Above is a column I wrote many years ago telling of a few of our teen age destinations either before or after a date with that special someone. Somewhere among the thousand plus columns I have written over the years is the story of a legendary hot dog stand known to many of my generation as "Dirty Bill's" up along the River Road in Yardley just a bit away from the bridge. These were years right out of the movie "Grease" where we were in the bloom of youth. We guys had raging hormones, and the girls had that special femininity which can be liked to fresh, newly matured gorgeous flowers. In those years before the in your face sex we find in the media, the girls were home taught in the area of social behavior while we boys CHASED girls that were CHASTE. Read the above article and let's go back for a very few precious minutes to a much simpler and less complicated time.
That sure does bring back memories! In the summer, we loved walking to Vic Rice's golf driving range. There also was miniature golf and trampolines. Afterwards, we would have cokes and fries at Rick's. You could also go to the custard stand(that looked like custard) for ice cream. it was a great time, and I remember that the guy I liked had my neckerchief on his antenna!! The guys made the back of the cars lower then, I don't remember why......
ReplyDeleteTom:
ReplyDeleteIn the header of this article it reflects "1855", Did you mean 1955 to reflect the the tenor of your column?
One other place that was popular was "Wimpy's on Princeton ave, north of Spruce St. If memory serves me correctly there was a "Wimpy's in Bordentown that was replaced by the original Mastoris Diner which burned down, and replaced by what exists today.
Again to lend another addled brain, I think you referred to Johnny Rasamovich who originated the Parkside Diner. He died a few years ago.
Vic Rice was my wife's uncle and the we spent a lot of time at his range on South Broad St.
The Custard stand was constructed to resemble an Igloo. The owners who were from Bordentown and whose last name began with a B, were a great couple. She was one of the most beautiful women of the day, and my custard would melt while I stood and stared at those magnificent blue eyes of hers.
Ahhhhhhhh Youth
Regards
Mike Kuzma from the Frozen South
Hi Tom - Love this article - we had so many fun times at all these places, but shouldn't the date be 1955, not 1855? Thanks for the memories -
ReplyDeleteLakeside Girl
1855 - 1955. The fact that I hit the 8 instead of the 9 was a common glitch that many people have. We all know I meant 1955. I haven't reached the century mark; at least not yet.
ReplyDeleteHi Tom: What a great teenage eatery trip. It has everything -- my favorite Trent Diner where my friends and I went after bowling; my later favorite spot -- the Parkside Diner which we always hit when we go to Trenton -- and of course, Dirty Bill's and DeLorenzo's on Hamilton Avenue. Yum.
ReplyDeleteHi Tom, Finally, someone mentioned Rick's Drive In, on South Broad. I mentioned it a few times, and no one ever responded or acknowledged it's existence. If you were in the car crowd, of which I was a member, this was the stop, in this part of town. The other end of town, being The Broken Drum and Harney's Corner. Many a car left rubber tire tracks, out of the driveway and down Broad, out of Ricks. Mainly, to impress the girls. What else? Great times, hanging out in Trenton, during the late 50s and early 60s. rayfromvillapark
ReplyDeleteTommy
ReplyDeleteScottys on the white horse circle is where a few choir members hung out and had a few cokes.also Pat's diner and Pete's steak house.The early 50's.
Lee
Ray from Villa Park, wasn't the drive-in eatery at Harney's Corner the Ranch House? It was owned by Paul Gessmeyer, who in earlier times owned Sunset Motors on South Broad near Stanton. The Ranch House was huge just as I got my driver's license and closed a year or two later.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite cheesesteak had to be from one of Tom's hangouts, Carl DeAngelos place on Hamilton in Hamilton. I loved it for the smell of the wood fires and those old wore back wood seated chairs that had to be made from Roebling's seconds. They were super loud when you dragged them across the floor.
Sammy's (Salvatore DeLia) LaRoma Tomato Pies on South Broad (across from 1. The Bank, 2. the firehouse, and 3. Tal Brody's Dad's Colonial Hardware) is my nominee for best pizza. I know it's a personal thing but gas ovens are a recent innovation that never replaced the doneness of a HOT coal or coke fired oven. A small pizza was less than a dollar and a large one cost about two. For take out, Sammy wrapped them in newspaper. Trenton tomato pie wrapped in old Trentonians. So much to savor!
Thanks for all these wonderful memories of yesterday's eateries! I have written numerous columns on this subject and will be writing more in the future. Betty and Bills, Del Rio, the Heidelberg, Glendale, Pete's Chambers Street steak house, they just keep on coming and coming as I recall 35 cent cheese steaks and gas for 19.9 per gallon at the PREMIER gas station in Broad Street Park.
ReplyDeleteSJBill, Yes, the Drive In at Harney's Corner, was the Ranch House. Just want to mention, Pep's Steak House, on Liberty, just off Franklin St. A great steak sandwich, back in the 1950s.
ReplyDeleteJimmy G's
, behind Appleby's, in Mercerville, is serving up Italian hot dogs, like the Casino used to, in the Burg. I picked up a double dog, with the works, browned potatoes, roasted peppers and yellow mustard. We could debate, if they taste the same, but I thought it was pretty good! Give it a try. rayfromvillapark