This Old Coombs House
There’s no truer words to describe the word home then those of writer Robert Montgomery; “Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, a dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.”

The old Coombs home at 320 E. 22nd Ave. in N. Wildwood was purchased by Doug & Regina Long in May of 1997. The affluent Sheppard & Margaret Coombs family who were originally from Millville, built this lovely 2 story brick dwelling in the early 1900’s. The house was kept in the Coombs family estate sitting vacant for many years until the Long’s fell into acquiring it. It was in desperate need of some TLC. Between Regina’s unique sense of design and her husband’s creative vision, long with their desire to create a family dream home, they have restored and renovated this charming old Wildwood home into one overflowing with real heart and soul. Every furnishing, as well as every nook and cranny in the large old house has a story to tell.

The story of the Coombs in itself is one of great interest to Wildwood historians. During the pioneer days of the Wildwoods, Sheppard W. Coombs was one of the most active men in the resort. He purchased heavily on many properties. He was a prominent business man on the Five Mile Beach founding the Wildwood Leader, he was President of the Wildwood Lumber Co., Sellright wholesale Grocery Co., and the Bond Sales Co., Vice President of the Seacrest Building and Loan Assc., and Director of Fidelity Trust Co.* In 1928, distressed at the onset of the Stock Market Crash, and concluding he would lose everything he worked so hard for, Sheppard took his own life at the age of 46 leaving behind his widow, Margaret and their 5 children, Helen, George, Kenneth, Elizabeth and Muriel. (This event occurred at one of his properties, 200 W. Maple Ave.) The story is sadly told that his assumptions wound up being wrong. If he had only not despaired, he would have lived to find that out. Sheppard would have been proud that his children went on to follow in his prominent footsteps. Helen, who recently died at the age of 101 in 2001, was part owner of the Cedar Schellinger Corp. which operated the Jack Rabbit Roller Coaster along Schellenger Ave. (currently Splash Zone), the Old Mill and Carousel on the pier now known as Mariner’s Landing on the Wildwood boardwalk. She also owned 2 Novelties & Dry Goods stores, one at 2704 Boardwalk and 3801 Pacific Ave. along with various properties on the island including the recently renovated Chiolo home at Park & Palm Aves. George became president of Marine Bank, Elizabeth was a much loved school teacher. Kenneth became the president of Crest Savings & Loan and we don’t know much about Muriel.

Kenneth Coombs married Ruby Long and became the step-father to Don & Robert Long while still toddlers, providing a wonderful life for his family. He took pride in raising them as he would have his own sons.

The deed to the old Coombs house shows that the home changed hands quite a few times in its latter days, but it always remained within the Coombs family. Just before the turn of the 21st century, with the approaching building boom on the horizon, Grandpop Coombs had caught wind that the house at 320 E. 22nd and its triple lot prime property was prospect to developers who had visions of a multi-condo complex in view. Ken immediately thought of his grandson Doug, who had his growing, young family in a tiny home offshore, and how happy he would be to be able to tell his wife Regina of the perfect opportunity they’ve just been given. So it stood to reason that the Coombs house would once again be in the hands of the same family, sparing it from the fate of destruction. It’s a story not told often enough on this island. But we at The Sun like to share these stories with you whenever we learn of them.**

Ever since Doug & Regina descended into the house with their four children in tow, Timothy, Nicholas, Jenna and Andrew, the renovation work has been an endless, but satisfying and enjoyable work in progress. In 2005, they decided to sell off one of their adjoining lots to build an addition on their other adjoining lot. It was at the height of the real estate boom, and many old houses were sold off, falling victim to the wrecking ball. The Long’s recognized this as their perfect chance to salvage heirloom quality furnishings and fixtures from such homes. On top of the plethora of children’s activities that filled their wall calendar, so did the times and locations of demolition sales all over the island. For Doug & Regina, their mutual zest for decorating, inspired in part by Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic movement, includes a mixture of worn in, recycled old furniture blended with new furnishings and decorations to create an easygoing environment that suits their family’s lifestyle. The Long’s most rewarding salvaging hunt was the Pantelone estate on Columbine & Pacific Aves. in Wildwood Crest. This is the story of how Wildwood and its residents share a special connection amongst one another. The Pantelone’s may find comfort in knowing that many parts of their stately seashore home live on inside of the Long’s house. An exquisitely carved wooden fireplace embellished with ornate carvings, side by side columns measuring 8 feet tall, with a length of mirror and inlaid marble, graces the Long’s family room. Its beauty and age shine with an even brighter luster knowing that it survived the demolition of its home. There are many solid wooden oak doors hanging strong throughout the house that also came out of the Pantelone home, along with its wooden covers that now sit atop the old iron radiators throughout the old Coombs house. Aside from those pieces, the house includes wonderful little pieces of antique hardware throughout, such as Regina’s Grandmother’s embossed angel light switch that holds so many childhood memories. She also boasts an antique armoire that once belonged to her Grandmother that is constructed of wooden rods instead of screws or nails. There are 2 other fireplace mantel stories; one was rescued by Regina’s sister from the Girard Estate in Philadelphia and the other one was salvaged from a centuries old Victorian home in nearby Cape May.

Everywhere you look there’s some piece of old china, furnishing, or photograph that attributes to the character that can only be found in an old house. With 4 young children abiding in the home, many other items such as Drew's Rock Band set and Jenna's noteworthy doll collection, a Bowflex gym set, multivarious sporting gear ranging from Tim's baseball bags to Nick's surfboards, are also spread throughout the house. This Old House, with its array of old and new so tastefully blended together, embodies a rich history of the family that once dwelt among it, and promises the same for a future generation because of the preservation efforts of this wonderful hardworking couple, Doug & Regina Long.

"Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, a dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest."

Coombs House-1952	Coombs Children. George, Helen (standing) Elizabeth (sitting) & Kenneth - missing is Muriel
Long House	The Long's

*from Sheppard’s obituary, the 1924 Polk Directory, & research from the Wildwood Historic Society

**If you have a story for “This Old House”, that has been in the same family for generations, email us at sun-by-thesea@ verizon.net