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Tuesday, January 01, 2013

1949: WEST STATE STREET AT RIFKIN AND GRANNICK

I liked this photo because it bought back memories of a 1950's W. State Street landmark store, Rifkin and Grannick at West State and No. Willow Street in downtown Trenton. As I recall, IBM had the building next door to R & G back when computer cards were the high tech predecessor to today's computers..

12 comments:

SJBill said...

The clock on the right side, before the Stacy Trent is on the Trenton Junior College Kelsey bldg.

IIRC, there was a Lane Bryant store sonewhere nearby on hte right side of the street. IT's tough to drag out some memories after all these years. ;-)

BTW, Happy New Year, Tom!!

Tom Glover said...

C'MON BILL,YOU HAVE A TALENT FOR DRAGGING OUT THOSE MEMORIES. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS.

HAPPY NEW YEAR
TOM

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: I took Saturday a.m. art lessos at the school on the right on the corner. I passed by this spot many times as I walk to and from Rider College. It was a hike to West Trenton but I loved to walk and still do. What wondeful memories you bring back to me. Thanks so much and a very happy and healthy New Year. Regards

SJBill said...

Sally, perhaps we were in the same art class. My classes were in 1953 or 11954, and I was in second or third grade at the time. I got to the classes by taking Trenton Transit or by walking from the Burg, unattended.

For the art classes we climbed up to the fifth floor to dabble in papier mache and tempra paints. We learned to mix flour and water to make the glue.

Ceramics and sculpture classes were also offered in a annex building a block or two away on Wilkinson lace. IIRC, this was the old School for Industrial Arts building.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR. WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET AT OUR AGE. I DELIVERED MAIL TO RIFKIN AND GRADNICK AT THE BEGINNING OF MY MAIL ROUTE AND ALSO TO THE AAA OFFICE ACROSS THE STREET. WALKING UP AND DOWN THOSE STEPS ON W. STATE ST. IS A BIG REASON WHILE I'M STILL AROUND TODAY. KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORK.

Ron Bound said...

Tom, Happy New Year. Was that TJC on the corner, near the State Capitol? I went to TJC in 56-58, and it was near the State Capitol, and near the Hessian Bldg too. Ron

JoeB said...

Tom:
As you mentioned the IBM Building,
I was Senior at CHS 1948 our Accounting Teacher took us on a visit to the IBM Building little did I know that 23 years later I would be employed by IBM. 1959-1990, that Building moved across the street by the State House,that land was taken by the State and finally the last Office of IBM in Trenton was 413 W. State Street.

Tony S said...

I knew Milton Rifkin and Mike Grannick very well as they were friends with my parents. R & G went out of business in the 60's and became a Lane Bryant store. Symbolically the closing of R & G denoted to me the beginning of the end for downtown Trenton. Grannick did open his own store further east on State Street, as sole proprietor and it lasted for some time.

Happy New Year everybody.

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, It seems that many of your followers, have a connection to the Kelsey Building. I, also fall into that category. I think I was in the second or third grade, and won a contest, which provided me with free art classes, during the summer months. I made a pastel drawing of a convertible driving up to a haunted house at night. What else would you expect? I was drawing cars before I could walk. I still have the drawing. I also rode the bus to school, from Villa Park, with never a fear of anything. What a great time to be a youngster. I also attended school there in the evenings, in the early 1960s, studying electrical engineering, while I was with Public Service Electric. I can't remember the name of the school at that point in time. Another nostalgic photo, that triggers a host of memories. rayfromvillapark

Tom Glover said...

TONY: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT REGARDING RIFKIN AND GRANNICK. I TRIED IN VAIN TO REMEMBER THE NAME LANE BRYANT, AND ALONG CAME TONY S.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU, ALSO, AND THANKS FOR YOUR ALWAYS WELCOME COMMENTS WHICH ADD TO THE HISTORIC VALUE OF A GIVEN POST.
TOM GLOVER

Tony S said...

My honor and pleasure to contribute. I just love this site and have passed on my recommendations to view it to several former Trentonians who would be interested. My comments are limited to the Western part of Trenton and downtown. I never spent much time in east Trenton so I am a ready listener to those who do know that area. Thanks for the nice comment.

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi SJBill: I guess a lot of us took art classes. You are younger than I because I must have gone there in the late '40s or early '50s. It was a great weekend retreat and both my parents took classes there after they graduated from TCHS. Regards