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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

1934:BRIDGE STREET APPROACHING LAMBERTON

I will leave it to a South Trenton native to tell me what the building in the far background is. Also, the name of the church whose spire is seen in the photo; another pristine and segmented R.C. Maxwell treasure.

5 comments:

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, The factory building in the background is on South Broad St. and I guess it is American Bridge. It extends all the way to Hamilton Ave. The building behind that one, is John A Roeblings. Part of that is now a shopping center, facing South Clinton Ave. The church is on the corner of Bridge and Center Sts. It is not a Catholic church, but I don't know the denomination. To the left, just beyond the parked cars, was P & R Auto Body, owned by two very good friends, Tony Parno and Bob Reither. I hung out there as a young guy, working on my 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Hardtop. Tony worked some magic, with 13 coats of 1957 Buick Garnet Red, handrubbed (by me}. We made many body and interior modifications to that car. The neighborhood was much different back in 1960. rayfromvillapark

Anonymous said...

Ray:
Bob Reither was like a big brother to me. He and my late brother Robert were best of friends, and slept over at our house many a night. He married Rae Denney (sp) right after the war. Tony Parno was from North Trenton, and also a good friend. His brothers Ralph and Luper were good friends of mine as was his brother in law "Crow Argenti:"
The Bar sign behind the telegraph pole is "Frascella's 500 bar" The "White flash" gas sign was from a station whose operator was a deaf mute who was constantly teased by the local bullies.It was located between Power and Damon Sts. if my aged memory is intact.
My "grandmonther" actually my mother's aunt lived in the block of Lamberton St. to the left.
The church seen is the Baptist Church often referred too by Tom
Glover as he drives from Sacred Heart down Centre St. to deliver communion to the folks at the old Stokely cannery.
This little 3-4 block enclave was the 3rd "Italian neighborhood in Trenton, but was overshadowed by the Chambersburg Section.
You had the Fues, Costas, Bartolomeis, The Manze's ( my cousins) Ponticellos,Marchisanni's etc, etc. living and making a living here.

Mike Kuzma

rayfromvillapark said...

Mike, Both Bob and Tony were great guys. I was closest with Tony. When I got married in 1962, Tony obtained a new White Lincoln Continental from Alexander Motors and drove us on our Wedding day. Bob & Rae attended our wedding. Another time, on a Sunday morning, in the winter of 1961, I was driving to Philadelphia, to take my future wife to Mass (she was from South Philly). There was an accident on Rt 130, in Pennsauken. Three of us tried to stop and while trying to avoid hitting the center barrier, I hit the first car. I had to be towed. Tony drove me down to the garage on Monday night, patched the radiator, so it would hold water, and I followed him back to Trenton, hugging his rear bumper, because I had no headlights. We made back to P & R without getting stopped by the police. He was a great friend. I don't know if either one is still living. The last time I saw Tony, was when he was living with his sister on Rt 130 , in Groveville. Bob was living in Whiting. By the way, Tony lived for many years on New Rose St. until his father passed. I'm pretty sure it was New Rose, because there was an alley in back. A lot of guys hung out at P&R, especially on a Saturday. One guy would always get lunch for everybody, at the Casino, in the burg. Italian hot dogs! rayfromvillapark

Tom Glover said...

MIKE AND RAY: YOU TWO JUST BROUGHT CLEARER FOCUS ON THE PHOTO OF BRIDGE AND LAMBERTON STS. I WAS NO FAMILIAR WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BUT YOU TWO GUYS BROUGHT LIFE IN THAT AREA INTO CLEAR FOCUS. THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT.

TOM

Anonymous said...

Ray:

I read the Trenton Times Obits daily despite living in Virginia the past 12 years. As I recall, Bob died either in 2011, or 2012.
Some time in 2011, Tom ran a Jr.3 photo of a boys Gymnastic class in the 1930's. I was shocked to see my brother Robert at age 13-14 in the shot. This is the only picture I have of him as a kid. He left for the Navy in 1942, and was home only 3 weeks when he was hit by a car and killed crossing Rt. 31. after 2 year in the So.Pacific.
Bob Reither was a Pall Bearer, and he is shown sitting near my brother in the Jr.3 photo of the 30's. Bob as I recall, grew up on Peace St. the short Street between W.Front, and Lafayette.
All of the Parno's had some sort of talent. Ralph took off for
Vegas, Looper was an Electrician, and Roland was a master carpenter.

I also negelected to point out the building across Lamberton St. beyond the White Flash sign. This was Allie Cohen's floor covering shop. Allie was a popular Fight manager, and trainer in the 20's 30's, and 40's. In Addition to being a great guy with a super sense of humor.