The "From 'The Big House' To 'Tommy's Folly' To 'Congress Hall': A History Part I" Story

Congress Hall as it appears from Washington St. in Cape May, NJ.

It was an ordinary day.  Carol and I are walking through the main floor of Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ searching for a few gifts for friends and family for Christmas this year.  Many of the stores from years ago are gone, replaced with more upscale shops featuring home furnishings and designer clothing and accessories.  

The main hall that has been renovated
and show the glory of past centuries.

Congress Hall recently underwent a $22 million make-over which included a new roof with over 18,000 slate shingles and 11 miles of upgraded plumbing.  Structural improvements to help sagging ceilings and sloping floors and gallons of paint to spruce up the visual appeal were also part of the new improvements.  Even some of the original china, creamers and sugar bowls were found and put back into use.  The familiar yellow exterior with the 55 majestic four-story high white columns still remain as does the sweeping veranda, beautiful manicured lawn and inviting pool. The 107 guest rooms of the resort now have the color schemes and original carpet patterns restored to the Federal-style hotel.

Avery early photo showing the original Congress Hall.

The seashore atmosphere has returned to Congress Hall as you walk through the 12-foot tall doors into the marbled-floor foyer surrounded with wicker furniture and tall palms giving you the welcome character it once emitted.  

A stereograph photo of Congress Hall.

As we walked through the main hallway we noticed the many photos that lined the walls telling of the history of this seaside resort once known as "The Big House".  

A post card that shows the location of Congress Hall as well as other hotels.

Congress Hall, as it has been called since 1828 when owner Thomas Hughes was elected to Congress, was originally built in 1816.  He built the structure as a boarding house for summer visitors to one of America's earliest seaside resorts.  

May 16, 1878 newspaper article telling of the fire that destroyed much of Cape May.

At first it was called "The Big House" and later known as "Tommy's Folly" because of the enormous amounts of money used to build it and also because of the size of the building. The hotel was so well accepted that before long he increased the size of the "The Big House".  

Another article telling of the New Congress Hall.

Originally the first floor was a single room that was a dining room while the guests stayed on the top two floors.  In the mid-1800s business was booming and Congress Hall had doubled in size.  In 1863 Jacob Cake purchased and ran the hotel until 1878 when EC Knight purchased it.  

Picture of Congress Hall after it was rebuilt.

Then tragedy struck when 38 acres of land and property in Cape May were destroyed when fire swept through the town's seafront in 1878. The wooden Congress Hall was part of the 38 acres.  Didn't take long before Congress Hall was rebuilt, this time in brick rather than wood.  Tomorrow I will tell you what has become of Congress Hall since that devastating fire in 1878.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.