On the Way to Cape May Quiz | States

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This is how the quiz will work. First I will quote a line or two from the song. Second, I will ask a question related to the place mentioned in the song and give you four possible answers. Once you have answered the question I will first give you some interesting information related to the question and then some information related to the song "On the Way to Cape May". Ready, go! "You looked so very pretty, when we met in Ocean City, like someone, oh, so easy to adore." Ocean City, NJ sits at the Northeastern corner of Cape May County. Which activity has been illegal in city limits since 1879?

Answer: Selling alcohol

Although Ocean City was not incorporated as a borough by New Jersey until 1884, its origins go back to 1879. Several Christian ministers organized Ocean City as a Christian retreat and camp meeting site. Buying, selling, or public consumption of alcohol was prohibited since the beginning. Ocean is well known for its 2 1/2 mile boardwalk which hosts multiple amusement parks.

The song "On the Way to Cape May" was written in 1960 by Maurice "Buddy" Nugent. Some sources credit it to Buddy Nugent and Joe Gindhart. (More on that later.)

2. "I sang this little ditty, on our way to Ocean City, heading south along New Jersey's shore." One historic location in Ocean City was the Tenth Street Station. From 1898 to 1981, with what type of transportation was the station involved?

Answer: Trains

The station was originally built for the Ocean City Railroad and was taken over by the Atlantic City Railroad. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It is currently used as a bus station for New Jersey transit.

Comedian Thomas "Cozy" Morley (1926-2013) made this song his signature song for his shows. He owned a Club Avalon in North Wildwood, NJ (one of the communities mentioned in the song) and today a life-sized statue of him sits in front of the night club.

3. "On the way to Cape May, I fell in love with you." Cape May refers both to Cape May County, one of New Jersey's 21 counties, and to the community of Cape May. Which best describes where Cape May County sits in New Jersey?

Answer: It lies at the southern end of the state

Cape May County is the southernmost of New Jersey's 21 counties. Cape May is the southernmost point of New Jersey. Most of mainland Cape May County is part of four townships--from north to south, Upper, Dennis, Middle, and Lower. With a 2010 population of slightly under 100,000, Cape May is the next to least populous county in the state, although in the summer months, Cape May's population can swell to nearly ten times as much. From Cape May there is a daily ferry that one can take to Lewes, Delaware.

Cozy Morley's stage act relied on jokes that might not be considered politically correct today. He also played a number of musical instruments including the ukulele and the guitar.

4. "On the way to Cape May, I saw my dreams come true." Which branch of the US Armed Forces has a training facility in Cape May?

Answer: The Coast Guard

The facility is the only enlisted training center for the Coast Guard in the United States. Enlisted members of the coast guard undergo eight weeks of training here before being assigned somewhere else. The Coast Guard's presence in Cape May goes back to the 1920s when several Coast Guard cutters involved in enforcing Prohibition were stationed here.

Cozy Morley was also friends with singer Al Alberts and sometimes booked him as an act in his night club.

5. "I was taken by your smile, as we drifted by Sea Isle." One of the main roads into Sea Isle City was formerly named 41st Avenue. After which popular US president was it renamed?

Answer: John F. Kennedy

Incorporated in 1882, Sea Isle City sits on Ludlum's Island. John F. Kennedy (JFK) Boulevard--the former 41st street--leads to one of the main bridges that connects Sea Isle with the mainland. Once it leaves Sea Isle, JFK Boulevard becomes New Jersey state route 625 and intersects with the Garden State Parkway at Exit 17.

Another popular version of the song was recorded by the previously mentioned Al Alberts (1922-2009), a popular Philadelphia area entertainer. For many years he hosted "Al Alberts Showcase" a talent show for young performers in the Philadelphia area from 1965-2001 on area television stations.

6. "My heart was really gone when we reached Avalon." Avalon, like many of the coastal communities, has many past and present summer residents. Which long-time fixture on "The Tonight Show" as well as "Star Search" owned a vacation home in Avalon?

Answer: Ed McMahon

Ed McMahon (1923-2009) was Johnny Carson's sidekick on "The Tonight Show" from 1962 to 1992. He was also the host of the talent variety show "Star Search" and co-host of "TV Bloopers and Practical Jokes" with Dick Clark. McMahon and his family built a summer home on a lot at 18th Avenue and the beach in the 1960s. Johnny Carson would occasionally ask Ed McMahon about Avalon.

Avalon, NJ, was incorporated in 1892 and has the motto "Cooler by a Mile", referring to its location farther east than many other Cape May County shore communities. It is located on the north end of Seven Mile Beach Island, which it shares with Stone Harbor. Dune Drive, the main north-south road in town, is over 100 feet wide because a railroad line that used to bring in summer tourists ran down the middle of the road in the early 1900s.

Al Alberts was also a founder member of the Four Aces, a popular group of the 1950s. Two of their best-known songs are "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing" (Number One in 1955) and "Three Coins in the Fountain" (Number One in 1954).

7. "On the way to Cape May, Stone Harbor's skies were blue." Which nature education and research facility is located in Stone Harbor, NJ?

Answer: The Wetlands Institute

The Wetlands Institute is open year round and studies ways to preserve and improve the wetlands environment that surrounds and borders the coast islands of New Jersey. The educational aspect of the institute includes lectures, walks in the marsh and dune areas, and programs geared for children. The other three choices are all located in states other than New Jersey. Edison, NJ, is home of the Dismal Swamp Preserve, not The Great Dismal Swamp.

Known for his relaxed manner, Al Alberts was known as "Uncle Al" on the set of his variety show. After ending the show, he and his wife retired to Florida.

8. "We were naming the day when Wildwood came in view." There are actually four "Wildwoods": North Wildwood, West Wildwood, the city of Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest. For which era of architecture are the Wildwoods particularly known?

Answer: The 1950s and 1960s

In the Wildwoods, the buildings of that era are referred to as having a "Doo-Wop" style (like the music of the same era). It is easiest to see this style in several of the motels still found on the island. Some of these motels include the Casa Bahama and Caribbean motels. Wildwood hosts the yearly "Fabulous 50s and Beyond Festival" every October.

Many Philadelphia and southern New Jersey radio stations regularly play this song during the summer season. 98.1 WOGL-FM plays Al Alberts's recording of the song every Friday morning from late May to early September.

9. "If you're gonna be my spouse, we'd better head for that Court House" Cape May Court House is the county seat for Cape May County. Which nature-related destination can one find at Cape May Court House?

Answer: The Cape May Zoo

Opening in 1978, the Zoo is part of Cape May Park. Home to 250 different species, The Cape May Zoo was named the third best zoo in the nation in 2012 on TripAdvisor. The Wetlands Institute is in nearby Stone Harbor. Walkill River National Wildlife Refuge lies in the northern part of the state. Adventure Aquarium is located in Camden, NJ.

The song was inspired by an ab-libbed sing-along Buddy Nugent used to entertain family members one weekend while driving along the Jersey shore towards Cape May. Nugent's friend, pianist Joe Gindhart helped him to transfer the ad-libbed song to sheet music form.

10. "On the way to Cape May, On the way to Cape May." One object that Cape May is known for are "Cape May Diamonds". What are they?

Answer: Pieces of quartz

"Cape May Diamonds" are pieces of quartz that wash up on the shores of the beaches near Cape May Point. They can be cut and polished to superficially resemble diamonds and are sometimes even used in jewelry. The quartz probably enters the upper Delaware River before it flows into Delaware Bay and then the Atlantic Ocean at Cape May Point.

It's interesting that the song talks about travelling to Cape May but if you listen closely there singer never actually gets there. Maybe its more about the journey than the destination.

Source: Author bernie73

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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On the Way to Cape May Trivia Quiz

Inspired by the song "On the Way to Cape May", these ten questions will deal with places mentioned in the lyrics of the song. If you haven't visited New Jersey before, you may want to find an online copy of the lyrics and do a bit of research.

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