1936: EIGHTY YEARS AGO TODAY

It's always interesting to look back "on this date in history." Here's a graphic I put together detailing community activities as they were reported way back in the early part of the 20th century. More to come.

1912: GROVEVILLE'S WESLEY GROVE.

My dear friend, the late Bob Simpkins was the real, genuine Hamilton Historian, Bob passed away at the ripe old age of 102 and left behind the legacy of being one of those responsible for the restoration of Hamilton Township’s colonial treasure, the John Abbott II house on Kuser Road. Bob often spoke of the Yardville-Groveville area of Hamilton, and in my files I have found this graphic telling of the legendary “Wesley Grove” which I put together a number of years ago.

2015; EXCITING NEWS FOR LOCAL HISTORY BUFFS

Above is a graphic I put together announcing the reprinting of Elma Borden's history of Groveville. This volume has been out of print and copies of the original as seen in the graphic are very scarce. The note from Dr. James Federici, President of the Historical Society of Hamilton Township has details on how to reserve a paperback copy of the book. Call Ms. Shirley DiGenova at 609-585-6019 to order your copy.

SCRAPBOOK: GROVEVILLE

For some unexplained reason Internet Explorer would not allow me to correct the "2875 - 1899" entry error when I accidentally listed the date range in this post as "2875" instead of 1875. As anyone who is proficient in touch typing knows, making numerical errors is a common occurrence even for yours truly who has been typing for more than 60 years!. I saw the error immediately after I posted it via Internet Explorer and was confounded that I couldn't correct it. I recently removed "Firefox" from my computer due to slow loading. Needless to say, I re-installed it and will revert back to the Firefox screen that allows me to edit the many errors I make (and will continue to make; I don't walk on water, dear visitors!).

  Groveville is a fascinating and very historic town in Hamilton Township. Local Groveville Historian Gary Lippincott has an excellent website dedicated to the town in which he grew up. If only we could get additional citizens who would start a site on Hamilton Square, Deutzville, Mercerville, Yardville, Crosswicks, Pennington, Hightstown, and other Mercer County locations we would have a very viable historic and nostalgic view of bygone years. We do have Jim Colello's Broad Street Park and Don Whiteley's Yardville Heights; both of which are excellent sources. Don't miss Gary's website; it is a fascinating look at this wonderful little town tucked away in southern Hamilton. Visit Gary's website at

www.grovevillememories.blogspot.com 

GROVEVILLE, 1875

1881: The mill at Groveville

1898: Groveville and Yardville in earlier years

2011: GARY LIPPINCOTT'S GROVEVILLE

Each of us has the desire to live in a bucolic community like Groveville; Hamilton's answer to Andy Griffith's Mayberry. Gary is a local expert on the history and lore that is one of Hamilton's more fascinating neighborhoods. Gary tells of the years when everyone knew everyone else, and his tales of hearing the Sunday Morning music from the Groveville M.E. church is completely charming. If you haven't visited Gary's site, you are missing a real treat. Click on http://www.grovevillememories.blogspot.com and return with us to "those thrilling days of yesteryear!"

1899: GROVEVILLE'S BOY PREACHER

This graphic had to be re-formated. The original had the engraving of the young man much too large to maintain a reasonable amount of proportion. He has been moved to the side of the article; an article with is quite interesting. We all know those young children who were raised by ministers who were very vocal in their religious sermons, passing their mannerisms on to their siblings.

1936: LOVELY GROVEVILLE GIRLS IN WPA SPONSORED TAP DANCING CLASS

These lovely ladies made up the Miss DiGiorgio's Groveville WPA dancing  class.

Mack said...
Hi Tom:)
Great picture. Nice smiles on these kids faces, they must have liked Miss DiGiorgio. Quick guestimate these kids born near 1930 so some should still be with us, I hope one of them sees this picture:)

Thursday, January 06, 2011

1927 SANBORN PLAT MAP GROVEVILLE TEXTILE MILLS

Here's a rare glimpse of "Grovevilliana" from 1927 showing the layout of that historic little village as it looked along the bend in Crosswicks Creek. Note that the Anchor Thread Company has Mercer Textile Mills as a neighboring industry. Groveville historian Gary Lippincott has an extensive Groveville page at  http://www.grovevillememories.blogspot.com; check it out.

1902: GROVEVILLE'S OWN BORDEN'S MINCE MEAT

I am currently going through my Yardville and Groveville folders and resurrecting some more little known stories and historic lore on these two towns in the southern section of Hamilton. History reveals that the two towns were sort of twins due to their geographical proximity. Above is the story of the Borden family's mercantile contribution to the public. I would loved to have had a graphic which showed a jar of Borden's mince meat, but that's asking too much. However, I am searching in old advertising files, and who knows? Maybe I'll strike it rich!
\

THANKS FOR THIS FROM "SJ BILL"

I'm guessing this was in the mid-'70s when I visited Groveville by bicycle. Back then is was and likely still is a very quiet and pleasant town.

That day I visited Brick's Mincemeat factory, and got to meet Edgar Brick himself. Not sure how many generations he represented, but there were quite a few. Mr. Brick gave me the 50 cent tour of his mill. He discussed micemeat and how the recipe has "changed" over the years, particularly with regard to the recent omission of hard spirits.

His collection of clocks left its mark on me. I now have only a few vintage 1800's clocks. He had many more, and all predated mine by having wooden works.

These days the only mincemeat I can find is C&B's, but it's not like Bordens or Brick's used to be. There was something about talking to the owner, seeing the equipment, and smelling the insides of an old building to give you the background of a product.

I miss it.

GREAT INSIGHT, BILL. MANY THANKS

"THE COTTON MILLS AT GROVEVILLE

Woodward's Mill, Morris Mill, Keeler's, and who knows how many other textile mills operated in the fascinating and historic village of Groveville?
It would be like taking a trip to New England back in the early part of the 20th century, if one were to journey to the village of Groveville to the Morris Mills. For me, this hearkens back to "Carousel," the Broadway musical and one of my favorite movies, wherein pretty Julie Jordan gets mixed up with Billy Bigelow, who entices her away from working at the local textile mill. Even as the management of that New England mill tried to keep their female employees on the correct moral tract, I wonder if the same mentality was carried out down in Groveville. I suspect that it was. Be that as it may, the above story is interesting as we look back at an era that can never return; an era when the U.S.A. proudly manufactured our shoes, shirts, dresses, and other articles now given over to foreign manufacturers. The textile mills of America and Groveville, played a major part in supplying America long before "Made in U.S.A." was replace with "Made in China," "Taiwan," "Indonesia," etc.

1902: GROVEVILLE 108 YEARS AGO

Hamilton Square, Yardville and Groveville: For me there is an indescribable fascination for these historic villages. Fascination due largely to what I call "historic romanticism" which I experience as I uncover exciting stories of the persons, places and things in the rural past of old Hamilton. From the expansive farms in the Hamilton Square area to the fabled Camden and Amboy railroad that passed through Sand Hills, to the quaint and historic hamlet of Groveville, I find that I am in my element as I dust off old and long forgotten stories which are hidden deep within the millions of pages of yesterday's newspapers, and share them with history-minded visitors.

1946: GROVEVILLE: HOMECOMING FOR WWII VETERANS

I've said it before and it bears repeating: Groveville is Hamilton Township's answer to Mayberry RFD. It must be a wonderful feeling to be a native of that bucolic little village to the south of Hamilton Township. When I think of community "togetherness," Groveville immediately comes to mind. Their annual parades, the pride the firemen and women have in their town, and other Mayberry-type traits make this little village a stereotype for the typical midwestern small town that most of us love and admire.

1937: TURKEY DINNER FUND RAISER AT GROVEVILLE METHODIST

Borden, McElmoyl, Dwier, Lippincott....the list goes on. When and if a future history of Hamilton is published, the Groveville section will most certainly highlight the families that had a major part of the development of that quaint village to the south of Hamilton Township. The Dwier family has already made a huge mark. Thankfully, Ms. Claire Dwier and Gary Lippincott will assure that the Groveville heritage will be etched in the local history books. Veteran Groveville resident Ray Bell has constructed beautiful wooden models of the more historic Groveville buildings.

1912 and 1913: GROVEVILLE'S DAVIS' WOODS BECOMES WESLEY GROVE

It's times like these when we need the resources of the over 80 generation. Unfortunately, the number of octogenarians who are computer users is pitifully small. However, were they able to access the graphic above, I would bet that they could shed some light on the Munro House and the Rowan-Willey Chapel pictured in the enhanced photo above. This graphic can be considered a rare historical record of the transition of Groveville's "Davis' Woods" to the popular Wesley Grove of Methodist fame. If there is any Groveville visitor with a relative in the aforementioned age group who might be able to tell us about the two structures in the photo, we would love to hear from you.
(*Well, not necessarily the over 80's generation. Gary Lippincott has come to the fore and brought us up to speed on the two buildings in the photo. Gary has not yet reached octogenarian status.

Thanks for this comment and your historical expertise, Gary:

Gary Lippincott:

"The small building was known as the "Young Peoples Temple" and is still in use today. The Munro House was on the first floor a cooking and dinning area, the second was individual rooms accomodating about two people and the top flor was a "Dormitory" type sleeping area for men. Both are mentioned on My "Groveville Memories" site."

1944: SUMMER PLAYGROUND ENTERTAINMENT AT GROVEVILLE

The Hamilton Township Recreation Department of Years gone by had an extensive collection of summer programs at the schools throughout the area. I remember spending numerous Friday nights at the Kuser School playground watching "Laurel and Hardy" and other movies. Kuser's playground was very popular in the Kuser neighborhood, as I am sure it was in Groveville, Maple Shade, and other area schools.

1990: GROVEVILLE DISTRICT 9 JUNIOR CADETS

Nineteen years have passed since these young men received the commendation presented by then Hamilton Councilman Mike Angarone. Perhaps a "Grovevillian" can tell us if any of the young cadets are still involved with the Groveville Fire Co.

1989: GROVEVILLE TO GET A NEW FIREHOUSE

An architect's rendering of the proposed firehouse for the Groveville Volunteer Fire Company.

1928: NEW YEAR COMMUNITY NEWS FROM GROVEVILLE

Vintage retrospectives from Groveville, Yardville, and Edgebrook hold a certain fascination for me. I can't speak for all my fellow local historians, but I find it to be a fascinating experience to read about the persons, places and things detailed in the events our rural ancestors experienced "way back when."

1930: GROVEVILLE CAMP MEETING

THE METHODIST CHURCH PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN THE HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE OF GROVEVILLE.
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BACK IN JUNE, I POSTED THIS, AND ANOTHER ARTICLE ON GROVEVILLE'S WESLEY GROVE. GROVEVILLE HISTORIAN GARY LIPPINCOTT HAS POSTED AN INTERESTING COMMENTARY WHICH REVEALS INTERESTING HISTORIC FACTS ABOUT WESLEY GROVE FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE AND OTHER GROVEVILLE ENTITIES.
CUT AND PASTE www.grovevillememories.blogspot.com.

(FOR SOME REASON, MY WEBMASTER WILL NOT LET ME MAKE THIS A CLICK ON LINK. WHEN THE LINK IS CLICKED, I RECEIVE THE DREADED "404" MESSAGE THAT THE SITE CANNOT BE ACCESSED. GO FIGURE!)

1994: GROVEVILLE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

Great article with a great photo of the guys at the Groveville VFD tending to their beautiful fire equipment. Groveville and Nottingham have a Memorial Day parade each year. Groveville's is the oldest Memorial Day parade in Hamilton and is avidly followed by the local citizens each year.