sonal bravery received a medal from Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy. At the close of the war he was transferred to the U. S. steamship "Mohongo," of the Pacific squadron, upon which he remained until his five years' enlistment expired. He returned home, remained a short while, and enlisted again, being detailed to the U. S. steamship "Plymouth," of the European squadron. While on the "Plymouth" he was in Europe during the Franco-German war of 1870, and was also enabled to visit the Holy Lands and ports on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. He,

upon returning home, allied himself with the Republican party. He was township committeeman of Middle township for ten years, school trustee fourteen years.

By reason of the unconstutionality of the State borough laws, all the boroughs in Cape May county ceased to exist, but the Legislature, in 1896, passed an enabling act to allow boroughs to hold on to their government until legislation could be enacted. They all continued their existence excepting Cape May Point, which became again a part of Lower township. Ocean City was incorporated as a city in 1897, and on April 13 held its first election under its new charter.

On Sunday, November 29, 1896, the Synagogue at Woodbine was consecrated. Every part of the structure was made by the colonists themselves. It cost about six thousand dollars. The day was made a memorable one, a large number of visitors being present.

In September, 1896. Aaron W. Hand, of West Cape May, was appointed County Superintendent of Public Instruction by the state Board of Education, and entered into the performance of the duties of the office with an earnestness which greatly stimulated interest in the publie schools. He was of Cape May stock, and born at Camden, N. J., February 10, 1857. He

AARON W. HAND.

was educated in the public schools of Camden and Philadelphia, and was for a considerable time a student at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, N. Y. He began teaching school in 1877, and taught twelve years, being stationed at Dennisville, Rio Grande, Cape May Point and Cape May City. He was one of the most efficient principals of the schools of the latter place, and resigned the position to enter into the newspaper business in 1889. From 1880 to 1887 he resided at Cape May Point, and was tax collector and teacher there six years. He was also a merchant there. In 1887 he removed to West Cape May and began a mercantile business. He was assessor of the borough in 1895 and 1896. He was associate editor of the Daily Star in the summer season from

1881 to 1889. In 1889. in company with N Perry Edmunds, he purchased the Star of the Cape, and in 1890 Mr. Edmunds sold out to Thomas R. Brooks, who became a partner. In 1894, Mr. Hand sold his interest to Clarence R. Brooks, son of Thomas R. When the Star of the Cape Publishing Company purchased the paper in 1895, Mr. Hand became its editor and manager. In his newspaper career he has been fearless as an editor and successful as manager.

Robert E. Hand, who served in the Assembly in the session of 1897, was born at Erma. Cape May county, June

28. 1854, and still resides there. He was educated in the public schools. He owns large tracts of lands, is engaged in cultivating and shipping oysters. He was a member of school board for twelve years. He was a member of the Board of Freeholders from Lower township from 1887 to 1892. In the latter year he was elected Sheriff and served three years. In politics he is a Republican. In June, 1896, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at St. Louis, which nominated McKinley and Hobart for President and Vice-President.

CHAPTER XXIX.

CAPE ISLAND.

All that portion of Cape May county, beginning at a point in the Atlantic Ocean opposite the mouth of Cold Spring Inlet, as far southerly as the jurisdiction of the State extends, and running a westerly course until opposite an inlet (now filled up) between Cape Island and the lighthouse; thence following the several courses of the inlet, or creek, to Mount Vernon Bridge, and Broadway; thence along the northwest side of Broadway to the north side of its junction with the Cape Island turnpike; thence along the north side line of the turnpike to Cape May Island Bridge and creek; thence, following the several courses of the creek down the main channel to the place of beginning, is by law of 1875 declared to be the City of Cape May. Previous to this the territory was called Cape Island.

The first reference to Cape Island was when George Eaglesfield in 1699 built the causeway. The first reference to the island by law was in 1796, when a law was passed to make a road on which boats could be stowed. The old way of getting to Cape May, formerly called Cape Island, was by carriages, the visitors from Philadelphia driving down. In 1815, a sloop was built to convey passengers. Sometimes it would take two days to get down. The old Atlantic, the only hotel, was at the foot of Jackson street, and was the resort of men of prominence and wealth for many years. Commodore Decatur, the gallant and lamented American naval officer, for years was a visitant of Cape Island and was a constant habitue of the old Atlantic. Among its proprietors may be mentioned Ellis Hughes, William Hughes, Dr. Roger Wales, Aaron Bennett, Alexander McKenzie, Daniel Saint and Mr. McMackin.

The old Congress Hall did not occupy the site of the present brick structure, but in 1812, when built by Thomas

H. Hughes, its rotunda stood where Drs. Marcy & Mecray's Palace Pharmacy now stands. It was a wooden building, of extensive exterior, being 108x140, but not as elegant as the newer class of hotels. Thomas Hughes, Joseph Hughes, Jonas Miller, W. Burr Miller, Richard Thompson, John West and Jacob F. Cake were among the proprietors before its destruction in 1878. Jackson street was the first regularly laid out thoroughfare.

The reason why Cape Island was not laid out in squares, like he more modern towns, is because streets were only made when they were needed. Jackson street was the first made street in the town, and that was more than one hundred years ago. Lafayette street was a cow path for the most part, and for convenience it was made a wagon road, and finally adopted as a street. Washington street was made to run parallel with Lafayette. Delaware avenue is probably the next oldest. Franklin, Jefferson and Queen are also very old streets.

There was a hotel on the lot north of the old Atlantic, built in 1822, and kept by Ephraim Mills. The first steamboat began to run in 1828. Before that freight was brought to Cape May in sloops up to Schellenger's Landing. Old Captain Whilldin ran the first steamboat to the present landing place on the bay side. The boat stopped at New Castle to take up the Baltimoreans and Southerners who would come down on the old Frenchtown and New Castle Railroad-the first railroad ever run in this country. They would come over in carriages from Baltimore to Frenchtown, in Maryland, on the Susquehanna, near Havre de Grace.

The hotel next erected after Congress Hall was the Mansion House, raised in 1832, covering four acres of ground. It was the first lathed and plastered house on the island. Richard S. Ludlam built it, and also opened a street fifty feet in width, called Washington, between Perry and Jackson. The first summer cottage was put up by Thomas Hart, of Philadelphia. "The Kersal," meaning a place of amusement, was a wing or extension of the Mansion House, 124 feet long, built in 1849, had hops and concerts in it; also