1896: THE NEW JAMES MOSES SCHOOL

It was a landmark along Villa Park's Park Avenue when I was a boy. I passed the school whenever I was going to Tony Amato's for a haircut, ,or to Margerum's delicatessen on the corner of Hamilton and Park Avenue to get a "side by side" double dip French Vanilla ice cream cone. Many local Villa Park residents went to Moses school; indeed, I would bet that many who are no longer residents of that fascinating community in Trenton also attended the school. like many neighborhood schools, Moses became the victim of the wrecker's ball and is no more, but I'm sure the memories remain for those who were educated there,.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...THAT CORNER OF PARK AND HAMILTON WAS PRETTY BUSY WITH THE SCHOOL NEARBY, THE STORE AND OF COURSE, DEARDEN'S BUICK OPERATION TAKING UP A GOOD PORTION. DEARDEN'S BROTHER BILL,WHO WAS THE STATE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSIONER, WAS OUR NEIGHBOR ON BERT AVE. IN THE 30'S. REGARDS TO ALL.

Saturday, February 05, 2011

1937: FRANKLIN, ROEBLING, MCCLELLAN, MOTT, AND MOSES SCHOOL

Here is another post from the Trenton Evening Times' 1937 series of articles on the schools in the city of Trenton. I have consolidated two of them into one graphic; more to come.

1940: JAMES MOSES SCHOOL, VILLA PARK

The Kindergarten class, or as we Hamiltonians called it, "Reception Grade" is illustrated in the photo above. I see little Paul Ashmore, Hamilton High Class of 1952 in there, and is that former Senator Gerald Stockman?

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rayfromvillapark said...

Tom, When we moved to Villa Park in 1945, the old Moses school sat diagonally behind our house on the other side of the alley.
The school had been abandoned and was boarded up with some debris strewn about the property. I do remember, however, that we were able to play baseball on the property.
A few years later the school was knocked down and 3 or 4 houses were built on the property.
Does anyone know when the school opened and when it closed? Also, is there any documentation when the building was torn down? I think it was the early 1950s? Rayfromvillapark

RAY:
IF YOU GO TO THE "SEARCH BLOG" LINK IN THE UPPER LEFT OF THIS BLOG YOU WILL FIND THE GENESIS OF THE JAMES MOSES SCHOOL. Type in Moses School and you will find many entries, along with an 1890's architect's rendering of the school.

1936: JAMES MOSES SCHOOL CHILDREN VISIT TRENTON'S ENGINE 7

Engine 7 referenced above was the same as today's Engine 7 at Hamilton Avenue and Anderson Street in Trenton.

1938: Moses School PTA and a Friendly old Voice From the Past

I received the following email from an old friend whom I spent may happy hours with on religious retreats at San Alphonso Retreat House in West Long Branch back in the 70's and early 80's. Jim Maloney is a retired educator who resided in the Villa Park area. He and his brother, the late Bill Maloney, were annual visitors to San Alphonso. We sent the largest contingent to the retreat from St. Anthony Parish during my pre-Monsignor Gervasio years. Jim's lovely wife Helen was also one of the movers and shakers in the St. Anthony Grammar School PTA as our kids were growing up in the 60's.. We worked hard, and were always there to raise funds for the school. We were also quite adept at mopping and waxing floors, picking up after our parties and....I could go on.
Great to hear from you, Jim. The best from Judy and me.

Jim Maloney writes:

Loved the site and I'll be back, you can count on that. A postscript on Moses School. The school sat opposite the intersection of Pierce Avenue and Park. However, the school grounds extended from the middle of the block between Centennial and Pierce all the way up to the alley opposite New Jersey and Park. Keep up the wonderful work, Tom. And yes I miss those wonderful retreat weekends I took with my late brother Bill. Always enjoyed talking to you.

Jim

1931: James Moses School, Villa Park

Once upon a time, Villa Park area school children went to the James Moses School on Park Avenue near the intersection of Hamilton. In fact, and if memory serves me, it was located just a bit opposite the intersection of New Jersey and Park Avenues. I'm sure a visitor from the area can either confirm or deny the accuracy of my memory.

1896: VILLA PARK JAMES MOSES SCHOOL

I REMEMBER THIS OLD SCHOOL WHEN I WAS A BOY. IT WAS ON PARK AVENUE, NOT TOO FAR FROM MY BARBER AT THE TIME, TONY (AND CARL) AMATO. IT WAS REALLY A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE.

1935: JAMES MOSES SCHOOL - VILLA PARK

What a great photo of a young group of Moses classmates entering an old school with clapboard siding! I only remember the Moses School as being made of brick. Does any old timer from the Villa Park - Park Avenue are know anything about the school building shown in the graphic?

1940: The Late, Lamented James Moses School

Only old time area residents will remember the old James Moses School which was once located on Park Avenue in the Villa Park area. My cousin was a studet there back in the 1930's.

1940: Moses School, Villa Park

This charming scene shows the Kindergarten children at the James Moses School on the "Main Street" in their little town. Paul Ashmore and his brother Hugh were also at Kuser School back in the 1940's. Hugh and I played waifs in Dickens' "Christmas Carol."