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?
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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.
-
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.
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
HI TOM.....IN 1934 I WAS 14 YEARS OLD AND SELLING PAPERS DOWNTOWN. THEY WERE 2 CENTS EACH AND THE GOOD HEARTED PEOPLE GAVE ME A NICKEL AND SAID KEEP THE CHANGE. I SPENT MOST OF THE TIME DOWN THE STREET AT STATE AND MONTGOMERY BUT MOVED AROUND AT TIMES. ON A GOOD DAY I WOULD EARN 50 CENTS AND PUT IT IN MY PIGGIE BANK. I WOULD OFTEN GO TO THE Y.M.H.A. ON STOCKTON ST. AND SHOT BASKETS WITH MY GOOD FRIEND SHARKEY ROSENTHAL NEXT DOOR TO THE TIMES BUILDING. BEST REGARDS.
ReplyDeleteHi 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.
ReplyDeleteTom, 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.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I would mention it.
I hope you and the Mrs are doing well.
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.
ReplyDeleteTom
The church on the left is the State Street Methodist Church. This congregation broke away from First Methodist because of the desire to have a "pewed church," that is, one with privately owned seating where outsiders would not be welcome. This was the upper class Methodist church of Trenton and had a church orchestra as well as organ. The windows were made by Tiffany. In the 1960s, the church merged with Trinity Methodist and moved out to the then Trenton State Teachers College area. The church building was then demolished for a telephone company facility.
ReplyDeleteThe Broad Street Bank sign was only one sided and faced State & Broad. We see the "back" side of it here.
David: Thank you for the added information relating to the State St, Methodist Church. Comments such as yours add to the historic value of this website.
ReplyDelete