Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-04-21
FIRST RAILROAD
ENTERED CAPE MAY
COUNTY IN 1852

"The wilderness and the solitary
place shall be made glad for them, and
the desert shall rejoice and blossom as
the rose; it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice even with joy and singing,
they shall see the glory of the Lord,
and the excellency of our God"
Before the Civil war there was no
railroad in Cape May County. The
West Jersey had built a road from
Camden to Glassboro. Some time af-
ter Richard d. Wood, a prominent man
ufacturer, extended it to Millville. I'm
like most new roads, this was prof.
table and the West Jersey company
was anxious to obtain possession of it.
Wood did not want to dispose of 1t.
The West Jersey Company threatened
to build a competing line, however, and
then Wood consented to sell, the West
Jersey company giving two shares of
their stock for one or his. The road
thus passed into the hands of the West
Jersey Company and this company ex-
tended it to Cape May. 1t was in the
year 1868 when the West Jersey rail-
road from Camden to Cape May was
finally put on the map of New Jersey.
1t was built through to BENEFITS sta
ton in 1862 and completed to Cape May
for the summer of 1868.
This road was in the center of Cape
May county. Belleplain, at that time,
was a wilderness where wild beasts
roamed, and had their lairs. There
was no sound in that desolate place
except the woodman's axe, the call of
the hunter, the yelp of his dogs, as
they gave chase to their prey. The
sweet song of the wild birds and the
cooling of the dove by day and the
whip. poor-will and the boot of the owl
by night.
Scattered through the wilderness of
woods were rude cabins. One of these
| visited. It was made Of logs, with
clay placed between to protectfrom the
weather. A chimney made with poles,
heavily coated with clay to protect
them from the fire. Skins of wild
animals were on the walls. On the
floor was a woman with a ragged
covering. In the corner of the fireplace
a boy was seated on a BASKET. l told
them l had come to pray as l was on a
missionary tour. When [ left, they
were in the same position. l learned
afterward 1 had visited the home of an
outlaw.
The location OF Belleplain being CEN
trial, a station was built on the railroad
and called Belleplain. Daniel Golf
was placed in charge. The people
who lived in this wilderness worked in
cutting wood, hunting game for pro-
visions and selling their pelts as there
was a demand for fur.
The whistle and roar of the locomo-
tive was heard for miles. The people
from all sections would come to the
station to see the passing of the trains.
AS those living in the wilderness
would come, Mr.. Golf knowing their
manner of life. felt there should be
something done to better their condi-
ton, and suggested to the writer that
a religious meeting should be held in
the station. At the first service about
fifteen persons came. 1t was a hon.
collection. Men, women and
children in their every day attire made
the company. The glad tidings that
"God so loved the world as to give His
only begotten son, that whatsoever be-
lieveth. might not perish but have eter-
nal lifen was a story some had never
heard.
The next Sunday there was a larger
attendance. An invitation was given
TO those who desired to seek forgiveness
of their sins. Several found peace.
Anon the number was a wicked and
profane man, who came five miles.
He was powerfully converted and held
fast to his profession until his death.
A woman that was converted died a
fe v months after in the triumph of her
faith.
When it was noised abroad OF this
wonderful work at Belleplain, the peo-
nile came from Tuckahoe, Leesburg,
West Creek and De~nnisville. At one