I received the email below from Mr. Rich Bartman, Real Estate Advisor from Princeton. Whenever I receive these requests,I do my best to check my database and compile whatever I have. I find it very economical time wise to post it here on my local history blog and also any visitors who are requesting information. In this case, Rich was looking for Glen Cairn Arms information. Here is a Glen Cairn graphic I put together relating to one of Trenton's very exclusive apartment complexes back in the 1920's and into the 1950's when Trenton began the slide into neighborhood destruction.
- Ralph Lucarella said...
HI TOM....GLEN CAIRN ARMS WAS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET ON WEST STATE DURING THE TIME I WAS ON THAT ROUTE WITH THE POST OFFICE IN THE 50'S. IT WAS COSIDERED ONE OF THE ELEGENT APT BUILDINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT AREA WAS REALLY ONE OF THE NICEST PARTS OF THE CITY. I RECALL CHATTING WITH THE GOVERNOR EACH DAY AS HE WALKED TO THE CARTERET CLUB FOR LUNCH FROM THE STATE HOUSE. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT HAS HAPPPENED TO MOST OF THAT SECTION OF TRENTON. BEST REGARDS.
- Anonymous said...
I guess you mean the early urban renewal projects of the 1950's that were wrought with errors that were, some say, the triggers of self destruction. I tend to agree very strongly with that sentiment but the larger trend of the TVA luring the mills south sped it along.
I went through the Glen Carin building in 1985 and I was shocked.
To have an address there or in The Carteret Arms meant you were among the "well heeled" didn't it?
Ed Millerick - Michael said...
Tom:
In it's halcyon days the Glen Cairn Arms was home to most of the administrators in the State House.
The "slide" of "Cracker Hill" as we called the area west of Calhoun St. did not begin until the 60's, when the magnificent large homes along West State St. were bought up by investors and turned into apartments.
Just a few door west of the Glen Cairn was the Kuser Mansion with it's rich facade regally standing on the tree lined block that led up to the Carteret Arms.
many overlook the real culprits of the demise of the cities. It was the liberal Court system in this country that ran amuck, allowing zoning laws to be broken, and all good efforts cast aside for profit.
Sad; but still here. With all good wishes.
Mike Kuzma - Sally Logan Gilman said...
Hi Tom: It's so sad to see the once grand Glen Cairn Arms in such disrepair. My parents had friends that lived there -- they owned the drug store on Hermitage Avenue -- Leon and Molly Schutz. And it breaks my heart to see the big, lovely homes on West State Street turned into apartments and then into eye-sores. As you know, I grew up in West Trenton and I still love it very much. On our tour of Trenton with the Contemporary Club, we passed Glen Cairn and I was shocked and dismayed at its appearance. Thanks again for keeping me up to speed on my beloeved home town. I wish you and your family a great Thanksgiving. Regards
- Anonymous said...
So of course now I have to ask the origins of "Cracker Hill". Let me add that it seemed like the change in the western section seemed so rapid and dramatic. When I returned from the military in 1971, I started knocking on doors only have them opened by strangers. To a person, all of my friends parents had "up and gone" and I felt like I was a player in an episode of The Twilight Zone. A stranger in a once familiar town.
Ed Millerick
HI TOM....GLEN CAIRN ARMS WAS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET ON WEST STATE DURING THE TIME I WAS ON THAT ROUTE WITH THE POST OFFICE IN THE 50'S. IT WAS COSIDERED ONE OF THE ELEGENT APT BUILDINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT AREA WAS REALLY ONE OF THE NICEST PARTS OF THE CITY. I RECALL CHATTING WITH THE GOVERNOR EACH DAY AS HE WALKED TO THE CARTERET CLUB FOR LUNCH FROM THE STATE HOUSE. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT HAS HAPPPENED TO MOST OF THAT SECTION OF TRENTON. BEST REGARDS.
ReplyDeleteI guess you mean the early urban renewal projects of the 1950's that were wrought with errors that were, some say, the triggers of self destruction. I tend to agree very strongly with that sentiment but the larger trend of the TVA luring the mills south sped it along.
ReplyDeleteI went through the Glen Carin building in 1985 and I was shocked.
To have an address there or in The Carteret Arms meant you were among the "well heeled" didn't it?
Ed Millerick
Tom:
ReplyDeleteIn it's halcyon days the Glen Cairn Arms was home to most of the administrators in the State House.
The "slide" of "Cracker Hill" as we called the area west of Calhoun St. did not begin until the 60's, when the magnificent large homes along West State St. were bought up by investors and turned into apartments.
Just a few door west of the Glen Cairn was the Kuser Mansion with it's rich facade regally standing on the tree lined block that led up to the Carteret Arms.
many overlook the real culprits of the demise of the cities. It was the liberal Court system in this country that ran amuck, allowing zoning laws to be broken, and all good efforts cast aside for profit.
Sad; but still here. With all good wishes.
Mike Kuzma
Hi Tom: It's so sad to see the once grand Glen Cairn Arms in such disrepair. My parents had friends that lived there -- they owned the drug store on Hermitage Avenue -- Leon and Molly Schutz. And it breaks my heart to see the big, lovely homes on West State Street turned into apartments and then into eye-sores. As you know, I grew up in West Trenton and I still love it very much. On our tour of Trenton with the Contemporary Club, we passed Glen Cairn and I was shocked and dismayed at its appearance. Thanks again for keeping me up to speed on my beloeved home town. I wish you and your family a great Thanksgiving. Regards
ReplyDeleteSo of course now I have to ask the origins of "Cracker Hill".
ReplyDeleteLet me add that it seemed like the change in the western section seemed so rapid and dramatic. When I returned from the military in 1971, I started knocking on doors only have them opened by strangers. To a person, all of my friends parents had "up and gone" and I felt like I was a player in an episode of The Twilight Zone. A stranger in a once familiar town.
Ed Millerick
Ed:
ReplyDeleteThe term "Crakcer Hill" was explained in this column some time in the past year or so.
We "Poor folks" in South Trenton referred to anything west of Calhoun St. thusly since it was our understanding, that the taxes and cost of living was so high out there in the Western Section, that all a family could afford to eat, was crackers, and tea!
Hope that satifys your curiosity.
Cordially
Mike Kuzma
Hi Tom: I grew up in West Trenton and never heard the expression "Cracker Hill'' before. I guess I was too busy passing around the hardtack and tea. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteGeez, I can even remember how nice those apartments were in up until the mid 70's....large rooms, beautiful inlaid parquet floors, arches etc. When they deteriorated, it happened real fast. It could be a great market-rate housing project today if one building was made into a parking garage. It SHOULD be a premier address with the state right there. But it looks like Tony Mack wants to just GIVE it away to Thos. Edison State college....like Trenton needs another tax-exempt property! Nice job as always Tom! Enjoy your site very much!
ReplyDelete