ABOUT STONE
HARBOR
Stone Harbor, New Jersey
To many of our friends, the story of Stone Harbor, while not steeped
in history, may prove interesting and we would like to give you a brief
outline of some of the events leading up to its founding and the progress
made thereafter.
While Sir Walter Raleigh was granted a patent by King James as far back
as 1584 for lands which included the entire Province of New Jersey, the
first recorded purchaser of the island was not noted until 1722.
This island, known as Seven Mile Beach, contained 2,725 acres and the
price paid was seventy pounds, ten shillings or about $380.00. The island
is approximately seven miles in length and is but three or four city blocks
in width, with the Inland Waterway to the west and the Atlantic Ocean
to the east. Stone Harbor occupies the southern half of the island extending
from 80th Street to Hereford Inlet.
The first building, an inn, was erected in 1891 near 80th Street. Seven
cottages formed the original resort. Today, Stone Harbor contains more
than 3,000 properties with total ratables of more than 1 billion dollars.
It was not until 1907 that dunes were leveled off and salt marshes filled
in. Streets, pavements and curbing were laid out, two basins dredged from
land adjacent to the Inland Waterway and one natural basin deepened. We
now have seven basins. Bulkheads and seawalls were constructed as protection
for land adjacent to basins, waterways and ocean, while eight jetties
were built to protect beaches from erosion.
In 1909, a sewage system was developed and completed. Thirty miles of
sewage lines are now in operation. The first artesian well was driven
to a depth of 856 feet to reach the famous “Kirkwood Sands”
from whence our supply of pure water is obtained. Our pumping station
at 96th Street and 2nd Avenue was built in 1924. A new well, our fourth,
was drilled in 1981. We are now supplying a total of 200,000,000 gallons
of water each year to meet the demands of our population.
There are over twenty-eight miles of paved streets which are maintained
by the Borough and the County of Cape May.
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...A Brief History
Around 1910, our school started with five pupils and one teacher in a
private home. In 1912 a school house was built on 93rd Street and in 1915
a still larger one was built on 94th. The new school consisted of four
classrooms and a room for manual training. Five teachers were employed
for 115 children ranging from first to the eighth grades. For their high
school years they were taken by bus to Middle Township High School in
Cape May Court House. A more modern building was then erected to house
all pupils in one building including a room for pre-first grade children.
As far back as 1889, the first railroad entered Stone Harbor from the
north via a bridge over Townsend’s Inlet . This was the only means
of getting into Stone harbor until 1911, when a highway at 96th Street,
with two bridges over the inland waterways, was opened to the public.
A year later, the second railroad spur entered from Cape May Court House
paralleling this new highway. With highways now entering Stone Harbor
from the north, west and south, all traces of these two railroads were
obliterated.
In 1912, one guard was assigned to the beach at 94th Street. Today our
beaches are protected at 21 locations with 50 guards, all under the supervision
of a Captain and Lieutenants. A radio communications network connects
each beach with a radio base at headquarters and an emergency ambulance
is available to answer all emergency calls. EMT services are available
during beach hours at headquarters.
Also in 1912, the first policeman was appointed holding the title of
Watchman. Today, the Stone Harbor police force is comprised of 17 sworn
officers and 5 dispatchers, supplemented in the summer by additional officers.
Complete modern headquarters were occupied in 1973.
The Voluntary Fire Department was established in 1912 with twenty members.
The force now consists of forty-five volunteer members with the support
of modern fire-fighting equipment. A new seven bay firehouse was built
in 1974.
With community services in place, the Borough of Stone Harbor was incorporated
on May 12, 1914. Now in our 86th year, we welcome visitors to celebrate
with us.
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The Borough Flag
In the early 1960’s, one of the Borough Councilmen decided that
the Borough should have a Borough seal for use on Borough stationery,
vehicles and any other items pertinent to the Borough. At that time, the
Borough of Stone Harbor was very fortunate to have as one of its residents,
a very talented lady. Mrs. J. Harry Letsche was asked if she would create
a seal for us and she graciously accepted the challenge. The seal contains
a white heron, representing our Bird Sanctuary and a comet sailboat representing
the first comet fleet in the country. The seal, shown on the cover of
this booklet, was so lovely that it was decided to also incorporate it
into a flag.
You may order a flag by calling the Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce.
609-368-6101
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Recycling is Mandatory
In keeping with laws of New Jersey, Stone Harbor conducts a mandatory
recycling program. Recyclables are picked up at “rear yard”
locations, as is our regular trash.
Recyclables should be separated from other materials and set out for pick-up
on scheduled days.
??? WHAT DO WE RECYCLE ???
1. PAPER: Newspapers, magazines, paper bags, junk mail and corrugated
cardboard (packing boxes).
2. GLASS: Bottles and jars (all colors). Please rinse the contents.
3. PLASTIC: Soda bottles, milk jugs, water jugs; Household plastic containers
with a “1” or “2” imprinted in triangle on bottom
of container.
4. ALUMINUM & METAL CANS: Soda cans, beer cans, empty aerosol cans
(except paint)
5. WASTE OIL: Accepted at Public Works Garage.
CALL 609-368-7311 FOR DETAILS AND PICK-UP.
7. BRUSH: Bundle/bag, place behind house and call Public Works.
??? HOW DO WE RECYCLE ???
It’s easy to separate.
- PAPER ITEMS placed in large grocery paper bags,
- GLASS, PLASTIC, ALUMINUM & METAL CANS are all placed in a single
container.
- DO NOT CRUSH. DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS. PLACE IN RIGID CONTAINER.
??? WHAT DO WE NOT RECYCLE ???
- DO NOT include light bulbs, window glass, auto glass, drinking glasses,
cookware, tableware, chipboard, pizza boxes and dried out paint cans.
These are strictly trash items.
- HAZARDOUS WASTE: Paint, Chemicals, etc.
Public Works does not take these items.
Contact Public Works Department for proper disposal.
If any questions please call
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - 609-368-7311
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