/19/2022, the building has been sold. Please see my response to others 5/19/2022.
Is this at Cape May Point.
hey yes!
@@WildwoodVideoArchive Joey, thank you for this video. But, as I've written to others, looks like building use has changed. I'm tired of typing at 11:54p, so just view my comments to others dated 5/19/2022. Also, please verify my information after my quick Google search tonight. I worked in Cape May 2005. I never saw more than a handful of females on the porch, but admittedly, I didn't look every day. See also Philadelphia Inquirer and nun's Website.
The room that still has green was Reverend Mother's room.
if walls could talk ay, i was hoping for a drone shot
hey! I have some drone shots at the end of the video. I also filled a full drone video that will be online next week
I remember this when i was growing up here In Cape May county
Had great hard working Saint Joe's nuns while attending St. Bartholomew's in North East Philly. We had 32 classrooms with around 1,750 students and over 20 nuns back in the early 60's. They never had a car so would see them walking to take a trolley or bus. Nuns seldom retired. Had some in their mid 70's that still were teaching for very little money with no pension or Social Security. They taught us to be honest & responsible. My old grade school was closed then a few years later torn down. Thanks Joey for another great vid.
I also went to St. Bartholomew's, but in 1970s!
It’s such a shame, so many schools in the NE have closed down. I attended St Jerome’s, Nazareth Academy and Hubert’s and my daughters went to what was St Timothy’s, now Blessed Trinity. It changed names while they were attending.
If I could win the lottery I would make a 75 room hotel with a bathroom in every room, add air conditioning. A out door and indoor pool.this building is much too beautiful to tear down.
No, to both. 5/19/2022 I did a quick Google search of this property I was viewing to see if the storm of May 2022 had damaged; but no, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, it's been sold to a Conservation Group. Please view my comments to other folks dated 5/19/2022. Deed states no commercial property will ever be built on this site.
Hi Joey, I’m so glad that you video documented St. Mary’s. I always wondered what it was like inside and it was exactly how I had imagined. Sad that the historical treasures of yesterday are always being torn down. Please keep us posted on what they decide to do with the building.
I just read it has been sold to a Conservation group. I read that in the deed is a clause that no commercial property will be built on the land. And, most likely, eventually, eventually it will go into the sea due to erosion; to nature. I'm just doing a quick Google search 5/19/22; so please verify my info. Interesting trivia from this video: it cost $9,000 in 1909 that adjusts to $251,000 currently, but the building either sold or is assessed at 4.1 Million now. But, it's a religious property; there was probably, my guess, no tax dollars generated on the land. Sounds like Federal and State paid for sand/dunes for protection.
@@teresaforsyth6185 Thanks Teresa, this is fascinating information about the deed, that certainly makes sense! Cheers,Pat
Joey, thank you for this video. Some small things to point out to viewers-
The place where meals are served in a religious building like this would be called a "refectory".
The room where a priest prepares for mass is called the "sacristy".
The attic housed the hotel staff, underpaid, overworked, and disregarded as to comfort. No gas ran up there because of the cost, they might use oil lamps or candles.
The building was probably used by the Army, to house soldiers manning the Cape May side of Fort Miles. The ammunition bunker near the lighthouse and the coast defense batteries 25 and 223 are close by, and so is the observation tower on Sunset Blvd, Fire Control Tower 23.
This whole complex was called the Cape May Military Reservation.
All of the chairs shown appear to post-date World War Ii.
especially the painted rocker at the near the end of the video. The host is young, he probably didn't realize that it's within at least the last 40 years (I had one).
Very beautiful, so neat & immaculate. Thank you Joey. Very interesting.
A big Thank You to the Sisters for allowing you to video this Grand building. I always wanted to see St. Mary's up close, and you have made it happen. Joey, it was like walking beside you. Very interesting, Thanks.
May the souls and all the souls of the faithful he departed rest in peace amen
Thank you for showing this amazing building I’ve always wondered what it looked like in the inside
Thanks so much Joey Since I was a little kid coming down to the shore (Wildwood Crest) we would visit the CM lighthouse and drive by St Mary by the sea I always wondered what it looked like inside Thanks to you now I finally know
It’s sad to lose this piece of history. The architecture.
See my replies to several others dated 5/19/2022.
Thank you for documenting this, Joey. I spent many wonderful times there, working on retreat teams, painting porch railings, and helping with property maintenance. I have a wonderful painting of the house with sisters in full habits walking the porches and relaxing on the beach. It will now be more than just a reminder of special times spent there... it sails into history and will remain ever in our hearts. Your video is a blessing to all.
Remember growing up my mothers 2 cousins were st joseph nuns and every summer while in wildwood on vacation we would stop there to see them. Thanks for the memories.
The newer rooms on the 3rd floor facing the ocean used to be "dormatories". The beds/rooms were separated by curtains. They added the bedrooms later. That's why there was not gas there.
Such beautiful views. Again thank you.
Spending late August summer days over on Yale Ave in my youth, we rode bikes and walked by that place many many times.
Thanks for the tour bro!
When it became a home for the aged wasn’t it for the African American aged, and owned by the famous abolitionist William Still of Philadelphia ?
Cape May Point Science Center opened June 2, 2023
This building will be around a little longer. YAY.
Ive walked by this place many times. I could hear people praying the rosary on the porches loud enough that I could pray along with them. Just beautiful
Great work on your video! It would have been nice if the building could have been turned into a museum. We had four St.Joe"s nuns that taught at St Thomas the Apostle in Chester Heights Pa. The classes were set up by two grades together, 1st and 2nd together, 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th and 7th and 8th. One nun would teach both grades. They were very dedicated.
This place should be preserved they County should do this as it's history. But here we go with the rich going to build homes or town houses or condos to make the green.$$$$$$ like to hit the lottery and remodel the place and make affordable places to come and vacation here for minimal cost...Cape May should do this. Like they did Victorian towers. After all the seniors should have something to look forward to not being taken advantage of.
Gee, I'm watching an architect video and wedding videos start appearing. How odd youtube is.
I spent summers in north Cape May... Remember the sisters sitting in rocking chairs on porch.
This is very sad, as soon another piece of Cape May history will be destroyed.
Joe, during the war, who stayed in the hotel? My 98 yr old mom wants to know. She remembers Wildwood during the war.
Army and The Navy!
Most Likely!🇺🇸
from another post, copied here: Joey, thank you for this video. Some small things to point out to viewers-
The place where meals are served in a religious building like this would be called a "refectory".
The room where a priest prepares for mass is called the "sacristy".
The attic housed the hotel staff, underpaid, overworked, and disregarded as to comfort. No gas ran up there because of the cost, they might use oil lamps or candles.
The building was probably used by the Army, to house soldiers manning the Cape May side of Fort Miles. The ammunition bunker near the lighthouse and the coast defense batteries 25 and 223 are close by, and so is the observation tower on Sunset Blvd, Fire Control Tower 23.
This whole complex was called the Cape May Military Reservation.
All of the chairs shown appear to post-date World War Ii.
You can see why this building isn't commercially viable, you'd need to gut the entire place, no one would want to share a bathroom in a hotel these days and the electrical and the heating on top of it, gorgeous structure from the outside though
agreed. Absolutely. And the church would not have to pay taxes on this building that was either sold or assessed at $4.1 million (ref: Philadelphia Inquirer, but please verify). Insurance and upkeep and utilities including sewer and water would be a total nightmare. I wouldn't want to stay there; if it was refurbished, I couldn't afford to stay there. With the quick Google search I did tonight 5/19/2022, it looks like, maybe, just maybe, a Conservatory Group will open it to the public. And then, after more and more big storms, the covenant will have this building go sliding into the sea, naturally. No commercial property to ever be built there. (Please verify my data; I only did a quick Google search tonight.) I loved the building prominence because I worked in Cape May about 2005 for "the season". Never saw more than a few females on the porch, but admittedly, didn't check daily.
It is beautiful. I have been to Cape May but never been to this place.
Nor if you weren't a nun or servant, you wouldn't have. Not open to the public, at least not when I worked at Cape May in 2005. And I never saw more than a handful of females on the porch.
I’m assuming you’ll be making an update 😀
Looks like he didn't have update information. But tonight, 5/19/2022, after a quick Google search, I found lots. I posted on other comments. Please verify my research, though, most came from Philadelphia Inquirer.
Joey, great video, I was taught by the SSJ's from the early 60's to early 70's I graduated from Notre Dame HS Green Pond (Northampton County) in 1973. I sometimes go down to St. Joseph Villa in Flourtown, Pa. to visit some of the sisters I was taught by. Most of the sisters are in their 80'& 90's now. (GOD BLESS THEM)
Very well done video! Is there no basement to the building?
Going into the east attic at 19:21 I see some initials on the first beam. HSG. I had to pause it and go back. I thought it said USA at first, going back to the barracks days of the 40s.
Thank you so much for remembering to document this bldg.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful video
Best video ever. Great job.
Great video
Thanks for the visit
Gorgeous building.
Thank you sooo much ❤️❤️
Joey, is there any way that myself or someone else could write our governor and/or congress person to step in and help St. Mary's by the sea and the minds of St. Joseph's. This beautiful place needs an emergency i Injunction. I'm sure that many businesses and trades people would be willing to donate materials and their time to restore and update this peaceful, calming and historic site. The minds of St. Joseph's sold another retreat house in Monmouth County a few years ago and that retreat house also was right on the water. Thus breaks my heart and I really don't want to see it go.
See my reply to many others dated 5/19/2022 after a quick Google search.
♥️♥️♥️
How is a developer not reconfiguring this into condo's????
The sisters don't want to sell to a developer
Interesting and sad at the same time…another one bites the dust !!
Nope. Please view my reply to many others dated 5/19/2022 after my quick Google search.
gorgeous