1882: CHAMBERSBURG FROM MOTT STREET TO BAYARD STREET TO HAMILTON AVENUE

For all my Chambersburg friends who lived in this area of "the Burg;" here's your chance to see who lived in your house on Mott, Elmer, Butler and Bayard Street back before the Italian population began to occupy the area.

1915: URKEN AND KOHN DEPARTMENT STORE

It took a bit of time to bring all these graphics together and form a vignette of one of Trenton's more popular stores in Chambersburg. The Messrs Urken and Kohn are shown in a photo from a 1915 Trenton "Daily State Gazette." The popular "flatiron" construction was a very busy department store right up to its demise, which I place as the early 1950's. I am currently working on an expanded CHAMBERSBURG on screen presentation which will be presented this coming year at one of our monthly Hamilton Township Historical Society meetings which are held on the first Monday of each month except July, August, and December.

1915: CHAMBERSBURG SECTION OF THE TIMES

One of the wonderful aspects of researching local history is uncovering long forgotten and in many cases little known features that were in newspapers of the past. All historians agree that one of the best places to unearth little know historic facts. Such is the case with the "CHAMBERSBURG" section which was a weekly feature in the teens. The graphic is a partial scan of the page dedicated to persons, places and things in the burg of yesteryear.

1993: REMEMBERING THE BEST"

 

My first real exposure to the fabulous Trenton area restaurants in Chambersburg took place way back in the early 1950's when Judy and I along with Miss Louise Baird had dinner at "Marsilio's Kitchen." What a delightful dinner! Even though we thoroughly enjoyed their incredible cuisine, our real favorite was a mile or so into Hamilton at the "Heidelberg" on Hamilton Avenue.

1949: SO. CLINTON AVENUE AT ELMER ST.

These two graphics will warm the heart of most dyed in the wool Chambersburg residents. The upper photo is an extracted/zoomed and segmented photo. Note the "huckster" with his cart full of produce. Note also the the building in the upper photo has the ad for the Italian newspaper painted on the side. Move up to the year 2015 where I "Google Earthed" the intersection. Of course, the Italian sign is long gone in this year of 2015, but computer graphics allows me to put it right back where it was originally located!

1872: A FASCINATING BIRD'S EYEVIEW OF "THE BURG" WHEN IT WAS RURAL

The streets are quite familiar but the open space sure isn't. This extract from an old Henry R Fell map gives one a good idea of just what the Chambersburg area looked like back in the 1860's and 70's. Quite a few of my news clippings have interviews with old times who remember the area as being orchards, corn fields and open space

1909: YOUR GREAT GRANDFATHER'S CHAMBERSBURG

When Chambersburg was "peach and apple orchards, wheat and corn fields."

Above is a fascinating and historical view of very early Chambersburg. As told by

John Schimmel, a Chambersburg pioneer.

This is a fascinating photo showing a house mover's progress in moving a structure from Elmer Street as seen from So. Clinton Avenue. The colored photo to the right is what I believe to be the same view as seen via a Google Earth, which I modified somewhat to bring the photo into the area I believe was the subject of the 1909 photo. Note that in 1909, offset newspaper photos were very primitive and lacking the fine detail found in today's news media. 

This article tells of the growing unemployment problem among the Italian immigrants to this area. 

1935: SOUTH BROAD AND DIVISION STREET IN THE BURG

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the corner building also house 

"State Sales," an office equipment outlet?

How very interesting to see these pristine R.C. Maxwell Duke University Library photos! In this photo, it is a clear picture of that area of Chambersburg during the Great Depression; fascinating!

 

 RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM.....THAT FORD WITH THE RUMBLE SEAT COULD REALLY TELL SOME TALES. IN 1935 I WAS SELLING PAPERS ON STATE AND MONTGOMERY STS.MY COUSIN ROSIE LIVED ON DIVISION ST AND I WAS INTO PLAYING BASEBALL. IN 1936 I WASA SELECTED TO PLAY WITH THE SCHROTHS BY JAKE MILLER AND THAT MOVED PENROSE, THE SHORT STOP AT THS, TO THIRD BASE. THAT YEAR I MET MY GIRL FRIEND AND BASEBALL SEEMED TO FADEAWAY. BEST REGARDS.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

 

***********

As usual , Ralph, your memories of your years in Trenton add much to the posts. You are a treasure who can safely say,  "Been there-done that."

1994: FROM THE TRENTON TIMES' "A TASTE OF CHAMBERSBURG"

I will be posting numerous historic articles and photos from the Trenton Times papers in my collection. Above is an example of the many Chambersburg subjects from the era of the 60's, 70's and 80's. There will be many former and present "Burger-bits" who will be familiar with some of these posts. I had been posting a few on Facebook's Chambersburg page, but the size limits on graphics do not do these historic treasures justice.

1914: JOHN SOLIMANDO, A PAINTER IN THE BURG 100 YEARS AGO

The Solimando name is prominent in the Chambersburg neighborhood. This 100 year old ad from the Trenton Evening Times has been embellished with the colors of Italy, and the earliest classified ad I could find for the Solimando painting business.

1872: WHEN CHAMBERSBURG WAS ORCHARD AND FARMLAND

With the extensive research I have done over the years on the Chambersburg section of Trenton which grew from a rural borough to a thriving community with densely packed neighborhoods, I have only had one source to verify the claim that Chambersburg was once a very rural area with homes scattered here and there, orchards, and corn fields and other rural related features. This bird's eye view of "the Burg" was drawn in 1872 nearly 150 years ago. (actually 141 years ago.) 
A NOTE FROM TOM, AUGUST 16, 2013: THIS MAP HAS BEEN DIGITALLY CHANGED FROM 100 DPI TO 300 DPI IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MORE CLARITY ON A GRAPHIC WHICH WAS VERY DARK AND LACKING CONTRAST.

1883: TODAY'S CHAMBERSBURG DEVELOPS (130 YEARS AGO)

I have been posting select graphics of Facebook in their "CHAMBERSBURG" and "IT'S A TRENTON THING" pages. This Hamilton Library website with it's nearing 8,000 pages has been established to provide legiible graphical historical information on the persons, places and things in Hamilton, Trenton, and Mercer County. I just posted this on Facebook, but after it uploaded, I found that it was much too small to be read due to Facebook's limit on graphic sizes. I will confine my Facebook posts to those graphic which are small enough to be legible.

1994: "A TASTE OF CHAMBERSBURG"

This a re-formatted and colorized list of those who participated in a 1994 fund raiser to benefit the Mercer Street Friends Center. The progam, "A Taste of Chambersburg" was hosted at Eddie Baldassari's Baldassari Regency restaurant on Morris Avenue. Look closely; we will never see their likes again!

1895: THE ROOTS OF CHAMBERSBURG

Francis Bazely Lee was THE local historian back in the 19th and early 20th century. His stories of the development of the city of Trenton included this 1895 article on the genesis of this historic area of Trenton. NOTE: Coleman Street was re-named Beatty Street. Jennie Street was re-named Hudson Street.

1913: NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO NEXT WEEK

This graphic was posted on FACEBOOK a few minutes ago. The unfortunate situation where FACEBOOK limits the size of graphics has told visitors to come view the full version here at my website. Fascinating reading!

1914: CHAMBERSBURG MERCHANTS IN THE "TEENS"

Solimando and Salamandra: very familiar names in the Chambersburg of yesteryear. Indeed the two name still crop up quite frequently in my extensive digital database in the "CHAMBERSBURG" and "AMERICAN-ITALIAN" folders in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection.

1914: 99 YEAR OLD CHAMBERSBURG NEWS

Based on numerous comments I have received over the years relating to these full page scans, I have found that many visitors love to go through these interesting pages from many years ago; in this case 99 years ago. Over the years, I have been digitizing notable news clippings and including them in the Hamilton Library Local History database. A full page graphic such as that above is borderline as to legibility. At 80 years of age, my eyes aren't what they used to be. I can read the text in the above article with my 19 inch monitor. Those with larger monitors will see a much more legible graphic.  However, I am secure in the knowledge that as time evolves, still larger monitors will offor comfortable reading. Even Google has a size limit, but manages to allow a reader to read the print on a huge full page graphic; a feat that would be impossible with Facebook where a graphic of this size would be illegible.

1875: FABULOUS MAP OF 1875 CHAMBERSBURG

I have digitized this map in numerous resolutions. For this website, I chose a lesser number of dots per inch that will hopefully give legible details to the complete areas of  "The Burg," including details of the 1875 boundary.

1921: HONORING MR. REMO

There is something about Chambersburg and the Italian experience that spurs me on for more and more information on that community. The above photo pictures many of Trenton Italian Americans who made an indelible mark on the local history of a remarkable people. Today we are hearing much about Spanish as a second language. When these people came to America, the custom was to go to night school and learn the English language. Many of them did indeed learn the language and went on to be very productive citizens. Just look at some of the surnames in the photo. Many of those in the photo went to back breaking jobs at Roebling, the railroad, or slave like labor on the roads and highways. However, they found the time to work those grueling day jobs and assist in building St. Joachim's Church; the jewel of Chambersburg.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....I WAS LUCKY TO LIVE IN CHAMBERSBURG AT A TIME WHEN EVERYONE TREATED EACHOTHER LIKE FAMILY. WE HELPED EACHOTHER, PLAYED AND TOLD EVERYONE OUR PROBLEMS, NEVER LOCKED OUR DOORS AND WERE IN AND OUT EACHOTHER'S HOUSES CONSTANTLY. ST. JOACHIMS WAS THE CENTER OF RELEGION FOR ALMOST EVERYONE AND WE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO THE FEAST OF LIGHTS ON BUTLER ST. I CONSTANTLY RECALL ALL THESE THINGS AND THINK HOW MUCH BETTER WE HAD IT IN THOSE DAYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

I MIGHT ADD...MANY YEARS LATTER, WHEN I WORKED THE BURG AS A LETTER CARRIER, THEY WOULD ASK IN ITALIAN "ARE YOU LIZZIE'S SON". THEY REMEMBERED OUR STORE AT 123 MOTT ST.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

JoeB said...

Tom:
My parents and like most of all Grandparents that came to this country to work and improve themselves. Today there are many that receive assistance for free and when your get something for nothing you don't appreciate it. I believe that doing Community Work in return would go along way towards repaying for what you get.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Tom Glover said...

YOU TWO GUYS ARE RIGHT ON TARGET. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ALSO A FRIENDLY FRONT PORCH NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE EVERY BODY KNEW EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE ALL RUSHED TO HELP ANY FAMILY IN TROUBLE.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

TO JOEB.....YOU BETTER BELIEVE, I'M TALKING ABOUT AN ERA WHEN THERE WERE NO FREE STUFF. NO FOOD STAMPS, NO WELLFARE, NOTHING FREE. EVERYONE WORKED THEIR BUTT OFF TO HELP FEED THEIR FAMILY AND THAT INCLUDED STREET CLEANING, HEAVY ROAD WORK, FACTORIES THAT PAID PEOPLE 18 CENTS AN HOUR, LIKE I GOT FOR WORKING AT STAR PORCELINE. GIRLS GOT 10 CENTS AN HOUR AT BAYER ASPERIN. MY GRANDFATHER GOT LAID OFF FROM ROEBLINGS RIGHT BEFORE BEING READY TO RETIRE. DON'T GIVE PEOPLE THE IMPRESSION OF GETTING ANY THING FREE DURING THAT TIME IN THIS COUNTRY. THANKS FOR COMMENTING.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....I WAS LUCKY TO LIVE IN CHAMBERSBURG AT A TIME WHEN EVERYONE TREATED EACHOTHER LIKE FAMILY. WE HELPED EACHOTHER, PLAYED AND TOLD EVERYONE OUR PROBLEMS, NEVER LOCKED OUR DOORS AND WERE IN AND OUT EACHOTHER'S HOUSES CONSTANTLY. ST. JOACHIMS WAS THE CENTER OF RELEGION FOR ALMOST EVERYONE AND WE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO THE FEAST OF LIGHTS ON BUTLER ST. I CONSTANTLY RECALL ALL THESE THINGS AND THINK HOW MUCH BETTER WE HAD IT IN THOSE DAYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

I MIGHT ADD...MANY YEARS LATTER, WHEN I WORKED THE BURG AS A LETTER CARRIER, THEY WOULD ASK IN ITALIAN "ARE YOU LIZZIE'S SON". THEY REMEMBERED OUR STORE AT 123 MOTT ST.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

JoeB said...

Tom:
My parents and like most of all Grandparents that came to this country to work and improve themselves. Today there are many that receive assistance for free and when your get something for nothing you don't appreciate it. I believe that doing Community Work in return would go along way towards repaying for what you get.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Tom Glover said...

YOU TWO GUYS ARE RIGHT ON TARGET. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ALSO A FRIENDLY FRONT PORCH NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE EVERY BODY KNEW EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE ALL RUSHED TO HELP ANY FAMILY IN TROUBLE.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

TO JOE B.....YOU BETTER BELIEVE, I'M TALKING ABOUT AN ERA WHEN THERE WERE NO FREE STUFF. NO FOOD STAMPS, NO WELLFARE, NOTHING FREE. EVERYONE WORKED THEIR BUTT OFF TO HELP FEED THEIR FAMILY AND THAT INCLUDED STREET CLEANING, HEAVY ROAD WORK, FACTORIES THAT PAID PEOPLE 18 CENTS AN HOUR, LIKE I GOT FOR WORKING AT STAR PORCELINE. GIRLS GOT 10 CENTS AN HOUR AT BAYER ASPERIN. MY GRANDFATHER GOT LAID OFF FROM ROEBLINGS RIGHT BEFORE BEING READY TO RETIRE. DON'T GIVE PEOPLE THE IMPRESSION OF GETTING ANY THING FREE DURING THAT TIME IN THIS COUNTRY. THANKS FOR COMMENTING.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

1888 - 1903 - 1912: CHAMBERSBURG'S CHRIST P.E. CHURCH

 

 

 

My mother and father were married in this church in 1923. History shows that this church has had its share of schisms over the years, right from the very beginning when parishioners were at war with the Bishop regarding the appointment of a Pastor whom the congregation didn't agree. The same thing happened in the 1960's, this time resulting in the closing of the church. The building is still there much as it was. It is now under a different religious faith.