The Angel of the Sea : Cape May, NJ

The Angel of the Sea is not only the nation’s second most popular bed and breakfast, but one with a haunting past that has traveled the New Jersey shore. The buildings current location is not the same as where it used to be; in fact the bed and breakfast has moved twice in its 150 year lifetime. The inn was originally called the Weightman Cottage and was built in 1850 by William Weightman, a rich company owner from Philadelphia. The cottage was originally located at the intersection of Franklin and Washington Streets (current day post office). It was later moved closer to the ocean at the corner of Ocean and Beach as a result of an oceanfront fire that destroyed many buildings. At the time, when houses were moved, countless laborers were used (as they were dirt cheap) and the houses were put into logs and moved using horses. The house was successfully moved to its new location by the beach.

Between 1910 and 1920, the cottages we sold to the owners of the adjacent Hotel Lafayette, who decided split the cottage in half to create more ocean view rooms and run the buildings as one hotel called the Ocean View. They cut the back half of the house off and moved it forward, alongside the front, next to the hotel (it had been a yard prior). False facades were built to enclose both structures and they have remained that way ever since. The buildings were moved in 1967 after the new owners of the hotel planned on demolishing them to build a modern motel wing and a preservationist saved them by paying to have them moved. Through the remainder of the 1900’s the buildings were used by students, employees of other inns and even some tourists to stay in the area, but no true maintenance was ever properly performed on the property. That’s when it was purchased by the Girton family in 1988 and turned into the Angel of the Sea. It has since been restored and turned into one of the most beautiful stays along the sea. But enough about the history; after all I did say this place was haunted.

The story of the hotel goes as such. While the bed and breakfast was used was being used by students and employees, there was a young girl who was running late. While some say she was late for work, others say she was late for church or a date. She was up on the second or third floor trying to get into her room so she could change into something more appropriate for her destination. The problem was that she forgot her key and was locked out of her room. To save time and avoid going downstairs, she decided it would be a better idea to go through an adjacent window which was open. She slowly crept out the window, shimmying along the edge until she reached she bedroom window. Unfortunately for her sake, there was screen on the window which she would need to pry off. As she pulled and pulled at the tight screen it popped loose smacking her in the face. She lost her balance on the edge and fell to her death.

The staff at the inn wont say which room the girl was staying but did make mention that it may have been in the second building. As a result there is a variety of paranormal activity which is said to take place in the inn. There are flickers are lights, strange footsteps and objects that move from time to time. Now the building is old and the activity has seemed to decrease with time, but that doesn’t stop ghost fanatics from making the trip to the inn. Apparitions are rare to find, but you never know what kind of presence you will feel. If you stop by the inn, ask the staff what they have witnessed and you make get a good story. Regardless, this bed and breakfast is one of the most elegant places that all tourists should visit on their trip.

We would like to thank Ben Miller, author of The First Resort, In the Land of Exit Zero and countless other tales from Cape May for his help writing this article. If you enjoyed this short read, I highly encourage you to pick up a copy of his books for more.