Sadly, today, the ocean is eroding the ground under it so it is now known how much longer it will be with us.
FIRE TOWER #23 stands 100 feet tall. Armed Coast Guardsmen watched from the top while others galloped up and down the beach on horseback watching for landing parties from German U-boats.
It was built in 1942 and the tower served as lookout for enemy subs and acted as spotters for artillery onthe beach. It was part of a series of fifteen, all of which were under the jurisdiction of Fort Miles.
The tower at Wildwood was torn down and the one at Cape May City was absorbed into the Grand Hotel on Beach Avenue, but part of it can still be seen on the roofline.
Across from Tower #23 is an empty lot where the Northwest Magnesite Co. was once located. During World War II, this company operated 24-7 making the fire necessary for making steel.
More to Come. --Cooter
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