A Secret in Somers Point
Somers Mansion, located at 1000 Shore Road in the quaint town of Somers Point, is a great place to visit. They have lots of amazing artifacts there. Somers Mansion was named after Richard Somers, the founder of Somers Point. A few years after Somers moved in, the mansion burnt down by a wildfire, in which Somers and his family were killed in the incident.
After the fire, the city of Somers Point rebuilt the mansion and turned it in to a historical exhibit. If you make a reservation, a tour guide will take you throughout the mansion where you will see many items that have been restored from the fire. You will get to see the bed that Richard Somers slept in, as well as the kitchen and all of the tools from that bygone era.
“Somers Mansion is a really cool place,” says Michael Conroy. “They showed me lots of awesome artifacts,” says Robert Lemons. Richard Somers is still honored to this day and the mansion remains hidden by the trees of the forest, just off the circle in Somers Point.
By: Richie Heim
Dawes Avenue Elementary School
Kennedy Park on the Edge
The Bluff at John F. Kennedy Park in Somers Point is so rare there is only one other coastal bluff like it in New Jersey. The bluff is a steep hill that is 12 feet high and covered in rock. It is almost 300 feet long and overlooks the Great Egg Harbor Bay.
This area is home to many species of crabs and small fish. Many plants and ivy are also native to this area, however these animals and plants are in danger of disappearing from this area because of erosion.
To stop or slow this erosion, a group of students and teachers from Dawes Avenue Elementary School have started a “Save the Bluff” campaign. The students and teachers have removed trash and raised money to stop the bluff from disappearing. Hayden Naumchik, a student from Dawes Avenue School, says, “Educating people about the bluff is what’s most important”. I agree with him.
By: Colin Naumchik
Dawes Avenue Elementary School
Lucy’s Restoration
Lucy the Elephant has recovered from most of her decay and rotting and has been restored to her original form. Lucy is a tourist attraction located in Margate City. She is a building in the shape of an elephant and was built in 1882. Lucy is the only survivor of three other similar shaped buildings. A fire and a hurricane destroyed the other two.
Lucy is located on Margate’s ocean side next to Ventura’s Greenhouse Restaurant. Lucy was in danger of being torn down, because of wear and her related rotting. Thanks to the city of Margate and volunteers, she has been restored. She was preserved by many contributions and volunteers that helped restore her.
“I am very glad to see that Lucy is nearly restored. It would have been a very sad thing to have lost Lucy. ” said Stephen Beatty of Somers Point.
“It’s very good to see Lucy all fixed up. If Lucy wasn’t all fixed up, it would have been New Jersey’s loss” said Angela Beatty, also of Somers Point.
By: Rachel Beatty
Dawes Avenue Elementary School
Wreck Pond
Sea Girt Lighthouse is a Victorian, two story house, museum and, of course, lighthouse. It is located in Monmouth New Jersey. The building was finished in 1896 and it flashed it’s first light on December 10th, 1896.
“It’s a real piece of history!” said Alsia Holland.
During World War II it was used as a training facility for soldiers. Also the light was blacked out during World War II to not give away the location of the coast. This lighthouse was built on land where a lot of shipwrecks had happened. That was why they called it Wreck Pond.
It closed in 1955 and now is opened for meetings and tours. The light for Sea Girt still works. Sea Girt is one of 20 surviving lighthouses in New Jersey!
“It sounds like a great place to visit and learn a little history!” says Clay Smith of Upper Township.
If you are in the Sea Girt area, head to lighthouse to learn a little New Jersey history!
By: Jasmine Carter
Dawes Avenue Elementary School
