Before It Was Veterans Park: How the Railway Yard and Eyesore Became a Municipal Park
An image of Memorial Park, soon after its construction. Note the railroad freight station and coal shed at the rear of the park. In the distance, parts of the railroad bridge can be seen. Photo Courtesy of Barbara McKeefery
Located in the center of Sea Isle City’s commercial district, the municipal park is something that everyone sees, but seemingly no one notices. That is, no one notices until an important function takes place there. And, important functions have been centered there for more than 96 years.
At exactly 6am on Nov. 11, 1918, Sea Isle City Mayor Richard W. Cronecker ordered the bell at the Sea Isle City Public School to be rung continually, awakening the community. This was followed by the town’s fire whistle being sounded, which was then quickly followed by additional whistle blasts from the West Jersey Railway locomotives that were parked on the island. The mayor had just received official word the armistice had been signed, ending World War I. The community celebrated all day, including a parade through town, capped by a rally at the school auditorium that evening. Unbeknownst to the small close-knit community as it celebrated, 10 days earlier, one of its sons had been killed in France.
U.S. Army Cpl. William M. Smith died on Nov. 1, one day after suffering severe wounds near Verdun. He had been in France for about two months. The fallen hero, who worked at the A.G. Rice & Co. hardware and general store in Sea Isle, was noted as a “product of the local schools.” He was also described as “among the first to enlist” after the U.S. declared war on Germany in April 1917, and as one of “the most popular and best-liked youths in Sea Isle.” Smith’s death affected the entire community.
As fall turned to winter, the local newspaper continually reported about all the remaining local veterans returning home to Sea Isle City. Celebrations and awards were given out to the veterans by the very thankful townspeople.
In May 1919, mention is also made in the local newspapers of a Memorial Day “Patriotic Parade” that included dignitaries along with schoolchildren carrying flowers. The parade went through the town and culminated by the beach. A floral badge was created, and then put out to sea in memory of Sea Isle City’s fallen son, Cpl. Smith.
After the war ended, Sea Isle City, along with the rest of the country was engulfed by a great wave of patriotism. Almost exactly 11 months after the signing of the armistice, William A. Haffert, president and general manager of Sea Isle City’s newspaper, Cape May County Times, asked in an Oct. 17, 1919 editorial, “Why Not a Municipal Park?” Haffert proposed that an eyesore in the center of town be transformed into a municipal park to serve as a monument to honor all city residents who had served.
Haffert envisioned the city taking control of the area between Ocean Street (now John F. Kennedy Boulevard) and West Jersey Avenue and converting it into a municipal park. The land was owned by the West Jersey Railroad and was the site of the train station and freight platform. Haffert went on to describe the area as being at “the very heart of the resort, the hub around all business is built, and to which all travelers whether by train or auto must pass and repass.” Haffert described the state of the area next to the railroad station as an “ugly and smelly freight station” that had “coal sheds,” and a “weed-grown railroad siding with its generous sprinkling of loose railroad ties and litter of scraps of paper.”
His vision was to convert the town’s “greatest eyesore” into “a thing of beauty that would attract visitors, rather than repel them with ugliness.” In short, his vision was of “a double-barrel memorial and clean-up.” The editorial went on to implore the city fathers to purchase the land and get rid of the “fish smelling freight platform,” and create a memorial park that would be ready by the “Summer of 1920.”
Reaction to the editorial was immediate, with the town’s commission taking up the topic at a scheduled meeting within a week. In 1919, as today, discussion centered on whether it was feasible to acquire the land from the railroad, and most importantly, if it was feasible, who would pay for the park. Discussion centered around the cost being borne by either the taxpayers or private subscription.
The idea of a monument to Sea Isle’s veterans of the “Great War” met with a very positive response in the community. The plan to acquire land and convert a community eyesore into a memorial park was not immediately acted upon. As the old saying goes, “the devil is in the details.”
However, the community rallied behind a plan to build a public monument to those who served their country, independent of a park. The Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and the Sea Isle City PTA joined forces, and through fundraising that included a coin drive undertaken by the Sea Isle City schoolchildren, eventually collected enough to construct a memorial.
The red granite tribute held the names of 28 of the community’s men who saw service on a bronze plaque. At the top of the monument, a gold star – emblematic of a solider who lost life in service to his country – was placed with the name of William Smith.
The monument was placed in the center of town, on the grounds of City Hall at Ariadne Street (now 45th Street) and Landis Avenue. It was formally unveiled on the community observance of Memorial Day in 1923. Speaking at the unveiling, community leader and physician Major Clarence Way called the structure a “Monument of Heroism.”
Seemingly illustrating what may have been a cultural divide in the community, at least two of Sea Isle City’s Italian-American veterans had their names misspelled on the bronze tablet. The veteran identified as “Petalugo Pietro” seeming should be “Pietro (Peter) Pittaluga.” Future Sea Isle City Beach Patrol Captain Antonio “Jumbo” Cannova had his first name misspelled as the feminine “Antonia.”
As the “Monument to Heroism” found a home at City Hall, the idea of a municipal park in the center of town did not go away. Slowly, a determined community was working toward a goal of creating a city park. Finally in 1927 – eight years after his original editorial, after the details were finally worked out – Haffert’s vision a beautiful municipal park became a reality. The area that once repelled people with “ugliness” was converted into a beautiful municipal park in the center of the community. The crown jewel of the new park was the granite and bronze monument to the community’s veterans of the Great War. Moved from its original location in front of City Hall, the monument was relocated to become the centerpiece of the new park. Although the monument had been unveiled at City Hall in 1923, it was officially dedicated along with the new park during the City’s Memorial Day observance in 1927.
The World War I Monument in Municipal Park in the early 1980s.
Veterans Park
In the short span of 10 years, changes in the American culture saw the automobile replacing the train as a preferred method of travel to Sea Isle City. Land in the center of the community that was once valuable to the railroad’s existence was now becoming a liability and monetary drain. Sea Isle was able to acquire the prime real estate from the railroad. Interestingly, you can still trace the route of the trains entering the community, as the floral islands in the center of Kennedy Boulevard currently cover the railroad right-of-way.
Sea Isle City’s firehouse was located between West Jersey Avenue and 42nd Street, at the site of the current pickleball courts. An unofficial access road was cut between the current JFK Boulevard and West Jersey Avenue, giving quick access to the firehouse during emergencies. This access road severed the block into two pieces, with one section west of the road to Central Avenue, the second east of the road to Landis Avenue. The two areas of the park began to evolve into two different and distinct ways. Both areas served the needs of the community.
Recreation Area
The area from Central Avenue to the access road evolved into a recreation area, serving the City’s youth. Development of the recreation area was sporadic. In the mid-1950s, a group community members built the original basketball courts adjacent to the access road. The courts were well-used throughout the entire year. In the summer, local businesses sponsored teams on these outside courts. During these months from the mid-1950s through the 1970s, it was not unusual to see local college and Philadelphia Big 5 athletes getting into pickup games to hone their skills. Throughout the years of changes and modernization, basketball courts are still located at the exact site. The original courts were designed with a unique feature: The edges the courts were built with a slight grade, providing a small rim surrounding the entire court. During winter cold snaps the courts were flooded, providing an area for community ice skating.
Children play on the fountain in Memorial Park. This is the only known photograph of the fountain.
The lot between the basketball courts and Central Avenue became a play area for the City’s youth. An interesting feature of the area were its two macadamed marble courts. Using their favorite “shooter,” the children usually played marbles – or “mibs” – “for keeps,” allowing the better players to collect large bags of marbles at the expense of their friends.
Eventually the entire area was fenced in and with changing culture, the marbles court was replaced by a playground featuring climbing equipment and swings. The basketball courts and the playground are still heavily used throughout the year.
Veterans Park
Directly behind the monument, the area remained a well-groomed with flowers, shrubs, and walkways leading to a fountain. The fountain was a statue of two young, cherubic individuals holding an umbrella. During the summer months, water would shoot out from the top of the umbrella. However, the umbrella did not allow the children to get wet.
As time marched on, plans were made honor all of those who served their county. The statue of the two children fell into disuse and was replaced by a fountain honoring veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Finally, in the spring of 2010, work was completed on the Veterans Park that we see today.
The area that was once envisioned as a monument to those Sea Isle City residents who served in “The War to End All Wars,” now honors all who have served our nation since. This Memorial Day, please take the opportunity to visit the park and remember those who sacrificed so we may be free.