Stone Harbor Revisited

In 1722, Seven Mile Beach, covered in red cedar and holly, bayberry bushes and beach plums, was acquired by the Leaming family, who used it for grazing and whaling. Long undeveloped, the southern portion of the island was sold to the South Jersey Realty Company in 1907. The Risley brothers sold bonds to support their vision of a seaside resort serving the wealthy of Philadelphia. Dunes were leveled, roads laid out, and basins dredged, creating the ideal vacation destination. Grand hotels sh...