April & May 2019

Drinking In History
This past winter, it received a top-to-bottom renovation,
featuring a magnificent new bar. But one thing that hasn’t changed
about The Brown Room? Those walls could tell a LOT of stories.
article jack wright
photography jessica orlowicz
Ease yourself into one of the comfy new chairs in The Brown Room,
which nestles in the bosom of Cape May’s magnificent Congress Hall
hotel, and, as you sip on your drink and take in the Gatsbyesque feel
of the room, you might get the feeling that you’re steeping yourself in
a little bit of history. Some rooms do that to you. In the case of The
Brown Room, there’s a LOT of history within these four walls. If you’re making
the acquaintance of this classy joint for the first time this summer, you’d be
forgiven for not realizing it’s a brand-new space — even though it was gutted
this winter and renovated from top to bottom, it feels like it’s been this way for
years. That’s the beauty of good design.
If you’ve been a regular here over the years, you will, however, notice a huge
difference. First of all, the bar took a 90-degree turn and was moved against the
wall overlooking the lawn, where it used to sit in the 1960s before the bar was
tossed on to the lawn by firebrand (and teetotal) preacher the Reverend Carl
McIntire, who bought Congress Hall in 1967. The bar was also greatly enlarged
and completely rebuilt, featuring bar stools all the way around, which always
produces the most convivial lounge vibes.
The brown-and-white Schumacher flocked wallpaper has divided opinion in
town — some think it delightful, while others think it’s way too busy. Either way,
it’s definitely different and lends a charm to the old room.
Four sitting presidents drank at this place (a couple of them much more