1925 Train Wreck....
So I know we have a lot of history buffs on here, so maybe you can answer this.... I came across this article about the train wreck of 1925 http://www3.gendisasters.com/new-jersey/13434/hackettstown-rockport-nj-train-disaster-june-1925?page=0%2C0
and although it states that it happened in Rockport/Hackettstown, I was wondering where it happened exactly (by Allen Road, Airport road, Hazen road, etc.) Thanks!
Erin G.
I believe it happened where the railroad tracks cross Hazen Road. The road was dirt/gravel then and after a bad rain storm the dirt/gravel washed over the tracks causing the derailment. I think there may even be a plaque there.
Wow - read the whole article ... pretty intense. I'd be interested to find out where it happened too. Maybe we can find out through.... THE LIBRARY!
You can find a historical marker, pretty sure on Hazen, near the tracks by some bushes. Gnarly wreck.
deansangie Thanks, I live over that way and go over the tracks on Hazen all the time..... To think I was totally unaware that a major train wreck occured there!
Man, Ryan's gonna be pissed when he gets back from the library in an hour with the answer, huh?
ianimal Wow that really was something ....those poor people.....What a terrible accident never heard about this and I'm a major history buff.
the train was full of german immigrants from chicago...heading home for a visit to germany...they were to meet up with a steamship in new york to make the voyage across the atlantic ocean...50 people were killed in the accident...most of the deaths were attributed to scalding caused by a broken steam line on the locomotive that was pulling the train...the accident happened after a night of severe rain and thunderstorms...the train derailed at the crossing at hazen road right near the rockport game farm...there were and continue to be allegations that local residents looted the wrecked train and the bodies of the deceased victims...after the accident the remaining train passengers did make it to new york and depart to their destinations in germany
gill 
there is a small memorial just off of the railroad tracks on hazen road...railroading was and is dangerous...there was a bad derailment...near bilbys road in 1888...also...here is another picture of the rockport wreck
Where did you find the pictures of the wreck ? They're the first I've seen of the actual tragedy.
Link please.
My neighbor growing up in Hackettstown, who would be about 108 if she were still alive told us about this, remembering it as a kid. She did tell us at the time that the luggage and train was looted by locals, a very sad thing. I believe it made national news at the time.
LVMomOfBoys Frank Dale who is a local author wrote about the Disaster at Rockport. The photos were all courtesy of Don Mayberry, Jr.
Firefly that was also the night the lumber yard burned down on Liberty Street. There was no phone service, so one of the residents drove from the site of the train wreck into Hackettstown to find the fire fighters. The Hackettstown FD had to stop fighting the lumber yard fire and go to the train wreck. They must have thought the world was coming to an end.
Schipwalker 
they are rare and from my personal collection...i was even reluctant to post them here...there are still many bad memories of this train wreck...here is a picture of the memorial plaque
Wow thanks for the photos resident local historians. Guess I didn't need to go to the Library after all!
Do the tracks there see any more trains?
I know NJ Transit has nothing west of htown.
Freight?
It's apparent from the fact that they were transporting victims as far away as Easton and Morristown (as well as Dover and P'burg) that Hackettstown did not yet have its own hospital in 1925.
Does anyone know what year Hackettstown Hospital opened? I looked briefly on the HRMC website but there wasn't any obvious history link there.
Yes trains still use that section of tracks, freight and I believe they stack some transit trains out that way if they get bottled up. Hackettstown Hospital opened in the early 70's I believe.
earnhardt does anyone have anymore information on this. Like for example, the names and information on the 50 passengers that were killed and stuff like that?
Thanks for the history lesson and the photo's were an added look at some history of Hackettstown. I had read about the train wreck somewhere else but this thread was very interesting. I love that some of you have old photos to share with us.
Bessie 
the complete list of injured and passengers who perished in the trainwreck is available in a pamphlet published by the Hackettstown Historical society titled Disaster At Rockport...
Res2 
K.S.M.S. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/today/index.ssf/2010/06/mansfield_township_was_the_sce.html
It looks as today is an anniversary albeit a grim one.
Greg Well, speaking of crashes and why our area settled late and slowly, let's go back a little further in time just before trains and perhaps explaining helping to explain why Trains became popular. To the waterways.........
Starting in 1850, steamboats went from Philadelphia to Belvidere, but they couldn’t go farther upstream because of rocks and rapids.
Steamboat service was completely discontinued in 1860 after boatowners tried a new lighter, faster, boat to get north of Belvidere toward the Water Gap and beyond. On the maiden voyage, it docked at Belvidere to take the time to gain a BIG head of steam to make the rapids. About half of the 100 on board had just departed for some brewski's when the boiler exploded…
According to the newspaper, “ Such a sight as the writer there witnessed he had never before looked upon, and hopes to behold again. Some of the unfortunate passengers were blown into the river, others thrown upon the island and others again….jumped and swam to shore.”
Needless to say, further upriver transporation beyond Belevidere was halted and train lines started being laid in in the mid 1800's.
Hackettstown Harold Wait, wait, wait..... We can go farther back for more notable, yet less costly crashes.
According to one version of the legend (and not the one held to be true by LoMB), the famous Jenny of the Jump fame actually did.
The story goes that the wagon was a comin down the moutain, yes it was, yes it was. The brakes overheated, failed and Dad yelled: "Jump Jenny, Jump." There were no fatalities, perhaps a scraped knee or two.
Given that there were relatively few Indians in the area (fairly sparse Indian population since most lived in better areas like the Minisink) and that Lenni Lenape Wolf or Minsi clan, the fiercest of the Lenape, had been conquered before the English set foot in America and we known as "the old women" of the Iroquois Nation --- this story rings believeable to me....
wish they open up the rail line hackettstown to easton allentown and netcong to stroudsburg scranton
Caged Animal I find it hard to believe that steamboats ever made it as far north as Belvidere proper, since the roughest stretch of rapids on the Delaware (Foul Rift) is south of town.
The random shooting of several people near the RR tracks in H Town is one that I never forget.The details are fading, but I believe a number of residents were shot ,maybe some killed. Having played along the tracks while growing up and knowing the individual from school just adds to this tragic moment in H Town history. It was a national news story. I believe it was aroounf 1976-1980. i am sure our excellent historians here have more of the details. Some of the newer town residents may not be aware of this bit of history along the tracks.
Bob
We realy dont talk about that day and some have tried and for some reason the thread gets locked . but i know where i was that day . a bunch of us were at the tannery ball field playing a game the HPD came and cleared us all out of there we could hear the shots . we headed to Cavanaugh's bar and grill on main st where Marleys now is and watch the news reports a sad day
the train wreck made to days express times i wounder who maintains that monument
Wow what a tragic event. Interesting about the train wreck, thanks for all of the info everyone. I do remember a bit about the shooting. I thought a man went crazy and just opened fire on random people?
youngnfresh Hey, I just repeat the steamboat news, I don' t write it...... This was a special light draft version designed to clear the rapids; apparently it made Foul Rift but ran a foul in B-dere while stoking the boiler.
Bob sadly I remember that also. My Mom had a friend killed and my DH knew the boy killed! My BIL was on the squad at the time. It was tragic and something our family never will forget!
Christine Here's a link on E-Bay right now for a paper on the article.
Hurled Into Eternity!
1925 HACKETTSTOWN NJ Train Wreck Disaster OLD Newspaper
http://cgi.ebay.com/1925-HACKETTSTOWN-NJ-Train-Wreck-Disaster-OLD-Newspaper-/390215017116?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5adaa0a29c
If the link doesn't work, the item description starts with the 1925......
Peggy C. I was up at Steamtown Histprical Site in Scranton,PA and they have information in this train wreck in their disaster section. They have interviews from locals about it.
They say trains used to pick up speed at one end to make the hill at the other on a stright away. But a night of heavy rains made the ground loose. It was a nice piece on it.
CJ My Great Grandfather was the conductor on this train. He died as a result of his injuries. You can read the story that I wrote based on my research at
http://mysiscofamily.com/James_Banker_Accident.php
Terry - Thanks so much for posting your article. As Firefly said above, very well written.
Calico696 
Ryan(ligitty) Since this was brought back to the top of the forum, though I'd speak up! I went to the site a few months ago and saw the plaque, and some old iron pieces that could have been from the wreck (I know one of the articles said there was still some wreckage there). It was eery being somewhere where many people died. Norfolk Southern freight trains still run on those tracks, usually one or two a day ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTo02RL-j5w). And New Jersey Transit is in the process of restoring rail service from New York to Scranton. However, it will not run through Htown, but instead over the Lackawanna Cutoff from Lake Hopatcong Station, through Andover and Blairstown (where new stations will be built), and then on to Scranton. The portion to Andover will be open in 2011, and from there to Scranton by 2014. ( http://www.njtransit.com/tm/tm_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=Project019To).
hevdaze Forgot to post this above, but there will also be several stations between NJ and Scranton, including Stroudsburg.
the railroad past Hackettstown could see passenger traffic again...there have been several proposals to run passenger trains through Hackettstown to Phillipsburg and the Lehigh Valley beyond...also the restoration of the Lackawanna Cutoff a proposal gas been put forward for a station at Johnsonburg...and a NJ Transit maintenance facility at Greendell...here is a picture of Hackettstowns lesser known train wreck...the derailment near Bilbys road during the blizzard of 1888...five steam locomotives were coupled together to keep the railroad tracks free of snow during the blizzard...they derailed just outside of Hackettstown...in the cut near Bilbys road...one engineer was pinned beneath a derailed locomotive and scalded by steam and hot water...a Doctor was summoned from Hackettstown but it was too late to save the badly injured engineer...this is the only photo i have ever seen of this wreck
I remember talking to a resident, (now deceased), years ago about the wreck. According to him, earlier that day Hazen road had been graded and rolled to fill in the ruts. That could have possibly added the the amount of rocks and soil that washed over the tracks. A very sad thing as he saw the aftemath and said it was still very vivid in his mind.
Yes NS still runs freight on the line one round trip from Dover NJ to Washington NJ about every other day or as needed.
As to the Shootings back in I believe 77, I was there, my Friend was the second person to get shot. I also saw the kid on the bike get hit, my neighbor was shot and I very well could have been next, but it wasn't to be. A very sad time for Hackettstown.
JJ I remember the shooting very well, and still have newspaper clippings. Two of my friends lost siblings that day. It was just horrific. A very sad time in Hackettstown history.
Back to the original post.....I found it intriguing that Williams and Hibler had a fired that night.....so the one in 1969 (?) was the second!! I do remember that one, but not the first ;)
I found a newspaper clipping online. I'm surprised there is not more on this. They have tons of articles about that girl who was killed by Centennary College back in the 1800's, and little on this. I never even heard about these murders until today. Very shocking.
I too found the article. I wonder why this shooting topic is so overly censored here. Why shouldn't bad events in history be discussed. Why talk about the train wreck and not the shootings? It seems fishy.
theres nothing fishy...i knew the shooter... i lost friends in that incident...i was at the scene...do you think we want to revisit that time...or discuss it...it is enough that i have the memories if the friends i lost...i am still friends with members of the shooters family...let this matter go...stop dredging it up...there are many things about the shootings that outsiders do not know...not to mention that the news media at the time twisted the story...and got many things wrong...
It isn't often that you see 6 people killed in one night in a small town. You expect stuff like that in Newark or Camden. It made it on a list on Wikipedia of mass murders. I think it gets covered up because they want to keep the charm of living around here. If it were well known that a mass murder took place here, it would keep people away. Now that I know this happened, it kind of changes how I feel about this area.
Oldman - I truly respect all of that. That is why the people who don't wish to revisit it have the choice to not view that thread. Was the holocaust not spoken of because people didn't want to remember it. Is 911 not spoken of because it brings back bad memories for some. History is important and invaluable. It is education in it's purest form. Additionally, an outlet for people who do wish to discuss the events is not a bad thing. I just think it is wrong to expect the masses not to discuss an important historical event to spare the few. Do we not talk about Timothy McVeigh because his parents or friends don't want to hear about it? And if the media twisted the story, setting it straight would be nice too. I have the utmost respect for all those impacted by the event. Yet again, I state they don't have to read it. A 911 survivor, or family members of someone lost, can choose not to view the movies, news coverage, and the honoring of those lost that fateful day. But to expect the world to tiptoe around history is unreasonable. I'm just saying that this is my perspective. I understand that this forum is not a democracy and that those in "power" may delete or lock posts as they please. I am just saying that I don't fully support the silencing of this matter.
Metsman - I believe it is a poor choice to judge an area based on an event that happened within it. I could understand using this method only if numerous events (such as 50 car jackings) occurred within that area. Hackettstown is a wonderful town with wonderful people regardless of any isolated events that may have taken place there in.
It's just like the mosque or burning quoran issue. Yes people have the right to keep dragging up this past incident, regardless of the pain it inflicts to the people still here. But is that the kind of life you want to live?
I think it's a nice town with some cool people and weirdos lol.... Just that it loses it's innocense in a way. You don't expect stuff like that to happen in an area like Hackettstown. And I think the town would like to keep the image of this is a wonderful town by not broadcasting that the event in 1977 happened. You don't see it listed on the town historical site. It lists the murder of that Tilly girl in 1886 and conveniently leaves out the 1977 murders, which I would say is of more significance than a single killing.
One eyed poacher - it is not like the mosque or the Quoran. It is not being broadcast over the media to the entire world. It is a thread that those impacted who sheild themselves (rightfully so should they choose) could chose not to visit. I'm just saying it is not comparable at all to those things and I do not believe that being inquisitive of historical events in my town is a "bad life to live"
Ryan {ligitty}...why dont you look up other incidents that happened in Hackettstown...there was once a hanging Judge...Samuel Hackett...there was a shootout on Water street in the sixties...there were countless hunting accidents...and suicides...and car accidents with fatalities...should all these incidents be listed on the Hackettstown Historical web sight...should the 1977...mass murder incident be placed on signs on the roads that lead to Hackettstown..."Welcome To Hackettstown Scene of Mass Murder Of 1977"...enough said
Ridiculous oldman. Just ridiculous. You act as though a simple discussion on a forum is the same as posting a freaking billboard. For you information I do check out a lot of the well documented events. This one however has seemed to be silenced. Quit being so irritable. "Welcome to Hackettstown Scene of Mass Murder of 1977" enough said that your blowing things extraordinarily out of proportion. Everything I havemention on this topic has been respectful and then you have your blowout. Ughh.
You know what. Forget it. Forget it all. Hopeless. It is impossible to comprehend why we can openly discuss 911 or a train wreck that directly impacted people (including those that read this forum) and yet not be "permitted" to speak of the aforementioned topic. I will never get it and am officially dismissing any attempt to. Ask the people impacted by 911 if they want they 911 thread removed.
Ryan, I would venture a guess that it is being silenced because the shooters family still live here. In a way I can understand. They should not suffer for something that isn't their fault. I'm sure in 20-30 years when a lot of the people involved are gone, that it will resurface as a historical event in this town. You can't list other things and not that.
This is all very interesting. A number of my relatives were on that train - several died. Thanks to everyone for the details.
Ruth
Ruth Bernhardt-Kuehl Terry, "My Great Grandfather was the conductor on this train. He died as a result of his injuries. You can read the story that I wrote based on my research at
A very moving story and well written. I knew about this crash but your story brought it through to my heart.
midnightgardener1 Train wrecks, shootings, looting, killing; so happy for you. A life so small. Nothing else to do? How many of you have visited the locomotive at the bottom of the Delaware on the
Pennsy side, just West of Portland. One of the big holes known to many divers, for their
practice dips. Incidentally the numerous big holes in that shallow area account for the annual swimming accidents / deaths each year in that area. And, they are not all out of Staters! Lets talk about really beneficial topics. The largest and number one Trout Fish
Hatchery in No America. Supplied NJ as well as many other States and Commercial sources.
The bird farm, under many generations of Buntains ditto for The Pheasant, being brought
back to life. Sol's 25 Cent Banana Split Jigger Shop w/allied shop in High Bridge. TV 1939,
2 of 4 in State NJ (Centenary and Cedar Castle at Riverside Park). Of course all that was
back in the days when it was accepted: "Not born here, Don't go in business Here. Never Last" Anticipating???
oldsoldier Hm, Ryan (liggity) I so agree with you. Bad and tragic things happen all the time. But to think that they will never resurface, as a historic inquiry, is ridiculous. When I saw the topic of the (ssssshhhh) murders come up, I just cringed. I brought this up a while back just asking a question about some old news papers I found in my attic. I was immediately attacked by, hm, the same people. SSSSSSSHHHHHHHH! we don't talk about it. Really? Well, in that case I lost a good friend to an accident involving a drunk driver. So I would prefer if we did not talk about anymore drunk driving accidents on here. Or hey another one, I was very close to a person who was killed in a horrible accident caused by a high speed Police chase. So I would again appreciate if we could never talk about Police chases on here ever again. Hm, what else? I knew a person who was badly injured in the Pearl Harbor bombing, so can we please not ever talk about that again? And I also am friends with someone who lost two of their children in a house fire. So can we....... hm, well being as everyone in one way or another is touched by every issue in one way or another, I guess we should just shut down this forum, the news stations, and just not talk at all ever again. As you never know who may be listening or reading and may know someone or may have been involved in a topic.
Does anyone else see this to be ridiculous. If a topic bothers you, (AS I WAS ONCE TOLD ON THIS FORUM) you have the right to not read it. Or change the channel.
And to all of you who contributed to this topic (the train wreck and other historic articles and pictures) thank you. I love history. The true versions of our history and the false versions we are taught in school. Either way it is absolutely fascinating to see where we started and how we've progressed. Tragic or happy, it is a part of who we all are. Keep it up local historains, I love reading it all and seeing the awesome pictures some have hidden away. Never thinking that someday someone may be interested in seeing them.
SeeintheReality Now, after my last post, I will close with this. Pitbulls attack. LOL (I know it's coming)
u know, with all do respect oldman..u said that there are things that outsiders dont know and there are things that people and the media twisted.. wouldnt it be better to set the story straight and tell us the un twisted truth so that we dont go around talking about the wrong facts. Cause I for one, dont want to disgrace anyone who died in the shootings by getting the facts wrong. Now I understand if you dont want too, but thats the only way to set the record straight and stop having people ask about it. But like I said it is up to you.
justspeakinthetruth To the people who want to know about the shooting's that evening. Why do you not just go to the news articals of that event and draw your own conclusions. Why is it necessary that you get the information from people who clearly do not want to discuss the event.
There was plenty of news coverage for days. Do some research. If that is not enough for you the names of all involved are in the papers. There are relatives and friends still in the area. Go knock on their doors, ask them to discuss the events with you. That way your pathetic curiosity will be satisfied.
THE MAN Can't passup on Jenny Jump! As a longtime area resident and a recognized historian, never heard that version. The known story, often recited refers to a Leni Lenape Squaw. Seems she was effecting an escape from rape minded colonials, thru the mountains. She was finally cornered and rather surrender thew herself from the high rock ledge, ending everything except todays inaccurate tales. Incidentally, to day the
name Leni Lenape has reverted back in time. Remaining generations, prefer it to be
as it really was pronounced; "Lenny LeNape". Who says this? I do!!! Further info;
while portrayed as a peaceful, sea fishing, green gardner group, thanks to colonial encroachment, they in most cases migrated West. Taking up abode in Arizona and
Oklahoma. They were the units from which Sitting Bull and Geronomo sprung, Being
very bitter towards the white man.
I was watching a paranormal show on net flix the other day and, some people had moved into a house almost across the street from the train wreck, They were terrified in the night by people (Ghosts) comming into the house and some of the people looked burned and were from the time era of the train wreck. They called in a paranormal team to help them figure out why they were being haunted by these spirits.....
The paranormal group called in a world famous psychic to do a walk through of the house and property, She said she felt as though she was being burned alive and could smell burning flesh. The dresses that women wore back then caught fire very fast as you would expect. She also stated that as she was being burned alive her children watched in terror and sadness. After doing some research with town records they found out about the horrible train wreck that occoured around 330 am. The investigators went to the train tracks very near the home and they found the memorial in the brush!
If anyone is really interested in this story and where to find it...
Log onto NETFLIX
search for... Paranormal : Haunts and horrors
Episode #4 Lost souls
Its a great story.
I have been a paranormal investigator for many years as a psychic medium, speaking to those who have passed. For those of you who dont belive in life after death or the spirit world I say this "Watch this episode and judge for yourself."
In closing I would also like to say that I mean no disrespect to the people whos lives were tragically taken that night, and I also mean no disrespect to any of the family or friends of the beloved victoms!
My heart goes out to every life lost this night in the train crash.
I found this blog as a result of watching the show and then looking up
Rockport NJ train wreck on Google.
Earl Lovejay Talking trains I would go to my Aunts house in cresant pa and Portage Pa my uncle work for the rail road took me to horse shoe curve so cool to wathch the ols steamers run you coul feel the horse power
there was no fire at the Rockport Train wreck...the deaths and injuries were caused by blunt trauma...and superheated steam...from broken steam pipes on the overturned steam locomotive...as far as ghosts...if thats what you believe in...
Another bad train wreck in the area; If you've ever been on the Columbia Trail down by High Bridge in the Ken Lockwood Gorge area, there is a plaque with the story of the train that wrecked and went off the trestles there. Such a serene area, just close your eyes and you can almost here the train whistle and the chug of the steam locomotive approaching the trestle one last time. Every time I ride my bike across that trestle I think of that train making it's final run.
Bruin Here is a link with info on the wreck that Bruin posted about.
http://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=21806
Very interesting, Calico, thanks.
Lots of jobs on the railroads in those days, including, as shown on the marker, brakemen who rode on top of freight cars. When their heads brushed up against "tell-tale", cloth strips hanging from pole structures before overpasses, they would know to duck.
jerseydutchman2 Thanks Calico. Finally read the whole thing! Creepy how the guy's watch stopped right at the time of the accident.
Went into Across the pond antiques today on Moore Street. I didn't get her name, but the lady who runs it says she has several pictures of the wreck. I referred her to the forum, and hope she'll post her and can enjoy what you all have posted.
Its a cool shop, stop in if you haven't.
You're welcome guys. My pleasure. I love history, especially local history. Back in the day, it was considered somewhat unmanly to "jump" from a runaway train. Almost like the Captain going down with the ship.
It's always important to remember that train travel shaped this Country. The development we have today can be attributed to the tracks laid long ago.
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