The smell squabble Secaucus at center of stink strife as NY and NJ keep debating stench source. ... The sulfurous stench pervaded both sides of the Hudson, penetrating streets and sinuses with an aroma that led many to wonder if a serious chemical accident had occurred in the area, or even a terrorist attack.

Why does New Jersey smell so bad?

The cause of the smell has been linked to sheet rock as it breaks down underground. Massive gas collection wells are set to be built underground in an effort to capture the hydrogen sulfide gas that's been driving residents literally indoors for over a year.

Why does Secaucus mean black snake?

Secaucus' name origin has been variously explained as deriving from the the Algonquian words for "black" (seke or sukit) and "snake" (achgook), or "place of snakes." It shouldn't come as a surprise then that the Dutch later found snakes on a hill near present day Laurel Hill Park and called it Slangoey, meaning "Snake ...