TOM GLOVER'S HAMILTON LIBRARY SCRAPBOOK: LOCAL HISTORY WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH.: January 2009

Saturday, January 31, 2009

1909: GOODBYE TO THE "EWING DRIVING PARK"

During the 19th century, the Ewing Driving Park was a very popular destination for those who were interest in the equestrian arts, and horse racing. If any visitors to this website live at or near the area where the park was located, I would appreciate your comments.

1885: EWING'S MOURNE DAIRY INTRODUCES THE FIRST AREA GLASS MILK BOTTLES

This is a very interesting bit of local history. Apparently Mourne Dairy was the first area dairy company in Mercer County to supply their customers with glass bottles. As seen in the article, the big cities were using the new process, and Mr. McEvoy brought the technology to Ewing and the surrounding area. If there is a Ewing resident who has information on the dairy, I would like to add it to this post.

1928: TRENTON FRIENDS (QUAKER) NEWSLETTER

This newsletter is interesting. Of special interest is the tribute to Martha DeCou on her 91st birthday. Martha DeCou's family have a rich historic tradition in the Trenton area.

2009: SAVE EWING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH!

How very helpless I, and the average citizen feel when we read about the possibility of losing still another local historic treasure. The president's "stimulus package" should include the funds to help preserve some of America's endangered and truly historic treasures. Ewing Presbyterian Church is certainly one of them. The years have taken their toll on that majestic edifice in Ewing Township. Thank heavens for folks like Ms. Kull and her like-minded historical preservation activists, who are doing their very best to find a way to save that sacred historic treasure from the wrecker's ball. Helen sent this email which has a link to access the URL. Go to http://www.ewingpresfund.us/ and check it out. Many thanks, Helen for being a visitor to this website, a reader of "Sentimental Journey" and an avid historic preservationist.

HELEN WROTE:

Hi, Tom -
I've read your columns in the Times for years and have loved learning fascinating bits of history about the area I've now lived in for 30 years. Seeing the recent article about the website, I'm just amazed at this labor of love you have created! But I especially appreciate the immense breadth of your work, as I have been recently involved in documenting (just!) the history of the Ewing Presbyterian Church as it has celebrated its 300th anniversary - and I thought that was a big job! And now, I am also heading up a joint community-congregation campaign to help raise funds to keep the church's 1867 sanctuary - a great, striking landmark on Scotch Road - from being demolished. Interested folks can visit the church website at http://www.ewingpresfund.us, to find out more about this effort if they wish. Please keep up the great work and service you provide to all of us who love the rich history of the central Jersey area. Thank you so much for your tireless efforts.

Helen Kull

Hi Tom -

Oh, you've made my day! Thank you so much for posting our (Ewing Presbyterian Church's) situation and website on your home page - I KNOW it is seen by so many in the area who share concern and love for the area's many rich and varied treasures - and they are the ones who most likely can help us in our effort to raise funds. It is a huge uphill battle, especially in this economy, but I truly believe that if we reach enough people who know/have known the area and/or this particular building, together we may reach the goal! At the very least, we MUST try! Receiving a message of support like yours below helps me keep the faith that we will.

I can't thank you enough for your support. If there's anything I can provide you with, please let me know; or if you have any other suggestions for the effort, I'm all ears!

Most appreciatively,
Helen Kull

Friday, January 30, 2009

1921: A LETTER OF APPRECIATION TO RIDER COLLEGE

I have been browsing through the RIDER COLLEGE folder and find that I have a number of graphics relating to vintage Rider. More posts follow.

1935: RIDER ATHLETIC TEAM HONORED

That fellow in the back row, 4th from the left is the late Frank Donlon. Frank was a very dear friend during my many years as a member, and then President of St. Anthony's Holy Name Society. Frank never missed a meeting, and was always ready to recall his coaching years with Rider

1930: POPULATION OF HAMILTON IS INCREASING

From 7,800-plus residents in 1910 to 25,000 in the 1930 federal census. And so Hamilton grew.

1930: HAMILTON 'S TAXES TO RISE AGAIN

Check out the budget appropriation for the Great Depression year 1931. Those were indeed the good old days!

1914: RIDER COLLEGE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Few folks realize the historic heritage of Rider University. From an austere beginning in 1865, the institution grew by leaps and bounds. I have a few ads from the old Rider-Moore-Stewart era, and will post them in future posts.

1921: RIDER COLLEGE MOVES TO E. STATE AND CARROLL STREET

Ah yes, I remember it well, and so do many other of my senior citizen friends. The building referred to above is a mere blip when compared to the current Rider University Campus in Lawrenceville. How they have grown!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

1915 (Ca. 1915) HOMEDELL NEIGHBORS

This is obviously a petition; perhaps for the establishment of a school for the Homedell area. It is only for those who are residents or neighbors from the Homedell area of Hamilton. It gives a good idea of pioneer residents of the area originally known as "New Wilbur."

1914: W.V. MCGALLIARD INVOICE

Before Hamilton High School opened in 1930, Hamilton Township depended on representatives from the various communities to transport children to Trenton High School which was then located on Hamilton and Chestnut Avenues in Trenton. The above invoice to the Hamilton Board of Education is for transporting Alice, whom I presume was his daughter.

2009: THE FRESH AIR FUND: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

I have received an email from Ms. Sara Wilson, requesting publicity for the Fresh Air Fund. Ms. Wilson's email did not focus on the local Mercer-Central Jersey. Following is information on the local chapter of the program:

Extract from the Trenton Times, January 29, 2009
Fresh Air Fund seeks volunteers, host families
Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Fresh Air Fund's Mercer County area committee is seeking volunteer members and host families for this summer.

The program, which celebrates its 133rd year, hosts almost 5,000 New York City children, ages six to 18, for two- week vacations with volunteer host families in suburban and rural communities across 13 Northeastern states and Canada. Local Fresh Air Fund volunteers recruit and interview host families, arrange travel and coordinate fun activities in their communities.

For more information on how to join your local Fresh Air volunteer team, call Shamell Martin at (800) 367-0003 extension 8908, or The Fresh Air Fund at (212) 897-8900. Additional information is available at freshair.org.

1922: GROVEVILLE'S ROBERT MC ELMOYLE

Here we have a copy of a letter to Mr. Robert Mc Elmoyle of Groveville, advising him that he was the winning bidder on a contract to paint the Yardville Heights Grammar School.

1922: A HAMILTON TOWNSHIP TEACHER'S CONTRACT

Here is another bit of history that I managed to rescue from the recycle bin many years ago. I'm sure the teachers of today will find this a very quaint and uncomplicated contract.

1891: POVERTY AND DELINQUENT PAYMENTS

Poverty will always be with us. The above extracts are from the front page of an early and very damaged Trenton Times front page. The Alms House referred to in the article on poverty was on Princeton Avenue in Trenton.

1922: HOMEDELL SCHOOL'S THIRZA MCGALLIARD

This lady was another educator who, like Emily Reynolds, was a Prussian-type disciplinarian. She was always fair to her students, but woe unto those who would go against the rules of the school. The above letter is very interesting, as Ms. McGalliard offers suggestions on the timing of school exams.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

1897: John McCloskey Local Catholic History

THE CHANGING FACE OF KUSER ROAD

I remember driving down Kuser Road before Hamilton became a metropolis. Like Newkirk Avenue, it was a single lane road, and it was not unusual to have the branch of a sapling slap up against your rear view mirror or your windshield.

GRAFTON: A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

Mercer County Sheriff Jacques lived in Grafton back in the 19th century. As you can see, the Dilatush family also occupied the beautiful structure. The Sadley family resided there before Hamilton Township acquired the property,

1922: Chambersburg: The early years

TRENTON'S WASHINGTON MARKET(S)

There was a time when farmers, butchers, and other merchants set up shop in downtown Trenton and did a thriving business. Future posts will introduce the market on Stockton St. and others which were in operation in the 19th century. In the 1800's, it was not unusual to see a butcher driving a steer or other livestock through the town on the way to the markets. Farmers from the central Jersey and Pennsylvania area drove their wagons to Trenton to set up shop at the numerous markets.

1938: R.C. Church of St. Ann Lawrenceville

I superimposed the photo of that young fellow you see in the upper corner of this post. The late Msgr. Michael McCorristin, the "Iron Mike," has had a hand in building a number of churches in the area. St. Ann's is one of them. Even back in 1938, the hard working priest spent hours of back breaking labor with his cadre of volunteers. Msgr. was never a boss. He was always right there in there with his fellow workers getting the job done.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

1937: ROAD WORK ON BEATTY STREET TRENTON

Perhaps a visitor can pinpoint this location if the taller building in the photo is still there.

1936: EDGEWOOD AVENUE

Thanks to Mr. Bob Kelly for this vintage photo of a stretch of Edgewood Avenue as it looked in 1936.

1947: HERB GRIFFITHS - ALUMNI PRESIDENT

What a novel concept: A faculty member serving as alumni president. I hope Herb had better luck with forming an alumni association than we did back in the 90's when we printed up membership tickets, put out the word that the alumni association is back, sat back and waited for the hundreds of Hornet alumni to rush to membership. We waited in vain. Nada...Niente....zero...NONE. What a disappointment!

1947: HERB GRIFFITHS - ALUMNI PRESIDENT

2009: THANKS TO LORRAINE FEEHAN MAY

These two examples of 1950's advertising are treasures. Even though the Glover family wasn't affluent enough to buy clothes for the Glover boys at the Eton Mens' shop in downtown Trenton.
Eton and F.W. Donnelly were far above the budget. Today, the Prior Typewriter Company heritage is continued by Hamilton's popular Prior Nami office equipment outlet on Hamilton Avenue in the Camp Olden Park area of Hamilton.

1809-1909: LINCOLN CENTENNIAL

Now we can modify the above as 1809-2009: The 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Do you remember when Abraham Lincoln's birthday was celebrated on February 12, and Washington's on February 22? I do. Do you remember when our school classrooms had a portrait of George Washington on the left side of the room and Honest Abe on the right? I do. "President's Day" combined the two birthdays and wiped out years of historic tradition.

1934: HAMILTON SCHOOLS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE

The great depression even filtered down to the local school system as canbe seen in the article above from 1934. How times have changed!

1947: RUSLING HOSE FIRST AID SQUAD

Broad Street Park friends and BSP-Rusling Hose experts Jim Colello and Gil Lugossy are undoubtedly familiar with the guys in the photo above.

2008: BILLY KUSER OBIT

What a shock when I read of the passing of Bill Kuser. When Don Slabicki and I worked for Fritz and Edna Kuser back in the 1940' and 50's, Billy and his lovely sister Carol were frequent visitors to Kuser Farm. Bill was the son of Raymond and Alice Piper Kuser. He followed in his Dad's footsteps in a distinguished career as an airline pilot.

1937: TRENTON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Has someone actually suggested that this building be torn down and replaced by another facility? I am in no way and expert on architectural engineering, but everyone I speak with look at that classic and historic structure and the very first thing that comes to our collective minds is a question that only an architectural expert can answer: Recognizing the fact that the building exterior is in need of roof repairs, soffits, etc., Why on earth would the option of tearing the building down be considered as a solution? It would cost millions of dollars to replicate the exterior structure on that historic building. Instead of destroying an important part of Trenton's history, why not tear down the interior of the building and build from the inside out? Leave the superstructure in place, and re-design the interior to accommodate whatever is required for a state-of-the-art educational institution. As I indicated above, I'm in no way an expert, but I must admit, I'm at a loss to understand the logic of bringing the wrecker's ball into play.

THIS COMMENT FROM SALLY LOGAN GILMAN:
Hi Tom: I can't imagine anyone advocating razing Trenton High. I graduated in 1955 and just loved the place. The architecture is so wonderful and nothing could replace it. It must need some work, as you suggested, but to destroy it would be a crime. I can't believe that the city has outgrown the building because I'm sure enrollment has declined. It would be much cheaper to update than to erect a new building. Nothing could take it's place.
As always, thanks for all the work you do, Tom.

Sally Logan Gilman

1954: MASTRODOMENICO'S IN CHAMBERSBURG

1954: I was a newly wed. I remember how we used to take these advertising gimmicks as a necessary evil when I worked in the dead end job of bearing salesman at the Trenton Bearing Company then the Brown Bearing and Supply Company. Each time the "Specialty Salesman" drove up to the door, we told him our purchasing person was not in. And now, 55 years later, as I hold that quality advertising piece in my hand, I realize that we were passing up the opportunity to buy quality advertising products. The above is a scan from a calendar framed with a gold plated frame and a glass overlay. Try buying one of these today that is the product of American craftsmen!

Monday, January 26, 2009

OLD HEIDELBERG:THE WAY IT WAS

This great photo of the Heidelberg as it looked during my years of going to many Sunday dinners at that wonderful old German restaurant. Thanks to regular visitor Gary Szabo for an exquisite and well balanced photo. As Dean Martin sang, "Memories are Made of This;" they sure are.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

2009: 21st CENTURY TECHNOLOGY

When I was in Germany and then Italy during my time in the U.S. Army, I spent a lot of time in the base hobby shop, learning the art of photography. I remember how I wanted so much to procure one of those incredible "Rolliflex" reflex cameras; the Cadillac of cameras. Those of us interested in film processing spent hours in the "dark room," with negatives, the developer bath, the fixer bath and the final bath. Then over to the enlarger, the heat drum to put on a dryer for the final finish. All that equipment was extremely expensive. A good enlarger was also only a dream for the average budget. How technology has changed over these 50 or so years! There are many professional photographers who will always stay with the old fashioned film camera; hanging on to the very end. Indeed, many of them consider digital photography without film to be a heresy. Today, digital photography has given John Doe the ability to turn a light on in the "dark room." Those three developing trays have now been replaced with a printer. Even though digital photography was not involved in the graphic above, the same basic process of enhancing and developing changed that faded, wrinkled, barley legible document into a pristine article.
As for me, I'm all for the new technology and more than willing to let the professional film guys keep their expensive and elaborate equipment.

Mike Kuzma Remembers

Thanks to Mike Kuzma for the following email. Mike is a regular visitor to this website. This is a very interesting look back as Mike recalls his youth as a resident of South Trenton, and an accomplished equestrian.

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Good Morning:

Seeing the photo of the "William Trent House brought back such memories! I was born on the third floor of 116 Fall St., our back yard was within a 100 feet of the wall surrounding this local landmark. In the 1930's, Abe Swan and his family were the caretakers. Abe I think went on to become a City Commissioner in Trenton. Their son Paul was a buddy of my brother Ed, and I had unfettered access to the spacious Trent house grounds to play. The grounds were bounded by Warren St. and Bloomsbury St. Across from the Trent house on Bloomsbury St. was an alley adjacent to the "Princeton Worsted Mills" In this alley, the local Jewish merchants who sold from their wagons, collected rags, and whatever, kept their horses. This alley ran right through to the River Rd. (Rt. 29) which at that time had a vast expanse of grass running along the tide wall.

At night, my brother in law Joe Bastecki and I would sneak the horses out and play Cowboys along the river. Those poor merchants could never understand why their horses were so tired for the next day's work.

This was the precursor to my Cowboy Days with Carney (Carney Rose, "The Champion" rodeo rider) who ran the hack stable where the Hamilton Sewer Plant is today. The photo of the White City park steps reminded me of the many years spent taking "Greenhorns" for trail rides around the White City Lake. My love for horses continued throughout my life as I kept a string of show horses at my farms in Ringoes. Most recently I toured the Gettysburg Battle site on horseback.

As always, it is so great of you to put forth effort to allow us oldsters to enjoy the memories of our youth.

Sincerely

Mike Kuzma