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Monday, November 28, 2011

1981: EWING TOWNSHIP IN THE EARLY 1950'S

THIS IS A RE-RUN OF AN EARLIER POST THAT BEARS REPEATING. EWING, LIKE HAMILTON HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS. ONLY A FEW OF US REMEMBER "UNION OP," WHICH WAS LOCATED ON NORTH OLDEN AVENUE IN EWING'S CAPITAL PLAZA. IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE "BIG BOX" STORES ALONG WITH "TWO GUYS," AKA "TWO GUYS FROM HARRISON." AND DON'T FORGET THE ORIGINAL PARKSIDE DINER LOCATED IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE BEAUTIFUL NEW PARKSIDE DINER. THE ORIGINAL PARKSIDE WAS YOUR TYPICAL SHINY ALUMINUM DINER.

These two names were very familiar to me back in the 1950's when I made my daily commute to 1812 North Olden Avenue in Ewing to what would ultimately be a dead end job at the old Trenton Bearings Company where I worked for over 40 years and didn't even get a thank you Timex watch. I remember patrolman Bellando of the Ewing police force, and after more then 60 years memories of Ewing will be with me always. Speaking of Ewing, do you remember Bill Blackwell's? The Pioneer? Jack and Bob's? The Glendale? Frank Ayre's Esso Station? Cook's Luncheonette on Parkway Avenue? Trenton Axle, Wheel and Brake? Lee's Pharmacy? Vernam's Dairy? Ryan's Dairy, The Ewing Drive In? Marty's Frozen Custard Stand? Moffatt Bearing Co.? Lanning School? Fisk School? Union Op? Breihler's? Biter's Transfer? The first MacDonald's in the area, on North Olden Avenue with burgers for 15 cents each? Mrs. G's? Electrolux? The Garden Supply Co. on Pennington Road, Wow! I'm impressed at how many I remember. Any other Ewing persons, places, and things, are very welcome for inclusion in this post.

TOM:

Congrats on your well-deserved commendation from Hamilton Township!
I have to ask: I remember the name "Union Op," but have no recollection of what it was? Can you fill us in?
Many thanks.

Here's another memory relating to that particular part of the world: remember the House of Hi-Fi?

Love your blog.

Bill Smith

Mack said...

I worked at Wendy's on North Olden.remember Seafood Shanty and Korvettes. My Dad had an office on Parkway near the High School (Appraisal
Exchange)..Lenny's Gas Station near that as was a Chinese Restaurant and the Pizza place across the street. Cousins lived on Heath Street I remember that hill and Deli Delite. I remember the bug spraying truck coming by in summer. As a kid from the Burg I never saw a bug truck before. I also remember the Halo Farms. I remember Dales on the circle too:)

From Noel Goeke
Tom,
Just a few memories of Ewing I'd like to share.We bought our first living room set from Korvettes, 1 sofa, 2 chairs, 2 end tables and 2 lamps for $199. Breihlers had the best ice cream sundaes on earth and Lee's Pharmacy also had a lunch counter where we ate many suppers. I could go on about places in Ewing that we went to.
Noel
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sally, there was a small Tomato Pie place called Whitey's wedged into that slice of land on Olden just past Arctic Parkway and the pie was exceptional. In the early 60's across from Korvette's was the Blue Moon Diner and they built a hot dog eatery like McDonalds next to it called Franksville, that became Special Pizza City which is still there. Whitey had the best pie in that corner of Ewing

Ed Millerick

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

TO ALL MY EWING "COMMENTORS:" ("COMMENTERS?")

AND PEOPLE ALWAYS COMMENT ON MY MEMORY! YOU TOO, MY FRIENDS!

TOM GLOVER


32 comments:

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: It's been six yesrs since my husband and I have been in Trenton. It was for the funeral of our dear friend Connie DeRemigis who lived in Ewing. You mention the new Parkway Diner -- is it new since we were there last? There was once a tomato pie place on Parkway, across from the diner.I can't remember the name. My family shopped on Olden Ave. and there were some great tomato pie places along there too. You see where my menories are centered. Regards

Michael said...

Tom:

Here I am down south minding my p & Q's,when you come along again, and pique my memmory about No. Olden Ave!
EJ Korvettes arrived at what was to become Capitol Plaza, after Phil Leavitt bought the tract from the Pennsylvania Railroad. A little known real estate novice from South Trenton had put togeter a group of his buddies from the Trenton Elks lodge 105 consisting of Andy Caola, Bill Beitle, Jack Moran to compete with Leavitt for this former Pony farm. When everyone finished calling us crazy, the first real Shopping center came to fruition.
I played Soccer on that Vacant land, and the Vegotsky family had a stand on the corner of Princeton and Olden, across from Extenion Patio.
Union Op was located west of the Plaza, just past "Jay's Kiddierama".
I don't recall a "Parkway Diner" as Sally mentions, but the original Parkside Diner was run by Johnny Rasomovich and his family for many, many years. Across Olden Ave. was the Sherwood Inn, where Russ Radice and his band held court virutally every weekend of the 50's. Was Sally thinking of "Pizza City" across from Union Op, next to the railroad tracks?
It was near the metall fabicator ultimatey owned by Sid Sussman that became what is now Home Depot (?). How about Olden Paint & Carpet, Don Young's, Dollittle and
Allen furniture, Johnny Koslowski's fine furniture across the street. Remember Earl Cathcart's Ponitac dealiership at the corner of Olden and Artic?
House of Hi Fi, great guy owned it, was next to Coronet Appliance sales, just down from where Mrs. G relocated when the City bought her property "New Jersey Plumbing Supply" next ot Van Sciver's on South Broad St.
Now the coup de grace; Feeling poorly, and had to see a vascular surgeon down here. I asked the nurse where Dr. Piotrowski was fron since there were so many in the Trenton area. She replied "Pittsburg". When I met him, and asked about Pittsburg, he said Pittsburg, I grew up in Yardley, and spent most of my time with relatives in Ewing Township!
Turns out he worked at Carvel's for fifteen years with his cousins who lived just behind the AAMCO shop on the corner. Small world, getting smaller!
Leo Smolar was the first McDonald's franchisee on Olden ave, He was from Chicago, abd went on to control all of central NJ'golden arches. Olden Ave, cost him $25,000. for the exclusive rights.
Now the question: Was it "Alantic Mills" that was fitted into the old Industrial building Helen Bohme owned next to Frank Rasimovich's go go bar that u;timately burned down and was across Olden Ave. from Capitol Plaza? I know the answer lies within the reader's of this marvelous column.

Warm regards

Mike Kuzma

Anonymous said...

Back in the 1950's the intersection of Olden and Princeton centered around the Extension Fields of the local soccer clubs, they would be razed to make way for Capitol Plaza anchored by E. J. Korvettes and my our favorite ice cream place Costa Cottage, a laundromat and McCrory 5&10 and Sav-On Drugs.

Prior to all of that just before Capitol Motors on the corner of Arctic Parkway was Union Op which was a not so classy department store that mostly made it's money from the large arcade on the north end that was filled with pin-ball machines. You had to be careful because that was the hang out of the "hoodlums" with the "DA" haircuts and motor cycle boots that lived in the Donnelly Homes. The other corner of Princeton and Olden was Extension Patio followed by Reed Hardware and Mower shop, Extension Tavern, Bounceland trampolines and The 19'th Hole driving range. Two diners on Princeton Avenue (the original US1) were the places to eat Fritz's and the one that was razed for Gino's, The Uncle Sam Diner. Lang's Ski would later build a "swiss chalet" peak on the arcade plaza of the Union Op building and open for business. The moved down Olden and are still open as Lang's Ski & Scuba.

Ed Millerick

Anonymous said...

Sally, there was a small Tomato Pie place called Whitey's wedged into that slice of land on Olden just past Arctic Parkway and the pie was exceptional. In the early 60's across from Korvette's was the Blue Moon Diner and they built a hot dog eatery like McDonalds next to it called Franksville, that became Special Pizza City which is still there. Whitey had the best pie in that corner of Ewing

Ed Millerick

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Ed: Thank you so much for the info on Whitey's -- my friend Connie and I used to go there. It was on the right hand side just past Arctic Parkway like you said. We loved it there. Such yummy memories. It was great pie. Thanks again Ed for jogging my memory.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Some great memories of Ewing! I worked at The Glendale Inn and at Briehlers. When the Generals Quarters restaurant opened at Mercer County Airport I worked there for 12 years. Remembering most places spoke of here. Also remember The Parfait House. It's a shame that they tore down both the Parfait house(years ago) and the Glendale(about a year ago). Thanks for all the memories! John

Anonymous said...

Born in 57', my pop worked at Addressograph on the Brunswick Circle, spent a lot of time growing up doing all types of family things on/around N.Olden Ave. Landmarks remembered, Murphy's Chuck wagon @ Olden & Prospect, who could forget Phillip's Ewing Bazaar?, mentioned earlier here Whitey's (Great $3.00 large pizza), Parfait House, which became Stoy's (spelling) Ice Cream Parlour, The Sherwood Inn, Mike's Steakhouse-near McDonalds on the same side of Olden Ave, Don Youngs-went to high school with his kids. Gr8 Blog/Thanks for the memories !

dean cliver said...

I grew up in ewing and do I remember a lot of places I used to love to go to.i went to ewing high class of 62 we used to hang at mikes steak house the best chesse steaks ever,pops tomatoe pies and they did not fit in the box,and then the broken drum on prospect street,oh the memories

Unknown said...

For those of you who have commented on the diner at the corner of Olden and Parkside Ave. I would like to set the record straight. it was the Extension Diner which was established by my parents, John and Edlina Zuczek in 1946. My family owned and operated the diner until 1990. We sold the business and the new owners changed the name to the Parkside Diner. There have been two more owners since then, with the current name of the diner being The Two Peters Diner.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

Update: The diner on the corner of Olden and Parkside is now called the Capitol Restaurant. There was s fire in The Two Peters and the name was changed after renovations were made. Same owners still operate the diner.

Rick Moore said...

Does anyone remember the "OLD" Ewingville Hotel I believe it was called on the corner of Ewingville and Pennington Rd. I think it burned in the late 50's. I grew up in Pennington and remember going by it on the way to my Grandparents on New Hillcrest Ave.

Unknown said...

ewing hotel was run by George tilton was replaced by the 7-11 that's on the site now.he had a daughter named odley and lived nexy door and she wood let us ride her horse.the store was a great place to by,we would give our kerns soda bottles to him and get a nickel for each bottle

Unknown said...

Can anyone tell me any memories (if any) of Mary's . . It was a deli like store at 31/Sussex. Anything would be helpful

Unknown said...

Was there a dance club on Prospect Street, near Olden Ave? It was across from Trenton Tobacco. I think there is a pool hall there or it was there.

Unknown said...

Does anyone remember the name of a store on the corner of North Olden and New York Avenue that used to sell and display Christmas trees in the 1970's. I can't remember the name, and it is driving me crazy. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Whiteys did have great pizza, I remember it well. Does anyone remember the quarter stuck in the cement on the sidewalk just outside of Whitey's front door? So funny, as young kids, we used to try and get it out, but it was a no go. I also remember Union-op. I forget what kind of store it was, but I do remember Murray the K being there when they first opened. Great memories of the way things were.

Anonymous said...

I would like to try and get more information on the Old Seafood Shanty of Trenton NJ. When was it in existence and when did it go out of business? does anyone know the owners names? I acquired some pieces of art from there supposedly and I know nothing about them they appear to be of latin as the writing is of this and wondered if anyone ever remembers seeing these types of pieces of art there? The one looks to be Napoleon and the other is a man with a white wig and of that time period....wondered if anyone remembers these at all and what they could have in correlation to the Olde Seafood shanty?

Unknown said...

This is in answer to Beverly Reid's question on January 07, 2017

It was Metwood's Floral World.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan said...

http://articles.mcall.com/1996-11-19/news/3117955_1_three-other-restaurants-state-taxes-probation

Unknown said...

I hive lived in Trenton for the majority of my growing up . This stuff is a blast from the past .Lived in Ewing township , my great grandfather was Walter O Lochner . My mom graduated from Ewing high in 62 . I remember the McDonalds on N Olden ace , it was around the corner from my grandparents house they were Harry and Mildred Richard . MIkes steak house was next to it . I went to school at Alfred Reed across from Moody park then Fisher Jr High . we lived at 1500 Prospect St across from Seafood shanty and the Murphys Chuck Wagon , Ewing drive in and The Duncan doughnuts. After that my family relocated to Hamilton township . The Trenton state fairground are in my blood , remember all auto races , concerts fairs , and I rode at horse shows there , remember Popcorn that used to paint all the signs for the fair .My dd was part of the mounted police at the fair . Remember well of Carney Rose he had a petting zoo at his farm off Olden ave near the Whitehorse circle , to many lost and forgotten memories of my youth , but thank you for reminding me : Andrew J. Dekovitch

Unknown said...

@ Rober Zuczek. Yes!!!! Thank you! Was driving me crazy ��

Unknown said...

For the record, I still call it the Extension Diner.

Unknown said...

I lived in Ewing for many years and I remember a store called the Ewing Bazaar where they sold clothing and stuff. My sister used to work there. I believe it was on Olden Ave. Does anyone remember it? Also I used to work at the Burger King on Olden Ave. Is that still there?

Unknown said...

Marys- Deboskis deli

Karencardi105 said...

Hi Tom,
I have a question for your readers and a few memories of my own. Does anyone remember when they started building Moody Park?
Now for my the things I remember from the days long ago in Ewing, my first job at Burger King 1977, the store next to Alfred Reed was originally owned by my grandfather, George Smith, Frank's Hotdogs owned by my great uncle Frank Catana, on Olden right in front of the Red Circle Bank (I can't think of what it was really called) who contrary to what most people thought, never got retire to Florida as planned, he sadly had 5 strokes and lived for 17 years at home in Trenton.
Deli-Delite, where I spent a ton of time, NJ Network Channel 52 on Parkside Ave. that moved into the old bowling alley (can't remember the name of it, but I do remember watching it burn when I was like 5). I also remember before Deli-Delite was there, there was just a little store you could get milk and eggs, etc. and the hair dresser next door, all on the corner of Ewingville/Parkside Ave and Spruce St.
And who remembers the little silver boxes we had on our porch for the Milkman to make deliveries?

Anonymous said...

I found an army jacket there and wore it in high school. Also found green khakis. My folks bought pale aqua melamine bowls. They preferred shopping in places like the Ewing Bazaar, Englishtown and farmers markets versus regular stores. A lot more fun! I haven't been to these places since my family split up and I ended up Oklahoma in 1979. Still get homesick.

Anonymous said...

I think you're referring to Metwoods. I got dragged there as a child😉

Anonymous said...

EWING BAZAAR OLDEN AVENUE. I USED TO WORK THERE FROM 1976 TO 1990. IT WAS THE GREATEST STORE WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. GREAT PRICES COMPARED TO THE MALL. SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT THEIR SISTER WORKED THERE, WHAT WAS HER NAME, CURIOUS IF I KNEW HER. THANKS, ALLAN

Anonymous said...

Remember Philips Ewing Bazaar

Anonymous said...

I got my first pair of chuck Taylor's at ewing Bazar and many clothes it was a great store