1937 BUTLER STREET "HEAT CHEATERS" MEET UNDER THE FIRE HYDRANT

I often heard my mother comment that she felt sorry for those folks who lived in the city with the hot concrete sidewalks, row homes with ventilation only on the front and back of the buildings, and other urban disadvantages. On the other hand, I remember Uncle Charlie pointing out that he didn't have the mosquito problems we had in the rural areas. Check out the graphic above, those of you Chambersburg natives who are in your 70's and 80's; you may well be enjoying that refreshing shower of cold water on a sweltering Central Jersey Summer day.

Mack said...
I remember the days before air conditioning. The newpaper reporter caption says they are well behaved....well if its a super hot day they just wanna cool down as they are too tired to be mischievous LOL. We would go to Junior Four Pool or Skelton Library (which had decent air conditioning). And there was nothing more beautiful than a summer storm to cool us down for a while on a super hot day...I still remember the curtains blowing in the window as the sky darkened (and we cheered)..and to be fair
about it, there were only so many
UNBEARABLE summer days:)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

1935: SPLASHING IN PUDDLES AFTER A SUMMER RAIN

All right, all you contemporaries from the 30's and 40's, admit it! You also sloshed around in those post thunder storm summer rains.  I was a kid long before there was a TV set to occupy my childhood hours during a summer rain storm. I suspect that I am not the only one who recalls the joy of traipsing outside after a passing thunderstorm left huge puddles along the street. I am sure I  am not the only one who remembers going bare foot and splashing haphazardly all over the place. Out in the boondocks where I grew up, there were no concrete sidewalks; the street met grassy pathways and the puddles were supreme before the advent of municipal drains. Remember how we floated our boats on those all too temporary puddles? Ahh, recalling the joys traveling outdoors after a summer thunderstorm; a journey embellished with the aroma of a fresh spring rain. You talk about aromatherapy! For those who are not familiar with Clay Street where the boys are frolicking, it is located in the Mill Hill area just bordering the freeway exit to Morrisville. 

Noel said...

Tom, Both the hydrant shower and the two boys bring back memories.I lived at 235 Clay Street and the hydrant shower was across the street at Clay & Lewis. All of the children from blocks around would show up for the cooling shower. The two boys jumping in the summer shower were our neighbors and came to our neighborhood store for candy, soda and ice cream. Thanks Tom, Noel Goeke

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Thanks, Noel. I remembered that you were from Clay Street and I was sure that as an original follower of this blog, you would spot this post

1935: TRENTON TIMES NEWS BOYS

Any old time "Wilburites" out there? This graphic shows the young boys who served the Wilbur neighborhood back in the mid 1930's and during the Great Depression. The building shown in the photo is long gone, having been replaced by the Garfield Park, just off East State Street in the city of Trenton.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...I RECALL SELLING THE TIMES FOR 2 CENTS IN 1930. WE PAID 1 CENT AND SOLD IT FOR 2. I STOOD ON THE CORNER OF E. STATE AND MONTGOMERY AND USUALLY SOLD 10 PAPERS FOR A PROFIT OF 10 CENTS. MANY PEOPLE, I RECALL, WOULD GIVE YOU A NICKEL AND SAY KEEP THE CHANGE, THAT WAS GREAT. REGARDS,

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

1935: WILLIAM CHAPMAN - WHITE HORSE PIONEER

Chapman Avenue in White Horse is named for the Chapman family who were pioneer residents of the White Horse area of Hamilton. The 1875 Atlas of Hamilton Township indicates that the 30 acre Chapman Farm  was located along White Horse-Mercerville Road on the opposite side of the old Maple Shade School once stood.

2004: THANKS, GLEN GILMORE

I am always happy when the public expresses an interest in Hamilton, and Trenton area history. It's nice to be recognized. As can be seen in the letter in my files, former Mayor Glen Gilmore took the time to stop in to visit the Local History Collection for a personal tour. Above is his acknowledging letter.

 

JoeZ said...

Tom that was a nice acknowledgment for the excellent work you do providing us with the past and present history of Trenton and Hamilton. I truly enjoy reading your blog and wish you the best to come.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Mack said...

Amen:)
Support of local treasure Tom Glover is bipartisan I hope:)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

1885: THE JONATHAN AND RACHEL HUTCHINSON FAMILY REUNION

These folks were the "blue bloods" of pioneer Nottingham Township in the very earliest years of Hamilton Township. The Tindalls, Cubberleys, Rogers, and Robbins families, and I'm sure others which I have not named, were farming the land from the earliest years of old Nottingham. I have inserted the Hamilton Square Baptist graphic. In 1912 when it was printed, there were 19 Hutchinson family members who were communicants at the historic Hamilton Square Baptist Church.   .

1885 A MINI GENEALOGICAL LOOK AT THE TINDALL FAMILY

The above is extracted from a Joseph H. West booklet relating to the centennial celebration of the James and Sarah Hutchinson homestead in Hamilton Square. I have printed up an 11 x 17 graphic of this page which will be presented to Ms. Lillian Tindall Smith whose parents lived on the Tindall Farm on Kuser Road. Today, the home has been historically preserved and known as the John Abbott II house.

1932: LINI'S FRONT STREET BEAUTY SHOP BOMBED

Still another beauty shop bombing! The makeup of this blog results in posts that are related being out of chronological order. However, as you page down to the next couple of posts, you will see that the Trenton Police had a real problem on their hands in tracking down those responsible for the rampant disorder in Trenton during the great depression. Like the Trenton police, I plan to stay on this story until I find the culprits within the thousands of pages in the newspaper files. As you can see by the Lini's graphic I added from the "BUSINESSES-TRENTON" folder, it didn't take him long to move to new quarters. John Lini was a very popular hair dresser right up to the 1950's when my wife Judy and "Aunt Louise" Baird patronized his establishment.

1931: STILL ANOTHER BEAUTY SHOP BOMBING

Competing beauty shop operators, perhaps with mob involvement, were really up in arms back during the depression when some beauty shops in the area cut prices in order to make their services available to a public which was smack dab in the middle of the Great Depression. Times were very tough, and I imaging a trip to the beauty parlor would be low on the list of financial priorities for the average citizen.

1931: ANOTHER BEAUTY SHOP BOMBING

Thanks, Bill Schultz for sending me a heads up on still another beauty shop bombing. I scanned another copy from the December 19th 1931 Times into my computer and had quite a bit of re-formatting to do in order to get a legible post that fit in the screen. Your personal family involvement really adds a lot historically to the incident. Thank you very much! The graphic below gives an insight into your Grandfather's roofing business, and the building at 809 today.

SJBill said...

My father was no doubt working for my Grandfather at this time. He was just about to begin his senior year at Trenton High in September. He made the front page of the Trenton Times on Tuesday the 9th of December, raising his right hand to join the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

2011: HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL THE WONDERFUL VISITORS TO THIS BLOG

When I was a boy those many years ago, it was a custom to buy some penny valentines at the corner store, put the recipient's name on it, and walk around the neighborhood delivering them. We would slip one under the door, knock, and run away. (no one in our neighborhood had one of those newfangled doorbells.) Over at Kuser School, the REAL Valentines Day was celebrated. Before the big day, we took a large corrugated carton, covered it with red or white paper, pasted on red or white hearts, carved a slot in the top, and placed the big box of dreams in front of the class room. Boys would never admit it, but we all avidly looked forward to the valentine we got from that special girl. Ahh, the memories and simplicity of youth!

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hello Tom: Thank you for the Valentine greeting. I remember the little valentines my mother would buy for me to paste up and take to class and put in the box. It was fun and, like you said, a simple joy of youth. As always, thanks for the memories.

Monday, February 14, 2011

1926: MANY PROTESTING THE SITE OF THE NEW HAMILTON INCINERATOR

This would have been ten years before the Glover family moved to Hartley Avenue. At this juncture, I have not found succeeding articles relating to the opposition local neighbors lodged against the placing of the incinerator in the Patterson Avenue area. However, I do know that the residents' appeals to change the location were in vain. My buddy Don Slabicki and I made many trips to the incinerator when I worked for Fred and Edna Kuser. In fact, I remember the day when Don's dog "Rex" died. We carried him to the incinerator and cremated him in the huge underground oven that always burned brightly. (There was a very large steel manhole cover over the underground incinerator. A chain driven block and tackle with a huge hook on the end raised and lowered the cover.

1925: WHEN THE TRENTON TIMES WAS ON STOCKTON STREET

I dare say there are a few visitors to this web site who remember the Trenton Times when the paper was located on South Stockton Street in Trenton. The above photo is an interesting illustration of what the building looked like back in the day. The Times was rightly proud of the large electric "TIMES" sign that graced the top of the building.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM.....I SURE AM ONE WHO REMEMBERS. I WOULD GO THERE EACH WEEK AND GIVE THE SCORES AND NEWS ITEMS OF OUR HAMILTON BOWLING LANES TO HERB CLARK IN THE SPORTS DEPT. WE WERE VERY ACTIVE DURING THE TIMES BOWLING TOURNAMENTS AND THE SPECIAL EVENTS WE HELD ON ROUTE 33 FROM 1955 TO 1970. TONY CAL'S AND PATTERSON CHEVROLET WHO WERE ACROSS THE STREET ALSO PARTICIPATED ALONG WITH THE TIMES DURING SPECIAL EVENTS WE HELD. BEST REGARDS.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Jerseymikesr said...

Tom: Anyone visiting City Hall back in the day was sure to see that imposing building. Home of the Trenton Times, State Gazette, and the Sunday Times Advertiser. I  used to pick up my papers there to deliver to my South Trenton neighbors. Ironically on the othe end of the block at the corner of South Stockton, and East Front Street, Sam Jacobs started the "Trentonian" newspaper in the old Volk Tire Building. Sam worked hard to catch up to the quality of Jim Kerney's Trenton Times, and the joke we newsies would tell was; "The Trentonian is behind the Times" in more ways than one!! Regards Mike Kuzma

Sunday, February 13, 2011

1986: THE DAY THE KU KLUX KLAN CAME TO HAMILTON TOWNSHIP

As we all know, February is Black History Month. Part of that celebration must include the negative aspects of the black experience in America's past. Nowhere is that experience more negative than one finds in the pages of yesterday's newspapers as accounts of anti black outrages were committed all over the United States. Above is an article I wrote in 1986, recalling a Klan auto parade and rally that culminated in  Springdale Park in Yardville. .

1925: THE KU KLUX KLAN HISTORY AND IN NEW JERSEY

In this year of 2011, with all the societal changes America has made insofar as racial segregation is concerned, it is difficult to imagine the 1920's when the Ku Klux Klan held forth in many New Jersey cities. Years ago for Black History month, I did an article entitled, "The Klan Comes to Hamilton," telling of a auto parade through Hamilton streets by Klan members which terminated down in Spring Hill Park for a Klan rally.

1925: "BEST INVENTION SINCE SLICED BREAD"

You join me as a card-carrying senior citizen if you remember when bread was sold by the loaf and you sliced it yourself. I can still see my mom with a butcher knife, trying to make a straight slice in a loaf of bread as seen in the graphic above. Even though un-sliced bread was not a major seller back then, my mom preferred it, claiming that it stayed fresher longer without air permeating the slices as in sliced bread. Chances are when mom sliced a couple slices, we would smear on a coating of Mickey Jelke's "Oleo margarine" top it off with sugar, and voila! A typical 30's and 40's snack. YUK!

1925: SUSPICIOUS EXPLOSION AT A FRANKLIN STREET STORE

From the "CRIME-MORALS-SOCIAL VALUES" Folder, this graphic:

I will keep looking for additional information on this possible gang-related article in which a bomb exploded on Franklin Street in Chambersburg. An aerial view of 129 Franklin Street shows that the original buildings do not appear to be the same as in the aerial view.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....WE LIVED AT 137 FRANKLIN STREET IN 1937 AND I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT EXPLOSION FROM THE NEIGHBORS OR ANYONE ELSE. MY MOTHER, SISTER AND BROTHER LIVED THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AFTERWARDS.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

SJBill said...

Bombing of stores was pretty commnplace during the period. During the early 30s, thee was a dynamite blast at (about) 808 South Clinton (I think it was where Anderson's Floral shop was located in the early 50s) Apparently, the blasts were reprisals to businesses (mostly "beauty shops") for not paying protection to the mob. During the blast, there were three children upstairs that felt the full force of the blast - my father, my uncle and my Aunt Betty. Betty was very young at the time. She was covered in blankets at the rear of the apartment and was not injured from the glass fragments. My father and uncle were. My grandmother was severely injured from the blast and succombed to the wounds before her 33rd birthday. This left my grandfather to raise the three children. I have the article somewhere. It's too big for me to scan - a full page spread in the Trenton papers. Of the three kids, only my Aunt Betty is still alive. She lives in the Denver area.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Bombing of stores was pretty commnplace during the period. During the early 30s, thee was a dynamite blast at (about) 808 South Clinton (I think it was where Anderson's Floral shop was located in the early 50s). Apparently, the blasts were reprisals to businesses (mostly "beauty shops") for not paying protection to the mob. During the blast, there were three children upstairs that felt the full force of the blast - my father, my uncle and my Aunt Betty. Betty was very young at the time. She was covered in blankets at the rear of the apartment and was not injured from the glass fragments. My father and uncle were. My grandmother was severely injured from the blast and succombed to the wounds before her 33rd birthday. This left my grandfather to raise the three children. I have the article somewhere. It's too big for me to scan - a full page spread in the Trenton papers. Of the three kids, only my Aunt Betty is still alive. She lives in the Denver area.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Omadf said...

Hi Tom, Interesting article. Our family restaurant was on Hamilton Ave and Pasola's Barber Shop on Franklin backed up to our back yard. Billy Pasola (who must have been the grandson of the barber mentioned in the article) went to Villa Victoria with me. He also became a barber and eventually moved down to Pt. Pleasant and opened a barber shop. My granddad was also a barber in Trenton and he moved there from Pt Pleasant. Strange coincidence as Billy's barber shop in Point Pleasant was on the corner of the street where my granddad was born many decades before. Kind of confusing but proof that the Circle of Life continues. Billy & I were born in 1935 so the fire was long before our time.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

1931: A FIRE SALE IN THE DEPTHS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION

Just look at those prices! Even before the fire sale at Haveson's, the "Regular" prices shown are a livid example of how tough the times were back during the Great Depression. Imagine paying $5.95 for an overcoat, or a suit marked down from $15 to $20 for the amazing price of $4.95! This was one of the years when many citizens were unable to keep their homes, had no work, and some were even selling apples on the street corners of American cities.The chopper view of the neighborhood and the location of the Haveson store is marked in the graphic. The most beautiful building in Trenton during that era was the furniture store of J.B. Van Sciver. Judy and I had a rock maple dining set from that quality furniture store that lasted for many years. 

The building still stands today. Surprisingly, they didn't demolish it with the wreckers' ball!

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT BOND'S SOLD A SUIT WITH TWO PAIR OF PANTS FOR 25 DOLLARS AT THAT TIME. AND REGARDING VAN SCIVERS, MY FRIENDS FATHER MR. PAGLIARO, WAS ONE OF THE MASONS INVOLVED IN THE STONE WORK DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THAT BUILDING. REGARDS.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

1831: HAMILTON SQUARE RECEIVES HOUSE NUMBERS

Even though this article deals with events in Hamilton government those 80 years ago, it is interesting to note that the township decided to give street numbers to the homes in Hamilton Square. Commercial delivery establishments were having difficulty locating recipients with addresses merely reading "Hamilton Square."

1886: AN ADVERTISING EXTRACT TRENTON DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS

I have always had a "soft spot" for old advertising, whether for old automobiles or merchants who once set up shop in our local area. The above vignette is a representation of just a few of the downtown establishments that were popular back then. Convery's Furniture survived until the 1960's when rioters burned the town down and looted many Trenton stores.

Note: I have not been able to establish the exact location of DeCou's building lots. I do know that it was within the boundary of South Broad Street, Chambers, and South Clinton Avenue. The ad also includes Hamilton Street which was probably re-named. I don't know which area street was once Hamilton Street. Time will tell. 

Chris said...

Hi Tom, From Trenton Historical Society's Web site: "GENESEE STREET... This thoroughfare was once designated Hamilton Street in honor of Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury. Its name was changed to Genesee Street by ordinance passed November 1, 1889, in order to avoid confusion with Hamilton Avenue. Genesee Street was probably named for Genesee Falls in New York."

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

THANKS "CHRIS" FOR THE INFORMATION THAT HAMILTON STREET WAS TODAY'S GENESEE STREET.

YOUR INFORMATION IS MUCH APPRECIATED. THANKS FOR VISITING!

TOM GLOVER

Mack said...

Hi Tom:) I too love old advertising and when they digitize newspapers for libraries, they remove the advertising. The advertisements are an important part of the history of any area and to remove them is wrong. Thus the digitized version of the Trenton Times from 1993 on and the Trentonian from 2000 on only will mention stores and restaurants if they are reviewed or somehow part of a written piece. I hope in future days they find a way to include them, even if just as a suppliment or list.

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

1897: TRENTON INDUSTRIAL EDITION, PAGE1

Unfortunately, there are limitations to posting larger graphics on the web. The larger the image, the smaller the written word. The printed word is legible on my 17 inch LCD monitor, but I don't think those who have the old CRT tube monitors will be able to read the accompanying text. However, this page (Page 1) from the DAILY STATE GAZETTE 4 page insert from July 31, 1897 gives an idea of the really nice engravings of Trenton's more notable sites.

1937: REMEMBER THE READING STATION ON NO. BROAD STREET?

I have been diligently working on source material for the Reynolds Middle School 50th anniversary program which will be held this week, and have limited my blog posts for today.

This graphic shows what the Battle Monument area along North Broad and Tucker Streets in Trenton looked like 74 years ago, and of course, the lower birds' eye view shows the area today. This is one of a number of high definition Trenton area folders I received many years ago from Mr. Bob Kelly.

1916: MOTT SCHOOL, CENTRE STREET TRENTON

This photo and article from 1916 gives a nice view of Trenton's Mott School. The historic edifice has been the school of many notable Trentonians over the years, and continues today to educate South Trenton students. My friend, the late Leon "Lee" Buker gave me a photo copy of an 8-1/2 x 14 twelve page pamphlet entitled, "MOTT SCHOOL MEMORIES' which is filled with brief memories of many of the alumni who attended the school from its earliest years up to 1983 when the pamphlet was published. Unfortunately the interesting document does not lend itself to re-producing as a web graphic. I am working on bringing extracts of some of those memories, and will publish them in future blog posts.The building to the right in the photo is of the Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church which was also a South Trenton landmark.

1906: CARROLL ROBBINS SCHOOL-IN THE BEGINNING

Just now I am going through my growing "SCHOOLS, TRENTON" folder in the Local History Digital database. I had wanted so much to be a teacher when I was a boy, but Mom and Pop Glover couldn't affore the $900 tuition at Ewing's Trenton State Teachers College. Even though I never made the grade, historical information on our early schools holds a special fascination for me. From the quaint one room school houses of the 19th century, to the evolution of the larger "neighborhood schools" in the early 20th century, one will find many school references on this website.
(Of course, My Kuser School, and Hamilton High School web sites reflect my personal affection for both of those local institutions of learning. (www.hhs51.blogspot.com and www.kuser-school.blogspot.com )
The beautiful old building still stands on Tyler Street in the city of Trenton. Its neighbor, the old Trenton High School was located diagonally across the "lots" on Greenwood and Chestnut Avenue. This article gives a detailed description of the building as it was proposed in the 1906 article above. It would be interesting to learn how many changes have taken place over the past century.

An interesting history of Carroll Robbins, for whom the school was named, can be found at

http://www.trenton.k12.nj.us/Robbins/THE%20HISTORY%20OF%20CARROLL%20ROBBINS.pdf

1896: THE NEW JAMES MOSES SCHOOL

It was a landmark along Villa Park's Park Avenue when I was a boy. I passed the school whenever I was going to Tony Amato's for a haircut, ,or to Margerum's delicatessen on the corner of Hamilton and Park Avenue to get a "side by side" double dip French Vanilla ice cream cone. Many local Villa Park residents went to Moses school; indeed, I would bet that many who are no longer residents of that fascinating community in Trenton also attended the school. like many neighborhood schools, Moses became the victim of the wrecker's ball and is no more, but I'm sure the memories remain for those who were educated there,.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...THAT CORNER OF PARK AND HAMILTON WAS PRETTY BUSY WITH THE SCHOOL NEARBY, THE STORE AND OF COURSE, DEARDEN'S BUICK OPERATION TAKING UP A GOOD PORTION. DEARDEN'S BROTHER BILL,WHO WAS THE STATE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSIONER, WAS OUR NEIGHBOR ON BERT AVE. IN THE 30'S. REGARDS TO ALL.

Saturday, February 05, 2011