Old military explosive unearthed in schoolyard
Army investigates to ensure no other munitions remain
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

SAYREVILLE - A construction crew working on a new playground at a borough school recently unearthed a military ordnance likely dating to World War I.

As a result of the finding at the Samsel Upper Elementary School, the Army Corps of Engineers is searching the property to ensure its safety for students.

Police were called to the school on Ernston Road at 1:05 p.m. June 7 after workers discovered the inactive explosive on the northwest side of the building, where the land was being bulldozed and graded for the playground. The ordnance was located approximately 75 meters from the school.

Since the finding was made while school was in session, school Principal Edward Aguiles moved the students and faculty to the east side of the building as a precaution. Meanwhile two Army EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) sergeants responded from Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, and safely removed the item from the schoolyard by 2:15 p.m.

The school is located in the same area that the Morgan Depot munitions plant once operated, according to Barry Eck, the borough's homeland security officer. It is speculated that the ordnance is from that plant, which was the scene of an enormous explosion on Oct. 4, 1918.

"It is not far from the site of the old Morgan plant explosion of the early 1900s," Eck said.

The explosion that evening sent artillery shells around a 1 1/4-mile radius from the plant and killed between 100 and 200 people, according to information reported by the Sayreville Historical Society in "Images of America: Sayreville." Successive explosions continued for three days. The most destructive blasts reportedly shook buildings 50 miles away, across Raritan Bay, and halting service in the New York City subway system.

The plant, which was the largest source of ammunition in World War I, was abandoned after the war. The cause of the initial explosion was never determined, according to the historical society.

Eck expects the area of the upper elementary school to be checked and cleared before the start of school in September.

"The Army Corps of Engineers is coming in and checking the entire area to make sure that there are no other objects there," he said.

Safety precautions were taken the day that the ordnance was discovered, he said, noting that work on the site of the playground stopped immediately and the children were moved.

"They were in no real danger," Eck said. "We find these things a couple of times a year in town. We sealed off the area and put the kids on the other side of the school where they would be safe."

The Army Corps disposed of the artillery, and the New Jersey State Police Bomb Squad also checked the area with bomb-sniffing dogs.

Eck said the last time the Army Corps conducted such a search in the borough was at the Lamer residential development and at the Eisenhower Elemen-tary School many years ago.

"They've got a good plan, and the school will be safe," Eck said. "All school property will be checked and will be safe to be opened for September."

At a Board of Education meeting June 19, board President Michael Macagnone said the playground project will be delayed in the interest of making certain the entire school property is safe.

Dismissal concerns parents

An early school dismissal on the day the ordnance was found resulted in some schoolchildren being left alone at their bus stops, according to several parents who recently voiced concerns to school officials.

Parent Helen Bruno-Raccuia told the board that her child was left unsupervised at her bus stop after the children were bused home early. She said two other children were also left alone at the bus stop.

"I found my 9-year-old daughter on the curb at Ernston Road," Bruno-Raccuia said.

Superintendent of Schools Frank Alfano said the students were only let go slightly earlier than their usual dismissal time. He added that bus drivers are told to not leave children alone at any bus stop.

But Bruno-Raccuia said this was the third time her daughter was dropped off without adult supervision, adding that other parents have had similar problems.

"My biggest concern is that the students were dismissed before 3 o'clock," Bruno-Raccuia told the Suburban. "If she was dismissed on time, it would not have been an issue."

The bus driver in question was from an outside company that contracts with the school district, Alfano said. He said he accepts responsibility for the incident, and told parents that the bus driver who did not follow proper procedure will no longer work bus routes for the school district.