1927: A VERY PLEASANT "DRIVE BY"

Google Earth has opened a whole new world for those of us who are interested in travelling to locations referred to in old newspaper articles. Such is the case with the graphic herewith that shows the wonderful beautification effort completed by Mrs. Martha Hunt of 104 Spring Street in Trenton. I have modified the Google Earth view and removed the text which was overprinted on the street view. As you can see, 104 Spring Street is much the same as it was structurally, but those charming window shutters are no more, and the wooded gateway to the alley has been replaced by a chain link fence and gate. I really love those sloping Mansard roofs that were so much in evidence in earlier years. 

1923:PLAN TO WIDEN EAST STATE STREET AT BROAD

You will notice a recent but slight drop off in the number of posts over the past few days. The reason being that "Local History" takes precedence over easy to post camera ready photos. The above graphic took quite some time to be refitted into rectangular form; cutting the continuation article from page 3, adding it to page 1, slicing up the completed text into one continuous column, dividing by 3 and inserting the graphic. Confusing? Perhaps, but with Photoshop software, "a piece of cake" which takes a bit longer to bake. As to the article and graphic: Trenton streets were laid out all the way back to Colonial times when residents never dreamed there would be any conveyances wider than a horse drawn freight wagon. Over the years as Trenton grew, the narrow streets were accepted as normal, and buildings crowded the narrow streets. I often thought how nice it would have been had we been able to follow the parking situation as seen in many mid western towns and had the ability to utilize 45 degree parking.

1922: BOOST SOUTH WARREN STREET

 

 

We have been reading quite a lot about the wonderful effort being made to revitalize Trenton's South Warren Street area. It took quite a bit of time to digitize these three pages from the 1922 "BOOST SOUTH WARREN STREET' feature which was published by the THE STATE GAZETTE. The city of Trenton has, and is currently going through very painful times socially, economically, and politically. Thankfully there are folks like those citizens who have faith in the future of the city and have succeeded in revitalizing the historic neighborhood in today's South Warren Street; may God assist in their efforts.

1844: "THE COTTAGES;" E. STATE STREET

I am presently working on the Local History Collection's "STREETS-ROADS-HIGHWAYS" folder and have created a new folder entitled, "THE COTTAGES" which once graced E. State Street beyond the Canal. The above graphic has an engraving showing "The Cottages;" a row of homes between today's Trenton Freeway (Former Canal) and the intersection of South and North Clinton Avenues. This engraving also shows the locks at the canal. The lower engraving is from Barber and Howe's 1844 history of New Jersey.

1831: HAMILTON SQUARE RECEIVES HOUSE NUMBERS

Even though this article deals with events in Hamilton government those 80 years ago, it is interesting to note that the township decided to give street numbers to the homes in Hamilton Square. Commercial delivery establishments were having difficulty locating recipients with addresses merely reading "Hamilton Square."

1935: THE TRENTON FREEWAY AS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

I was only 2 years old when this event from the "STREETS-ROADS-HIGHWAYS" folder took place: The city of Trenton was in the early stages of planning the construction of a highway through the city of Trenton where the canal had flowed for years. We have come to know that highway as the "Trenton Freeway." Prior to the actual construction of the freeway, there was a suggestion that the freeway pass across East State Street and the Canal at a railroad crossing. As we all know, the road was tunneled under E. State Street and other cross streets. Notice the railroad crossing gates which were in place during the 1930's.

ONCE AGAIN, FROM ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE VISITORS, RALPH LUCARELLA, THIS INSIGHTFUL COMMENT ON THE GRAPHIC ABOVE.
Ralph is a senior who is a local treasure with memories that he has of the era of the 30's and upward.
Ralph: Your comments add valuable first person experiences and are very much appreciated.

Ralph Lucarella said...

Hi Tom: That's a good shot of the Post Office, where my brother and I worked until 1955 when we left to build the Hamilton Bowling Lanes. I can recall the time the freeway was built and also the canal that ran through there. They were great times for the city and the beginning of big changes in routes through out Trenton. I remember eating breakfast in the dinner across the street from the Post Office for 15 years,

Friday, February 19, 2010

1937: SOUTH OLDEN AVENUE EXTENSION

Even as there was a North Olden Avenue Extension, so too was there a South Olden Avenue Extension. During the depression, my father was one of the WPA workers who worked on that road as it meandered out to White Horse. Forest Valley was a very dark and isolated area when I was a young man. In fact, on those nights when I walked to Hamilton High School for the Saturday night Canteens, I would rather have taken a short cut through St. Mary's Cemetery than traverse the spooky and lonely Olden Avenue route.

1931: THE OLD "BRUNSWICK CIRCLE"

If you look to the left in the above photo, you will see a portion of Trenton's fabled "Dunn Field;" home of the Trenton Senators and later the Trenton Giants. It was also the field where many Catholic schools played ball.

1899: THE TRENTON-ALLENTOWN TURNPIKE.

Today we call it Nottingham Way. Back in the 19th century it was known as the Trenton-Allentown Turnpike. It was a notorious toll road maintained by the Trenton and Allentown Turnpike Company. Toll gates were maintained along the route from Trenton to Allentown. There are many articles in my collection telling of the lack of maintainance on the road. Farmers bringing their products into the markets in the city of Trenton often complained of their wagons becoming mired in mud, and impassable in winter during heavy snows.

THE CHANGING FACE OF KUSER ROAD

I remember driving down Kuser Road before Hamilton became a metropolis. Like Newkirk Avenue, it was a single lane road, and it was not unusual to have the branch of a sapling slap up against your rear view mirror or your windshield.

1937: ROAD WORK ON BEATTY STREET TRENTON

Perhaps a visitor can pinpoint this location if the taller building in the photo is still there.

1935: E. STATE STREET EXTENSION

Now you know how E. State Street Extension from Klockner Road to Nottinhgam Way came into existance. My father worked on the WPA project that constructed Arena Drive back in the 1930's. WPA=Works Project Administration. It was a governmental program that assisted the unemployed who in turn upgraded our infrastructure. It was one of the Franklin Roosevelt administrations "New Deal" programs.

1042: STATE AND BROAD; WHAT MEMORIES!

OHM OH, THE MEMORIES! THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN RIGHT ON THE CORNER OS STATE AND BROAD STREETS WHERE YARD'S DEPARTMENT STORE WAS LOCATED. IF IT WERE A THURSDAY NIGHT IN THE EARLY 50's, YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN A BLUE 1940 DESOTO PARKED AND IDLING A NUMBER OF FEET BEHIND THAT BUS, WHILE TOM GLOVER WAITED FOR JUDY BRITTON, HIS WIFE TO BE. SHE WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE HER JOB IN YARD'S "INFANT'S WEAR" DEPARTMENT AT 9 PM ON A THURSDAY EVENING. OFFICER CHET HUGHES ALWAYS LOOKED THE OTHER WAY AS I PARKED THERE ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT WHEN THE TRENTON STORES WERE OPEN UNTIL 9 PM.

I AM PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW VISITORS TO THIS SITE WHO "CANDLED" EGGS. OUR CANDLER WAS A CYLINDRICAL BRASS FIXTURE WITH A LIGHT BULB INSIDE. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDE WHERE THE EGG WAS PLACED SO THAT LIGHT WOULD SHINE THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE EGG, REVEALING ANY BLOOD SPOTS, WHICH WERE NOT SOLD BUT PERFECTLY GOOD TO EAT.

THIS EMAIL RECEIVED FROM REGULAR VISITOR SALLY LOGAN GILMORE. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH PLEASANT MEMORIES OF "STATE AND BROAD."

Hi Tom:
What a treat to see the pix of State and Broad. That's where I waited for the West Trenton bus after I shopped Yard's and Dunham's. I also rode into downtown from Trenton High and that was where I transfered to go home out West State Street to Carteret Avenue, one stop before Parkside. I saw the intersection on April 24, 2004 when my husband, George, I went on a tour of Trenton sponsored by The Contemporary. Our dear friend, Connie DeRemigis, treated us to the most wonderful day. I walked to where the bus stop was pictured on your website while everyone else toured the cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church on State Street. It brought back memories but nothing like your photograph. Thank you so much Tom.

Sally Logan Gilman

1930: PAVING ROADS IN THE HAMILTON AREA

WHEN THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN, WHITE HORSE-MERCERVILLE ROAD WAS A TWO LANE HIGHWAY SURROUNDED BY FARMS ON ALL SIDES.

OLDEN AVENUE TO BE EXTENDED

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1875
EXTENDING OLDEN AVENUE TO WHITE HORSE

Before 1875, Olden Avenue began its long journey northward from Hamilton Avenue. The area to the south was open farmland and woods. In February, 1875, a petition was circulated, proposing the extension of Olden Avenue from Hamilton Avenue to “Cedar Grove;” today’s Cedar Lane. The extension of the road would provide a more direct route to the southern areas of the township: Olden Avenue to Cedar Grove, then over the hill, past the Symmes Hutchinson Farm, (now occupied by many cemeteries) to Chambers Street. Future plans called for the extension of Olden Avenue all the way out to the White Horse Road.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1875
EXTENDING OLDEN AVENUE
The surveyors and the township committee of Hamilton, met yesterday to arrange for the extending of Olden avenue, Mr. James S. Aitkin and ex-Judge Reed represented the objectors, and James F. Rusling appeared on behalf of the surveyors. A discussion took place, after, which the surveyors agreed to lay the road, and assessed damages as follows: Mr. Vreeland, $200 Joseph Wagner, $200; and to six others, 50 cents each.

YARDVILLE = BATERTOWN ROAD