THIS EXQUISITE REPRODUCTION OF AN EARLY PHOTO OF TRENTON'S OLD WASHINGTON HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY IS ONE OF TWO IN MY COLLECTION. THE OTHER IS FURTHER DOWN THE WAY ON THIS WEBSITE, A CARD COMMEMORATING THE DEDICATION OF TRENTON'S BATTLE MONUMENT.
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Thursday, July 31, 2008
1932: A BOMBING IN EWING TOWNSHIP
SO YOU THOUGHT THAT TERRORIST BOMBINGS WERE A RELATIVELY RECENT TALIBAN TYPE EVENT IN 21ST CENTURY CIVILIZATION. THE ABOVE 76 YEAR OLD ARTICLE PUTS THOSE THOUGHTS TO REST.
1893: TRENTON'S BATTLE MONUMENT
IN 1993, THE TRENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATED THE CENTENNIAL OF THE DEDICATION OF THE FAMOUS AND HISTORICAL TRENTON BATTLE MONUMENT. THERE WAS A SERIES OF POSTAL CARDS HANDED OUT AS A SOUVINIR. THIS IS ONE OF THEM AND THERE IS ANOTHER IN MY COLLECTION WITH AN EXQUISITE PHOTO OF THE OLD WASHINGTON HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY.
A YEAR EARLIER IN 1992, THE TRANSITION FROM AN ALL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY TO A PAID COMPANY WENT INTO EFFECT.
1932: SOUTH TRENTON BRIDGE AND FERRY STREETS
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
1933: SOUTH TRENTON'S FREIGHT WAREHOUSE
1933: PENNINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL
HERE'S THE CLASS OF 1933 FROM PENNINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL. ONCE AGAIN, A NUMBER OF FAMILIAR NAMES. I WAS A BIT PUZZLED BY THE RATIO OF THOSE WHO GRADUATED AND THOSE WHO WOULD GO ON TO SEPTEMBER STUDIES. WERE THEY AMONG THOSE WHO DIDN'T "PASS" TO THE NEXT GRADE? AT KUSER SCHOOL AND IN FACT IN THE HAMILTON SCHOOL SYSTEM, A NON-ACHEIVER "STAYED BACK" AND REPEATED THE GRADE. I UNDERSTAND THEY NO LONGER HAVE THE OPTION OF MAKING A STUDENT REPEAT A GRADE.....BAD FOR SELF ESTEEM? HMMM.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
1933: FIRST COMMUNION AT FIRST BAPTIST TRENTON
RELIGION WAS ALIVE AND WELL UP TO THE MIDDLE OF THE 20th CENTURY, WITH COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE LOCAL CHURCHES. I WOULD THINK THE SUBJECT WOULD BE OF INTEREST TODAY, BUT THERE'S THAT SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE THING. HERE'S ANOTHER "VIGNETTE" TYPE GRAPHIC WHICH FEATURES THE SERVICE OF FIRST COMMUNION AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ON CENTRE STREET IN TRENTON. THE OTHER ARTICLES WILL POSSIBLY BE OF INTEREST TO MANY VIEWERS.
1919: COAT OF ARMS FOR THE NEW STACY TRENT
2008: THE ROYAL COACH DINER
FROM MY FRIEND GARY LIPPINCOTT (http://www.grovevillememories.blogspot.com/) COMES THIS EXCELLENT POST CARD PHOTO OF THE ROYAL COACH DINER. (REMEMBER?) THANKS, GARY.
GARY WROTE:
The car next to the dinner is a 1957 Chevrolet, the red one in the front is a Chrysler Imperial, next to it is a Cadillac, and the one on the end is a Ford, all from the late 1950"s or early 1960"s.
The house on the hill in the background is the Lacy Homestead, for years they ran Lacy's Lawn Service, later ran by brothers, Phil and Kenny Lacy. This is where the Route 195 off ramp to Route 206 south and the White Horse Executive Center ( Formerly White Horse Bowling Academy) is now located.
This is a little far out of Groveville, so I thought I would pass it on to you for your site and your former Eatery's list, by the way, don't forget Scotty's on the White Horse Circle.
Gary
GARY WROTE:
The car next to the dinner is a 1957 Chevrolet, the red one in the front is a Chrysler Imperial, next to it is a Cadillac, and the one on the end is a Ford, all from the late 1950"s or early 1960"s.
The house on the hill in the background is the Lacy Homestead, for years they ran Lacy's Lawn Service, later ran by brothers, Phil and Kenny Lacy. This is where the Route 195 off ramp to Route 206 south and the White Horse Executive Center ( Formerly White Horse Bowling Academy) is now located.
This is a little far out of Groveville, so I thought I would pass it on to you for your site and your former Eatery's list, by the way, don't forget Scotty's on the White Horse Circle.
Gary
Monday, July 28, 2008
1886: THE IRON INDUSTRY IN SOUTH TRENTON
THE SOUTH TRENTON AREA WAS ONCE KNOWN AS A MAJOR AMERICAN STEEL CENTER. PETER COOPER'S IRON AND STEEL PLANT, JOHN A. ROEBLING'S WIRE AND CABLE MILL, COOPER HEWITT IRON WORKS PHOENIX IRON, AND PROBABLY OTHERS WHICH AT THE PRESENT TIME DON'T COME TO MIND GAVE THE AREA A THRIVING PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR MANY OF THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THE SOUTH TRENTON AREA IN THE MID TO LATE 19TH CENTURY.
1914: ST. PAUL'S P.E. CHURCH - SOUTH TRENTON
ST. PAUL'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
THIS IS THE CHURCH OF MY YOUTH. IT WAS HERE EVERY SUNDAY MORNING IN THE LATE 30'S AND EARLY 1940'S THAT I SAT IN MISS SMITH'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS. EVERY SUNDAY MORNING A LOCOMOTIVE FROM ONE OF THE SOUTH TRENTON FACTORIES WOULD PASS BY THE WINDOW, SCARCELY 5 FEET AWAY. THE ARTICLE GIVES A FASCINATING MINI HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. PARTICULARLY INTERESTING IS THE CONNECTION OF HEWITT FROM THE HEWITT IRON WORKS, ALSO IN SOUTH TRENTON. LIKE THE HOMES BUILT IN MILLHAM, TODAY'S E. TRENTON AREA, THE CHURCH WAS CONSTRUCTED ALONG THE LINES OF THOSE IN ENGLAND.
"1919: SACRED HEART PARISH "LAWN FETE"
BESIDE THE FACT THAT THESE ARTICLES ON THE ACTIVITIES IN WHICH OUR GRANDPARENTS WERE INVOLVED. IT'S INTERESTING TO READ THE FAMILIAR SURNAMES OF THOSE WHO WERE PARTICIPANTS. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW WHICH DOESN'T LIST THE NAMES OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THERE WAS STILL A PROLIFERATION OF IRISH FAMILIES AT SACRED HEART DURING THIS PERIOD.
1919: Msgr. Hogan's Monument in St. John's Cemetery
REVISITING AREA RESTAURANTS AND "WATERING HOLES"
WAY BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2007, I SAT DOWN WITH A PANEL OF LOCAL OLD TIMERS IN A WBCB-AM RADIO ON-AIR INTERVIEW AT ROSSI'S RESTAURANT AND BAR IN CHAMBERSBURG. THE SUBJECT WAS "AREA RESTAURANTS." WE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF AN HOUR TRYING TO RECALL ALL THE GREAT AREA EATING PLACES AND WATERING HOLES IN THE MERCER AREA. THE LIST WAS IMPRESSIVE. OVER THE PAST YEAR, VISITORS TO THIS SITE HAVE ADDED SOME WHICH WE FORGOT, OTHER VISITORS COMMENTED ON THEIR EXPERIENCES AS PATRONS. I JUST RECEIVED A COMMENT FROM A VISITOR WHICH RELATES TO THE "ROLY POLY" ESTABLISHMENT. IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT MANY VISITORS DIDN'T SEARCH THE ARCHIVES DEEPLY ENOUGH, AND REPRODUCE THE POST HEREWITH. CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.
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Tuesday, September 11, 2007=======================================
2007: TRENTON AREA EATERIES updated
Saturday, July 26, 2008
1916: ST. JAMES P.E. AND BROMLEY CIVIC ASSN.
RESIDENTS OF BROMLEY DRAW THE IRE OF MR. BURGNER
FOR THEIR COLLECTIVE APATHY ON THE WELFARE OF THE
RELATIVELY NEW NEIGHBORHOOD.
USUALLY, THE TRENTON NEWSPAPERS PLACED NEWS ITEMS ORIGINATING FROM THE BROMLEY AREA AS A PART OF WILBUR. IN 1916, A DISTINCTION WAS MADE, GIVING EACH AREA THE PROPER LOCATION.
FOR THEIR COLLECTIVE APATHY ON THE WELFARE OF THE
RELATIVELY NEW NEIGHBORHOOD.
USUALLY, THE TRENTON NEWSPAPERS PLACED NEWS ITEMS ORIGINATING FROM THE BROMLEY AREA AS A PART OF WILBUR. IN 1916, A DISTINCTION WAS MADE, GIVING EACH AREA THE PROPER LOCATION.
1946: CLASS OF '46 WASHINGTON TRIP
HERE'S A PHOTO OF THE CLASS OF '46 TAKEN IN FRONT OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL ON THEIR WASHINGTON TRIP. MY SISTER IN LAW, DOLORES BRITTON PAUL WAS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS AND IS IN THE 4th ROW, FAR RIGHT IN THE PHOTO, SECOND GIRL IN FROM THE RIGHT
(NEXT TO RALPH JONES.)
Thanks to Lee Wallace for this photo from the
collection of the late Grace Wallace, HHS '46.
Friday, July 25, 2008
1954: KLOCKNER CLASS OF '54
Thursday, July 24, 2008
1988: HAMILTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.
1988: SHERIFF GILL LUGOSSY
1919: "THERE WAS A TIME..."
IN THE LATTER PART OF THE 19th CENTURY THE EARLY DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY, AMERICA EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN IMMIGRANTS, ALL OF WHOM WERE COMING TO AMERICA TO BETTER THEIR LIVES. MOST WERE INTERESTED IN LEARNING THE CULTURE AND VALUES OF THEIR NEW COUNTRY, AND EAGER TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE. THERE WERE NO ATTEMPTS TO "MAKE ITALIAN, GERMAN, HUNGARIAN, GREEK, OR HEBREW THE SECOND LANGUAGE IN AMERICA.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
DOES ANY VISITOR HAVE PHOTOS FOR JOE?
I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING EMAIL FROM MR. JOE ZUBA LOOKING FOR PHOTOS AND OR ARTICLES ON THE 1950 AND 60'S TRENTON CATHOLIC BASKETBALL TEAM. UNFORTUNATELY, MY COLLECTION NEVER CONCENTRATED ON THE ERA. I WILL CHECK MY HAMILTON HIGH YEARBOOKS TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY TRENTON CATHOLIC-HAMILTON BASKETBALL PHOTOS. IN THE MEANTIME, IF ANY VISITOR HAS ANYTHING, PLEASE EMAIL ME AND I WILL SEE THAT JOE GETS THEM.
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JOE ZUBA WROTE:Tom,
I wrote to you about a year ago, have you had luck in finding sports news on the 1950 and early 1960 Trenton Catholic Basketball Teams possibly with some photos. I enjoy reading the news articles on your site and check back everyday for new ones. Keep up the great work.
Joe Joseph Zuba, Jr.
1938: KUSER SCHOOL SPRING ENTERTAINMENT
ONCE AGAIN, FROM KUSER SCHOOL, ONE OF HAMILTON'S TREASURED "NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS," THIS PHOTO FROM ONE OF MY "HAMILTON SCRAPBOOK" FEATURED IN THE MERCER MESSENGER. ONE OF THE MORE CHARMING FEATURES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL WAS IN THE FACT THAT THOSE OF US WHO ATTENDED CAN USUALLY FIND BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CLASSMATES WITH WHOM WE ULTIMATELY ATTENDED SCHOOL. FLORA WURFEL IS THE SISTER OF MY HHS '51 CLASSMATE, AUDREY WURFEL KISH, AND ALICE SCHENCK IS PROBABLY RELATED TO BILL SCHENCK, A CLASSMATE FROM MY YEARS AT KUSER. LORRAINE MAY, THERE'S YOUR SISTER ALICE.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
1930: WHITE HORSE VFD
1873: TRENTON'S BRIGHT FUTURE
THE SHADED ARTICLE TELLS OF THE GREAT HOPES THE CITIZENS HAD FOR THE CITY OF TRENTON. THE TOWN WAS JUST BEGINNING TO BE A HUB OF INDUSTRY. THE LOCATION BETWEEN NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA WOULD SURELY PROVE TO BE AN ADVANTAGE FOR FUTURE GROWTH. HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT TRENTON DID INDEED BECOME AN INDUSTRIAL GIANT IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, WHEN TRENTON MADE AND THE WORLD TOOK.
1873: HAMILTON AVENUE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
CIRCA 1870'S: THE GREENE STREET MARKET
THIS WAS THE ERA WHEN IT WAS A COMMON SIGHT TO SEE A FARMER DRIVING A COW THROUGH CENTER CITY TRENTON TO THE BUTCHER WHERE FRESH BEEF WOULD BE SOLD AT THE GREENE STREET MARKET. THIS VIEW IS FROM STATE AND BROAD STREET, LOOKING UP NORTH BROAD STREET FROM STATE. PART OF THE ORIGINAL CITY HALL CAN BE SEEN ON THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT. TRENTON HAD A NUMBER OF MARKETS DURING THIS ERA.
1873: SOUTH TRENTON AREA A BETTER SITE FOR THE TROLLEY
BACK IN THE VERY EARLY YEARS OF "MASS TRANSIT" IN THE CITY OF TRENTON, THE HORSE DRAWN TROLLEY LEFT TRENTON AND TRAVERSED OUT TO THE END OF THE LINE WHICH WAS IN THE AREA OF CALHOUN STREET. THE SHADED ARTICLE IN THE PAGE EXTRACT ABOVE SUGGESTS THAT THE LINE WOULD BE MORE PROFITABLE IF IT EXTENDED TO THE GROWING SOUTH TRENTON-CHAMBERSBURG AREA.
1873: THE RAILWAY COMES TO THE HOPEWELL-PENNINGTON AREA
ONCE AGAIN, THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA OF THIS PAGE IS THE FOCUS OF THIS POST. AS STATED EARLIER, THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS OF LOCAL NEWS WHICH INCLUDES INTERESTING ARTICLES AND ADVERTISEMENTS WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST TO VIEWERS OF THIS SITE. "CENTRIPETAL?" AS THE LATE DICK MARTIN FROM THE OLD "LAUGH IN" TV SHOW WOULD SAY, "LOOK THAT UP IN YOUR FUNK AND WAGNALL."
1919:FROM THE "BROAD STREET PARK" FOLDER
1919: DRUGS WERE A PROBLEM EVEN 89 YEARS AGO
1919: EMILIO CARDELIA 8TH GRADE CLASS AT ST. JOACHIM
THE PHOTO DOESN'T IDENTIFY THE CLASS OF 1919 FROM ST. JOACHIM GRAMMAR SCHOOL, BUT I WOULD BET THAT THE YOUNG MAN ON THE FAR RIGHT IS THE LATE MSGR. CARDELIA. SORRY TO SAY THAT THE PHOTO OF THE YOUNG MAN IN THE FAR RIGHT, BACK ROW, HAS BEEN COMPLETELY OBLITERATED. IT WAS PUBLISHED THIS WAY, AND NOT DUE TO DETERIORATION.
1919: WWI PATRIOTIC DISPLAY AT RIKER'S DRUG STORE
1873: WHEN CHAMBERSBURG WAS A WIDE OPEN TOWN!
THIS GRAPHIC IS AN EXPERIMENT. I HAVE BEEN SCANNING IN PAGES AS SEEN ABOVE AND THEN CROPPING THE IMAGE I WANT TO POST. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE ABOVE PAGE, THE THE DARK SHADED ARE WAS MY TARGET. I THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE INTEREST IN THE ARTICLES ADJOINING THE CHAMBERSBURG ARTICLE. IT WILL BE FILED IN THE DIGITAL "CHAMBERSBURG" FOLDER. IF THE PAGES ARE LEGIBLE, I WILL CONTINUE THE PROCESS......IF NOT, WELL, I TRIED!
Monday, July 21, 2008
A TIP FROM TOM -HOW TO MAGNIFY YOUR SCREEN IMAGES
CHANCES ARE YOUR CURRENT COMPUTER MONITOR IS SET TO A SCREEN RESOLUTION OF 1024 X 768. I FIND THAT TEMPORARILY CHANGING THE RESOLUTION ON YOUR MONITOR TO 800 X 600 PROVIDES A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE VIEWING EXPERIENCE.(ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US WHO ARE "OPTICALLY CHALLENGED!") IT IS EASY TO DO AND CAN BE CHANGED BACK TO THE DEFAULT SETTING BY SIMPLE REVERSING THE PROCESS. THIS PROCESS ASSUMES THAT YOU ARE USING A PC AND NOT A MAC COMPUTER, HERE'S HOW TO DO IT:
1) CLICK ON "START"
2) CLICK ON "CONTROL PANEL"
3) LOOK FOR THE "DISPLAY" ICON ON THE CONTROL PANEL SCREEN
4) WHEN YOU SEE THE "DISPLAY" ICON, CLICK ON IT AND CHOOSE "SETTINGS"
5) AT THE "SCREEN RESOLUTION AREA, SLIDE THE DOWN ARROW TO THE LEFT (FROM "MORE" TO "LESS." )
6) CLICK "APPLY" (YOUR SCREEN WILL BLINK AND BRING THE NEW (AND MUCH LARGER) SETTING TO THE SCREEN.)
7) IF YOU LIKE THIS SETTING, CLICK "APPLY."
8) IT'S EASY TO REVERT BACK TO THE DEFAULT 1024 X 768 SETTING BE MERELY REVERSING THE ABOVE 7 STEPS.
I USE THE 800 X 600 AS MY PREFERRED SETTING FOR ALMOST ALL MY COMPUTING, (EXCEPT FOR GOOGLE EARTH AND A FEW OTHER PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE THE HIGHER RESOLUTION. 800 X 600 GIVES JUST THE RIGHT SCREEN RESOLUTION FOR MY 75 YEAR OLD EYES.
1) CLICK ON "START"
2) CLICK ON "CONTROL PANEL"
3) LOOK FOR THE "DISPLAY" ICON ON THE CONTROL PANEL SCREEN
4) WHEN YOU SEE THE "DISPLAY" ICON, CLICK ON IT AND CHOOSE "SETTINGS"
5) AT THE "SCREEN RESOLUTION AREA, SLIDE THE DOWN ARROW TO THE LEFT (FROM "MORE" TO "LESS." )
6) CLICK "APPLY" (YOUR SCREEN WILL BLINK AND BRING THE NEW (AND MUCH LARGER) SETTING TO THE SCREEN.)
7) IF YOU LIKE THIS SETTING, CLICK "APPLY."
8) IT'S EASY TO REVERT BACK TO THE DEFAULT 1024 X 768 SETTING BE MERELY REVERSING THE ABOVE 7 STEPS.
I USE THE 800 X 600 AS MY PREFERRED SETTING FOR ALMOST ALL MY COMPUTING, (EXCEPT FOR GOOGLE EARTH AND A FEW OTHER PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE THE HIGHER RESOLUTION. 800 X 600 GIVES JUST THE RIGHT SCREEN RESOLUTION FOR MY 75 YEAR OLD EYES.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
1949: CIRCA 1949 PHOTO OF THE TRENTON TRANSIT GARAGE
1042: STATE AND BROAD; WHAT MEMORIES!
OHM OH, THE MEMORIES! THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN RIGHT ON THE CORNER OS STATE AND BROAD STREETS WHERE YARD'S DEPARTMENT STORE WAS LOCATED. IF IT WERE A THURSDAY NIGHT IN THE EARLY 50's, YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN A BLUE 1940 DESOTO PARKED AND IDLING A NUMBER OF FEET BEHIND THAT BUS, WHILE TOM GLOVER WAITED FOR JUDY BRITTON, HIS WIFE TO BE. SHE WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE HER JOB IN YARD'S "INFANT'S WEAR" DEPARTMENT AT 9 PM ON A THURSDAY EVENING. OFFICER CHET HUGHES ALWAYS LOOKED THE OTHER WAY AS I PARKED THERE ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT WHEN THE TRENTON STORES WERE OPEN UNTIL 9 PM.
I AM PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW VISITORS TO THIS SITE WHO "CANDLED" EGGS. OUR CANDLER WAS A CYLINDRICAL BRASS FIXTURE WITH A LIGHT BULB INSIDE. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDE WHERE THE EGG WAS PLACED SO THAT LIGHT WOULD SHINE THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE EGG, REVEALING ANY BLOOD SPOTS, WHICH WERE NOT SOLD BUT PERFECTLY GOOD TO EAT.
THIS EMAIL RECEIVED FROM REGULAR VISITOR SALLY LOGAN GILMORE. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH PLEASANT MEMORIES OF "STATE AND BROAD."
THIS EMAIL RECEIVED FROM REGULAR VISITOR SALLY LOGAN GILMORE. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH PLEASANT MEMORIES OF "STATE AND BROAD."
Hi Tom:
What a treat to see the pix of State and Broad. That's where I waited for the West Trenton bus after I shopped Yard's and Dunham's. I also rode into downtown from Trenton High and that was where I transfered to go home out West State Street to Carteret Avenue, one stop before Parkside. I saw the intersection on April 24, 2004 when my husband, George, I went on a tour of Trenton sponsored by The Contemporary. Our dear friend, Connie DeRemigis, treated us to the most wonderful day. I walked to where the bus stop was pictured on your website while everyone else toured the cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church on State Street. It brought back memories but nothing like your photograph. Thank you so much Tom.
What a treat to see the pix of State and Broad. That's where I waited for the West Trenton bus after I shopped Yard's and Dunham's. I also rode into downtown from Trenton High and that was where I transfered to go home out West State Street to Carteret Avenue, one stop before Parkside. I saw the intersection on April 24, 2004 when my husband, George, I went on a tour of Trenton sponsored by The Contemporary. Our dear friend, Connie DeRemigis, treated us to the most wonderful day. I walked to where the bus stop was pictured on your website while everyone else toured the cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church on State Street. It brought back memories but nothing like your photograph. Thank you so much Tom.
Sally Logan Gilman
1979: THANKS TO THE LELAND BUKER FAMILY
WHAT MEMORIES WE TRENTON AREA NATIVES HAVE OF THE TRENTON TRANSIT COMPANY. ANY TIME THE DISCUSSION COMES UP, I FIND THAT MOST FOLKS HAVE AN INTERESTING TALE TO TELL OF THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH BUS TRAVEL IN THE MID AND PRE-MID 20TH CENTURY. OF COURSE, THE MOST PROMINENT AND TIRING MEMORY IS BOARDING THE BUS, SHOWING THE DRIVE YOUR WEEKLY BUS PASS, AND THEN PASSING IT OUT THE WINDOW TO YOUR BUDDY. IT SEEMS EVERYONE DID IT.
WITH THOSE LARGE REAR VIEW MIRRORS, I'M SURE THE DRIVER WASN'T FOOLED. RATHER HE WAS COMPASSIONATE AND LOOKED THE OTHER WAY.
1988: A TYPICAL YARD SCENE IN RURAL HAMILTON
TODAY IT'S A LUSH GREEN LAWN, BUT BACK THEN IT WAS A MUDDY MESS, TYPICAL OF THE MANY RESIDENTS OF HAMILTON FROM THE PRE-1950'S ERA WHEN WE HAD GARDENS, CHICKENS, AND IN THE CASE OF THE GLOVERS, A GAGGLE OF GEESE. DURING THESE YEARS, THE ARENA FAMILY LIVED NEXT DOOR IN OUR HARTLEY AVENUE DUPLEX. THEY WERE WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS. MOM GLOVER AND MOM ARENA HAD A LIVELY BARTER TRADE GOING FOR MANY YEARS. GLOVER CHICKENS AND EGGS FOR MOM ARENA'S INCREDIBLE ITALIAN PASTA AND AN OCCASIONAL BOTTLE OF HOME MADE WINE FROM THE ARENA WINE CELLAR.
I SUSPECT THAT FEW VISITORS TO THIS SITE "CANDLED" EGGS. OUR "CANDLER" WAS A CYLINDRICAL BRASS FIXTURE WITH A LIGHT BULB INSIDE. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDE WHERE THE EGG WAS PLACED SO THAT LIGHT WOULD SHINE THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE EGG, REVEALING ANY BLOOD SPOTS, WHICH WERE NOT SOLD BUT PERFECTLY GOOD TO EAT.
1988: EVEN THEN WE HAD SEWAGE PROBLEMS
1940's: REMEMBERING THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS
REMEMBER WHEN YOU WOULD GO THE THE MOVIES, AND ONE OF THE USHERS WOULD GUIDE YOU DOWN THE AISLE TO YOUR SEAT? REMEMBER HOW THEY WERE VERY TASTEFULLY DRESSED, AND HOW COURTEOUS THEY WERE? (UNLESS YOU HAPPENED TO BE A TROUBLE-MAKER!) HERE'S A PHOTO OF A GROUP OF RKO (RADIO KEITH'S ORPHEUM) USHERS FROM TRENTON. THIS UNUSUAL PHOTO COMES COURTESY OF FRANCIS "BUD" FOLEY, A LONG TIME FAMILY FRIEND WHOSE KIDS GREW UP WITH MINE ON ATLANTIC AVENUE.
THANKS TO LOYAL WEB VISITOR AND DEAR FRIEND ALAN WILDBLOOD FOR CORRECTING MY SPELLING OF "KEITH" WHEREIN I ASSUMED THAT THE "I BEFORE E" RULE ALSO APPLIED TO PROPER NAMES. I HAVE CORRECTED THE ERROR.
THANKS ALAN!
THANKS TO LOYAL WEB VISITOR AND DEAR FRIEND ALAN WILDBLOOD FOR CORRECTING MY SPELLING OF "KEITH" WHEREIN I ASSUMED THAT THE "I BEFORE E" RULE ALSO APPLIED TO PROPER NAMES. I HAVE CORRECTED THE ERROR.
THANKS ALAN!
1988: PROMOTIONS AT THE HAMILTON P.D.
HERE'S A GOLDEN OLDIE FOR ALL OF YOU LOCAL HISTORY BUFFS OUT THERE. HOW WE HAVE AGED!
HERE'S A GOLDEN OLDIE FOR ALL OF YOU LOCAL HISTORY BUFFS OUT THERE. HOW WE HAVE AGED!
YOU WILL NOTE THAT MANY OF MY RECENT POSTS COME WITH CREDIT DUE TO "THE JACK LACY COLLECTION." JACK WAS THE PUBLISHER OF THE MERCER MESSENGER WAY BACK IN THE MID 80'S WHEN I WAS WRITING "THE WAY WE WERE." JACK DONATED HIS COLLECTION OF MERCER MESSENGERS TO THE HAMILTON LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION. ALONG WITH EXISTING COPIES IN MY COLLECTION AND THE LIBRARY'S FILES, THERE ARE ENOUGH HISTORIC ARTICLES AND PHOTOS TO LAST FOR MANY YEARS. THANKS, JACK!
THANKS, JACK!
1915: ST. MICHAEL'S ORPHANAGE, HOPEWELL
"DIANE" REQUESTED ANY INFO I HAVE ON THE HOPEWELL ORPHANAGE. THE ONLY THING IN MY "PENNINGTON-HOPEWELL" FOLDER IS THIS OFFSET PHOTO TAKEN FROM AN OLD TRENTON NEWSPAPER, LONG BEFORE NEWSPAPER GRAPHICS WERE CLEAR. THE ORIGINAL IS VERY FADED, BUT THANKS TO IMAGING SOFTWARE, I HAD AT LEAST THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE IT SO THAT IT IS REASONABLY LEGIBLE. I HOPE THIS GRAPHIC IS OF INTEREST,DIANE. IF IT IS, YOU CAN SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER BY RIGHT CLICKING AND CHOOSING "SAVE IMAGE AS.." THIS PICTURE WAS POSTED SOME TIME AGO ON MY SITE, BUT IS BEING RE-PRODUCED IN THE EVENT THAT DIANE DIDN'T UTILIZE THE "SEARCH BLOG" FEATURE IN THE TOP LEFT OF MY HOME PAGE,. NOTE THE MIS-SPELLING OF "ORPHANAGE." AS RED SKELTON USED TO SAY, "I DOOD IT!"
Friday, July 18, 2008
1989: HAMILTON'S UPGRADED HISTORY BOOK
FOR 35 YEARS, HISTORY-MINDED HAMILTONIANS RELIED ON HELEN ALMY WEST'S HISTORY OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP FORTHE LIMITED INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF HAMILTON. MS. WEST'S HISTORY WAS MORE OR LESS CENTERED ON HAMILTON SQUARE WITH LESS EMPHASIS ON OTHER AREAS OF THE TOWNSHIP. TOWNSHIP HISTORIAN EMERITUS BOB SIMPKINS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP WORKED VERY HARD TO BRING A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY AND INCLUDE ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE RESULT WAS THE HISTORY OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, "WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE." IT HAS PROVED TO BE A VERY POPULAR REFERENCE. THE HISTORY IS ON SALE AT THE HAMILTON LIBRARY IN TWO EDITIONS: A SOFT COVER VERSION FOR $15.00 AND THE HEIRLOOM HARD COVER AT $25.00.