The shifting sands on the beach of Stone Harbor gave our small town a surprise over the holidays by revealing the remains of a shipwreck. Visitors flocked to view the remains as part of a 25-foot wooden ship was unearthed.

The remains are considered to be from a schooner, D.H. Ingraham, which sank off Hereford Inlet in 1886. The ship and 5-person crew were destined for Virginia with their cargo of mineral lime. When the ship began to sink, seven lifesaving station employees rescued the crew and were later awarded medals of honor from Congress, three of which are on display today at the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood.

The wreck remains were located at the south end of Stone Harbor and photos circulated through media and social media throughout the holidays.

South Jersey is home to a number of shipwrecks from this timeframe, many of which have items on display throughout the region. At the Ocean City Historical Museum, artifacts including the ship’s name plate and pottery are on display from the “Sindia”, a four-masted vessel that ran aground in 1901.

Many recall the most recent discovery in Cape May this past March aptly named the “Ghost Tracks.” The tracks, located in Higbee Beach in Lower Township were owned by the Atlantic City Railroad Co. and leased to the Cape May Sand. Co. more than 100 years ago.

What will the shifting sands of Cape May County reveal next? Stay tuned and we’ll be there to capture our coast’s unique history! For now enjoy some of the photos Hugh captured while the wreck was still visible.