How the fire of 1878 and preservation drive of the 1970s explain Cape May
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Despite Cape May's long history
As part of our Friday Septemer 26th live edition of the show from Cape May, New Jersey, NewsWorks Tonight host Dave Heller talks to Dr. Bob Heinly, historical interpreter for the Dr. Emlen Physick house and the Museum Education Director in Cape May for the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities.
Heinly explains how two pivotal moments shaped what you find in Cape May today. First, the fire of 1878 leveled most of the town. So much of the shore resort had to be rebuilt after that fire and the style then was Victorian, so that explains why so many buildings have that type of architecture even though Cape May is much older than that.
He also explains the historical preservation movement of the 1970s, that helped Cape May get on the National Register of Historic Places. That listing was a cornerstone to preserving historic Cape May.
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