Ludlam Island facts for kids

Ludlam Island is a long, narrow piece of land in southern New Jersey. It's called a barrier island because it acts like a natural wall, protecting the mainland from ocean storms. Two towns are located on Ludlam Island: Sea Isle City and Strathmere, which is part of Upper Township.

Exploring Ludlam Island's Geography

Ludlam Island lies along the Atlantic Ocean. It is located between two openings to the sea: Corson Inlet to the northeast and Townsends Inlet to the southwest. Behind the island, separating it from the mainland, is Ludlam Bay. This bay is surrounded by large areas of salt marsh and many small tidal channels.

In 1834, Ludlam Island was known as "Ludlam's Beach." It was described as stretching about 6 miles along the ocean, from Corson's to Townsend's Inlet. At that time, it was partly in Middle Township and partly in Dennis Township in Cape May County.

By 1878, Ludlam's Beach was described as being seven miles long. It was mostly empty, a low, flat, sandy island. There were only a few small groups of red cedar trees growing on it.

Changes to the Island Over Time

A local resident named Mr. George Dare shared more details about Ludlam's Beach in 1878. He said that the northeast part of the island, for about three miles, had no bushes growing on it. However, thirty years before that, it had been covered with large red cedar trees.

A powerful storm in the winter of 1863-1864 caused a lot of damage. This strong northeast gale washed away a mile of hills and cedar trees. Mr. Dare explained that the tough ground of the salt marshes helped protect the beaches. He noted that the salt marshes are exposed along the outside of the beach for miles. Their strong, grassy turf is hard to break up, so it doesn't easily wash away or blow away. This helps prevent the beaches from eroding too quickly.

The History of Ludlam Island

Early Ownership and Development

The island gets its name from Joseph Ludlam, who bought it in the late 1600s. He used the island to graze his cows and sheep. Later, in the 1880s, a developer named Charles K. Landis bought land on the island. He then founded the city of Sea Isle there.

Charles Landis had a grand vision for Ludlam Island. He wanted it to be like Venice, Italy, with many beautiful canals and waterways. His plan for the island included a network of these canals.

Ludlam's Beach Lighthouse

In 1885, the Ludlam's Beach Lighthouse was built. Charles K. Landis had asked for a lighthouse because several shipwrecks had happened near the island. The lighthouse was an L-shaped, two-story building with a square light tower on top. It was located at 31st Street and the Boardwalk.

The lighthouse served its purpose until 1924. However, in 1923, a fire broke out. The fire started when the lighthouse keeper's dog accidentally knocked over a kerosene lantern. This accident destroyed the roof and the light of the lighthouse.