Early Morning Fire Damages Tiki Bar Area at Harpoons on the Bay

Issue #671

April 30, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather

🔥Early Morning Fire Damages Tiki Bar Area at Harpoons on the Bay

 👮 WWII Exhibit “Camp Boardwalk” Opens May 1 at NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum

⛪︎ Cape May County Church Predates the United States by More Than 60 Years 

Cape May Local Scoop’s Events Are Sponsored By: Daisy Lane Boutique

👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇  

 April 30

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Early Morning Fire Damages Tiki Bar Area at Harpoons on the Bay

An early morning fire yesterday damaged outdoor structures at Harpoons on the Bay in North Cape May, though the restaurant’s main building was spared significant damage. Firefighters responded shortly before 3 a.m. and discovered a detached outbuilding fully involved in flames, with fire spreading toward a nearby tiki bar area. Multiple local fire departments worked together to contain the blaze, remaining on scene for several hours. No injuries were reported. The waterfront restaurant had been preparing to celebrate the opening of its 10th season with events connected to the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo. The cause of the fire is under investigation by local fire safety officials and the Cape May County Fire Marshal’s Office. Updates on reopening plans and upcoming events are expected from the restaurant in the coming days.

WWII Exhibit “Camp Boardwalk” Opens May 1 at NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum 

 The NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum in Cape May will host the traveling exhibit “Camp Boardwalk: Atlantic City During World War II” from May 1 through Sept. 7, 2026. "Camp Boardwalk" was the nickname for Atlantic City, NJ, during World War II (1942–1945) when the military converted luxury hotels, convention halls, and boarding houses into a massive training, rehabilitation, and redistribution center. Over 300,000 soldiers were trained there, and it housed the England General Hospital for wounded service members. In addition to military operations, the exhibit highlights the role local residents played on the home front through Civilian Defense efforts, Red Cross and USO volunteer work, and wartime production jobs. It also examines the contributions of African American service members and workers throughout the region during the conflict. The exhibit will be housed inside the museum’s restored Hangar 1, itself a significant wartime landmark. Museum officials also plan to feature “Camp Boardwalk” during AirFest 2026 festivities later this year.

Cape May County Church Predates the United States by More Than 60 Years 

 

 Founded in 1714, Cold Spring Presbyterian Church in Cape May County remains one of New Jersey’s oldest continuously active congregations. The church’s current building, known as Old Brick, was constructed in 1823 and designed by Thomas H. Hughes, architect of Cape May’s Congress Hall. The historic church property includes a cemetery dating back to the 1700s that contains graves of Revolutionary War veterans, early settlers, clergy members, and a large number of Mayflower descendants. One of the cemetery’s most notable graves belongs to Lt. Richard Wickes, who died during the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet in 1776, just before America declared independence. The church also has ties to early American education through former pastor Samuel Finley, who later became president of Princeton University’s predecessor. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places since 1991, Cold Spring Presbyterian Church continues to hold regular worship services while preserving more than three centuries of South Jersey and American history.

Cape May, New Jersey, is renowned for its historical significance and Victorian architecture. In what year was the entire city designated as a National Historic Landmark, making it the only city in the United States to be wholly designated as such?

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 Answer to the April 29th Trivia Question

Which historic hotel in Cape May claims to be the oldest continuously operating hotel in the United States?
A) Congress Hall
B) The Grand Hotel
C) The Chalfonte Hotel
D) Hotel Cape May

Correct answer: A) Congress Hall.
Originally built in 1816, Congress Hall has hosted presidents and dignitaries and is considered America’s oldest seaside resort hotel still in operation.

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