2013: THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR!

At my last summer concert series on the lawn at the Hamilton Library gazebo in August, my friend loyal concert attendee Nancy Briggs told me I was to receive the Proclamation as shown in the graphic. We had a crowd of nearly 60 people at the event. Unfortunately, Mayor Kelly Yaede was on vacation and she asked my friend Councilman Ed Gore to do the honors. I am proud to say I now have 3 proclamations! One from the Hamilton Council a few years back, and one from my friend, former Mayor of Hamilton, Glenn Gilmore. It's nice to be recognized. I intend to be a volunteer until I am no longer physically able to continue. In fact, we have a full house for my Kuser Farm Mansion program set for this Wednesday evening, October 2nd. Unfortunately, we had to turn a number of reservations down due to the fire code and the number of people in the room.

2013 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HAMILTON HIGH CLASS OF 1953

Wow! I will reach the golden age of 80 on this coming Sunday, September 29. How fast those years flew by-----how fast they are still flying! As we age, memories of our younger years become a very important part of our lives and the aging process. Some of my happiest years were spent as a student of Kuser Grammar School, and of course, the best high school in the nation, Hamilton High! Even though they were a couple years behind me as an HHS '51 alumnus, I still remember a lot of the "kids" in the class of 1953. I wish all of you a very warm and wonderful reunion. May you have many more!

MAPLE SHADE SCHOOL

 

One of the subjects very near to the top of my interest in local history lies in the old one room school houses that once dotted our very rural past, and the early 20th century schools that replaced them. Above is a photo of Maple Shade School prior to the construction of the familiar red brick building that was once located on White Horse Avenue. The original was black and white and I took the liberty of hand coloring it to give it a bit of realism. Below is an early 20th century class photo with many well known local White Horse residents.

BROMLEY; ONE OF HAMILTON'S VINTAGE COMMUNITIES

I will be presenting two "on screen" Power Point type programs at the October and November meetings of the Hamilton Township Historical Society. The Society meets the first Monday of every month (except July and August) at 7 P.M. in the lower level Room #2 of the Hamilton Township Public Library. The October meeting will be a thumbnail history of the John Abbott II house, and the story of the founding of the Society which is celebrating its 70t anniversary. The November meeting will be another on screen presentation featuring Bromley, the New Jersey State Fair, and the Henry N. Smith "Fashion Stud Farm" which was once located in the Bromley area adjacent to the Fairgrounds. Both presentations are free and the public is cordially welcome.

1940: JUNIOR 4, DAYTON STREET; TODAY'S GRACE DUNN

 

I am building up a nice collection of Junior Four grammar school articles, photos and quite a few "ARGUS" yearbooks. It seems that this school holds many fond memories to many visitors who were fortunate enough to attend that school during the golden years of education in Trenton and the surrounding area. Of particular interest is the weekly "Assembly" which we all had back in the 1930's and 40's. It was usually a Friday affair and we were exposed to fascinating cultural and educational on stage programs.

1874: THE NEW GREENWOOD CEMETERY

What a great news photo! Greenwood was indeed a beautiful cemetery. In fact it sill is today but the landscape had s somewhat different appearance from theGreenwood Cemetery of today.

1940: BEFORE JET PROPULSION

I find this to be a very fascinating photo of a plane of the future as illustrated in an old Mechanics Illustrated magazine. Not being an aeronautical engineer, I must say I wonder if the push props on the back of the wings were superior to the conventional engine nacelles being installed as they were on most multi engine aircraft. I have a fear of flying but I love to spot those airliners in the early evening when the sun is going down here on earth, but still shines brightly on passing aircraft. However, unlike when I was a boy, I could really get closeup views with a 10 x 35 pair of binoculars because those old DC3 passenger airliners didn't fly the normal 30 to 40,000 feet. Unfortunatly my zoom binoculars are impossible to hold steady as the magnification is zoomed in and the price of image stabilization binoculars is out of the question.

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure that the Russian's had a few pusher bombers in their fleet. The "prototype" of the B-2 in the 1950's, the flying wing (V configuration), was a pusher also.

Ed Millerick

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Anonymous said...

Tom, the "flying V" that I mentioned was the Northrop YB-35. The only one manufactured in any numbers was the Convair B-36, of which they made 389.

The only others of note were a handful of flying boats done by the French, Italians and Germans only one of which saw commercial production and even that was only about 30.

Ed Millerick

Sunday, September 22, 2013

2013: AN ERROR CORRECTED and THE STORY OF THE KUSER FARM "BEAR TREE"

Give Glover a coffee break and you have to re-train him; he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. How stupid it was of me to enter the incorrect time for my upcoming Kuser Mansion program, "A Night of Nostalgia and Music!" This only applies to those who read my Sunday column wherein I write about upcoming fall and winter programs. As you can see by the current  www.glover320.blogspot.com home page the time is correctly listed as 6 to 7:30. This post is for those visitors who read my Sunday column and entered the incorrect time on your respective calendars. Sorry for the error. The graphic below is another nostalgic memory from the years my best friend Don Slabicki and I spent working odd jobs at Fritz and Edna's Kuser Farm. Imagine two 12 year old boys walking through the Kuser woods, talking about the headline of the day where a bear escaped from captivity in the N.J. State Fair area. It was one of those dark and foggy winter after school days when we came upon this tree which still stands on the lawn diagonally opposite the tennis court. I can still see the beast's rump and legs as he shinnies up that tree! When former Councilman the late Jack Lacy heard my story he was going to have the township re-name the tree with a plaque that read "Tom Glover and Don Slabicki's Bear Tree;" unfortunately, the project never came to fruition.

1990: WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

It seems like a hundred years ago when I sat under the studio lights at the old TKR Cable of Hamilton back in the 1980's and 90's. My program was called "IN FOCUS" and I interviewed politicians, artists, and other prominent people in the Hamilton area. My very favorite interview was with my favorite disk jockey Jack Pinto of WBUD. We had a wonderful interview and I found Jack to be a very spiritually religious man. He waxed poetic as he recalled the joys of waking up before dawn and watching the sunrise on a new day from his studio in Ewing Township. Unfortunately, Cablevision came into the scene and took away all of our local programming and replacing my program with a lady who interviews people from Middlesex, Ocean and Monmouth Counties, with only a crumb of  Hamilton here and there.

1959: I REMEMBER THE DATSUN. TODAY I CALL IT A NISSON

Here's and ad for the 1959 Datsun. In the dead end ball and roller bearing company I worked for for over 40 years, imports were a definite "no-no." Imported autos meant imported ball and roller bearings, and they were a critical threat to our survival. If we sold a "New Departure" (GM) wheel bearing made in Bristol, Connecticut for $9.95, a Japanese "NSK" equivalent would be $4.85. One of our customers was the U.S. Steel Fairless Works over in Morrisville. At the time, they wanted nothing to do with steel products that were made anywhere but in the U.S. They discouraged their employees from buying foreign. My boss asked us to buy American cars and drink from steel beverage cans. Along came aluminum cans and along with them came the demise of steel cans. Combine these foreign import  with the steel union getting all kinds of benefits including my neighbor's  13 week paid vacation as one who had the seniority for that perk,  and you can see one of the reasons for the beginning of the end for the U.S. steel industry.

Here is a view of the many businesses on East State Street heading west to Broad Street in the year 1936.

*******

Note that R.C. Maxwell-Duke University Library photographs published on this website, are in compliance with the U.S. copyright holder's “fair use” provision and that the material displayed is for
EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY AND MAY NOT BE USED FOR ANY COMMERCIAL OR OTHER MONETARY PURPOSES.  
http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/sizes/rcmaxwellco_XXX3420

1987: BROMLEY'S BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

 

This beautiful church is one of the landmarks in the Bromley section of Hamilton. On Monday, October 7 at 7 PM in the Hamilton Township Township Historical Society, I will be presenting an on screen PowerPoint type presentation on Hamilton's Bromley section. The presentation will include the Henry N. Smith Stud Farm and the New Jersey State Fair. I have been a Bromley resident for over 50 years, and have seen an incredible change in the area over those years. Bromley has a very interesting history. It was a beautiful getaway from the crowded city of Trenton with the incredibly beautiful Bromley Place and Bromley Manor real estate developments. .

2013: HAPPY 70th ANNIVERSARY TO THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

"COMPUTERS AND LOCAL HISTORY" PERFECT TOGETHER"

             I will be presenting an on-screen Power Point type presentation featuring the history of the Historical Society of Hamilton Township on Monday, October 7 in room #2 of the Hamilton Township Public Library. The meeting begins promptly at 7:00 P.M. followed by  the presentation which will be a thumbnail sketch of the history of the Hamilton Township Historical Society celebrating its 70th anniversary in this year of 2013. One of the wonderful features of these projected on the screen presentations lies in the ability of the presenter to leave the presentation open for anyone in the audience who would like to comment or ask a question as the photos and articles are projected on the screen.

            On Monday evening, November 4th, again at a meeting that starts at 7:00 P.M. I will be presenting another "COMPUTERS AND LOCAL HISTORY" program featuring the New Jersey State Fair, the story of the development of the Bromley section of Hamilton, including Bromley's little known Fashion Stud Farm. You will be viewing photos and articles that have been hidden from public view for many, many years.
           The public is cordially invited to attend and these programs are completely free of charge. There is adequate parking and access is easy by way of the handicap entrance in the lower level of the library. I look forward to seeing some of my fellow visitors, friends and neighbors to what will be a very interesting presentation.  

1875: THIS WAS YARDVILLE, AKA "SAND HILLS"

I dug into the "MAPS" directory in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection and zeroed in on Yardville showing the village as it was 138 years ago. Fascinating!

1934: E. STATE AT STOCKTON STREET

This is an exquisite view of downtown Trenton during the Great Depression. Harbourt's Drug Store is on the far right, just out of the photo. Can you identify the church on the left?
http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rcmaxwellco_

*******

Note that R.C. Maxwell-Duke University Library photographs published on this website, are in compliance with the U.S. copyright holder's “fair use” provision and that the material displayed is for 

EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY AND MAY NOT BE USED FOR ANY COMMERCIAL OR OTHER MONETARY PURPOSES.

http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rcmaxwellco_

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, This is the clearest photo,indicating the location of the Cord Auburn automobile dealership, to the left, past the church. This building became Bill's Hobby Shop, where I became a regular. One of the tall buildings just further up, had a huge painted sign on the brick wall advertising Cord and Auburn automobiles. It could clearly be seen coming East on State. Two of the most iconic cars of the 1930s, the very stylish Auburn, introduced the boat tailed speedster, with both Straight 8 and V12 power. They offered luxury at a relatively lower price than Packard, Cadillac, or Pierce Arrow, while the front wheel drive Cord 810 & 812, had the most advanced styling of the 1930s, with the coffin nose, hidden headlights, no running boards, pontoon fenders and a low center of gravity. They were powered by a Lycoming flathead V8, putting out 125 HP, naturally aspirated and 165 HP supercharged. The transmission was controlled by a Bendix pre selector gearshift. This car was such a great influence on my thinking about how an automobile should look, that I have coveted this model all of my life. Nearly purchased one in the 1960's but building a new home, at that time, interfered with the cash flow. I believe my wife may have interfered also. Still my favorite car. Auburn went out of business at the end of 1936, and Cord followed at the end of 1937. The last trolleys ran in the 1934, the date of this photo.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

joe lind said...

Tom, Look at the spelling on top of the building Broad Street Bank, It's backward as is all other spelling in the picture, It must be a picture of a negative that wasn't inverted.
Just thought I would mention it.
I hope you and the Mrs are doing well.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Tom Glover said...

Hi Joe: No, the photo is correct. The reason you are seeing the sign on the bank is due to the reflection on the opposite side of the sign is more prominent. To be sure, I opened the photo with PhotoShop and horizontally flipped it. When I did, all the signs in the photo were backwards. I tried to tweak the sign in the foreground but the contrast just wasn't there.

Tom

Thursday, September 12, 2013

1840: "The Delaware Bridge at Trenton"

 What a fascinating engraving! Below is a Trentoniana article from 1856 announcing the repair work being done on the old wooden bridge.Below is a photo from the Trentoniana collection at the Trenton Free Public Library which shows what the caption says is the Calhoun Street bridge. Which begs the question: Is the lower photo a later photo of the same wooden bridge with modifications? Perhaps a Trenton Historical Society member or another local authority can enlighten us.  

1905 (Ca. 1905) PEOPLE OF TRUTH SYNAGOGUE

 

 
 The Jewish section of Trenton before "Urban Renewal" destroyed most of that area of what we fondly called "Jewtown." It is a fascinating part of Trenton history. The "JEWISH" folder in the Hamilton Library database is, has been, and will continue to grow as additional material surfaces. I extracted the highlighted map from the 1905 Mueller map of the city of Trenton in order to place the location of the Synagogue. The photographer took the photo as seen from Fall Street. Union Street is the street in the background where the Synagogue was located. The graphic came from my favorite local historian, Sally Lane (Graf). Her "Time and Again" and many other history columns in the past in my opinion eclipse those of predecessors John Cleary, Harry Podmore and Bill Dwyer. Sally's offerings almost always included rare Trentoniana photos of persons, places, and things which were largely lacking in the aforementioned Trenton writers. I credit the photo above to Sally, and it is possible it came from the Trentoniana Collection at the Trenton Free Public Library. Sally has always been my very favorite Trenton "bygone days" columnist. I have a collection of MANY of her columns and will be digitizing them as time permits, and posting them on this website. 
NOTE:The Second Presbyterian Church was relocated to Mill Hill.

************

Many thanks to Mr. Arthur L. Finkle for the historic information on the People of Truth Synagogue:

Congregation of the People of Truth (Anshei Emes) was an offshoot of the 1200 family membership of Brothers of Israel. organized 1891. In 1902 the new congregation purchased the Second Presbyterian Church, on Union Street, refitted it for a synagogue; dedicated it on  March 15, 1903.

Congregation People Of Truth (Anshei Emes - ORTHODOX) 1891

 In 1908, Max Surfnoss was the rabbi of the People of Truth synagogue. He lived nearly at 59 Union street. Born Vilna, Russia, he attended college in his native city; became a Rabbi. His first congregation was at Old Kinek, Province of Vilna. He emigrated to America in 1892. He was Rabbi of a New York congregation for about four years, and came to Trenton in 1896 at the call of the People of Truth congregation,

Before he died, Isaac Levy, President of Brothers of Israel for ten year s, was also President of this new congregation. His obituary is seen below:

Rabbi Max Surfnoss

Its officers were: President Peter Unger, Louis Kaplan, Isaac Goldman, Harry Kohn, Charles Smith, Harry Cooper. Isaac Goldman, Harry Kohn, Abraham Schultz and Solomon Jaffe.  In 1893 the congregation established a cemetery near Cedar Lane, Hamilton Township.

Anshie Emes, or People of Truth con­gregation two structures at Union and Fall streets: the synagogue and a school for a capacity of 200 students. There are two teachers, H. Hinkin and Hyman Vroblinsky. The Sabbath school has for its teachers Miss Fannie Bushnon and Eleak Budsin.

  

ISAAC,  LEVY One of the Most

Prominent Residents of South Trenton Died

Saturday: '' July 28, 1909  Trenton Times – Advertiser

 

SKETCH OF HIS Life

The funeral service of Isaac Levy of 304 union street, one of the oldest find *most prominent members -of the Jewish race in South Trenton, who died Satur­day, following a lingering illness of -over a year) yesterday afternoon from his late residence at 4 o'clock; Services- according to the Jewish rite by the -Rev. Hersh Elitzer, of the Synagogue of the Israelites Brotherhood.

Gathered around the coffin were the im­mediate members or the family, while a lair number of relatives, friends and many who were befriended in life, filled the house and the sidewalk in the vicinity.

.  •             •

Mr. Levy was one of the earliest He­brews to ,settle in South Trenton, where 'he has remained all his life, and from e first day his chief mission was to aid -his countrymen. Being a contractor, the deceased was the promoter of the build­ing of the present- beautiful synagogue of the Israelites' 'Brotherhood, of which he was a member, and the first and only free Hebrew school in Trenton.

He aimed unceasingly at Jewish pro­gress, and to this end gave much time and money. His work with the members" of the congregation was met with their heartiest approval, and several medals were presented to him as a taken of their appreciation.

His labors did not cease even when the dread disease that removed him from life, first compelled him to retire from business. During the past nine months Mr. Levy organized and financed a pro­ject to help the poorer classes of his own people, a scheme which already, though its infancy, is doing great good among the Jews.

There is a really good website featuring Jewish history in the Trenton area:

http://trentonjewishproject.blogspot.com/2012/10/were-back.html