January 1st

1970 – The Sentinel Ledger described the previous year as “an exciting, progressive year.” Among the noteworthy occurrences of 1969 were plans to place a traffic light at 34th Street and Roosevelt Blvd., plans to replace the wooden bridge on the Somers Point-Long Port Blvd., and recovery of 40 percent of the loot taken in 1968 robberies.

January 2nd

1987 – A rare alignment of the sun, moon and earth that had occurred only three times since 1912 caused local tides to rise several feet above normal. Most roads to local resorts were closed and evacuations to schools and shelters occurred throughout Atlantic and Cape May Counties.

January 3rd

1930 – The Sentinel Ledger reported that there was a severe shortage of hotel rooms in Ocean City. There were 20 percent fewer hotel rooms in the resort than existed just six years before. Fortunately, 1930 was expected to be a huge year for expansion as more building permits had been issued in 1929 than in any previous year.

January 4th

1977 – There was talk of a new Ice Age as temperatures plummeted and the East Coast experienced one of the coldest winters since the country was founded. A record was set for the greatest number of consecutive days below freezing. Local docks were destroyed as the frozen waters of the bay pushed them up at high tide. Car engines refused to start and thermostats were lowered as supplies of oil and natural gas dwindled. By January 19th, snowflakes were falling in Miami.

January 5th

1940 – The Daily Sentinel reported that there was an increase in “accidents, suicides, and general complaints,” but a decline in the number of arrests. “The number of arrests dropped off nearly 100 by comparison with 1938,” the Sentinel reported. “There were 565 persons entered on the docket last year, and 661 the previous year.”

January 6th

1909 – In spite of frigid winter temperatures, a crowd gathered to watch a magician named Albertus plunge into the ocean off Atlantic City wearing a straitjacket. Albertus billed himself as “superior to Houdini.” Unfortunately, this didn’t appear to be the case as a crew from the government life-saving station had to save him.

January 7th

1821 – A nor’easter hit the East Coast leaving behind 18 inches of snow from Washington to Philadelphia. Following the storm, temperatures dropped below zero. Unfortunately, this storm heralded in a one of the worst years in local weather. In September of that year, a Category Four Hurricane hit Cape May causing widespread devastation.

January 8th

1910 – Interested in building something before the 1910 season? Two lots facing 55th Street advertised as “a two minute walk to the beach” and “200 yards from the depot” were just $185 a piece. An oceanfront lot between 16th and 17th Street was $4,500. Two lots on Wesley Avenue facing the ocean were $2,600 for the pair.

January 9th

1970 – Looking for a new home for the new decade? A corner home with three-bedrooms, two- baths, a family room, hot water heat, a “usable staired attic,” and a detached garage was $14,500; a “newly painted inside and out” home located in the 34th. Street-section was $15,000; across the bay in Somers Point a three-bedroom, three-years-old home near the Catholic Church was $14,850.