From the Barracks of Camp Wissahickon

Text by Cassidy Jones / Fall 2025

World War I and World War II have major relevancy in Cape May, in part due to the development of Camp Wissahickon Naval Section Base 9. The base was built in 1917 and leased to the government from Henry Ford for $1 for the duration of World War I. The plot of land was an abandoned amusement park in Sewell’s Point, currently occupied by the Coast Guard Base, with modern operations carrying on a legacy of significant local history.

The base was built prior to the construction of the Cape May Canal, which was not established until World War II by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to ensure a safe route that evaded German U-boats as well as provided an intercoastal waterway.

Picture of boxing instructions at “Wissackon [sic] Barracks.” Photo from our archives

This naval training station allowed for Cape May to do its part in defending the country during both World Wars. Cape May was identified as a vulnerable site that required defense because of its accessibility from both the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay, while vital waterway transport to Philadelphia made the area a target. It was also an opportune location for testing planes and blimps that could land at sea.

Over 8,000 soldiers, including aviation, had been trained at Camp Wissahickon by the end of World War I. A few years following the U.S. and its allies’ victory, much of the camp burned down and was deactivated. The base was rebuilt and revived for World War II to defend the Delaware Bay and merchant ships from German submarines.

The base was expansive, boasting over 30 barracks and bunkers. The photographs on each postcard showcase different districts on base and the men in action. Messages from the enlisted men of days gone by are documented on these cards.