The West Jersey Cottages in Strathmere


After the ownership of the entire island went from The Burks to Matilda Landis, The Sea Isle City Improvement Company started dividing and developing the island from Corson's Inlet, down to Townsend's Inlet. In 1894, Louise & William Peterson (known as Uncle Billy) bought a piece of property near the northern point of Corson's Inlet. In 1895, they built a 14 room hotel, and they named it 'West Jersey Cottage' after the railroad line that came through the town. There was a small railway station where the train stopped, right next to the hotel.
Meanwhile, Louise's widowed brother Gus Wittkamp moved from Philadelphia to Corson's Inlet to help out with the hotel, and in hopes that the fresh salt water air would be good for Gus' health. In 1898 William died followed by Louise in 1899. She left the hotel to her brother Gus, who not only ran the hotel, but was also the station manager at the small railway stop. One of his duties was to take care of opening the bridge on the railine, to let the boats through in the bay. In 1900 Gus married Caroline Williams from NY. Together they had Bertha & Harlan, the first 2 babies born in Strathmere.
In 1902, they built an annex to the hotel, connected by a small porch/walk. Then a small boathouse was built behind the cottages in 1906. Back then Strathmere was still known as Corson's Inlet, up until the name changed to Strathmere in 1909. The hotel catered to a few year round residents and men who made a living as fishermen. The cottages and Gus were mentioned in many early fishing magazines with Corson's Inlet being the destination of many fishermen. During WWI the cottages housed some of the soldiers who patroled the beaches.



The West Jersey Cottage seen from the front, and from the corner entrance.



 


The dining room in the Hotel. Gus at the front desk with bamboo fishing rods on the wall behind him.

 


Gus & Carrie each pose at the front door of the hotel.




Carrie sitting on the porch rail of the hotel.
The 2nd photo shows a closer view of her rose garden along the fenced-in walkway.








Gus & Carrie near the railroad track with the hotel & annex in the background.





Gus on the right and I think the other guy might be one of his older sons Frank or Henry.





The annex to the hotel shown below, after it was built in 1902. The 2nd photo was taken after 'Brighton Shores' came and tried to develop Strathmere. If you look closely, you can see one of the two trees that Brighton Shores planted in front of the house. Brighton Shores planted trees all over the point area of the island. Most are gone now, but those 2 trees still stand in front of our house today.





The hotel, in the center with the flag, the annex to the right, and the train station to the left-front. Circa 1912






This postcard of the Hotel and Annex is postmarked 1909.






View from the bay. The postcard is printed 'Corson's Inlet' on the front, it is postmarked 1912 Strathmere on the back.








A side view of the main hotel. The photo was taken from the bay beach.




The next pictures were taken in 1917. The view is from atop the a-frame of the railroad bridge that went across the bay. You can see the rail line leading into the town, and the side view of the main West Jersey hotel building.









In 1901, Gus & Carrie's daughter Bertha was born in a 2nd floor bedroom of the main hotel. Bertha was the first baby to be born in the town. In her laters years, she could remember a time that was before there were cars. Once as a child, Bertha fell and broke her arm. They had to wait for the doctor to come by train the following day to treat her arm. The family raised pigs, cows, chickens and ducks on the land, which was still mainly vacant in the early 1900s. The family had a pet goat that they hooked up to a cart to pull things around the island. The fishing was plentiful and you could dig soft shell clams out on the beach, by the bucketful. You could pick beach plums by the basket, for making your own jam.




Below shows Gus with the kids piled in the wheelbarrel, behind them is the train station.The middle photo shows the family's famous pet goat hitched up to wagon in front of the house. Lastly I believe is Bertha, in a toy pedal car, with her older brother and one their dogs.They are standing in the fenced walkway in front of the hotel.








The first photo shows Bertha and brother Harlan with their Mother, and another lady - maybe their sister Estelle. Next is Bertha and some local kids. Lastly is Bertha and a girl named Violet on the boardwalk leading to the West Jersey Cottage.






Photos from the Teens - Bertha and her friend Ida. Bertha grabs herself a man! Bertha and some bathing beauties.





More pictures of Bertha! First Bertha stands next to a whale that washed up on the beach at 56th street in Sea Isle, 1918.
Bertha dressed up for Halloween, and lastly she holds someone's baby under a 'Boats for Hire' sign on the bay.








During WWI, soldiers were stationed in Strathmere to patrol the beaches. Bertha said that several of the soldiers stayed at the West Jerset Cottages. Below shows a few of them goofing off in front of the hotel. The Bertha takes over the patrol.






The West Jersey Cottage page 2 - more vintage photos





If you have any info, or images that we can add to the site, please EMAIL us
We are looking for vintage images, and histories of homes in Strathmere.



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All photos and text Copyright Carol Baker. Do not copy or reproduce.