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The Story of Snake Hill

"The Story of Snake Hill"
Growing up in Secaucus, New Jersey, the story of Snake Hill has fascinated me. Once a small self contained city of 50 Hudson County buildings including a lunatic asylum, a penitentiary, the almshouse, hospitals for contagious diseases, a potters field with cemetery, three churches and a quarry. The area was active from about 1855 through 1962. More recently Snake Hill was the subject of the award winning "Snake Hill" documentary about the disinterment of 4,571 human remains by the NJ Turnpike Authority from the old cemetery, of which 4,569 were moved to Maple Grove Park Cemetery in Hackensack. For more information, visit this link: http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2414109/article--Hudson-County-Lunatic-Asylum--held-1-872-patients-From-1873-1939--people-signed-their-relatives-in---and-they-didn-t-get-out
About 5,000 bodies are still said to be buried at the site in unidentified graves. This is a only brief summary so hopefully the photos will tell a little more about Snake Hill, enjoy!
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  • "15X Monument Detail" The two bodies not moved to Maple Grove Park were the subject of the 2006 award winning documentary, "Snake Hill" I highly recommend it. Those two remains were identified and returned to the families for a private burial.

    "15X Monument Detail" The two bodies not moved to Maple Grove Park were the subject of the 2006 award winning documentary, "Snake Hill" I highly recommend it. Those two remains were identified and returned to the families for a private burial.

  • "Cemetery Path Entrance" The beginning of a path which leads to the NJ Turnpike, believed to have been the site of some of the 5,000 remaining unidentified graves at Snake Hill.

    "Cemetery Path Entrance" The beginning of a path which leads to the NJ Turnpike, believed to have been the site of some of the 5,000 remaining unidentified graves at Snake Hill.

  • "Chem Trails Snake Hill Cemetery" The woods and dense brush may be hiding some of the remaining 5,000 abandoned graves here in this potters field. Photographed off the right side of the path while walking towards the NJ Turnpike.

    "Chem Trails Snake Hill Cemetery" The woods and dense brush may be hiding some of the remaining 5,000 abandoned graves here in this potters field. Photographed off the right side of the path while walking towards the NJ Turnpike.

  • "Cliff, Snake Hill" Cliff remnants of Snake Hill and a view of Secaucus and the XChange Place condo complex.

    "Cliff, Snake Hill" Cliff remnants of Snake Hill and a view of Secaucus and the XChange Place condo complex.

  • "Cliff Snake Hill" Jagged rock formations remain at Snake Hill after years of blasting the mountain to 20% of the original base size.

    "Cliff Snake Hill" Jagged rock formations remain at Snake Hill after years of blasting the mountain to 20% of the original base size.

  • "Entrance X Change at Secaucus Junction" Located, just, across, the, street, from, Dinosaur, Way, the entrance road to Snake Hill.

    "Entrance X Change at Secaucus Junction" Located, just, across, the, street, from, Dinosaur, Way, the entrance road to Snake Hill.

  • "Exit 15 X" The new NJ Turnpike Exit 15 X ramp and the small monument on the right side of the photo acknowledging the 4,571 bodies removed from the potters field located right there. See closeup photo to read the monument inscription.

    "Exit 15 X" The new NJ Turnpike Exit 15 X ramp and the small monument on the right side of the photo acknowledging the 4,571 bodies removed from the potters field located right there. See closeup photo to read the monument inscription.

  • " Exit 15X Potters Field" Now just a peaceful meadow. The former cemetery and potters field near Snake Hill in Secaucus, 4,571 bodies were recovered from this area, another 5,000 or so remain undiscovered around other parts of Snake Hill.

    " Exit 15X Potters Field" Now just a peaceful meadow. The former cemetery and potters field near Snake Hill in Secaucus, 4,571 bodies were recovered from this area, another 5,000 or so remain undiscovered around other parts of Snake Hill.

  • "Foundation in the Woods" This is the ruins near the smokestack, I've been told it is the remains from the old laundry building.

    "Foundation in the Woods" This is the ruins near the smokestack, I've been told it is the remains from the old laundry building.

  • "Graffiti Snake Hill" Snake Hill, also known as fraternity rock due to the graffiti on the stone visible from the NJ Turnpike. This view however is from the top!

    "Graffiti Snake Hill" Snake Hill, also known as fraternity rock due to the graffiti on the stone visible from the NJ Turnpike. This view however is from the top!

  • "Hackensack River View from Snake Hill" A scenic view of Hudson County Park at Laurel Hill and the Hackensack River and the wetlands surrounding it.

    "Hackensack River View from Snake Hill" A scenic view of Hudson County Park at Laurel Hill and the Hackensack River and the wetlands surrounding it.

  • "Large Stone at Snake Hill" A large stone left behind could have been cut at the historic "Quarry at Snake Hill".

    "Large Stone at Snake Hill" A large stone left behind could have been cut at the historic "Quarry at Snake Hill".

  • "Laural Hill Park Panorama" A panoramic view of Hudson County Park at Laurel Hill as seen from "Snake Hill" The Hackensack River is in the background.

    "Laural Hill Park Panorama" A panoramic view of Hudson County Park at Laurel Hill as seen from "Snake Hill" The Hackensack River is in the background.

  • "Laural Hill Park View" A scenic view of Snake Hill, and the NJ Turnpike, also known as "Hudson County Park at Laural Hill"

    "Laural Hill Park View" A scenic view of Snake Hill, and the NJ Turnpike, also known as "Hudson County Park at Laural Hill"

  • "Laural Hill Park View 2" A scenic view of Snake Hill, and the NJ Turnpike, also known as "Hudson County Park at Laural Hill"

    "Laural Hill Park View 2" A scenic view of Snake Hill, and the NJ Turnpike, also known as "Hudson County Park at Laural Hill"

  • "Laurel Hill Park, Scenic View" A scenic view of Hudson County Park at Laurel Hill and the Hackensack River and the wetlands surrounding it.

    "Laurel Hill Park, Scenic View" A scenic view of Hudson County Park at Laurel Hill and the Hackensack River and the wetlands surrounding it.

  • " Meadow View 15X" Meadow reeds close to Exit 15X near Snake Hill, a familiar wetland plant throughout the Meadowlands.

    " Meadow View 15X" Meadow reeds close to Exit 15X near Snake Hill, a familiar wetland plant throughout the Meadowlands.

  • "Monument Exit 15 X" Another view of the monument in the former potters field near Snake Hill by exit 15 X in Secaucus. Looks like the area is in need of some grounds keeping.

    "Monument Exit 15 X" Another view of the monument in the former potters field near Snake Hill by exit 15 X in Secaucus. Looks like the area is in need of some grounds keeping.

  • "NJ Turnpike View From Snake Hill" A view of the NJ Turnpike from the Snake Hill summit, as it passes through the section that was part of the potters field cemetery. According to the 2006 award winning documentary "Snake Hill", the 1952 construction was believed to have been paved right over the graves with only the grave markers moved.

    "NJ Turnpike View From Snake Hill" A view of the NJ Turnpike from the Snake Hill summit, as it passes through the section that was part of the potters field cemetery. According to the 2006 award winning documentary "Snake Hill", the 1952 construction was believed to have been paved right over the graves with only the grave markers moved.

  • "NYC View From Snake Hill" A view of the NYC skyline as seen from the top of Snake Hill.

    "NYC View From Snake Hill" A view of the NYC skyline as seen from the top of Snake Hill.

  • "Old Gate Post Cemetery Path" I found this old gate post close to the NJ Turnpike at the end of the path by the suspected overgrown unidentified graves. This may have been an entrance to the cemetery.

    "Old Gate Post Cemetery Path" I found this old gate post close to the NJ Turnpike at the end of the path by the suspected overgrown unidentified graves. This may have been an entrance to the cemetery.

  • "Potters Field Near Turnpike" As you drive Southbound on the NJ Turnpike near exit 15X you can see this view, this may also be a suspected grave area photographed from the cemetery path that ends at the Turnpike.

    "Potters Field Near Turnpike" As you drive Southbound on the NJ Turnpike near exit 15X you can see this view, this may also be a suspected grave area photographed from the cemetery path that ends at the Turnpike.

  • "Potters Field Near Turnpike" Pond on the Snake Hill grounds near the NJ Turnpike. This probably formed when the turnpike was built as the natural drainage of the area was stopped. There are suspected graves under the water here.

    "Potters Field Near Turnpike" Pond on the Snake Hill grounds near the NJ Turnpike. This probably formed when the turnpike was built as the natural drainage of the area was stopped. There are suspected graves under the water here.

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    "Foundation in the Woods" This is the ruins near the smokestack, I've been told it is the remains from the old laundry building.
    "Graffiti Snake Hill" Snake Hill, also known as fraternity rock due to the graffiti on the stone visible from the NJ Turnpike. This view however is from the top!
    "Hackensack River View from Snake Hill" A scenic view of Hudson County Park at Laurel Hill and the Hackensack River and the wetlands surrounding it.