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Saturday, June 30, 2007

2007: THANK YOU, HAMILTON POST

FOR THOSE OF MY VIEWERS WHO ARE IN EWING, LAWRENCE, AND OTHER FAR FLUNG AREAS OF THE DELAWARE VALLEY AND WHO ARE NOT RECIPIENTS OF THE "HAMILTON POST," I HAVE DIGITIZED AND RESIZED A VERY FLATTERING ARTICLE THEY WROTE FEATURING NEXT WEEK'S START OF THE SUMMER KUSER FARM SUMMER CONCERT SERIES. THANK YOU JOE AND CHRIS, I AM TRULY HUMBLED.

1946: "TO EACH HIS OWN"

"A ROSE MUST REMAIN WITH THE SUN AND THE RAIN OR ITS LOVELY PROMISE WON'T COME TRUE..."

CHANCES ARE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THIS SONG IN MORE THAN 60 YEARS. IT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY WWII ERA SONGS YOU WILL BE HEARING AND HOPEFULLY SINGING WITH ME DURING OUR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT KUSER FARM.

1944: TRENTON CATHOLIC HONORS OUR MILITARY


1988: TRENTON'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY


THIS EXTRACT FROM THE TRENTON TIMES SHOWS SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL PART IN TRYING TO HELP THE CITY OF TRENTON IN HER EFFORT TO MAKE A COMEBACK. MY FRIENDS ARNIE ROPEIK AND MARY ALICE QUIGLEY ARE SHOWN. I JUST LEARNED THAT MARY ALICE IS ON THE SICK LIST AND PLEASE KNOW THAT WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOU.

1944: HOPEWELL GRAMMAR SCHOOL


THESE YOUNG LADIES WERE A PART OF A DANCE RECITAL AT THE SCHOOL IN HOPEWELL. I KNOW I CAN'T SAVE EACH AND EVERY GRAPHIC WHICH I SEE AS I PERUSE MY NEWSPAPER COLLECTION, BUT I CAN CONCENTRATE ON THE SCHOOLS, AND IN DOING SO, MIGHT HELP A FUTURE GENEOLOGIST IN HIS OR HER SEARCH FOR FAMILY MEMBERS.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

1920: SOCIAL HAPPENINGS


LAKESIDE PARK AND YARDVILLE HEIGHTS SOCIAL NOTES ALWAYS PROVIDE AN INTERESTING READ. HAMILTON SQUARE, YARDVILLE, YARDVILLE HEIGHTS, GROVEVILLE, BROAD STREET PARK, BROMLEY, AND DEUTZVILLE WERE RELEGATED TO THE "SUBURBS" PAGE IN MANY EDITIONS OF THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE PAST. ONCE AGAIN, OLD FAMILY NAMES MAKE THEIR APPEARANCE VERY FREQUENTLY. IN THESE POSTS, THE "OLD NATIVE" NAMES OF MIDDLETON, IRONS, AND TOTTEN ARE LISTED.

1920: MORE FASCINATING SOCIAL NEWS FROM THE SQUARE

THERE ARE MANY OF THESE FASCINATING SOCIAL NOTES IN THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE PAST. THEY ARE A VERY INTERESTING LOOK AT THE SOCIAL LIFE OF A PARTICULAR YEAR AS WELL AS A MINI SOCIETY PAGE. ANY VINTAGE HAMILTON SQUARE SOCIAL NOTE IS SURE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE REFERENCE TO THE WEST, CUBBERLEY, HUTCHINSON, CHAMBERLIN, AND OTHER OLD TIME RESIDENTS OF THE SQUARE. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THE LATE FLORENCE ("FLO-FLO") CHAMBERLIN SNEDEKER AND HUSBAND HAROLD SNEDEKER WERE CLOSE FRIENDS OF JUDY AND ME IN THE EARLY 1950'S.

2007: CAMP OLDEN CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE



DON'T MISS THE ANNUAL CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT BEING HELD IN VETERANS' PARK! IT WILL BEGIN ON FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 20 THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2007.
FOR DETAILS OF THIS INCREDIBLY HISTORIC AND FASCINATING EVENT, GO TO THE CAMP OLDEN HOME PAGE, http://www.campolden.org/




1939: MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

THIS GRAPHIC WILL WARM THE HEART OF THOSE OF US IN THE OVER 65 GENERATION. JUST LOOK AT THE FASCINATING VESTIGES OF THE PAST! THIS ENGRAVING ACCOMPANIED ONE OF MY "THE WAY WE WERE" COLUMNS IN JACK LACY'S LATE, LAMENTED "MERCER MESSENGER." FOR THE YOUNGER VIEWERS OF THIS SITE A MINI DESCRIPTION IS IN ORDER. THERE'S AN OLD KEROSENE STOVE, A PAIR OF "HIGH TOPS," A PUNCH BOARD, A 12 OZ. BOTTLE OF 5 CENT PEPSI, A CASTANEA (TRENTON) MILK DELIVERY TRUCK, A $1.98 GILBERT "ERECTOR SET," AND A TRENTON TIMES "18 SHOPPING DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS CARTOON. THE "SHREDDED RALSTON" CEREAL HAS MORPHED INTO 21ST CENTURY "WHEAT CHEX." THERE'S NO NEED TO EXPLAIN THE GAIETY MOVIE AD, THE OLD FASHIONED REFRIGERATOR, AND THE SLED. THAT AIRPLANE IN THE UPPER RIGHT? JUST ONE OF MY "FAVORITE THINGS;" A VINTAGE 1930'S "TAILSPIN TOMMY" TYPE MONOPLANE WITH WHEEL"PANTS."







1944: JAPANESE ATROCITIES

MANY YEARS AFTER WWII, QUITE A NUMBER OF AMERICAN CITIZENS CRITICIZED THE DROPPING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB ON IMPERIAL JAPAN. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT MOST OF THE COMPLAINERS WEREN'T AROUND DURING THOSE HORRIBLE YEARS OF WORLD WAR II. JAPAN MADE IT KNOWN THAT IF AN INVASION OF JAPAN WAS ATTEMPTED, THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN PRISONERS WOULD BE EXECUTED. SOME ESTIMATES OF THE NUMBER OF ALLIED PRISONERS IN JAPAN APPROACHED 100,000. JAPAN HAD ALREADY EXHIBITED HER CRUELTY WHEN NEWS OF THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH NEWS WAS REPORTED.

2007: KUSER FARM SUMMER SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS


2007: KUSER FARM SUMMER SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS


2007: KUSER FARM SUMMER SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS


2007: KUSER FARM SUMMER SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS


2007: KUSER FARM SUMMER SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS


2007: KUSER FARM SUMMER SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS


2007: KUSER FARM SUMMER SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS


2007: KUSER FARM GAZEBO SUMMER EVENING MUSIC PROGRAMS

1944: THREE PERONI BROTHERS SERVE IN WWII


Many families had more than one son fighting in WWII. Indeed, Mom and Pop Glover could hang a flag in the window telling the world that they had 2 sons serving. The accompanying article tells of the Peroni brothers military assignments.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

1941: LALOR SCHOOL SOCCER CHAMPS


RECOGNIZE ANYONE? LALOR MUST HAVE REALLY CONCENTRATED ON SPORTS PROGRAMS. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTO I HAVE SEEN. I SEEM TO RECALL A CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL TEAM FROM AROUND THE SAME ERA.

1941: ERNEST KOVACS BEFORE HE BECAME ERNIE KOVACS




1943: "R&R" FOR OUR SOLDIERS - TWO VIEWS







THE CITY OF TRENTON WAS A THRIVING TOWN BACK DURING WWII AS SOLDIERS FROM NEARBY FORT DIX CAME TO THE BIG CITY TO WILE AWAY THEIR TIME. THIS WAS ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR VENUES FOR OUR UNIFORMED SERVICEMEN.

2007: KUSER SUMMER CONCERT SERIES




1941: WWII INDUCTEES INTO MILITARY SERVICE

THESE GENTLEMEN REPRESENT VERY EARLIEST INDUCTEES INTO MILITARY SERVICE. THEY WENT INTO THE MILITARY WHILE PEARL HARBOR WAS STILL ON THE MINDS OF AMERICANS EVERYWHERE.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

1944: WWII: "LOOSE TALK"

Early in the second world war, along with rationing, blackouts, etc., America was threatened by enemy espionage and fifth column agents who were everywhere. I remember one of the slogans of the day: "A SLIP OF THE LIP CAN SINK A SHIP." The boy scouts in the illustration were doing their patriotic duty by distributing "hush" tags, reminding the public of the threat.


1941: HOW I LOVED THOSE PRIOR'S DONUTS!

Do you remember passing by Prior's Donuts on Liberty St. and So. Clinton Avenue and the incredibly delightful aroma eminating from that great old corner bakery? Prior's Cream donuts were to die for! The original of this graphic was a small 1 column inch ad in the Trenton Evening Times. I enlarged it and converted it to glorious "technicolor;" providing a fitting tribute to a local legend whose products are sorely missed.


2007: ATTENTION FELLOW RADIO AMATEURS


ABOVE IS AN EXTRACT FROM NJ S1099, A RECENTLY PASSED N.J. LAW WHICH EXEMPTS AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS FROM THE NEWLY PASSED LAW WHICH PROHIBITS "HANDS ON" COMMUNICATION AND TEXT MESSAGING.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

1944: CLOTHES FOR THE HOME COUNTRY

HERE THE LADIES FROM CHAMBERSBURG'S ST. JOACHIM'S CHURCH ARE COLLECTING AND PACKING CLOTHING FOR DESTITUTE ITALIAN CITIZENS IN THEIR MOTHER COUNTRY.

1944: EASTERN AIRCRAFT

I CAN STILL REMEMBER THOSE MANY AVENGER FLIGHTS OVER MY HARTLEY AVENUE HOME. THOSE GUYS FLEW SO LOW, YOU COULD SEE THE PILOT IN THE BIG GRUMMAN "GREENHOUSE" COCKPIT. I WONDER WHERE THAT "BABY AVENGER" REFERRED TO IN THE LOWER PHOTO IS. IT WOULD HAVE MADE AN INCREDIBLY FASCINATING EXHIBIT IN ONE OF EWING'S PUBLIC PARKS.

1944: EASTERN AIRCRAFT


I CAN STILL HEAR THOSE GRUMMAN AVENGERS AS THEY FLEW VERY LOW OVER MY HARTLEY AVENUE HOME. SO LOW, YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE PILOT IN THAT LARGE GLASS "GREEHOUSE" COCKPIT. I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE "BABY AVENGER" MENTIONED IN THE PHOTO. IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT DISPLAY AT A EWING TOWNSHIP PARK!

1944: HEY, THAT'S MY UNCLE CHARLIE!



HERE'S AN INTERESTING PHOTO FROM THE TIMES WHICH I JUST UNCOVERED THIS MORNING WHILE ADDING LOCAL HISTORY TO THE HAMILTON LIBRARY'S "WORLD WAR II" FOLDER. THE YOUNG FELLOW IN THE FRONT ROW, THIRD FROM LEFT IS MY UNCLE, CHARLES GAUDETTE, WORLD WAR I PURPLE HEART VETERAN. LIKE ALL WAR HEROES, "UNC" NEVER TALKED ABOUT HIS WAR TIME HEROISM.

Friday, June 22, 2007

1943: RECRUITING WOMEN FOR THE WAAC


WHEN WE HEAR STORIES OF "THEGREATEST GENERATION," WE SELDOM MENTION THE INCREDIBLE SACRIFICE MADE BY THE WOMEN DURING WORLD WAR II. THE ENGRAVING SHOWS SOME OF THE LOCAL LADIES WHO ARE GOING INTO THE "WAAC," WHICH WAS THEN KNOWN AS THE "WOMENS' AUXILIARY ARMY CORPS." LATER ON IT WAS CHANGED TO "WAC," WOMENS' ARMY CORPS. THESE COURAGEOUS LADIES PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN THE WAR EFFORT.

1944: LIBERTY STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST



I REMEMBER WHEN THAT GREAT OLD CHURCH AT LIBERTY STREET AND WESLEY WAS A GREEN AND WHITE WOODEN BUILDING. IN FACT, I WAS A SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT THERE BACK IN 1947 WHEN MRS. MARGARET ANDERSON WAS ONE OF THE TEACHERS, AND "BROTHER GRAHAM" THE PASTOR. AS I RECALL, THE CONGREGATION WAS NOT ALLOWED TO USE PIANOS, ORGANS OR OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, ONLY SINGING "A CAPELLO." HOW THAT CONGREGATION HAS GROWN!
TODAY A BEAUTIFUL RED BRICK LIBERTY STREET CHRIST CHURCH IS ON THE VERY SAME PLOT OF LAND, ITS CROSS REACHING TOWARD THE HEAVENS.



INTERSTATE FAIR: AN AUTO SHOW

This is one of the graphics I will use this fall when I present a presentation on the late, lamented N.J. State Fair. From its inception in the 1880's up to its demise in the 1960's, "the fair" was a very popular destination for people from all over the tri state area

STACY PARK,


This is extracted from a "linen" postcard is another graphic in the "TRENTON, VIEWS OF" folder in the Hamilton Local History Collection. Ca. 1938.


1927: FROM THE "TRENTON, VIEWS OF" FOLDER


The Hamilton Local History Collection is accumulating a very interesting collection of Trenton area photos from the very distant past. Many of the photos were gleaned from early 20th century newspapers when photo offset printing was in its infancy. Some of my White City photos are extremely difficult to discern, but still worthy of historic preservation.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

1944: JEROME MIGLIACCI, CHAMBERSBURG WWII HERO


IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DISPLAY EACH AND EVERY HERO FROM WWII. HOWEVER, WHEN I FIND NEWS CLIPPINGS SUCH AS THE ABOVE. THEY CERTAINLY DESERVE TO BE PRESERVED FOR POSTERITY. THIS GRAPHIC IS DIGITIZED AND PRESERVED IN THE "WORLD WAR II"FOLDER IN THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION.

2007: WE LOST A LOCAL LEGEND


AL TRENTON'S AL ROSSI PASSED AWAY THIS PAST WEEK. HE WAS A VERY POPULAR AND WELL KNOWN LOCAL PERSONALITY. HE WAS ALSO A FRIEND OF MY YANKEE HERO, "JOLTIN' JOE" DIMAGGIO.

THANKS TO LOU AND GREG ZANONI'S WZBN-TV25 FOR THESE GRAPHICS, WHICH WERE EXTRACTED FROM THEIR ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE AND CONVERTED TO GRAYSCALE.

1944: WWII MOBILIZATION


I OFTEN WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE HAD TO MOBILIZE QUICKLY AS WE DID DURING WORLD WAR II.

1944: THOSE REMARKABLE MCCLAIN SISTERS




HERE SHE IS BEFORE SHE BECAME MRS. VERONICA LARKIN. EVEN AS WE GLOVER BOYS WERE TOLD THAT WE ALL LOOKED ALIKE, SO TOO DO THE MCCLAIN GIRLS! NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE SAME FACIAL RESEMBLENCE, THEY ALL BROUGHT THEIR DISCIPLINED UP-BRINGING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CLASSROOMS. THOSE OF US WHO WERE STUDENTS UNDER TUTELAGE OF THE MCCLAIN SISTERS, QUICKLY LEARNED RIGHT FROM WRONG, AND THE MEANING OF SELF CONTROL.


JULIA AND VERONICA, WHERE ARE YOU NOW THAT WE NEED YOU?

1944: THOSE REMARKABLE MCCLAIN SISTERS




HERE SHE IS BEFORE SHE BECAME MRS. VERONICA LARKIN. EVEN AS WE GLOVER BOYS WERE TOLD THAT WE ALL LOOKED ALIKE, SO TOO DO THE MCCLAIN GIRLS! NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE SAME FACIAL RESEMBLENCE, THEY ALL BROUGHT THEIR DISCIPLINED UP-BRINGING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CLASSROOMS. THOSE OF US WHO WERE STUDENTS UNDER TUTELAGE OF THE MCCLAIN SISTERS, QUICKLY LEARNED RIGHT FROM WRONG, AND THE MEANING OF SELF CONTROL.


JULIA AND VERONICA, WHERE ARE YOU NOW THAT WE NEED YOU?

1944: THOSE REMARKABLE MCCLAIN SISTERS




HERE SHE IS BEFORE SHE BECAME MRS. VERONICA LARKIN. EVEN AS WE GLOVER BOYS WERE TOLD THAT WE ALL LOOKED ALIKE, SO TOO DO THE MCCLAIN GIRLS! NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE SAME FACIAL RESEMBLENCE, THEY ALL BROUGHT THEIR DISCIPLINED UP-BRINGING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CLASSROOMS. THOSE OF US WHO WERE STUDENTS UNDER TUTELAGE OF THE MCCLAIN SISTERS, QUICKLY LEARNED RIGHT FROM WRONG, AND THE MEANING OF SELF CONTROL.


JULIA AND VERONICA, WHERE ARE YOU NOW THAT WE NEED YOU?

1944: THOSE REMARKABLE MCCLAIN SISTERS




HERE SHE IS BEFORE SHE BECAME MRS. VERONICA LARKIN. EVEN AS WE GLOVER BOYS WERE TOLD THAT WE ALL LOOKED ALIKE, SO TOO DO THE MCCLAIN GIRLS! NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE SAME FACIAL RESEMBLENCE, THEY ALL BROUGHT THEIR DISCIPLINED UP-BRINGING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CLASSROOMS. THOSE OF US WHO WERE STUDENTS UNDER TUTELAGE OF THE MCCLAIN SISTERS, QUICKLY LEARNED RIGHT FROM WRONG, AND THE MEANING OF SELF CONTROL.


JULIA AND VERONICA, WHERE ARE YOU NOW THAT WE NEED YOU?

1944: THOSE REMARKABLE MCCLAIN SISTERS




HERE SHE IS BEFORE SHE BECAME MRS. VERONICA LARKIN. EVEN AS WE GLOVER BOYS WERE TOLD THAT WE ALL LOOKED ALIKE, SO TOO DO THE MCCLAIN GIRLS! NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE SAME FACIAL RESEMBLENCE, THEY ALL BROUGHT THEIR DISCIPLINED UP-BRINGING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CLASSROOMS. THOSE OF US WHO WERE STUDENTS UNDER TUTELAGE OF THE MCCLAIN SISTERS, QUICKLY LEARNED RIGHT FROM WRONG, AND THE MEANING OF SELF CONTROL.


JULIA AND VERONICA, WHERE ARE YOU NOW THAT WE NEED YOU?

1944: THOSE REMARKABLE MCCLAIN SISTERS




HERE SHE IS BEFORE SHE BECAME MRS. VERONICA LARKIN. EVEN AS WE GLOVER BOYS WERE TOLD THAT WE ALL LOOKED ALIKE, SO TOO DO THE MCCLAIN GIRLS! NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE SAME FACIAL RESEMBLENCE, THEY ALL BROUGHT THEIR DISCIPLINED UP-BRINGING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CLASSROOMS. THOSE OF US WHO WERE STUDENTS UNDER TUTELAGE OF THE MCCLAIN SISTERS, QUICKLY LEARNED RIGHT FROM WRONG, AND THE MEANING OF SELF CONTROL.


JULIA AND VERONICA, WHERE ARE YOU NOW THAT WE NEED YOU?

1944: THOSE REMARKABLE MCCLAIN SISTERS




HERE SHE IS BEFORE SHE BECAME MRS. VERONICA LARKIN. EVEN AS WE GLOVER BOYS WERE TOLD THAT WE ALL LOOKED ALIKE, SO TOO DO THE MCCLAIN GIRLS! NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE SAME FACIAL RESEMBLENCE, THEY ALL BROUGHT THEIR DISCIPLINED UP-BRINGING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CLASSROOMS. THOSE OF US WHO WERE STUDENTS UNDER TUTELAGE OF THE MCCLAIN SISTERS, QUICKLY LEARNED RIGHT FROM WRONG, AND THE MEANING OF SELF CONTROL.


JULIA AND VERONICA, WHERE ARE YOU NOW THAT WE NEED YOU?

1944: EVEN THEN HE WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED VOCALIST


HERE'S MY HHS '51 CLASSMATE BILL BAGGOTT AS HE APPEARED IN A MASONIC HOME VARIETY PROGRAM. I NEVER ASKED BILL IF HE WAS A BOY SOPRANO IN HIS YOUNGER YEARS, BUT I WOULD BET THAT HE WAS. HIS VOICE WAS ETHEREAL TIMES TEN.

1944: EVEN THEN HE WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED VOCALIST


HERE'S MY HHS '51 CLASSMATE BILL BAGGOTT AS HE APPEARED IN A MASONIC HOME VARIETY PROGRAM. I NEVER ASKED BILL IF HE WAS A BOY SOPRANO IN HIS YOUNGER YEARS, BUT I WOULD BET THAT HE WAS. HIS VOICE WAS ETHEREAL TIMES TEN.

1944: EVEN THEN HE WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED VOCALIST


HERE'S MY HHS '51 CLASSMATE BILL BAGGOTT AS HE APPEARED IN A MASONIC HOME VARIETY PROGRAM. I NEVER ASKED BILL IF HE WAS A BOY SOPRANO IN HIS YOUNGER YEARS, BUT I WOULD BET THAT HE WAS. HIS VOICE WAS ETHEREAL TIMES TEN.