1800's - 1900's:SEGREGATED TRENTON SCHOOLS

The history of the African-American community is and has been one of the subjects that has some very interesting historic facts. One of those subjects relates to the segregation of the African-American population not only nationwide, but locally here in the Trenton area. I have been researching material on local schools for a presentation for the Hamilton Township Historical Society which I will be making in the fall of this year. Along with such intriguing names as Friendship School, Edgebrook, etc. there are the schools which were set aside for the black children who lived in Trenton at the time. Thus far, I have found that there was a segregated school for the "colored" in the mid 1850's on Trenton's Hanover Street. Bellevue Avenue was originally known as Higbee Street. The teacher's log book shown above was from the time when the "Bellevue Avenue Public School" was located there. It is believed that this school was not a school for black students. The Lincoln School, then the Nixon School succeeded it and were schools for black children. Note that this is SPECULATION on my part, and subject to correction if someone should have information that will further enlighten those who are interested in researching the subject. 

 RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HEY MIKE, THIS IS RALPH, LETTING YOU KNOW I,M STILL AROUND. I'M GONNA BE 95 YEARS OLD IN AUGUST AND LIVING UP IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA. IT'S A CRIME THAT MY BROTHER CHUCK PASSED AWAY SO YOUNG OR ELSE HE WOULD HAVE GONE ON TO BE SOME DOCTOR. BASEBALL WAS THE BIG THING IN BOTH OUR LIVES UNTIL THINGS CHANGED ALL THAT. I OFTEN RECALL THE HAMILTON BOWLING LANES ON ROUTE 33 IN 1954 AND WHAT MY BROTHER LOU AND I DID WE WENT OUT TO INDIANAPOLIS IN 1948 TO SEE CHUCK HELP WIN THE AMERICAN LEGION WORLD SERIES. MAY GOD BLESS HIM AND MAY HE REST IN PEACE .

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

 

 Anonymous said...

Ralphie:

Glad to hear from you, and learn you are still with us.

Chuck was 2 years ahead of me in school, and I knew him as a super nice, and very accomplished guy.
I was in Jr. 4 when the Schroths won the championship. Ronnie Holford, Andy Greener and Gino Silvestro as I recall were his teamates. They too were friends of mine. I also knew his wife, and her twin sister.
All great people in a far better time of our country.
Where are you in No. Carolina. I'm in Virginia, about a half hour from the State line with NC.

Be well, and Cent Anni.

Mike Kuzma

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

 

LOCAL SCHOOLS IN THE 19TH CENTURY

 This is another in a series of subjects of great interest to many visitors to this website, incorporating many of the files to be found in the "SCHOOLS-MISCELLANEOUS" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection. As time permits, I will be editing the posts to remove duplications, and adding commentary to each post.

Many, including I, consider Dr. Skelton the father of Trenton education

Unfortunately, there are no engravings or photos of these early South Trenton 

schools to be found. It would really be interesting to find one or two.It would appear

that the Principal resided on the top floor of the building.

 

1873: Trying to solve the problem of the lack of space for those wishing to attend school in Trenton.

Centennial School on Whittaker Avenue in Chambersburg

As can be seen by the test questions which appeared

on the Principal qualification test, one had to be well versed in 

geography and history. Arithmetic would probably be 

an impossible challenge!

The embryonic origin of today's Rider Universty,

 

Students were to be promoted based the rewarding of  "special merit." The

terms were really detailed. Things have changed drastically over the intervening years.

The above "Class Record" was given to me by Mrs. Carl Abbott, wife of Hamilton

Township retired teacher and friend of the Hamilton Library, the late Carl Abbott.

Whittaker Avenue in Trenton 

A fascinating look at Trenton school operations during the Victorian era when a single
"mechanic" oversaw the schools in the city..

Centennial School

 

  

Once located in Villa Park on Park Avenue near Hamilton Avenue

 

The original Trenton High School was located on Mercer Street in Mill Hill. When the Chestnut Avenue high school was constructed, it was converted to the McKinley School.

Fascinating look at Trenton schools during the 19th century.