There aren't many "old timers" who do not recall Gus Heintz, a prominent local personality back in the 40's and 50's. As a teetotaler, I never went to his Chambers Street bar, but I know many guys who did. 
Tom:
Never one to be a tea totaler, I was a frequent visitor to Gus's place. Located just across the Street from the City of Trenton whose blue laws in those days forbade the sale of alcohol before 5 pm on Sundays. Gus would be open and ready for business at noon, recognizing the need for us Good Boys to attend the high Mass on Sunday which let out around noon.
Gus was a great character, and never questioned a man's (boy's) age, only his ability to drink.
We would gathr there on Sunday at noon, juice up, and head for the Pig and Whistle in in Brown's Mills where we jammed the day away with Hy Frank and his Dixie land band.
Oh those were the days!
All the best to the best
Mike Kuzma
Tom:
ReplyDeleteNever one to be a tea totaler, I was a frequent visitor to Gus's place. Located just across the Street from the City of Trenton whose blue laws in those days forbade the sale of alcohol before 5 pm on Sundays. Gus would be open and ready for business at noon, recognizing the need for us Good Boys to attend the high Mass on Sunday which let out around noon.
Gus was a great character, and never questioned a man's (boy's) age, only his ability to drink.
We would gathr there on Sunday at noon, juice up, and head for the Pig and Whistle in in Brown's Mills where we jammed the day away with Hy Frank and his Dixie land band.
Oh those were the days!
All the best to the best
Mike Kuzma
Very nice Tom. I have heard about this place many times and this is the first time I ever saw what it looked like :))
ReplyDeleteI am Gus's Great nephew I guess. His brother Jacob who worked for Roebling, was my Great Grandfather. Any inf on August Heints or the family would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI will travel down to see the location some day if it is still there.
Mark
Does anyone know what happened to the bar?
ReplyDeleteGus Jr was 53 when he died in 1972
His father was 61 when he passed in 1949. I belive he was the original owner
Gus JR would have been 30 when he took over. His wife Ruth passing when he was 39. in 1967.
My mother said Gus Sr. was a great guy, His brother Jacob ( My greatgrandfather being a very
serious engineer for Roebling.
Gus Jr. had cousins, Emmet Heintz, Helen Heints Berryann, Elizabeth Heints Martinelli, Carl Who never left Germany. The others all raised in Roebling, NJ
I am doing Heintz geneology and I appreciate all the info, I'll get down there to photograph the area
someday.
August Heints 1888- 1949
August W. Heintz 1919-1972
Ruth T. Heintz 1918-1967
Sister Mildred 1922-1965
Gus had two daughters - Ruth and Valerie. Ruth was my best friend in junior and senior high but I've lost touch with her. I was searching on Gus' name to see if I could find her. When he died, Ruth and Valerie went to live with their cousin Patty in Queens, NY, I think. She was married to a Greek (?) gentleman and had been a somewhat successful dancer on Broadway for a time in your youth. That's all I've got. Good luck to you. And if it matters, although I only met him a few times, I thought Mr. Heintz was a really lovely guy.
ReplyDeleteAny ideas on Ruth or Valerie Birth year? Birth town? Married name? Anything? Patty's name? THanks Mark Wallace mwall0947@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteRuthAnn & Valerie along with their parents lived across the street from me on Redfern St in Hamilton Twp for many years. RuthAnn was my age so she was born in 1957 and I think Valerie was a year maybe 2 younger. They were very nice people. Sadly Gus's wife passed at a young age and Gus's bar burnt down when we were young too.Not sure where the girls are these days but if they read this, Maryellen says hello!
ReplyDelete