Lucy the Elephant celebrated her 140th birthday, July 18, 2021, with a big announcement.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – Residents and visitors Saturday, July 17 flocked to see Margate’s favorite pachyderm celebrate her 140th birthday. For her birthday this year, Lucy, one of the oldest roadside attractions in America, learned she would get what every 140-year-old lady wants – a complete makeover.
The celebration, which carried the theme “National Landmark’s Summer Vacation,” included lots of fun and games for children, food and drinks, T-shirt sales, tours of the interior of Lucy the Elephant, and of course, a great big birthday cake.
Lucy the Elephant celebrated her 140th birthday ‘National Landmark Summer Vacation’ style, Saturday, July 17.
Save Lucy Committee Executive Director Richard Helfant welcomed visitors with a big announcement – Lucy would be undergoing Phase 1 of her complete makeover starting Oct. 1.
That’s when Lucy will be scaffolded and draped to protect workers from the weather as they work through the fall and winter months to give Lucy a facelift.
Helfant said windows, doors and Lucy’s howdah would be removed, her metal coating removed down to her wooden foundation, which is cedar, and her skin replaced with a new metal product, called Monel, a nickel and copper based metal that’s resistant to rust. Then, the windows and doors, which are fairly new, and her howdah would be reinstalled. The entire structure will be repainted and ready to open for the summer season, when Lucy will celebrate her 141st birthday.
But that’s not all. The makeover will continue the following fall and winter when a new, larger, state-of-the art gift shop will replace the small gift shop at the base of the structure.
“It will be three times as large and have a curved front,” Helfant said.
The main gate will be replaced, and a replica of Margate’s historic boardwalk will wrap around the building. The new building will include a multi-purpose room where visitors can view historic videos and those who cannot climb the stairs inside Lucy’s hind leg can take virtual tours on computers, Helfant said.
Additionally, the small historic Railroad Station building that sits along Atlantic Avenue will be turned around to face the park and restocked with railroad artifacts.
“Lucy was instrumental in getting the railroad to bring visitors to Margate,” Helfant said.
The second phase of Lucy’s restoration project will start after Labor Day 2022 and be completed by summer 2023.
According to Helfant, the Save Lucy Committee is in line to receive a $700,000 grant from the NJ Historic Trust to finance a portion of the capital project. The committee has also submitted, and hopes to receive, a $500,000 grant from the National Park Service Save Our Treasures program.
“The balance will be obtained through fundraising and contributions from Lucy’s supporters,” he said.
The City of Margate is also supporting the makeover and will be contributing to maintain the resort’s greatest asset, Helfant said.
After a rocky period with rumors swirling that Lucy would be leaving town, the City Commission and the Save Lucy Committee came together and signed a new 25-year lease to ensure Lucy stays right where she is – two blocks from her original location on Cedar Grove Avenue.
Lucy was moved to her current site at Josephine Harron Park, named for the founder of the Save Lucy Committee, in 1970. Since then, the world’s most famous 65-foot-tall pachyderm, which was slated for the wrecking ball, has undergone several rehabilitation projects to keep her presentable for visitors.
Lucy got her own address for her 139th birthday last year when the beach-block of Decatur Avenue was renamed, 1 Lucy Place.
“Working together, we can accomplish anything,” said Margate Mayor Michael Becker, who attended the birthday celebration with his wife Mary.
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