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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

1933: CUBAN CIGAR CO. - HENRY CLAY AND BOCK

The old Trenton Chamber of Commerce magazine "TRENTON" has many very nice photos and articles on Trenton during the time of the city's lively business climate. The Cuban Tobacco Company = Henry Clay and Bock companies seem to be among the numerous calls I have for information. This article is a very good source.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM...THAT CIGAR FACTORY ALONG WITH ROEBLING'S AND THE DOLL FACTORY WERE THE MAIN SOURCES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN CHAMBERSBURG DURING THE PERIOD OF 1920 TO 1940, THE WOMEM IN THE CIGAR FACTORY WORE BLUE SMOCKS THAT SMELLED OF TOBACCO AND IT SEEMED THEY ALL WORKED THERE. MY MOTHER WAS A BUNCH MAKER AND MOST OF THEM WERE PAID PIECE WORK AND THEY WORKED IN GROUPS. MY FATHER SMOKED ONLY A PIPE AND HE USED THE CIGARS THERE, THE MEMORY OF THAT CIGAR FACTORY WILL FOREVER LINGER. BEST REGARDS.

Michael said...

Tom:
I can still visulize the three (3) cigar factories I remember; College and Division St. just behind Trenton Catholic, late became a furniture warehouse for Johnny Koslowski's stores.
South Clinton Ave. where Whittaker ave terminates, believe it became an pipe organ factory some twenty thirty years ago.
And of Course The "Grande" on Grand St. across from the Doll factory. Such an elegant building. Used to admire it while passing through to get to Jr.4 in the 40's. The elegance of that building.
Had a chance to buy it when the Tobacco company moved to Wilkes Barre PA, or was it Scranton. American Tobacco wanted to take a tax write off, and offered it to me for $50,000. closing before the end of the year. Could not convince anyone to take a shot with me, and a group bought it through Steve Segal the Commerical Broker. Last I heard it was turned into Condo's which were not selling very fast.
After my last visit to Trenton, I can understand why.

Can still smell the aroma.

Regards

Mike Kuzma

4 comments:

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM...THAT CIGAR FACTORY ALONG WITH ROEBLING'S AND THE DOLL FACTORY WERE THE MAIN SOURCES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN CHAMBERSBURG DURING THE PERIOD OF 1920 TO 1940, THE WOMEM IN THE CIGAR FACTORY WORE BLUE SMOCKS THAT SMELLED OF TOBACCO AND IT SEEMED THEY ALL WORKED THERE. MY MOTHER WAS A BUNCH MAKER AND MOST OF THEM WERE PAID PIECE WORK AND THEY WORKED IN GROUPS. MY FATHER SMOKED ONLY A PIPE AND HE USED THE CIGARS THERE, THE MEMORY OF THAT CIGAR FACTORY WILL FOREVER LINGER. BEST REGARDS.

Michael said...

Tom:
I can still visulize the three (3) cigar factories I remember;

College and Division St. just behind Trenton Catholic, late became a furniture warehouse for Johnny Koslowski's stores.

South Clinton Ave. where Whitteker ave terminates, beleive it became an pipe organ factory some twenty thiry years ago.

And of Course The "Grande" on Grand St. across from the Doll factory. Such an elegant building.
Used to admire it while passing through to get to Jr.4 in the 40's.
The elegance of that building.
Had a chance to buy it when the Tobacco company moved to Wilkes Barre PA, or was it Scranton.
American Tobacco wanted to take a tax write off, and offered it to me for $50,000. closing before the end of the year. Could not convince anyone to take a shot with me, and a group bought it through Steve Segal the Commerical Broker.
Last I heard it was turned into Condo's which were not selling very fast.
After my last visit to Trenton, I can understand why.

Can still smell the aroma.

Regards

Mike Kuzma

omad said...

Tom, I would love to print a copy of this article for my 92 yr old aunt. All her sisters worked in the cigar factory and she attributes her ability to roll the best stuffed cabbage to being one of the best cigar rollers at the factory.

Tom Glover said...

TO PRINT THE ARTICLE, YOU HAVE TO CLICK ON EACH GRAPHIC, SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER AND PRINT IT. REPEAT THE PROCESS UNTL ALL THE PAGES ARE PRINTED.
TOM