This was one of those weeks when you wished you were not so connected on Social Media. People killing Seagulls. People killing lions, and so many Google alerts about Cape May, I wish I didn’t get Google alerts.
And then a bright spot appeared. Something was lost, then found and returned with the help of social media.
Mr. O’Neill was shopping at Duckies Farm Stand on Broadway in West Cape May. I imagine while he was loading up his trunk or back seat with Jersey Tomatoes, melons and any other fresh fruit and produce, he placed his wallet on the roof of the car. Once loaded up, he started the car, fired up the air conditioner, fastened his seat belt and headed down Broadway.
Most of us heading into Cape May, hang a left on Central Ave or one of the side streets leading to Park boulevard. Mr. O’Neill of Silver Spring Maryland, apparently knew these turn offs too. Only his wallet, is still on the roof of his car. Taking those quick left and right hand turns must have sent his wallet sliding back and forth across his roof top. That is, until he passed the homes of a Cape May local, Stephen Fischer, and Amy Forrester of Virginia who was visiting Cape May.
Amy posted on the 9000 plus member Cool Cape May Facebook page, that she turned in Mr. ONeill’s wallet to the Cape May City department. On the same thread Stephen mentioned finding several pieces of identification. Stephen posted: “I found three cards in the street also belonging to Tim O’Neill. Debit Card, Insurance Card and Marriott Card. Contacted his son via Facebook, who then contacted Tim.”
We can only surmise that in the tumultuous trip the wallet took, it scattered across Park Boulevard and Elmira street, only to be scooped up by honest citizens and a visitor to Cape May. Stephen Fischer reported that Tim O’Neill was extremely grateful to see his wallet and contents returned.
This is not the first time good fortune has befallen a visitor to Cape May. In 2013, Candace was watching her young sons body surf at the Cove beach on a yellow flag afternoon (indicating moderate surf). While scurrying the boys out of the ocean they posed for a family picture. Only then did Candace realize her diamond wedding band was no longer on her finger.
With tears in her eyes she frantically searched the ocean bottom on an incoming tide. Frustrated, and naturally upset, Candace reached out to Dave Milsted for help. Dave could not get his metal detecting equipment to Cape May for a couple of days and asked Candace to mark via Google maps the exact location she lost the ring.
You guessed it. As unbelievable as it seems, Dave an experienced seeker and finder was able to return the diamond wedding ring to the grateful owner. Dave detailed the most interesting search in his blog, Another Lost Ring in Cape May Returned.
If you’re going to lose something… you might well lose it in Cape May. At least with Cape May’s track record you have a good chance of finding what you’ve lost.
Have you ever lost anything and had it returned? Ever hear a similar story? Let us know in the comments section, we’d love to hear about it.
Post edit: Just at the time of posting this blog, Bill Blackinton posted this picture of a pair of imported flipflops being returned in Cape May point. The proprietor of the Cape May Peanut Butter Factory commented that she was in possession of a shopping bag left behind by a customer. She has hopes of reuniting with the customer when they realize the lost the package.
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A footnote to John’s wonderful story is that my grandson, Rory, Tim’s son, who was an important link in this amazing effort to locate the owner of the lost wallet , has been living and working in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, since graduating from College a year and a half ago.
The perseverance of Stephen and Amy is remarkable and heartwarming! My entire family is moved and grateful – our decision to buy our lovely Cape May home 35 years ago was one of the best decisions ever made!
We recently bought a summer home in West Cape May, and a few weeks after I lost my car keys which also included both my house keys. The keys could have been anywhere since that night we walked throughout town and spent time on the beach. Luckily, I still had my new home’s address attached to my house key. The next day someone returned my keys and inserted them in my car door. Still to this day, I do not know who returned my keys. I would just like to thank that person and say that I sincerely appreciate it. Such a wonderful act of kindness!
On a different note, I want to thank the person who paints the om rocks and leaves them on a wooden table for people to take (Broadway). This is another wonderful act of kindness! I did take one, and each time I see it reminds me of how nice people are. I want to give a big shout out to ALL THE NICE PEOPLE IN CAPE MAY!
Love your blog posts like this one. I have similar thing happened to me and thank fully it was return by the end of the day, it was my wedding ring I left on the garage and thankfully my little 5y. old kid found it.
A visitor left her credit card at the Cape May Artists’ Cooperative Gallery the other day. She had used a Montreal Inn guest discount card for her purchase. We called the Montreal but the guest had checked out that morning. Their desk clerk called the guest and gave her my number. She called me, relieved to know the whereabouts of the card. Don’t you love small town life!
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These stories are great and rarely told. Thanks for sharing that story.
i wish someone had been so kind to a friend of mine. She lost her 3 stone diamond ring at TJMaxx in CMCH. We reported it to the store and police but never heard a word. It was 4 or 5 years ago and she misses it desperately. Her husband gave it to her to commemorate the births of her 3 children. It was priceless to her.
Hello. This past Friday, I lost a pair of vintage Lu Lu Guinness sunglasses, black with white trim that says “Glamour Girl” on the sides. They were only $10, but my husband searched for them for weeks for me online and I adored them. I lost them at the beach at Philadelphia Avenue in Cape May. Saw this blog and thought this would be a good place to mention it if anyone finds them can you respond to my post! Thank you! Jennifer.
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Sorry to hear about your sunglasses. I have re posted the blog on the Cool Cape May Facebook page in hopes that someone will have seen the glasses.
Best of Luck
Thank you so much for your help! We love Cape May so much. 🙂
Hi there! I saw the glasses on the beach yesterday. They were hung on the fence post in a clear Baggie. Hope you are able to get them!
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Jennifer-Anne I drove down and looked. Those were Calvin Klein prescription glasses. I left them on the fence post.
Thanks again, that was really kind of you! I really appreciate you looking and I appreciate the response. It was worth a shot. But you never know, they may turn up someday. 🙂
Really? Wow. We are back in Philadelphia, left Cape May yesterday. Which street? Could anyone put them in the mailbox at 1103 Virginia Avenue? That’s where we stayed and I know the owner so I can get them there at some point. Thanks so much!
Last Thanksgiving Day weekend(a warm one) my 4 year old grandson was playing on the beach at the Cove and took off his sneaks and dipped his feet in the ocean. My daughter carried him back to the car and they drove home to the Lehigh Valley before realizing they forgot his sneaks. In early Spring, my husband and I were down for the weekend and while walking on the promenade I noticed a small pair of sneaks on the bench by the Cove. I thought they couldn’t have been my grandsons after all that time and all the bad weather we had had. I took a picture and sent it to my daughter and sure enough they were his sneaks and the socks were still tucked inside! It just shows how honest and helpful the people of Cape May are!
My daughter lost a bundle of money wrapped in a blue rubber band 7/21 at Washington Square. She worked very hard to earn her money for our trip to Cape May. As a reward for her hard work she carries her own money and is allowed to buy anything that catches her eye at the shops. After retracing our steps twice, we found her money. It had been turned in at the Fudge Shop. She learned two valuable lessons today. First, there are still good and honest people in this world, and second, to be more responsible with her money. Thank you to whomever the honest person was that turned that money in. You made a 10 year old very happy.
Last week my son lost a chain with a cross pendant containing his friends ashes at the beach near Congress Hall. Hoping someone has found it and turned it in somewhere. We don’t know who to contact or where to post about this..
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Hello Shari I approved your comment but you can post in this group https://www.facebook.com/groups/CapeMayLive
I would like to send a pair of prescription turquoise sunglasses to their owner I found in the ladies bathroom at Cape May near the beach to their rightful owner.
I recently lost a black Jansport backpack with a leather bottom around the parking lot of the Cape May Welcome Center. It contains a lot of valuables including my laptop, drivers license, and lot of sentimental items and I desperately need it back. I lost it on Saturday night (6/3) around 6-7pm and have filed a police report. If anyone finds it please let me know!!! You can contact me at autumnorchard88@gmail.com.
I’m reposting this on Cool Cap May Facebook page—hopefully someone finds it.
Thanks!
Hi, we were in Cape May this past weekend (July 28) staying at the Sandpiper hotel. I lost a brown quilted tote bag filled with make up sandals and shoes. I think it was dropped near the Sandpiper hotel. If anyone finds it, please return it to the Sandpiper and they will get in touch with us. Thank you so much.
Hi,
We stayed at the Sandpiper hotel over the weekend. I lost a brown quilted tote bag that contains shoes and cosmetics. I really hope somebody found it. Thank you so much.