SPACE TRAVEL -- ROCKETS

The promise of Space Travel was born in many students' minds when James Wyld spoke to them about Rockets.

Wyld and Lovell Lawrence, residents of Pompton Lakes, and John Shesta, developed the first practical self-cooled liquid fueled rocket in the Lawrence's garage. Lovell's mother began to get concerned about the "tests" so they moved to the back room of the store that now houses R. & M. Hardware store.

The rocket was first made known when tested on Lake Inez. Later the test site was moved to Pequannock and then to Picatinney Arsenal in Rockaway Township. This was the beginning of Reaction Motors. Both men then left; Wyld went to the Atomic Energy Commission and Lawrence to the Chrysler Corporation as Vice President in charge of Aerospace programs.