Transmedia Projects Class Explores 1917 Act of Terrorism in Lyndhurst, New Jersey

This year marks the centennial anniversary of World War I, “the war to end all wars.”   The United States, under the stewardship of Woodrow Wilson, proclaimed its neutrality, and outwardly stayed on the sidelines of a conflict that ultimately claimed the lives of 37 million people. Yet, in a not-so-covert way, the United States was aiding the allied forces by manufacturing munitions, most notably at the American Car and Foundry in Lyndhurst (then known as Kingsland), New Jersey. Armament built in the plant was taken by train to the docks in Jersey City (the Black Tom area), where it was then shipped overseas to Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium and Russia.  Germany was aware of the action and sent saboteurs into the Canadian Car and Foundry.  In January 1917 they succeeded in blowing up the facility.  The Black Tom docks had been destroyed a few months earlier.  If it weren’t for the bravery of a lone telephone operator, Tess McNamara, more than 1,400 employees would have been killed. Braving the flames quickly consuming the facility, Tess raced through the complex exhorting the workers to flee. This act, along with the sinking of the Lusitania in 1916, forced America to enter World War I.

Needless to say, few people outside Lyndhurst are familiar with what was one of the first acts of foreign terrorism on American soil, but that may change thanks to a Transmedia Projects class in the School of Communication and Media, which has begun to develop a transmedia presence for the Kingsland explosion.  Using a great deal of archival material, the students – Katherine Aucena, Rafiah Khan, Kenneth Rose and Ryan McDowell – will create a website, which will explore in depth the various elements of the incident.  A reenactment is planned for Tess and the action taken by the terrorists.  There will be a photo gallery and a mini-documentary of the Black Tom destruction as well.  The group will work with the Lyndhurst Historical Society and take aspects of the project live in December.  The reenactments will be taken on by a group in next semester’s Transmedia Projects class.

A solitary smokestack in Lyndhurst is all that remains of the Canadian Car and Foundry.  Once the encroaching marsh completely envelops the site, nothing will remain of the facility but memories. Thanks to the Transmedia Projects class, the story, along with the heroism of Tess McNamara will remain alive.