1917: NEWS FROM THE "WEST END"
The Cadwalader-West End area of Trenton was one of the more affluent suburbs in the city back in the early decades of the 20th century. I remember visiting Messrs. Leo and Don Bannon on Ellsworth Avenue and how impressed I was with just the front porch on the beautiful Bannon home. Yes, the front porch! It was as shiny as the oak floors on a basketball court and spotless. Working with Fritz Kuser back in the '40's brought me to a number of these beautiful homes in the western section. I also recall a similar well kept home on Fisher Place where we went one evening to show a movie to one of the Kuser relatives. Absolutely unforgettable ambiance! I also recall that many of us in the less opulent neighborhoods jealously referred to the western Cadwalader Park area as "Cracker Hill;" I could never figure what a "Cracker" was and still do not to this day.
1 Comment from Mr. Ralph Lucarella:
The Cadwalader-West End area of Trenton was one of the more affluent suburbs in the city back in the early decades of the 20th century. I remember visiting Messrs. Leo and Don Bannon on Ellsworth Avenue and how impressed I was with just the front porch on the beautiful Bannon home. Yes, the front porch! It was as shiny as the oak floors on a basketball court and spotless. Working with Fritz Kuser back in the '40's brought me to a number of these beautiful homes in the western section. I also recall a similar well kept home on Fisher Place where we went one evening to show a movie to one of the Kuser relatives. Absolutely unforgettable ambiance! I also recall that many of us in the less opulent neighborhoods jealously referred to the western Cadwalader Park area as "Cracker Hill;" I could never figure what a "Cracker" was and still do not to this day.
Hi Tom: Let me help you out in the meaning of "Cracker Hill" for that western section of Trenton. The meaning, as I recall, was the fact that those people had such high mortgages, they had to eat crackers in order to meet the payments. Laugh, if you will, but compared to our payments in the Burg, it could be very true. Best regards.