Mon, 09/07/2009 - 1:12pm - Posted by: scmomdukes

I am so tired of the changes in the communities and now they are trying to destroy rte 47 which is a beautiful drive from here to rte 55 especially after it snows. Nothing is of value anymore and pretty soon we'll all be living in a cement or commercial world. I think the people of cape may county should have full say in what changes are to take place.

Wed, 08/26/2009 - 11:25am - Posted by: rummrunner

to the people saying stone harbor should have done this or that .stone harbor tried thier best to stop this as well as try to get the state to get it under it Historical power .but the state would not .so all we can do not is call the new onwers murderers of history .just go look at the house at 86 street between first and second .that is will over a 90 years old .the new owner/old owners /are rebuilding from the inside out and plan on leaving the outside the way it always has been .the one that was once a bank

Tue, 08/25/2009 - 9:31am - Posted by: John F

Unfortunately, the people who need to read this never will. I'll consider this "venting" my frustration.

The shore has become a haven for rich people. People who have far more income than could ever be imagined by most of the working class folks (who founded and bult these towns) own nearly every property. Of course, we have always had some wealthy residents, but now it is the rule, not the exception. Avalon and Stone Harbor are no longer peaceful family towns with quaint early 20th century shore houses and post World War II Cape Cods. They have become instead the home of the seashore McMansion. There is no more charm, its all about the cash.

But what these well -to-do folks don't understand, that there are riches that worth more than all of their money. There are such things as beauty and tradition and history. When they destroy these things, it doesn' hurt them, they aren't smart enough to realize what they are doing. But they are stealing from all of the rest of us. They block out the views of the beaches with their McMansions, and try to change our lifestyles and destroy our connections to our past.

Now, you might ask, I am jealous of their wealth? No, not at all. Because if I had their money, I would buy up every surviving seashore house and lovingly preserve it, so my grand children and great grandchildren could share in simple beauties that my great grandparents appreciated at the shore. These are homes built by craftsman using tools and materials that may never be seen again. They are as much classic examples of this type of house as any building preservationists battle to save elsewhere. Some places, Charleston SC for one, are proud of their historic buildings, and work tirelessly to preserve them. But alas, at the Jersey Shore we thear them down to build junk out of manufactured lumber and OSB and vinyl siding.

The destruction of this beautiful house, that withstood northeasters and hurricanes and generations of sandy feet is a tragedy. Stone Harbor Borough has more than enough money to buy and preserve some of these houses. But, you know they never will. The same Mcmansion dwelling rich folks who have stolen the charm and beauty of seashore life have taken over government.

All things pass. So our children can look on a computer and see pictures of old seashore houses, and see what they looked like.

The reason our country is in such a mess, is that we have failed to learn the lessons that history has taught. We have failed to learn these lessons, because history has become un-important to us. History has become unimportant to us, because we are so busy moving forward, that we have forgotten our connection with the past. This is one little old house, in one little old shore town, but it is all the same attitude.

Fri, 08/21/2009 - 10:54pm - Posted by: summersong

Is nothing sacred? This home is possibly the most beautiful home of the very few of this era still standing in Stone Harbor. It is in fine condition, and has been lovingly restored & cared for over all these years. How can a community that considers itself refined and intelligent allow this to happen? Although it certainly could have continued to be very special private home, which I believe would still be the best use, the community could have used the property for the Historical Society, a library (can you imagine reading on those fabulous porches?), an art center, etc. To think that 100 years of history will disappear in a few hours is truly sad. We are losing a landmark building here, a true jewel of the seashore which has been witness to a century of children running on its porches while their parents breathed in the ocean breezes. "The Lady Down the Block", "The Twin Turrets", that has stood strong through many, many seashore storms will not be able to weather this travesty.

Fri, 08/21/2009 - 9:03pm - Posted by: capemaygasworks

A lovely very servicable home will be demolished so that someone with absoutely no taste can build a tackly McMansion that has an interior that looks like a hotel lobby. How crass but then, Stone Harbor has no charm left, just over priced barn size mega houses.

Fri, 08/21/2009 - 7:26pm - Posted by: artistatplay

Such a shame that is lovely home has to be destroyed, can't the borrough acquire this beauty and transform it into a Bed and Breakfast as revenue for the borough?...I am sure the interior ambiance would make a quaint and picturesque setting for a local Bed and Brreakfast facility and at the same time enhance the borough....seems large enough to accomodate this type of business for the town and seasonal travelers, as well as year round travelers..it seems just too lovely and beautiful to demolish....such a shame.