Short Beach Island facts for kids

Short Beach Island, also known as Short Beach or Tucker's Island, was a long, narrow piece of land (a barrier island) located along the Jersey Shore in the Atlantic Ocean. Today, a small part of it called Little Beach still remains. The northern part of the island eventually joined with Long Beach Island before it was completely washed away by the ocean.

Where Was Short Beach Island?

Short Beach Island was located southwest of Long Beach Island. It was also northeast of Brigantine Island.

The Story of Short Beach Island

Short Beach first appeared on maps in 1777. Back then, it was shown as part of Brigantine Beach and called Mihannon Shoal.

How the Island Changed Over Time

In 1878, people described Short Beach, also known as Tucker's Beach, as being about six to eight miles long a hundred years earlier. By 1878, it was only about a mile long!

A story says that in 1800, a big storm created a new channel, or "inlet," through the island. This new channel grew larger and became known as the "New Inlet." It became the main way for boats to get into Little Egg Harbor.

The old inlet, which used to be very wide, started to close up. By 1874, it was completely closed. People could even walk across from Short Beach to Long Beach without getting wet! This meant the two beaches became connected.

Over time, the northern part of Short Beach became known as Tucker's Island.

Inlets and Island Changes

A report from 1905 explained how these inlets opened and closed. When one inlet closed, a new one often opened to take its place.

• New Inlet: This inlet opened around 1800.
• Old Inlet: This inlet slowly closed. By 1874, it was completely gone.
• Tucker's Island: For a while, Tucker's Island was between the New Inlet and the Old Inlet. As the Old Inlet closed, the ocean currents changed the shape of Tucker's Island. Eventually, Long Beach grew and connected with Tucker's Island, making it part of a larger peninsula.

These changes meant that areas that were once deep water, where boats could sail, became dry land. For example, a place called "Sea Haven" was built on what used to be a navigable channel.

Lighthouses and Life-Saving Stations

A lighthouse was built on Tucker's Island in 1848 to help guide ships. It was first an unmanned light, then closed in 1860. After the American Civil War, a new, manned lighthouse called the Little Egg Harbor Lighthouse started working. This lighthouse helped sailors until 1927. By then, the ocean had eroded the land so much that the lighthouse was no longer safe.

A United States Life-Saving Service station was also built on the island in 1856. This station helped rescue people from shipwrecks. It operated until the early 1930s, when it also became unsafe due to erosion.

Resort Dreams

In the late 1800s, people tried to build a vacation spot called Sea Haven on the island. Two hotels were built, and they were popular for a few years. However, other resorts that were easier to reach eventually took away their business. In 1907, another attempt was made to build a resort called St. Albans by the Sea, but it wasn't successful.

The Island Disappears

By the 1920s, a new inlet called Beach Haven Inlet opened. This separated Tucker's Island from Long Beach Island again. This new inlet caused the island to erode much faster.

• In 1927, the lighthouse was so undermined by the ocean that it had to be left. It fell into the ocean on October 12 of that year.
• The Life-Saving station followed in the early 1930s.
• By 1950, Short Beach Island had completely disappeared into the ocean.

A New Tucker's Island?

In recent years, a temporary island has appeared in the same area. It is sometimes labeled as Tucker's Island on modern maps. This new island is only visible at certain times, depending on the tides.