1949: THE VERY FAMILIAR PERRY "STREET TERMINAL;"

Trenton lost a gorgeous architectural treasure when the disastrous mid 1950's fire destroyed the original cathedral. That beautiful spire which house MANY tons of melodic bells was a sight to behold. Did you know that those huge bells, held in place by huge oak beams each were tuned to a musical key? I am currently researching the story of that steeple and those bells and will ultimately post the story. Incidentally, the house maid who died in that fire was a close friend of my Mother in Law, Elizabeth Russell Britton.

1947: PERRY STREET AT CATHEDRAL

This great photo brings out the true beauty of that beautiful building on the corner of North Warren and Bank Street in Trenton. the corner of St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral can

be seen in the far left of the photo. I remember that clock billboard from you younger years.

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, I walked past that building every day, as I headed into town on my lunch hour. The Public Service Electric, Engineering Dept, Line Dept., and Storeroom, were just North on Warren St. Forgot what it housed, but I can just make out St. Mary's Convent, at the very top on either side of the cross.
There are some spectacular photos of that billboard, with the clock. Check these Item numbers on the Duke web site, Brock's Garage, 4807, and 4808. Ties in with the 1939 World's Fair in N.Y. Also, H0882 and H0883, pg 33 & 42, Best Buiick Yet, 1941. rayfromvillapark

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Anonymous said...

And just a few years later that church and rectory would be consumed in a horrible fire. We watched some of it from the area by the bus terminal and as a kid I nightmares for a few year after seeing that.

Ed Millerick

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Anonymous said...

Tom:
Behind the Convent on the corner was the Cathedral Gym, where we held our troop 35 Boy Scout meetings. Tom McGann was the scoutmaster, George Swangler the Assistant Scout master.
The Tall brick building in the background was the Manning "Mayfloer" moving and storage warehouse.
The tragic fire took place in March of 1956, It happened the day I left for Northern California to start a bew career,
Monsignor Crean died in that fire, and they honored him by naming a Knights of Columbus Chapter after him.

There was a couple of frame commercial buildings this side of the Maxwell billboard. One was a resturant, and the other a radio repair shop as I recall.
Directly across the street from the billboard was The Episcopal Cememtary, than heading back to Broad St. was the Ave Mariea Shop, next to Frank Robbin's bakery where his "Snowflake" rolls were legendary..

Great stories, thanks to you.

Mike Kuzma

Friday, July 06, 2012

1928: Msgr. John Fox Obit - 80 Decembers ago

This is one of the very popular clergymen who have made a mark in the History of the Diocese of Trenton. Msgr. Fox performed the wedding ceremony on my wife Judy's mother and father back in the early 20's, as well as many other families who attended St. Mary's Cathedral during his time as Pastor.

1946: St. Mary's Cathedral 75th Anniversary

The "St. Mary's" Folder in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection has a few stories from the 1800's and early 1900's relating to the very earliest years of St. Mary's Cathedral. Did you know that the original church bells, weighing many tons, were each named for a Saint?

1956: ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL ARSON

I was in the U.S. Army over in Italy when the horrible fire at St. Mary's Cathedral occurred. My mother-in-law's best friend was the housekeeper. She perished in the fire.

1869: IRONIC! St. Mary's Cathedral

"....if not destroyed by fire..."

This article was written with the intention of observing the fact that many churches are built with construction features which will render them good for hundreds of years. How ironic that the beautiful original St. Mary's was burned by that animal back in the 1950's. Does anyone doubt that there is ever-present evil in this world we live in?