1933: CUBAN CIGAR CO. - HENRY CLAY AND BOCK

The old Trenton Chamber of Commerce magazine "TRENTON" has many very nice photos and articles on Trenton during the time of the city's lively business climate. The Cuban Tobacco Company = Henry Clay and Bock companies seem to be among the numerous calls I have for information. This article is a very good source.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM...THAT CIGAR FACTORY ALONG WITH ROEBLING'S AND THE DOLL FACTORY WERE THE MAIN SOURCES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN CHAMBERSBURG DURING THE PERIOD OF 1920 TO 1940, THE WOMEM IN THE CIGAR FACTORY WORE BLUE SMOCKS THAT SMELLED OF TOBACCO AND IT SEEMED THEY ALL WORKED THERE. MY MOTHER WAS A BUNCH MAKER AND MOST OF THEM WERE PAID PIECE WORK AND THEY WORKED IN GROUPS. MY FATHER SMOKED ONLY A PIPE AND HE USED THE CIGARS THERE, THE MEMORY OF THAT CIGAR FACTORY WILL FOREVER LINGER. BEST REGARDS.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Michael said...

Tom:
I can still visulize the three (3) cigar factories I remember; College and Division St. just behind Trenton Catholic, late became a furniture warehouse for Johnny Koslowski's stores.
South Clinton Ave. where Whittaker ave terminates, believe it became an pipe organ factory some twenty thirty years ago.
And of Course The "Grande" on Grand St. across from the Doll factory. Such an elegant building. Used to admire it while passing through to get to Jr.4 in the 40's. The elegance of that building.
Had a chance to buy it when the Tobacco company moved to Wilkes Barre PA, or was it Scranton. American Tobacco wanted to take a tax write off, and offered it to me for $50,000. closing before the end of the year. Could not convince anyone to take a shot with me, and a group bought it through Steve Segal the Commerical Broker. Last I heard it was turned into Condo's which were not selling very fast.
After my last visit to Trenton, I can understand why.

Can still smell the aroma.

Regards

Mike Kuzma

Thursday, March 29, 2012

1940: HENRY CLAY & BOCK CUBAN CIGARS

Here's a digitized 8 x 10 photo of the employees of that legendary Cuban cigar factory that was once the pride of South Trenton. Ms. Nadine Brunini gave me this photo some time ago, and I am just now getting around to past donations from local history devotees. Perhaps a visitor will recognize one or more of the gentlemen in the photo. Based on the neckties being worn by the men, I would suggest that this may have been taken in the wide tie 1950's era.

"OMAD," A regular and original visitor to this website, has sent the following added information on the Henry Clay & Bock cigar factory. The men in the photo really took a back seat to the ladies who did all the critical manufacturing process, turning out some of the finest cigars in the world. I smoked a couple of those Trenton-made cigars many years ago. Thanks for your comment Omad, who wrote:

Omad said...

Goodness, so many things that hit on my family history. My aunt Elsa, along with her 4 other Berta Hungarian sisters from Virginia Ave, worked there and she went for her high school diploma evenings. Her sister was chosen to work on the "special" cigars for important people. Very high quality. Elsa left the factory for GM, met my uncle and married him when he came home from WW2. She is 90 now and the healthiest person I know. She often talks about the factory. I see that now is has been restored and made into condos. Quite impressive still. She makes the best stuffed cabbage and says she rolls the cabbage the way she rolled the leaves of the cigar.