Bedford Inn History

805 STOCKTON AVENUE

Constructed in 1883 in the Victorian Italianate style, the Bedford Inn is covered by a nearly flat roof, a low-pitched center gable with an oculus (round window), and large double brackets supporting a deep overhanging cornice.

Cape May, once known as Cape Island, began as a fishing and whaling port originally settled by the indigenous Lenni-Lenape tribe. Discovered by Captain Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, a Dutch explorer who charted the area between 1611-14, which was eventually renamed in his honor in 1869.

At the dawn of the nineteenth century, members of Philadelphia society began to recognize Cape May’s benefit as a retreat from the city’s scorching summer heat, arriving in horse-drawn carriages and, later, stagecoaches — a two-day trip through the sandy roads of southern New Jersey. The first sloops from the city (also a two-day trip) arrived around 1815, followed by schooners and steamboats.

By the 1850s, Cape May had earned the title as America’s first seaside resort town. The perceived healing powers of sea water and the town’s incomparable beach, cooling summer breezes and fashionable world-class hotels made the town an irresistible attraction.

The second half of the 1800s saw a period of turmoil for the resort town. The onset of the 1860s brought with it the national strife of the Civil War, polarizing the city’s Southern plantation owners and Northern industrialist clientele. During this time, to escape the slave states, freedom seekers would cross the Delaware Bay guided by the Cape May Lighthouse to reach New Jersey. Cape May was not only a stop on the Underground Railroad, but renowned activist and abolitionist Harriet Tubman also had a strong presence in town and, during the 1850s, referred to Cape May as her “headquarters.” Ultimately, Cape May aligned itself with the Union in 1861.

In 1878, a massive fire broke out of the Ocean House on Perry Street. Cape May never stood a chance with its lone hand fire-fighting engine, mere 1,500 feet of rubber hose, and sole hook-and-ladder truck. A train was dispatched from Camden, 90 miles away, with a steam engine and additional hose, but by the time it arrived the town was ablaze. Fanned by a 36mph wind, the fire rapidly spread, eventually destroying 40 acres of prime beachfront property. Prominent architects of the period such as Stephen Decatur Button, Frank Furness, Samuel Sloan, and Enos Williams flocked to Cape May to rebuild with commissions from wealthy landowners to replace their lost homes, crafting grand Late-Victorian masterpieces.

During World War II, Cape May served as a key military station leaving relics behind such as a lookout tower near Sunset Beach and a cement bunker on the beach by the Lighthouse in Cape May Point.

Throughout the rest of the twentieth century, while many neighboring shore towns opted to tear down a significant number of their historic structures in favor of new development, Cape May recognized the value in its Victorian past. In 1970, the Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1976 the town was listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Today, Cape May is in the upswing of a renaissance that uses the past to energize the present. The famous Gilded-age resorts and beach cottages have been restored to their former glory and complement an impressive artisanal food, wine and spirits scene along with thriving music and arts, and fashionable boutiques.

Walking through the streets as a breeze blows in from the Atlantic, it’s easy to understand why generations of vacationers have been charmed by Cape May over the centuries.

CAPE MAY DIAMONDS

Cape May Diamonds are quartz stones that wash up on Sunset and Cape May Point beaches due to a distinct tidal pattern. A staple of Cape May culture and lore, these “diamonds” have a history dating back to the 1750s when it’s said that a large stone was presented to local whaler, Christopher Leaming, by King Nummy, the last chief of the Kechemeche tribe. The Kechemeche believed the stones contained supernatural powers and used them to seal bonds of peace and friendship. Today, tourists and locals alike can be seen stooping along the shoreline searching for their own Cape May Diamonds.

Best B&B in Cape May!

TripAdvisor

It’s what you hope it to be:  quiet, peaceful, great amenities, food, wonderfully comfortable beds and their caring attitude to help with whatever a guest may need. This home is immaculately clean and well decorated.  It is  a one short block walk to the ocean and restaurants.  Yes, the Bedford Inn is the perfect getaway for any occasion.

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