Ludlam Island

Last updated

Ludlam Island is a barrier island in southern New Jersey, on which Sea Isle City, and Strathmere, a part of Upper Township are located.

Contents

Geography

Ludlam Island is a barrier island along the Atlantic Ocean between Corson Inlet on the northeast, and Townsends Inlet on the southwest. Ludlam Bay, along with an expanse of salt marsh and tidal channels separates Ludlam Island from the mainland.

Ludlam Island was described in 1834 as,

Ludlam's Beach, extends upon the ocean about 6 miles from Carson's to Townsend's Inlet, partly in Middle, and partly in Dennis t-ship, Cape May co. [1]

An 1878 description of Ludlam Island is as follows, viz,

Ludlam's Beach between Corson's and Townsend's Inlets, is seven miles long, uninhabited, and is a low, flat, sandy island, having only three or four small clumps of red cedar on it. [2]

A footnote to the 1878 description further elaborates,

The following description of Ludlam's Beach was furnished by Mr. George Dare, of Seaville: "The northeast end of Ludlam's Beach for a distance of three miles has not a bush growing on it. Thirty years ago it was covered with large red cedar trees. In the winter of 1863-64 a furious gale from the northeast washed away a mile of hills and cedar timber. The salt marshes are exposed on the outside of the beach for miles, and here is a reason that the beaches do not wash away faster. The tough turf of the salt marshes has to be broken up; it will not wash away nor blow away." [3]

History

Joseph Ludlam purchased the island in the late 17th century, and grazed cows and sheep on it. In the 1880s, developer Charles K. Landis founded the City of Sea Isle on the island. The original vision that Landis had of Ludlam Island was modeled after Venice's opulent waterways and his plan for the island included canals and waterways. [4]

Ludlam's Beach Lighthouse was constructed in 1885, and was built after Charles K. Landis requested a light because of several shipwrecks off the island. The light was an L-shaped, two-story, structure with a square light tower on top, located at 31st Street and the Boardwalk until 1924. In 1923, a fire was started when the keeper's dog knocked over a kerosene lantern, destroying the roof and the light.

Coordinates: 39°10′49″N74°40′26″W / 39.180161°N 74.673986°W / 39.180161; -74.673986

Related Research Articles

Seven Mile Island or Seven Mile Beach is the name of a barrier island on the Jersey Shore in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is divided between the boroughs of Avalon to the north, from 6th to 80th Streets, and Stone Harbor to the south, from 80th Street to Hereford Inlet.

Ludlams Beach Light

Ludlam's Beach Light was a lighthouse formerly located in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. It was decommissioned in 1924 and converted to a private residence which was demolished in September 2010.

Ocean Drive is a series of local roads in southern New Jersey, connecting Atlantic City to Cape May along barrier islands on the Atlantic Ocean. It consists of several roads and includes all five toll bridges owned by the Cape May County Bridge Commission.

Absecon Island Island on the Jersey Shore of the Atlantic Ocean

Absecon Island is a barrier island located on the Jersey Shore of the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. On the island are the resort communities of Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport. The island ends at Absecon Inlet to the north and Great Egg Harbor Inlet to the south.

Brigantine Island is an island off the Atlantic Ocean coast of New Jersey, located northeast of Atlantic City. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) long. The resort community of Brigantine is located on the island.

Little Beach is a barrier island along the coast of New Jersey. It is believed to be the last uninhabited barrier island left on the U.S. Atlantic coast. It is part of Galloway Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey.

Corson Inlet is a narrow strait on the southern coast of New Jersey in the United States.

Peters Beach or Peter Beach is a former barrier island located on the Jersey Shore of the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. It is now a part of Brigantine Island.

Poverty Beach

Poverty Beach or Sewell Point is a barrier spit, approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) in length entirely within the City of Cape May, along the Atlantic Ocean coast of eastern New Jersey in the United States. It is the southernmost barrier island in New Jersey.

Squan Beach is the historic name of a barrier spit located on the Jersey Shore of the Atlantic Ocean in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. Since the closing of Cranberry Inlet around 1812, it has been joined physically to Island Beach, and is a major component of the Barnegat Peninsula.

Island Beach is a barrier spit located on the Jersey Shore of the Atlantic Ocean in Ocean County, New Jersey. Since the closing of Cranberry Inlet about 1812 (approximately at the boundary between Ortley Beach and Seaside Heights), it has been joined physically to Squan Beach, and is a major component of the Barnegat Peninsula.

Short Beach Island, Short Beach or Tucker's Island was a barrier island located on the Jersey Shore of the Atlantic Ocean. Little Beach is a remnant of Short Beach; the northern remnant was encroached upon and attached to Long Beach Island before succumbing to erosion.

Pecks Beach or Peck's Beach is a barrier island located on the Jersey Shore in Cape May County, New Jersey.

Five Mile Beach or Holly Beach is the name of a barrier island on the Jersey Shore in Cape May County. The popular resort area collectively known as The Wildwoods are on Five Mile Beach and adjacent islands.

Two Mile Beach is a barrier island on the Jersey Shore in Cape May County, since 1922 connected to Five Mile Beach.

Brigantine Inlet is an inlet connecting Little Bay with the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic County, New Jersey.

Great Egg Harbor Inlet

Great Egg Harbor Inlet is an inlet connecting Great Egg Harbor Bay with the Atlantic Ocean in New Jersey, forming a part of the boundary between Atlantic and Cape May Counties.

Townsends Inlet is an inlet connecting Townsend Sound with the Atlantic Ocean in Cape May County, New Jersey.

Hereford Inlet is an inlet in Cape May County, New Jersey.

Cape May Inlet is an inlet in southeastern Cape May County, New Jersey.

References

  1. Gordon, Thomas Francis (1834). A Gazetteer of the State of New Jersey - Thomas F. Gordon - Google Books . Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  2. Historical and Biographical Atlas of the New Jersey Coast, Woolman and Rose, Philadelphia, 1878; p. 20
  3. Historical and Biographical Atlas of the New Jersey Coast, Woolman and Rose, Philadelphia, 1878; p. 20
  4. Ludlam Island & Sea Isle City Early History Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine Jersey Shore Guide. Accessed December 1, 2008.