1974: CARL MOLDOVAN: HE TOLD IT LIKE IT WAS

You either agreed or disagreed with the views of Mr. Moldovan, but even the most staunch teachers' union advocates had to reluctantly agree that he did have some valid complaints about budgetary excesses in the township's annual tax increases. I inserted "LIGHTNING STRIKES THE HAMILTON B.O.E." into this graphic. I have a history of being a fierce supporter of Hamilton's schools and teachers, but as a senior citizen I find myself wondering why I don't get just a bit of a tax break from the large amount of my income that goes to the schools. Most of monthly social security check goes to Hamilton Township for my quarterly tax payment. The last time I looked which was a few years ago, I found that more tax dollars went to the school system than to the township. Most of us in the senior citizen community have been paying those exorbitant taxes many years after our children graduated from grammar and high school.  It is long past the time that the powers that be in the state, county and local municipalities look into what is an unfair senior citizen tax burden and at least consider some relief.

1949: WEST STATE STREET AT S.P. DUNHAM AND TRAVER'S BOOK STORE

This view is special for me with the front facade of the Traver's book store on the right. What a wonderful shop that was for those of us who were book lovers! It was one of the saddest days in my existence when news of the closing of that legendary store was closing. I was there on the last day of the store. There were still COUNTLESS books on the shelves. Mr. Jim Brimmer from the Trenton Rescue Mission was there and he told me I could take as many as you can carry, I overheard his conversation and introduced myself to him and asked him how I could get a truck load of the books he was loading. He quoted me a price of $35.00. I was delighted. I paid him and he got my address, He told me they would be delivered the next day. At the time, I was working in New Brunswick. At about 11:30 A.M. the next day, I received a call from my wife. "Tom, they came here about an hour and a half ago and our second garage is filled with books!"

I still shudder as I realize how many of the books I couldn't save went to the Rescue Mission. Many of those that were delivered to me were historic treasures including Barber and Howe's History of New Jersey, the two volume set of the History of Mercer and Burlington County, and countless others that I added to my collection. I gradually succeeded in disposing of them to book dealers, and some of them went to Mr. Don Sinclair who was the Curator of the New Jersey Room at Rutgers at the time. Had I known then what I know now, there would still be many in my garage.

1939: SOUTH BROAD STREET APPROACHING HAMILTON AVENUE

I was six years old when this photo was taken by an R.C. Maxwell photographer. As you can see, the intersection has changed drastically over the years. Long gone is the Hamilton Hotel, and even longer gone the red brick American Steel and Wire building on the corner of today's arena.

1955: THE GREAT FLOOD OF AUGUST, 1955

I was in the U.S. Army overseas when this disaster struck the Delaware Valley. The first I heard of it was on "AFN," the Armed Forces Radio Network. Eyewitnesses watched as the Yardley bridge was swamped by the angry waters. This event goes down in history as one of the area's most severe disasters. The riverfront would never be the same.

THE TOLL GATE AT THE CALHOUN STREET BRIDGE

That toll taker who lived along Calhoun Street during the years when it cost 2 cents to cross into Morrisville and 2 cents more to return, saw a number of instances where some crossed without paying and others were caught in the act and punished. Toll gates are always an interesting subject. Elsewhere in the library files is a list of where some of Trenton and area toll gates were places. Some that come to mind are South Broad at Laylor, Hamilton Avenue at Nottingham Way, E. State and Nottingham Way.

1940: NORTH BROAD APPROACHING STATE STREET

Though not practical, I would like to have seen retain the intersection of State and Broad as it appears in the photo. The RKO Capitol is standing tall on South Broad Street "hill."

1823: ARTHUR COREY'S MILL HILL MUSTARD MANUFACTURING FACTORY

Mill Hill: To me, the most historic area of Trenton. I have been giving special emphasis on this historic area of Trenton, and my research thus far has shed little known light on the area as it was way back when. My interest was drawn to the neighborhood back in the 1970's when former Mayor Art Holland, who in my personal opinion, was one of Trenton's best Mayors. He and his lovely wife Betty took up residence in that neighborhood which was to ultimately develop into the very charming community we see today. That gutsy move by the Hollands was a courageous move to dispel the myth that Mill Hill which at the time, had a reputation of being a undesirable neighborhood. Art saw the potential of the neighborhood and gave credibility to many that the neighborhood would ultimately become a very attractive area in which to live. He was right. Walking or driving down those narrow streets always reminds me of Philadelphia's "Olde City."

1946: SCHERER'S CAFE'

In my years it was known as "Frank and Vi's." This pristine view of the 1200 block of E.State Street shows the incredible change that has taken place in that neighborhood over the years.

2013: MY FINAL MUSIC CONCERT AT THE HAMILTON LIBRARY

Tomorrow eventing will be the final program in the Hamilton Library's Community Outreach program at the Ben Mundt gazebo on the Hamilton Library lawn. Advanced thanks to all those wonderful music lovers who attended and joined in on this refreshing sing along program!

1914: JOHN SOLIMANDO, A PAINTER IN THE BURG 100 YEARS AGO

The Solimando name is prominent in the Chambersburg neighborhood. This 100 year old ad from the Trenton Evening Times has been embellished with the colors of Italy, and the earliest classified ad I could find for the Solimando painting business.

1914: CHARLES TEUNON SELLING A 6 ROOM "BUNGALOW"

Based on the structure of the "bungalow" in the ad above, my Cap Cod home would also qualify as a
"bungalow." It was 100 years ago that these properties were being sold at what we in the year 2013 would consider impossible prices. I will count on one of  my numerous Lakeside-Gropp's Lake-Lakeside Park visitors to identify this house as it is today. If I get an address, I will take a Google Earth drive down the street and give you a photo.

1872: THE MILL HILL AREA FROM AN OBSERVATION BALOON

 I have an insatiable fascination with historic articles, photos and clippings relating to old Mill Hill. It is certainly one of Trenton's incredibly historic neighborhoods. I have no idea how the aerial view above was changed to a non photographic view of the Mill Hill area of Trenton. I suspect a Matthew Brady type camera was lifted aloft in a balloon, and photographed, and tediously drawn by local artists. Close inspection will see familiar landmarks like St. John's Church (Today's Sacred Heart), David Quintin's Washington Retreat, Taylor Avenue (now Greenwood Avenue), lower left with smoke issuing from a chimney is the old paper mill that once sat on the banks of the Assanpink. Another fascinating feature of this map shows what I believe is the original market which was located on the street at Greene Street (Broad Street) which inherited the name, Market Street. I am sure other visitors will point out other landmark churches, etc. This is a very large file, and the details are somewhat obscured. However, it is hoped that you will be able to read the street names. I won't even consider posting this on Facebook due to the size limits on that site.

1872: HENRY R. FELL CO. EXQUISITE AERIAL MAP OF 1872 DOWNTOWN TRENTON AREA

It took quite a bit of PhotoShop tweaking and re-formatting to bring this incredible map of downtown Trenton as it looked nearly 150 years ago (actually 141). Due to the size of the map which covers the entire city of Trenton along with tantalizing views of the outlying more rural areas, I zeroed in on the downtown area. I have superimposed the colored view of Trenton's City Hall at State and Greene (Broad) Sts. as it appears in the original. This will allow the viewer to use it as a guide to the other streets in the scene.

1984: ART HOLLAND LIKED MY COLUMNS

What a nice gesture! The busy Mayor Art Holland took the time to sit down and write the above letter to the editor responding to a column I did following the death of my Dad. The article had a photo of my mom and day and the article was entitled, "Together Again." It was one of those tear jerkers that I occasionally write and I recall that I was overcome emotionally as I wrote it. Now, I am approaching my mom and dad's age; the 80's, when my dear wife says that's when all the bad things happen to those of us who have managed to get out of the 70's.

2013: VOCALIST BOB ORLOWSKI TO APPEAR AT "BLEND BISTRO"

I received this email photo from Bob this morning and am posting it for all of my visitors who love to listen to music with real, understandable lyrics and with lovely melody minus those flashing strobe lights, screaming banshees with purple hair, etc  Bob is a true artist and does an admirable job singing the music of Frank  Sinatra, Michale Buble' and other male songsters who knew how to sing. "Break a leg,"Bob and best of luck with your gig.

ROCKHILL HART AND THE BROMLEY JAIL

 

I posted the photo at the top of the screen a few years ago and it became a victim of a Google glitch in which many of my graphics were removed from this website. Those that were removed have a triangle with an exclamation (!) in the middle. A recent visitor requested a repeat of the post showing the graphics.
As a long time Bromley resident, I have always had an intense interest in the old Hamilton Township Clerk's office that was once located on the corner of Walnut and Johnston Avenue here in the township. Each time I go by that corner, I look to see if any of the buildings could have been the site of the office of Rockhill Hart, Hamilton's legendary town clerk. The building also served as the Bromley jail back in the first few decades of the 20th century. Thanks to Hamilton Library Director George Conwell for making these public files and folders on the history of Hamilton Township available to the public. For some reason they have been secreted away in a credenza in the Director's office, strictly off limits. Along with fascinating scrap books and other paper memorabilia is this RARE and I dare say UNIQUE photo of township Clerk Rockhill Hart's office. The building also served as the Bromley jail, and at times, a meeting place for the Hamilton Township Committee. This photo was undoubtedly one of the items moved from the original library in the basement of the Municipal Building on Greenwood Avenue. On the back of the photo, along with the descriptive caption reproduced above, was a cryptic note:
"DO NOT CIRCULATE."

With the exception of the Hamilton Township Police Department, it is a very sad fact that Hamilton employees from the early years of Hamilton Township had very little interest in preserving historic photos and documents. Even today, the most recent vintage map of Hamilton Township is from a 1935 atlas. 

THIS FROM "ANONYMOUS:" REGARDING A DEFECTIVE 2010 POST WHERE THE ABOVE GRAPHICS WERE MISSING AND REPLACED WITH THE DREADED (!) EXCLAMATION:
Hi Tom, Im having trouble viewing this image...any suggestions? Also, would this be the location of the church building of the now-disbanded Bethel Lutheran church congregation? Thanks! on 1920's:

2013: HOPE TO SEE MANY VISITORS TOMORROW AND NEXT SUNDAY!

1872: TRENTON HAD YET TO EXPAND EASTWARD

This map of the Tyler Street area offers mute testimony to the fact that Trenton had yet to fully expand. The city was faced with few expansion alternatives. The proximity to the Delaware River automatically formed a boundary that precluded expansion. The only option was to move in the other directions on the compass. The eastern section was logical. I have been finding all the information I can on the transition of the city as orchards and corn fields and other rural land became developed. A close inspection of this map will show the few homes that dotted a very rural and open area.

1872: WHEN CHAMBERSBURG WAS ORCHARD AND FARMLAND

With the extensive research I have done over the years on the Chambersburg section of Trenton which grew from a rural borough to a thriving community with densely packed neighborhoods, I have only had one source to verify the claim that Chambersburg was once a very rural area with homes scattered here and there, orchards, and corn fields and other rural related features. This bird's eye view of "the Burg" was drawn in 1872 nearly 150 years ago. (actually 141 years ago.) 
A NOTE FROM TOM, AUGUST 16, 2013: THIS MAP HAS BEEN DIGITALLY CHANGED FROM 100 DPI TO 300 DPI IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MORE CLARITY ON A GRAPHIC WHICH WAS VERY DARK AND LACKING CONTRAST.

1849: THIS WAS MILL HILL

Mill Hill! For me one of the more intriguing and incredibly historic areas of Trenton. Mahlon Stacy, the old paper mill that was once on the banks of the Assanpink, the Whittaker Farm, the famed Revolutionary War battle that took place before George Washington quietly marched off to Princeton, and countless other fascinating and historic items I am finding day by day about this wonderful community. Close inspection of this map will show Quintin's "Washington Retreat" at the foot of Jackson Street, Taylor Street which is today's Greenwood Avenue, and Harrison Street which became an extension of Jackson Street. Note that Broad Street is skewed due to the fact that the page on which this map was printed was repaired and the two Broad Street sections are skewed.

1883: TODAY'S CHAMBERSBURG DEVELOPS (130 YEARS AGO)

I have been posting select graphics of Facebook in their "CHAMBERSBURG" and "IT'S A TRENTON THING" pages. This Hamilton Library website with it's nearing 8,000 pages has been established to provide legiible graphical historical information on the persons, places and things in Hamilton, Trenton, and Mercer County. I just posted this on Facebook, but after it uploaded, I found that it was much too small to be read due to Facebook's limit on graphic sizes. I will confine my Facebook posts to those graphic which are small enough to be legible.

REMEMBERING THE KUSER FARM TENNIS CLUB

 Here are two of the many very talented tennis players I met who played on the Kuser Farm Clay tennis court. My buddy and fellow Kuser Farm Tennis Club member Don Slabicki and I watched the match in New Hampshire when Betty Rhoads partnered with Fritz Kuser ("Mr. Trenton Tennis") to win a New Hampshire State Championship back in 1950. Eddie Moylan was the epitome of a role model. His quiet self confident manner impressed all who knew him. Additionally, he was an incredibly talented man with the tennis racquet. Indeed, he was one of the few opponents who kept "Mr. Trenton Tennis," Fritz Kuser on the defensive. The last I heard of Eddie, he was the tennis pro at Cornell University. Over those memorable years of Kuser Farm weekend tennis, many familiar names come to mind, all of whom loved the game. Among them, Don and Leo Bannon, Jim and Howard Waldron, Tag Richardson, Edgar Levy, and "Bev" Huston are a few who come to mind.

1949: THE NEW ST. ANTHONY CHURCH

I posted this on Facebook, and am re-posting it here so that those visitors to Facebook can read the text. Facebook does not allow for full size graphics.

Over the years, I have written numerous columns dealing with the Italian-American experience including St. Joachim Church, or as I called it in a column I wrote long ago, "The Jewel of Chambersburg." Here's an article from my files describing the celebration of the laying of the cornerstone on this historic and legendary church.

FROM THE LATE LELAND "LEON" BUKER: THE ULTIMATE TRENTON MASS TRANSIT HISTORIAN

Lee was a dear friend of mine during my many years as a parishioner at St. Anthony Parish in Hamilton. He was also the ultimate local transportation historian and his family has very graciously and generously donated many of his historic photos and scrapbooks. Above is a fascinating and very clear copy of one of the Trenton trolley "work cars." Note that it is the same coming or going, with a driver cab on either end. It is parked in the building on Lalor and Davis (now Stokeley Avenue) where the roller skating rink was later located.

1994: "A TASTE OF CHAMBERSBURG"

This a re-formatted and colorized list of those who participated in a 1994 fund raiser to benefit the Mercer Street Friends Center. The progam, "A Taste of Chambersburg" was hosted at Eddie Baldassari's Baldassari Regency restaurant on Morris Avenue. Look closely; we will never see their likes again!

1994: ROBERT "BOB" IMMORDINO - A TRUE HISTORIAN

The fascinating graphic took some time to re-format and put together. It tells the little know story of the city of Trenton as the very first American city to manufacture spaghetti and noodles. The gentleman's name was Giovanni Baptiste Sartori; a devout Roman Catholic and also instrumental in the founding of St. John's Roman Catholic Church on Lamberton Street in 1714. St. John's ultimately became Sacred Heart Parish at the intersections of South Broad, Centre Street, and Greenwood Avenue. 

Bob Immordino was a dear friend and true student of American-Italian history in the Mercer County area. He was also a viable contributor to Dorothea's House in Princeton. When Bob Immordino, Maury Perilli and I got together at one of our monthly lunches, local history took us well past a normal lunch hour. The aforementioned gentlemen were true local legends in the history of the Italian Americans from the early years. Bob took issue with the term "Italian American," insisting it should be referred to as "American-Italians." I have been using that term ever since.

1895: THE ROOTS OF CHAMBERSBURG

Francis Bazely Lee was THE local historian back in the 19th and early 20th century. His stories of the development of the city of Trenton included this 1895 article on the genesis of this historic area of Trenton. NOTE: Coleman Street was re-named Beatty Street. Jennie Street was re-named Hudson Street.

1910: OLD CITY HALL IS SOLD

It is not widely known that the Kuser family with all their wealth, once owned Trenton's beautiful and very historic City Hall which still stands and in nice condition at the corner of State and Broad Streets in Trenton.

1915: A BIT OF COUNTRY COMES TO CHAMBERSBURG

I often passed that park with an interested eye. It was truly a refreshing site to see a wide open grassy park nestled  among the countless row homes that lined the streets in Chambersburg.

1992: TOM GLOVER'S NEVER ENDING SEARCH FOR CAMP OLDEN

 

Over the years, I have made it a goal to learn all I can about one of Hamilton Township's more historic contributions to American history. Camp Olden is, and has been the subject which I have been zealously chasing since 1991 when I came across a newspaper article regarding the Lawtons of Hamilton Avenue. More articles relating to Camp Olden can be found by using the SEARCH feature below the home page on this site, along with the INDEX (Lables) on the right side of this screen. Additionally the Camp Olden Civil War Roundtable was formed and you will meet and greet experts on the war between the states if you visit their website www.campolden.org. The article I wrote above was the catalyst that spurred former Mayor Jack Rafferty to establish "Camp Olden Park" at the triangular intersection of Hamilton and Liberty Street. It was also followed by the establishment of the Civil War Roundtable during the time of Vince Mercandetti's term as President.

1913: NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO NEXT WEEK

This graphic was posted on FACEBOOK a few minutes ago. The unfortunate situation where FACEBOOK limits the size of graphics has told visitors to come view the full version here at my website. Fascinating reading!

1992: JIM MALONEY REMEMBERS TRENTON CATHOLIC

This has been posted on Facebook, but unfortunately is too large to be able to read. However it comes through in full legibility on this website. Jim and his lovely wife Helen Maloney are old time friends an parishioners during the time I was a member of the St. Anthony Trenton parish. Jim retired as a faculty member at Ewing High School. He and his brother Bill were with me on a number of retreats we had at San Alfonso Retreat House in West Long Branch.

1946: TRENTON INDUSTRY-AMERICAN SAW COMPANY

John Cleary, Harry Podmore, Bill Dwyer and Sally Lane are all my heroes who have enlightened all of us who are interested in our local historical heritage. The above is a digital copy of the "TRENTON IN BYGONE DAYS" series that ran so many years in the Trenton Sunday Times Advertiser. Most libraries disposed of their huge bound newspaper collection in favor of scratchy microfilm; long before computers and digital imaging was made possible.  Back in the early 1980's I saw the potential for historic preservation of these chronicles of local history and managed to save a 100 year run of Trenton newspapers. Included in the collection are bound copies of the Trenton State Gazette, Trenton Evening Times, Daily True American and the Trenton Sunday Advertiser from the 1930's and 1940's. Historians agree that one of the best sources of local history lies in the daily Trenton newspaper as articles and photos increase in historical interest as time passes. How true!

1914: CHAMBERSBURG MERCHANTS IN THE "TEENS"

Solimando and Salamandra: very familiar names in the Chambersburg of yesteryear. Indeed the two name still crop up quite frequently in my extensive digital database in the "CHAMBERSBURG" and "AMERICAN-ITALIAN" folders in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection.

JOHN FITCH: CREDIT FOR HIS INVENTION WAS LITERALLY STOLEN FROM HIM

 

 

 

 

Over the years, I have puzzled over a couple of true history mysteries. First was the derivation of the name "Hamilton" in Hamilton Township. There is no answer to that mystery. 

(And no, there is no indication that Alexander Hamilton, 

Hamilton Fish or any other historic entity was the chosen one.)

However, the one mystery that has baffled me over these many years is: Why is Robert Fulton credited with being the inventor of the steamboat when the record shows it was John Fitch? 

Sadly, then as now, the contemporary media was dishonest in any discussion of the subject. One thing is crystal clear: John Fitch was the inventor of the steamboat, even as Fulton is unrighteously credited with it.

1937: A VERY YOUNG HAROLD "BUS" SAIDT

He was a wonderful man, and a very talented sports announcer. I will never forget listening to Bus and his sidekick Bill Hildenbrand as they did the play by play on WBUD (1490 on the dial) in Morrisville. They were sponsored by Stan Coney Rebuilt Engines and I never missed any of those Trenton Giants Interstate League baseball games back in the mid 1940's The Trenton Giants were a farm team of the New York Giants. As we all know a young kid named Willie Mays was a Trenton Giant who went on to become a Hall of Famer.

1937: MY UNCLE CHARLIE GAUDETTE, SUPERINTENDENT OF TRENTON'S WAR MEMORIAL

Out of all my relatives, Uncle Charlie was the most successful. He was a great guy. A wounded veteran from World War I, he was a piano playing whiz. He often sat down at our piano when he and my Aunt May visited our house. He always warmed up with at tune that went something like this:

"Rings on her fingers, bells on her toes, elephants to ride upon, my little Irish Rose,

Come to your nabob, upon St. Patrick's Day, sing jumbo jumbo jumbo jitty boo jay, O'Shea..."

How do I remember these things from over 70 years ago? Beats me; I inherited my mother's ability to remember even the most obscure things.

2013: TOM GLOVER'S HAMILTON LIBRARY SING ALONG.

1875 AND 1900: HAMILTON'S FASHION STUD FARM

Back in the 19th century, Henry N. Smith a very wealthy man, purchased land shown in the area map above and developed it into the Fashion Stud Farm. It was a gathering place from all over America for those were involved in trotting race. Following many years of research, I have failed to find any photos or engravings of the farm, but it included a very beautiful trotting track a Kentucky Derby type grandstand. Civil War General Ulysses S. Grant stabled 2 horsed at the stud farm. Unfortunately, they were the victims of a horrendous fire that burned the stables back in December,1907. In November, I will be presenting an on screen presentation covering the Fashion Stud Farm and the Interstate Fair (known to most of us as the N.J.State Fair.

1909: TOM GLOVER'S FICTIONAL LAWSON TATTLER

This series will continue in future "Sentimental Journey" columns in the Trenton Times. I have based the "diary" concept using a fictional Trenton character whose diary consists of actual events that happened during the earlier years of the city of Trenton.