Duck Island, New Jersey

Duck Island, New Jersey
Unincorporated community
Lamberton Street in the Duck Island section of Trenton
Duck Island Location of Duck Island in Mercer County Inset: Location of county within the state of New Jersey Show map of Mercer County, New Jersey Duck Island Duck Island (New Jersey) Show map of New Jersey Duck Island Duck Island (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°11′18″N74°45′03″W / 40.18833°N 74.75083°W / 40.18833; -74.75083
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Mercer
Township and City	Hamilton and Trenton

Duck Island is an unincorporated community located along the border of Hamilton Township and the city of Trenton in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The community takes its name from Duck Island, which extends southeastward from the community. The city of Trenton provides public docks for fishing in Duck Island. ^[4]

The "Duck Island Murders"

Main article: Clarence Hill (serial killer)

Duck Island was frequented as a lovers' lane during the 1930s due to its remoteness and nearness to Trenton. Between 1938 and 1942, couples were robbed and murdered on the island, resulting in six deaths. Clarence Hill, motivated by sexual and voyeuristic urges, was arrested for the murders and sentenced to life in prison. ^{[5] [6]}

Incinerator

In 1996, there were plans to build a $260 million trash incinerator on Duck Island, but the proposal was defeated by the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders. ^[7]

References

1. Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed January 10, 2015.
2. "Duck Island, New Jersey" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved January 18, 2015.
3. "City Profile Report: Trenton 250: 1792-2042: A City Master Plan Document" (PDF). City of Trenton. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
4. "Trenton opens public docks on Duck Island open for first time in two years". The Times. June 29, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2015. TRENTON — The city's public docks on Duck Island were finally installed this week after weeks of delays attributed to weather. The docks, just off Lamberton Road, are now open to boaters to tie up their vessels on the Delaware River throughout the summer.
5. Tomlinson, Gerald (1994). Murdered in Jersey . Rutgers University. pp.  60–62.
6. "Soldier Is Held As Jersey Killer. Fort Dix Private in Jail to Await Trial for Murder in Duck Island Cases". The New York Times . Associated Press. February 8, 1944. Private Clarence Hill, 33 years old, Hamilton Township Negro soldier, was arraigned today in Hamilton Township Police Court on six charges of murder in connection with the six Duck Island 'lover's lane' slayings that occurred in 1938, 1939 and 1940....
7. "Board Defeats Incinerator". The New York Times . November 8, 1996. Retrieved March 18, 2015. The incinerator, planned for Hamilton Township, had been challenged in court by Princeton township and Princeton borough because neither wanted to send waste to the incinerator or pay for its construction.