The US Navy presence in Trenton was not huge, but it was there.
1. The Navy Reserve Training Center was down Lamberton Street across from the Marine Terminal. A nice bunch of folks down here that let us kids come in and drink cold water during very hot days while we were fishing. "Have a salt tablet! They'll keep you going in the heat." I enlisted there while still a senior at Trenton High.
2. In Ewing, there was the Naval Air Turbine Test Station (NATTS), between the old Eastern Aircaft Plant (GM Ternstedt) and the existing Mercer Airport. Much early jet engine development occurred there, including high temperature alloy development. 3. On River Road north of Trenton there was (and maybe still is) a brick building on the bank of the Delaware that was fenced-off. I believe was a water pumping station for the Ewing facility. And up in the Federal Building was an Armed Services Recruiting Station where my Dad and countless others enlisted for WWII. 4. IIRC, a few smaller Navy ships made the daring voyage up the Delaware (at high tide) to the Trenton Marine Terminal. Almost like Fleet Week. 5. The previous USS TRENTON (LPD-14) was commissioned in 1971, sponsored by Governor Hughes, and served till decommissioning in 2007. She was then sold to the Indian Navy, where she still serves. A proud ship!
The US Navy presence in Trenton was not huge, but it was there.
ReplyDelete1. The Navy Reserve Training Center was down Lamberton Street across from the Marine Terminal. A nice bunch of folks down here that let us kids come in and drink cold water during very hot days while we were fishing. "Have a salt tablet! They'll keep you going in the heat." I enlisted there while still a senior at Trenton High.
2. In Ewing, there was the Naval Air Turbine Test Station (NATTS), between the old Eastern Aircaft Plant (GM Ternstedt) and the existing Mercer Airport. Much early jet engine development occurred there, including high temperature alloy development.
3. On River Road north of Trenton there was (and maybe still is) a brick building on the bank of the Delaware that was fenced-off. I believe was a water pumping station for the Ewing facility.
And up in the Federal Building was an Armed Services Recruiting Station where my Dad and countless others enlisted for WWII.
4. IIRC, a few smaller Navy ships made the daring voyage up the Delaware (at high tide) to the Trenton Marine Terminal. Almost like Fleet Week.
5. The previous USS TRENTON (LPD-14) was commissioned in 1971, sponsored by Governor Hughes, and served till decommissioning in 2007. She was then sold to the Indian Navy, where she still serves. A proud ship!