This is completely unknown territory for me. I seldom journeyed over to the "five points" in the Battle Monument area. I found this photo of the Ford with canvas ad on the spare tire cover to be interesting.0 comments:
- SJBill said...
In the 50s and 60s, this was the site of Mercer Hardware and Roofing Supply. The owners were the Olin (or Olinsky) family. A large part of their business was beign a wholesaler to the roofing trade - which included my father.
I was in that buiding many a time - you just drove in the front door on Evans Street, to the area that had the materials you needed - rolls of tin or piles of shingles or slate and picked up what you needed. Fill out the paperwork and drive out the back door and to the jobsite.
The buiding appears to have been vacant for some time and was recently demolished.- Wednesday, June 27, 2012
- Anonymous said...
Right on SJBill:
Across the Street is Tommy De Lellis's Richfield station which had the "classic" Al's Diner" next to it. Over the roof of the brick building on the right, you can see the PSE&G tanks rising above the roof line. The ford would be essentially behind the Jr.#1 school yard.
You were deep in the heart of the St. Jamees Parish territory, (or North Trenton)which went fromm the Battle Mounument to Olden Ave. where it became "Top Road".
Mike Kuzma- Wednesday, June 27, 2012
- rayfromvillapark said...
Hi Tom, That 1936 Ford demonstrator is very interesting, as it cruises north on Brunswick Ave., but more interesting is the structure, to the left. Sadly it has been demolished. In my day, It was Motor Sales and Service, the De Soto Plymouth dealership, for the city. As your earlier contributor stated, you could drive inside and pick your building supplies, in later years, because you were driving into the Service Department. Easy entrance, easy exit. A wonderful building, now gone. You mentioned, sort of remembering Motor Sales and Service, with another photo you published of Brunswick Ave., but farther North, and there it is. I made many trips there, on my Schwinn, to obtain sales brochures, during the early 1950s. rayfromvillapark
- Wednesday, June 27, 2012
- Anonymous said...
Saint James Parish was what I often call "The Little Burg" and ran from the area by the picture and ended by Fuld Street. That area; Paul and Miller were very old world Italian. At Heil and Mitchell Bissel Tile Company, started the Polish section of Saint Hedwig's running right by Joe "Z"'s house and to the Top Road and the Circle. I was told that Top Road got it's name from that area being as far as you could go on the old trolley line or you were at "The top of the road". My last purchase at that old hardware store was a sheet of asbestos board that I then cut into a heat shield for an MGB, saving me quite a bit of money back then! And around the corner on Southard Street was Lincoln Supply, those were wonderful stores, all the steel was strong and not very expensive unlike the "blister pack" junk they sell in the big box stores today.
Ed Millerick- Wednesday, June 27, 2012
- rayfromvillapark said...
Hi Tom, Not being from North Trenton, I never heard the term Top Road for that section of town. Now I know where Top Road Tavern got it's name. They opened in 1946, on Brunswick Avenue, north of Spruce St., and had the best tomato pies in the area. Paid many visits there over the years, but sadly it closed it's doors, this past fall. Too bad! The new owners weren't able to make a go of it. I don't know the story. rayfromvillapark
- Wednesday, June 27, 2012
- Anonymous said...
Ray, ED:
Top Road tavern closed because the owner, Charlie Costello Jr. died. No one could step up to run it.
The former owner's were clients of mine, and Charlie was my wife's "Cousin".
Now Ed Lincoln Supply was situated on Lincoln Ave. Hence it's name. it was owned by the Thiel family.
Boyd Thiel had a 39 ( ? ) Lincoln Continetal Yellow with the tire enclosed on the trunk. He used to loan it to Gene Leonard and we would skip class at THS and head for Seaside Heights.
The Steel Company you refer to as being on Southard St. was Millner fabricated Steel.
I used No. Olden ave. as the split since there were a number of Scician, Brutsase, Calabrese families living on Princeton Ave, on the Trenton Side betweeb Heil, and No. Olden. In the area of the Polaise Tavern.
By the way, no girl from the Neopolitan, or Roman families could evern think to date a guy from No. Trenton.
The rivalry between the Bond AA, and the Santuzza Oilers is legendary. Right Ralphie?
This all changed after the war, The big one that is.
Ciao,& Dubronotz
Mike Kuzma- Thursday, June 28, 2012
- rayfromvillapark said...
Mike, When Charlie passed, his brother sold it to two brothers or good friends, one or the other. Chuck was one of their names. John, the pie maker,introduced me to them when they first took over. I would have small talk with them every now and then. My friend, Nick, who lives just up the street, was the first to tell me they lost it, because of some money problems, unrelated to the business. That's what I know. They ran it for a couple of years. The place was clean as a pin, and looked the same as the day it opened in 1946. My sons surprised me, and held my 70th birthday party there, when it was under the new ownership. We took over the whole restaurant section, even had a four piece band. I really loved the place, and John made the best pie in town. rayfromvillapark
- Thursday, June 28, 2012
- Anonymous said...
Ray:
Charlie ( Pinky ) Costello Sr. had but two sons, Joey who died years ago, and Charlie who past last year. Charlie Jr's son "Chuck" is a Funeral director out of the area.
Not sure if his is the "Chuck" you refer too.
I went to school with the boys, and thier dad was not only a "relative" but a good client of mine.
The previous owner's Larry, and Tony were also good clients of mine, and I would eat there regularly, when the kids came, it was our faorite Pizza night there.
Larry worked at Nevius Vorhees as a window dresser with the famous Rene Hawthorn. Voorhees windows, and the store itself rival firth ave in New York at Christmas time.
Is Tony's wife still working for Pat Chicacchio at Cadet Motors?
Mike Kuzma- Thursday, June 28, 2012
- Anonymous said...
Thanks for clearing up some of the town's Italian history for me. Larry is now in a local nursing facility along with some relatives of mine. I believe that I just read the obituary for John Cade if Cadet Motors not too long ago.
Ed Millerick- Thursday, June 28, 2012
- Anonymous said...
Ed:
Should you see Larry, please extend my very best wishes.
Though Larry was just about 5ft.6, his heart was ten stories tall.
Regards, and good wishes to you Ed.
Mike Kuzma- Thursday, June 28, 2012
In the 50s and 60s, this was the site of Mercer Hardware and Roofing Supply. The owners were the Olin (or Olinsky) family. A large part of their business was beign a wholesaler to the roofing trade - which included my father.
ReplyDeleteI was in that buiding many a time - you just drove in the front door on Evans Street, to the area that had the materials you needed - rolls of tin or piles of shingles or slate and picked up what you needed. Fill out the paperwork and drive out the back door and to the jobsite.
The buiding appears to have been vacant for some time and was recently demolished.
Right on SJBill:
ReplyDeleteAcross the Street is Tommy De Lellis's Richfield station which had the "classic" Al's Diner" next to it. Over the roof of the brick building on the right, you can see the PSE&G tanks rising above the roof line. The ford would be essentially behind the Jr.#1 school yard.
You were deep in the heart of the St. Jamees Parish territory, (or North Trenton)which went fromm the Battle Mounument to Olden Ave. where it became "Top Road".
Mike Kuzma
Hi Tom, That 1936 Ford demonstrator is very interesting, as it cruises north on Brunswick Ave., but more interesting is the structure, to the left. Sadly it has been demolished. In my day, It was Motor Sales and Service, the De Soto Plymouth dealership, for the city. As your earlier contributor stated, you could drive inside and pick your building supplies, in later years, because you were driving into the Service Department. Easy entrance, easy exit. A wonderful building, now gone. You mentioned, sort of remembering Motor Sales and Service, with another photo you published of Brunswick Ave., but farther North, and there it is. I made many trips there, on my Schwinn, to obtain sales brochures, during the early 1950s. rayfromvillapark
ReplyDeleteSaint James Parish was what I often call "The Little Burg" and ran from the area by the picture and ended by Fuld Street. That area; Paul and Miller were very old world Italian. At Heil and Mitchell Bissel Tile Company, started the Polish section of Saint Hedwig's running right by Joe "Z"'s house and to the Top Road and the Circle. I was told that Top Road got it's name from that area being as far as you could go on the old trolley line or you were at "The top of the road". My last purchase at that old hardware store was a sheet of asbestos board that I then cut into a heat shield for an MGB, saving me quite a bit of money back then! And around the corner on Southard Street was Lincoln Supply, those were wonderful stores, all the steel was strong and not very expensive unlike the "blister pack" junk they sell in the big box stores today.
ReplyDeleteEd Millerick
Hi Tom, Not being from North Trenton, I never heard the term Top Road for that section of town. Now I know where Top Road Tavern got it's name. They opened in 1946, on Brunswick Avenue, north of Spruce St., and had the best tomato pies in the area. Paid many visits there over the years, but sadly it closed it's doors, this past fall. Too bad! The new owners weren't able to make a go of it. I don't know the story. rayfromvillapark
ReplyDeleteRay, ED:
ReplyDeleteTop Road tavern closed because the owner, Charlie Costello Jr. died. No one could step up to run it.
The former owner's were clients of mine, and Charlie was my wife's "Cousin".
Now Ed Lincoln Supply was situated on Lincoln Ave. Hence it's name. it was owned by the Thiel family.
Boyd Thiel had a 39 ( ? ) Lincoln Continetal Yellow with the tire enclosed on the trunk. He used to loan it to Gene Leonard and we would skip class at THS and head for Seaside Heights.
The Steel Company you refer to as being on Southard St. was Millner fabricated Steel.
I used No. Olden ave. as the split since there were a number of Scician, Brutsase, Calabrese families living on Princeton Ave, on the Trenton Side betweeb Heil, and No. Olden. In the area of the Polaise Tavern.
By the way, no girl from the Neopolitan, or Roman families could evern think to date a guy from No. Trenton.
The rivalry between the Bond AA, and the Santuzza Oilers is legendary. Right Ralphie?
This all changed after the war, The big one that is.
Ciao,& Dubronotz
Mike Kuzma
Mike, When Charlie passed, his brother sold it to two brothers or good friends, one or the other. Chuck was one of their names. John, the pie maker,introduced me to them when they first took over. I would have small talk with them every now and then. My friend, Nick, who lives just up the street, was the first to tell me they lost it, because of some money problems, unrelated to the business. That's what I know. They ran it for a couple of years. The place was clean as a pin, and looked the same as the day it opened in 1946. My sons surprised me, and held my 70th birthday party there, when it was under the new ownership. We took over the whole restaurant section, even had a four piece band. I really loved the place, and John made the best pie in town. rayfromvillapark
ReplyDeleteRay:
ReplyDeleteCharlie ( Pinky ) Costello Sr. had but two sons, Joey who died years ago, and Charlie who past last year. Charlie Jr's son "Chuck" is a Funeral director out of the area.
Not sure if his is the "Chuck" you refer too.
I went to school with the boys, and thier dad was not only a "relative" but a good client of mine.
The previous owner's Larry, and Tony were also good clients of mine, and I would eat there regularly, when the kids came, it was our faorite Pizza night there.
Larry worked at Nevius Vorhees as a window dresser with the famous Rene Hawthorn. Voorhees windows, and the store itself rival firth ave in New York at Christmas time.
Is Tony's wife still working for Pat Chicacchio at Cadet Motors?
Mike Kuzma
Thanks for clearing up some of the town's Italian history for me. Larry is now in a local nursing facility along with some relatives of mine. I believe that I just read the obituary for John Cade if Cadet Motors not too long ago.
ReplyDeleteEd Millerick
Ed:
ReplyDeleteShould you see Larry, please extend my very best wishes.
Though Larry was just about 5ft.6, his heart was ten stories tall.
Regards, and good wishes to you Ed.
Mike Kuzma