The Whaling Bark "Stafford"

Marker is located at Pacific and S Rhode Island Avenues near the Absecon Lighthouse

Marker text:

Before construction of Absecon Lighthouse, many ships and many lives were lost off the coast of Absecon Island. Even though the beam from this light lessened these losses, other disasters plagued seagoing vessels.

The anchor you see here, weighing 1,805 pounds, may be one of two that were recovered by fishing boat crews working near Cape May. It may originally have sailed aboard the United States Navy Destroyer Jacob Jones, which was hit by German torpedoes in February 1942 and sank in the waters off Cape May. The anchor was permanently installed here as a reminder of the important role Absecon Lighthouse played in reducing losses at sea.