LEON AND THIRZA MCGALLIARD HOME, WHITE HORSE

We are indebted to Mr. David McGalliard of Cheshire, CT for sharing many photos and artifacts relating to one of Hamilton Township's most prominent and historic families. Thirza (Sterling) McGalliard was the Principal of Homedell School for many years. The photo above is a "GOOGLE EARTH" view of the home as it is today, on the corner of White Horse Mercerville Road and Exton Avenue.

1906: The McGalliard Homestead 260 White Horse Avenue

This exquisite photo of the McGalliard homestead is from Mrs. Eleanor Rogers who donated it to the Local History Collection a number of years ago. A closeup zoom will show the beautiful shaded front area which pretty much obscures the view of the home.

Thanks to Dave and Glenn Rogers for family information on the McGalliard family. File this under "Little Known White Horse History:" I know White Horse is named after a legend that George Washington passed through the hamlet on a white horse, and thus the name. An appropriate name could have been "McGalliardville" due to the incredible history this family has and had over the years in the area of Hamilton we know of as White Horse. Here's a vignette of graphics showing the business of William McGalliard and his son as they supplied water to the surrounding suburban neighborhoods. The article on the left is from the Hamilton Library digital files and tells of W.V.'s failed attempt to draw artesian well water from the many springs in the Hamilton area and supply it to the city of Trenton.

JoeB said...

Tom:
I live on E. McGalliard Avenue moved here in 1957. At the time the road was gravel. A few years later the road was repaved. During the repaving they discovered wooden pipes under the road. At that time I was told that the pipes were from the water towers from the McGalliard Estate. This article confirms the fact, I never saw pictures of the towers. I was also told that East McGalliard was the drive to the McGalliard Estate. Originally was lined with Maple and Pine trees, driving down the street was like driving through a tunnel.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

1987: WILLIAM V. MCGALLIARD: DICK JOHNSON REMEMBERS

If General George Washington hadn't rode through the hamlet of White Horse way back in the 1700's, giving the village the name White Horse, chances are we would be calling that Hamilton area McGalliardville. Here's an article I wrote many years ago retelling the events surrounding the 75th birthday of Will McGalliard. I have inserted a clearer photo of the McGalliard log cabin at the bottom of the article. You are looking at the property across White Horse-Mercerville Road* with McGalliard Avenue on the left. It is reminiscences such as that from Mr. Dick Johnson that add so much to the historic background of Hamilton. Unfortunately, too few people take the time to share their experiences.

*Thanks to an anonymous visitor for correcting the above address. I erroneously placed the location as White Horse-Hamilton Square Road.
(Another of my senior moments.)
December 4. 2014: Thanks to Ms. Eleanor Guear for noting that the above graphic was missing and is not back where it was posted originally.

1914: W.V. MCGALLIARD INVOICE

Before Hamilton High School opened in 1930, Hamilton Township depended on representatives from the various communities to transport children to Trenton High School which was then located on Hamilton and Chestnut Avenues in Trenton. The above invoice to the Hamilton Board of Education is for transporting Alice, whom I presume was his daughter.

1922: HOMEDELL SCHOOL'S THIRZA MCGALLIARD

This lady was another educator who, like Emily Reynolds, was a Prussian-type disciplinarian. She was always fair to her students, but woe unto those who would go against the rules of the school. The above letter is very interesting, as Ms. McGalliard offers suggestions on the timing of school exams.

The McGalliard Homestead in White Horse

This photo is an exquisite representation of the McGalliard homestead on White Horse-Mercerville Road from the early 20th century.

1905: The McGalliard Family

It was truly a very painstaking project to restore this faded, brown with age, and very fragile article from 1905 which detailed the Silver Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. David C. McGalliard. With the Christmas holiday approaching, it is only a matter of time that I will receive a request to expand on the historical story of the McGalliard Christmas tree farm. It was supposedly the first Christmas tree farm in America, although I have heard that a New Englander challenged the claim.

MCGALLIARD AND KINGSTON AND KEMP

MANY THANKS TO GARY SZABO FOR THESE TWO GREAT PHOTOS OF THE FORMER MCGALLIARD ESTATE, THE CURRENT HOME OF KINGSTON AND KEMP, WHITE HORSE - MERCERVILLE ROAD IN WHITE HORSE.

THE MCGALLIARD ESTATE, WHITE HORSE

THIS PHOTO WAS FROM MS. ALICE MCGALLIARD BRADY VIA MS. ELEANOR ROGERS, A MEMBER OF THE HAMILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THE BUILDING STILL STANDS AND IS OCCUPIED BY THE KINGSTON AND KEMP FUNERAL HOME ON WHITE HORSE AVENUE (WHITE HORSE-MERCERVILLE ROAD).

Circa 1985: McGalliard Christmas Tree Farm

Here's an interesting story about the first Christmas tree farm in the area....no, make that in America! I have never been able to substantiate that historical statement, but even if it turns out to be untrue, William McGalliard's White Horse Christmas tree farm and the establishment thereof makes for fascinating reading. I would say it is safe to say the the McGalliard Christmas tree farm was the first in the local area.