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Thursday, December 26, 2013

1940: SOUTH WARREN ST. AND THE CURTIS BOWLING LANES

I'm sure Ralph Lucarella and other "vintage" visitors to this page will recognize the Curtis Bowling building on the left in this photo. I didn't realize they were located there and it was quite a surprise to me. How I would love to hop into that beautiful Oldsmobile in the foreground! It probably had less than 7,000 miles on the odometer! I would also add that I am completely disoriented. What is that tall building in the far distance?
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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tom:
As many photos that you have posted,among them repeats of those that were erradicated by the virus, this is the closest to home as ever.
The building noted as Curtis Lanes, became the Lace factory, Tom Brennan our former Sheriff lived in a big house on the corner of Mill and Warren where the car is seen emerging on the right. Joe Tighue our former Freeholder, and Mercer County Surrogate, and little brother Tommy grew up in this block. Just past "Mike's" candy store with the Bryer's sign was the Public Service Gas Co. yard. Earl & Donald Carter grew up just across the street, and Donald worked there for over 40 years.
Just beyond the PSE&G yard, where the two story house is seen, Dick Goune(sp) grew up and became a Sgt. with the Trenton PD.
Not shown, on the left side foreground, was Dr. Henry Drezner's home. Dr. Drezner delivered me 80 years ago last week, in the 2nd floor bedroom at 116 Fall St. in the preceding block before that what you see here. Dr. Drezner went on to became a famed Cardiologist, and practiced into his 90's. His Son Malcomb ( Skipper) became a renowned surgeon.
The Trent house is also located in the precedeing block our of view. Curtis in later years built beyond the building as you see it here, and stayed there till we relocated him to Scotch Road in Ewing Twp. all in the name of "Urban Renewal.
Mill St, and Market St.blended together to merge into Union St, and the Famous heart of "
Jewtown"
At the apex of these merged streets sat the "Mikva" the Orthodox Jewish Ceremonial bath.
I used to brag that I came from the richest neighborhood in Trenton, in that we has an "indoor pool" in our neighborhood.
The famous Herman Spiegel Fine Furniture took up most of Market St. from the confluence to it's terminus at Warren St.

No doubt about it, this really stirs my memories.

Thanks Tom, and best wishes to you and all my friends ( what's left) for a Blessed and healthy New Year.

Just finished my 325 wedding ceremony for 2013, prior to going on line still having fun, and missing the olf good times!

Sincerely

SJBill said...

Curtis lanes on S. Warren Street - does that bring back memories.

My first recollection was way back in the late 40s or so when I was maybe 2 or 3 years old and too small to bowl. My Dad took me there to watch him and a few friends have a few games. IIRC it was smokey and very poorly lighted inside, and the pins were still tended by hand. I think the pin boys were in plain sight of the bowlers.

Later came the automatic setting machines putting the pin boys out of the bowling alleys and back into the home to study. I think the last time I was in this place was for a Trentonian youth doubles tourney, maybe in the early 60s. The first day we rolled at Curtis, and I think the second day we may have been at Hamilton Lanes.

I think that Curtis opened their Suburban Lanes out in Ewing about at this time, and the Warren Street alleys were shut down. There were other lanes in the area as well. The Colonial Lanes across from the Lawrence Shopping Center, and the big one - White Horse Lanes - that was simply enormous.

My favorite place though, was Heil's with its six lanes, located just 3 or 4 blocks from home.

rayfromvillapark said...

Tom, The tall building in the far center of the photo, is the First Mechanics National Bank, which we discussed recently, commenting on the South Broad St. photo. Corner of W.State and Warren. Later, as I thought, becoming the N.J. National Bank. This photo is incredibly detailed, with so many cars and buildings, just a great view. That 1940 Oldsmobile, is a Series 90 Club Coupe, the top of the line model, featuring whitewall tires and cost a pretty penny, back in the day. It probably had far fewer than 7,000 miles, considering the infrequent amount of long distance driving. The 1940 Plymouth pulling out from the right side street, is also brand new. Cobble stones and trolley tracks, really add to the nostalgic scene. rayfromvillapark

Anonymous said...

Tom:

Don't know what happened, but I posted extended comments earlier today, which apparently did not make it through to you. I will make an attempt at repeating my thoughts:
You finally got through to me. This is where it all began for me.
The bar in the left foreground is the begginning of the 500 block of So. Warren St. I lived next to the Trent House which is out of the register of this photo.
Curtis lanes as noted here, expanded to the the north of the building seen on the corner, which later became a lace factory.
I worked setting pins for Tom, and somehow remember a cigar chomping glass wearing boss there by the name of Charlie. When Urban Renewal arrived we relocated Curtis lanes to Scotch Road in Ewing.
Just beyond "Mike's Ice Cream Store" with the Bryer's sign was the PSE&G Gas works yard across from which the Carter brothers grew up. Don Carter went to work at that yard right out of the Navy and spent nearly 40 years toiling there. The White two story house beyond that space on the left was Georgie Gaun's house. He later served on the Trenton PD retiring as a Sgt.
Where the car is coming out of the side St. on the right, (Mill St.) Tom Brennan lived. Tom was a long time Sheriff of Mercer County, whose sons I made my communion with at Sacred Heart Church. Other prominent Politicos who grew up on this block was our long time Freeholder, and Surregate Joe Tighue, and his little brother Tommy, former deputy Sec. of State.
On the left our of the photo was the offices of Henry Drezner MD who delivered me exactly 80 years ago on the 15th of December, just around the corner from the end of this block at 116 Fall St. Dr. Drezner went on to become an excellentt cardiologist who attended to his patients until his mid 90's. His son Malcomb (Skippy) Drezner became a prominent surgeon. Skippy was one of my best Childhood friends, as was Herb Spiegel who grew up down Warren St. a few houses from this corner.
Mill Street was just a two block street, from Bloomsbury to the left, and came to merge with Market St. at the confluence with
Union St. Heart of our fabulous "Jew Town". At the point of Mill and Market St. was a triangle shaped building known in the Jewish Orthodox community as the "Mikva" which is the bath or cleansing bath. I used to brag to all who would listen that I came from the richest neighborhood in town, since we had the only "in door swimming pool" The famous Sol Weinstein Hollywood writer and author used to play a ball game off the wall of the Mikva, across from which was the home of "Herman Speigel Fine Furniture" I still keep in touch with the heir apparent to the Speigel furniture fame; Herbie who became an outstanding professor of business at MCCC.
In the past few hours, I spent greeting my son Mike Jr. and his family who drove down from Pennington. Ironically, Mike presented me with an antique City of Trenton dated back in the 1800's showing this intersection.
Bloomsbury St. is reflected in it's original name of Fair St.

Your efforts to put this all before us to enjoy, is so appreciated. My memories have once again been ignited. Thanks Tom!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Quite a few of us here have had an interaction with Curtis Lanes. I lived east of this wonderful establishment on Jackson St. and any time I could scrounge the money, I was off to the Lanes. I actually became a professional bowler for a period in my life and it all started because my father was a bowler and anything he did, I wanted to do. He meant so much to me and I miss him every day.It is through my dad's side that I am related to the Mounts.
Tom, I hope your holidays went well and that you will be able to keep up the good work for many years to come.
Warren Rue