She was stubborn, and she wasn’t the kind of person to back down.”. Press file photo. On a Congress Hall History Tour, you'll be guided through this grand hotel's storied past. Using his newfound business acumen, Bashaw started to decide what he could save from his grandfather’s bankrupt empire. Congress Hall and Cape May: New Jersey’s First Resort explores the implicit connections between this significant hotel and Cape May’s development as a seaside destination. Built in 1816, Congress Hall burned down two years later. Once you're here, our Concierge is a great resource on all things Cape May. Citing just one example of the painstaking work that went into the project, after much research Colleen worked up a design for new carpets in the halls, with a newly designed crest, including an image of Annie Knight’s key, and a new, subtly striped pattern for the guest rooms. They thought that their town was becoming known as Carl McIntire’s town. She got her love of art, architecture and old buildings from her mother, who bought a 200-year-old house in Salem, New Jersey, where Colleen “spent some of my growing-up years,” she says. Arriving in Cape May soon after the devastating nor’easter of 1962, McIntire built a mini-empire that included the enormous Christian Admiral Hotel, Shelton College, the Lafayette Cottages, the Colonial Star Villa, the building that’s now the Peter Shields Inn, and Congress Hall. He imparted a lasting set of values to his family, and he remains an inspiration to Bashaw despite his legacy of confrontational politics and radicalism. In later years, that building became a Howard Johnson’s, and it is now the home of Uncle Bill’s Pancake House. Complimentary WiFi is included in your stay as a Cape Resorts guest. Congress Hall: Wonderful place steeped in history. Imagine being poor E.C. Knight, who didn’t really want to be in the hotel business, and the year after he takes it over it burns to the ground!”, For Bashaw, who grew up in Cape May and for whom Congress Hall was part of the furniture of his childhood, the people who came before him have created a unique sort of collective legacy, and he sees himself as the heir to all of it. “We can’t find any other.” And while it’s possible to quibble with that—it depends, in part, on how many rooms you use to define a hotel as opposed to, say, an inn or guest house—it’s not easy to prove him wrong. Tomorrow: the food, the staff, and the history of Congress Hall. But, for all the work, it retains its magnificent, historic personality and its grand dame  charm. Certainly, it predates some of the grandest old ladies still standing: Boston’s Parker House, built in 1855, and rebuilt in 1927; Chicago’s Palmer House, erected in 1871; and San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado, 1888. This property is not currently available for sale. As our guest, you'll be right in the middle of Cape May's historic downtown. “McIntire built the networks and alliances with the GOP Right that the Jerry Falwells and [others] cemented in the late 1970s.” In a sense, McIntire was the creative genesis behind the Falwell’s Moral Majority and, later, Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition. Congress Hall. The structure being celebrated for its bicentennial isn’t, of course, the one first constructed by old Tom Hughes. She stuck to her guns. “I imagined that if she had a sense of humor, it would have been pretty dry. Press file photo. History buffs welcome: Congress Hall has overlooked the Atlantic Ocean, in the town of Cape May, New Jersey, for over 200 years. Congress Hall and Cape May: New Jersey’s First Resort explores the implicit connections between this significant hotel and Cape May’s development as a seaside destination. Looking back, however, she says that in many ways they didn’t get it right the first time. At a minimum, it would require tens of millions of dollars. “He was definitely extreme by most people’s standards, philosophically,” admits Bashaw. Learn More. He’s looking at opportunities in retail, to help build what he describes as a “vibrant” downtown. Fitness Center reservations can be made for 45 minutes at a time by calling the Sandpiper Front Desk at (609) 884-6620. So I think about finding the right protégé who would take it for the next 60 years.” He pauses, and laughs again. Thus began the saga, under Bashaw’s direction, of the decade-long campaign to restore Congress Hall. Cape May. Plan your trip with our online guides of restaurant recommendations and local points of interest. So the question is, Are we going to be a change agent or not? Eventually, however, the Christian Beacon Press, the company that owned Congress Hall and other properties, began to run into rough financial straits. Benjamin Harrison, our 23 rd president, made Cape May’s Congress Hall his “Summer White House” during his term (1889-1893). “People used to come here for health reasons, and to breathe the ocean air in, and I wanted that to be part of the feel of the room. Dec 2, 2019; CAPE MAY POINT — The monolithic bunker that sits … Cape May Tourism Benjamin Harrison, our 23 rd president, made Cape May’s Congress Hall his “Summer White House” during his term (1889-1893). Congress Hall: Congress Hall, Cape May History speaks for itself!!! “Nothing stays the same,” he says. You can feel the history...: Congress Hall - See 1,509 traveller reviews, 695 photos, and cheap deals for Congress Hall at Tripadvisor. Congress Hall is also awarded with Tripadvisor's Certificate of Excellence.Voted New Jersey's Best Hotel by Travel + Leisure and its readers. Its replacement—larger and more magnificent—underwent a series of expansions, including the addition of one entire wing, and it lasted exactly 60 years, until the Great Fire of 1878 reduced much of central Cape May to a charred pile of rubble. Congress Hall has a long and interesting history dating back to the early 1800's. : Congress Hall - See 1,490 traveller reviews, 691 photos, and cheap deals for Congress Hall at Tripadvisor. This exhibit also considers how Cape May and Congress Hall’s history fits in with the larger community of New Jersey ocean resorts. You’re always stepping into new territory.”, He’s thinking, he says, about adding another two hundred rooms or so to Cape Resorts current properties. View Activities Calendar. For years, rumors swirled in Cape May that Harriet Tubman once worked as a cook on the island at the tip of New Jersey’s tide-washed peninsula, sauteing bacon at the storied Congress Hall hotel and stowing away money for her work as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. In a town where history is everywhere, whose sprawling Historic District itself earned the distinction of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Congress Hall stands out as a singular landmark. She was just one of many large hotels in the late 1800s that catered to the elite. View Google Map & Enter Your Starting Point. Beginning in January, when traffic is lightest, workers began ripping out everything, in the hallways and room by room: all the furniture, all the fixtures, carpets. It’s a three-foot-wide image of eighty-four members of Congress Hall’s staff—including a laughably distracted tennis pro on the right—assembled on the great lawn. “I’ve never met any of them. Beach Service is included in your stay as a Congress Hall guest. “It was going through all of this and figuring out what tells the story best,” she says. “All these ghosts, these hauntings, were inspiration to me in trying to bring the place back.”, Bashaw, whose grandfather, the fiery preacher Carl McIntire, owned the hotel for a couple of decades, is proud of the fact that of all the grand hotels that graced Cape May’s avenues since it emerged as a Victorian resort, Congress Hall is one of the last ones standing. The hotel is located in the heart of the Historic District, right across the street from the beach and the Washington Street Mall. Other than that, there’s nothing that ties Congress Hall to Washington, D.C.—and no, the building doesn’t have a dome like the U.S. Capitol. Its walls are lined with photographs, letters, and documents of its past within Cape May’s history. “He was not happy, but he never banned me from his house. Twice-Daily Housekeeping is included in your stay as a Congress Hall guest. For one thing, it didn’t operate on a year-round basis, just in the summer season. Answer 1 of 4: Great article from nj.com on the history of Congress Hall hotel in Cape May: nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/06/congr… Indeed, according to Tommy’s Folly, a book by Jack Wright that recounts the history of Congress Hall, Knight left the brick unpainted to reassure visitors that, like the last of the Three Little Pigs’ houses, it was rock solid. Carl Curtis McIntire, born in 1902, was a Biblical literalist who in 1936 founded the Christian Beacon newspaper and, the following year, established the Bible Presbyterian Church. “We did forty-six strike-offs before we got the result we wanted!” she says. 200 CONGRESS PLACECAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY 08204(609) 884-8421. I wanted that to shine through.”. Special Offer for my readers: Book a stay at Congress Hall, or one of its sister properties, The Virginia Hotel or The Beach Shack, using the code MOMBLOG before July 31st (for travel anytime in 2011) and receive a $100 resort credit. Congress Hall, America’s First Seaside Resort is located in the quaint Victorian beach town of Cape May, New Jersey. Congress Hall was built in 1816 and was acquired by Cape Advisors in 1995. “Congress Hall” (1882) Congress Hall is the name of a historic inn at Cape May, New Jersey. Well, almost, since it does refer to or include two congress members. And he said, ‘I want you to manage Congress Hall for me next season.’”, Bashaw, today, expresses unbridled admiration for his grandfather. In 2016, celebrating its 200th anniversary, Congress Hall has just undergone a complete makeover, the third in its history. Does the government own it? He just said, ‘It’s between you and the Lord. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, the Cape May Historic District comprises one of the country's largest collections of free-standing 19th century architecture. Congress Hall is a wonderful, historic resort hotel which offers to quality service in a luxury property. We'll set you up with complimentary chairs, towels and umbrellas on the beach in front of Congress Hall. Complete details of this offer can be found here. Except Congress Hall. Since 2012, Congress Hall has been honored by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the top US hotels in the Northeast and was recently awarded the #13 spot on Condé Nast Traveler's 2018 Reader’s Choice Awards Top 20 Hotels in the Mid-Atlantic and New York. Today, you'll find cutting-edge restaurants in the parlors and terraces of former summer homes, as well as trendy boutiques and shops lining the wooden storefronts of Washington Street. She’s come back to life in the form of Iraisa Ann Reilly, a local actress and playwright, who several times each week takes visitors on a 40-minute tour of Congress Hall. Last year, Cape Resorts’ payroll was close to $14 million. Enjoy a varied selection of cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner—all without having to leave the grounds of our hotel. In a tribute to President’s Day, I thought it would be interesting to see if our town hosted or housed any of our U.S. Presidents. Sousa, who would live to be 77, would later rise to worldwide fame, including playing for President Harrison’s inaugural in 1889. Cape May Tourism In the background is the hotel’s famous soaring colonnade, and at the center is Knight, looking decidedly dour. Review of Congress Hall. The 600 buildings that form the District feature stunning examples of Late Victorian, Eclectic, Queen Anne, Italianate, Gothic Revival, Colonial and French Second Empire style. “They wanted to keep their power base,” says Bashaw. Does it have anything to do with Congress? Daily Newspaper Service is included in your stay as a Congress Hall guest. Cape May Landmarks: Congress Hall The two centuries of history that surround Congress Hall, from its earliest days when Elias Hughes operated the town's first tavern on the site for local whalers, are as fascinating as the massive two-year restoration project the hotel's been going through. He’s giving a lot of thought to changes at the Acme center. “Congress Hall” (1882) Congress Hall is the name of a historic inn at Cape May, New Jersey. Congress Hall was first built in 1816 and was named after its first owner, Thomas Hughes, who was elected to Congress. Congress Hall went on to open Cape May's first post-Prohibition cocktail bar (where the Brown Room sits now) in 1934. The third version—whose builders, the Knights, conspicuously advertised to apprehensive vacationers as having been rebuilt out of fireproof brick, not wood!—went up in 1879. The town was like, ‘We’re losing our identity to this guy.’” McIntire clashed with the city over a number of issues, including beach fees and back taxes, and he frowned on drinking and other vices. The Congress Hall of the early 1990s was a vastly different place from the way it is today. Please pull up in front of the hotel and an attendant will assist you with your luggage and car. Once known as "The Summer White House," Congress Hall has been a welcome retreat to many throughout the centuries. “A quarter century after the country was founded, this hotel was a watering hole, a gathering spot. Come see it!” Bashaw began working at Congress Hall in 1968, ringing up sales on an old NCR cash register in the gift shop or hanging around to help out at the front desk. That’s because Annie Knight, the proprietor, who owned the place in the early twentieth century, died in 1931. I was super excited as I love Cape May. Great tour of this historic hotel in Cape May, NJ for only $5.00 per person. From 1968 until 1995 Congress Hall operated as part of the Cape May Bible Conference led by the Reverend Carl McIntire of Collingswood, New Jersey. Thomas Hughes. Congress Hall Useful Findings Situated steps away from the beach, the Congress Hall is great for that rewarding vacation. Congress Hall, located in Philadelphia at the intersection of Chestnut and 6th Streets, served as the seat of the United States Congress from December 6, 1790 to May 14, 1800. Congress Hall: Wonderful place steeped in history. They’re ghosts now, and they haunt Curtis Bashaw. Fitness Room access is included in your stay as a Cape Resorts guest. And it’s that building, closer to the ocean and much smaller than its predecessor, which proudly occupies its space at the western end of Cape May’s pedestrian mall today. President Harrison, his wife, and family, would enjoy riding around Cape May County to take in the local culture and environment. And a youthful John Philip Sousa, age 28, came to Congress Hall in 1882, where he led the U.S. Marine Corps Band in a week-long concert series. The new Congress Hall opened in 2002 following a $25 million renovation, utilizing whenever possible the original features of the building. It acquired its moniker back in 1829, when the then-current owner decided to honor the fact that its builder, Tom Hughes, got himself elected to the House of Representatives that year, serving two terms. “My relationship to the history has become very personal, because those are the few people that have shared this place with me,” he says. Toward that end, he played an instrumental role in organizing a group called the Fund for Cape May to raise money for a public-private partnership whose first project was a face-lift for Rotary Park, now nearing completion. Congress Hall: Wonderful place steeped in history. Edward C. Knight and Annie Knight. “When you go back to 1816, it’s almost the entire history of the country,” says Bashaw. Columbia? Back in the 1990s, she and Curtis collaborated on the renovation of the Virginia Hotel on Jackson Street. Cape May. Ok, so I booked an ocean view king for my recent 10 year wedding anniversary.. And I felt (and it was) a great option to celebrate for a night without having to book a flight.. nice 2 hour ride and a wonderfully charming town. Please visit the Congress Hall Front Desk for access. Our street names are ghosts of hotels that are no longer here. Cape May a history lover's paradise COLT SHAW Staff Writer Dec 2, 2019 Dec 2, 2019; 0 {{featured_button_text ... Cape May Historic Congress Hall. The Fitness Room is reserved for one guest at a time and is sanitized between sessions. And she’s definitely not in her twenties. The owners decided to renovate the hotel in 2000, and encountered a lot of activity during demolition. By the middle of the 19th century, Congress Hall had earned a reputation as a glittering refuge for the wealthy. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. And, he says, “There are properties that I would be interested in helping to renovate.”, But in the long run, the ghosts of the former owners will continue to haunt him. Fist built in 1816, Congress Hall stands today after being re-built since being destroyed by the 1878 great fire. Learn More. Congress Hall in Cape May. Cape May Tourism Not only did his radical-right politics rub some people the wrong way, but he was seen as a threat by the powers-that-be in Cape May’s establishment. Love the history and ambience. Our Housekeeping Team will refresh your room twice a day if you'd like, replacing linens and using enhanced cleaning protocols to ensure your space is spotless. “We’re probably the biggest private employer in Cape May county,” says Bashaw, whose Cape Resorts, Inc., last year employed 761 people at the height of the summer season. Cape May Tourism Waters Burrows Miller. “She took it over in 1904, when she was in her forties,” says Reilly, who compiled a fair amount of research before using her theatrical skills to create a character about whose personality and bearing very little is known. Enjoy food and drink service from our Beach Menu. In 2002, after a decade-long struggle, Bashaw presided over the hotel’s grand reopening, which he and his company, Cape Resorts, Inc., now own. Colleen and Curtis went through all of the voluminous archives, checked out the furniture gathering dust in the warehouse, and pored over hundreds of photographs of Congress Hall during its multifaceted eras. In 2003, according to the Press of Atlantic City, Congress Hall was assessed for tax purposes, when it reopened, “at a whopping $11 million;” today, Bashaw says, the assessment for Congress Hall by itself has risen to $28 million. One day, while still at college—Bashaw spent two years at Shelton College and then went to Wheaton College in Illinois—his grandfather called him up. Congress Hall was first built in 1816 and was named after its first owner, Thomas Hughes, who was elected to Congress. Congress Hall. July 1985. The refurbished hotel has quickly established itself as a prime destination for families, featuring annual Easter and Fourth of July celebrations. Hotel’s gone. Amenities are subject to change based on state and local guidelines. That’d be a drag. Choose from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal, or the New York Times. Hotel’s gone. Congress Hall is currently closed for a winter refresh and will reopen on March 19th. Bashaw, who’d just finished at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, returned to Cape May. “The town was asleep, and he’s on a thousand radio stations, the main fundamentalist guy in America, this God-and-country preacher. And, sporting its characteristic brilliant yellow brick façade, it still commands its premiere position overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the heart of Cape May city. Cape May is easily accessible from the Garden State Parkway and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. - See 1,504 traveler reviews, 692 candid photos, and great deals for Congress Hall at Tripadvisor. And it didn’t work! “Look at the street names around town. In this video we take a tour of the building and grounds of Congress Hall located in Cape May, NJ. We’re still here.”, The spirits of the former owners continue to inspire Bashaw, who sees himself as a caretaker. The Congress Hall allows guests to walk to Cape May Beach, Poverty Beach and Washington Street Mall. Fitness Center access is included in your stay as a Cape Resorts guest. “I mean, I’m still good for another twenty years or so! Among other things, Bashaw credits McIntire for keeping Congress Hall intact in an era when it could easily have been a victim of a wrecking ball. Stay connected with complimentary high-speed WiFi, available in your guest room or anywhere on our beautiful grounds. Cape May celebrates its living history through the preservation— and the clever adaptive reuse—of these grand old buildings. In speeches around town, Bashaw has outlined a series of ideas for the future of Cape May, including expanded low-cost and affordable housing, ideas for improving the island’s schools, changes in zoning rules, creation of an expanded, car-free pedestrian town in the city center during peak season, and more attention to the city’s public spaces. “Or imagine being poor Jacob Cake, who built the Perry Street wing, expanding it to accommodate 800 guests. There's nothing quite like the simple pleasure of room service during your vacation. - See 1,509 traveler reviews, 695 candid photos, and great deals for Congress Hall at Tripadvisor. Cape May was and is today a popular east coast resort area, and in 1882 the U. S. Marine Band made its first appearance there under Sousa’s direction. Congress Hall. The third-floor hallway is said to be haunted. Gilbert Ramagosa and Charlie Sandman. The twenty-something Knight, resplendent in a Victorian-era dress, points to one of the photographs. According to a new biography, Fighting Fundamentalist: Carl McIntire and the Politicization of American Fundamentalism, McIntire was the pioneer of mixing Christianity and politics. Its replacement—larger and more magnificent—underwent a series of expansions, including the addition of one entire wing, and it lasted exactly 60 years, until the Great Fire of 1878 reduced much of central Cape May to … Congress Hall: Lovely piece of history! The band had created little interest outside Washington until Sousa assumed leadership in 1880. As our guest, you'll have access to the fully-equipped Fitness Center and Sauna at the nearby Sandpiper Beach Club. Annie Knight, the owner and proprietor of Congress Hall strolls slowly down the building’s central, dark-paneled hallway, guiding guests and tourists through the two centuries since the building was first erected in 1816. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Stockton? Hotel staff gathered on the lawn in 1928. He has no children or obvious heirs, and he admits that he can worry about who’s going to succeed him. In the 1950s, under the bulky Joe Uhler, who’d taken over Congress Hall from the Knights during World War II—when it profited handsomely by hosting military personnel from nearby bases—the stately old edifice saw itself turn tacky, with the color scheme and décor turning to deep red paint and burgundy velour in keeping with the look of, say, a bordello in New Orleans. In 2016, the once-again new Congress Hall is the jewel in the crown of Bashaw’s Cape Resorts empire, including the flagship hotel and its restaurants, the Blue Pig, the Brown Room and the Boiler Room; the Virginia Hotel and Cottages, including the Ebbitt Room; the seaside Beach Shack and the Rusty Nail; the Star Inn; and Beach Plum Farm. 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