1944: YARDVILLE HEIGHTS KNOTT BROTHERS

Herewith two more members of "The Greatest Generation" who met during WWII and added a bit of joy the their war-torn world. The Knott brothers were residents of Yardville Heights. Unfortunately, the photos have exposure problems. However, I did manage to balance the exposure and gamma levels. Thank you Holly Knott for helping me to recognize all out veterans from WWII. Should this blog survive the years, our great, great grandchildren will be very interested in this touch of history. In order to render the Trenton Times article in the center of the graphic readable, I have reproduced it in its original size.

1909: The New St. Joachim's School - Trenton N.J.

I had been working for a number of years with my very dear friend, the late Robert Immordino. Bob was an expert on "Ethnic Americana," especially where it revolved around the American-Italian experience. Bob was one of the more knowledgeable experts on the history of the Italians in the Trenton area, as well as nationally. His passing left a very large void on the local scene. The above article is from a 1909 Daily State Gazette which I embellished with the colors of the country. St. Joachim Church and School is most certainly a candidate for recognition on the National Register. It has a glorious history, dating back to the early 20th century when Chambersburg men spent hours of back-breaking labor at their respective daily jobs, only to come home and volunteer for still more labor in building up St. Joachim's School.

1909: MANY YOUTHFUL CIVIL WAR VETERANS

From the "little known facts relating to the Civil War," I found this interesting article on the large number of survivors of the war between the states. The average life span back then was far lower than those of the WWII "Greatest Generation," who we are losing at an alarming rate of well over 1300 per day.

1944: Ralph Lucarello, Sr. U.S.N. Ret.

I met Ralph Lucarello Sr. on Mike McNicoll's very interesting website. I have Ralph's permission to post just a few of the photos he took during his tour of the Pacific as a member of the U.S. Navy. Following is a copy of Ralph's service experiences. It seems like a page right out of that fabulous Broadway musical, "South Pacific," even as you see he and his buddies doing leg kicks as they sing and dance to, "There is nothing like a dame!" Many thanks, Ralph and to you also Mack for the great job you are doing on your web blog.

RALPH WROTE

Hi Tom, this is Ralph Sr. I was in the US Navy Fleet Post Office San Francisco Navy 140 which was located on Espíritu Santo in the NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS. I was in the Post Office in Trenton at the beginning of WW2 and could have enlisted in the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer but they wouldn't guarantee my job upon returning and would only do so when I was drafted. When I was finally drafted in April of 1944, I went to boot camp in Bainbridge, Md and was granted third class petty officer mail specialist. I was stationed in NY for 3 months and then sent to San Francisco. After 3 months in san francisco we shipped out to the South Pacific. When I was discharged in 1946, I was a Second Class Petty Officer. While I was on Espiritus Santo, the Fleet assembled there in preparation for the Invasion of Okinawa. Our Unit was tasked to distribute mail throughout the South Pacific Area. Here are the Photos I have of my time on Espíritu Santo .

2009: Donna Cubberley, You're the Best!

I Think they call it "kindred spirits;" but whatever it is, I received this remarkably well composed email from Ms.Donna Radice Cubberley. Even though I am 25 years older than Donna, I find she has captured in a very well written missive the strange, emotional, nostalgic and bittersweet memories many of us hold in our hearts of the friends and neighbors and the neighborhoods in which we grew up. I couldn't have said it better, Donna. Your letter is a true gem! By the way, I also dream of visiting my old home; never did believe that old "you can't go home again" blather. Pleasant memories live on forever, and like you, I believe they live beyond time as we understand it.

Donna wrote in my guestbook, which must be shared for those who do not follow my visitors' comments:


Hi, Tom. Feeling a bit nostalgic and sad tonight, and wanted to share a recent experience with you. On Saturday, 7-18-09, I took a ride down to Trenton to honor my deceased mother's 70th birthday (she died suddenly at 28 years old in Saint Francis hospital after having given birth to my brother in 1968) by visiting her grave in Saint Mary's cemetery on Cedar Lane and then meeting up with my brother and his family at DeLorenzo's on Hudson Street for the best tomato pie on this planet. After eating, I took a ride past 22 Mott Street where mom was born, and then made the rounds past the house in which I grew up (627 Woodland Street; I still visit this house in my dreams several times each month) as well as several other spots in the area which remain so near and dear to my heart and which continue to live - thrive - in my memories (Franklin Park; Jr. 4; White City Lake; Cadwalader Park; etc.), despite the current, utterly depressing reality of the entire area. I drove back to my home in the New Hope area with a lump in my throat. I have been blessed by God's grace on numerous occasions in my 51 years, and I firmly believe that what one believes is what will come to fruition in the afterlife (i.e., we each create our own realities): If a certain individual believes in nothingness, then that individual will pass into nothingness. I for one believe that I will be reunited with my loved ones after I die. I only hope that the backdrop for this reunion will be Trenton, NJ in the 50's and 60's, for that would truly be heaven.

1912: Pennington New Jersey Begins to Grow

From my "HOPEWELL-PENNINGTON" folder, this interesting article detailing the real estate development of the town of Pennington. Did you know that Mayor William Howe purchased and planted trees from Pennington to Ewing, all along today's Pennington Road? He did!

1974 Hamilton High Class of '74 to celebrate their 35th

With the arrival of the Fall reunion season, I will be posting any and all reunion notices on this website, and those from Hamilton High West on this and my www.hhs51.blogspot.com website. I received this note from Steve Allen, HHS '74, and gladly post their reunion announcement from the HHS '74 website. (See the link to their website on my "Links" section.

1912: INTRIGUE! A HAUNTED HOUSE ON CASS STREET

While most of these stories appear around Halloween, this one made the August 17, 1912 edition of the State Gazette. There are numerous fascinating stories of haunted houses throughouth the range of papers in my collection. From Pennington Avenue to the mansion at White City, to the above on Cass Street.

1912: LIVINGSTON AVENUE COBBLESTONES

From the digital "MILL HILL" folder in the Local History Collection comes this very fascinating story of a relic from "olde Trent's Towne:" cobblestones on Mill Hill's historic Livingston Avenue. Folks living in that neighborhood live, work, sleep, and play on the historic grounds where soldiers fighting in the American Revolution once trod.

1879: Our Lady of Lourdes School - Immaculate Conception Chambersburg

Many articles such as the one above dealing with "rural Chambersburg" and Our Lady of Lourdes School, have been buried in the millions of pages of the daily Trenton newspapers of the past. The above article and hundreds like it, contains historic facts that have been completely unknown to many of us for over a century. It is a joy to bring them into the light of day for current and future generations. Historians agree that newspapers are among the best sources of history, In this case, they provide a valuable addition to the history of the local area. One of the projected on screen programs I do as part of my library outreach is entitled,

"The Computer and Local History: Perfect Together;" and indeed they are.

1912: CUYLER-COOK-ARDMORE AVENUE DEVELOPMENT

Here's a plat map showing the burgeoning community adjoining Villa Park, as Trenton expanded ever eastward during the first decade and early teens,

1912: WATER CARNIVAL AT LAKESIDE PARK

I took extra steps to enhance this incredibly interesting article on the "Water Carnival" which was an annual affair conducted by the bungalow residents* of Lakeside Park in the early part of the 20th century. What a spectacle it must have been! Floats of all shapes, sizes, and subjects afloat at beautiful "Lakeside," or as was commonly known, "Gropp's Lake." My son Ken is a resident of Medford Lakes down in Burlington County. It appears that the citizens of that bucolic little town have also organized an "on the lake" event. What a great idea for future Hamiltonians!

*Charles Teunon is credited with establishing this quaint and very beautiful area of Hamilton. The original intent of the development was to provide a summer home for the more affluent residents of Trenton. The "bungalows" were similar in nature to those built along the upper Delaware for the same clientele.

1960: ST. JOACHIM PTA

Here's a photo from the 1960 St. Joachim"A Half Century of Dedication" which honors the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters Maestre Pie Filippini to America. I was tol by Msgr. McCorristin that I was the first male President of St. Anthony's PTA. I wonder if Mr. Apoldite, President of St. Joachim's PTA claims the same honor.

1912: Bishop McFaul Blesses the New Addition To St Paul's

This is a very puzzling article, due to the fact that just what addition was made to the church. In going to St. Paul's and looking for the history of the church, I became even more confused. There is no mention on the website of a transition being made from the very original edifice up to the huge church shown in the graphic above. Was the edifice in the illustration the replacement for a smaller church? Time will tell,m or perhaps an historian from the legendary Parish will enlighten us.

1912 and 1913: THE ESTEY COMPANY - ORGANS AND PIANOS

This legendary organ maker went out of business in 1958. However, the company made a very indelible mark on the musically inclined citizens of Trenton and the Central New Jersey area back in the first half of the 20th century. The above articles give the history of this famous American company, and it deserves a a place of honor in my "BUSINESSES AND FACTORIES, TRENTON" folder in the Hamilton Township Public Library's Local History Collection. I have added an additional Estey Piano article which I have just found after I posted the photo/article immediately above. In order to maintain a logical historic progression, the September 27th article has been added, and the original post of a few days ago has been deleted.

1936: TRENTON HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC FIELD WPA PROJECT

Two seperate graphics from my "TRENTON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL" FOLDER come together in perfect harmony along with a mini photo of the high school. Many of our fathers and grandfathers worked for the government funded WPA ("Works Progress Administration") during the Great Depression.

2009: HHS'51 Shirley Gress Obit

I had seen Shirley on a number of occasions during my frequent Senior Citizen outreach programs. She was a lovely gal who was always there with that ready smile, and cordial personality. Rest in Peace, Shirl,
"we'll meet again, don't know where don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day..."

1944: Trenton Catholic Boys' High School Crucifix

The Senior boys from room 8 at Trenton Catholic were responsible for the acquisition of this crucifix in honor of the Trenton Catholic alumni who were serving in the armed forces during WWII.

I posted the above graphic a few weeks ago. It turns out that I made an error in the description above when I referred to the "lower grades" at Trenton Catholic as being responsible for the acquisition of the Crucifix. I have deleted the erroneous entry and am re-posting it here with the correct information.

Thanks to Mr. Ed Margerum, TCHS '55 for calling my attention to my error. THANKS, ED!

Ed wrote:

Hi Tom:

I don't think that it's correct to say that the "lower grades" were responsible. The newspaper text says "seniors 4-8". "4" designates that they are seniors. "8" was their homeroom.

Ed Margerum TC '55

1912: Christ P.E. Church 25th Anniversary

This is the church where my mother and father married in 1923. It was built along the lines of a typical Anglican church one would find in Great Britain. It survived for many years until the 1960's when two groups opposing each other caused a schism. It was the "modernists" vs the traditional Anglicans. The modernists won, and the church ultimately folded due to lack of attendance.

1914: HARVEST HOME AT WHITE HORSE VFD

The newly formed White Horse Volunteer Fire Company was very active during its founding year of 1914.

1914: LAND BOOM IN PENNINGTON

Under "Places I would like to live if I had to move from Hamilton," I would place Pennington at the very top of the list. Ever since the 1940's when Don Slabicki and I went to the Birches to visit Edna Howe Kuser's father, "The Mayor", William P. Howe, the small town flavor of that beautiful town won my heart. But alas, over the years, Pennington has become the abode of the more affluent members of society; far, far, above the financial abilities of yours truly.

1914: LUXURIOUS ST. REGIS THEATER PLANNED FOR TRENTON

Any Trenton theater historians out there? It would be interesting to know what happened to the St. Regis Theater. Perhaps it morphed into the State, Stacy, Orpheum, or the Orpheum turned Mayfair.

1929: BOOTLEG BUST AT MANNING'S WAREHOUSE

Elliott Ness and his "Untouchables" would have been proud! Here we see local and Federal officials trashing the liquor stash of a Trenton area bootlegger who is suffering in silence as the boys smash and bash the bottled spirits and pour them down the sewer.

1914: Hmmm....HOW WILL THIS BE SOLVED?

If someone from your local municipality sued you because your house was encroaching on the municipality's property, what would you do? It sure would be expensive to have a house mover jack up your home and move it back where it belongs. One wonders who the builder was who didn't use the talents of land surveyors. I'll keep an eye out for future references to this article; perhaps from other Hamilton Township homes that are trespassing on unauthorized land. I do agree with Mr. Smith. It does look like he is "the goat."

1914: CADWALADER HEIGHTS M.E. CHURCH

Lights out at Cadwalader Heights, so auto headlights are turned on for the ground breaking ceremony for the new Cadwalader Heights Methodist Episcopal Church.

1926: Joe's Tire Shop - South Trenton

Perhaps it is a nostalgic thing. I remember when South Warren Street wended its way further south along the riverfront when I was a teenager. Some of my contemporaries will remember Tilden Brakes, Penn Jersey, and other automobile related concerns conducted their business on that very busy thorofare back in Trenton's earlier years. Today, South Warren Street below West State Street makes a curve and merges into South Broad Street. Office complexes now stand where the former street was located. The graphic is a combination of the original ad for Joe Pettingell's Tire company and I inserted an early Trenton map segment which pinpoints the site of his company.

1926: FIELD DAY AT YARDVILLE HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY

From the "YARDVILLE-YARDVILLE HEIGHTS" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection, this enhanced digital graphic. Yardville Heights Elementary School is an architecturally one of the most beautiful schools in Hamilton. The graphic tells of Field Day exercises held by students at the school.

1926: CIVIL WAR VETERAN AT YARDVILLE PRESBYTERIAN

My dear friend, the late Robert Simpkins was a communicant at Yardville Presbyterian. He and I had many discussions relating to the old timers who attended that grand old edifice on South Broad Street and Yardville-Hamilton Square Road. The gentleman in the photo was one of them.

1926: TROUBLE AT FAIRVIEW PARK - AKA DECOU

Fairview Park in Hamilton is the neighborhood we know of today as the DeCou section. As can be seen in the above news articles, a controversy was raging about mis-spent funds and other chicanery which resulted in the dissolution of the Fairview Volunteer Fire Company,.

1926: KU KLUX KLAN DAY AT THE MT. HOLLY FAIR

Back in the 1920's, there were many stories of Klan rallies all over New Jersey. Indeed, there was a rally at Yardville's Spring Lake Park back in the 1920's. A number of years ago, I wrote a column relating to that rally. The local gentry contained pro and anti-Klan citizens. During the rally, a number of anti Klan citizens went through the parking lot and punctured many auto tires. The above graphic cites the rally at Mt. Holly. Southern N.J. was a very active venue for the Klan.

1926:VILLA VICTORIA BEATIFICATION OF SISTER LUCY FILIPPINI

The area is rightly proud of the legendary Villa Victoria Academy, which has provided splendid education facilities for young ladies from the Central Jersey are for decades. The graphic tells of the journey of a few of Villa Victoria's Sisters Filippini along with Bishop Walsh to Italy where the beatification of Venerable Lucy Filippini will take place at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

1926: WOODLAWN PARK OPENS FOR THE 1926 SEASON

Perhaps it's due to the fact that my Atlantic Avenue home sits on the land once occupied by Woodlawn Park is the reason for my interest in any and all historic material dealing with that once popular entertainment venue. I will be posting photos of some of the marathon dancers who performed at Woodlawn, and also numerous photos and articles as they are uncovered. Stay tuned...

2009: A 150,000 "VISITS" MILESTONE

A very humble thank you to all my visitors. It is important to realize that the number of "hits" does NOT mean that 150,000 different individuals have accessed this website. Rather, it represents MANY repeat visitors who have bookmarked this site since its inception in November, 2005. It also includes my posts as a visitor each time I add a post. This site has been averaging between 200 and 300 visitors per day, and has gone as high as 400-plus.

1914: JUNIOR 3 POSTURE CONTEST WINNERS

Here they are95 years later, ladies and gentlemen. Local students from the Cadwalader- western-Parkside avenue area as the receive accolades for winning in the school "Posture" contest.

1913: Columbus School Under Construction

This photo accompanied the recent photo which I posted showing the Franklin School under construction. Both of the schools were to open for the 1913-1914 season. Columbus School was and is on the corner of Brunswick Avenue and Mulberry Street in North Trenton.

1913: KING'S DEPARTMENT STORE.

It was a very prominent part of the Trenton cityscape in former years. Along with Hurley Tobin, Swern's, Goldberg's, Kauffman's, and many other large multi-story stores that once proliferated in the city of Trenton. The Trenton of my youth will never return. However, a valiant effort is being made by numerous Trentonians to at least bring back a portion of the city we all knew and loved. Those merchants on South Warren Street have worked very hard to increase downtown traffic. Now, if we could only get just a few of the hundreds of state workers who are working in all those glass encrusted state buildings to take a few steps outdoors during their collective lunch times, and help to make Trenton do the Phoenix rising from the ashes thing.

(As that old song says, "My dreams are gettin' better all the time.!")

1913: AFTER BREAKFAST CLUB CAMPS AT LAKESIDE PARK

Back in 1913, one didn't have to travel to the pines or some other remote area to set up camp for the summer. Hamilton had a huge amount of woods suitable for camping. Lakeside Park was developed by Charles Teunon. Back in 1912 and 13 he was advertising "summer bungalows" away from the noisy and busy city of Trenton. These campers were yearly visitors to Lakeside.

1913: Rev. Vincent Serafini's Chambersburg Playground

It took a bit of cutting/copying and pasting, but I finally finished tweaking this very historic Chambersburg graphic relating to Chambersburg's famous Protestant minister, Vincent Serafini and Mrs. Serafini, whose wonderful work for the Chambersburg community back during the early part of the 20th century undoubtedly gave great comfort to the many children of the community whose families were living on very limited means.

1913: WIDMAN CLAMBAKE AT SPRING LAKE PARK

I don't see nor hear of "clambakes" in recent years. They sound like fun. In fact, one of my favorite moves, "Carousel" has a beautiful song which accompanies an old fashioned New England clambake. I think I would liked to have attended one of Widman's clambakes.

1933: Pontiac "Tudor"

I'm such a hopeless romantic! Wouldn't it be great to see a 2009 Pontiac exactly as you see that 1933 Pontiac in the photo above, only with all the 21st century features: automatic transmission, disk brakes, power steering, shocks, CD/MP3/satellite radio, air conditioning, chrome plated steel bumpers that were meant to bump without those cheesy composition bumpers on today's autos, velour seats and headliner, and powered by one of those "Prius" type engines.......dream on, Tom Glover!

I posted the above graphic some time ago, scanning it from a 1932 Trenton newspaper. Thanks to "Ray from Villa Park," who corrected me as to the year. Ray correctly noted that the car is actually a 1933 Pontiac, illustrated in a 1932 paper that was heralding the new 1933 models. Thanks to Ray, I have removed the December, 2008 post, corrected the error and it is re-posted today.

Ray wrote:

Tom, This is a 1933 Pontiac. It is a two door sedan. You can identify this model as a '33, by the vertical louvers on the side of the hood, the single horn underneath the left headlamp, the deeply valanced fenders, the backward slant of the grille and matching angle of the windshield, among other things. This was the the year for the first straight eight engine which lasted, with improvements, for the next 20 years.

MANY THANKS FOR THE CORRECTION, RAY; I NEED ALL MY VISITORS TO CORRECT ANY ERRORS I MAY MAKE. I HOPE YOU ARE A FREQUENT VISITOR TO MY WEBSITE.

1913: THE NEW FRANKLIN SCHOOL TAKES SHAPE

Another rare State Gazette photo of the Franklin School as it was being constructed during the year 1913. I am particularly intrigued by the building to the right. It looks like it could have been an austere school house. Hopefully I will uncover another article that will identify it.

1913: HAMILTON TOWNSHIP'S WASHINGTON SCHOOL

If you drive down Hughes Drive to an area near the entrance to Mercer County Park, you will see the location of the old Washington School. The students who attended that grand old edifice included legendary Hamilton pioneer names: Tindall, Pullen, West, Rogers, Hughes, Hutchinson, and Robbins, among others, The above graphic can truly qualify as a bit of Hamilton history. The map has been cut and pasted in order to outline (Gray area) of the
road described as "on the road from Hamilton Square to Quaker Bridge." The clapboard sided Washington School house is pictured in the background.

1912 and 1913: GROVEVILLE'S DAVIS' WOODS BECOMES WESLEY GROVE

It's times like these when we need the resources of the over 80 generation. Unfortunately, the number of octogenarians who are computer users is pitifully small. However, were they able to access the graphic above, I would bet that they could shed some light on the Munro House and the Rowan-Willey Chapel pictured in the enhanced photo above. This graphic can be considered a rare historical record of the transition of Groveville's "Davis' Woods" to the popular Wesley Grove of Methodist fame. If there is any Groveville visitor with a relative in the aforementioned age group who might be able to tell us about the two structures in the photo, we would love to hear from you.
(*Well, not necessarily the over 80's generation. Gary Lippincott has come to the fore and brought us up to speed on the two buildings in the photo. Gary has not yet reached octogenarian status.

Thanks for this comment and your historical expertise, Gary:

Gary Lippincott:

"The small building was known as the "Young Peoples Temple" and is still in use today. The Munro House was on the first floor a cooking and dinning area, the second was individual rooms accomodating about two people and the top flor was a "Dormitory" type sleeping area for men. Both are mentioned on My "Groveville Memories" site."

2009: Have You Visited "Hamiltonspace.com?"

Earlier this week I received an email from Ms.Norine Longo, Assistant Web Editor for the website www.hamiltonspace.com. Norine had visited my website(s) and wanted to include a piece on me under the regular feature, "Someone You Should Know." I am an avid reader of Joe Emanski's flashy monthly, "Hamilton Post," but to be quite honest, I am just now beginning to recognize the impact of the concept of online newspapers. I have included www.hamiltonspace.com to my list of very interesting websites. You will find a fascinating up to date site which covers just about anything anyone would want to know about "America's Favorite Hometown." I particularly was drawn to the Police Blotter, and the fabulous photo slide shows, including some great photos of some of the crowd at the recent 4th of July extravaganza at Veterans' Park. Check it out, especially those of my visitors who are living all over the globe. Sally up in Maine, Alan over in Germany, Lee out in California, and many of my other visitors. You will get a very pleasant taste of home along with a myriad of features too lengthy to mention. Good job, Norine! Oh, by the way, the fact that Norine chose me as one of the subjects of "Somemone You Should Know" led me to this site when she emailed me that the recent questionaire she sent me was published. Ugh, what an ugly photo...I told you I have an aversion to the camera!

A HEADS UP FOR FELLOW "BLOGSPOT" SUBSCRIBERS

THIS IS FOR ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE USING GOOGLE's free "BLOGGER." (BLOGSPOT.COM.)
I wondered when I would be advised that my blog was running out of free space. Don't make the mistake I did. I should have checked to see how much space I was consuming. Had I checked, I could have avoided being e-mailed by Google and telling me that I had used my free space and there could be no more graphics posted until I contacted them to add additional space to my blog.
LET ME GIVE YOU A HEADS UP SO YOU DON'T EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM:
GO TO "MY ACCOUNT" IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE "DASHBOARD." CLICK ON IT AND YOU WILL SEE A PROMINENT SPACE USAGE INDICATOR.
With the 3,000+ "pages) I have posted up to this point with generally high definition gray scale and colored images, I reached my FREE allocation of one gigabyte. I am now fully reinstated and for a paltry $20 I now have 10 gigabytes of space.
(It took me nearly 4 years to reach 1 gig in used up free space.)
With the acquisition of 10 gigabytes of space,
I am in good shape for many years to come.

1913: WILBUR'S NEW FIRE HOUSE

I really tried hard to enhance this photo, but the contrast and exposure settings on the computer in many different adjustment modes rendered the photo illegible. The best I can do is the gray-toned graphic above. Even though the quality of the photo is marginal, the photo is very interesting from an historic standpoint. The firehouse still exists on the corner of So. Olden and Walnut Avenues. You will notice the absence of "Ten Eyck's Gaiety Theater" in the open area on the left of the photo. Only sky and trees along So. Walter Avenue can be seen in the distant background.

1913: Groveville School Picnic at Wesley Grove

The 1913 newspapers are severely foxed (tanned) and as a result this, and other 1913 extracts take on a gray hue. In order to remove the gray hue, thse exposure, brightness, and contrast controls all deteriorate the quality of the image. Bottom line: this is the best reproduction I can manage on articles and photos in this 1913 edition of the State Gazette.