1875

John Wanamaker, a wealthy Philadelphia businessman, builds a house at the corner of Beach & Emeralds Avenues and participates in an attempt to make the then Seagrove Community, now Cape May Point, a summer haven for Presbyterians.

1898

John Wanamaker donates the building and property to the Presbyterian Orphanage of Philadelphia to be used as a summer vacation spot for the children.

1926

Severe beach erosion requires moving Wanamaker's 2 story house to its present location at the corner of Cape and Yale Avenues.

1928

The "Chapel House" is dedicated.

1916-1932

The Presbyterian Orphanage assembles the five building lots, which make up the current property.

1959

Last year that the property is used by the Orphanage. The property is sold to Mrs. Gertrude W. Michel of Pennsauken, New Jersey.

1962

The property lays dormant under the ownership of Mrs. Michel.

March 1962

A major hurricane hits Cape May and Cape May Point causing dune erosion and washing away a number of structures - property values plummet - Cape May becomes known as "Cape Maybe."

Sept. 1962

The property (5 lots) and its 3 buildings are purchased by the Marianists for $12,000. The original purpose of the property is to be used by the Provincial Administration of the newly formed New York Province.

1969

Brother Thomas Trager becomes director and that very summer a Sodality consisting of teachers and their spouses from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Baltimore brought their families to Cape May Point for a weekend.

The first Summer Family Retreat is offered. 27 families participate and the theme for the summer is "The Prayer of St. Francis."

1971-Present

The rest is, as they say, history!

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