1990: PROUD TO HAVE GIVEN 3 YEARS OF MY LIFE

I am uncovering so many columns among the many hundreds I have written over the years. I began writing way back in 1981 and only missed one deadline when I had emergency gall bladder surgery in the 1980's. I would guess that I have written nearly a thousand columns over all these years. Above is a column that I had completely forgotten about. As we old military veterans look back on our service years, they seem to have taken on a charm of their own. Was I ever that young? Were that photo to appear in any other place without the caption I posted, I would not recognize myself! (105 pounds fresh out of the shower, a 31 inch waist, and not a wrinkle to be seen.) Wow. My army service in the Army Security Agency will be with me until I meet the Lord whenever he calls me.

REMEMBERING THAT OLD WATER BOILER

Did you have one in your kitchen? All of my neighbors on Hartley Avenue did, and if you are not familiar with this antique kitchen appliance, read the article above. As I have written hundreds of times over the past 32 years of writing, Hamilton Township was a very rural community. Huge farms surrounded by small housing developments such as ours on Hartley Avenue with the ever present vegetable and flower garden, chickens, geese and many other relics of the past.

1929: HAPPY EASTER, 1929

I have written so many columns in these 32-plus years, that I must admit I have forgotten about many of them. 32 years of writing times 52 weeks in a year minus a few years for bi-weekly Trenton Times columns results in over 1500 columns! I am currently working on a carton filled with old columns and the stack is nearly 12 inches high. What's more, there are more in other yet to be found storage! I am currently going through some of these columns and realize that many of them were written before the advent of the computer with its digital abilities. Above is one of those graphic columns. In order to get this to press, I had to cut out the physical articles and ads, paste them on a white sheet of paper and take them physically to the Mercer Messenger office on Nottingham Way where it would be photo copies by the Messenger's graphics guy and published. Today, all I have to do is open my Photoshop software, assemble the graphic elements and save it is a graphic file.

2012: I JUST RECEIVED THIS FROM HARRY HALL, A FELLOW KUSER SCHOOL ALUMNUS

I earned every one of these wrinkles, and so did my fellow classmates!
Below reality check is from Harry Hall, HHS 1954:

"Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me!

I want people to know why I look this way.
I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved..."

1991: HAMILTON SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Back in the 1980's I was a regular visitor to the Hamilton Square Presbyterian Church to bring my World War II music to a number of senior citizen groups who meet there on a monthly basis. But alas, most of "The Greatest Generation" who attended those meetings have given way to father time, and rendered them immobile for numerous reasons. That beautiful edifice on Nottingham Way is one of Hamilton's historic treasures. The article above tells a tiny bit about that great old church. The directory of members is also quite interesting; especially to those who have relatives who attended the church.

GOODBYE, OLD FRIEND: A FAREWELL TO S.P. DUNHAM

This was the beginning of the end for the downtown Trenton of my youth. With the proliferation of suburban malls and their adequate parking spaces, and with Trenton really hurting to provide convenient parking, a silver nail was driven into the heart of downtown Trenton. Gone forever was the courteous sales person who would go out of his or her way to satisfy you and assist with your purchase. Like the gas station attendant who cleaned you windshield and checked you fluids, gone was the mens' department store salesman who would never think of showing up for work without a shirt, tie, and jacket.

1982: JUST ONE PAGE FROM MY KUSER SCHOOL DIARY

I will always be grateful for the education I received in the Hamilton Township public school system; first at Kuser school from 1939 to 1947, then to Hamilton High where I graduated with the class of 1951. That education has stood me in good stead in all these many years of my life. Memories of Kuser will always remain indelibly impressed in my memory. The above graphic is one of the many, many Kuser School articles I have written over the years. This particular article is extracted from an 8 week series I ran in the late, lamented Mercer Messenger. I began the series in "Reception Grade" and each week for 8 weeks I recalled my grades from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. all the way to "Farewell Alma Mater" which was my 8th grade column. When I read of the many shortcomings in today's educational system in many cities and towns across America, I realize what a splendid education those of us who were fortunate enough to attend school before computers replaced hand writing. This was the era when penmanship was a subject one had to pass, When desks were in rows of five with the teacher at the head of the class, when talking out of turn was not tolerated, when chewing gum was a "no no," when the teacher was addressed as Miss or Mister, when we had an unwritten dress code where students dressed in their very best; the boys in shirts and ties, the girls in skirts and dresses. A recent article in the newspaper told of the system now considering eliminating cursive writing from the course of study. How stupid! Future generations will never know how to sit down and write a legible letter. Spell checkers will go a long way to fortify opinions that spelling is also going hi-tech with the word processor taking the place of the human brain. How thankful I am that I got in under the wire!

1992: TOM GLOVER'S SEARCH FOR CAMP OLDEN

2011 IS THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE CIVIL WAR

I recently spoke with a member of the Camp Olden Civil War Roundtable who did not agree to my assertion that my "The Way We Were" column (ABOVE) from 1992 was the catalyst for the establishment of the Camp Olden Park at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Liberty Street, referring me to the Camp Olden Civil War Roundtable site . I had been searching for years to find any and all information on that Civil War camp ground back in the 1970's when I spoke with a member of the Lawton family (Norman?) I finally found enough source information and included it in my column as you can read below It was in this column that I suggested a monument which was ultimately constructed. (closing paragraphis of the column) In my CAMP OLDEN folder is a copy of the letter to the editor from Mr. Bob Butera, an early Civil War enthusiast at and Mr. Vince Mercandetti, who was President at the time.

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1987: CABLE TELEVISION: IN THE BEGINNING

I wrote this article way back when TKR took over for Hamilton's original cable provider, "HAMILTON CABLEVISION." Cable TV has made massive strides these 23 years later. We have all kinds of accessory appliances at hand today which enhance our viewing. I remember when we had channels 3, 6, and 10. They were all on what was known as the coaxial cable. A network that stretched from upper New York state down to the Washington D.C. area. Remote controls were unheard of. A typical TV set had a 10 inch screen; much larger than the old 6" screen that was on many early sets. The article was written when cable TV was relatively new. I was one of the early talk show host on Hamilton Cable when they opened on Benson Avenue back in the early 1980's. We had a home channel selector with 3 rows of buttons. Each row chose a channel. A number of us figured out how to jury rig those old units in order to get the pay channels.

1938: CHAMBERSBURG OVERCOMING A HEATWAVE

Out in the country, we engaged in that annual ritual of "gettin' under the hose." We spent hours during those hot and humid central Jersey summers. We lashed the hose on the clothesline and had a delightful shower, or perhaps a rousing game of "high waters," or the most fun of all, sitting in a wash tub under the hose.

1955: PRIVATE GLOVER, THOMAS L., RA 12480163

Ask any veteran who served in Uncle Sam's U.S. military if they still remember their serial number and I would bet that he or she would pull it out of the past like a bolt of lightning. My service with Uncle Sam as an "RA," (vs. a "US") was an experience that I will carry with me forever. As indicated in the article I wrote a number of years ago, the gifts the army gave me were twofold: 1) Teaching me to touch type, and 2) making a man out of me.

1907:ANDERSON'S GENERAL STORE AND POST OFFICE

 

There are a number of little "itches" that plague those of us who are researching history. For me, one of them is the actual location of the Anderson General store. It is known that it was on Mercerville's "five points" at Nottingham Way, Quaker Bridge Road, White Horse-Mercerville Road, and Edinburg Road. However, there have been conflicting statements given to me over the years as to just where it was at that intersection. According to the current Hamilton Township history book published by the Historical Society of Hamilton Township, the store was located on the southwest corner of Nottingham Way at five points, opposite Bill's Olde Tavern. Once again, I have scanned this detailed photo in so that you can visit that old store....maybe even pick up a pack of "Sweet Caporal" cigarettes, or a bottle of "Lydia Pinkham's" for the little lady of the house.

An aside: Going bare foot as you see by the boys in this 1907photo, was a common occurrence in years gone by. Even back in the 1930's and 40's, we were often running around the neighborhood barefooted. (and boy did it hurt when we stepped on one of those straw colored burrs that grew along the path!)

CIRCA 1910-1912 FIVE POINTS IN MERCERVILLE

What a great photo! Don't miss the "Mercerville Road House" on the extreme right. This photo had a bit of "noise" and other imperfections, but with a bit of "tl

c," we have a nice view of downtown Mercerville in the first decade of the 20th century.

1991: HAMILTON TOWNSHIP IN 1950

1950: I was 16 going on 17, had an unrequited crush on Madeline Bencivengo, Pat MacBean, Mary Pyrah, Shirley Gress, and quite a few others whose names escape me these many years later. Unlike many of my classmates, I wouldn't reach the golden age of 17 and a driver's license until September 29th of that year. As you might imagine from the article I wrote those many years ago, Hamilton Township was a very different place than the megalopolis of today. A ride down Route 33 to Betty and Bill's would take us by Orsi's applicance store at the corner of White Horse Mercerville Road and Route 33, the Moser farm across from Betty and Bill's and Cedar Gardens. Kuser Road was as two lane road with open fields interspersed with deep woods.

1953: TRENTON'S LEGENDARY ETON MENS' SHOP

Back in my teen years, I found myself, and the Glover family as part of the less affluent members of Trenton society. We never had the green stuff to be outfitted at F.W. Donnelly, R.A. Donnelly, or most of all, the Eton Mens' Shop. For us it was Metropole Clothing Factory on North Warren Street, or perhaps a trip to "Cheap John's" on South Broad Street, or another less expensive outlet whose name escapes me......was it Barnocky, or something along that line? Regardless, Eton was to the boys as the Stacy Sporty Shop was to the girls. Beautiful clothing, but prices that were above and beyond the budget of us "commoners."

1992: DON'T TRED ON MY MEMORIES!

There will always be cynics among us. Back in the early 90's, a fellow journalist and colleague wrote what I considered a disparaging column that was obviously referring to a column I had written wherein I recalled very pleasant memories of my childhood years. That writer, who will be nameless, wrote a column which I took as a shot across my bow. There were words like "simplistic," "segregation," "intolerance," and other Liberal shibboleths that demeaned those values and moral standards on which I stood and will always stand. The above article was my response to that unnamed cynic who has every right to express his or her opinion, even as I reserve that same right. The Mayberry graphic was inserted today from clip art I found on the web.

1939:119 HARTLEY AVENUE: I WAS 6 YEARS OLD

The Glover family was still struggling from the aftereffects of "The Great Depression." Our vegetable garden (seen in the background) and our flocks of chickens and geese held us in good stead during those lean years. "Sniffy" was the love of my life. He was an unusually intelligent little fox terrier. Sniffy was so friendly and talented that someone dog-napped him and I searched the neighborhood for hours looking for him.

THIS GRAPHIC IS FROM THE "NEIGHBORHOODS" FOLDER. IF YOU HAVE A PHOTO WITH AN IDENTIFIABLE BACKGROUND AS IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN IN THE PHOTO ABOVE, WHY NOT SCAN IT AND SEND IT IN FOR INCLUSION IN THE "NEIGHBORHOODS" FOLDER AND ALSO ON THIS SITE. IF YOU HAVE A PHOTO OR PHOTOS, AND SCANNING FACILITIES, PLEASE SET YOUR SCANNER TO 250 OR 300 DOTS PER INCH. FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE PRESERVED THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE.

1988: ST. JAMES P.E. CHURCH: IN THE BEGINNING

Before I converted to Catholicism, I was a communicant at St. James when the church was located on Greenwood and South Logan Avenues. The legendary church has a fascinating history, going back to its very earliest years to the "Wigwam" over on E. State Street in the Wilbur section of Trenton. "White Flight" resulted in the church re-locating way out in the suburbs down South Broad Street near Allentown.

1991: A QUIZ FOR SENIOR CITIZENS ONLY

Quizzes proved to be among the more popular columns I have written over the past years. The human brain is far more competent in remembering things from the distant past than is the very capable personal computer with its gigabytes of "memory." To those of you with silver in your hair, take this quiz that is for those visitors who remember back to the 1950's. Let me know how you do. I think you will enjoy the journey back to simpler times. I don't expect you to get 100 percent of the questions. Email me at tglover320@optimum.net and tell me you at least got a "B." I just took my own test and got most of them right, but I must admit I had problems remembering that politician "Henry" from Washington. I did remember "Stu;" did you?

1914: Wesley M.E. Church

Each Sunday morning as I drive down Centre Street to minister to the folks at the South Village complex on Lalor Street, I pass by this fascinating little church which sits sedately on the south side of Centre Street. The little edifice is still a very attractive building as it approaches the century mark.