MARGATE – Ask anybody about how Lucy the Elephant would do in the 2024 Presidential Election and they will all tell you she’s number one.
Lucy celebrated her 143rd birthday Saturday, July 20 with hundreds of family and friends, announcing she is running for president. Voters filled out ballots putting a check mark next to the name of their choice for president.
Saira Ali of Brigantine brought her family visiting for the weekend from Albany, New York, to the party to see the National Historic Treasure and the nation’s favorite roadside attraction.
Her son, Wasi Ali said he toured the gigantic elephant that once served as a hotel and private residence.
“We went all the way up to the top and you can see the whole coastline and beach. It’s really cool,” he said.
His cousin Anam Ali of Albany said the only other national landmarks that can rival Lucy are the Statue of Liberty and the Eifel Tower.
“But Lucy has lived a lot longer,” she said.
Commissioner of Public Safety Cathy Horn welcomed Lucy’s guests to the party.
“Lucy is the best. I love her theme this year. I feel it’s very apropos,” Horn said. “Lucy has a way of bringing everyone together, the Margate residents as well as visitors to our community.”
Horn noted there were lots of opportunities to have fun, from making your own campaign buttons to noshing on a Lenny’s Hot Dog. Of course, voters were anxious to stuff the ballot box and purchase a commemorative T-shirt.
Children giggled with glee sliding down the giant water slide, and grabbing for bucks in Lucy’s Moneygrabber machine, while others enjoyed putting on the miniature golf islands scattered around Josephine Harron Park.
Lucy was built in 1881 as a marketing tool to bring real estate investors to what was then South Atlantic City. She stood a few blocks away on Cedar Grove Avenue. Over the years, Lucy was used as a tourist attraction and even served as a summer home for a wealthy family.
Over the years, the weather took a toll on her and she was slated for demolition until a group of concerned citizens stepped up to save her from the wrecking ball. They established a committee, went door-to-door to raise money for her restoration, and embarked on a daring adventure to move her to her current location and restore her to her former glory. Amazingly, Lucy survived the move and has undergone several restorations since 1970.
Lucy recently had a multi-million dollar makeover to replace her metal sheathing and will soon undergo additional interior improvements.
Before gathering to sing “Happy Birthday,” Save Lucy Committee Executive Director Richard Helfant informed those gathered about an upcoming project to demolish the old gift shop structure and replace it with an Interpretive Center and new boardwalk.
The city’s’ greatest asset and the Save Lucy Committee have partnered with the city on a partnership project that will meet the needs of the estimated 150,000 visitors who tour the National Historic Landmark every year
The building will have a meeting room where video tours of Lucy can be viewed for those who cannot climb the narrow staircase inside Lucy’s legs. Having onsite restrooms will enable busloads of school children to visit Lucy during the school year, Helfant said.
Lucy is open for tours 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
For more, see www.lucytheelephant.com.
Lucy the Elephant celebrated her 143rd birthday with hundreds of family and friends announcing she is running for president. July 20, 2024Copyright Access Network 2024
