Clipping from the 30 October 1930 Wildwood (N.J.) Leader newspaper announcing a stock investment opportunity to start a ferry between Cape May and Lewes. In 1930, 34 years earlier than the official undertaking in 1964. The program is free and open to the public and begins at 7:30 pm at Lewes Presbvyterian Church on Kings Highway in Lewes.

How do you prepare for a 50th anniversary? You know, that storied golden jubilee. Half a century. Fred Coldren knows how and he's doing it on his own. He will discuss the ins and outs of his Cape May Lewes Ferry History Project at the Friday, October 20 program of Lewes Historical Society. His presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Lewes Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, Kings Highway and Franklin Street in Lewes.

It's no coincidence that Coldren works for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry (CMLF), now in its 43rd year. In fact, it has been the focus of Fred Coldron's efforts for nearly as long as the ferry has operated: "I've been riding on the ferry since 1964 in the few months after it started because the girl I was dating is a native of Cape May. So it was a natural for me to commute from where I was living in Washington, D.C. and take the ferry." He married that girl and settled in Cape May where he was a newspaper reporter and editor and later a New Jersey State Senator and Cape May's city manger. During these stints he explained " I was a strong advocate and supporter of CMLF for economic development reasons in our region. All during my 16-year career as City Manager of Cape May (1980-1996), I continued my advocacy and support for the Ferry system, including service as national Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the US Department of Transportation's Urban Mass Transit Administration."

He left public service in 2000 and the following year became director of administration for CMLF and where he is currently business manager. He emphasizes with pride that "My history gathering efforts are a continuation of my longtime personal interest on my own private time and with my own resources, not as part of my current employment with DRBA. The Ferry does have some great artifacts such as dedication plaques and framed images which we are preserving. But I'm urging DRBA to create a permanent archive, a library and set up an exhibit on CMLF history at least a couple of years ahead of the Golden 50th Anniversary in 2014. We've got plenty of time, but I need the public's help to gather more artifacts and memorabilia from both sides of the Bay. Time does fly, especially when you are having fun like those of us who are amateur historians."

Coldren asks that if you have any early CMLF artifacts and would like to show or discuss them or even lend them for exhibit, to bring them to the presentation. His presentation will illustrate a number of items he has collected already and he will discuss how the project is progressing. The program is free and the public is cordially invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served following the presentation.

©2002-2005 The Lewes Historical Society