A group of local men met with a representative from Kiwanis International at the office of Assemblyman Ralph T. Stevens on December 16, 1923 with the purpose of organizing a Cape May Kiwanis Club. They formed a temporary organization and elected a slate of officers: Dr. V.M.D. Marcy, President; George P. Wentzell, Vice President; Ralph T. Stevens, Secretary; and Jay E. Mecray, Treasurer.
The fledgling group held its first luncheon meeting with 57 members at the Focer & Mecray Building January 17, 1924. Kiwanis District Governor Robert Rendall of Jersey City presented the Charter to the Club. The new service club had a splendid first year. They provided their first Kiwanis Scholarship, $100, to the most valuable member of the graduating class of Cape May High School. In the Fall they sponsored a movement to acquire land and develop an eighteen hole golf course in Lower Township. The Cape May Kiwanis Club continues to be the most active service club in Cape May, and is the only Club in the country that owns its Clubhouse, the old Cold Spring Lifesaving Station #136.
HISTORY OF OUR CLUBHOUSE BUILDING
The U.S. Lifesaving Service (USLS) set up lifesaving stations manned by Keepers and surfmen to stem the loss of life from shipwrecks along the coast. The Cold Spring Lifesaving Station, established 1868, is one of 20 in New Jersey. This existing building, built in 1891 on Beach Avenue at Philadelphia Avenue, is an example of the Bibb No. 2 style, named after architect, Albert Bibb, with nine stations of this style built between 1886 and 1891. The U.S. Lifesaving Service operated the Station until 1915 when the Treasury Department moved the USLS into the Revenue Cutter Service which eventually became the U.S. Coast Guard; it operated as an active Coast Guard station until 1935.
Notice the life saving boat ramp at the right front of the building and the number 136 painted on a large deck behind the building. The number identifies the station for airplanes. The Cold Spring Lifesaving Station 136 is now the Cape May Kiwanis Clubhouse.
In 1939 Charles “Nick” A. Swain of the Cape May Kiwanis Club bought the abandoned building from the USCG, at auction, for $120 with the idea of using it as a Boy Scout Headquarters. Nick had been tipped off by a Coast Guard officer, with a Boy Scout son, that the only other bidder was a junk man who planned to demolish the building for its materials, and had bid $100, so Nick bid $120. The Club membership jokingly chided him for paying too much when $101 would have won the auction. A condition of the auction was that the winner had to move the building off the government’s property in 30 days. The Kiwanis paid $1000 to a Wildwood House Moving Co to move the station and put it up on a good concrete block foundation. Being solidly built, the weight of the station, actually broke the mover’s equipment during the short half-block move; but he prevailed and eventually seated the old building on its new foundation. Today it serves as the Cape May Kiwanis Clubhouse located at1041 Beach Avenue in Cape May, NJ.
Kiwanian Memorial
John E. Jack Killeen – 79 age – Past President & Vice President – Member 2016-2022
Harvey Williams – He was an active member of Cape May Kiwanis and served in many roles for over 40 years, including Club President in 1979.
Jim Waldie – He was a proud member of the Cape May Kiwanis, having served in many capacities including President for 2011-2012.
Thomas Hynes – 78 age – He was heavily involved in the Cape May Kiwanis Club, and served as president in 2013-14.
Philip Cronin – 70 Age Active member of the Cape May Kiwanis – Kiwanian of the Year (2019), Founder of “Cape May Aktion Club
Tony Williams – a Kiwanian for over 15 years – President from October 2007 through September 2008
Ed Rochford – 89 age – One of his achievements was starting the Bring Up Grades “BUG” program in the local schools
Jerome E. Jerry – 83 age – loyal member of the Cape May Kiwanis Club since December 28, 1994 and former Mayor of the City of Cape May (2001 – 2008)
Albert B Little – dedicated member of the Cape May Kiwanis Club and served a year as President. Sadly, while working at the old Convention Hall he fell from a scaffold and was killed. September 1959 they dedicated and named the Athletic field on Lafayette Street in his memory
PRESIDENTS OF THE CAPE MAY CLUB (* denotes deceased)
History
HISTORY OF OUR CLUB
A group of local men met with a representative from Kiwanis International at the office of Assemblyman Ralph T. Stevens on December 16, 1923 with the purpose of organizing a Cape May Kiwanis Club. They formed a temporary organization and elected a slate of officers: Dr. V.M.D. Marcy, President; George P. Wentzell, Vice President; Ralph T. Stevens, Secretary; and Jay E. Mecray, Treasurer.
The fledgling group held its first luncheon meeting with 57 members at the Focer & Mecray Building January 17, 1924. Kiwanis District Governor Robert Rendall of Jersey City presented the Charter to the Club. The new service club had a splendid first year. They provided their first Kiwanis Scholarship, $100, to the most valuable member of the graduating class of Cape May High School. In the Fall they sponsored a movement to acquire land and develop an eighteen hole golf course in Lower Township. The Cape May Kiwanis Club continues to be the most active service club in Cape May, and is the only Club in the country that owns its Clubhouse, the old Cold Spring Lifesaving Station #136.
HISTORY OF OUR CLUBHOUSE BUILDING
The U.S. Lifesaving Service (USLS) set up lifesaving stations manned by Keepers and surfmen to stem the loss of life from shipwrecks along the coast. The Cold Spring Lifesaving Station, established 1868, is one of 20 in New Jersey. This existing building, built in 1891 on Beach Avenue at Philadelphia Avenue, is an example of the Bibb No. 2 style, named after architect, Albert Bibb, with nine stations of this style built between 1886 and 1891. The U.S. Lifesaving Service operated the Station until 1915 when the Treasury Department moved the USLS into the Revenue Cutter Service which eventually became the U.S. Coast Guard; it operated as an active Coast Guard station until 1935.
Notice the life saving boat ramp at the right front of the building and the number 136 painted on a large deck behind the building. The number identifies the station for airplanes. The Cold Spring Lifesaving Station 136 is now the Cape May Kiwanis Clubhouse.
In 1939 Charles “Nick” A. Swain of the Cape May Kiwanis Club bought the abandoned building from the USCG, at auction, for $120 with the idea of using it as a Boy Scout Headquarters. Nick had been tipped off by a Coast Guard officer, with a Boy Scout son, that the only other bidder was a junk man who planned to demolish the building for its materials, and had bid $100, so Nick bid $120. The Club membership jokingly chided him for paying too much when $101 would have won the auction. A condition of the auction was that the winner had to move the building off the government’s property in 30 days. The Kiwanis paid $1000 to a Wildwood House Moving Co to move the station and put it up on a good concrete block foundation. Being solidly built, the weight of the station, actually broke the mover’s equipment during the short half-block move; but he prevailed and eventually seated the old building on its new foundation. Today it serves as the Cape May Kiwanis Clubhouse located at1041 Beach Avenue in Cape May, NJ.
Kiwanian Memorial
John E. Jack Killeen – 79 age – Past President & Vice President – Member 2016-2022
Harvey Williams – He was an active member of Cape May Kiwanis and served in many roles for over 40 years, including Club President in 1979.
Jim Waldie – He was a proud member of the Cape May Kiwanis, having served in many capacities including President for 2011-2012.
Thomas Hynes – 78 age – He was heavily involved in the Cape May Kiwanis Club, and served as president in 2013-14.
Philip Cronin – 70 Age Active member of the Cape May Kiwanis – Kiwanian of the Year (2019), Founder of “Cape May Aktion Club
Tony Williams – a Kiwanian for over 15 years – President from October 2007 through September 2008
Ed Rochford – 89 age – One of his achievements was starting the Bring Up Grades “BUG” program in the local schools
Jerome E. Jerry – 83 age – loyal member of the Cape May Kiwanis Club since December 28, 1994 and former Mayor of the City of Cape May (2001 – 2008)
Albert B Little – dedicated member of the Cape May Kiwanis Club and served a year as President. Sadly, while working at the old Convention Hall he fell from a scaffold and was killed. September 1959 they dedicated and named the Athletic field on Lafayette Street in his memory
PRESIDENTS OF THE CAPE MAY CLUB (* denotes deceased)