The Abbey
History
The Villa
In 1869 a wealthy Pennsylvania coal baron John B.
McCreary, decided to build an elaborate home on the
shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Cape May. He
contracted a famous architect, Stephen Decatur
Button, to design his summer retreat and the result was a beautiful
gothic villa with an imposing 60 foot tower, stenciled and ruby glass
arched windows, large comfortable rooms and shaded verandas.
Today, this opulent home is a seaside bed & breakfast inn. Furnished with Victorian
antiques including floor to ceiling mirrors, ornate gas lighting fixtures, tall walnut beds,
private baths, and marble topped dressers, it is a step back to a bygone era.
The Cottage
Four years later in 1873 his son, George D.
McCreary built his summer home adjacent to his
father's. This cottage is a delightful Second Empire
style home with bright airy rooms and a convex
mansard roof. It, too, is furnished with antiques and its seven guest
rooms all have private baths.
The two houses were reunited in 1987 and function together as The Abbey. The Abbey is
one of only a few buildings in Cape May selected by the Historic American Buildings
Survey as possessing such architectural significance, that measured drawings of it are
recorded in the Library of Congress.
Tours
For those who are not staying overnight but wish to see The Abbey, we invite you to a
guided tour of the common rooms of both the Villa and the Cottage at 4:00 PM on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, followed at 4:30 by tea and tidbits. A fee is charged.
We are delighted to show you our restoration efforts. Pictures of several of our guest
rooms are on display. Tours are conducted from April through October.
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Last modified: 4/24/97
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