1909: THANKSGIVING YESTERYEARS: IT'S YOUR HERITAGE!

From the Hamilton Township Public Library Local History Collection, these historic treasures on the holiday as celebrated through the years. To my dear friend Eleanor Goldy Guear, included is the enlarged graphic you asked for as seen in miniaturized form on my home page. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND VISITORS TO WWW.GLOVER320.BLOGSPOT.COM

PLEASE REMEMBER TO WHOM YOU GIVE THANKS; WE SOMETIMES FORGET.

The Glover family Thanksgiving dinner, 1964. This photo accompanies my "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" column in today's Sunday Trenton Times (Page 2) wherein I recall my 80 year old memories of Thanksgivings as we lived them when it was widely accepted as a day to thank God for all he has given us. Unfortunately, this hallowed holiday is being turned into a commercial shopping orgy.

1931: A TRENTON THANKSGIVING AT THE WHARF AND IN CHAMBERSBURG

I was fascinated by this ad from the Farmers' Market when it was located along the river on Lambertons Street back in the 30's and 40's. What caught my eye was the alternate location of a market at Morris Avenue and Division Street in Chambersburg. Perhaps a trained and aged Chambersburg eye can tell us on which corner the market was located. The Baldassari Regency is seen in the lower left of the photo.

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Mike Kuzma solves the puzzle. 

Tom: Using the process of deduction, there could no doubt that the market was located on the corner across Morris Ave. from Eddie Baldasarri's Regency. The ad in the post was from 1931. The houses on the other corners, and the old German Club (Now the Regency) were built pre-1931, and the school (Columbus if I recall) which now takes up the whole block from Chestnut to Division, was built like most of the "new" schools in Trenton; circa 1939. Since being born on Fall St. in South Trenton, the "Wharf" market was part of my playground. Oh the memories of the fresh fruits and vegetables, the smoked, and fresh meats. But most of all the hot dog, and pop corn stand run by Lou Zier's wife. It was South Trenton's version of State & Broad, where you went to meet, greet, and eat. Finally convinced farmer Walt Ellis to give me a job as a picker when I was 9 years old. Later moved up to Star Key, and Congressman Karl Kings farm outside of Morrisville during the war years. While Dad was working in and around slaughter houses, and I picking on the farms, there was always fresh meat and veggies on the Kuzma's table. Mom made sure we shared with those who were less fortunate. Hope this helps solve the puzzle. Regards Mike Kuzma  

THANKS MIKE! Thanks too for your interesting personal retrospective on the Trenton Farmers' Market in South Trenton. It seems we both have experience in our youth as "corn pickers!"  Shall we give them the "corny" definition of "smut?"

TOM

 

1931: MAKE YOUR THANKSGIVING DAY RESERVATIONS NOW!

A full course turkey dinner with all the trimmings for the princely sum of $1.00, $1.25, and $1,75, and a Thanksgiving "Dinner Deluxe" at Trenton's Hotel Hildebrecht for $2.00! Area restaurants and merchants were checking their costs and deciding how much they can cut prices and make a less than normal profit. Sound familiar? So here we are 70 years later realizing that what goes around does indeed come around!

NOTE: FOR PREVIOUS POSTS RELATING TO THANKSGIVING DAY, GO TO THE UPPER LEFT OF THIS PAGE, IN THE WHITE BLOCK NEXT TO "SEARCH BLOG," TYPE IN THANKSGIVING. WATCH THE GREEN PROGRESS BAR ON THE LOWER RIGHT OF THE PAGE AND PAGE DOWN TO READ THE NUMEROUS (SOME DUPLICATED) POSTS.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...THAT AD IS ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH BETTER WE WERE BACK IN THE 30'S. TO BEGIN WITH, THE NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA WERE NUMEROUS. IN ADDITION TO THE DINNERS, THEY PROVIDED LIVE MUSIC FOR LISTENING AND DANCING PLEASURE. THE TWO BEST HOTELS IN THE CITY FOR $2.00 PER PERSON IS UNBELIVEABLE. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A DEPRESSION BUT IN SOME WAYS THE COST OF LIVING MADE IT BEARABLE. LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE OLDEN DAYS.

Monday, November 08, 2010

SJBill said...

The Geneva Restaurant was later called the Geneva Inn. It was still in business well into the 60's or longer. I can almost remember the owner's name - Don (but not the last name). He was another of Big Brownie and Whitey. There was a string of restaurants out in the 'Burbs, that seemed kinda related. The others were The Marroe Inn (beside the Baker's Basin Inspection Station) and Don Young's, on Olden Ave. How were they related? They all had mysterious fires while past their prime, IIRC.

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

1909: HAPPY THANKSGIVING 100 YEARS AGO

Here's an ad from the Daily True American from 100 Thanksgiving Days ago. S.P. Dunham was one of the long time department stores in the Trenton area, and is sorely missed by those of us who were regular customers. Not being able to afford the upscale Trenton men's wear stores, yours truly found that Dunham's had quality men and womens' wear.