We've all heard scary stories relating to the Abrams brothers who lived hermit lives in a shack way back in "the marshes" a in the Broad Street Park area. For all you folks who remember these two unusual characters, here's the full story on what they do and how they do it. On a personal note, I find something fascinating about living in the wild as free spirits as those two boys did back in the 1930's and 40's. I would assume that they made a respectable living with the wildlife they trapped.
Back in my day - the late 50s to mid 60s - the Abrams brothers (though we didn't know their names at the time) were legendary, along with many other things about "The Swamps" behind White City Lake.
ReplyDeleteThe Abrahms camp was located just past the one lane wooden bridge at the western corner of Spring Lake. A cable hung across the lane that had a No Trespassing sign. IIRC, there was a small shack, a green and silver streamlined trailer (permanently installed, of course) and possibly a barking dog or four on the scene. We heard stories of trespassers being shot with rock salt if you got too close, so we never ventured very close.
The marshes behind the lake were a special place for us kids - the only wilderness within walking distance of the Burg. The entire area was a far cry from what it is, today. Much of the area was used a dumping ground for the city industries and hospitals. The area between Deutzvill and Sturgey - at the foot of Hewitt Avenue - was an dump full of ceramic, wire mill and hospital waste. There was a lot of wildlife, too, and Sturgey had many good sized chain pickeral.
Sturgey - a lovely pond - had dozens of wooden reels which came from the wire mills in Trenton. Kids from Trenton and Deutzville used to slide these things around on the ice when frozen, which made a great ride.
You could skate all the way from the tracks and Sturgey all the way to Spring Lake (White City Lake was the preferred name to us kids).
From time to time, there were confrontations with kids from the various factions - some which were pretty severe. That was a part of growing up back in hte day that could wind up getting you arested today.
We hunted and trapped all along the train tracks to Bordentown. There was a lot of mud, but I do not recall any sightings of quicksand.
I came across the brothers back in the late 40's & 50's when I was a wrangler for Carney Rose's riding academy on Hobson & Independence Ave.
ReplyDeleteThe one brothers' name was Chauncy, who was referred to as "Nutsy" for their strange ways.
As I led the riders around the lake's trails, I would see them often, as I grew older, and bolder, I began talkint to them about trapping muskrats. it turned out they sold the pelts to a company where my dad was the foreman. All in all, it turned out they were just two en who found solace living a more private, and primitive life, and seeded happy about in that enviroment.
Few people today can live like that and be happy.
Merry Christmas
Mike Kuzma