1993: TOM GLOVER'S CHAMBERSBURG

THE CHAMBERSBURG OF JUST A FEW YEARS AGO IS CHANGING VERY RAPIDLY AS THE OLD LINE ITALIAN FAMILIES ARE BEING REPLACED BY STILL ANOTHER IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. WHEN I WROTE THIS COLUMN 25 YEARS AGO, CHAMBERSBURG WAS STILL "THE BURG," WITH MANY LOCALLY FAMOUS RESTAURANTS, GENERALLY IMMACULATE HOMES WITH CLEAN FRONT STOOPS AND CURBS. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN INTENSE INTEREST IN THE EVOLUTION OF THAT AREA OF TRENTON.

THIS EMAIL RECEIVED FROM "MARCIA" REGARDING THIS POST:

Tom, as you probably know, the Maistri Pie Fillipini nuns also taught at Villa Victoria and many of the children of the doctors and professionals of the Burg went there. Both Candy Jens and I attended there also. When I go by 541 Hamilton now, where my family had a restaurant, it really hurts to see the neighborhood. But many of the streets still are kept up well in the Burg.

Omad

WBUD: GOODBYE, SO LONG, FAREWELL

This was posted in a earlier post, but with the news that WBUD has abdicated their musical throne and gone to a sports-talk program, I felt a musical obit was in order. That coveted 18 to 49 demographic god that the media worships has taken another toll. I do have to find myself puzzled by the logic of catering to the fading 18 to 49 demographic. My research on the subject of demographics points to the so-called "golden demographic" target audience better known as the "baby boomers" as being the next target audience. Good bye dear friend, I will miss you. Jack Pinto. I still say you are among the best disk jockeys whoever came down the pike. I will still be a loyal listener to your 9 AM Sunday morning "Breakfast with Frank" program. Somehow I feel this decision isn't your cup of tea either.
========***********=========

OUT OF THE 50,000 PLUS HITS ON THIS SITE, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 5 HITS THAT WERE DUE TO AN OLD TIMER (LIKE ME) IN THE OVER 70 GENERATION WHO IS INTO COMPUTING. THIS IS THEIR QUIZ. I LOVE THE MUSIC OF WORLD WAR II. PROBABLY BECAUSE I GREW UP WITH IT. EVEN THOUGH THE GENERATION IN WHICH I CAME OF AGE WAS THE 1950'S. HOW I LOVED TO LISTEN TO WBUD AND THE "BIG TOP TEN" AT MID DAY, AND MY FAVORITE DISK JOCKEY, JACK PINTO ON THE MORNING DRIVE. BUT ALAS, TIMES HAVE CHANGED THE "OLDIES" STATIONS THAT ONCE PLAYED THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC OF PERRY COMO, ANDY WILLIAMS, PATTI PAGE, DEAN MARTIN, DON CORNELL AND MANY OTHER WONDERFUL VOCALISTS, DON'T FIT INTO THE TARGETED YOUNGER SEGMENT OF LISTENERS WHICH IS SO COVETED BY COMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS. IT MAKES ONE WONDER WHY THE AIRWAVES CAN'T BE SHARED WITH ALL LISTENERS. WBUD'S 60'S MUSIC IS VERY LISTENABLE, BUT I SURE WOULD LIKE TO SEE JACK PINTO BRING BACK THE MUSIC OF HIS GENERATION. JACK'S SUNDAY MORNING'S "BREAKFAST WITH FRANK" IS WONDERFUL; I NEVER MISS IT...BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO HAVE BREAKFAST WITH PERRY COMO, ANDY WILLIAMS, AND ALL OF OUR GREAT VOCAL TALENTS FROM THE 50'S. TO THEIR CREDIT, WBCB-AM (1490) IN LEVITTOWN SETS ASIDE PROGRAMMING SEGMENTS FOR ALL GENRES FROM POLISH, IRISH, COUNTRY, AND "OUR" MUSIC. I SELDOM MISS LISTENING TO GERALDINE MCSORLEY'S "IRISH AIRES" ON SATURDAY MORNINGS. BY THE WAY: I AM STILL BRINGING THOSE GREAT OLD SONGS BACK WITH MY COMPUTER ORCHESTRA PLAYING "THE MUSIC WE GREW UP WITH" AT KUSER FARM.

ABOUT THE GRAPHIC:

OVER THE MANY YEARS I HAVE BEEN A COLUMNIST FOR THE MERCER MESSENGER, THE PRINCETON PACKET (HAMILTON OBSERVER), AND THE TIMES OF TRENTON, MY QUIZZES HAVE BEEN VERY POPULAR. OF COURSE, THEY ARE TARGETED TO THOSE IN THE OVER 60 POPULATION. DON'T LOOK FOR ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ACID ROCK, HIP HOP, AND OTHER EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE USED TO CALL MUSIC. LET ME KNOW HOW YOU DID. I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THE Test! OH YEAH! DON'T SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO THAT ADDRESS IN MY OLD COLUMN. IF YOU THINK YOUR MAN OR WOMAN ENOUGH, SEND THEM TO thomglo@verizon.net.

THE MCGALLIARDS OF WHITE HORSE

A QUIZ FOR THE VERY FEW VISITORS WHO REMEMBER WWII

OUT OF THE40,000 HIT ON THIS SITE, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 5 HITS THAT WERE DUE TO AN OLD TIMER (LIKE ME) IN THE OVER 70 GENERATION WHO IS INTO COMPUTING. THIS IS THEIR QUIZ. I LOVE THE MUSIC OF WORLD WAR II. PROBABLY BECAUSE I GREW UP WITH IT. EVEN THOUGH THE GENERATION IN WHICH I CAME OF AGE WAS THE 1950'S. HOW I LOVED TO LISTEN TO WBUD AND THE "BIG TOP TEN" AT MID DAY, AND MY FAVORITE DISK JOCKEY, JACK PINTO ON THE MORNING DRIVE. BUT ALAS, TIMES HAVE CHANGED THE "OLDIES" STATIONS THAT ONCE PLAYED THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC OF PERRY COMO, ANDY WILLIAMS, PATTI PAGE, DEAN MARTIN, DON CORNELL AND MANY OTHER WONDERFUL VOCALISTS, DON'T FIT INTO THE TARGETED YOUNGER SEGMENT OF LISTENERS WHICH IS SO COVETED BY COMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS. IT MAKES ONE WONDER WHY THE AIRWAVES CAN'T BE SHARED WITH ALL LISTENERS. WBUD'S 60'S MUSIC IS VERY LISTENABLE, BUT I SURE WOULD LIKE TO SEE JACK PINTO BRING BACK THE MUSIC OF HIS GENERATION. JACK'S SUNDAY MORNING'S "BREAKFAST WITH FRANK" IS WONDERFUL; I NEVER MISS IT...BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO HAVE BREAKFAST WITH PERRY COMO, ANDY WILLIAMS, AND ALL OF OUR GREAT VOCAL TALENTS FROM THE 50'S. TO THEIR CREDIT, WBCB-AM (1490) IN LEVITTOWN SETS ASIDE PROGRAMMING SEGMENTS FOR ALL GENRES FROM POLISH, IRISH, COUNTRY, AND "OUR" MUSIC. I SELDOM MISS LISTENING TO GERALDINE MCSORLEY'S "IRISH AIRES" ON SATURDAY MORNINGS. BY THE WAY: I AM STILL BRINGING THOSE GREAT OLD SONGS BACK WITH MY COMPUTER ORCHESTRA PLAYING "THE MUSIC WE GREW UP WITH" AT KUSER FARM.

ABOUT THE GRAPHIC:

OVER THE MANY YEARS I HAVE BEEN A COLUMNIST FOR THE MERCER MESSENGER, THE PRINCETON PACKET (HAMILTON OBSERVER), AND THE TIMES OF TRENTON, MY QUIZZES HAVE BEEN VERY POPULAR. OF COURSE, THEY ARE TARGETED TO THOSE IN THE OVER 60 POPULATION. DON'T LOOK FOR ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ACID ROCK, HIP HOP, AND OTHER EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE USED TO CALL MUSIC. LET ME KNOW HOW YOU DID. I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THE Test! OH YEAH! DON'T SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO THAT ADDRESS IN MY OLD COLUMN. IF YOU THINK YOUR MAN OR WOMAN ENOUGH, SEND THEM TO thomglo@verizon.net.

1992: HHS '52: "I SHOULDABEEN THERE!"

HAD I NOT SKIPPED FIRST GRADE AND GONE RIGHT
INTO SECOND GRADE BACK IN THE EARLY1940'S,
I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE CLASS OF 1952 AT HHS. ....
NOT TO COMPLAIN, HHS 51 IS STILL WHAT I TERM
"THE CLASS WITH CLASS."
============================

THIS EMAIL FROM CANDY JENS WITH THE THE ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ WHICH APPEARS IN MY "THE WAY WE WERE" ARTICLE:

Tom:

Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane! Do you remember the Make Believe Ballroom on WNEW? William B. played "old" music even then (Miller, Goodman, etc.) but it's still listenable today. I share your opinion of "new" music!
(CANDY: ANYONE WHO RECALLS DON CORNELL IS A GENUINE EXPERT IN THE ART OF NOSTALGIA!)

1 - Mills Bros.

2 - Eddie Fisher, Wish you were Here

3 - You Belong to Me

4 - High Noon (can't remember the costar)

5 - Auf Wiedersehen (with spelling help from my German-born husband)

6 - Any Time

7 - Maybe (no points - I hadda Google that one)

8 - Leroy Anderson

9 - I Went to your Wedding

10 - Kay Starr

11 - Jumbalaya

12 - Don Cornell

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

Candy

OH, BY THE WAY....YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN'T SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO THE LATE, GREAT "MERCER MESSENGER." YOU CAN EMAIL THEM TO ME IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE NAMED THEM ALL CORRECTLY, OR NEARLY CORRECTLY!

A CHRISTMAS WISH FOR TRENTON

I WROTE THIS COLUMN 15 YEARS AGO. THIS ARTICLE LOOKS BACK TO THE CITY OF TRENTON OF 100 OR MORE YEARS AGO. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF GANGS, DRIVE BY SHOOTINGS, MUGGINGS, HOME INVASIONS, AND OTHER SIMILAR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES WHICH WE WE FIND IN THE URBAN CITIES OF 2007. CRIMINALS WERE CAUGHT ONE DAY, FACED A JUDGE THE NEXT, AND QUICKLY PUT IN PRISON DOING HARD LABOR.

1986: HAMILTON'S INDIAN MUSEUM

WHAT A FASCINATING DISPLAY OF PRE-COLUMBIAN ARTIFACTS WERE ON DISPLAY THE DAY I ATTENDED THE OPENING OF THIS MUSEUM! FORMER MAYOR JACK RAFFERTY, ALONG WITH BEING A "DIGGER" OF SAID ARTIFACTS, IS ALSO A VERY INFORMED HISTORIAN ON THE SUBJECT OF RELIC HUNTING. THE MUSEUM IS LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE CAMP OLDEN HEADQUARTERS AT THE KUSER ROAD ENTRANCE TO VETERANS' PARK, NEXT TO THE JOHN ABBOTT II HOUSE.

1986: REMEMBERING THE MERCER MESSENGER PART 1

WAYNE DAVIS WAS THE EDITOR, JACK LACY THE PUBLISHER, AND THAT GREAT LITTLE PAPER TRIED VALIANTLY TO BECOME THE PAPER OF CHOICE AMONG THE WEEKLY PAPERS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE MANY ADVERTISERS FAILED TO GAIN SUPPORT FROM OTHER ADVERTISING PROSPECTS WHO CHOSE TO GO WITH THE TWO TRENTON DAILYS. IT WAS A GREAT RIDE, AND I MISS THAT WONDERFUL WEEKLY. THE GRAPHIC FOLLOWING THIS ONE WAS APPENDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE COLUMN I WROTE ABOVE.

REMEMBERING THE MERCER MESSENGER PART 2

S.P. DUNHAM

HIS NAME WAS SERING P. DUNHAM. HE WAS A MERCHANT WHO BROUGHT ONE OF THE VERY BEST DEPARTMENT STORES TO THE CITY OF TRENTON. STARTING OUT AS SCUDDER AND DUNHAM IN THE 19TH CENTURY, DUNHAM'S BECAME A FAVORITE TRENTON DOWNTOWN STORE. I WROTE THIS ARTICLE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WHEN TRENTON BEGAN TO REALLY EXPERIENCE A DOWNTOWN EXODUS TO THE SUBURBAN MALLS.

WHITE HORSE VOLUNTEER FIRE CO.

OVER THE YEARS I HAVE WRITTEN A NUMBER OF "THE WAY WE WERE" COLUMNS WHICH HIGHLIGHTED OUR LOCAL HEROES WHO WE ALL KNOW AS VOLUNTEER FIREMEN (AND WOMEN). THIS INTERESTING COLUMN TELLS OF A FUND RAISING CARNIVAL BEING HELD BY THE WHITE HORSE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, FOUNDED IN 1914.

HAMILTON'S VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANYS

I HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR THE LOCAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT SERVE AND PROTECT OUR MUNICIPAL NEIGHBORHOODS. A YEAR OR SO AGO, A LIMB FROM THE SYCAMORE TREE ON MY FRONT LAWN RUBBED AGAINST THE ELECTRIC MAINS RUNNING TO MY HOUSE, AND LESS THAN FOUR FEET FROM MY ROOF. MY FRONT LAWN LIT UP LIKE THE MACY'S JUU 4TH FIREWORKS DISPLAY, SHOWERING HOT EMBERS ON MY ASPHALT ROOF. TALK ABOUT A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE! QUICKER THAN YOU CAN SAY "ATLANTIC AVENUE," THE FIREMEN FROM HAMILTON AND ENTERPRISE WERE IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, AND EVEN THOUGH IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO CONTAIN THE RUNAWAY ELECTRICAL SHOWER, IT WAS COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT THE SHARP EYES OF THE FIREMEN WERE WATCHING CLOSELY. BOTTOM LINE, PUBLIC SERVICE SHUT OFF THE ELECTRIC AND THE FIRE GUYS CAME BACK TWO TIMES TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ONE OF THE GUYS CAME BY AT 1:30 IN THE MORNING TO BE SURE THERE WAS NO OTHER PROBLEM WITH THE OFFENDING ELECTRIC WIRE.

1983: TOM GLOVER HISTORY OF COLONIAL VFD PART 1

THIS IS THE FIRE COMPANY OF MY YOUTH. AS I WROTE THIS COLUMN, I RECALLED THE NAMES OF MANY OF MY FRIENDS WHO WERE ACTIVE IN THE FIRE DEPT BACK IN THE MID 20TH CENTURY. THE LENHARDT FAMILY, THE FEEHANS, THE COSTIGAN BROTHERS, THE BADES, JESS ANDERSON, TOMMY ARGUST, ROCKY RANALLI, BERNICE CUNNINGHAM, PATTY AND CLIFF WILLEVER, AND I'M SURE MANY WHOSE NAMES ESCAPE ME AT THIS TIME.

SEE THE NEXT POST FOR PART 2 OF THIS COLUMN.

1983: TOM GLOVER HISTORY OF COLONIAL VFD COLUMN, PART 2

1939: TOM GLOVER'S "TWWW" ARTICLE ON THE YEAR 1939

I WAS ONLY SIX, BUT I REMEMBER THAT YEAR. I REMEMBER JIM SMITH'S 39 "SHARK NOSE" GRAHAM AUTO AS HE MADE FREQUENT VISITS TO THE SOFFEL HOUSE. JIM WAS A CHIEF AT THE SLACKWOOD VOLUNTEER FIRE CO. IT WAS THE YEAR OF THE TRILON AND PERISPHERE AT THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR. AMERICA WAS BEGINNING TO RECOVER FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION. IT WAS THE YEAR OF GILLETTE BLUE BLADES, '39 NASH AND LASALLE AUTOMOBILES, AND DOUGLAS DC3
AIRLINERS.

WWII: MY MODEL BUILDING YEARS

THESE TWO GRAPHICS WERE EXTRACTED FROM TWO OF MY PAST COLUMNS. I HAVE VERY PLEASANT MEMORIES OF THE MANY HOURS DON SLABICKI AND I SPENT IN THE GLOVER BASEMENT BUILDING MODEL AIRPLANES. A " OF "HOMASOTE WALL BOARD, A TRAY OF STRAIGHT PINS, A TUBE OF TESTOR'S GLUE, PIN THE PLANS TO THE HOMASOTE, AND DILIGENTLY BUILD A DREAM.

1946: MY VERSION OF A "SLAPPY"

YEARS AGO, I WROTE A COLUMN RECALLING HOW THE GUYS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD USED OUR BOYHOOD INGINUITY TO MAKE WHAT THE CITY KIDS CALL A SLINGSHOT. WE CALLED IT A "SLAPPY." DON SLABICKI, BOBBY SOFFEL AND I WERE SHARPSHOOTERS WITH THIS BOYHOOD WEAPON.

1939: MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

THIS GRAPHIC WILL WARM THE HEART OF THOSE OF US IN THE OVER 65 GENERATION. JUST LOOK AT THE FASCINATING VESTIGES OF THE PAST! THIS ENGRAVING ACCOMPANIED ONE OF MY "THE WAY WE WERE" COLUMNS IN JACK LACY'S LATE, LAMENTED "MERCER MESSENGER." FOR THE YOUNGER VIEWERS OF THIS SITE A MINI DESCRIPTION IS IN ORDER. THERE'S AN OLD KEROSENE STOVE, A PAIR OF "HIGH TOPS," A PUNCH BOARD, A 12 OZ. BOTTLE OF 5 CENT PEPSI, A CASTANEA (TRENTON) MILK DELIVERY TRUCK, A $1.98 GILBERT "ERECTOR SET," AND A TRENTON TIMES "18 SHOPPING DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS CARTOON. THE "SHREDDED RALSTON" CEREAL HAS MORPHED INTO 21ST CENTURY "WHEAT CHEX." THERE'S NO NEED TO EXPLAIN THE GAIETY MOVIE AD, THE OLD FASHIONED REFRIGERATOR, AND THE SLED. THAT AIRPLANE IN THE UPPER RIGHT? JUST ONE OF MY "FAVORITE THINGS;" A VINTAGE 1930'S "TAILSPIN TOMMY" TYPE MONOPLANE WITH WHEEL"PANTS."

1950: RAY SYPNIEWSKI - KOREAN WAR HERO

It was my privilege to have been a friend of Ray Sypniewski along with his brothers Matthew, Carl, and his sister, Elaine. Ray was the first military casualty from Mercer County to make the ultimate sacrificeduring the early years of the Korean War. He was a gentleman as can be see by my article for Veterans' Day, 1989.

1944: "L-9" Liberty Street ; A Busload of Memories

I drew this pen and ink sketch back in the 1980's to illustrate a story in "The Way We Were," a column I wrote for the late, lamented Mercer Messenger. That bus was the source of many pleasant memories for me. Mom Glover and I made many visits to downtown Trenton before the shopping malls and the desertion from downtown caused by societal changes and the loss of business. The "L-9" in this view is at the corner of Liberty Street and South Olden Avenue, heading back to Cedar Lane and the end of the line. "Steve's Barber Shop" is seen in the engraving, next to "Carty's" luncheonette. Remember them? The "L-9" started its daily runs from the end of the line at Cedar Lane and Olden, some 3 blocks from my Hartley Avenue home. Her journey to downtown Trenton took her along South Olden Avenue to Liberth Street, left on Liberty Street to South Broad Street, then through State and Broad Streets to the old Perry Street Terminal, and retracing her route back to Cedar Lane and Olden.