1930's HOMEDELL SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM

The two Dietrich are in the photo, there's a McKeever, an old neighbor of mine when I lived in Greenwood Village, George Deuringer, and I would bet that the Kalapis in the middle was from the family who had a gorcery store at the corner of Beal Street and South Olden Avenue.

1923: PRINCIPAL THIRZA STERLING MCGALLIARD

Ms. McGalliard was another Principal from "the old school" who insisted on self control, discipline, and good manners. I originally assumed that like Emily Reynolds, and Leona Kistardt both of whom had schools named for them. that Thirza Sterling McGalliard was also named for her as a prominent Hamilton school employee. However, once again, I was in error. I am informed that the school was named for William McGalliard whose farm was part of the property on which the school is located. Thanks for the correction, "Peggy." who wrote:

Peggy said...

Tom, I thought McGalliard Elementary was formally called William J. McGalliard or a name similar to that, not Thirza McGalliard Elementary. Am I wrong?

Thursday, February 09, 2012

1895: SYMMES B. HUTCHINSON BIOGRAPHY

The Homedell area has the Hutchinson family to thank for the development of that area of Hamilton Township. At one time, this branch of the Hutchinson family owned 100 acres of farmland which was in the general area between Cedar Lane, Chambers, and Liberty Street. I have been searching for the origins of the numerous cemeteries in that area, and would be interested to know if any of those plots were also part of the Hutchinson farm.

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Tom: My grandfather was David Silver Hutchinson who owned "a residence and mill in Hamilton Township.'' My mother, Sarah, told me that 1,000 people attended the 150th anniversary of the Hutchinson Homestead in 1935. The Hutchinson family, according to records, has been identified with Hamilton Square since 1735.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

1903: BERNADINE AVENUE IN HOMEDELL

I often wondered where the name came from. Woolsey, Hutchinson and other Homedell streets are named for local folks who were a part of Hamilton's Homedell Section. So too was Father Bernadine Ludwig of Immaculate Conception Parish in Chambersburg when it was known as Our Lady of Lourdes. The cemetery of the same name is in Homedell.

1917: JAMES N. REED: HOMEDELL CONSTABLE

From the Hamilton Library Local History Collection's "HOMEDELL" folder in the digital database, this interesting story of Mr. Reed, who was one of the pioneers in the Homedell area of Hamilton. Mr. Reed was a decorated veteran of the Civil War. As can be seen in the articles above, Mr. Reed was like many of us who believe in keeping active as we age.

1888: Development of Homedell, Deutzville,Chambersburg etc.

Here's a fascinating graphic from the "NEIGHBORHOODS" folder. The "Jefferson Street" referred to in the Homedell segment is today's Liberty Street. Over the years, the Homedell section has been incorrectly listed as "Holmdale," and "Holmdell". Cedar Street is today's Cedar Lane.

1932: RUSSELL TERRACE, AKA HOMEDELL

For five or six times less than the cost of a 2009 automobile, one could purchase this beautiful bungalow over in the Homedell section of Hamilton. A number of my Kuser Annex friends came over from Homedell School back in the 40's, a number of them from Emanuel, E. Franklin, and other Homedell area streets. Note the garage in the photo. To those of us over the age of 65, it was a familiar sight in the Glover house as well as many other homes in the area. Those two huge swinging doors gained access to a garage that easily accommodated a 30's and 40's auto, but many of the later cars didn't fit!

1915 (Ca. 1915) HOMEDELL NEIGHBORS

This is obviously a petition; perhaps for the establishment of a school for the Homedell area. It is only for those who are residents or neighbors from the Homedell area of Hamilton. It gives a good idea of pioneer residents of the area originally known as "New Wilbur."

1903: NEW WILBUR AKA HOMEDELL

Their proximity to Villa Park and its proximity to the Borough of Wilbur resulted in the officers of the New Wilbur Land Association to name their new development "New Wilbur." Symmes B. Hutchinson also owned a large are in the Liberty-Hutchinson-E. Franklin Street area, and before long there was a new community in Hamilton Township. (Search for other graphics on this website using the key words: Hutchinson School, Friendship School, Homedell School.)

1898: VANDALS STRIKE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL

TRANSCRIBED

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 1898
VANDALISM AT THE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL HOUSE IN HOMEDELL

When the janitress of the Hutchinson school, at Homedell entered the building on Wednesday, she found a side door unlocked and everything in the interior of the building in the utmost confusion. Paper, pencils, penholders, ink bottles and rubbish of all kinds littered the floor; blackboards were scribbled over, and the teacher's desk in the primary department broken open. The Webster's Unabridged Dictionary which had cost the county $12 a year or two ago, was completely destroyed, the leaves torn out and torn to pieces. The handsome new globe was also seriously damaged. Fortunately, the map which had been procured for the school through the kindness of ex-Judge James Buchanan was not destroyed, and the miscellaneous library was not molested.
Nothing definite is known as to the depredators, but the authorities are on the lookout, and if the miscreants are found they will he severely dealt with. Such conduct comes under the head of malicious mischief and is a State Prison offense.

*****************

Tom's note: Hutchinson School was on property owned by the Hutchinson family. Symmes Hutchinson was a veryrespected member of the Homedell community. As the years unfolded, a Homedell School would be built in the area we call Homedell.

1937: HOMEDELL SCHOOL PLAYGROUND

HOW I WISH MY COLLECTION INCLUDED MORE OF THE TRENTON SUNDAY TIMES ADVERTISER! EACH WEEK THERE WAS A PICTORIAL SECTION WITH INCREDIBLE PHOTOS OF THE ERA IN WHICH IT WAS PUBLISHED. THESE PHOTOS WERE EXTRACTED FROM A 1937 ISSUE. I REMEMBER CARL CORELLI AND HIS BROTHER TOM. THEY WERE STUDENTS AT KUSER AFTER THEY LEFT HOMEDELL BACK IN THE '40'S.

1888: The Homedell Genesis

The Homedell area of Hamilton as described on this 1888 graphic was a very substantial portion of the Hutchinson Farm. Before there was a Homedell School there was a Friendshop School, across the fields from the Homedell Farm, on the Cedar Street (Today's Cedar Lane) hill. The "Jefferson Street" listed as a boundary is today's Liberty Street. As the area developed, the little Friendship school was closed and the Hutchinson school was utilized until the construction of the Homedell School in the early part of the 20th century.

1898: Vandals Alive and Well at Homedell

The sad tale told in this "HOMEDELL" folder clipping reveals that there were animalistic vandals back in the 19th century as well as today. The difference was that they were FIRMLY disciplined and their parents were held responsible for the damage. More importantly, their names were not "withheld because of their age." Back then, if a juvenile was old enough to creat mayhem by vandalizing public property, he was old enough to face the music.

1888: The Homedell Land Association

Under the "NEIGHBORHOODS" file, we find the genesis of the Hutchinson family's Homedell Land Association. This area of Hamilton is bordered by Liberty Street, So. Olden Avenue, E. Franklin, Woolsey, and adjacent streets.

1937: HOMEDELL SCHOOL SAFETY PATROL

Do you remember

THE KEYSTONE AUTOMOBILE CLUB

SAFTEY PATROL?

Here's a photo of the Homedell School patrol from 1937

HAMILTON'S HOMEDELL NEIGHBORHOOD

There are numerous files on Homedell in the Hamilton Library Local Collection files. This is one of them:
The area known as Homedell is located in the general area of Liberty, Redfern, and East Franklin streets. The land in that area was once a part of huge land holdings of the Hutchinson family. Symmes B. Hutchinson was a prominent resident of Hamilton Township. (Hutchinson Street at the foot of Cedar Lane Hill is named for the family)