2011: GRICE MIDDLE SCHOOL AT 50 YEARS

Is there any doubt in anyone's mind who is over 60 years old how time flies? 50 years ago, in 1961, Hamilton's two new "middle schools" were opened and changed our local educational process forever. From the relatively rural "K through 8" system which I and many of my contemporaries experienced, to the current system wherein students begin their elementary education in our local grammar schools from "K through 5," then move on to our two middle schools, Grice an Reynolds for "6 through 8," then on to one of our 3 high schools for "9 through 12."

Steve Csorgo Jr said...

Tom, I remember Grice well. Started 7th grade in sept. 64 and left after completing 9th grade in june 67. Then moved to the new Steinert High Building in sept. 67. I hope to visit you soon with some more Hamilton stuff including Grice yearbooks etc. Steve

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Thanks, Steve. I'll look forward to seeing you,

Tom Glover

1944: BEFORE IT BECAME THE WOODLAWN POOL

Many of us spent many hot summer days at the Woodlawn Pool over on Connecticut Avenue in the Bromley section of Trenton. The pool is no more, having been replaced by a number of vinyl clad homes.

SJBill said...

There were a lot of great local swimming spots way back when. Being a Burg kid, my Dad used to swim in the old "Water Power" off of S. Broad St. near where Capitol Motors was located. Dur ing my years, Woodlawn Pool was close enough for to get to by bicycle. During the late forties - early fifties, our family used to frequent Gropp's Lake. Some daredevils would always be diving from the S. Broad Street bridge. IIRC, there was a good pinball machine near the front entrance. Another great place was the Hiohela Sportland out in Pennington, but that was a drive away. Weren't the buildings all painted orange and black? My favorite was the old Hopewell Quarry - a beautiful, but very dangerous place. The water was cool, clean, clear and very deep. It was surrounded by high stone quarried-out walls that you could climb - barefoot, of course. WHen you jumped, you needed to get as much clearance as possible or pay dearly. The best place, from which we were innoculated by every toxin and bacteria known to man, was the Delaware River. From the railroad bridge to Philly, we swam and waterskiied every inch. Loved it! ;-)

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Michael said...

SJ Bill: Those turbulent waters of the Deleware at the Old Docks below the Railroad bridge hold many memories for me also. As a charter member of the "South Trenton River Rats". It was a right of passage to get up on the Railroad bridge, in late spring with my buddies Joe Bastecki (now my brother in Law), Johnny (Ninny) Dvorak and his brother Stanley (Tyo) and jump off into the water below, but only after Chester Migut would clear the "Dog Boils" (foam) off the spot we aimed for. Another spot to swim was the "Island" just over The Trenton Makes Bridge" where swimming out to "Elephant Rock" was a fete to crow about! Don't forget the old canal feeder along the Deleware from Morrisville to Yardley and Black Rock; does anyone remember when it was referred too as "Dead Cow"? Lastly there was always the Gravel Pits ( the old Warner Site between Morrisville and Tullytown) Where many a young Trentonian lost his life on a hot humid summers night! Too deep, to big, and too remote a place to chance it for us little guys. Did it much later in life. Happy times to all. Mike Kuzma

We used to swim often at the Gravel Pits. I can remember going through that railroad tunnel (?) to get there.

Tom Glover

1940's: REMEMBERING THE PUNCH OUT "CHANCE BOARD"

The article above has been extracted from a 25 year old "THE WAY WE WERE" column which I wrote for the late, great, Mercer Messenger. It is subject most of my fellow residents of "wrinkle city" will fondly remember! There are very few of those distinguished seniors who hasn't at one time or another plopped down a penny or perhaps a few hard-earned pennies and punched out a dot or two on the old punch board. When you punched out that little quarter inch round dot, your opened it and found a name on it. In the column to the right of the board was an alphabetical list of names. I happened to punch out "Mary Lou" as I wrote in the article above. I went to "Mary Lou" and wrote in "Tommy Glover;." and waited anxiously for the rest of the board to be punched. Then came the magic day. That big RED seal you see on the punch board was a very large "dot." When Nellie McEwan opened it.....MARY LOU! I won! No, not that Lone Ranger gun as you see in the punch board illustrated. I won 25 cents worth of penny candy! 25 cents! One of those little brown penny candy bags filled to the top! BOLSTERS, PINWHEELS, KITS CARAMELS, BANANA BATS, ALL DAY SUCKERS, NON PARIELS, GRADE "A", MARY JANES, and too many others to list.

2011: DON'T BE INHIBITED; SHARE YOUR COMMENTS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS!

One of the nice things about this blog (assuming it survives the years) is in the comments which visitors add to a given post. Below is a cut/copy/paste with comments of a recent post relating to John A. Roebling-C.V. Hill baseball game just posted a few days ago. As I began to read these inciteful entries, it occurred to me that some of our more active visitors who are comfortable with verbal composition sent in some very interesting observations. It's observations such as these that my grandchildren will find most interesting if and when they mature and seek information on the way we lived. Keep those comments coming; they are valuable!


I USED THIS INTRODUCTION TO THE POST REFERRED TO ABOVE:
Pleasant memories are one of the many gifts bestowed upon us by our Creator. This is especially true for we senior citizens. To all the younger generation who visit this blog, as you age, you will realize that memories of your younger years will be a very important part of your life. That classic old hymn calls them "Precious Memories," which indeed they are. This is one of the reasons I subtitle this blog, "LOCAL HISTORY WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH."

As long as there are visitors like Ralph Lucarella, Sally Gillman, "Lakeside Girl," "Mike Kuzma," "Lee Belardino," and too many others to list who write with very welcome comments relating to their memories of younger years, I will continue to provide a very pleasant mix of bittersweet nostalgia, along with many little known historic articles that relate to our local area. It is my belief that indulging ourselves in these pleasant visits to the past are a healthy and rewarding pastime that leaves us with a sense of well being.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM.....YOUR COMMENTS TODAY ARE SO VERY TRUE AND BRING BACK THE HAPPY DAYS OF OUR YOUTH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY LOVE OF SPORTS AND LIVING SO CLOSE TO WETZEL FIELD AND ALL THE FRIENDS IN THE BURG AND VILLA PARK. THE DEPRESSION YEARS OF THE 30'S GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPENDMOST OF OUR TIME OUTDOORS AND HELPED ME TO STILL BE AROUND TODAY. BEST REGARDS.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Well said Ralph. We were poor but didn't know we were poor! In the long rung we are better people for the trials and tribulations we endured during those difficult years.

Tom Glover

Michael said...

Tom: Hope you and the family had a happy, and blessed Easter. I say unabashedly, that besides my family; in particular my grandchildren; Aleksander Michael of Virginia, and Emily Elizabeth of Pennington NJ, I look forward to reading your columms and adding what little memories I have to share. The opportunity to share joyful memories of our youth,and the impetus you provide us to do so, it most appreciated. Keep up the good work. Best regards Mike Kuzma

MANY THANKS, MIKE. IT'S FOLKS LIKE YOU WHO MAKE ALL THE HARD WORK EASY. AS TO MY EASTER (AND MY EASTER DAY 57TH ANNIVERSARY, A REAL PROBLEM. I CAME DOWN WITH A WALL BANGING HEAD COLD AND UNFORTUNATELY SHARED IT WITH MY WIFE. PLEASE KEEP THOSE ALWAYS LUCID KUZMA MEMORIES COMING!

TOM GLOVER

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: The Logan family was lucky to have had one car. When my mother needed something at the store, I rode my bike to Hermitage Avenue and back to Carteret. When there were too many groceries for my bike basket, my mother, sister and I walked to the store and hiked back, each carrying a bag or two of groceries. I walked every where that the bus did not go and never thought anything of it. I used to walk home from Rider, through downtown, to save bus fare. It was just second nature and part of the wonderful growing-up years in Trenton. They are memories I would not trade for anything.

Tom's reply to Sally:

Most of our generation feel the same way, Sally. As to the bus, when my kids were growing up, they couldn't believe that I had to wait for a "Crosstown" Trenton Transit bus at the corner of Greenwood and South Olden Avenue to get to my Trenton Bearing job at 1812 North Olden Avenue. The bus only went to Prospect Street and I had to walk the rest of the way down North Olden Avenue to Parkside Avenue. Then after a quick sandwich at 5 PM, it was another walk back up to North Olden Avenue and Prospect Street where Jerry Fisher and I served soft "frozen custard" ice cream until 11 PM closing, and I got a ride home in Jerry's car.

(Come to think of it, I can't believe that I did that every day until I bought a 1938 Ford Business Coupe for twenty five bucks.)

Tom Glover

Monday, April 25, 2011

April 27:

Sally Logan Gilman said...

And I thought I was a hiker.

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.
There is some interesting reading in these articles dealing with the Lakeside Park area of the early part of the 20th century. The Venetian Carnival was an affair where boaters floated along in a delightful parade with their vessels aglow. Medford Lakes residents still carry on a similar attraction. I always thought i.It would be nice to see Gropp's Lake once again made into a swimming area; especially now that the cost of gas is going to restrict many families to local facilities.

Anonymous said...

Tom - I believe in another of your Lakeside blogs there is a picture from the newspaper of one of the winning decorated boats. Lakeside Girl

Monday, May 02, 2011

YES ELEANOR, I DID POST THE ABOVE PHOTO-ARTICLE BACK IN JULY, 2009. I AM RE-PRINTING IT HERE.

TOM GLOVER.

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: Read your Hutchinson Pond posting with interest. My grandfather, David S. Hutchinson, who owned the grist mill, was a freeholder. Regards.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Anonymous said...

Tom - Thank you, thank you for this glimpse of Lakeside long ago! What a sight it must have been! I read with pleasure the names of my grandfather and great-grandfather as two of the organizers of these events. If there were only pictures of this! Before the shore was popular and before folks had the cars to travel there, local places like Lakeside fulfilled the need for getting away to a summer place for rest and relaxation. The city was stifling then in the days before air-conditioning and the water presented a welcome respite. As I understand, some even came for health reasons as stayed in the local hotel or rented cottages from owners. A true old time resort! Lakeside Girl Thank you, Eleanor. To be honest, I saw the entries for your family and was curious as to whether you and/or George would find them. All of which proves that some of those articles that some may find boring are of intense interest to others, and the reason I will continue to post these historic articles that have been buried like hidden treasures. Tom Glover

1937: STEWART O'DONNEL CITY LEAGUE BASEBALL CHAMPIONS

I watched a number of games played by the local baseball players. An interesting facet of local baseball lies in the fact that the games were really popular during the 30's and early 40's before the advent of television. My favorite was the Industrial League where I saw my neighbor "Renny" Funari and other team heroes whose names have long been forgotten by me. Above is a photo that I would be will bring pleasant memories to our local baseball guru, Ralph Lucarella. Ralph knew most of the players during this era.

Ralph Lucarella said...
HI TOM....I PLAYED IN THAT LEAGUE WITH THE BONNANI-GUERIO'S. KEWPI INNOCENZI WAS OUR MANAGER AND WE DID FAIRLY WELL. I KNEW MOST OF THE PLAYERS FROM ALL THE LEAGUES THAT PLAYED AT WETZEL FIELD. THE CITY LEAGUE WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AMONG THE MANY LEAGUES IN THE CITY. THE BIG LEAGUE WAS THE CENTRAL-JERSEY WHICH WAS CONSIDERED A SEMI-PRO LEAGUE. I WAS PRETTY YOUNG AND ENJOYED PLAYING WITH THE OLDER GUYS. BEST REGARDS.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

1937: A NIGHT OUT IN THE 1930's

Even in the depths of the Great Depression, local folks found time to lose their troubles for a night out. Perhaps for a dinner few hours at the movies.

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SJBill said...

(Upper right corner of the ad) The Ewing Riding Club was in operation back in the late 60s - early 70s. The bar-restaurant was not of high quality, but it was a cheap venue for hosting gatherings following road rallies and such. We once used the pay-phone booth to hook up a phone modem to a time-share computer which gave us "instant" scoring for each of the rally competitors (the code was written in Basic, and I believe this was a historic "first"). The bar out back was still open late in the night after we "closed" places like Murphy's Chuckwagon (I was still single then!). A greatplace to get that last "Seven & Seven". IRRC the Riding Club was out on Bear Tavern Road (on the way to Harbourton) near the small circle in the road.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

1898; BEFORE IT WAS E.L. KERNS

Mr. Kerns married a young lady by the name of Lizzie Meyers back in the late 1890's and apparently got his start in the business of selling beer and ultimately soda. I have on old Kerns and Meyer soda bottle in my collection. As for me, I am now and was back then a fan of Kern's Cream Soda. RED in color, not yellow! More to come on Kerns in a future post. The Rose Street above is no more, having morphed in Old and New Rose Streets. Interestingly, Meyer Court still exists in the area of Sanford, Old Rose and Brunswick Avenue.

JoeZ said...
Tom: Kern's Cream Soda was my favorite also. Root Beer was great too. Is All-Fathers Candy Co. still around?

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Yes, Joe. I just moved over to Carlo Benedetti's Drug Store from CVS. While I was waiting for a prescription, I saw one sitting on the counter. Those Allfathers coconut Easter eggs with the yellow yolk are to die for. I bought one. I think it was five bucks. Like everything in today's economy, that huge 5 inch Allfathers Easter egg has dwindled down in size to about 3 inches. But it is still beyond compare.

JoeZ said...
Thanks Tom, those were great. Episcopo's was our drug store, nice to go to a family run business.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

omad said...

Coincidence, maybe, but I think things come up that we all remember. Spent last week in the hospital with a problem that is on the mend. But, what was amazing is my room mate was from North Jersey and one of nurses mentioned "those big firm coconut Easter eggs with the orange center" and my room mate had no idea what we were talking about. All that morning when the nurses and aides came in they were all talking about if they knew those eggs. Made for great conversation. We could not remember the name at first (I was kinda out of it on meds), but it suddenly came to me and we all talked about our experiences with them when we were young. I know we sold them in the front of our restaurant on Hamilton, but down the street was Shirley Anne's homemade candy and most folks went there. Your column brings back so many great, almost forgotten memories. Thanx again.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Anonymous said...

Joe, was the egg at Benedetti's or CVS? I live not down the shore and would LOVE to find one of them. HI ANONYMOUS: AS INDICATED ABOVE, I BOUGHT THE ALLFATHERS EASTER EGG AT CARLO BENEDETTI'S "OLDEN PHARMACY" ON SOUTH OLDEN AVENUE IN HAMILTON. CARLO CARRIES MOST OF THE TOP OF THE LINE CONFECTIONS IN HIS STORE. TOM GLOVER

Carlo Benedetti said...

Hi Tom, belated Easter wishes!! I did not realize you had started dealing at our pharmacy. Welcome!!...I'm only there a few hours a week now, so evidently I was not there when you came in. I'll make sure to tell Carlo Jr. to take good care of you! Yes, those Allfathers eggs are smaller, but people come from all over to make their Easter extra special!! My Easter basket was not complete without a large one in the center!!

Sunday, May 01, 2011

1937:TRENTON INDUSTRIAL BASEBALL LEAGUE

Pleasant memories are one of the many gifts bestowed upon us by our Creator. This is especially true for we senior citizens. To all the younger generation who visit this blog, as you age, you will realize that memories of your younger years will be a very important part of your life. That classic old hymn calls them "Precious Memories," which indeed they are. This is one of the reasons I subtitle this blog, "LOCAL HISTORY WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH."

As long as there are visitors like Ralph Lucarella, Sally Gillman, "Lakeside Girl," "Mike Kuzma," "Lee Belardino," and too many others to list who write with very welcome comments relating to their memories of younger years, I will continue to provide a very pleasant mix of bittersweet nostalgia, along with many little known historic articles that relate to our local area. It is my belief that indulging ourselves in these pleasant visits to the past are a healthy and rewarding pastime that leaves us with a sense of well being.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM.....YOUR COMMENTS TODAY ARE SO VERY TRUE AND BRING BACK THE HAPPY DAYS OF OUR YOUTH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY LOVE OF SPORTS AND LIVING SO CLOSE TO WETZEL FIELD AND ALL THE FRIENDS IN THE BURG AND VILLA PARK. THE DEPRESSION YEARS OF THE 30'S GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPENDMOST OF OUR TIME OUTDOORS AND HELPED ME TO STILL BE AROUND TODAY. BEST REGARDS.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Well said Ralph. We were poor but didn't know we were poor! In the long rung we are better people for the trials and tribulations we endured during those difficult years.

Tom Glover

Michael said...

Tom: Hope you and the family had a happy, and blessed Easter. I say unabashedly, that besides my family; in particular my grandchildren; Aleksander Michael of Virginia, and Emily Elizabeth of Pennington NJ, I look forward to reading your columms and adding what little memories I have to share. The oppotrtunity to share joyful memories of our youth,and the impetus you provide us to do so, it most appreciated. Keep up the good work. Best regards Mike Kuzma

MANY THANKS, MIKE. IT'S FOLKS LIKE YOU WHO MAKE ALL THE HARD WORK EASY. AS TO MY EASTER (AND MY EASTER DAY 57TH ANNIVERSARY, A REAL PROBLEM. I CAME DOWN WITH A WALL BANGING HEAD COLD AND UNFORTUNATELY SHARED IT WITH MY WIFE. PLEASE KEEP THOSE ALWAYS LUCID KUZMA MEMORIES COMING!

TOM GLOVER

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: The Logan family was lucky to have had one car. When my mother needed something at the store, I rode my bike to Hermitage Avenue and back to Carteret. When there were too many groceries for my bike basket, my mother, sister and I walked to the store and hiked back, each carrying a bag or two of groceries. I walked every where that the bus did not go and never thought anything of it. I used to walk home from Rider, through downtown, to save bus fare. It was just second nature and part of the wonderful growing-up years in Trenton. They are memories I would not trade for anything.

Tom's reply to Sally:

Most of our generation feel the same way, Sally. As to the bus, when my kids were growing up, they couldn't believe that I had to wait for a "Crosstown" Trenton Transit bus at the corner of Greenwood and South Olden Avenue to get to my Trenton Bearing job at 1812 North Olden Avenue. The bus only went to Prospect Street and I had to walk the rest of the way down North Olden Avenue to Parkside Avenue. Then after a quick sandwich at 5 PM, it was another walk back up to North Olden Avenue and Prospect Street where Jerry Fisher and I served soft "frozen custard" ice cream until 11 PM closing, and I got a ride home in Jerry's car.

(Come to think of it, I can't believe that I did that every day until I bought a 1938 Ford Business Coupe for twenty five bucks.)

Tom Glover

Monday, April 25, 2011

1937: CHOOSING SIDES AT CHAMBERSBURG'S COLUMBUS PARK

C'mon you guys, level with me. Does your memory go back to the days of "sandlot" baseball where we didn't have uniforms, didn't have cleated shoes, didn't have base markers? We played over at Plaag's Grove on Sylvan Avenue, a block away from Cedar Lane. Our bases would be an old five gallon lid from a can of paint, or a large stone, or even a paper plate from Mom's kitchen. Our baseball would be a sad sphere which was wrapped with friction tape. The cover long ago being knocked off of the ball. And what about that very familiar custom of "choosing up" or "choosing sides?" Remember how two guys performed the process? Flip the bat to your buddy, call out "no fingers," and the guy who wound up with his complete had at the top of the bat got to choose the first player for his team. What great fun we had, and I bet that many of my visitors will send me their stories for inclusion on the page.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....AS KIDS WE PLAYED ON THE CORNER OF QUINTON AND LIBERTY STS. WE CALLED IT DIAMOND FIELD. THIS WAS IN THE EARLY 1930'S AND YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW WE DID IT. THE BALLS WERE TAPED, THE BATS WERE BROKEN AND TAPED, THE GLOVES WERE WORN AND WE ONLY HEARD OF SPIKE SHOES. WE CHOOSE SIDES WITH A BAT AND HEAVEN HELPED THE CARS THAT WENT BY. WE PLAYED TEAMS FROM DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND USUALLY ENDED UP IN A FIGHT, BUT WE DID HAVE FUN AND MADE THE BEST OF IT. THOSE WERE THE DAYS. REGARDS.

Friday, April 22, 2011

1937: THE PHILLIES AND SENATORS COME TO DUNN FIELD TRENTON

Do you remember Dunn Field? It was over on the Brunswick Circle within the bounds of Princeton and Brunswick Avenues. I was an occasional visitor to Dunn Field during my Trenton Giant years. It was also the home field of the Trenton Senators back in the 1930's. Imagine how excited local Phillies fans were when the team came to Dunn field for an exhibition game!

Anonymous said...

I played many a game on the former Dunn Field lot. Penn Fruit, a large supermarket was nice enough to keep the field mowed and all of our pick up games were played there and that was almost daily during the summers of the late 1950's into the 1960's. It is currently the State Lottery and I think the grass is gone. Oddly, as kids this never came up and we never made the connection between the Dunnfield Auto Parts store across from it on Princeton Avenue. That patch of ground was also the home of Pix Hamburgers (5 for a $1) and Circle Lanes. Skip

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

THANKS FOR THAT INTERESTING INPUT, SKIP. THANKS ALSO FOR VISITING!

Michael said...

Just to clarify matters, Dunn Field was owned by the Diocese of Tremton, It never contained "Circle Lanes" which was owned by John Mastrasimone, the father of Dr. Angelo Mastrosimone, John Simone the prominent Real Estate Broker, and The famous Playright son who wrote the Burning Bed. The "lanes were located across the street, directly across from Heavy Salvage Yard On Princeton Ave. Penn Fruit was located a large store there and the Post office built a substation on the Brunswick Ave. frontage. Tommy Heath was the Manager of the Trenton Giants, and I saw Willie Mays play there along with Robin Roberts, and others in the old Interstate League. The kids were allowed in free in what was called "The knot hole gang" We were not close to the action, but we were inside the field. Does anyone remember in I think 1946 the polio epidemic kept the park dark because of the scare of spreading the disease. Who among us could forget wearing the "Duke Tabacco pouches filled with camphor to ward off the disease? In regards to the "Industrial League", my cousin Chet Kuzma played for American Steel and Wire's team for a number of years.An outstanding athlete, whose abilities did run in the family, unfortunately! Regards Mike Kuzma

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Michael said...

correction:did not run in the family Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Anonymous said...

Sorry Mike, I should have written that we hit the ball from alongside the Penn Fruit wall and into Pix or Circle Lanes, usually on a bounce but Ed Smolinski and a few other were known to put one over traffic. He tried out for the Phillies. Skip

Thursday, April 21, 2011

1937: VISITOR BILL MORROW NEEDS INFO ON THE TRENTON INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE

Hi Tom: My cousin Cindy Wilson Denlinger just phoned me to inform me about your website. I have been a "family history" researcher for over 20 years. Was born 1935 in Trenton on Potter Ave. (just behind the old State Fair Grounds).
Can you assist me with locating any information about the old Industrial Baseball League circa 1929-1937? I believe my father played in this league for the Maddocks Pottery Team. His name should appear in some of the box scores placed in the paper. (I am a Jr.) ALL of my mother's ancestors have lived in Hunterdon and adjacent counties for over 350 years. Thanks for any information you may provide.

HERE'S WHAT I HAVE FOUND, BILL. (SEE THE GRAPHICS BELOW) PERHAPS OUR LOCAL BASEBALL EXPERT RALPH LUCARELLA CAN ADD SOME LOCAL COLOR:

Hi again Tom:

Thank you so much for your prompt and informative response to my request. I have printed out the articles for my family history records.These 2 newspaper items confirm the fact that the boyhood stories I heard about my Dad pitching for the Maddocks Pottery team were in fact true. A real coincidence, the article dated 29 June 1937 was one of my sisters birthdays (she was born in 1931 if memory serves me correctly, later on 29 June 1941 our younger brother was born.) My birthday is 1 July so June 30 was a VERY IMPORTANT day in our house when all three birthdays were celebrated. Are you aware of any articles, memories, books etc. that have been written about the subject baseball league. I would very much like to get in touch with your "baseball expert" if he is willing to correspond. Again thank you very much Tom for taking the time and effort to add to my family history lore.

THIS FROM RALPH LUCARELLA:

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM AND BILL...I SURE RECALL THE INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE BACK IN 1937. I KNEW MOST OF THE PLAYERS AND SAW MOST OF THE GAMES AT WETZEL FIELD. IT WAS A VERY STRONG LEAGUE WITH THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE CITY AND ELSEWHERE INVOLVED. I PLAYED AGAINST MANY OF THE PLAYERS IN LEGION BALL AND OTHER LEAGUES. BEST REGARDS.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

THANKS, RALPH. BILL IS VERY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE AND YOU ARE THE GUY THAT CAN HELP HIM. I KNEW YOU WERE ON A FIRST NAME BASIS WITH MANY OF THE GUYS IN THE LEAGUE. I NEED YOUR PERMISSION TO GIVE OUT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES, BILL AND RALPH. LET ME KNOW.

Best Regards,

Bill

Many thanks to Reg Butterer for sending this undated-unsourced article on still another team where Bill Morrow played. I never heard of the Independent League; it deserves further research.

Tom Glover

1923: DEATH OF MRS. RUDOLPH (ROSALIE) KUSER

Mrs. Kuser was one of the more prominent members of society back in the early years of the Kuser family. She was a very active citizen who played a major part in the development of St. Francis Hospital, where her portrait was placed in honor of her tireless financial and social involvement with the hospital. There are other stories on Rosalie Kuser on this blog. If you go to the upper left where the "SEARCH BLOG" space is (with the magnifying glass), type in Rosalie Kuser, Rosalie, etc., wait a few seconds, then arrow down (still on the home page.) Any and all references to Rosalie Kuser will be shown.

1923: KUSER SCHOOL PTA

1923: DIDN'T I TELL YOU HAMILTON TOWNSHIP WAS A RURAL COMMUNITY?

I'm sure I will run across the article that tells of the "elimination" of the wandering wolf that had Hamilton residents on edge some 88 years ago. Early articles tell a very interesting story about wildlife in Hamilton in years gone by. There was an account of Bald Eagles appearing in the area, wandering bears, and I'm sure other forms of wildlife. In my 77 years, at least 45 of which have been dedicated to bird watching, I have seen the bird population evacuate a lot of the area in which I live. Kuser Farm, before the township took it over was my favorite site for "birding." There were Brown Thrashers, Thrushes, Phoebes, Towhees, Woodcocks, Catbirds, Red Wing Blackbirds, Baltimore Orioles, and too many others to mention. All have left the area that was once loaded with deep forestation, all of which has been removed so that visitors to the park wouldn't be subjected to poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and the brambles of the blackberry bushes that once proliferated in an area created by the Almighty. I miss those vestiges of rural Kuser Farm, but as the man said, "PROGRESS."

1917: ANYBODY WANT TO BUY AN AUTO.......CHEAP?

Check out some of the prices on a Saxon roadster or a Jordan Six; where would you find a better deal? Here's a list of Trenton and Trenton area auto dealers who were participating in the 1917 Trenton Auto Show at the Armory.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....IT SEEMS I RECALL WE HAD A CAR CALLED "STAR" IN 1926. IT REALLY WAS A LULU, SHADES ON THE WINDOWS, FLOWER VASES ON THE SIDES AND I BELIEVE IT HAD TO BE CRANKED TO START. MY MOTHER WAS THE ONLY DRIVER AND THAT ENDED WHEN SHE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH A WILNO'S LAUNDRY TRUCK. MY BROTHER LOU WAS JUST OLD ENOUGH TO GET A LICENSE SO HE TOOK OVER. MY MA NEVER DROVE AFTER THAT. THAT'S WHEN WE DROVE TO THE JERSEY SHORE ON A DIRT ROAD AND HAD TO KEEP THE WINDOWS UP. IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT GENERATION. REGARDS.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Michael said...

Tom: Seeing the old auto dealers advertisements brings back many memories of the cars of yesterday. My last office while working for the City of Trenton, was located in the old Brock Buick Building which became the Trenton City Hall annex. Directly across from City Hall, it sold Buicks, Peerless, and Winton. The Tremont Lounge was the corner of the building that extended back the whole block to what was the old "Trenton Arena", Swain Hielman sold Republic trucks in my old neighborhood before I was born on what was than "Fair St., later becoming "Bloomsbury St." Back in the 50's, I lived just two doors from the old "J.I. Peoples Auto sales there was a car lot when I left to get married in 62 and is next to what was Moses Cleaners, just a few doors from Pat's Diner which I read is still there and thriving. My dad's company trucks were "Diamond T", and Federal.Both sold locally.

Regards Mike Kuzma

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

2010: TOM REMEMBERS THOSE PRE PUBESCENT TEEN YEARS

For the record: That photo of me dates back to 1951 before the onset of gray hair. Many of my generation will relate to the article in this week's Trenton Times as I recall the painful process of growing to maturity. I was what is known as a "late bloomer;" both mentally and physically. However, I still had that male fascination with all those lovely girls at Hamilton High!

2011: TOM GLOVER'S SUMMER MUSIC PROGRAM AT KUSER PARK

I am currently working on the weekly musical selections that will be a part of my 2011 summer time music presentations "The Music We Grew Up With," and "When Music Was Music" at the Kuser Park Gazebo. Last season proved to be disappointing with the very rainy and inclement weather. This year I am looking at beginning the programs in June, July, and a week or 2 in August. The programs will alternate between hours, with 3 to 5, and 6 to 8. Organizing these events prove to be a somewhat sizable undertaking. I will have full details within a few weeks. Stay tuned.

1917: NORTH TRENTON (AND WEST) COMMUNITY NEWS

There was a pervert prowling around the western section of the city, randomly throwing his arms around unsuspecting ladies. As related in the above article, he has the neighborhood up in arms in their search for him. Even then, we had that certain element in our society. The only difference between then and now is in the way our judicial system taps the wrist area of offenders be they "huggers," muggers, or other anti social individuals.

1917: CHAMBERSBURG COMMINITY NEWS

These weekly pages of local history of various Trenton area neighborhoods contain not only interesting, bit historically valuable bits and pieces of the persons, places, and news that took place many years ago. There are similar weekly articles on Wilbur (which usually includes Bromley), South Trenton, North Trenton, etc. As the more significant ones are uncovered, they will be posted. Note that the size of the page precludes scanning the entire page. Non-local advertising and insignificant articles are eliminated in order to bring the most important articles to the page.

SJBill said...

That Dayton Bicycle Store at 852 S. Broad St. is the site of the former and "new" (built in 1950s) Chambersburg Branch of US Post Office.

Friday, April 15, 2011