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Thursday, January 15, 2009

1880's: MILLHAM AKA EAST TRENTON

The area east of downtown Trenton, "east of the bridge" on No. Clinton Avenue and thence to the Lawrence Township border was once known as Millham Township. The above article from a Harry Podmore scrapbook which is in my collection, is undated, but based on the type setting and poor offset photography, I place it around 1913 or so. An interesting part of Millham history: Mulberry Street, which starts at or near the Lawrence Township line, got its name from the Dickenson (see the photo) family. Dickenson planted mulberry trees along the roadway and attempted to create a silk industry and create a silkworm "farm."
An earlier post showed a real estate ad for Millham and incorporated the Polish section of the city (Ohio Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, etc.). Millham was originally Millham Township, the entire area bordering Lawrence Township. a day or so ago, I posted a real estate ad for Millham which advertised the area which succeeding generations refer to as "North Trenton."

4 comments:

Jay said...

The building pictured composes the main portion of East Trenton Branch of the Trenton Public Library.

See quote from the New Jersey Historic Trust: "The main portion of the library was originally built in 1796 as the residence of Samuel Dickinson, son of Revolutionary War General Philemon Dickinson. In 1926 the house was enlarged to become a public library. It retains elements of both 18th and 20th century construction. The building is well used by the community."

http://www.njht.org/dca/njht/funded/sitedetails/samuel_dickinson_mansion.html

Tom Glover said...

Thanks again Jay for your comment. I did a tour of that library back in the 1980's when I was one of the tour guides for the Trenton Contemporary annual "Four Views of Trenton." A fascinating place.

Tom Glover

Anonymous said...

Wow, you guys just keep drumming up my memory banks.
I lived at 113 Dickinson St.
Spent many days and weeks at the East Trenton Library. We even popped corn there on our school trips from Mc Clellan Elementary School. I also, worked for at that time it was called Crescent Wire Company, I worked as a clerk in the shipping department and in their IBM department for 8 years.
Played many weekends at Hetzel Park. And shopped many stores.
We had Doctors and Lawyers etc.
Living all around us. Popkins shoe store was there, as Lisicks grocery store. Oh, what fabulous memories of a time gone buy.
How is the neighborhood today I wonder.
Ginny

Donna said...

I am looking for pictures of houses on Dickinson Street. My great-grandparents lived in 225 Dickinson from 1911 - 1943. I would be happy with any pictures from any time peroid!

Thanks for what you do!!
Donna