On March 16, 1927, Commissioner Director Joseph G. Champion presented a design for an official county seal to the Board of Freeholders. The design had been made by architects Edwards and Green of Philadelphia. Champion wished to have the design installed in the floor of the new court house building on Main Street in Cape May Court House. The design was accepted and on May 1, 1927, this design became the official seal of Cape May County.
Symbolism
The boat is believed to represent the Half Moon, the ship of Henry Hudson, who discovered the cape and claimed it for the Dutch. The compass arrow indicates the position of the county. The symbols around the edge represent fish or whales which, along with the anchor, represent the county’s maritime commerce. The bee hive on the right is thought to represent county industry. The stack of books on the left represents learning or education. The cornucopia between the fish represents the agricultural bounty of the county. The last symbol at the bottom of the seal is a mystery symbol. No one seems to know what this symbol stands for.