1979: THE DOCTOR'S HOUSE

MANY YEARS AGO, I WAS A COLUMNIST WITH MY DEAR FRIEND, THE LATE JUNE CUNNINGHAM HAMMIL. JUNE HAD A LITTLE ANTIQUE SHOP DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE MERCERVILLE FIRE HOUSE BACK IN THE 1960's. I recall purchasing a huge collection of "Life" magazines from her, which are still in my collection. I love to read about life in the 30's and 40's. June disposed of her little antiques building, donating it to the Historical Society of Hamilton Township. It has been restored to its original state and furnished with vintage physician' s tools. The photo above shows the little building with Hamilton historian Bob Simpkins taking the part of a Colonial physician.

1888: CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH

THIS OLD CHURCH HAD ITS START IN DOWNTOWN TRENTON AND MOVED TO PENNINGTON ROAD ACROSS FROM THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY. THEY HAVE A VERY LIVELY MINISTRY. MY BROTHER BUD AND SISTER IN LAW FLORENCE ARE AMONG THE OLDER MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION. THIS OLD ARTICLE FROM 1888 SHEDS SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION ON THE CHURCH AS IT WAS IN THE 19TH CENTURY.

2007: WWII VETERANS FROM GROVEVILLE

ONCE AGAIN FROM GARY LIPPINCOTT, THE ABOVE PHOTO OF THE VETERANS' WWII BOARD THAT ONCE REPOSED IN THE GROVEVILLE TOWN SQUARE. ABOVE THE PHOTO IS A LISTING OF THE GROVEVILLE MEMBERS OF THE GREATEST GENERATION WHO SERVED AND WERE HONORED IN THE PUBLIC DISPLAY.

2007: GROVEVILLE SCHOOL

THIS BREATH TAKING VIEW OF THE GROVEVILLE SCHOOL IS A WORK OF ART. OUR EARLIER GENERATIONS OF HAMILTONIANS HAD EXCELLENT TASTE. THEIR CHOICE OF ARCHITECTURE WAS SPLENDID.

1888: WHEN STUDENT'S MERITED PROMOTION

PROMOTION BY MERIT: WHAT A UNIQUE EDUCATION CONCEPT!

WITH EDUCATION CONTROVERSY RAGING IN MANY AREAS OF OUR SOCIETY, IT IS INDEED REFRESHING TO LOOK AT THE EDUCATION PROCESS OF OUR FOREFATHERS, BEFORE THE ADVENT OF COMPUTERS, CALCULATORS, AND OTHER HIGH TECH 21ST CENTURY TEACHING TOOLS.

1888: BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DEDICATED

I HOPE MY VIEWERS APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOME OF THE HISTORIC POSTS THAT ARE BEING PRESERVED ON THIS WEBSITE. THAT VENERABLE OLD CHURCH ON HAMILTON AND CHESTNUT AVENUE HAS A RICH HISTORIC HERITAGE. THE ARTICLE ABOVE GIVES THE DETAILS SURROUNDING THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH.

2007: HAMILTON'S CLASS OF '53

HERE'S A PHOTO OF HHS '53,ONLY TWO YEARS REMOVED FROM MY CLASS OF '51.MANY OF THESE HORNETS ARE FAMILIAR TO ME AND I DARE SAY TO MANY OTHERS FROM THE EARLY 50'S.

THE FAMOUS QUAKER BRIDGE ROAD TREE

A FAMILIAR SITE TO ALL RESIDENTS OF HAMILTON. THE AGE ON THIS TREE IS THE SUBJECT OF CONTROVERSY. MANY PEOPLE SAY IT WAS THERE WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON JOURNEYED TO PRINCETON IN 1777. I PERSONALLY WONDER ABOUT THAT SPECULATION.

1976: HAMILTON'S UPDATED HISTORY

HERE ARE THE "MOVERS AND SHAKERS" WHO PLANNED AND PUBLISHED THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF HAMILTON'S HISTORY BOOK, "THE HISTORY OF HAMILTON - - -BY PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE." IT IS AVAILABLE FROM MY OFFICE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A COPY. THE SOFT COVER EDITION IS $15.00 AND THE HARD COVER IS $25.00. IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON WEEKENDS FROM NOON TO 4 PM AT THE JOHN ABBOTT II HOUSE ON KUSER ROAD.

1916: A DISASTER IN YARDVILLE

THIS AND THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONS TO MY SITE RELATE TO THE DISASTROUS FIRE WHICH OCCURED AT THE CHANDLER PALRUBA FACTORY IN YARDVILLE BACK IN 1916. UNFORTUNATELY PAGE 7 IS MISSING. THIS SERIES OF NEWS ARTICLES AND PHOTOS WAS FROM A NEWS PAGE IN A SAD STATE OF DECAY.

YARDVILLE CHANDLER PALRUBA EXPLOSION

THIS AND THE FOLLOWING POSTS RELATE TO THE 1916 EXPLOSION WHICH DEVASTATED THE OLD PLANT.

MANY THANKS TO GROVEVILLE'S RAY BELL FOR THIS AND THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS. RAY'S DAD WAS WORKING ON AN EXTENSION OF THE FACTORY BEFORE THE FIRE.

1916: CHANDLER PALRUBA DISASTROUS FIRE

I AM RESEARCHING FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS DISASTROUS EXPLOSION WHICH LEVELED THE PLANT DURING WORLD WAR I. STAY TUNED!

YARDVILLE'S OLD CHANDLER PALRUBA PLANT

THIS PHOTO WAS IN ONE OF MY FILES FOR YEARS BEFORE I CAME TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS AN OLD INDUSTRIAL RELIC FROM THE EARLY YEARS OF YARDVILLE.

YARDVILLE HEIGHTS SCHOOL

THIS IS ONE OF THE EXQUISITE PHOTOS OF LOCAL SCHOOLS IN MY COLLECTION. THE CLASSIC BEAUTY OF THIS HAMILTON JEWEL SHOWS QUITE VIVIDLY.

1915: THE SANDTOWN ROADHOUSE

TODAY IT'S KNOWN AS BILL'S OLDE TAVERN. BACK IN THE EARLIER YEARS IT WAS A STOPOVER. WHAT FASCINATING TALES LINGER WITHIN THOSE ANTIQUE WALLS!

AS WONDERFUL AS 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY IS, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ENHANCE THE POOR QUALITY OF EARLY OFFSET PRINTING AS SHOWN IN THIS 90+ YEAR OLD NEWS PHOTO.

1888: A CHURCH WITH A HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY

MY MOM AND DAD WERE MARRIED IN CHRIST P.E. CHURCH ON WHITTAKER AVENUE BACK IN 1923. IN THEIR LATER YEARS THEY WERE LITERALLY SHUT OUT AS A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE EPISCOPAL BISHOP AND WARRING FACTIONS IN THE CONGREGATION RESULTED IN TURMOIL. I WAS QUITE SURPRISED TO UNCOVER A VERY SIMILAR SITUATION BACK IN THE VERY EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH.

1888: QUINTIN'S RIDING ACADEMY

THE TRENTON AREA WAS WELL REPRESENTED IN THE EQUESTRIAN FIELD BACK IN THE 19TH CENTURY. OVER ON THE WHITE HORSE TURNPIKE (SO. BROAD ST.) THE PITTMAN FAMILY HAD A LARGE STABLE. OVER IN BROMLEY, HENRY N. SMITH HAD A LEXINGTON KENTUCKY TYPE RACE TRACK COMPLETE WITH GRANDSTAND AND STABLES. IN TODAY'S VILLA PARK WAS THE QUINTIN RACE TRACK, AND AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE ACCOMPANYING GRAPHIC, THE QUINTIN RIDING ACADEMY IN DOWNTOWN TRENTON. THE ARTICLE IS FROM AN 1888 DAILY TRUE AMERICAN NEWSPAPER, AND THE GRAPHIC FROM MY COLLECTION ILLUSTRATES THE COMMERCE STREET BUILDING.

2007: OBIT OF MRS. ART JULIAN

WITH THANKS FROM JACK LACY, HHS 56 , THIS OBIT:
==============================================================
Hi All...

Sadly we report the passing of Eileen (Peoples) Julian, wife of our HHS56 classmate Art Julian. Condolences may be sent to the Julian family, c/o Sharon and Peter Dunham, 12 Milburne Lane, Robbinsville, NJ 08691.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M. Eileen Peoples Julian
M. Eileen Peoples Julian HAMILTON TOWNSHIP - M. Eileen Peoples Julian, 68, died Saturday at Compassionate Care Center in Trenton. Born in Trenton, she lived in Hamilton Township most of her life. She recently returned from Largo, FL where she lived for the past eight years. She was an administrative assistant working for both the State of New Jersey and Lacy Communications in Mercerville. Mrs. Julian was a graduate of Cathedral High School Class of 1957. She was a member of the Our Lady Sorrows PTA, the Hamilton Township Republican Organization and enjoyed various crafts. Daughter of the late Frank and Mary Glendon Peoples, mother of the late Michele Julian, she is survived by her husband of 48 years, Arthur J. Julian; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Laura M. and Howard Black of Chesterfield, Sharon A. and Peter Dunham of Robbinsville, Mary Kay and Andrew Cary of Bordentown and Wanda Rutledge of Hamilton Township; eight grandchildren, Carleen and Lyndsay Snyder, Aaron Black, Sara Jane and Gregory Dunham, Katherine, Sally and Andrew (Doozer) Cary; one brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Joanne Peoples of Atlanta, GA; three brothers-in-law, Thomas, John and Paul Julian; also several nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral Services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday at the M. William Murphy Funeral Home, 1863 Hamilton Ave. in Hamilton Township. Burial will be in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery. Calling hours will be 6-9 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. until time of service Wednesday at the funeral home Donations in her memory may be made to the Compassionate Care Hospice, 601 Hamilton Ave., Trenton, NJ 08629.

GROVEVILLE MILL POND

THANKS TO GROVEVILLE HISTORIAN GARY LIPPINCOTT FOR STILL ANOTHER GREAT GRAPHIC. THIS IS THE MILL POND AT GROVEVILLE.

GARY INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING VERY INTERESTING DESCRIPTIVE TEXT FOR THIS VERY HISTORIC SITE. GARY WRITES:

This is the Mill pond on Church Street between Groveville and Yardville and is also the unofficial border between the two. The dam is still there, but failed in the early 1940's. The pond was originally created to provide power, through a raceway, to power a Grist Mill and a Saw Mill owned by R.C. Huchinson.

Portions of the raceway, along with the supports for the Water Wheel axle are still visible next to the entrance to Hamilton Township Department of Water Pollution Control Facility on Church Street.

The pond dam was located on Church Street and extended under Yardville-Crosswicks Rd. (So. Broad St.) to the beginning of the pond at Springdale Park (CYO Camp) on Yardville-Allentown Road, across from Yardville School.

During the winter The children from Groveville that attended Yardville School, would walk to the dam, put on their skates and skate to the end of the lake and then cross over Yardville-Allentown Road to school. I am sure many were late.

Before the Crosswicks Sand & Gravel Co. (now Yardville Supply) removed the sand from what is now Eagle Rock Apts. there was a very high hill that extended from the banks of the pond to the top behind the Groveville School, with a steep trail know as "The Indian Trail". During the winter only the bravest of boys would sled down this trail and right out on the pond. I understand that many a Flexible Flyer was lost on this trail.

During his time as Mayor of Hamilton Twp., Groveville resident Ray Dwier attempted to secure funds through the Green Acres Program to restore the pond and dam.

1929 (Ca 1929). HAM

FROM EDITH ROMMEL AND LYNN MARTIN, COMES THIS EXQUISITE PHOTO OF BROMLEY'S ENTERPRISE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY FROM AROUND 1929. ANY ONE FAMILIAR WITH THIS BROMLEY FIRE COMPANY MIGHT HELP ME TO DATE IT, AND POSSIBLY IDENTIFY SOME OF THOSE IN THE PHOTO. PERHAPS I POSTED THIS EARLIER, BUT IT BEARS REPEATING. IT IS TRULY AN HISTORIC PIECE OF HAMILTONIA.

1942: HAMILTON FIRE COMPANY

THANKS TO RUSLING HOSE AND BROAD STREET PARK HISTORIAN JIM COLELLO FOR THIS GREAT PHOTO. THIS GRAND OLD BUILDING NOW HOUSES THE BROMLEY CIVIC CENTER. THOSE OF US WHO ARE CARD-CARRYING OLD TIMERS REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS THE HOME OF THE HAMILTON FIRE CO. WHO ARE NOW IN A NEW BUILDING ADJACENT TO THE BUILDING IN THE PHOTO. IF THERE ARE ANY FELLOW BROMLEYITES VISITING THIS POST, PERHAPS YOU CAN IDENTIFY SOME OR ALL OF THOSE IN THE PHOTO. IF SO, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THOMGLO@VERIZON.NET, OR IN THE "COMMENTS" AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST OR VIA MY GUESTBOOK

THANKS TO KATHY BUCEK FOR THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

WWII 1942 photo of hamilton fire dept, second row all the way to last man on right is Fred Cope, Sr who was my step-grandfather. cope family was an integral part of this fire dept for many many years. Fred Cope Jr, his brothers Richard Cope and Jim Cope were members 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, my mom Carol Arnold Cope was President of the Ladies Auxilary and my step-grandmother Marion Cope and Step-Aunt Shirley Cope were also members of the ladies auxiliary. The rubber company was were Goodall Rubber used to be I believewwII 1942 photo of hamilton fire dept, second row all the way to last man on right is Fred Cope, Sr who was my step-grandfather. cope family was an integral part of this fire dept for many many years. Fred Cope Jr, his brothers Richard Cope and Jim Cope were members 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, my mom Carol Arnold Cope was President of the Ladies Auxilary and my step-grandmother Marion Cope and Step-Aunt Shirley Cope were also members of the ladies auxiliary. The rubber company was were Goodall Rubber used to be, I believe.

1924:"DAYLIGHT HOMES" ON CONNECTICUT AVENUE

CONNECTICUT AVENUE IS IN THE A BROMLEY AREA OF HAMILTON. INDEED, IT IS THE NEXT BLOCK OVER FROM MY ATLANTIC AVENUE HOME. THE AREA WAS ONCE THE LOCATION OF HAMILTON'S LATE, LAMENTED WOODLAWN PARK.

1932: THE MORIRIS WHITE HORSE FILES

WAS IT MIRIAM MORRIS WHO WAS THE "STRINGER" FOR THE TRENTON TIMES BACK IN THE 1930's? ONE OF THE TREASURES IN MY COLLECTION IS A VERY THICK SCRAP BOOK OF THE MANY SUBMISSIONS SHE MADE TO THE NEWSPAPER. ALONG WITH COUNTLESS WHITE HORSE DATELINES, THERE ARE MANY PHOTOS AND ARTICLES FROM HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL'S EARLY YEARS. THEY WILL BE POSTED IN THE FUTURE.

2007: UPDATE ON VIRGINIA TERRY, LEA TERRY'S WIFE

FROM SALLY BREESE ASHMEN VIA JACK LACY, HHS HORNETS FROM THE CLASS OF '56:

I'm forwarding this message from HHS56 classmate Sally (Breese) Ashmen to keep all interested up-to-date on the progress of Lea Terry's wife, Ginny. If you're not interested please simply delete.

In a message dated 8/22/2007 9:27:45 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, sallyashmen@yahoo.com writes:

Jack:
==============================================================
Hi Jack... Just an update on Lea's wife... She finally got home from the extended stay for rehab at Care One in Ewing on this last Saturday. On Monday morning she fell in their bedroom and broke her hip. They were able to put a pin in at R.W.J. Hamilton and today she was transferred back to Care One for rehab. again. I hope to get out to see her by the end of the week.

Sally

1914: THE BAR AT THE BROMLEY

ALSO IN MY COLLECTION, ACQUIRED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PHOTO OF THE BROMLEY INN, IS THIS PHOTO OF THE BAR AT THE INN. NOTE THE "SPITTOONS." I LIKE TO THINK THAT THE GENTLEMAN IN THE PHOTO IS MR. CHARLES FULKERT HIMSELF, BUT I CAN'T CERTIFY TO THAT. THE MIRROR SHOWS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A STATUE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE A LADY DRESSED IN MIDDLE EASTERN GARB.

1914: THE BROMLEY INN

THIS IS ONE OF THE TREASURES IN THE TOM GLOVER COLLECTION. I HAVE DIGITIZED THIS EXQUISITE PHOTO AND IT IS NOW IN THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY IN THE "BROMLEY" FOLDER. THIS BUILDING SHOULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION; IT IS A GENUINE HISTORIC TREASURE.

1942:

1942:

1942:

1942:

1942:

1942:

1942:

A REMINDER FROM TOM TO NEWCOMERS

DON'T FORGET:

TO ACCESS THE ARCHIVES FOR PREVIOUS POSTS BACK TO THE YEAR 2005, THE ARCHIVES LISTING IS RIGHT OVER THERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN.

REMEMBER:

TO ENLARGE A GRAPHIC, CLICK ON IT. TO SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER

TO SAVE A POST: RIGHT CLICK ON IT AND CHOOSE "SAVE TARGET AS."

HAPPY HUNTING,

FELLOW HORNETS!

A REMINDER FROM TOM TO NEWCOMERS

DON'T FORGET:

TO ACCESS THE ARCHIVES FOR PREVIOUS POSTS BACK TO THE YEAR 2005, THE ARCHIVES LISTING IS RIGHT OVER THERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN.

REMEMBER:

TO ENLARGE A GRAPHIC, CLICK ON IT. TO SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER

TO SAVE A POST: RIGHT CLICK ON IT AND CHOOSE "SAVE TARGET AS."

HAPPY HUNTING,

FELLOW HORNETS!

A REMINDER FROM TOM TO NEWCOMERS

DON'T FORGET:

TO ACCESS THE ARCHIVES FOR PREVIOUS POSTS BACK TO THE YEAR 2005, THE ARCHIVES LISTING IS RIGHT OVER THERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN.

REMEMBER:

TO ENLARGE A GRAPHIC, CLICK ON IT. TO SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER

TO SAVE A POST: RIGHT CLICK ON IT AND CHOOSE "SAVE TARGET AS."

HAPPY HUNTING,

FELLOW HORNETS!

A REMINDER FROM TOM TO NEWCOMERS

DON'T FORGET:

TO ACCESS THE ARCHIVES FOR PREVIOUS POSTS BACK TO THE YEAR 2005, THE ARCHIVES LISTING IS RIGHT OVER THERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN.

REMEMBER:

TO ENLARGE A GRAPHIC, CLICK ON IT. TO SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER

TO SAVE A POST: RIGHT CLICK ON IT AND CHOOSE "SAVE TARGET AS."

HAPPY HUNTING,

FELLOW HORNETS!

A REMINDER FROM TOM TO NEWCOMERS

DON'T FORGET:

TO ACCESS THE ARCHIVES FOR PREVIOUS POSTS BACK TO THE YEAR 2005, THE ARCHIVES LISTING IS RIGHT OVER THERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN.

REMEMBER:

TO ENLARGE A GRAPHIC, CLICK ON IT. TO SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER

TO SAVE A POST: RIGHT CLICK ON IT AND CHOOSE "SAVE TARGET AS."

HAPPY HUNTING,

FELLOW HORNETS!

A REMINDER FROM TOM TO NEWCOMERS

DON'T FORGET:

TO ACCESS THE ARCHIVES FOR PREVIOUS POSTS BACK TO THE YEAR 2005, THE ARCHIVES LISTING IS RIGHT OVER THERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN.

REMEMBER:

TO ENLARGE A GRAPHIC, CLICK ON IT. TO SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER

TO SAVE A POST: RIGHT CLICK ON IT AND CHOOSE "SAVE TARGET AS."

HAPPY HUNTING,

FELLOW HORNETS!

A REMINDER FROM TOM TO NEWCOMERS

DON'T FORGET:

TO ACCESS THE ARCHIVES FOR PREVIOUS POSTS BACK TO THE YEAR 2005, THE ARCHIVES LISTING IS RIGHT OVER THERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN.

REMEMBER:

TO ENLARGE A GRAPHIC, CLICK ON IT. TO SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER

TO SAVE A POST: RIGHT CLICK ON IT AND CHOOSE "SAVE TARGET AS."

HAPPY HUNTING,

FELLOW HORNETS!

1931: BRING JUDGE SCHROTH BACK

I HAVE BEEN ADDING INTERESTING NEWS ARTICLES ON THE SOCIAL MISFITS FROM OUR LOCAL PAST INTO THE "CRIME, MORALS AND SOCIAL VALUES" FOLDER IN THE LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION. WE COULD SURE USE A JUDGE SCHROTH IN TODAY'S SOCIETY. BACK THEN IT WAS JUSTICE; PLAIN, SIMPLE AND AS THE WORD IMPLIES, "JUST!"

1869: EVEN THEN, VANDALS WERE A PROBLEM

FROM THE "MORALS AND SOCIAL VALUES" FOLDER IN THE LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION:

WHAT IS IT ABOUT A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION THAT MAKES THESE ANTI-SOCIAL CITIZENS DEFACE OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY? AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS ARTICLE FROM 1869, THESE CITIZEN SLUGS, THEN AS NOW, DELIGHTED IN DESTROYING ANYTHING DECENT. THE DIFFERENCE? WHEN THE PERPETRATORS WERE CAUGHT, YOU CAN BET THAT THEIR NAMES WEREN'T WITHELD BECAUSE OF THEIR AGES. I WOULD BET THAT THE JUDGE DIDN'T GIVE THEM A 2007 "SLAP ON THE WRIST" AND REMAND THEM TO THEIR PARENTS.

1936: NO SECULARISM HERE

FROM THE "MORALS AND SOCIAL VALUES" FOLDER IN THE LOCAL HISTORY FILES:

YEARS AGO, AND IN THIS CASE THE YEAR 1936, THE MEDIA PAID ATTENTION TO THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY IN THEIR QUEST FOR FAMILY UNITY.

REV. LANTZ'S ARTICLE AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES AREN'T FOUND IN THE MEDIA TODAY. IT WOULD BE POLITICALLY INCORRECT.

HOW SAD.

CHARACTER AWARENESS WAS ALIVE AND WELL DURING MY SCHOOL YEARS. AT HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL, OUR VOCAL MUSIC TEACHER, LOUISE BAIRD, CONSTANTLY SERVED UP BITS AND PIECES OF WISDOM FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE IN THE FORMATIVE YEARS. ONE OF THE PEARLS OF WISDOM SHE GAVE TO US FITS RIGHT INTO REV. LANTZ'S "CHARACTER FACTORIES" ESSAY ABOVE. WE ALL WERE TAUGHT:

"THE TRUE TEST OF A MAN'S CHARACTER IS WHAT HE WOULD DO IF HE KNEW HE WOULD NEVER BE FOUND OUT."

I CAN HEAR HER NOW: "TOMMY, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. THAT TREASURE OF WISDOM PIERCED THE INNERMOST PART OF MY BEING; AS IT DID IN MOST OF MY FELLOW HORNETS.

1923: RIGGERS MOVE A PUMP TO THE TRENTON PUMPING STATION

EVEN BACK THEN, THE VERY TALENTED RIGGERS HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO COAX THIS HUGE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE CITY. NOTICE THE CHAINS ON THE REAR TIRES OF THAT FORD "FORDSON" TRACTOR AS IT SLOWLY DRAGS THE EXTREMELY HEAVY LOAD.

1935: FARMINGDALE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND

Many visitors to this website will recall the late, great Farmingdale School. Here's a 1935 photo of neighborhood kids playing under the fire plug sprinkler.

1938 STATE AND BROAD, TRENTON CIRCA 1938

BE READY FOR AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. WHEN YOU CLICK ON THIS PHOTO, YOU WILL BE MAGICALLY TRANSPORTED TO THE INTERSECTION OF STATE AND BROAD STREET IN DOWNTOWN TRENTON IN THE 1930'S. WHAT A GREAT PHOTO!

THIS PHOTO WAS BEFORE MY TIME. THE TELL TALE TRENTON TRANSIT BUSES WERE THE CLUE FOR ME. THEY ARE 1930'S BUSES. THIS GREAT PHOTO CAME TO ME VIA MY DEAR FRIEND, THE LATE LELAND BUKER. LEE HAD AN INCREDIBLE MEMORY AND WAS A TRUE HISTORIAN ON THE TRENTON TRANSIT SYSTEM.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU WILL SEE THE S.P. DUNHAM SIGN, STOLL'S, AND F.W. DONNELLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.

ATTENTION NEWCOMERS TO MY SITE

DOUBLE CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT AND RIGHT CLICK ON IT TO SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER'S HARD DRIVE OR OTHER STORAGE DISK . MOST NEWSPAPER ARTICLES CAN BE COMFORTABLY READ WITH THE EXCEPTION OF VERY LARGE GRAPHICS WHICH REQUIRE A HI RESOLUTION LCD MONITOR. DON'T FORGET TO SIGN THE GUEST BOOK. COMMENTS PRO AND CON INVITED.

(CREDIT THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION, THE TRENTON TIMES AND TOM GLOVER'S HAMILTON.)

1915: "DAREDEVIL SCHREYER" AT THE FAIR

IN THE FALL I WILL BE DOING A KUSER MANSION MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION AND NARRATIVE ON THE GLORIOUS HISTORY OF HAMILTON'S LATE, GREAT N.J. STATE FAIR, KNOWN IN THE EARLY YEARS AS THE INTERSTATE FAIR, AND IN MY BOYHOOD YEARS AS "THE FAIR." WHAT AN EXCITING LINEUP THEY HAD OF DEATH DEFYING DAREDEVILS IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 20TH CENTURE! THE ABOVE ILLUSTRATION DESERVES CLOSER INSPECTION. CHECK OUT THE DIMENSIONS ON THE SKI SLIDE TYPE OF INCLINE AND LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD. I WONDER HOW DEEP THE WATER WAS IN THAT POOL. THERE WERE MANY EXITING FEATURES BACK IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE FAIR.......DARING AIPLANE PROGRAMS, THE AUTO HELL DRIVERS, AND MANY OTHER INTERESTING PROGRAMS. MORE WILL BE POSTED AFTER I PRESENT THE PROGRAM AT KUSER FARM.

THE LATE GREAT INTERSTATE FAIR

THIS FALL I WILL BE DOING A "SHOW AND TELL" PROGRAM AT KUSER MANSION ON WHITE CITY ON ONE EVENING, AND THE N.J. STATE FAIR (OR AS WE REFERRED TO IT, "THE FAIR.) THIS GRAPHIC WAS ORIGINALLY A BLACK AND WHITE 2 COLUMN INCH AD IN THE TRENTON TIMES. THANKS TO THE MAGIC OF COMPUTER IMAGING, I HAVE TURNED IT INTO A HANDSOME BROADSIDE. THE AD IS UN-DATED, AND I GIVE IT A CIRCA 1938.

1944: TRENTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL VETERAN

ONE OF THE BIG MISTAKES MANY MUNICIPALITIES MADE AFTER WORLD WAR II WAS TO REMOVE AND DESTROY THOSE BIG BOARDS IN MANY COMMUNITIES AND IN FRONT OF MANY CHURCHES WHICH LISTED THE VETERANS WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II. THEY SHOULD BE REPOSING IN OUR PARKS. I INTEND TO SAVE EACH AND EVERY LISTING OF THIS TYPE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO ARE TRYING TO FIND INFO ON THOSE BRAVE VETERANS.

1949: ST. ANTHONY'S TO BUILD A NEW CHURCH

HERE'S THE PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW ST. ANTHONY CHURCH ON SO. OLDEN AVENUE. I WAS A PARISHIONER THERE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, MY WIFE JUDY FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS.

1944: TRENTON CATHOLIC BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL

I'M INCLUDING TRENTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ON THIS HHS WEBSITE BECAUSE THEY WERE SUCH FORMIDABLE OPPONENTS IN EVERY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS COMPETITION. PICTURED ARE THOSE TRENTON CATHOLIC GUYS WHOM I GOT TO KNOW FROM THE CLASS OF '44. I FREQUENTLY SEE JIM WEIGAND AT KUSER PARK. HANK LIEDTKA AND HIS FAMILY WERE PART OF MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, AND OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW FRANNY MCMANIMON.

KUSER FARM: A JOY FOREVER

I KNOW EDNA AND FRITZ KUSER ARE LOOKING DOWN ON THEIR BELOVED KUSER FARM HOME WITH VERY HAPPY SMILES AS ARE THEIR PREDECESSORS, FRED AND THERESA KUSER. THE EARLIEST CONTACT THE KUSERS HAD WITH THE TOWNSHIP ON THE POSSIBILITY OF GIVING UP THE FARM WAS WHEN DEMOCRAT EDNA KUSER APPROACHED FELLOW DEMOCRAT MAURICE PERILLI FOR ADVICE ON HOW BEST TO GO ABOUT DISPENSING OF THE FARM. THE EMERGENCE OF KUSER PARK IS A TRIBUTE TO THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF FORMER MAYORS MAURICE PERILLI AND JOHN RAFFERTY. THESE MEN KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE KUSER FAMILY'S "COUNTRY HOME."ON ONE OF MY LAST VISITS TO FRITZ AND EDNA KUSER IN THE EARLY 1970'S, THEY TOLD ME THEIR ADVANCING AGE AND OTHER FACTORS WERE BRINGING THEM TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WAS TIME TO GIVE UP THEIR BELOVED HOME. FRITZ KUSER HAD HOPES OF SELLING IT TO THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON AS A CONVENT. FAILING THAT, HE WANTED THE PROPERTY TO BE SOLD TO THE TOWNSHIP AS AN OPEN SPACE PARK TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC. THE REST IS HISTORY. THE TOWNSHIP IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE DURING THE RAFFERTY AND GILMORE ADMINISTRATIONS, IMPROVING THE PARK UNTIL WE HAVE THE JEWEL WE TODAY KNOW AS KUSER FARM PARK."

1934: MERCER TEXTILE MILLS ENVELOPE

THANKS TO GROVEVILLE HISTORIAN GARY LIPPINCOTT FOR THIS INTERESTING BIT OF MEMORABILIA FROM THE ANCHOR THREAD (MERCER TEXTILE MILLS).

1932: PERRINE FIELD

EACH DAY BRINGS AN "I NEVER KNEW THAT" KIND OF ENTRY. I HAVE HEARD OF "THE STADIUM GROUNDS," "DUNN FIELD," WETZEL FIELD, MORRIS FIELD, AND NOW COMES PERRINE STADIUM, LOCATED IN THE PARKWAY-W.STATE STREET AREA BY WHAT BECAME "JUNIOR 3."

1944:MERCERVILLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL

THESE LITTLE BITS OF SCHOLASTIC NEWS ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED AS NEWS IN TODAY'S BUSY WORLD. PERHAPS THEY SHOULD BE. IT MIGHT REFLECT SOME POSITIVE SLANTS ON THE YOUTH OF TODAY. THE SIXTH GRADE ENTRY IN THIS ARTICLE IS OF INTEREST TO ME, AS SOME OF THE STUDENTS WENT ON TO BE CLASSMATES IN THE CLASS OF 1951 AT HAMILTON HIGH. I SEE SYLVIA ARENA, PEGGY BACON, BILL JACKSON, KIETH KAUFFMAN, AND RAY JONES.VERY INTERESTING!

1944: CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

HOW I LOVE THESE SCHOOL NEWSPAPERS FROM THE PAST! THANKS TO A DEAR FRIEND, MRS. LAURA MARINO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WORLD WAR II ERA COPIES OF THE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER, "THE BLUE AND GOLD" REPOSING IN THE "CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL" FOLDER IN THE LOCAL HISTORY COLLECITON. I WILL BE POSTING ADDITIONALPAGES IN THE FUTURE. STAY TUNED.

1944: THE SONS OF SHERIFF LEEDOM

I HAVEN'T HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING ANY OF THE LEEDOM BROTHERS, BUT I DO REMEMBER THE NAME. SOMEHOW I SEEM TO RECALL AN AFFILIATION WITH ST. ANTHONY CHURCH IN TRENTON. DICK LEEDOM SEEMS TO REMAIN IN MY MEMORY, BUT DARNED IF I CAN PLACE THE WHEN, WHERE AND WHY. CAN ANYBODY ASSIST ME ON THIS?

1944: A MEMORY FROM "THE WAR TO END ALL WARS, PART TWO"

1944: KATHY CSORGO, JUST LOOK AT THAT SMILE!

KATHY: THIS HAS TO BE A RELATIVE. JOE CSORGO WAS ONE OF MY "ALL STARS" WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE ST. ANTHONY HOLY NAME SOCIETY. KATHY IS THE DAUGHTER OF STEVE CSORGO, W2QJO, A PROMINENT AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR.

1920's: HAMILTON SQUARE SCHOOL

FROM RON BOUND, HHS '56, THIS EXQUISITELY PRESERVED PHOTO OF ONE OF THE CLASSES OF THE TWENTIES AT HAMILTON SQUARE SCHOOL. ANY VIEWERS WHO CAN ADD TO THE IDENTITY OF THE CLASSMATES OF MR. BOUND WILL BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. MANY THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL PIECE OF HISTORY, RON!

FROM RON BOUND:

Tom: i found this picture in a box in the basement. Dad grew up on Nottingham Way, up to '43 when he joined the service...Marine on Iwo Jima. He is top left, George S Bound. Glad I didn't have to wear those stockings. LOL. Dad was born in 1916. Wonder if that's a teacher on the top right? No clue what school or of any of the other people. No markings on the back.
Ron Bound HHS '56

(TOM'S NOTE: I TOLD RON THAT I ALSO WORE THOSE UGLY KNICKERS WITH THE EVEN UGLIER STOCKINGS WHICH WENT OUT OF STYLE IN FAVOR OF "LONGIES" IN THE EARLY 1940'S.

(BY THE WAY: DON'T MISS THE "LANDSCAPING" AT THE FOOT OF EACH OF THE BOYS IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE PHOTO; A TYPICAL RURAL COUNTRY SCHOOL!)

EVELYN ELIZABETH BURD MERCERVILLE SCHOOL TEACHER OBIT

FROM JACK LACY VIA DAVE BRYAN, HAMILTON HIGH CLASS OF '56 COMES THIS NOTICE OF THE PASSING OF EVELYN BURD, MERCERVILLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL:
===============================================================
Hi All...
I'm informed that this lady was a teacher of some of our class mates when they toiled away in the fourth or fifth grade at Mercerville School. I was given this"heads up" by one of her favorite students, our HHS56 class mate "Davey" Bryan.

Jack Lacy, HHS '56

==================================================================
From Dave Bryan, HHS '56:

Evelyn Elizabeth Burd

Evelyn Elizabeth Burd HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP - Evelyn Elizabeth Burd died Thursday at the University Medical Center, Princeton. Born in Dutch Neck in 1920, she had been a resident of Hopewell Township for over 55 years. She was an active member of the Pennington United Methodist Church. Evelyn was a graduate of Princeton High School and Trenton State College. She taught in local schools for 28 years. She loved teaching, music, the outdoors, working in her flower gardens and caring for her pets. Daughter of the late Lawrence and Elizabeth E. Blackwell and sister of the late Arthur Blackwell, she is survived by her beloved husband of 60 years, Henry P. Burd. She is also survived by many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Pennington United Methodist Church, 60 S. Main St., with the Rev. Myungim Kim, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Harbourton Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the Blackwell Memorial Home, 21 N. Main St., Pennington. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Memorial Fund of the Pennington United Methodist Church.

SIGN THE GUEST BOOK AT HTTP://OBITS.NJ.COM/TRENTON/OBITUARIES.ASP

1940: (CIRCA 1940) ATLANTIC AVENUE

IF YOU WERE STANDING AT THIS LOCATION 5 OR SO YEARS EARLIER YOU WOULD BE IN THE AREA THAT ONCE WAS WOODLAWN PARK. MANY THANKS TO MY FRIEND ALAN WILDBLOOD FOR THIS EXQUISITE PHOTO.

1990: YARDVILLE HEIGHTS GRAMMAR SCHOOL

RECIPIENTS OF THE "GOOD CITIZENS AWARD" AT THE YARDVILLE HEIGHTS SCHOOL

1990: CROCKETT MIDDLE SCHOOL

CHRIS STEWART, PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT COUNCIL.

1990: ST. GREGORY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

THESE ST. GREG'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS HAVE EXCELLED IN THE STUDY OF GEOGRAPHY.