When you think Cape May what comes to mind? Diamonds? Victorian Sand Ladies? Piping Plovers? America’s original seaside resort has been dazzling new and veteran visitors alike with her charm, beauty and history; many to the point of bringing pen to paper.
This collection of inspired authors brings different views—some fantasy, some spooky, and some factual—on and about Cape Island. Collect the nine books as part of your library or wrap a ribbon around a few for anyone in love with our seaside town.
The Sand Lady
by Corinne M. Litzenberg
Illustrations by Bari A. Edwards
Natalie loves Cape May as much as you do. One day, as she plays in the sand, she creates a Victorian lady. When she places an egret feather in the lady’s hat, the feather becomes magical and makes the Sand Lady come to life. They then begin a wondrous journey as she takes Natalie back through time to Victorian Cape May. Beautiful illustrations make the book as timeless and whimsical as the resort itself.
The Legend of the Cape May Diamond
by Trinka Hakes Noble
Illustrations by E.B. Lewis
Love hunting for Cape May Diamonds? Author Trinka Hakes Noble tells how the legendary Cape May Diamond came to wash upon its white sandy shores. With this children’s tale is also the story of Cape May’s development from early Lenape settlers to Cornelius Jacob Mey’s discovery, through Victorian times to current day. Full page illustrations make this book a keepsake for any Cape Mayan or honorary one.
Ghosts of Cape May Volumes I, II, III
by Craig McManus
If you’ve gotten goosebumps walking down Jackson Street or have seen something amiss in the third floor window of Martini Beach, it may be time to learn about the ghosts of Cape May. Author Craig McManus is a psychic medium and paranormal investigator who has been visiting the island since he was a boy, always attuned to and fascinated by the ghostly presence on the Cape. Each of McManus’ volumes is broken into well-written chapters detailing different research experiences. Happy haunting.
Sentinel of the Jersey Cape: The story of the Cape May Lighthouse
by John Bailey
Was Cape May dark before 1823? It’s this question that begins John Bailey’s story of the Cape May Lighthouse with intriguing evidence that there most likely was a lighthouse keeping the shore lit prior to the three known of today. Using new and vintage photos, sketches and maps, Bailey’s book weaves a detailed history of the tall sentinel standing over Cape May Point and insight into its future.
Early Architecture of Cape May County, New Jersey;
The Heavy Timber Frame Legacy
by Joan Berkey
Architectural historian Joan Berkey is on a mission to prove there’s more to Cape May County’s architectural landscape than Victorian-era gingerbread houses. The county is home to a significant collection of heavy timber frame (post-and-beam) buildings, many of which are still standing today. The impressive structures are explained using photographs and details to glimpse into daily lives of the people who lived in the homes. Floor plans and building specs allow for more architectural interest.
The Shorebird Guide
by Michael O’Brien, Richard Crossley and Kevin Karlson
With nearly half the book made up of fabulous detailed photos of shorebird species, this reference guide is a treat for the eyes. It’s as perfect for anyone intrigued by the Sanderlings being chased by waves as it is for a Cape May beach homeowner or visitor. Photos and information are broken down by species, making the guide easily read and organized. And, bonus, Richard Crossley’s column, Brit’s Eye View, appears in this magazine monthly.
Cape May Point The Illustrated History: 1875 to the Present
by Joe J. Jordan
When Jordan’s curiosity was piqued about his Cape May Point home being identical to a few others nearby, he began researching for an answer. Well, an answer didn’t come, but a book on Cape May Point’s history did instead. The photos throughout the hardback are impressive, as are awe-inspiring views of buildings and people from the rich history of the Point.
Postcard History Series, Cape May in Vintage Postcards
by Don and Pat Pocher
If you’ve been fortunate to spend a few minutes (or a few hours) going through Don and his late wife, Pat, Pocher’s vast vintage postcard collection, you know the feeling of peeking into the senders’ lives even just for a brief moment. It’s a bit voyeur-intrigue, a bit history seeker, and well, just plain fun. All these feelings arise when flipping through this local book filled with images of wool-suited bathers and crowded white sands, the Cape May Lighthouse, Convention Hall and beachfront hotels.
The Summer City by the Sea
by Emil R Salvini
Using first hand accounts from various publications throughout history, Salvini’s Summer City by the Sea recreates the past in such a way that you feel you’ve gone back in time, whether it’s getting to Cape Island in 1823 by way of Bridgeton or realizing the inadequacy of the fire fighting service during the inferno that rocked the city in 1878. Sketches and photographs help to tell the story of cool Cape May and its history as the Queen of the Seaside Resorts.
