Wildwood Historical Society Seeks Funds for Tram Car No. 8 Restoration

The Wildwood Historical Society has launched a fundraising drive to restore Tram Car No. 8, a historic Sightseer tram that has graced the Wildwood Boardwalk for decades.

Taylor Henry, president of the Wildwood Historical Society, explained the tram car's cultural significance and the community value of preserving this iconic symbol in a Cape May County Herald report.

The initiative is in its early stages and hinges on broad community backing to prevent the tram car from being lost to history.

According to the Cape May County Herald, the tram's engine car is currently stored at a facility on Hunt's Pier, and transporting it across town won't be easy. ABS Sign Co. has agreed to handle the restoration to return Tram Car No. 8 to its original look, removing the Coca-Cola branding it currently bears.

The tram car's size also poses another issue. It won't fit through the Wildwood Historical Society museum's current doorway at its facility on Pacific Avenue. Rob Ascough, the Historical Society's treasurer, told the Cape May County Herald that the society would need to create a large opening in its museum building to bring the tram car inside.

The Historical Society needs public support to fund the restoration of the tram car, Henry said. Every purchase made on the society's website helps support the project. Direct donations are also appreciated, she said.

According to the Cape May County Herald, “the current fleet is electrified and 'Ford-ized' with custom Maverick pickup trucks,” underscoring the value of preserving Tram Car No. 8.