1981: THIRTY YEARS AGO!

Dear Lord, how time has flown! As I age and approach the golden age of 78 in September 2011, I find that the time that went so slowly back during my school years has changed dramatically. Now the days, weeks, months and years are flying by at a rate that brings eternity ever closer. The above graphic is an enhanced copy of my very first professional freelance column. Thanks to my friend Wayne Davis, I was placed on the road to freelance journalism. What a journey it has been! In all those 30 years of writing a weekly column, I only missed one weekly deadline and that was due to emergency gall bladder surgery. My stint with the Messenger ended in the early 1990's when the paper ceased publication. At that point, the Princeton Packet's "Hamilton Observer" took me to continue the column and at the same time I was writing a weekly column for the Trenton Times under the byline, "A Look Back." After only a year or so, I left the Times when the editor at that time, Ms. Singer said she asked me what the purpose of my column was. If she didn't understand the public love of things nostalgic, I wasn't about to continue the column. In 2001 Mr. Brian Malone gave me the bi-weekly column I write to this day, "Sentimental Journey."

All the freelance articles I have written over these 30 year started out as a personal journal recalling life as I had lived it. It was to have been something that I could leave to my children and grandchildren after I went gone to my reward. Were it not for the aforementioned Wayne Davis, those hundreds of columns would have been in a stack of 8-1/ x 11 journal pages somewhere in the Glover bureau drawer. To all of you folks out there who are interested in writing about your past open that word processor and get going! Start your own personal journal to leave to your children and grandchildren. How often I wished that my mother had logged all the many years she was with us. You will find that once you start shaking the "memory tree" in your brain, you will begin to recall with amazement the most miniscule memories of persons, places and things from your past.

2 Comments

Close this window Jump to comment form

Mack said...

You are a local treasure Tom. Thanks for sharing your memories and observations with us all:)

Monday, July 18, 2011

Sally Logan Gilman said...

I second that, Tom. You are a true treasure. You're right. I can think of so many questions I should have asked my grandmother, Emilie Gibney Hutchinson but I was so busy with my life that I never did it. To some extent, I did the same with my mother, Sarah Hutchinson Logan. But, bless her heart, she wrote down a lot of the Hutchinson history so I have that. Happy September Birthday. My husband George turns 78 on Sept. 11. Regards

Monday, July 18, 2011

Thanks Mack and thanks Sally. Your positive comments are much appreciated as are your regular visits to this blog.

Tom

Omad said...

I sure agree that you are a real "gem". For over 40 years I put Trenton out of my mind, due to some bad memories. Looking at all the positive and great memories you bring to us all, I make sure I check in with your site every day. Thanx for constantly reminding me of all the good things about Trenton/Hamilton.

Monday, July 18, 2011

1947: REMEMBER GEORGE CASE SPORTING GOODS?

Yes, we "old timers" remember the sporting goods store that "Georgie" Case established after finishing a distinguished career with the American League Washington Senators. Like Willie Mays and Al Downing, George Case was a local baseball hero who made it in "the bigs," as we used to say.

1987: WORLD WAR II FROM THROUGH 10 YEAR OLD EYES

WWAs the World War II era fades into obcurity, I am so very grateful for the memories I have of that era as it relates to the "Home Front." We had rationing, scrap drives, blackouts, air raid wardens, airplanes flying over the Delaware Valley and especially over my very rural Hartley Avenue Home. Above is an article recalling just a few of the many memories which still remain in my 76 year old memory. For nearly 30 years, I have written many articles from that era.
It is for Ralph Lucarella and others from the "Greatest Generation" that these stories were written. The very sad fact is that there are pitifully few over 80 years of age who have adopted the computer as an incredible vehicle to amplify history. On the other hand, there will undoubtedly be current and future history-minded visitors to this blog who will find the stories of WWII and their heroes very stimulating and interesting. Let me know if you are among that select minority.

1987: ST. ANTHONY HIGH SCHOOL

Today it's called the Trenton Catholic Academy, McCorristin Campus. The younger generation who took over the school when the change was made chose to use the above name rather than the name most of us who were parishioners at St. Anthony Church preferred, namely McCorristin Catholic High School, Trenton Catholic Campus. Old timers in the parish were very aware of the back-breaking labor Monsignor McCorristin and his volunteer workers expended in order to build that school which was to be called St. Anthony High School. I was at the dedication of the field on which the new high school was to be constructed. At the time, there were still corn stalks sticking up from the ground.

1992: A CHRISTMAS GREETING FROM TOM

I have been writing Christmas columns now for 27 years. The column above is one of my favorites. Christmas is about love, family, precious, and sometimes bittersweet memories, and most of all it's about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. On behalf of my dear wife Judy, daughter Juliane*, and sons Tom and Ken, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all those who have honored me with your visits to my website. You are the best!

(*By the way, that is "Juliane" with one "n;"
named after Franciscan Sister Juliana.)

1982: It's November

This is a column I wrote 21 years ago as I eagerly awaited the arrival of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the winter season with its promise of snow. I was 54 years old, and now, at 75 I realize how differently I look at "the arrival of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and winter season with its promise of snowy days and snowy nights." I have always looked at the changing of the seasons from a biblical point of view. Even as we have a Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall, so to do we have seasons in our lives. There was a time when the falling leaves, crisp, frosty mornings and the prospect of another November turning into December a snowy winter was eagerly anticipated. Now, at 75, that perception has been replaced. Those eagerly anticipated snowy winters somehow have lost their appeal. Winters were fun at 20, 40, and 50, but they started getting to be a problem at 50 and now at 75, as I realize that I am approaching the "winter" season of life.

1988: A TYPICAL YARD SCENE IN RURAL HAMILTON

TODAY IT'S A LUSH GREEN LAWN, BUT BACK THEN IT WAS A MUDDY MESS, TYPICAL OF THE MANY RESIDENTS OF HAMILTON FROM THE PRE-1950'S ERA WHEN WE HAD GARDENS, CHICKENS, AND IN THE CASE OF THE GLOVERS, A GAGGLE OF GEESE. DURING THESE YEARS, THE ARENA FAMILY LIVED NEXT DOOR IN OUR HARTLEY AVENUE DUPLEX. THEY WERE WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS. MOM GLOVER AND MOM ARENA HAD A LIVELY BARTER TRADE GOING FOR MANY YEARS. GLOVER CHICKENS AND EGGS FOR MOM ARENA'S INCREDIBLE ITALIAN PASTA AND AN OCCASIONAL BOTTLE OF HOME MADE WINE FROM THE ARENA WINE CELLAR.

I SUSPECT THAT FEW VISITORS TO THIS SITE "CANDLED" EGGS. OUR "CANDLER" WAS A CYLINDRICAL BRASS FIXTURE WITH A LIGHT BULB INSIDE. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDE WHERE THE EGG WAS PLACED SO THAT LIGHT WOULD SHINE THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE EGG, REVEALING ANY BLOOD SPOTS, WHICH WERE NOT SOLD BUT PERFECTLY GOOD TO EAT.

1951 LAKESIDE: AHH, THE MEMORY LINGERS!

THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST HEAT WAVE OF THE 2001 SUMMER SEASON GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THAT ONCE POPULAR AREA OF HAMILTON WE ALL GREW TO KNOW AND LOVE: GROPP'S LAKE, AKA LAKESIDE PARK. ONE OF THE MORE TREASURED MEMORIES WHICH LINGER IN MY 74 GOING ON 75 YEAR OLD BRAIN IS THE BEACH PARTY OUR HAMILTON HIGH CHOIR ORGANIZED IN JUNE, 1951. THE GRAPHIC IS PART ONE OF A TWO PART GROPP'S LAKE ARTICLE I WROTE FOR THE LATE, GREAT "MERCER MESSENGER." IT BRINGS BACK BITTERSWEET MEMORIES.

1992: BEFORE "THE CULTURE WAR" BEGAN

I THINK THEY SAY THAT ONE BECOMES "JADED" AS ONE AGES. I MUST ADMIT THAT I AM AN OLD FASHIONED "STICK IN THE MUD." OUR SOCIETY HAS SEEN SO MANY CHANGES OVER THE PAST 30 OR SO YEARS. LIKE PAVLOV'S DOGS, WE ARE SLOWLY BUT SURELY BEING CONDITIONED TO ACCEPT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONDEMNED IN THE EARLIER YEARS OF MY LIFE TIME.

Tom Glover's Kuser Farm

I grew up on Kuser Farm. Starting way back in 1945 when brother Bud, went into the U.S. Navy, I and my partner Don Slabicki did indeed grow up in that wonderful rural woodland. Little wonder that I brought forth all of my writing ability to recall some of the happy hours I spent there during the 40's throught the 1960's.

The Iron Mike: A Saint in my mind

This one's for the Kildea family! Joe wrote to me and suggested a piece on Monsignor Michael Patrick McCorristin. If you know Joe or any of the Kildea family, ask them how many hours they spent in back breaking labor helping Monsignor down at his Millville farm, cultivating, cutting, and hauling Christmas trees, and doing other farm chores during the off season. The altar boys referred to in the column were probably the Kildea boys. I wrote this eulogy to Monsignor way back in the 90's. Monsignor was a Priest's Priest. I have so many memories of my experiences with him during my years at St. Anthony that I could write a book. So could countless members of St. Anthony parish who were blessed with being parishioners during his tenure there.

TO SEE THE KILDEA COMMENTS:
CLICK BELOW.

Kuser School - My Alma Mater

Back in the 1980's, I was deeply involved in pen and ink drawing. The Kuser School drawing in this article was for the celebration of Kuser's School's 75th anniversary.The front facade of the school is the very same today. However, the little "wing" you see in the drawing was removed and two large wings added to each side of the school back in 1924. Kuser School was a "twin" to Klockner School. Indeed, Klockner kept the wing shown in my drawing of the original "Rosalie Kuser School," as it was originally known.

White Horse VFD

I wrote this column a number of years ago as a mini history of one of the wonderful volunteer fire companys who have served so selflessly in our community since the early part of the 20th century. No matter what the weather nor the hour, when that fire siren goes off, these ladies and men are right there to protect and serve.

Bill Baggott: A Voice to Remember

Bill was my classmate from Hamilton High School class of 1951. I can still hear that golden tenor voice
singing Mendellsohn' "Wings of Song." Bill passed away at a very premature age, and left a huge void in the choir at Trenton's Trinity Cathedral. There is a memorial to him in the church's choir section. I miss him still, but I'm sure he's one of the leading tenors in the heavenly choir.