By Laurie Perrone
As we wind down our celebration of Women’s History Month, we often look to the history books for names like Susan B. Anthony or Harriet Tubman. But history isn’t just made on national stages; it is forged in the quiet streets of our own neighborhoods. In Kearny, New Jersey, the legacy of female courage spans centuries—from the subversive resistance of the 19th-century abolitionist movement to the split-second heroism of a 1979 fire.
Today, we shine a light on two women—Mary Thompson and Janet McGowan—who, though
separated by over a hundred years, share a common thread: the refusal to stand by when
others were in danger.
The Silent Resistance of Mary Thompson
In the mid-1800s, Kearny was part of “Barbadoes Neck,” a region dominated by large estates
that relied heavily on enslaved labor. New Jersey was the “Slave State of the North,” the last to
abolish the practice, and the environment for Black activists was incredibly hostile.
In this “social chill,” Mary Thompson (later Mary King) emerged as a vital operative in the
Underground Railroad. Her father, Thomas Thompson, used his stagecoach business to
move freedom seekers across the North Jersey landscape. Mary provided sanctuary.
Recent historical research into the Thompson family homes has
uncovered secret cellars and hidden closets designed specifically to shield escaped
slaves.
While men often took the public roles, women like Mary were the backbone of the “safe house” infrastructure. She was noted for cooking for and tending to those in hiding, maintaining a veil of domestic normalcy while participating in high-stakes illegal activism.
Mary was a founding member of the Plane Street Colored Presbyterian Church, a hub for abolitionist activity that served the Kearny-Newark border.
Mary didn’t give speeches; she gave shelter. In a town where identifying as an abolitionist could mean losing one’s livelihood or life, her quiet defiance helped build the road to freedom.
The Bravery of Janet McGowan
Fast forward to December 8, 1979. The setting is no longer a rural estate, but a smoke-filled
apartment building in Kearny.
At just 14 years old, Janet McGowan proved that heroism knows no age. When a fire broke out
in her residential building, Janet didn’t just run for the exit. As her mother led her younger
siblings to safety, Janet did the unthinkable: she ran upward.
In a display of extraordinary courage, the rescuer sprinted to the third floor of a burning building
to alert her neighbors, Catherine and Thomas Koc, of the impending danger. She braved a
treacherous hallway where the intense heat caused windows to shatter and flames to lick the
walls, threatening to cut off any means of escape. Her swift actions prevented her neighbors
from suffocating; she successfully guided them to a window where firefighters were able to
reach them safely.
In recognition of this selfless act, she was honored with the prestigious
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission medal for her exceptional bravery.
Janet’s story is a reminder that the spirit of the “protector” is alive and well in the daughters of Kearny.
Why We Remember
The history of women in Kearny is often “hidden” by the passage of time or the lack of official
records. Mary Thompson’s work was clandestine by necessity; Janet McGowan’s was a flash of courage in a local news cycle.
Yet, both women represent the best of us. They saw a need—whether it was the systemic
injustice of slavery or the immediate threat of a house fire—and they acted. This month, we
don’t just look back at the famous names; we look at the women who lived right here, on our
soil, and made our world a little safer, one brave act at a time.
Editor’s note: Laurie Perrone is a self- published fiction writer, a freelance journalist, a blogger, a poet and a mental health advocate. You will find her works and social media at This Jersey Girl Interrupted.