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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

1947: SOUTH BROAD AT THE RAILROAD CROSSING

In this photo, you are on your way into downtown Trenton. The John A. Roebling main office building is behind you on the right side of the street. Hmmm.....gas prices are going up again: 16.9 cents a gallon...where will it end?

8 comments:

SJBill said...

Do I remember this scene, but barely a year later! My Mon used to walk down to the crossing with me - 2 years old, and loving steam trains.
Back then there were two working tracks. Across the street was a little shack where the gatekeeper spent the day raising and lowering them.

The old Water Power canal used to be where the billboards were standing and they even disappeared when the Capitol Motors dealership was built.

I'm so happy to see the Spur gas station sign. I'd totally forgotten the name.

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, This is a great photograph. The snow covered street really lends a Christmas feeling, along with the two themed billboards. Weinmann Nash was located on W.Hanover St. across from the fire house. Once again, we can see that folks hung on to their cars, much longer. 1947, and there isn't a post war car in this scene, except possibly the last car going south, behind the old White Trenton Transit bus. Trenton Transit ram mostly GMCs, but had a few of these smaller White buses. Two years later, you would be looking at the front of the Capitol Motors, Chrysler-Plymouth showroom, between the two railroad crossing gates. I remember the old gas station, at this location, but forgot it was a Spur station. I think Spur sold for a couple of pennies cheaper than the big name brands. I like this picture.

Don Whiteley said...

I clearly recall a big lumber yard at this location because it caught fire and burned down. I saw the fire and think it must have been in the late 1930's or early 1940's.
Don Whiteley

Tom Glover said...

That was the fire at Wilson & Stokes Lumber Company, Don. A HUGE and very destructive fire.

Tom

Anonymous said...

Tom:
Wasn't Wilson and Stokes situated a few blocks away on Cass St. where Hudson terminated and it blended into Hancock St. Frankk Mesanko had an Insurance Agency across the St.

The lumber Yard that sat across from Roebling's was I believe was called "Ace" Lumber. It was owned by Phil Levy's fathr in law who ultimately sold it to Ted Goiten, who went on to own the Famous "Renault" Winery outside of Atlantic City. Ted passed away this year. Great Guy, and a Wounded Warrior from WW II.

Mike Kuzma

Anonymous said...

Tom:

I must have Ace Hardware on my mind, the actual name of the lumber company across from Roeblings and noted in this piece was in fact "APEX" LUMBER.
Typical yankee, my mouth opened before my brain engaged.

Mike Kuzma

Tom Glover said...

Good observation, Mike. I honestly cannot pinpoint W&S. I thought it was in the area of So. Broad St. in the photo, but I could be wrong. I do know that they shoe Broad Street and Cass Street I also seem to remember a W&S fire, even though there was a later lumber yard there.

TOM

Tom Glover said...

Based on the hundreds of VALUABLE historic comments you have added to many posts on this website, Mike, you know that we all understand an occasional goof. I have been one of the major offenders along that line. We all make mistakes.
Tom