EMERSON, N.J.—Mayor Danielle DiPaola wants to name a new street for Kenneth J. Blackwell, a borough native who died during World War II, after learning that the former Kenneth Avenue had honored his service.
The street no longer exists, having been built over as part of the ongoing Block 419 Emerson Citizen Station redevelopment. At the Sept. 1 council meeting, DiPaola suggested restoring the tribute by naming a street in a future development for Blackwell.
DiPaola said she learned of the connection while discussing Kenneth Avenue, a topic on a local Facebook site, with a resident. The resident identified Blackwell as her husband’s cousin and said the street had been named for him.
The mayor said officials did some digging and found that the name honored Blackwell’s wartime service and sacrifice.
HonorStates.org says Blackwell was a staff sergeant and radio operator in the U.S. Army Air Forces, assigned to the 453rd Bomber Group, Heavy, 734th Bomber Squadron. The profile gives this account: “On 11 August 1944 was on the crew of the B-24J #42-110089 “Strictly Business” during a mission to bomb a fuel dump at Strasbourg, France. They were among 23 planes in two squadrons. They had completed their run and were on the way home when they were damaged by flak. They were forced to ditch in the North Sea, near North Foreland, England. Only three of the crew survived the freezing waters.”
Blackwell was one of seven casualties. The website lists Aug. 11, 1944, as the plane’s “casualty date” and identifies him as “missing in action, lost at sea.” He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge, England.
Kenneth Avenue formerly ran behind the business and residential properties along Kinderkamack Road within Block 419, the downtown redevelopment area. It also provided access to the former Emerson Volunteer Ambulance Corps headquarters at 1 Kenneth Ave. and a commuter parking lot.
The road closed when demolition began in 2019. In 2022, the borough deeded it to Emerson Redevelopers Urban Renewal under a redevelopment agreement signed by the prior administration in late 2018. [“Council signs deed to Kenneth Avenue to redeveloper partner,” by Michael Olohan, Jan. 8, 2022, at thepressgroup.net.]
DiPaola said eight Emerson streets were named for local servicemen who died during World War II. She noted that Blair Court honors members of the Blair family for their contributions and service to the ambulance corps.