2016: THANK YOU JACK RAFFERTY!

How time has flown! Were it not for this Hamilton Township legend, there would be no Hamilton Township Public Library LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION. Jack and Mayoral Aide "Mo" Rossi, along with then Hamilton Business Administrator Joe Bellina were kind enough to let me present my case that Hamilton needed a comprehensive local history repository. I had pointed out the fact that the city of Trenton put us to shame with their incredible interest in preserving their local history. Hamilton on the other had had destroyed countless valuable historic material in order to gain storage space. Even today, few in the upper levels of local governments are too busy with every day business to concern themselves with history. Indeed, the only time they realize that there is a need is when they are commemorating an historic anniversary and seek information. Jack is a fellow history buff and especially knowledgeable on the subject of local American Indian lore. In his earlier years, he did archaeological digs seeking Indian relics and came up with an impressive collection which has been on display at the American Indian Museum that he founded at Hamilton's Veterans Park. In today's society, The Hamilton Library website, "Tom Glover's Hamilton" will soon reach one million visitors; not unique visits, but from those who return day by day looking for the latest posts. I will be eternally grateful to former Mayor Jack Rafferty for accepting my proposal to bring local history to those who are interested.

2000: THE RAFFERTY YEARS 1969 - 2000

It was a time of relative prosperity. It was also an era that saw groundswell changes in the character of Hamilton Township. The township we old timers remember was a very rural area surrounded by the villages of Bromley, Mercerville, Hamilton Square Yardville, Groveville, White Horse, and Deutzville. As a "Bromleyite" for well over 60 years, I recall former Mayor Jack Rafferty improving the area with attractive sidewalks and old fashioned street lights. During his administration Mayor Rafferty changed former Mayor Maurice Perilli's "Hamilton Park" into Veterans' Park; a local community treasure. It was during Jack's years that today's Kuser Farm was acquired. Prior to the acquisition, Edna Kuser, who was a registered Democrat, asked former Democratic Mayor Maurice Perilli for advice on how to go about transferring the land to the township for a public park. She agreed with Maury that developers would love to clear the land and develop the 70 acres into a neighborhood of homes. According to Maury, he assured Mrs. Kuser that then Mayor Jack Rafferty was very history minded and an ardent supporter of the Green Acres program. The rest is history. Jack Rafferty will go down in history as the mayor who changed rural Hamilton into the growing megalopolis we have today. The graphic illustrated and describes the Rafferty years quite completely. As a final note, were it not for former Mayor Jack Rafferty, along with then Mayoral Aide "Mo" Rossi and Business Administrator Joe Bellina, there would be no Hamilton Township Local History program. Thanks, Jack; the success of our efforts here at the Hamilton Library in bringing local history to the fore, has been a smashing and ongoing success!

1970'S: HAMILTON SHOWS "SOUL"

I was devastated when word came that Fred and Edna Kuser's Kuser Farm was too much for the aging couple to maintain. My first indication came by a close neighborhood friend, Billy Dilts who at the time was working for Weidel Realtors. I just could not imagine Kuser Farm that the Glover family was so close to over the years being turned into an area full of "McMansions," with their vinyl clad siding and overpopulation. As it turned out, Maury Perilli, way back in earlier years was approached by fellow Democrat Edna Kuser about leaving their beloved home. Subsequently, former Mayor Jack Rafferty, succeeded in purchasing the land for the good of the public. The rest is history. Today we have a well maintained Kuser Farm Park, and even though some of the "outbuildings" are deteriorating, the mansion and grounds are in exquisite condition.

1970: DORIS TRAMONTANA ENGAGED TO JOHN K. RAFFERTY

From the Hamilton Township Public Library Local History "NOTABLE PERSONS" folder, comes this reformatted graphic announcing the engagement of Miss Doris Tramontana to Hamilton Committeeman John K. Rafferty. The "First Couple" of Hamilton Township were a very popular pair among the citizenry of Hamilton during Jack Rafferty's time as Mayor of Hamilton. Back when the Kuser Tennis Court was in pristine condition, Doris and her girl friends spent many happy hours playing tennis on the Kuser clay Court.

1970: JACK: WERE WE EVER THIS YOUNG?

Were it not for Jack Rafferty and his administration, there would be no Hamilton Township Public Library Local History Collection, nor a Hamilton Township Local History website. Thankfully, Jack is interested in local history and along with Jack Lacy, Joe Belina, and Mo Rossi, agreed with me in my desire to bring Hamilton into the 21st century with a viable local history program. A phone call from Jack Lacy on a very pleasant morning in 1992 placed me as an employee and archivist at the Hamilton Township Public Library and I'm still here; hoping to be here until they light a large "100" on my birthday cake! Many thanks, Jack and your very approachable administrative personnel.

1981: RAFFERTY FOR GOVERNOR?

Were it not for this man, there would be no

"TOM GLOVER'S HAMILTON LIBRARY SCRAPBOOK."
Indeed, there would be no Hamilton Township Public Library Local History Collection. Back in the early 1990's, Jack Rafferty, Jack Lacy, Mo Rossi, and Joe Belina agreed with me that Hamilton Township was not capitalizing on its magnificent historical heritage. It was my aim to change that unfortunate reality. Jack Rafferty, unlike many local politicians in high places, had an intense interest in our local history.

1981:FORMER MAYOR JACK RAFFERTY WRITES ABOUT KUSER FARM

In the early 1970's, Mrs. Edna Kuser, contacted former Mayor Maurice "Maury" Perilli, a fellow Democrat and a member of the Hamilton Democratic Organization. Edna and Fred Kuser were getting to the point where they were no longer capable of giving the attention necessary to maintain the property. Mrs Kuser didn't want the property to be turned into a housing development which would be a very negative change for the citizens who lived in close proximity to the farm. Maury referred Mrs Kuser to Mayor Jack Rafferty, and thankfully then Mayor Rafferty lost not time in working with the Green Acres authorities, and purchased the land for the enjoyment of future generations. Jack Rafferty has proved to be an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of local history.

1976: CHANNELIZATION OF POND RUN DURING JACK RAFFERTY'S TENURE AS MAYOR OF HAMILTON

This project was very welcome to those folks who live along Pond Run in the Kuser and Bromley areas of Hamilton Township. I recall back in the 1970's going to our friends the Ken Warner family on Leukel Avenue during the devastating flood that engulfed the area back in the early 70's. Flood damage was in the millions. The water level in the Warner home was up to the top step in the basement doorway in the kitchen. The concrete spillway that was referred to above very effectively solved the Hamilton Pond Run flooding problem and is a feather in the cap of the Rafferty administration for the project.

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Harry said...

The cheaper and environmentally-healthier solution is to not build houses, offices, stores and so forth in areas that would be better left to their natural state. Over-development or poorly-planned development costs taxpayers millions. Look at South Trenton. Houses probably shouldn't ever have been put there. Now, those poor folks are also having to deal with frequent flooding because too much concrete in North Jersey doesn't allow rainwater to properly soak into the ground.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

VERY TRUE, HARRY. SOME PEOPLE JUST LIKE TO LIVE AS CLOSE TO WATER AS POSSIBLE....WHETHER THE OCEAN, A LAKE, A POND, OR A STREAM. MOTHER NATURE IS IRRELEVANT UNTIL TRAGEDY STRIKES. 

TOM GLOVER

1986: NOTTINGHAM WAY AND CRESCENT AVENUE

This photo was lifted from the 1986 Hamilton Township map which Hamilton citizens receive each year. Former Mayor Jack Rafferty and his team had a very avid interest in local history. Jack Rafferty is an expert on Pre-Columbian artifacts, and has acquired countless relics from the former inhabitants of the area down by the Hamilton marshes, also known as the area which was formerly the Conrad Abbott estate. Were it not for Jack Rafferty, there would be no "Local History Collection" at the Hamilton Library. Were it not for former Councilman and friend Jack Lacy, there would be no Tom Glover connection with the Hamilton Township Public Library. It was Jack Lacy who spoke with the powers that be back in the early 90's to add me to the Hamilton Library staff.

1978: A CHRISTMAS GREETING FROM THE JACK RAFFERTY FAMILY

Herewith a Christmas greeting from former Hamilton Mayor Jack Rafferty's family as it appeared in the late, great, Mercer Messenger 30 years ago. Along with the acquisition of Kuser Farm, Sayen Gardens, and other historic endeavors, the Rafferty administration was responsible for the establishment of our Hamilton Local History Collection. Fortunately for we citizens, Jack Rafferty and his administration had an intense interest in local history. Many years ago, I approached Mayor Rafferty with the concept of a beginning a Local History Collection. Jack, along with Business Administrator Joe Belina, and Mayoral Aide Mo Rossi were much interested in beginning to collect, restore, and preserve Hamilton's magnificent historical heritage.

1980: HIZZONER JACK RAFFERTY BEGINS HIS 2nd TERM

Here are Jack Rafferty with his lovely wife, Doris at his side, as Jack is sworn in by Judge Kelly to he begin another term as mayor of Hamilton Township. It seems like only yesterday. ...miss 'ya, Jack.

1977: Farewell to the old Colonial Fire Dept.

As a neighbor who grew up in the shadow of that old firehouse on Liberty Street and Newkirk Avenue, I must admit that I was disappointed when I learned that the old building was to be vacated by the fire company and re-located to the Lenhardt Farm on Kuser Road, where they built a beautiful and much larger facility. Nevertheless, memories of my very short Colonial volunteer year coupled with a few Kuser School class visits to the venerable old fire company, can still kindle melancholy memories. As we all know, the senior center featured above was moved to the Baron A.C.facility on Cypress Lane in Hamilton, following a mini scandal which resulted in the Baron losing their property. Colonial's old building is now very well maintained and quite attractive as the home of John Scarpati's Mercer County Italian American Festival Association.

1977: Mayor Rafferty on the Expansion of the Hamilton Sewage Facility

Brrrr! It even looks Arctic tundra cold in the photo above as Mayor Jack Rafferty pretends to break frozen ground with the township's ceremonial shovel.

1977: Once Upon a Time in Financially Secure Hamilton...

Many of the persons, places, and things of the past can have an impact on the persons, places, and things, of today. This letter, which Jack Rafferty submitted to the late, great Mercer Messenger give an insight to the financial situation as it was in Hamilton 38 years ago, soon to be 39.

1986: Hizzoner Assemblyman and Mayor Jack Rafferty

I remember when Jack served as Mayor and Assemblyman back in the mid-1980's. This graphic from the late Hamilton Observer was re-constructed in order to get the entire article on the page. Trying to re-format a newspaper column of this size is a real challenge.

1974: MAKE WAY FOR JACK RAFFERTY!

Here's an interesting political article which was written at a time when former Mayor Jack Rafferty was fighting Democratic partisanship while he was the lone Republican in an administration ruled by the Democrats. The photo of Jack Rafferty was imported from another article in the "POLITICS, HAMILTON) folder in the Hamilton Township Public Library's Local History Collection.

1978: The "Rafferty" of the "Rafferty Team"

It took a few extra minutes to combine this photo of Jack into this article on the Hamilton budget as it was unveiled back in 1978.

Jack: Were we ever this young?

1987: THE RAFFERTY TEAM SWEEPS

They were in slower and seemingly more innocent years, the political climate in Hamilton was just as fierce as it is in this segment of the 1st century. Here's an interesting article on the 1987 election that swept the "Rafferty Gang" into office.

1987: SWEARING IN NEW POLICE OFFICERS

HERE WE SEE THE INDUCTION OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF "HAMILTON'S FINEST." AS I RECALL, OFFICER LISA GEMMEL WAS THE FIRST FEMALE OFFICER ON THE FORCE.

1988: THOSE WERE THE DAYS, MY FRIEND, WE THOUGHT THEY'D NEVER END.."

FROM THE JACK LACY MERCER MESSENGER COLLECTION, THIS VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE ON AN ERA WHEN HAMILTON HAD AHHH...... FINANCIAL MEANS! WHO SAID THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "THE GOOD OLD DAYS?"

I RECEIVED THIS EMAIL FROM JACK LACY, A COUNCILMAN DURING THE JACK RAFFERTY YEARS:

Tom...

Sad isn't it. Everything listed in that article except for the amphitheater was accomplished...on time and within budget !! The state grant never came through or we would have done the amphitheater, too. Oh well...so much for sound fiscal management.

Best...

Jack