SJ Attractions - Beast Of The Beach
Imagine it’s1881 and you’re sailing up the South Jersey coast. As the early morning fog lifts you begin to make out a shape along the shore. You reach for your looking glass and right before your very eyes (or eye as the case may be) you see it. You can’t believe what you’re seeing... a giant elephant stands along the beach looking right back at you! That’s just what happened to a young sailor 220 years ago. Did he drink too much rum on his night watch? The captain of the sailing vessel, upon hearing the lookout’s shouts of "Elephant!" ran up on deck to see for himself. He too observed the giant pachyderm on the beach. Upon arrival of the ship in New York harbor, the Captain’s tale of what he had seen drew news reports and the curious alike to what is now known as Margate, NJ. What the sailors had seen was what you and I know as Lucy the Elephant, the brainchild of a Philadelphia land speculator James V. Lafferty, Jr., who was responsible for the designing and building of the strange beast. Lafferty owned a number of plots in South Atlantic City (Modern day Margate), and was looking for a way to attract visitors, and potential buyers to the area.
Lucy has seen many strange things over the years. In 1902 an English doctor and his family leased the Elephant as a summer home. They moved into Lucy's ample interior and converted the main hall into four bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen and parlor. A bathroom was outfitted in one of the small front shoulder closets using a miniature bathtub. In 1903 Lucy found herself knee deep in water, as a massive storm struck the South Jersey coast. She was dug out, and moved back from the shore by volunteers. Lucy has also seen duty as a tavern, but that didn’t last long as drunken patrons kept knocking over the oil lamps, almost burning the landmark to the ground.
Lucy has seen her fair share of famous visitors as well. A guest register shows that in 1916 such notables as President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, Vincent and John Jacob Astor, the duPonts of Delaware, Henry Ford and even the Rajah of Bhong and wives from Singapore all visited Lucy and climbed her 350 steps to the howdah on her back.
July of 1970 saw Lucy move to her present location after a seven-hour journey. On September 8, 1971, Lucy's application for recognition on the National Register of Historic Places was announced from Washington, D.C., opening doors for State and Federal matching grants. In the summer of 71, Lucy was once again opened to the public and tours of her insides were given. 1976 was a proud year for Lucy as she took her place in history along side such landmarks as Independence Hall and the White House when she was recognized as a Historical Landmark.
Some interesting facts on Lucy:
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Author: Steve Kelly
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