2015: 7 PM MARCH 2: AN EXCITING LOOKD BACK TO WWII

The black and white graphic at the top of this graphic is going to appear in this weekend Trenton Times on Friday, Saturday Sunday. It will announce the beginning of the 2015 season of the Hamilton Township Historical Society. Those who weren't around during the war will learn about blackouts, air raid shelters, rationing, Air raid warnings, Air raid Wardens and many other incidents that were all a part of World War II on the "Home Front." My fellow baritone Jack Pyrah from the HHS class of 1950  and I will sing a few of the songs that were popular during a period when music was a very important part of life.Those who were around will recall many of the frightening incidents surrounding the early war news. I hope to see many of my computer social media folks to this free program. As to the photo accompanying the Times ad, it was a scary photo to see in the newspaper as the Trenton Times sent a photographer to the Trenton - Morrisville bridge showing a guard being relieved and being replaced by another for 24 hour guard duty. This photo was taken only a few days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and was quite disturbing to Americans during the first weeks of the war.

1995: WARTIME HAMILTON-WARTIME TRENTON

The Alice Mount in the article above was the fictional Hamiltonian whose name was the name of my Mom, Alice Mount Glover. Even though the keeper of this diary is fictional, the persons, places, and things written in this fictional diary are accurate accounts taken from the newspapers of the era, along with the memories of her then ten year old son, "Tommy" Glover. 

1935: PRELUDE TO WAR: NAZI HATRED OF JEWS AND CATHOLICS

Even though this pre-dates the September, 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland, this article has been assigned to the "WWII" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection. Little did we know back there in 1935 that there would be a Jewish Holocaust where the "Final Solution" would result in unspeakable atrocities.

1917: HARRY BREIMEYER'S WWI HOME GUARD BADGE

In my research, I have come to the conclusion that the badge on loan from Ms. Deneen Vargo was from World War I. The article appended to the graphic was printed in the Trenton Times from 1942, looking back 25 years to the year 1917. the badge belonged to Deneen's Great Uncle, Harry Breimeyer who passed away in the mid 1960's. It is speculation on my part that the Air Raid Warden replaced the Home Guard. I have found no WWII era articles on a Home Guard. Perhaps a visitor can correct my speculation in the event that I am wrong. The WWI Home Guard were available in all Trenton Wards back during the war years.Their training quarters were in the Trenton Armory.

1944: THEY TOLD ME I LIVED IN "THE STICKS"

Don't let that more recent photo of the Glover home at 131 Hartley Avenue fool you. That house didn't look anything like the one that reposed there during the war years. The front porch was open and we communicated with our neighbors whose porches were also open. During the war years, the Glover's had a mini farm with a gaggle of geese, flocks of "Rhode Island Reds," "Barred Rocks," and just plain white "Leghorns," along with nocturnal weasels, skunks, racoons, and other predators. Did you know that geese are as vigilant as a watchdog, replacing the bark of the dog with the shreaky, panicky, blare of a goose honk that would scare the daylights out of a city slicker. (Our reply to whomever chose to tell is we were from the sticks.) The above photo of Mom Glover feeding our chickens was a daily and nightly process with which we were all familiar. It was taken during the height of WWII here on the home front when we depended on them for our major food source. It was my mom who usually did the feeding. She knew those chickens, and they knew her as they would come scurrying across our yard as she came down the back steps with their food. Today it is more familiarly known as "the boondocks." Back then the term was "the sticks." We did live in the sticks and I am very proud to admit it. There was nothing like a trip over to Kuser's pond to catch tadpoles, frogs, and float on one of those huge old metal cement mixing "boats" and make like Captain Kidd. That little goose with a crutch was a pen and ink drawing I did in order to enhance the column. Sorry to say tha over the years, poor Herman lost a tail that was once there.

1944: RALPH LUCARELLA, U.S.N. (RET.)

Ralph has been among my many valued visitors to this web site.With his excellent memory and experience in recalling the Trenton we all knew and loved. I am publishing two photos I received from Ralph a number of years ago, illustrating his station during WWII in the Herbrides. Below and to the right is a copy of a guest book entry from Jeff Ashton, Phoenix, Arizona which I have copied and pasted. It was directed to Ralph and me. As to you Ralph Lucarella, you are one of our heroes who served valiantly in the horror that was World War II. How do you Italians say it...."C'ent anni?"

Omad said...

Always find your comments interesting and I look forward each day to what you add to Tom's postings. I'm 76 and don't think my memory is as sharp as yours. Keep up the good work.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

2011: REMEMBERING OUR WWII PATRIOTS

I am now, and always will be grateful to our military veterans. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It also marks a period of time where memories of World War II are quickly fading from the public view. An historian's obligation is to keep those memories alive so that younger citizens are informed of the many sacrifices our veterans from all wars have made for our country.

THE ABOVE GRAPHIC IS SCANNED FROM A BROADSIDE I AM POSTING AT KUSER MANSION AND THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCING A VERY SPECIAL VETERANS' DAY PRESENTATION. I HOPE TO SEE MANY OF MY LOCAL VISITORS TO THIS WEBSITE AT THE PROGRAM.

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: I hope you have a great turn out for such a worthy program. I'll be there in spirit. Regards

1943: THE WAR HITS "THE HOME FRONT"

What a challenge it was for the mothers all over America as they learned the "ins and outs" of war rationing! I remember going to Palombi's store on South Olden Avenue (Today it's the location of Carlo Benedetti's Olden Pharmacy). Palombi's had a very well stocked meat department and I can recall how Mom Glover had to count her ration stamps for whatever rationed product she was buying. It was a difficult and very daunting task.

1942: A WWII AIR RAID WARDEN

It

was a common sight to see back in the very early years of World War II. After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the sighting of Nazi U-Boats off the Jersey coast, America found itself in a scary security position. With the possibility of enemy air raids over the continental United States, the Civil Defense authorities throughout the land formed air plane spotters on the roof of local buildings, and most fearsome, the "blackout." Enter the air raid warden. His job was to police his local neighborhood during a blackout to make sure ALL homes were in complete darkness, and all autos on the road were blacked out. He was equipped with the Air Raid Warden helmet, a flashlight, a police whistle, and a notebook. My father and my older brother Len were both local wardens. I dare say a number of my visitors were wardens also, or have relatives who were.

1945: STARS AND STRIPES COMIC STRIPS

Any member of "the Greatest Generation" who accesses this blog will surely relate to the above comic strip page from the "Stars and Stripes" which was the daily paper issued for the armed forces all over the world. This page is from a Stars and Stripes from the ETO (European Theater of Operations.) Ten years later, I would be seated at a table in our local PX in Bavaria and ultimately Northern Italy, reading the same comic strips, and doing the very popular crossword puzzle. However, I think we had Milton Caniff's "Steve Canyon" instead of "Terry and the Pirates." Thanks to my dear friend, Maury Perilli for a copy ot the June 13, 1945 issue of the Stars and Stripes.

1941: DECEMBER 7 PLUS 16: AIR RAID SHELTERS IN DOWNTOWN TRENTON

Over the years I have written many World War II columns relating to what was known as "the Home Front." It was my recollection of life on the home front during that horrible war. I was 6 years old when the war broke out in 1939. In 1941, 8 year old Tommy Glover recalls many of the trials and triumphs we experienced, from rationing, air raid drills, scrap iron and rubber collection, and too many others to list within the confines of this post. One of the more frightening aspects of the early years of the war was the "blackout" and the "air raid." There was a genuine fear in those early years as the media told of Nazi submarines lurking off of the Jersey coast, Nazi spies coming ashore along various locations on the shore, Japs lobbing shells into California refineries, and numerous other scary news stories.

(The air raid shelter sign in the graphic
was inserted from the "WWII" file.)

1941: PEARL HARBOR PLUS 5: EWING'S EASTERN AIRCRAFT

The mobilization effort in America was an incredible experience in efficiency, rapidity, and above all, patriotism. As can be seen in the article above, Ewing Township's Ternstedt Division of General Motors began conversion efforts which would change the plant from the manufacture of automotive hardware to TBM Grumman "Avengers."

(The hand-colored engraving accompanying the article is from "A History of Eastern Aircraft Division," published by General Motors in 1944.)

This from Steve Csorgo, Jr.:

Hi Tom,

So neat to see this article as just recently, while going through stuff from the attic, I found check stubs from when my dad Steve Csorgo - W2QJO Amateur Radio Callsign) - worked at GM - then Eastern Aircraft before he went into the Army Aircorps. He started at GM in 1939 and returned in 1946 after coming home from his time in Florida training radar operators going to war across the pond. His radio experience allowed him to stay stateside for the war. Hope to see you soon, as I have a bunch of old stuff to give you for the library collection. A very Merry Christmas.
Steve Csorgo Jr

1944: WALT BRONEK JR: THIS ONE'S FOR YOU

Hamilton's Walt Bronek's Dad is shown in the photo above, as is an old friend from my Kuser Family years, Bill Howe, brother of Edna Howe Kuser of Kuser Farm. Look for more WWII photos of the many heroes from "The Greatest Generation" who made the pages of newspapers from the past.

2009: LOCAL MATCHBOOK ADVERTISERS

"Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and smile, smile, smile. While you've a LUCIFER* to light your FAG*, smile boys, that's the style, What's the use of worrying, it never was worthwhile, so, pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile. smile..."

Herewith a graphic showing the LUCIFERS* that WWI "Doughboys: used to light their FAGS*

AS YOU HAVE NOW LEARNED IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW, TO THE "DOUBOYS" OF WWI, A LUCIFER WAS A MATCH,
AND FAG WAS A CIGARETTE.

1945:THEY WERE A HEALTH HAZARD BACK THEN, ALSO

Tell those boys in uniform during WWII that they had to stop smoking and you would have gotten a hardy laugh. Smoking was just as dangerous to the health back then as it is today, but ask any combat WWII veteran how important that smoke was to his stressful surroundings and chances are he will recall the comfort he got from that pack of Phillip Morris, Chesterfield, Lucky Strike, or any of the countless brands of free cigarettes doled out by many generous organizations, including Uncle Sam, who included a little "four pack" of cigarettes in our C or K rations.

1945: MY BUDDY LOU DIMATTIA WAY BACK WHEN

For a few years back in the 1980's Lou was the unofficial gardener at Monsignor McCorriston's somewhat disorderly yard. Lou and I go back a goodly number of years as parishioners at St. Anthony parish in Hamilton. When I left St. Anthony in the 80's, I thought I had said farewell to an old friend. However, Lou is an accomplished dancer, and didn't he come to a number of my Kuser Farm Gazebo Sunday summer programs. It was a pleasure to renew old acquaintances. And Lou, if a relative is reading this, I ask them to let you know that my son Tom and I will once again be bringing the music of the golden years to Kuser Farm Park this summer. This time we will be alternating between 3 and 5, and 6 and 8 PM Sunday programs.

1941: Trenton's "Home Away from Home" for Fort Dix Soldiers

"I left my heart at the stage door canteen.....I left it there with a girl named Eileen.."
That oldie but goodie from the WWII era would have been playing on their Wurlitzer juke box at the Trenton Soldiers' Club in downtown Trenton.

1945: The Horrors of the Holocaust

The unspeakable atrocities committed by the Nazis during World War II has already gone down in history as one of the most evil times in the history of the world. The leader of Iran calls the holocaust a hoax. He is not alone. There are still evil forces in the world who deny the existance of the Holocaust.

1941: "Enemy" Planes on a Trenton Bombing Mission

I would guess that there are few visitors to this site who are over 65 years of age. Those of us who are will remember the scary situation in America back in the very early years of World War II. I can remember sitting in the dark during a blackout and hearing aircraft passing overhead and wondering if the plane was friend or foe. There were other scary stories of spies, Fifth Column, etc.

1941: MORE OF "THE GREATEST GENERATION"

I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH MY WWII FOLDER IN THE HAMILTON LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION. AMERICA ON THE HOMEFRONT BACK THEN HAD A SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM WHICH WAS IN MANY WAYS UNIQUE. THE MEN YOU SEE IN THE GRAPHIC ABOVE HAD NO IDEA THAT IN 11 MONTHS THEY WERE GOING TO BE EMBROILED IN WORLD WAR II.