How well do you know Secaucus? Join us for the latest in our series of guest lectures for the exhibition, “Greetings from Hudson County,” on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 4 pm. Secaucus town historian Dan McDonough will regale the audience with stories from the town’s colorful past. 

Sikakes, Sicakus, Siskakes, Siskakus, Seacaucus, Secaucus Island, however you spell it or say it, Secaucus was given the name by the Acksacky, Lenni-Lenape tribe of the Delaware Indians, meaning “place where snakes live” or “place where snakes hide.” The Dutch who first settled the island called it “Slangenbergh” meaning Snake Hill. Secaucus is also well known for the famous Pig Farmer, Henry Krajewski, who ran for President of the United States on the Poor Man’s Party ticket.

Dan McDonough was born and raised on Palisade Avenue in Union City, but moved to Secaucus more than 40 years ago. He was appointed by Mayor Paul Amico as official Historian in 1993, after the long-time councilman and historian Roger Gilbert passed away. He has a passion for the history of Hudson County and especially Snake Hill because in the early 1950s he served Mass in the Catholic church on “The Hill,” every Sunday for more than a year as an altar boy.  At the beginning there were more than 50 buildings there, with 11 hospitals.