2014: TOM GLOVER AND HAMILTON'S CAMP OLDEN PARK

Bob Butera and Vince Mercandetti: Two gentlemen who were in contact with me in the summer of 1992 after I had written an article relating to Hamilton's Camp Olden; a subject I had been researching for years. It all began in early 1990's when I began paging through thousands of pages in my 100 year collection of daily Trenton newspapers, I came upon the story of the "The Potters' Company," and the very intriguing story which involved Henry and Joseph Lawton and another Trentonian, John Beech. When the article on the left in the graphic was published in July, 1992, these two pioneers of the Camp Olden Civil War Roundtable contacted me for more information which was the fruit of my research. Little did I know that Mr. Joe Seliga was researching the same subject as I. I naturally wondered if any of my research was involved in his research. It would have been nice to compare notes. The bottom line: Then-Mayor Jack Rafferty was approached and the founding of Camp Olden Park became a reality. 

1917: TRENTON DURING THE CIVIL WAR ERA

The highlighted in gray portion of this article erroneously placed Camp Olden over on North Olden Avenue beyond E. State Street. I have heard that there was Civil War activity in the area of the old RR yards off of Olden Avenue, but extended research has definitely placed the Camp over in Hamilton Township in the Kuser Road, Liberty Street, Hamilton Avenue area. As I recall, Trenton Historian Benjamin Franklin Lee also placed Camp Olden in the area of Camp Perrine. It is truly frustrating that there is no map extant that shows the historic Civil War boundary lines. However, even with Mr. Coffield's placement of the camp at the site of the old Hill's Brewery, the article gives an interesting look at Trenton during the war between the states.

THE SWAMP ANGEL

Thankfully, not all of our area historic relics have been destroyed. The Swamp Angel, which for many years was on display at the intersection of Perry Street, No. Clinton and Lincoln Avenues is shown in the above engraving to which I have added my hand colored rendition. That beautiful old Civil War veteran was to have been scrapped after the Civil War, but history minded Trentonians saved it for posterity. Over the years, the city of Charleston tried to pry it away from the local citizenry without success. And then along came those wonderful historians from the Camp Olden Civil War Roundtable who restored the historic treasure and placed it in a place of honor at Cadwalader Park.

2012 Marks the 20th year that I have been searching for definitive information on Hamilton Township's CAMP OLDEN. Back in 1992, I wrote a column relating to the Lawton brothers and their service record during the Civil War. In that article, I quoted Henry Lawton and his hopes that a monument would be constructed on the approximate site to commemorate this historic Civil War location. Henry's idea was a boulder or other marker at the foot of Johnston Avenue and Hamilton, adjoining the Lawton farm. Almost immediately after my Mercer Messenger column was distributed to the public, I began receiving emails and phone calls, and the result was Hamilton's current monument at the intersection of Hamilton and Liberty Streets in Trenton. As to my search for Camp Olden, it has evolved into a very very deep search into very very obscure venues, and will continue onward. There was a hand drawn map of the camp, but the local True American newspaper didn't have the ability to reproduce graphics and the drawing slipped into oblivion; what a shame. 

1945: IT WAS KNOWN AS "VJ DAY"

Bruce Sirak and  the Camp Olden Civil War Roundtable keep memories of the  Civil War alive.

My many friends from the Mayor's Patriotic Committee under the leadership of  Retired Colonel Frank Caprario of the U.S. Army, honors the memory of all of our U.S. military. In my  own quiet way and with little publicity, and even less public attention,  I have been honoring these heroes who gave their all  in service to their country. I still remember the sacrifice of the "Greatest Generation" with my music of the World War II era. Back in the early 1980's when I began bringing these memorial music programs to the public, there were still many WWII veterans with us. In the intervening years their ranks have been reduced at an alarming rate.At each of my programs, there has been at least one or two WWII veterans who proudly wear their baseball caps with their unit emblazoned for all to see. These are my personal heroes, and even after they are gone, I will continue to sing the songs not only from WWII, but also the Viet Nam and Korean conflicts. 
AS TO THE GRAPHIC, I WAS ONLY 12 YEARS OLD, BUT I DO REMEMBER THE ECSTATIC CELEBRATIONS THAT WENT ON NOT IN MY OWN RURAL K USER FARM NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALL OVER AMERICA. AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE PHOTO, DOWNTOWN TRENTON WAS THE SCENE OF UNBRIDLED EXUBERANCE.

1911: GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC GATHERS IN TRENTON

This year of 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the "war between the states," better known as the Civil War. The above article, extracted from an old brown with age copy of the "Trenton True American" tells of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) convention which met here in the Trenton area 100 years ago this week! I will be posting additional articles relating to the GAR and the Civil War as the 150th year celebration resumes.

John E. B Good said...

We corresponded before regarding the HHS West Class of 1960 50th Reunion last year and regarding my family (Episcopo) who had an ice cream concession at White City. One of my father's relatives was Aaron Wilkes for which the GAR was named. Last year I found the monument for him in Riverside Cemetery. John G. Wilkes, Miami

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

1992: TOM GLOVER'S CAMP OLDEN - LAWTON CONNECTION

From the newsletter of the Camp Olden Civil War Roundtable, this note on the search for the very elusive Camp Olden:

The book, "The Search for Camp Olden, Hamilton Township" was written by Joseph Francis Seliga and published on May 20, 1995, the day of the dedication of Camp Olden Park. This park was renamed because research by the author showed that it was across the street from the Camp. Signed copies can be purchased at the Camp Olden Civil War and Indian Museum located in Veterans Park, in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey

Below is the column I wrote back in 1992, wherein I suggested that a monument to Camp Olden be constructed at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Liberty Street, based on the Lawton family reunion article which is cited in my column. I can't find my copy of Mr. Seliga's "The Search for Camp Olden." I am interested in Mr. Seliga's bibliographical information on his research so that I can continue my quest. If any Camp Olden C.W. Roundtable visitors

MY 1992 RESEARCH ALSO FOUND THE GENERAL LOCATION OF CAMP OLDEN, AND THE SUBSEQUENT ESTABLISHMENT OF CAMP OLDEN PARK. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR DEFINITIVE INFORMATION ON THE BOUNDARIES OF THAT CIVIL WAR SITE FOR YEARS. AT THE TIME, MR. BOB BUTERA AND VINCE MERCANDETTI CONTACTED THEN MAYOR JOHN RAFFERTY AND THE PARK WAS ESTABLISHED.