Burning of Standard Oil Bayonne, NJ

[kathy07002]

This was taken down the Hook Road. My grandfather worked there. It was the largest oil refinery in the world. NJ Standard Oil...became Esso and then Exxon...the first refinery was here down 21rst St...all the way down the road past Ave F and Route 440...go east and the refinery was there. Now there is a brand new mall off the highway, the old 169, the new 440 to NY.

goes right to the Bayonne Bridge now and 5th St. and Ave A.

[JackBritt2011]

Oh so that what it look like back then I live in

Bayonne and I love it I live there all my life and i am 13 and I go t2 Mary j and Bayonne is a good place t2 live

[princessyoukai1234]

wow so this is what it looked like back then huh

[zaidrim]

I lived in Bayonne from 1965 to 1967. Moved into a brand new two family. on 26th St. near the corner of Ave. F. Attended 5th and 6th grades at Lincoln School. Bayonne was a good place to live, and such nice people. I will never forget.

[mrearlygold]

I was born in Bayonne too in the mid 50's. Haven't seen Bayonne in at least 15 years but am planning on it in the near future.

[fredvn2]

If I remember our family history correctly, my grandfather, whom I never met, was killed in this fire.

[Facsonic]

I was born in good old Bayonne in 1950 and lived at 44 East 3rd Street one block up from the Standard Oil Co. that was on 2nd street all the way on the East side one block from the Bay, if you go down Lord Ave,,

[lpuig73]

I compared present-day satellite images of Bayonne from Google Earth to old Bayonne maps and my best guess is that this footage was taken on a street that today no longer exists.

This looks like it was taken on old East 18th Street, on approximately Ave F (which no longer runs this far South.) If you look carefully at the Google Earth images, you can still make out the foundations of the old buildings along the old railroad tracks. This is just East of Rt. 440..

[janeleone]

I'm from Bayonne. I think it was taken over the bridges where the tracks are, Not Ave E, but over the bridges on Ave E.

[newjersey421]

This was taken from Constable Hook in Bayonne.

I didn't notice the location, which is mentioned in the description. There's alot of industry down there, to this day.

[Nes232]

thats my house over ther

[Coconuttzzz]

I also live here.. rofl looks nothing like this now

[janeleone]

LOL...I know. Horse and carriages, those were the days! I'm sure some of my Irish ancestors lived in Bayonne at that time when this burned.

[CodeRed362]

I did indeed come from the Library of Congress web site. All of the black and white films in my account did. They are so well buried in the LOC website as to be totally unaccessible that I post them here for some improved exposure.

The added information you provide about the fire does not display on the LOC web site. Thank you for that update.

[BB1295]

Thank you for posting the film.

The information I added is derived from "Images of America Series: Bayonne", by Kathleen M Middleton.

[BB1295]

codeRed362 clipped the Edison film from the Library of Congress website.

On July 4th 1900 a lightning bolt, or according to others a lightning ball, slammed into one of the oil tanks. The flames were so bright that New Yorker's in Battery Park were able to read the newspaper at 10 in the evening.

[PJDooWop]

The ball lightning theory is fascinating. I was a doubter for a long time until I witnessed it this summer during a severe thunderstorm. I was on the BQE and to my left about a quarter mile away was a bright green glowing orb. It hovered a few hundred feet above an apartment building few seconds and then exploded, letting off some of the loudest thunder I've ever heard.

[PJDooWop]

A normal bolt of lightning probably wouldn't have started this fire. Even back in 1900 they were smart enough to make sure the tank farms were well grounded. A positive flash (much stronger bolt of lightning) may have done it but it's still doubtful. Ball lightning has strange characteristics and has been known to penetrate structures. It seems that it may be caused by a rouge bolt that could not complete a stepped ladder and it is looking for a location to ground.

[alpinestarless]

bayonne is a shithole

[Slavetwo]

I too live in Bayonne and that REALLY is a cool clip. Got anymore.

[badkneez]

I live in Bayonne, NJ and it's a pretty cool video.