The Rocket Test Site in Franklin Lakes

The History of the Franklin Lakes – The J.A.T.O. Rocket Test Site.

With the coming of the end of the Shuttle Program the nation looks back at the service it gave to the Nation. But few know that the principles used in the shuttle and other space exploration projects were developed in Franklin Lakes. Late in 1942 Reaction Motors Inc., the first commercial rocket Company in America, constructed the first permanent rocket test facility. It was located at the intersection of Lake Drive and Kent Place. The address was 936 Dogwood Trail. The location was ideal. The area was only occupied by the then Franklin Lakes Airport and a number of chicken farms. They built a 12 x12 foot block house with twelve bullet proof viewing ports and a static teat pad also made of concrete. Here they tested rocket motors that generated thrust from 30 to 3000 pounds. The company was under contract for the Navy to develop a J.A. T.O. ,Jet Assisted take Off, Motor. This was to be used on PMB flying Boat. A mock up of the tail section was constructed and bolted to the test pad. Then the JATO was bolted on to it. A full scale test of the motor was conducted on the Severn River in Maryland to great success. This motor cut the take off distance by sixty percent.

The testing in Franklin Lakes only lasted sixteen mounts. But that was enough time to frighten the local chickens and stop them from laying their eggs. The local farmers got compensated until the chickens started producing again. The motor that was developed here in Franklin Lakes was one that would burn in a vacuum. Its’ principles was later used in space and Lunar exploration.

On November 27, 1978 the Franklin Lakes Site was placed on the State Register of Historic Places. On June 6 1979 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. With the death of the property owner this site along with his house was demolished. This ended the First Permanent Rocket Test Facility in America.