Giant Roadblock Is a Huge Part of History in South Jersey
Imagine turning the corner onto a street and coming to a dead stop because there is a giant block of cement in the middle of the road. This is a reality on a few streets in Mystic Island, as if the name of the town doesn't sound mysterious enough.
These perfectly square blocks that stretch 20 feet tall and sit smack dab in the middle of a street surrounded by houses. The road itself was made wide enough so you could go around the obstruction once the initial confusion wears off. But why do they exist and why were they left instead of being torn down to create a normal street?
The structures are the only remaining pieces left to Tuckerton Tower, one of the first and most powerful transatlantic radio stations every constructed. It was designed in 1912 to bridge communication between Mystic Island and an identical tower located in Germany. The location was chosen due to its desolation and was apparently kept a secret from the U.S. Government until it was almost completed!
There is said to be seven of these blocks total, one of which used to have a staircase and balcony which people could climb up, but most of which are just bare monoliths. It is also said that through transmitting the code 'Get Lucy' over this telephone wire, the Germans got the go to sink the Lusitania during World War I.
Whether these Mystic rumors are true or just old folklore, if you happen to come across a massive brick in the road cruising around one day don't be alarmed. It is just another piece of history hidden in South Jersey.
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This blog was written by Nicole Alexander, a freelance writer at Townsquare Media South Jersey.