What began as a simple boarding house soon grew into a reputable hotel under the direction of Colonel Henry Sawyer. He was a local hero — it was said that every man, woman and child in Cape May could recite Sawyer’s “Lottery of Death” story by heart.
Category: This is Cape May
The Chalfonte Hotel: The Beginning
A simple carpenter stares death in the eye, and lives to build one of Cape May’s living treasures. A story rooted in American history, the tale of Henry Washington Sawyer is one of courage, strength and pride.
Searching for Henry Sawyer, the Past Comes Alive
Through the years rumors of sightings have persisted. Donlin knows a man claiming to have seen Sawyer himself 27 years ago standing at the top of the stair case. The man was 13 years old at the time, and never forgot the encounter.
Cape May’s Long-time Guardians
Cape May is a town that is proud of its rich heritage. An often ignored but vital part of that heritage belongs to the Cape May Beach Patrol.
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