1985: LIZZIE MCCABE'S DIARY

This is one of the columns I wrote relating to the old Hooper-Chamberlin-McCabe general store in Hamilton Square. In order to make history more palatable for those who find it boring, I access community news items from the millions of pages in my 100 plus year collection of old Trenton newspapers, assign a fictional name and produce a diary. The only thing fictional is the diary writer who in this case happens to be Lizzie McCabe. There will be many future diaries in my "Sentimental Journey" coilumn in the the Trenton Times.

1927: THIS WAS HAMILTON SQUARE IN THE "ROARING 20's"

At the very top of this page is a very nice and I might add, relatively rare photo of Nottingham Way as one approaches Foley Park at the intersection of Nottingham Way and Yardville-Hamilton Square Road. Below is a Google Earth view of Nottingham Way a bit closer to Foley Park but still showing the long gone trolley tracks.

1991: HAMILTON SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Back in the 1980's I was a regular visitor to the Hamilton Square Presbyterian Church to bring my World War II music to a number of senior citizen groups who meet there on a monthly basis. But alas, most of "The Greatest Generation" who attended those meetings have given way to father time, and rendered them immobile for numerous reasons. That beautiful edifice on Nottingham Way is one of Hamilton's historic treasures. The article above tells a tiny bit about that great old church. The directory of members is also quite interesting; especially to those who have relatives who attended the church.

1886 - 1887 CHRISTMAS IN HAMILTON SQUARE

Long before the advent of the scanner and comprehensive image editing software, I manually transcribed many hundreds of local articles from my "CHRONOLOGY" collection of Trenton newspapers. The above is one of the many that will be appearing on this blog in future posts. The newspapers such as those cited above were devoid of accompanying graphics or engravings. Accordingly, I have manipulated my imaging software and inserted appropriate photos from the Hamilton Library Local History Collection; in this case the "HAMILTON SQUARE BAPTIST CHURCH" and "HAMILTON SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH" folders. I hope you agree that we have a timely and historically interesting entry on this blog.

1861: RECEIPT FROM EXECUTOR MOSES HOOPER HAMILTON SQUARE

Here is a true antiquarian Hamilton Square treasure: A receipt written in 1861 from Charles H. Carson, acknowledging payment of a debt owed to Thomas Hooper from "Hooper-Chamberlin-McCabe; the general store at the rural farming village of Hamilton Square.
The original specimen is very faded and has been brought back into the 21st century using image-enhancing software. The engraving on the left is a pen and ink sketch I drew way back in 1983 from an original
photo from a Mr. Chamberlin.

1997: JANE ELDRIDGE TITUS REMEMBERS KEEFER'S BAND

Thanks to Ms. Eleanor Guear for this photo which was given to her by Ms. Meyer who thinks her father was part of this popular Hamilton Square band. Stewart Keefer started this band back in 1929, at which time it was known only as the Hamilton Square YMCA Boys' Band. As the group became more popular, it became "Keefer's Band." They played in local churches, at the Hamilton Square Volunteer Fire Company dedication, and at the 1942 dedication of the Hamilton Township Municipal building.

1985: HAMILTON SQUARE'S FICTIONAL LIZZIE MCCABE

Back in 1983, Mr. Howard Hooper let me borrow a photo of the old Hooper-Chamberlin-McCabe building. You might recall that this was most recentlyformerly the abode of the former Heinz Quality Meats store, and currently the home of the Cookie Cottage. Mr. Hooper only let me have it over a 2 day weekend. I immediately set about doing a rough sketch base on the photo. The result is the pen and ink drawing in the graphic above. As to the article, as usual, Lizzie McCabe is a fictional character but all of the events listed in her fictional diary are completely factual. So jump in the buckboard or the model T and take a quick visit to 1912 Hamilton Square.

1938: "CALM YOURSELF" PRESENTED HAMILTON SQUARE M.E. YOUNG PEOPLE

How I wish more of my contemporaries in the senior citizen community would realize the incredible abilities the internet and computer technology can provide! Judging by the comments I receive from the few seniors who visit this and other similar local blogs, I'm sure they are really missing out on a plethora of wonderful memories and history.
The graphic above has a photo of Florence Chamberlain Snedeker, who along with her husband Harold Snedeker, were dear friends from the 1950's. "Flo-Flo," as she was known, was a lively lady with a marvelous sense of humor. She worked for the Hamilton Library during the 40's and 50's. And who doesn't recognize Bill Saul; Hamilton's pioneer funeral director.

1897: HAMILTON SQUARE COMMUNITY NEWS

It is much easier to combine these frequent "Community News" events into a single graphic, especially when they are in consecutive order as they are above. At the time these articles were read in the local newspaper, Hamilton Square was a rural farming town and the Allentown Turnpike (Nottingham Way) was a dirt road.

1913: Notes from Hamilton Square

Here's a bit of yesterday's news from Hamilton Square, telling of events at the Baptist and Presbyterian churches, and other small town news.

1946: It's Christmas in Hamilton Square

With just a bit of tweaking and touching up with my graphic

software, we have a few Christmas memories from the
Hamilton Square of 63 Christmas seasons ago.

1946: Hamilton Square "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.."

Here's an enhanced graphic from the holiday season of 1946. At the present time I am going throuth the month of December, 1946, and finding fascinating articles for inclusion in the Hamilton Library's Local History database. Prominent Hamilton names are sprinkled throughout the article.

1916: Dr. George Robbins' Obit

1876: HAMILTON SQUARE - FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
MAY 30, 1876:
GAZETTE

Acting upon the suggestion of the President in his proclamation, the citizens of Hamilton Square have determined to have a celebration on the fourth of July. Dr. G.R. Robbins has been chosen orator for the occasion, and Joseph H. West, the correspondent of the Gazette, has been requested to writer an historical sketch of the village, which will embrace a period of nearly 200 years, to be read on the occasion. The ceremonies will consist of hoisting the stars and stripes, the reading of the Declaration and the Historical Sketch, to be followed by the oration.

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In my local history research, it seems that the Robbins family is more prominent in the news than even the West's of Hamilton Square. Without knowing the facts, Dr.Robbins seems to have been one of those legendary family doctors from the old school who made house calls. In an earlier post, there is an article on the Robbins burial ground over in Monmouth County on the Clarksville Road.

1938: HAMILTON SQUARE BAPTIST CHURCH HARVEST SUPPER

THESE SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOOD POSTINGS ARE OF INTEREST TO MANY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH, DUE MAINLY TO THE FACT THAT THE PARTICIPATING FAMILIES WERE LISTED IN GREAT DETAIL. HERE'S AN ARTICLE ON THE ANNUAL HARVEST SUPPER HELD AT THAT VENERABLE OLD HAMILTON SQUARE CHURCH.

1910: MURDER OF TALL CHIEF, SIOUX INDIAN

(NOTE: DUE TO THE LARGE SIZE OF THE ABOVE GRAPHIC, AN 800 X 600 SCREEN RESOLUTION WILL MAKE THE ARTICLE MORE LEGIBLE.)

OVER THE YEARS, A NUMBER OF CITIZENS HAVE QUESTIONED ME ON THE INDIAN POPULATION OF HAMILTON AND SURROUNDING AREA. BACK IN THE 1880'S AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY, MANY INDIANS CAME FROM THE CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA AREA TO WORK AS FARM AND OTHER LABOR INTENSIVE JOBS. ONE SUCH MEMBER OF THE RACE CAME TO HAMILTON SQUARE AND AS YOU SEE IN THE TWO ARTICLES ABOVE, HE WAS MURDERED IN AN ALTERCATION IN A PERRY STREET TRENTON SALOON. APPARENTLY THE CHIEF HAD MANY FRIENDS WHO WANTED TO LYNCH BREIHLER FOR MURDERING THEIR FRIEND. HE IS BURIED IN THE CEMETERY OF THE HAMILTON SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON NOTTINGHAM WAY, ACROSS FROM THE CHURCH.

1928: WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SQUARE

THESE ARE FASCINATING GLIMPSES OF LIFE AS IT WAS LIVED IN YEARS GONE BY. I WILL CONTINUE TO POST SOME OF THOSE WHICH HAVE INTERESTING FAMILY NAMES AND ACTIVITIES. LOOK FOR GROVEVILLE, CROSSWICKS, MERCERVILLE, ETC.

1934: AMANDA MCCABE CUBBERLEY OBIT

FOR THE GENEALOGISTS AMONG VISITORS TO THIS SITE, HERE'S AN ARTICLE ON THE PASSING OF ONE OF HAMILTON SQUARE'S MOST PROMINENT NAMES. BOTH CUBBERLEY AND MCCABE ARE FREQUENTLY MENTIONED IN HAMILTON SQUARE MATTERS.

1915: HAMILTON SQUARE: A DRY TOWN

THERE ARE NUMEROUS ARTICLES ON THE TEMPERANCE TOWN OF HAMILTON SQUARE. REV. HOWELL WAS AN ARDENT AND CONTROVERSIAL SPOKESMAN FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO KEEP SALOONS OUT OF THE BUCOLIC VILLAGE.

1914: LIQUOR STILL A "NO NO" IN THE SQUARE

Throughout the many years I have been following local Hamilton History, the temperance movement was extremely active in Hamilton Square. Rev. Howell from the First Presbyterian Church was a real watch dog for the town, constantly going after gambling and the sometimes sordid characters who brought their bad habits to town. The Hamilton Square M.E. Church was also seen as a community watchdog, constantly eying those who chose to ignore the Sunday "Blue Laws."

1947: HAMILTON SQUARE SOCIAL NOTES

I AM COMPLETELY ENTHRALLED WITH THESE LITTLE SOCIAL NOTES FROM OUR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES. THEY NO LONGER APPEAR IN THE NEWSPAPERS OF TODAY. THEY LENT A SPECIAL CHARM TO THE SOCIETY AND SUBURBAN PAGES. ACCORDINGLY, I ASK THAT YOU ALLOW ME TO INDULGE MYSELF WITH OCCASIONAL SOCIAL CLIPS OF THIS TYPE. MANY OF THE NAMES ARE FAMILIAR TO ME AND PRESUMABLY TO MANY VISITORS TO THIS SITE.