1937: W. STATE AND WILLOW: A CLOSER LOOK

This is a segmented enlarged view of a small portion of the preceding post showing W. State and Willow in a wider field of view. Through the magic of digital imaging the above pristine cutaway gives a closer look at the Hotel Stacy Trent and down the street a bit, the Hotel Hildebrecht.

1937: WEST STATE AND WILLOW

Another fine view of Trenton's "downtown" area. The Stacy Trenton and Hildebrecht were in their heyday. I still love these old Maxwell photos.

1939: GREENWOOD AVENUE

I was only 3 years old when this photo was taken, but I do remember when Greenwood Avenue went clear through rom South Clinton Avenue to South Broad Street. This photo gives a teasing glimpse of that stretch of the highway. Ben Kuser's KUSER COAL CO. is on the left.

Tom, I went over that bridge twice daily going to THS from Clay Street.. At that time in the early 50s there were still a few steam engines running. It was quite a sight when a train passed under the bridge to see the smoke. soot and steam come up through the decking. A good era to live in.

Noel Goeke

FROM WARREN RUE:

I remember this bridge oh, so well. I crossed it many, many times to visit my uncles and aunts on South Clinton. My trip originated on Jackson St.then crossing over Greenwood. Unfortunately,one time I was hit by a car on Greenwood and dragged by said car over the railroad tracks. When all was said and done, I ended up with the brush burns of all times on the left side of my body.
Indeed, there are memories!

Warren Rue

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Anonymous said...

Ten Years after this photo was taken, I crossed this path enroute to my first year at Trenton Central High School. It was some experience, crossing over from South Trenton when you took Greenwood Ave. diagnally across from Sacred Heart Church and wound up on Mansion Row beginning at the corner of Greenwood and So. Clinton. This photo depicts a few of the grand mansions that graced Greenwood Ave. They were the homes of Trenton's Elite!
Sadly, 20 years after this photo in 1959 I began my career in Government with the City of Trenton Health Dept. as a Health Inspector. I was assigned as a "rooming house inspector, which took me into many of these former mansions which had been transformed into Rider College Fraternity Houses, rooming houses, and sheltered care homes.
It did not take long to deem many of them unfit for human habitation, and they became boarded up hulks, and eyesores.
Thanks to careless kids, and greedy landlords.

I guess there is very little to aspite too in Trenton these days.

Best wishes

Mike Kuzma

1790's: WHEN HAMILTON WAS NOTTINGHAM

Local history isn't just photographs, even though they are very popular. There is also ancient history; history that I seek that goes as far back as possible to bring to light many heretofore unknown bits and pieces of local history. For instance: In the classified ads above, we find a gentleman selling personal goods, including "a wench." Each ad, like a genealogical family tree, yields names, places, and other clues that lead to further interesting research subjects. Therein lies the reasong I try to earn my keep as Hamilton Township's UNOFFICIAL historian. ( An official  post that has yet to be created; maybe after I'm replaced by a successor.)

2012: SAVED FROM THE RECYCLE BIN!

The article in the graphic is from March, 1906. It was probably the early years of what would become the fabled "TRENTONIANA" collection. In the upper left of the graphic is just a small photo of a few of the collection of BOUND Trenton newspapers dating back to 1869. Long ago, I found that the local newspaper is one of the best sources of local history. Fortunately, I was able to save this valuable historic resource for my, and future generations.

1793: Dr. Hezekiah Stites Woodruff

It will once again be my privilege to served on the "quartoseptcentennial" of Mercer County in the year 2013. I was on the committee years ago when we celebrated the Centennial of Mercer. Accordingly, I am rounding up any and all material that I have stored away in my vast archives, and compiling them for presentation during the events next year. Above is an early Sheriff's sale article from the Trenton State Gazette that hearkens back to the very earliest years of then Hunterdon County's Pennington.

1912: PENNINGTON'S JOHN KUNKEL AND WIFE PLAY SANTA

Along with William Patton Howe, the Kunkel name in Pennington history is written indelibly for posterity. Mr. Kunkel was one of the pioneer settlers in that lovely town, and indeed, according to the article above, took a large part in the layout of the town.

1938: STACY AND STATE THEATERS

Warner Baxter is the name on the marquee at the Stacy when this photo was taken in 1938. A bit of tweaking has brought out the N.J. Bell Telephone building in the distance. Most of these photos were taken with a very high quality camera; I would bet that it was a "Graphlex."

1939: 1200 BLOCK EAST STATE STREET NEAR CLEVELAND AVE.

A closer look at this enlarged and segmented graphic will show the National Beverage Company and on the other side of the street Keiper & Coates Coal Company. The area looks nothing like this today.

1939: SOUTH BROAD STREET AT ROEBLING AVENUE

Another exquisite closeup of this Chambersburg intersection as it looked 73 years ago. I will leave it to my auto expert Ray Paskiewicz to identify the autos in the photo. Don't you love that Chevy panel truck, Ray? What year is it?

1939: GILBERT & MOTT CHEVROLET

This exquisite close up of the Gilbert and Mott facility and the "Autocar"  sign hearkens back to the 30's 40's and 50's when one could look at a car passing buy and immediately identify it. (There were only a few manufacturers as compared to today) Today, almost all autos seem to be using a "cookie cutter" mentality. It is very difficult to determine whether it's a Toyota or a Subaru, or a Mazda, etc.

1939: GOLDY'S FARM AND GARDEN SUPPLIES

This photo will be of special interest to regular visitors George and Eleanor (Guear) Goldy. The original had to be receive a bit of "Photoshopping." Thanks to the amazing things one can do with Photoshop, the photo above was originally a very narrow perspective view of the store. By horizontally stretching the overall image to the maximum, the stretch  brings a more frontal view of the establishment. Only the boy in the photo  had to be stretched and fitted into position. (Incidentally, that boy looks very much like me as a young man!) As to the graphic: confused? Don't be; it's a technical imaging thing that I have learned over the past 10 or 15 years of using this remarkable and incredibly complicated and expensive software with an extremely difficult learning curve that I am still climbing. It is an incredible tool and really allows for innovative tweaking. 

1950: 100 BLOCK OF W. HANOVER ST.

This is a segmented view from an R.C. Maxwell photo giving a closeup view of the neighborhood. Ben's Bar is listed in my city directory as 104 - 106 West Hanover Street.

1940: THE COTTAGE COUNTER

There's a pizza restaurant at this location, the old Cape Cod building which once housed the COTTAGE COUNTER is long gone. This view is at the junction of Nottingham Way and Route 33 opposite Greenwood Cemetery.

1942: PETE LORENZO'S CAFE

This legendary landmark is no more. In its heyday back in the 30's and 50's, Pete's was the meeting place of many of the area's notable businessmen, politicians, and others within that choice circle of citTom:

Tom:

I so enjoyed eating at Pete Lorenzo'a cafe. Mike Merlino one of the owners (the upfront man) wouls greet you as if you were his nephew, even if you hadn't been in for over a year. There were some heavy hitters who frequented the place, but unbeknown to many the owner's and staff greeted, and treated everyone equally. For the quality, and quantity of food provided you, the place was a bargain by comparison to a lot of downtown places.

Mike's son Tony took over his end when Mike died. Bad blood developed beween he families, and Tony moved on to his onw place along the river in Ewing which was the original Fisher Tea Room. How many remember that fine place of the 40's

Regards

Mike Kuzma

 

 RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....I AGREE WITH MIKE ABOUT PETE LORENZO'S AND WOULD INCLUDE TRIONFETTI'S AS TWO OF THE BETTER RESTAURANTS THE PEOPLE OF THE 40 AND 50'S HAD AT THEIR PLEASURE. I RECALL AL FARACARDI TENDING BAR AT PETE'S FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND FRANK FRASCELLA WORKING AT TRIONFETTI'S. BEST REGARDS

It took a bit of detective work to place the Bridge Tavern. One would assume that it was on Bridge Street in South Trenton, but research has found it listed at two different addresses. One lists it as being at Broad and Second Street (which it was) the clue was in the date of the photo, when the tavern was located on Bridge and Third Street, apparently having moved from the old Second Street address.

Tom:

Having gone to Skelton School, while Parker School was being built, and growing up in this area, I can only recall; Griffith Electric at the corner of "Broad & 2nd Street. Griffith occupied the "flat Iron Building used as a show room, and across 2nd street a warehouse/counter sales building.

Had to scratch my head to think where "Bridge & 3rd St. is, since Third street as I recall did not begin until somewhere around Federal St. and ran between Trenton State Prison, and the Railroad Tracks. It than went on to terminate at Lalor St.
This Photo reminds me of two (2) structures; both taverns. One at 2nd, and Furman,run by the Mazekas family, and the other at So. Broad, and Dye just past the Roebling Adm. Building.

Mike Kuzma

Saturday, November 24, 2012 

THANKS FOR YOUR ALWAYS INSIGHTFUL COMMENTS, MIKE. AS STATED IN MY CAPTION BELOW THE GRAPHIC, I FOUND TWO DIFFERENT ADDRESSES WITH TWO DIFFERENT DATES FOR THE BRIDGE CAFE; ONE ON SECOND STREET AND THE OTHER ON THIRD. A GOOGLE EARTH VIEW DOES INDEED CONFUSE, BUT I MUST GO WITH THE FORMAL ADDRESSES AS FOUND IN DIFFERENT TRENTON CITY DIRECTORIES AND NEWS CLIPS.

TOM 

urday, November 24, 2012

 

 SJBill said...

I think I remember this building at Bridge and Second St, though not sure. There are two remaining pieces of evidence in the old image that survive.

1. In the background, there may be the PRR high tension lines that have the same arc in existing images (seen in today's Bing Maps).

2. Int he foreground, across Bridge Stree, a telephone pole remains in the same position.

This Bridge Tavern looks to have been situated behind the firehouse that fronted on S. Broad, with a rear or side entrance on Bridge St.

THere was another Bridge Taveren on Lamberton St South of Lalor, and uip river from the Marine Terminal and sumbarine race course. In the 60s this place was owned by the Gendek family, and the structure, the Brewery and Krupa;s boat yard were demolished to make way for the new get-out-of-town route.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

 

2012: ATTN: KATHY ANACCARATO AND STEVE CSORGE

Many new visitors to this website discover it as they surf the web from out of the area. There are many who write and send glowing emails telling me how much they enjoy making a visit to their old home town area. Such is the case with Jay Smith, W4OFR, a fellow radio amateur from the sunshine state. As can be seen in the above email I received from Jay, Steve Csorgo's radio amateur QSL card was found in an old desk. Knowing the Kathy and Steve are visitors to my website, I am posting the email for their information. I'm sure they can fill in information for Jay.

2012: TIRED OF TWANGY, NOISY MUSIC? CHECK OUT BOB

This morning's email included this graphic from my friend Bob Orlowski announcing his appearance tomorrow evening at "IT'S A GRIND" coffee house in Plainsboro. Bob is a true local treasure who performs in many local venues. If you haven't been to any of his music programs, you are in for a treat. It is so refreshing to once again hear the EASY LISTENING music of Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble' , Dean Martin and many others as Bob takes the stage and sings his heart out. Last summer at Kuser Farm Park, Bob closed out the season with  a wonderful hour and a half of the music we all love. Kuser Park was filled to capacity with his followers; the parking area was overflowing with those of us who long for music with understandable lyrics performed by a true vocal talent. Visit Bob's website at 

http://www.boborlowski.com/id5.html

2012: AND MAY YOU HAVE MANY MORE!

1950: WEST STATE STREET FROM WARREN

As indicated in the preceding photo of the Hotel Hildebrecht, this area of Trenton has changed drastically from 1950 when this photo was taken. Flagg Brothers, Shellenberger's Candy and Father and Son are no longer with us. Back in 1950, "Made in America" was on every shoe sold by the above mentioned shoe stores. I could never afford Flagg and Father and Son, opting for Thom McAnn.

1950: THE HOTEL HILDEBRECHT

What a great photo! Here's a familiar view of the city of Trenton back in the years of the Stacy Trent Hotel and the venerable Hotel Hildebrecht. Traveling down that area today one finds a completely different landscape.

1881: THE POLK BUILDING

In my opinion, my friend Sally Lane Graff is the expert on local Trenton architecture. The photo at the top shows the intersection of South Broad and Front Streets; a familiar area to me and many of my contemporaries. Directly below is an enlarged segment of the building shown on the corner of Front and Broad. "POLK - 1881 - BUILDING" can be clearly seen in this historic photo segment. Trenton has lost many of its lovely old architectural gems to the wrecker's ball. The article immediately above from 1919 tells of R.L. Polk, whose company was well known when I was in the business many years ago. One of their products was the sale of categorized mailing lists.It's so nice when two relevant photos and articles combine as in the above article and photo.

1945: IT WAS KNOWN AS "VJ DAY"

Bruce Sirak and  the Camp Olden Civil War Roundtable keep memories of the  Civil War alive.

My many friends from the Mayor's Patriotic Committee under the leadership of  Retired Colonel Frank Caprario of the U.S. Army, honors the memory of all of our U.S. military. In my  own quiet way and with little publicity, and even less public attention,  I have been honoring these heroes who gave their all  in service to their country. I still remember the sacrifice of the "Greatest Generation" with my music of the World War II era. Back in the early 1980's when I began bringing these memorial music programs to the public, there were still many WWII veterans with us. In the intervening years their ranks have been reduced at an alarming rate.At each of my programs, there has been at least one or two WWII veterans who proudly wear their baseball caps with their unit emblazoned for all to see. These are my personal heroes, and even after they are gone, I will continue to sing the songs not only from WWII, but also the Viet Nam and Korean conflicts. 
AS TO THE GRAPHIC, I WAS ONLY 12 YEARS OLD, BUT I DO REMEMBER THE ECSTATIC CELEBRATIONS THAT WENT ON NOT IN MY OWN RURAL K USER FARM NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALL OVER AMERICA. AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE PHOTO, DOWNTOWN TRENTON WAS THE SCENE OF UNBRIDLED EXUBERANCE.

1968: THE END OF THE CITY OF TRENTON AS I KNEW IT

The venerable old Colonial town of Trenton was changed forever on that fateful April of 1968. Gone were honest, respected businesses that had survived in the downtown Trenton for decades. Convery's Dunham's Elsie Gallivan, and many other anchor stores fled the city to the more civilized suburbs as their stores were looted, burned and destroyed. Innocent business owners' buildings were decimated, valuables looted and Trenton was left in chaos. The carnage was ll done as vengeance for an unspeakable incident with which those downtown merchants had nothing to do with.  The scars remain after these 44 years as Trenton has morphed into an impersonal city whose anchor stores have been replaced with glass encrusted state office buildings. 

1962: BEFORE WE SUSPECTED "GLOBAL WARMING"

In my many years of living on planet earth, I have witnessed many many many disastrous weather related problems. I was only 4 when the great hurricane of 1937 crippled the northeast and decimated many New England towns. Along with my two army buddies, I drove from Fort Devens Massachusetts to Trenton New Jersey during an un-named hurricane in 1955. The old "Boston Post Road" The great hurricane of 1950 destroyed countless trees at Kuser Farm, knocking down a stand of 30 or more pine trees as if they were matchsticks.

1921: A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

This incredibly detailed photo from the Maxwell collection gives one the impression that he or she is standing in front of Wittman's Jewelry store and window shopping along that famous Trenton stretch of West State Street.

1948: THE RUSTIC BAR AND GRILL - 638 BRUNSWICK AVENUE

I am not familiar with this section of Trenton, but would wager that a number of my visitors have comments regarding the Bar and the local neighborhood. This segmented photo has been modified from the original which is a general view of the area. However, the segmented version lends a bit of nostalgic ambiance to an area that was once a vital part of the city of Trenton.

1939: THE RIVER ROAD AT THE YARDLEY BRIDGE

Once again I call on those visitors who are familiar with the area of the River Road in the Yardley area. I am completely in the dark as to the orientation of this landscape but I bet there will be a visitor who can relate to the "Revere" and the Atlantic station and tell us where the bridge is located.


On Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 3:01 PM, fngoeke@verizon.net wrote:

 Tom, About Yardley Bridge.  There are two waterways that people confuse. One is the canal feeder that is more inland that goes through Cadwalader Park, then out to the Freeway area. The second is the water power that ran along the river, Stacy Park, then behind the State House. That waterway fed the mills in south Trenton . All the posts about the Yardley bridge area are interesting because that was one of my old hangout areas. 
Noel Goeke 

Anonymous said...

The bridge crossed at East Afton Avenue on the Yardley side right at the Yardley Inn. It ended up as a "T" intersection with the gas station being pretty much dead center with the bridge. The Revere Restaurant would be slightly south and on the left of the picture. There was also a large restaurant and banquet hall called the Del-A-Vue Room just a bit more to the south. Wilburtha Road would have been on the left behind the photographer.

Ed Millerick

Thursday, November 15, 2012 

Anonymous said...

And the oft discussed "Dog House" hot dog stand would have been south of the Gas Station.

"dirty bills" or filthy williams would have been on the other side of the bridge to the left along and on the dry side of River Road.
Mike Kuzma

Thursday, November 15, 2012 

Anonymous said...

When us old guys enlarge the photo, we can see the "Revere grille" sign biforcated by the "Telegraph"( how long has it been since we called them by this name) Pole. The Revere was owned by the Petrangeli family, super nice folks. Still in the same spot as is the gas station selling a different brand last I visited the Revere over 10 years ago.

Mike Kuzma

Thursday, November 15, 2012 

Tony S said...

Though I was not around in 1934, I traveled this road a lot in the late 40's and 50's before RTE 29 was built so this view appears to me to have been shot further up River Road nearer to Washington Crossing. As one headed north on River Road The Revere was on the left adjacent to a small flowing body of water we used to call "The Water Power" which is now part of Rte 29 and the fabled Dog house was on the right hand side. For this photo's label to be as it appears in the picture, there is too much foliage and room on the left side of the road to be what is stated. I happily look forward to the rebuttals.

Friday, November 16, 2012 

Sally Logan Gilman said...

I remember "The Revere" on what was known as "The Water Power.'' I don't recall the Dog House but I remember "Dirty Bills'' in Yardley. Wow, those dogs were good.

Friday, November 16, 2012 

Anonymous said...

Tony S.
You are too far north on Rt. 29. and too far west for the water power. That body of water ran paralell to Rt. 29 but mush farthr East of the photograph. If you went up the nearby Wilburtha Road, the old DeFlesco Quarry shop was adjacent to the "water power", If you went back towards Trenton, and uder the Reading RR bridge made a left up Lower Ferry Road, it would be a quarter mile or so before the "water power" which was also along the Trenton Country Club.
Enlarge the photo, and you will see the Revere Sign, as noted in my previous post.
You may be mistaken by the body of water, because they built a lot of Apartments/office buildings in the low lying area and the Reading RR bridge, heavy rains turn this land and the apartments theron in what looks like an extention of the Delaware River.
Don't mean to "rebut" you, just clarify matters. Washington Crossing is several miles north of this area.and the "Water power has already crossed the road, and is now nearly adjacent to the River.
Did you know that for years the City of Trenton owned a large parcel of land along the Delaware in the area of what is now Rt. 95.
This was held for future expansion of the Filtration plant. I was involved with it as Chief Real Estate Officer for the City of Trenton.

Mike Kuzma

Friday, November 16, 2012 

Anonymous said...

Tony S.
You may be thinking of the body of water that ran under what is now the Rt. 29 freeway.
That body of water ran paralell and between the river, and the road. That is where shaky bridge was at the filtration plant.

Do you remember what we called a similar canal that ran from Morrisville north along the River?
"Dead Cow"
Mike Kuzma

Friday, November 16, 2012 

Tony S said...

My assumption that the picture was up River Road might have been off because this photo doesn't resemble the view of this area I have in my memory. But I am quite positive The Delavue rested along that body of water that ran parallel to the Delaware and which we called the water power. My friend and I lived on Sanhican Drive not 100 yards from this body of water we called "The Water Power." We used to swim in it and navigated our kyak up and it, way up to the Reading RR Bridge, much to the chagrin of our parents. The Delavue Bar and Grill was directly across the road from the fabled Dog House, which still stands,decaying, decrepit and long abandoned building where it fed us all almost nightly so many years ago. My memory is still a bit hazy on the Revere but that could have been where it originally stood. Man that was a long time ago. An enlightenment about my beloved Trenton will be most welcomed and I accede to those who have better memories.

Friday, November 16, 2012 

Thanks for the comments! Now you can see why this site is so popular but more importantly, historically significant. 

Tom