CREST HAVEN – County Commissioner Robert “Bobby” Barr, a former Ocean City Council president, attended his first Board of County Commissioners meeting as a member, Aug. 8.
CapeGOP selected him, Aug. 2, to fill the seat of E. Marie Hayes, who became surrogate when Dean Marcolongo was named a Superior Court judge. Hayes is also from Ocean City. Barr’s oath was administered, Aug. 2, by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd).
Barr will earn $17,973 annually in his new post. That is the same as other board members, except for the director, who makes slightly more.
Barr’s Assignments
Several resolutions were passed to reflect the change of commissioner in various posts. These included:
Veterans Cemetery
Cemeteries were on the collective mind of the Board of County Commissioners, Aug. 8.
On first reading, the board passed a $2.5 million capital ordinance to fund the beautification of the Veterans Cemetery on Crest Haven Road. A second reading will occur Sept. 12, at 3 p.m., in the County Administration Building meeting room, 4 Moore Rd., Court House.
The contract for the landscape architectural design was awarded to Melillo and Bauer Associates Inc. (doing business as Melillo Bauer Carman).
The scope of the work was detailed in a front-page story in the Aug. 2 edition of the Herald.
Almshouse Cemetery
At the outset of the meeting, Mason Maund, a 15-year-old Life Scout of Boy Scout Troop 1076, Sea Isle City, outlined his Eagle Scout project.
Maund proposes beautifying and restoring a largely unknown part of county property and history: The Almshouse Cemetery.
That parcel is located near a small pier in the northeast section of central County Park. It is the final resting place of about 185 residents of the Almshouse, the forerunner of the Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
According to Maund’s research, the county bought the property currently known as the Crest Haven Complex and County Park for $1,500 from Elijah Matthews, a Revolutionary War veteran, and his wife, Elizabeth, May 13, 1818.
The land was initially known as the County Farm.
It was “for the indigent and senior residents in need of care,” Maund said.
A farm was established to offset the cost of the home. It had animals and grew food for residents. Barns and silos were built.
In 1825, a cemetery was created for residents.
As the population increased, an infirmary was added.
“By 1940, the location included a machine shop, laundry, and more barns for equipment and animals,” Maund said.
“The area began to be known as ‘Rest Haven’ and was not a ‘poor house’ but a quiet sanctuary for its residents,” he added.
The population continued to increase, and a larger facility was needed. Crest Haven Nursing Home was opened, Dec. 27, 1952, with 92 beds in a red brick building that now houses the William E. Sturm County Administration Building at 4 Moore Road.
Although the Almshouse was demolished, the cemetery remained.
Maund said that between 1825 and 1880, graves were unmarked. Between 1880 and 1928, “only 15 graves were marked with true headstones, and from 1935 to 1962, 80 gravesites were marked with a small concrete ground-level marker.”
Fifteen of the graves have worn and leaning headstones, Maund noted. Eighty have small concrete markers that are either heavily deteriorated or missing.
“There are as many as 90 graves that were never marked,” he added.
“To honor those past county residents, I will identify the unmarked burial locations and the locations marked with small concrete markers. I will create a new marker consisting of a large concrete base with a metal and resin top. This will permanently and prominently mark off the locations of the Almshouse residents interred there,” he continued.
Additionally, Maund plans to clear and repair the existing headstones “where possible, without causing more harm to help keep what exists and protect it for the future.”
He will erect a sign detailing the site’s history and a burial directory.
Maund told the board he plans to work with Edward Runyon, parks director, and his staff to construct a fenced-in parking area on Route 9.
Maund wants to memorialize Matthews since he was a war veteran.
Maund said he plans to start the project in October, “after the grass stops growing.”
“I hope you will consider financially supporting this endeavor to bring a piece of Cape May County history back to public view,” Maund concluded.
“This is a wow project,” exclaimed Desiderio. “That was a great history lesson.”
He asked Maund to tell the board the day he begins, so they could see the beginning of the project.
“I commend you,” said Barr. “America needs more young men like you.”
Pierson said the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs would likely provide a headstone for Matthews since he was a Revolutionary War veteran.
“I would like to learn more how we could help,” added Morey.
CBRNE/HAZMAT Task Force
The CBRNE/HazMat Task Force members for the county Health Department were reappointed until Dec. 31. CBRNE is an acronym for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosives.
The team leader is Anthony Robinson, the coordinator.
Members are Jennifer Fairman, Honey Pron, Heather Johnson, David Tormey, and Jeffrey Raively, all from the Health Department.
From Cape May City Fire Department: Frank Mittleberger, Mike Eck, and Ed Zebrowski.
Others are Harry Wozunk and James Sampson, Seaville Fire Company; Dale Gentek, Villas Fire Department; Andrew McNeill, West Wildwood Fire Department; Mike Bailey, HazMat Tech/Communications; and Timothy Cwick, Atlantic Cape Community College.
All-Way Stop Established
An all-way stop was established in Del Haven at the intersection of Norbury’s Landing Road (County Road 642) and Delaware Avenue (County Road 640).
The action resulted from a recent open space development on Norbury’s Landing Road that changed the traffic pattern.