CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — During its meeting Sept. 22, the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing a Historic Preservation Trust Fund Grant Agreement with the Cape May MAC and the state of New Jersey for preservation work at Fire Control Tower No. 23 at Sunset Beach.
The county will provide as much as $172,626 from the Cape May County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, according to a news release. The grant term runs one year from Sept. 22, with a possible extension of one year.
The project has a total estimated cost of $345,252. Matching funds of $172,626 are being sought from the New Jersey Historic Trust under its Development of Historic Structure program.
The state owns the tower and leases it to Cape May MAC, which will have sole responsibility for permitting, construction, operation and long-term maintenance. All work must conform to the federal Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
The Open Space Review Board recommended the award June 16. A public hearing was held July 28, 2026, at the County Administration Building. The resolution executes the grant agreement and encumbers the Open Space funds.
“This is exactly the kind of project the Open Space Program was built to support,” said Commissioner Bobby Barr, who oversees the Cape May County Open Space Program and serves on the Open Space Review Board. “Fire Control Tower No. 23 is a publicly accessible historic landmark that tells the story of how Cape May County helped defend the Delaware Bay during World War II. By pairing county Open Space dollars with state historic preservation funding, we can stabilize this structure, keep it open to the public and honor the veterans recognized on its Wall of Honor without placing the full cost on local taxpayers.”
The concrete tower was built between June and September 1942 under the Harbor Defense Modernization Program and is listed on the national and state Registers of Historic Places. Tower 23 operated with a counterpart at Fort Miles in Delaware to triangulate vessels in Delaware Bay and help protect industrial and military resources in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania during World War II.
Cape May MAC has operated the site since a 2008 restoration. The tower includes interpretive exhibits on its military use and a Wall of Honor recognizing more than 160 local veterans. About 8,000 visitors climbed the structure in 2025.
Proposed work includes concrete repairs, rehabilitation of 19 wood awning windows, replacement of walkway decking and partial substructure, split-rail fence replacement, re-coating of the roof membrane and installation of a passive roof vent.
The project has received letters of support from U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, state Sen. Michael L. Testa, Cape May City, the Cape May County Coast Guard Community Foundation, Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, New Jersey Audubon Society, and other community and cultural organizations.
“Preserving Fire Control Tower No. 23 is about more than bricks and mortar,” Board of County Commissioners Director Leonard C. Desiderio said. “It is our duty to honor the men and women who defended our shores and to ensure that future generations can experience this unique piece of Cape May County’s World War II history.
“Partnering with Cape May MAC and leveraging state historic preservation dollars demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting the landmarks that define our community’s character and draw visitors from across the region.”
