1849: ANDREW QUINTIN'S WASHINGTON RETREAT

Once again, an incredibly interesting graphic has been assembled to bring back just a bit of the essence of the Mill Hill of the mid 19th century. My unbridled interest in this historic area of Trenton knows no bounds. Looking at that photo of Mr. Quintin's Washington Retreat, one can easily imagine a warm summer evening as well dressed ladies and gentlemen venture to this romantic spot for an ice cream treat and a relaxing evening of listening to the music of the "Trenton Brass Band." No "Hip Hop," "Rap" or noisy "Rock" here; just plain beautifully melodic music that is right at home in such a bucolic environment.

1849: MILL HILL WAY BACK IN TIME

Here's Mill Hill, 1849; the year of the California gold rush. This incredible Trenton neighborhood has a splendid historical heritage. Back in the early 19th century, hotels, blacksmith shops and numerous other merchants made up a very attractive community which has succeeded even today to maintain some of the charm it had in years past.

1915: MILL HILL-STEEPED IN HISTORIC TRADITION

There are over 200 JPEG and PDF files in my "MILL HILL" folder that I am adding to as other material comes into view. From the incredible story of Quintin's "Washington's Retreat" to the old cobblestones on Livingston Avenue, Mill hill has an historic heritage that is every bit as fascinating as any other neighborhood in the area.

1905: THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SACRED HEART PARISH, 1905

My dear wife Judy and I spent many happy years as a parishioner at Sacred Church in the Mill Hill section of Trenton. Indeed, there are nearly 450 various photos and news articles which relate to that wonderful old Trenton church. Sacred Heart parish (not church) is the oldest parish in the state of N.J. Additionally, the Mill Hill area in which Sacred Heart is located is also of special interest to me. There are over 200 files relating to that historic Trenton neighborhood,.

2014: IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN FOR HILTONIA HOUSE TOURS!

 

 

 

This fascinating and historic neighborhood is once again inviting the public to the annual Hiltonia House Tours where vestiges of the Trenton that was, and still can be will be presented to those area residents who love the flavor of a vital and historic community which managed to escape the proliferation of neighborhood deterioration. Residents of Hiltonia, like beautiful Mill Hill, exhibit pride in their neighborhoods.

1989: BIRDS' EYE VIEW OF MILL HILL

Lacking the ability to intelligently place the camera man's position in this photo, I am going to take a huge leap of faith and assume it is a photo of Mill Hill from the area of the Assanpink Creek looking toward South Broad Street. My perception tells me that the familiar twin spires of Sacred Heart Church at S. Broad and Centre Street to the far right where I believe I see the steeple of the German Lutheran Church, and the street to the extreme right appears to be Livingston Avenue. Please correct me if I am in error.

1823: ARTHUR COREY'S MILL HILL MUSTARD MANUFACTURING FACTORY

Mill Hill: To me, the most historic area of Trenton. I have been giving special emphasis on this historic area of Trenton, and my research thus far has shed little known light on the area as it was way back when. My interest was drawn to the neighborhood back in the 1970's when former Mayor Art Holland, who in my personal opinion, was one of Trenton's best Mayors. He and his lovely wife Betty took up residence in that neighborhood which was to ultimately develop into the very charming community we see today. That gutsy move by the Hollands was a courageous move to dispel the myth that Mill Hill which at the time, had a reputation of being a undesirable neighborhood. Art saw the potential of the neighborhood and gave credibility to many that the neighborhood would ultimately become a very attractive area in which to live. He was right. Walking or driving down those narrow streets always reminds me of Philadelphia's "Olde City."

1849: THIS WAS MILL HILL

Mill Hill! For me one of the more intriguing and incredibly historic areas of Trenton. Mahlon Stacy, the old paper mill that was once on the banks of the Assanpink, the Whittaker Farm, the famed Revolutionary War battle that took place before George Washington quietly marched off to Princeton, and countless other fascinating and historic items I am finding day by day about this wonderful community. Close inspection of this map will show Quintin's "Washington Retreat" at the foot of Jackson Street, Taylor Street which is today's Greenwood Avenue, and Harrison Street which became an extension of Jackson Street. Note that Broad Street is skewed due to the fact that the page on which this map was printed was repaired and the two Broad Street sections are skewed.

1915: MILL HILL'S "GREEN-MAR" SHOPPING CENTER

 In an effort to gain some of the downtown Trenton business back in 1915, merchants established a section called "Green-Mar" Greenwood and Market Street. Below are a few of the participating merchants.

Mike Kuzma wrote:

Tom:
What memories. Sharlin Electric was a mainstay in this even when I made my first Communion at Sadred Heart church across the street in 1941. I think Chippy Ross the lawyers' family took over the spot when Sharlin moved "uptown". Fred ran his father's speedometer shop in Conover's Alley behind this row of stores after he came home from WWII. It was a necessary stop prior to selling your car in those days.
Regards

Mike Kuzma

1837 and 1847: JOHN WHITTAKER'S GENERAL STORE

It is quite difficult for a 2013 person to understand how rural the Mill Hill area was back in the early to mid 19th century. Mill Hill holds a special fascination for me, and I am building a respectable digital library of persons, places and things in that wonderful area of Trenton. John Whittaker was a very substantial land owner back in the years before Mill Hill became more fully settled. He operated a general store on the South Broad and Market Streets opposite to the Mercer County Court House. Below  the offer for SPRING GOODS is an unused scrip from Whittaker's store, valued at $1.00 for redemption. Fascinating Mill Hill history!

TRENTON'S HISTORIC MILL HILL

 

There are MANY really informative files in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection in the "MILL HILL" folder. I always liken the small neighborhood to Philadelphia's "Old Town." This beautiful neighborhood has always fascinated me. Each week as I journey to Sacred Heart Church via Market Street, for just a block or two, Trenton as it was in early years comes into clear focus, even though the more recent buildings lend a suggestion of the original Mill Hill. The neighborhood is an incredible area historically. Washington's Retreat is an historic treasure. As I have opined many times over the years, one of the best sources of history lies within the pages of our newspapers. One of the folders I have relied on for valuable information is the "REMINISCENCES" folder wherein articles such as those above are retold by old time residents of the area. As can be seen in the Bill Dwyer extract above, he too saw the value of picking the brains of we "old timers." John Cleary's articles, Elma Lawson, and other historical sources from the past are a treasure trove of local history that seldom sees the light of day.

1911: THE TRENTON HAY MARKET - MILL HILL

I really didn't know in which folder to post this digital file, so I saved it in the "TRENTON VIEWS," AND "MILL HILL" folders, respectively. Up until I discovered this article, I had never heard of Mr. Reed's Trenton Hay Market. Fascinating history!.

1884: ANDREW QUINTIN TELLS OF OLD RAILROAD YEARS

This fascinating article from the Daily State Gazette is an excellent retrospective look at the local railroad situation back in the early part of the 19th century. FIVE HOURS to Philadelphia! Mr. Quintin and the Quintin family played a very important part in local history. It was Andrew Quintin who established "Washington Retreat" at the foot of
Livingston Street in Mill Hill.

1940: SOUTH BROAD AND LIVINGSTON ST.

There are familiar commercial names in this Mill Hill photo. Watkins, and in the distance the J.B. Van Sciver "castle," as we kids called it.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

THE KIDS CALLED VAN SCIVERS A CASTLE BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL STONE WORK. MY FRIENDS' FATHER WAS ONE OF THE MASONS WHO WORKED ON THE COSTRUCTION.

Friday, March 09, 2012

MILL HILL'S DOWLING HOTEL, SO. BROAD STREET

I am looking for more definitive information on the exact location of the Dowling Hotel on South Broad Street in the Mill Hill area. The old hostelry was a popular venue back in the 19th century. Pay particular attention to the 1896 article which tells of the early immigrants to the area.
I have just uncovered an additional Dowling Hotel article (outlined in blue above.)

Anthony said...
Tom: I want to say the old Dowling was on the corner of Livingston and Broad.
Friday, January 20, 2012

Tom Glover said...
MANY THANKS, ANTHONY! MY VISITORS ARE VERY INFORMED!

Friday, January 20, 2012

1915 AND 1924: A MILL HILL'S "GREEN-MAR" SHOPPING CENTER

In 1915, years before the city of Trenton engaged in "Urban Renewal,"merchants in the area of Mill Hill along South Broad and Market Streets embarked on a publicity program to bring shoppers from center city to their thriving businesses. To we "old timers" there are many very familiar old merchant names in the vignette above.

1914: MILL HILL'S NATIONAL HOTEL

Not to be confused with the National Hotel that was once located on West Hanover Street between No. Broad and Warren Streets, the Mill Hill National Hotel was located on a spot presently occupied by the Mercer County Court House. The "MILL HILL" digital folder is growing like the proverbial "Topsy." with nearly 100 PDF and JPG files.

MILL HILL UND-DATED TIMES NEWS PHOTO

These two young boys are enjoying a summertime respite that was shared by many of my contemporaries back in the 30', 40, and 50's. What fun it was to get out in the pouring rain and take one of Mother Nature's cooling and refreshing summer showers. Did you ever experience the fun of floating a home made boat in the puddles along the side of the road as the rain poured down? No? You had to be there to understand the thrill!

Clay Street? Ask any old time resident how Clay Street was involved with the re-alignment of Greenwood Avenue back in the 1940's when the Trenton Freeway cut through numerous area neighborhoods. Greenwood Avenue once continued from South Clinton Avenue to South Broad Street.

Anonymous said...

Tom. that was a hot topic in a course I took. The impact of the Trenton Freeway for one and how it divided neighbors, made it harder for workers who walked and such.

I was looking at Cherry and Plum Streets the other day and how they were divided.

Ed Millerick

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Anonymous said...

Tom:

Growing up in South Trenton, and attending Sacred Heart, I certainly do remember Clay St.
Clay Street houses were primarily frame, whereas most of the remainder of "Mill Hill" was of solid brick construction.
I can remember as a kid, cutting through Greenwood Ave,on my daily WALK to TCHS right through to South Clinton Ave. There was a huge coal yard there. On Clay St. was a small Amoco station owned by the Gambino's who went on to own the yellow cab company.
When I proposed the first residential rehabilitation projdect in NJ, it was the Mercer-Jackson project that was bounded by Livingston St. South Montgomery, and included both Mercer, and Jackson Streets and bounded by the north side of Market. Due to it's overwhelming success, it sprawled over Market St. and became known as "Old Mill Hill" As a City Planner in the early 1960's, I saw the wisdom of the man made barrier known as the "Rt. 1 Freeway" Much like the City of Seattle, where I-5 and it;s 12 lanes sever the highly successful all commercial downtown from the heavily urbanized residential neighborhood. No one out there dare steal a pocket book and try to cross thos 12 lanes to get back to their crew in the neighborhood! Sometime we can't see the forest for the Trees.
BTW, half way down Greenwood Ave. between Jackson and Mercer Sts. was St. Paul's Lutheran Church. After mass at Sacred Heart, I would walk over and sit in on Sunday School which always had great treats for those good little Angles! LOL

Best regards

Mike Kuzma

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Interesting, Mike. I am accumulating many very interesting articles on Mill Hill. It is an area in which I am really interested. Some of the material goes back to the very earliest years of Trenton. I find Quintin's "Washington Retreat" completely fascinating. You can view one of my posts relating to that site by searching on the "SEARCH" line on my home page.

Tom Glover

About Clay Street picture.
John & Robert were before me but i knew their families well. Picture looks like late 1930s.
About 12 homes on Clay Street were torn down to make way for the freeway. Lewis Street was also cut off at the same time with homes torn down also.I remember walking across the RR bridge on my way to THS before it was closed. Clay Street was a grand old neighborhood.
Noel Goeke

Thank you, Noel. I was thinking of you when I posted this and was expecting your expertise on the neighborhood.

Tom

1843l HENRY McCALL'S PAPER MILL ON THE ASSANPINK

It is very difficult to imagine that huge 3 story building being along the Assanpink in today's Mill Hill section. The very interesting caption to this very old extract is from the early 20th century when they had not perfected offset printing. The original is really very washed out. Photoshop enhancements improved the picture, but like most photos from the early years, it was difficult to see details.

1930: MILL HILL'S NEW HOTEL MERCER

I wonder what it was 81 years ago when Trenton was in the throes of the Great Depression, but was still a vibrant capital city where drive-by shootings and gang warfare were unheard of. The "BING" graphic gives the general location of the Hotel Mercer. As can be seen in the accompanying article from the Trenton Times, it was identified as being at 196 - 200 South Broad Street; an area which has since been developed.