Christian Admiral Explained

Christian Admiral
Former Names:Hotel Cape May
Admiral Hotel
Building Type:Hotel
Architectural Style:Beaux-Arts
Address:1401 Beach Avenue, Cape May, Cape May County, NJ
Location City:Cape May, New Jersey
Location Country:United States
Start Date:1905
Opened Date:April 11, 1908
Closing Date:1991
Demolition Date:February 1996
Cost:US$1 million
Rooms:333
Owner:Carl McIntire

The Christian Admiral, formerly Admiral Hotel and Hotel Cape May, was a luxury hotel located in Cape May, New Jersey. Demolished in 1996, it was once the world's largest hotel, known for its majestic architecture and association with Carl McIntire's Christian movement.

History

The Christian Admiral Hotel, originally known as the Hotel Cape May, was erected in the Beaux-Arts style between 1905 and 1908.[1] When opened on April 11, 1908, it was the world's largest hotel with 333 guest rooms.[2] Completed behind schedule and over budget, Hotel Cape May was part of a development project intended to bring wealthy visitors to the city and rival East Coast resorts such as Newport, Rhode Island.[3] During its existence it would undergo five bankruptcies and ownership changes.[4] In 1962 the hotel was acquired by the Christian Beacon Press, headed by the Rev. Dr. Carl McIntire, for use as a bible study and conference center. The conference facilities were expanded and substantial sums of money were spent to bring the hotel into compliance with building codes.[5] Carl McIntire said preserving old buildings is American.[6]

In 1991, the hotel was closed by Cape May City officials. The hotel was demolished in 1996 and the site was reused for a development of single family homes. The demolition of the hotel placed the city's National Historic Landmark status at risk.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey Archive - The Christian Admiral. Preservation New Jersey. Preservation New Jersey. 3 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160916062703/http://www.preservationnj.org/site/ExpEng/index.php?%2Ften_most_12%2Farchive_by_city_detail%2F1995%2FChristian_Admiral_Hotel. 16 September 2016. dead.
  2. Web site: Greenhill's Christian Admiral Page. tks.org. Greenhill Ministries. 3 September 2016. November 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151114052136/http://tks.org/christian_admiral_memories.htm. dead.
  3. Web site: Gaines. Hope. The Passing of the Christian Admiral. CapeMay.com. Cape Publishing, Inc.. 3 September 2016.
  4. News: Jones. Joyce. Hotel's Fate Poses a Preservation Test. 3 September 2016. The New York Times. August 21, 1994.
  5. News: Jones. Joyce. A Hotel's Many Lives. 3 September 2016. The New York Times. August 21, 1994.
  6. Book: Salvini. Emil. The Summer City by the Sea: Cape May, New Jersey, an Illustrated History. 1995. Wheal-Grace Publications. Belleville, NJ. 0-8135-2261-7. 122. 3 September 2016.