Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-08-20

Grande and hired a boatman to row
them across the sounds to what was
after Holly Beach. Philip returned
to Vineland and reported to his brother
that the only attractions there was the
perfect beach and the magnificent
forest tree-, and that it would be twentyl
years before a railroad would be built
to the island or a turnpike road toy
the mainland. The two brothers be-
came interested in Holly Beach and
Latimer was elected a director of the
company. Later Latimer packed his
big market basket full Of grub and
with a tape line went down TO the
beach and com menced to stake out
and brush the ninety lots, which was
his share of the property. He made
frequent trips TO Philadelphia to sell
lots. Inside of three years the rail-
road to the island was built. In 1884
the strip of land owned by DR.. Wales,
comprising now a part of the first
ward of Wildwood, between Cedar and
Maple avenues, was sold at public salel
at Cape May Court House. The story
goes hat Latimer r. Baker vas the
highest bidder and the land was
knocked do wn tohim. HIS two brothers
were disguised that he should pay such
a big price for a 100-acre piece of wild
land. The figure was about 5 5000.
His two brothers Joined him in the
venture and thus Wildwood was
founded. In 1899 they bought the
other piece of old Wildwood, lying be-
tween Maple avenue and the Anglesea
line at 18th street.
Philip Baker was not only active in
business, but in politics and phiIan-
thrnpy. In 1881 be was elected Assem-
blyman from Cumberland county, and
in 1886 was elected Senator, serving
four years in the New Jersey legisla-
ture. He was a Democrat and sup
ported Bryan in 1896. For over rs
years he has been the head of the New
Jersey Training school for feeble mind
ed children at Vineland and gave
much of his time to building up this
institution. His friends and associates
at the seashore knew little of his con-
nection with this state institution.
During the very busiest periods of
his life and amid municipal strife and
destructive northeast storms at Wild
wood he was giving of his time with
out remuneration to the building up of
this Institution for the comfort and
training of these unfortunate children.
One of the investments of the Baker
Brothers thirty years ago was a silver
mining property in Arizona. About
twenty years ago P. P. Baker spent a
year or so in that state looking after
the property in which 1t is generally
believed the brothers sunk some
money. But all these years he and
his brothers kept in touch with the
property, and it is recalled that at the
last stockholders meeting of the Wild
wood Title and Trust Company last
January Mr.. Baker, in reply to a ques-
ton, said that he still read the local
paper from the Arizona mines in order
to watch developments in the far off
state.
1t was a pleasure and it was profit
able to mingle with Phil Baker at pub
lie meetings. He presided with grace
and dignity. The writer recalls with
distinct pleasure the board of trade
m eetings of years ago when as the pre-
siding officer Mr.. Baker would open
the meetings with one of his brilliant
and optomistic talks. When he
finished the meeting was usually in a
mood to go ahead and do business.
A feeling of sadness permeates the
whole community In the death Of
Philip p. Baker.
nh Wildwood ExnhW1iIau- OL0@o N