1937 AND 1930: "LOCAL HISTORY WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH:" EASTER, 1937

Here's a clip which is in keeping with my goal of making this website not only local history, but local history with a personal touch. The scenes in the left photos are from Easter Sunday, 1937 and will be repeated by many Christians tomorrow as once again we rejoice in Jesus' rise from the tomb. On the right are a number of ads from the local Trenton Times relating to the season.

1934: ANOTHER EXQUISITE R.C. MAXWELL CENTER CITY TRENTON PHOTO

Unless I am corrected by our auto expert Ray Paskiewicz, I am going to identify that auto in the foreground with "bull frog" headlights a Pierce Arrow. One of the most charming features of these gorgeous photo is the wonderful views of those autos when they were in their "natural habitat."

1935: BUMPER TO BUMPER PARKING

Pray tell, how is the guy in the middle going to get out of that tight spot in the photo? This was extracted from a larger view of North Broad Street at the intersection of East and West State Street. In all the years I journeyed into Trenton, all those center city parking spots were off limits.

1932: BRIDGE STREET FROM THE "FREE" BRIDGE

 

I spent quite some time processing these interesting views which will bring back many memories for the numerous South Trenton visitors to this website, as well as those of us who drove over that bridge before the re-alignment in the 1960's. The top photo shows the driver's view of the entrance to the city of Trenton via the Morrisville bridge. The next photo is an enlargement of the sign seen in the top photo which lists the speed limits of the city in various neighborhoods. The next photo is an extraction showing the Mercer Bag and Burlap Company building. It was my recollection that this company was located on John Fitch Way as one entered the city from the south. And finally below, cars have left the Morrisville bridge and are heading toward South Broad and Bridge Street.

2013: WELCOME FACEBOOK VISITORS!

With "social networking" becoming a household word among those of us who are computer literate, I find a very encouraging trend emerging with Facebook's "IT'S A TRENTON THING," wherein Facebook's many visitors add photos and comments targeting that wonderful city of my childhood. I have also decided to begin posting on Facebook with articles and photos from "The Hamilton Scrapbook." Even though Facebook can be somewhat limited in enlarging articles as can be done on the Hamilton Scrapbook website, it is really wonderful to see that someone took the initiative to embark on this very valuable Facebook feature. If any visitor knows who began the "Trenton Thing" segment, I would like to thank him or her.

1940: NORTH BROAD ST. AT EAST HANOVER

Yards, Carlton, and if one journeyed a bit down E. Hanover Street, you would see one of the morning stops I made with my wife to be, Judy Britton, as we stopped into Clede's Luncheonette for a cup of coffee and perhaps a donut. Precious memories!

1947: SOUTH BROAD ST. AT ROEBLING AVENUE

Here's a closeup and segmented high definition photo of that Chambersburg intersection as it appeared in 1947. I'm sure our auto historian Ray Paskiewicz will identify the Buick in the foreground for us.

1946: STATE AND BROAD I KNEW SO WELL

That bus stop rignt in front of the Wilson store is where our Trenton Transit "L-9" Liberty Street bus pulled up and let us off. I have fond memories of stepping to the curb with my mom as we went to pay the Public Service bill and go for a jaunt down the hill to Goldbergs. Mom would go to the notions counter, and let me check out Goldberg's fabulous "Toyland." An open air news stand was also on that South Broad Street corner all during those golden Trenton years. Memories indeed are made of this! I note that a number of these R.C. Maxwell copy righted photos are appearing on Facebook. Please note that all my Hamilton Library posts obeys the U.S. Copyright laws by crediting R.C. Maxwell-Duke University Collection under the "fair use" provision, for educational purposes only.

1929: HARRY PODMORE; HISTORIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE

 I have been devoted to local history for at least 60 years. Over those years I was introduced to many local Trenton newspaper writers who specialized in keeping history alive. As a young teenager back in the 1940's, "Trenton in Bygone Days" was the spark that lit my interest. Each Sunday in the Trenton Sunday Times Advertiser, Harry Podmore regaled us with incredibly interesting stories of persons, places, and things in and around Trenton. Harry's successor, the late Bill Dwyer filled Harry's shoes very admirably as he continued the Bygone Days column. Many years ago, I paged through a Podmore scrapbook in the Trenton Public Library.  As I recall, Harry's Bygone Days columns were pasted in a scrapbook and the paste caused the scrapbook pages to ripple. Little did I realize at the time that I would have pristine copies of this fabulous column in its original form, before the advent of microfilm. In an effort to save the space taken up by those HUGE bound copies of newspapers, most libraries discarded them and went to microfilm. Through providence or some other mysterious reason, I saw the embryonic rise of computer technology back in the 1960's and knew these bound volumes would one day be a real asset to my collection. Today, I am able to pick and choose which original articles are of historic importance and can be scanned and digitized. The above graphic is an example of bringing the computer and local history into the twenty first century.

1946: DO YOU REMEMBER THESE?

This is like a re-run of the scenes of my childhood and young adult years. Jonclars was a lively upscale gathering place back in the 1940's as was Jack and Bob's. Clio? It was on Route 33 in the area of today's Cedar Gardens, and by the time I was driving in 1952, Cedar Gardens and Betty & Bill's drive in was on the spot.

I am posting this baseball related graphic again as a result of an email I received from Tony Siegel who, as you will see, is a real dyed in the wool fan of the game. Tony invites your comments and so do I.

Hi Tom:

I have enjoyed many of Ralph's baseball postings. Although I do not know him I love his tales of the Schroths and other Trenton memorabilia.I grew up in Trenton a rapid Baseball fan, the Phillies and A's to be exact as I was a fervent Yankee hater. I still am.

This baseball love and background perhaps helped to provide an impetus to allow me to think about working in Baseball when the time came. So when I got to Houston, Texas in late 1964 I set upon accomplishing just that. It is a long story but I did get to .be one of the two guys who operated the Astrodome scoreboard when it opened in 1965. The Phillies opened the season that year and I befriended Bus Saidt, who I used to "bootleg" listening to every night as my parents made me go to bed. I tricked them. Anyhow Bus had to dart out as the team had a flight that night so I had was given the honor of calling in his story to the Trenton Times for him. We became friends until his untimely death many years ago, In fact, I attended his funeral.

I am about to begin my 48th year in Major League baseball, the last seven with the World Champion Giants. We received a ring in 2010 and will get another on April 20 to commemorate winning the Series last year. It has been quite a ride.

So please convey to Ralph that his tidbits are greatly appreciated and look forward to more. Since my 98 year old mother is still alive an kicking in Trenton, maybe I can get to meet him one day.

You take care and "see" you on your web site.

Tony Siegle

Senior Advisor

San Francisco Giants

rockytony@aol.com

2013: MARCH 26 - MY COMPUTER CRASHED

I have been into computing since way back in the days of the IBM "XT" and "AT." I remember 286, 386 and 486 processors as well as outmoded "CPM" processors. All through those years I never experienced a computer crash like the one I experienced this morning when I turned the "ON" switch to the on position and the hard drive icon light blinked for a second and shut off. A letter "A" in the caps lock icon also blinked and I knew there was something wrong when the caps lock key didn't control the upper and lower caps function
After 4 and a half hours of doodling, I finally took the bottom off of my laptop and re-seated the memory card. Back in business, but somewhat behind in my posts. Bear with me.

POSTING IS TEMPORARILY CURTAILED ON THIS SITE UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. IT SEEMS THAT THE VERIZON BROADBAND SATELLITE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SNOW STORM. WHERE THERE WERE "4 BARS" UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THERE IS NOW AN ON AND OFF SINGLE BAR INDICATING VERY LOW SIGNAL STRENGTH.

MY LOCATION IN THE STEEL SHROUDED LIBRARY IS PROBABLY ANOTHER FACTOR.

I'LL BE BACK WHEN THIS WEATHER FRONT MOVES AWAY.

TOM

1936, 1948 and 1949 THE LUCARELLA BOYS

These are for you, Ralph and other local and national baseball fans from the golden years of the 30's, 40's and 50's. I am sure there are more Lucarella columns still to be found and will be sure to post them as they become available.

1946: INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE 1946 CHAMPIONS

Don Slabicki and I were regular visitors to Wetzel Field, and probably saw this game. Memories of Wetzel field are very vivid. I remember my Industrial League was Reynold "Rennie" Funari; a fellow Yankee fan.

1945: CAPITOL BODY & FENDER WORKS

They were located at 756 E. State Street, just past Monmouth Street, over the railroad bridge, past the Crossley Maching Shop and on the left side of the road.

1947: The 800 block of S. Broad Street

Once again, I have segmented this photo in order to highlight the notable merchants who did business in the then busy 800 block of South Broad Street.

1949: HERE WE ARE IN FRONT OF F.W. DONNELLY'S STORE

Our auto historian Ray Paskiewicz will like this closeup photo of W. State Street with all those beautiful 1940 era vehicles parked and passing through downtown Trenton during the years when Trenton had a very active downtown community.

1949: STATE AND BROAD STREET AND THE "FIVE AND DIME" STORES

These two photos are views of the State and Broad I knew as a youth. The graphic on top is an enlarged view taken from the bottom photo in order to get a better view of the store fronts of the legendary Trenton "5 & 100 cent store, or as they were more familiarly known, "Five and Dimes." The "S-Spruce Street" bus is clearly in view. What a joy it was to be part of those crowds that once swarmed into center city Trenton. Warm memories come to my mind as a look at the top photo and see that bus at the curb. Were this a Thursday night during that era, one would see a blue 1941 DeSoto idling behind the bus stop, where officer Chet Hughes let me wait until a few minutes after nine O'clock when my wife to be Judy would hop in for a ride home.

1948: The 1000 Block of South Broad Street

This is another "segmented" photo wherein I open a huge view and cut away the center of attention; in this case all those autos parked along the road, and those heading into town.

1947: NOTTINGHAM WAY IN FRONT OF BARTON F. FRANCIS DODGE-PLYMOUTH

Wow, how that area has changed! I enlarged this photo to the max in order to get as close up to the scene as possible. 1947 is 66 long years ago, and the change in the area is dramatic.I love seeing those old cars as they navigated route 33 those 66 years ago.

1940's: MY SECOND CHILDHOOD: "FUNNY BOOKS" AKA "COMIC BOOKS"

Our teachers hated them, all of us kids loved them. I have this insatiable longing to remember the things of my childhood. One of them is in what we called "funny books," but are more universally known as comic books. I actually had volume 1 number 1 of Jerry Siegle and Joe Schuster's "Superman" comic book way back in Miss Lacy's 5th grade at Kuser School. It was in June, and we had just finished our final exams and the school season was on half days. Miss Lacy told us we could bring in any books or magazines from home as long as we didn't disrupt the normal operation of the classroom. My classmate Ronnie Doyle and I were both "funny book" collectors and we decided to trade. Ronny was a Batman guy and also Captain Marvel. I was a Superman lover and also a fan of The Green Lantern. Well, we traded, and one of those trades was the first Superman issue. It probably got thrown in the garbage sometime during the era of what we know of today as "Golden Age Comics." I am currently downloading public domain comics from the "golden age" and saving them in a special place on my hard drive. Some time I'll tell you about my Joe DiMaggio rookie card, and Lord knows how many other rare baseball cards I and my contemporaries destroyed. Who knew?

1983: WFIL-TV's LARRY FERRARI

I first met him on Philadelphia's channel 6 on Sunday mornings as PFC Larry Ferrari regaled us with his incredible talent as an organ player. Larry was a local legend to those of us who appreciate music with a lovely melody. Mom Glover and women all over the Delaware Valley put down their aprons every Sunday morning to watch Larry make his magical music on that Wurlitzer organ. As can be seen in an article I wrote way back in 1983, I had an interesting encounter with Larry as I linked him up with a fellow amateur radio operator down in Kingston, Jamaica. Larry was the second celebrity with whom I had radio contact back in the 1970's and 80's. The other was a short conversation with my favorite radio humorist at the time, Jean Shepard; also an active "ham."

1910: TRENTON'S FORST-RICHEY BUILDING

This is a Photoshop modified ad from the Sun Optical Company, a prominent and popular downtown Trenton merchant back in the early 20th century. The Forst-Richey building is mentioned often as one of Trenton's more notable buildings, housing numerous offices.

1914: EWING TOWNSHIP'S LATE, LAMENTED LANNING SCHOOL

When I wrote this column back in 1988, I was invited to the celebration of the founding of the school. I met many of the Ewing folks I was acquainted with while I was working in Ewing at my old dead end job at the Trenton Bearing Company on North Olden Avenue Extension. I was very impressed with the condition of that classic school house. It was immaculately maintained. The school is no longer there but the building is occupied as an office building.

1929: HAPPY EASTER, 1929

I have written so many columns in these 32-plus years, that I must admit I have forgotten about many of them. 32 years of writing times 52 weeks in a year minus a few years for bi-weekly Trenton Times columns results in over 1500 columns! I am currently working on a carton filled with old columns and the stack is nearly 12 inches high. What's more, there are more in other yet to be found storage! I am currently going through some of these columns and realize that many of them were written before the advent of the computer with its digital abilities. Above is one of those graphic columns. In order to get this to press, I had to cut out the physical articles and ads, paste them on a white sheet of paper and take them physically to the Mercer Messenger office on Nottingham Way where it would be photo copies by the Messenger's graphics guy and published. Today, all I have to do is open my Photoshop software, assemble the graphic elements and save it is a graphic file.

1988: TOM'S COLUMN ON HENRY FORD'S "MODEL A"

Henry Ford's Model "A" made a huge impact on Trenton area residents as well as people all over the world as the newly designed replacement for the Ford Model "T" was introduced to the public. It was always my dream to own a rumble seat Model "A" rumble seat roadster but the wallet at the time was not able to pull off the purchase of a restored version. What a wonderful auto! I road in quite a few of them back in the day, but my favorite was always the rumble seat roadster.

1986: A NOSTALGIA QUIZ FOR GRANDPOP AND GRANDMOM

How time has flown! When I wrote this quiz way back in 1986, I was aiming at the "over 40" generation. Many of them have now gone to be with the Lord, but there are still some of us more stubborn seniors who have taken the time to be computer literate. It is to these folks that I submit this quiz. To those visitors who are too young to know most of the quiz, print it out and give grandma and or grandpa a chance to try their hand at answering. Over the years, I have published many nostalgia quizzes which were very favorably received by my generation. Use the "comments" link below this page to let me know how you did.....AND NO PEEKING!

1986: REMEMBERING THOSE GREAT OLD BIKES FROM MY CHILDHOOD

When this column hit the street back in 1986, a lone Princetonian wrote me a letter telling me how very wrong I was to belittle the "modern" bicycles. He went on to say they were faster, safer, and other facts that were calculated to show me that those old "coaster brake" bicycles were inferior. Of course, I disagree, even these 30 plus years as remember how comfortable it was seated on my old bicycle. My daughter and son in law purchased a copy of one of those now vintage bicycles for a Fathers' Day gift. It is in safe storage in my garage; "texas steer" handle bars, fenders, coaster brake, and a seat that is crafted for the comfort of the human derriere. Hey, different strokes for different folks! I just happen to naturally stay away from those skinny hose type tires multi sprocket transmissions, and a riding position making me lean forward at a 45 degree angle to grasp those inverted handle bars.

1989:A MEMORABLE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

When you get to the ripe old age of 75 to 80 and above, you find that you have countless memories of persons, places, and things of the past. It is a known fact that the older one gets, the more he or she treasures those memories, whether pleasant or sometimes sad. I hasten to add that I didn't fit into the 75 to 80 category referred to above. There are quite a number of us who became aware of our past at a much earlier age. In my case, it was in the 1960's, when Judy and I started a family and felt compelled to pass on to our children and grandchildren "The Way We Were" in our younger years. They also tell me that as one ages, he or she develops a certain wisdom. I do believe that to be the truth. One of my lasting memories is found in my many years of service at St. Anthony's Church in Hamilton. I have been entertaining the idea of writing an article on my years at that great old church on South Olden Avenue. Some of my most memorable years were spent as a very active parishioner in that parish, having served as Lector, singer, Eucharistic Minister, President of the Holy Name Society as well as being the first male President of the St. Anthony Grammar School PTA, carnival worker, lawn mower and clean up worker in an impossibly littered environment. The graphic above is just one very small memory of the many I have garnered over the years. I still remember when an aging "Iron Mike," Monsignor McCorristin rode shotgun with me in that kelly green 1961 Rambler. He really relished the ride from St. Anthony's to Immaculate Conception Church on Chestnut Avenue. The love the people had for the man as we rode slowly along Olden Avenue to Hamilton was a thrilling experience for me. I will never forget the cheers from the spectators as Monsignor, cigar clenched firmly in his teeth, waved to all those admirers. Memories are made of this, my dear visitors!

MAPLE SHADE SCHOOL ALBUM

Over the years, I have acquired a substantial number of photos and articles relating to the many venues in the Hamilton-Trenton-Mercer County area. Above are only a very few photos and articles from the "MAPLE SHADE SCHOOL" folder in the Hamilton Township Public Library's Local History Collection. As I enter my 80th year and realizing that I have been actively researching, saving, and writing about these various subjects, I have come to realize that there is a historically valuable collection of rare and historical photos and articles from all areas. Granted, there are only a select few of us who treasure this history project, and even though it gets little publicity, one day these little bits and pieces of local history will be appreciated by a more history-aware public.

1936: YOU'RE ON E. STATE ST. NEAR THE PUBLIC SERVICE BUILDING!

Even though these two modified photos of E. State Street are from 3 years after I was born, the familiar old Public Service building is quite familiar to me. I can remember the many Christmas season visits and other visits I made there when my mom went "up town" to pay our electric bill at the very same building shown in the photo. I have enhanced all of the signs on the various buildings in each photo. They were washed out and very difficult to see.

A NUMBER OF VISITORS HAVE EMAILED ME REGARDING THE CONFUSING CHOICES OFFERED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS WEBSITE. FOR SOME REASON, WHEN A VISITOR WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT, THEY ARE GIVEN VERY CONFUSING CHOICES THAT I AND OBVIOUSLY OTHERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND. 

HERE'S A QUICK WAY TO MAKE A COMMENT AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF SHOULD YOU WISH TO SIGN YOUR NAME:

  CLICK ON "NO COMMENT" OR "COMMENT" AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, CHECK THE "ANONYMOUS" CIRCLE , MAKE YOUR COMMENT AND SIGN YOUR NAME UNDER YOUR COMMENT. YOU WILL BYPASS  THEIR CONFUSING "OPEN ID" AND "NAME/URL" CHOICES. TOM GLOVER

1935: HAMILTON "WPA" PROJECTS

I presume the WPA and PWA are identical entities during the years of the Great Depression. My father was one of those who worked for food and pay, as he was part of a crew extending Arena Drive out to White Horse back in the 1930's. As can be seen by the article, there were numerous projects on the books. The original of this article was badly tarnished brown with age, and the article was cut too close as an be seen in the first two columns. The original article was one column long; it has been cut and pasted to fit on the average computer screen in legible form.