Bayonne Passages

A tragic railroad crash, a salad oil caper, a courageous heavyweight boxer, and a clever kite inventor all have one thing in common: Bayonne. This marvelous second volume traces the extraordinary history of the peninsula from 1850 to 1969. Many readers will remember first hand some of the events shown in some of these photographs. Other photographs have not been published in over a hundred years. This city is steeped in history, and its story continues in Bayonne Passages. These exceptional images recount such memorable events as the Jersey Central Railroad crash of 1958 and the "Great Salad Oil Swindle," biographical stories such as life of Chuck Wepner, which served as the basis for the movie Rocky, and little-known episodes such William A. Eddy's experiments with aerial kite photography. This visual history also helps us recreate decisive moments when Bayonne's history became that of the world's: the impressive performance of America's Cup yachts in the 19th century, the historic opening of the Naval Supply Depot in 1942, and the proud launching of Elco PT boats during World War II. Also included in this extensively researched volume are John Moody, founder of Moody's Investors Service; Bob Fish, designer of the America's Cup yachts; Ray Ewry, winner of ten Olympic gold medals; and Sister Miriam Teresa, recognized as a "Servant of God" by the Vatican, as well as movie stars, heroes, and family and friends of many past and present Bayonne residents.