1945: HEY, THERE'S A KUZMA!

Fleetwings? When was the last time you heard that name? They were located across the river in Bristol and many locals including my neighbor Gordy Soffel had a job there during WWII. Mike Kuzma, is this a relative? And Ralph Lucarella, you probably know all these players.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....YOU'RE RIGHT, I KNEW ALL THOSE PLAYERS AND I KNEW CHET WELL. I DIDN'T PLAY IN THE INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE CAUSE I WAS OUT OF WORK AT THE TIME AND IN 1945 I WAS IN THE NAVY. WHEN I GOT BACK I PLAYED WITH THE POST OFFICE TEAM. DURING THAT TIME MOST PLAYERS PLAYED IN ALL THE LEAGUES IN THE CITY WITH THE CJ LEAGUE BEING SEMI-PRO. REGARDS.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 THIS FROM MIKE KUZMA: Hi Tom: Yes, Chet was a cousin,and ironically, I learned not too very long ago, that his Dad Pete, who was famous in the Trenton area for his pigeon racing prowess was raised by my grandmother, and assumed the Kuzma name when very young. Like many immigrants in the late 1800's, orphans, or children who migrated to the USA merged with families known to thier parents in the old country. In all the years, we always considered them as cousins, and still do till this day. Chet of course was one of Trenton's many outstanding atletes, but an equally nice guy. I never hesitated to brag about him. As an aside, back in the early 40's, there was an all American Michigan State Football player named Tom Kuzma who hailed from Gart Indiana. You can imagine my bragging about cousin Chet, and wow "Cousin Tom" the All American. In the late 1990's, while visiting Florida, I checked the phone book for "Kuzma's", found a Tom Kuzma, and was shocked to find out he lived in the same complex. Called his number, and met with his wife, who advised me that Tom had passed away a few weeks before my phone call. Mrs. Kuzma was kind enough to gather up some family papers, an send them to me. How shocked I was to learn, that this Kuzma clan came from the same area as us Kuzma's. More shocking though, I learned that Toms' dad had the same first name as my dad, and his mother had the same sur name as my mother!!!. You and your columns, have added so much to the history which we all seek. Thanks for the effort. Sincerely Mike Kuzma

2008: Re: Alan Wildblood, Mike Kuzma, Bill Barber

Thanks to Bill Barber for this email relating to the First Baptist Church, also referring to Alan Wildblood's First Baptist Church (Centre Street, Trenton) posts. Mike Kuzma, Bill sends his regards to you. Unfortunately, most of the guest book comments come in without the sender including his or her email address in the text of his/her message, so I resort to posting as below:

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Bill Wrote:

The new post of the First Baptist Church from Alan Wildblood is great. The great steeple was torn from the church by hurricane Diane (I think) in 1951. It crashed through the roof of the main sanctuary causing total demolition of the interior. A Rebuilding committee was named and Col. Herman L Mack was chairman. Two years later we had a grand re-dedication service.
Uncle Mack (as we called him) was married to Anna, sister of my Mother Mildred Hartman, Harry, Norman, Edgar and Marion. The Hartmans ran the produce store on No. Broad St. near the battle moment. Love your site hi to Mike Kuzama

Bill

2008: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, MIKE

Mike Kuzma is a regular visitor to my website. The interesting message reprinted below was entered in my guestbook and I wanted to post it in case any visitor can come up with further information on the gentleman who was the victim of the St. Anthony High School wall collapse back in the 60's. I also found Mike's reference to his Uncle Vic of Hamilton's late, great Vic Rice Driving Range on South Broad Street. I would like to have a photo of that huge golf range where Don Slabicki and I spent a number of bucks driving balls out into the arc-lit field, trying to hit the guy driving that little go cart that picked up the balls. Thanks for being a reader of my column in the Times, Mike, and thanks for the memories you sent in the message below. Always a pleasure to hear from you. As to Harry Hartman.....another name I had forgotten about until you mentioned it.

MIKE WROTE:

Tom:

As always, I enjoyed going back in time with you to a better time in
life; the 50's! My mind keeps going back to the "DeCou" carnival on the
site of Uncle Vic Rice's driving range. The bands were out of sight. As
a kid with my dad, we used to make regular stops at Sheriff Harry
Hartman's Slaughter house, where his brother John Hartman ran things.
I noticed a mention of McCorristan in one of the other posts.
I'm trying to remember the name of the popular Insurance (man) who died when
the foundation walls collapsed while the high school was being built.
Keep up the great columns, they are my only life line to the good old
days in the Trenton area.

Mike