1923: KLATZKIN'S MENS SHOP 189 SO. BROAD sTREET

The Google Earth photo above shows and empty lot where Klatzkin's Men's Shop and the Hibbert Printing Company were once located. Klatzkin's Men's Shop at 189 South Broad Street, was next to the German Lutheran Church in and area now bounded by South Broad Street and Livingston Avenue. This address was also the original home of Trenton's legendary Hibbert Printing Company. I have superimposed a 1925 Trenton Times ad in the possible event that a Klatzkin family genealogist might be interested in this haberdashery which was once located in the city of Trenton.

1939: MERCER BEVERAGES

I remember Mercer as the supplier of "Twin Cola;" a Coke substitute that was just as good as Coke, Pepsi, or Royal Crown Cola. They had a distinctive bottle which looked like two twin containers. Sort of like a belt that is too tight on an overweight body!

1920's: (Ca. 1925) THE WEST END HOTEL

This photo had me searching all over for the actual west Hanover Street intersection. My problem was with the name "West End" which I automatically figured was in the section known as "West End" in the Cadwalader, Prospect, area. However, my research has found that the hotel was located on the corner of Calhoun and West Hanover Street. Note the pristine clarity of the photo.

Anonymous said...

Tom:

We natives always considered anything from Calhoun St. to the Ewing line was "Cracker Hill" AKA "The West End" The name craker hill came from the ritzy houses, with such high taxes, that cracker's and tea was the main meal.Last time in Trenton 12 years ago, this building was still standing and being used as a local bar. Fond memoies are what keeps us going.

Regards

Mike Kuzma

Friday, June 22, 2012

Anonymous said...

Tom, to help with the date, the Ben Hur flick of my day, and you oldsters of the tribe must really know how the term flick came about and in one year I spent as a projectionist fighting the flicker was the first in the order of battle, was in 1959. There in the corner of the Hotel sign is a poster for Ben Hur and Wiki lists silent releases of the movie in 1907 and again in 1925. Seems the date in question was the 1925 release. This of course makes me wonder if I had any potential to pull my weight in your old unit of "crypto spooks" ... I did my time in a recon unit but only as a mech fixing stuff. They wouldn't let me near any of the "fun" stuff. ;(

Another thing was that pack of Fatima "cigs" at 15 cents a pack back in the roaring 20's. Our barracks in the late 60's back them, well a quarter would buy you an Olympia Beer or a pack of smokes. Only two vending machines in the barracks! We only made perhaps $85 a month back then but consider the price difference of only a thin dime in 1925. it sure helped in making the most of it for sure!

Was that a Fire Department call box on the pedestal?

Ed Millerick

Friday, June 22, 2012

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT, ED. I HAVE CHANGED THE APPROXIMATE DATE FROM THE 1930'S TO THE 1920'S WITH A CIRCA 1927 PER YOUR INPUT. AND YES, THAT IS A FIRE BOX. MAXIMUM ENLARGING OF THAT PHOTO WILL SHOW IT CLEARLY.

TOM

1940: REMEMBERING LONG'S DRUG STORE

Ray, I completely missed that Perry Street sign! Thanks for the correction.

Long's was a prominent drug store back in the 30's and 40's. As I recall, Long's had stores on the corner of Greenwood and Olden, E. State and Olden, and as seen in the graphic above, Perry Street and what is probably North Montgomery.

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Aha, I spy a Tastykake sign -- one of my childhood favorites. My big love is the Butterscotch Krimpets -- wrapped, of course, in wax paper. I cannot get them in New England so I must rely on my memories of the wonderful snack cake. Thanks for the photo, Tom. Regards

Friday, June 22, 2012

Anonymous said...

Sally:

Don't give up hope. Tasty Kake ( the cake that made mother stop baking) was sold within the past few years, and they now are distributing throughout the East coast, if not the entire country.
We can get them everyday in the supermarkets in Virginia and nearby North Carolina.
Still enjoy my "Krimpets" but devour my "peanut butter "tandy Takes"

You can also go on line and have them ship you an assortment.
I did that for Tony Ponticello who moved to Vegas in the 50's.

Good luck in your search.

Mike Kuzma

Friday, June 22, 2012

Anonymous said...

I lived a block or so on Olden by the rear entry to the Trenton Transit Yard. About 1950 the pharmacy was run by "Mister Rhoades" and for a sick child there was always, depending in the malady one contracted of course; a special treat. I can still taste that ice cream cone with dark and savory almost black "Bing Cherry" ice cream which remains my favorite till this day. Or perhaps a fountain coke with a spritz of cherry. Somehow that tall man with the dark wavy hair and thick glasses made the pains go away with his mastery of the scoop (in hot water) and a quick stir and swirl of a fountain concoction. Not to take away his skill as a pharmacist of course.

Sally, imagine being thousands of miles away from home and there on Guam in the base "PX" was a 12 pack of Tastykake chocolate cupcakes. I was with a fellow from the New Brunswick area and the moment our eyes saw those boxes with three cakes per pack we were "back in the world" each buying a quart of cold milk and there under a palm tree we sat in the shade and with grins from ear to ear, we each polished off the box of Tastykakes with that ice cold quart of milk. We, for those few golden moments, we were home and it could have been a July day on "the stoop" hanging out as young teens. Hardly a word was spoken during our sweet overindulgence. Contented smiles of course.

Friday, June 22, 2012

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, I believe the location of this photo is the corner of Perry St. and Montgomery. My reason for this deduction, is the sign below the window on the second floor of the drug store, which says Perry St. There is a traffic light at Montgomery. I like the fact that the kid on the bike is waiting for the light to turn green before proceeding across Perry, which has the green, as the picture was taken. It appears that the drug store is actually closed and out of business, as the property is for sale. In fact, the second floor appears to be vacant. Also, as a coincidence, Ralph Lucarella, mentioned Vaudeville acts at the State theater, commenting on another photo, you just published, and what do you know; there is a sign in this drug store window, mentioning 4 Vaudeville acts, at the State Theater. Too bad, I can't make out a date. Great Tastykake sign! Didn't we all love those. The Junior's mentioned on that sign, had vanilla icing with bits of coconut on top. By the way, the drug store on the corner of Greenwood and Olden, during the 1950s and 60s, was Coleman Drugs. Buzz Coleman, son of the druggist, was a friend of mine. I haven't seen him in 50 years. These photos sure stir up memories, as do your comments. rayfromvillapark

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Anonymous said...

Indeed, with that "eagle eye" spotting the Perry Street sign affixed to the second floor window sill, out went the comments of Mister Rhoades mastery of the fountain "arts" at that location. But the Tastykake memories are forever!

The question now is where did Perry Street meet up with Chambers? Was there a name change when the Lincoln Homes were constructed? So often the street names are changed to reflect or memorialize something significant in the culture, a road is extended or added?

Perhaps someone who had close ties with the US Post Office in those times now we must know such a (wink-wink), person, a fellow Ralph comes to mind for some reason?

Ed Millerick

1941: REMEMBERING "PHOTO-ART"

Long before digital photography replaced film, Trenton had two prominent photo processing establishments. One was Moyer's, and the other is shown in the photo above. I can remember Fritz Kuser picking up large envelopes of prints he had processed at Photo Art. His big, black photo albums were jam packed with Kuser family photos dating back to the 1920's. I also note that a portion of "Robert's Pet Shop" can be seen in the far left of the photo. Related?

Anonymous said...

I note the Robert's Pet Shop on the left. I bought hamsters and fish there and if memory serves there was a soda fountain next to that for the Cathedral girls to seek refuge.

Ed Millerick

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Anonymous said...

Right on Ed. It was called I think The Copper Kettle. Just around the corner on W. Hanover St. next to Pep Boys was the Blue Bus Terminal that went up along the Delaware to Lambertville. Trenton High Boys would catch a bus to State and Warren ( after Transfers) to meet and greet with the green monsters ( reference to the Catherdral uniforms,not the girls) at the Soda fountain on the corner. Joe Petty a lodge brother of mine at the Elks #105 was the owner of Photo Art. Moyer's as I recall was on East Hanover St.
The wrought Iron fencing was in front of a grand Stone house whose occupants were never seen by me.
Up the street near the Catherdral, was Earle's Bicycle Shop, where I bought my first and only new bike; a Columbia for $12.50 earned by washing trucks for Broadway moving and Storage. Just beyond the Bike shop was Mruphy's original Funeral Home, which along with the Catherdral got destroyed in the 1956 fire.

Regrards

mike Kuzma

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi ToM: I still have some old Photo Art envelopes that my father had -- I have some of the old pixs and negatives too. What a treasure. Thanks for the memories. PS -- good luck with your "concert.'' Regards

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

1949: GUS HEINTZ' BAR AND GRILL

There aren't many "old timers" who do not recall Gus Heintz, a prominent local personality back in the 40's and 50's. As a teetotaler, I never went to his Chambers Street bar, but I know many guys who did.

Anonymous said...

Tom:
Never one to be a tea totaler, I was a frequent visitor to Gus's place. Located just across the Street from the City of Trenton whose blue laws in those days forbade the sale of alcohol before 5 pm on Sundays. Gus would be open and ready for business at noon, recognizing the need for us Good Boys to attend the high Mass on Sunday which let out around noon.
Gus was a great character, and never questioned a man's (boy's) age, only his ability to drink.
We would gathr there on Sunday at noon, juice up, and head for the Pig and Whistle in in Brown's Mills where we jammed the day away with Hy Frank and his Dixie land band.
Oh those were the days!

All the best to the best

Mike Kuzma

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

1949: JOE'S TOMATO PIES AND THE 500 BLOCK OF SO. CLINTON AVENUE

Another exquisite R.C. Maxwell/Duke University Library view of the Burg's oldest Tomato Pie palace right in the heart of today's Chambersburg. Joe's is no more. I have been looking for the date when the business closed, but so far I have been unsuccessful. I note that Joe's was operating in the 80's and 90's. Perhaps a visitor can enlighten me.

Bob Warznak said...

Hi Tom,

I remember going with my family in the late 70s through the 90s. I also introduced my wife to Joe's in the late 90s, but we only got to enjoy it for a couple of years due to their closing in 2000. Marie was very friendly and would remember us, even when there was a long time between visits. We were sorry for the loss of her husband and son. They closed just shy of their 90th anniversary in 2000. I found this article which may help fill in some of the gaps: http://mackstruckofwisdom.blogspot.com/2010/03/joes-tomato-pies-south-clinton-avenue.html

Thanks,

Bob Warznak

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....I ALWAYS FELT THAT PAPA'S ON BUTLER STREET WAS THE EARLY MAKER OF TOMATO PIES IN THE BURG. I HEARD ABOUT JOE'S BUT NEVER KNEW OF THE PLACE. THEY ALSO MENTION A BOWLING ALLEY THERE BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT EITHER. THAT WOULD BE ABOUT THE 1920'S. BEST REGARDS.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

TRACY'S "FIVE AND DIME"

This particular photo is another from the Duke University R.C. Maxwell collection. It touches personal heart strings for me as few can do. It was here that I, and most of our neighborhood went shopping in all seasons. Tracy's carried a very comprehensive stock custom tailored to the general needs of the community. Just up the street and 2 doors away was Jim Stanton's Hardware store. Jim was an "Ike Godsey" of Walton's Mountain type merchant who had the uncanny ability to find the most obscure hardware items in his well stocked store. During my years working for Fritz Kuser, I made many trips to Stanton's for many of Kuser's needs. Right click on the image and click the + icon and you will see an incredibly clear segmented enlargement of the photo as you are standing in front of Tracy's as it was back during the mid 20th century.

1922: JACOB RUE'S BLACKSMITH SHOP

Warren Rue sent me a message giving me a heads up and suggested that the vacant lot at the corner of South Broad and Dye Streets in Trenton was the probable location of the Jacob Rue Blacksmith Shop. Thanks very much, Warren. Unless future events contradict your speculation (and mine), I agree that the above lot or at least a part of it, was the site of Jacob Rue's blacksmith shop.

SJBill said...

Tom, you may be correct. Judging from the shadows this was the Dye Street side of S. Broad on the site shown below. The backsmith shop was long gone by my time, but I knew a few Rue family members in the neighborhood. Greg Rue was a pin-boy at Heils who eventually wound up selling Datsuns up on Prospect Street.

In the forties, fifties, and maybe the sixties, there were two businesses on this site. IIRC, a Sunoco station was at the Dye Street intersection.

Where the two cars are parked was a diner - was it the Broadway Diner? I went in there a couple of times for toast and hot chocolate while out shoveling snow for a few bucks.

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Anonymous said...

Tom,

Thank for your kindness. I didn't expect this and it was a pleasant surprise.

Warren Rue

Saturday, June 02, 2012

1930's: ORIGINAL HOME OF DELORENZO TOMATO PIES?

This is a contemporary "Google Street View" of the building at 439 South Broad Street.
It is my understanding that DeLorenzo's Tomato Pies got their start in this building at 439 South Broad street in Trenton. I will need confirmation of refutation on this unverified post. Rick, Al, John, Can you guys help me with this? Also wasn't "Pat" one of the the early 1940's DeLorenzo guys I remember as a young boy of 16 or 17?

 Anonymous said...

Tom:
A few years ago, I commented about Rick DeLorenzo's family having a "Tomatoe Pie" restaurant in this building which was Officially beyond the boudnaries of "Mill Hill" This is at the corner of Ferry and South Broad a just below what was the "famous/infoamous Eagle Tavern" Across the street was the Hamilton Hotel, and in the same building as Delorenzo's on the 2nd floor, Sam Guidotti had a fine dining establishment where I took my wife on our first "dinner date" in 1959. It was named Armondo's.
We attributed that particular block, and corner as part of our everloving " South Trento".

Fond regards

Mike Kuzma

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

 

Thanks, Mike. I removed the Mill Hill reference.

Tom

 Lee Belardino said...

Tommy
I know that you place that picture on Broad street but I could swear thatit on Hudson and Mott. My granfather had a grocery store down aways near those trees on 412 Hudson.The older guys hung out in front of Delorenzo, watching the girls pass by and chasing us kids away. We payed $.35 for a pie when we could afford it.I think thats the place.
Lee .

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

 

 JoeB said...

Tom/Lee:
That picture is on S Broad and Ferry Street. The original place was on Hudson and Mott a couple of doors down from your Grand Father store Lee. They moved from Hudson and Mott to S Broad and Ferry, then when they moved from S Broad and Ferry, Chickie opened on Hudson St and Rickie opened up on Hamilton Avenue.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

 

THANKS FOR THE HISTORY, GUYS.

TOM GLOVER

1930'S? KEMP FUNERAL HOME 315 CENTRE STREET IN A ROW HOME

GARY SZABO WROTE:

Tom . . . I came across this photo of Elmer Kemp's first funeral parlor located on Centre St. in Trenton which he opened in 1915. I'm told he purchased the McGalliard estate on White Horse Ave. in 1948 and operated as a funeral home which he until his death in 1960. Ward Kingston then purchased the business which continues as the Kingston and Kemp Funeral Home today.

Gary Szabo

Thanks for the photo, Gary. Those old tax photos were always taken hastily with the negative and the ever present writing of the house numbers being superimposed in white on the final product. I don't normally post these tax photos due to the quality of the photos. However, this one is an interesting view of the Kemp Funeral Home on Centre Street in Trenton. Thanks to a bit of "Photoshopping," I removed the street numbers and straightened out the original which was lopsided vertically by 2 or 3 degrees starboard. Gary, it's input like yours that add to the historic value of this website. I never knew that Kemp started in a row house at 315 Centre Street in Trenton. Many thanks.
(By the way, I try to veer away from those Trenton tax photos, most of which are residential structures in the city before they began to implement the re-development process. Additionally, the focus on most of them is usually out of focus. This one is an exception. This one is definitely an exception as it is a commercial entity.)
Thanks again.
Tom Glover

 Anonymous said...

Tom:
I too am surprised to read that Kemp had a funeral home in the 3oo block of Center st. It was on this block that I began my public school education at the Skelton School in 1938, while the new Parker school was being constructed.
Ed Douress had a funeral home on that block for many many years. He was the first to run a livery of Funeral cars, and hearses from that location in addition to being the "Undertake of choice" for Sacred Heart parish, just up the St. I ushered at Sacred Heart with Ed Douress, and Barry Orpen our City Councilman back in the day.

Nice photo editiing job.

Mike Kuzma

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

 

1915: JANES-BRENNER JEWELERS

As you can see by the graphics, the Janes-Brenner company once held forth at 127 North Broad Street, in the building shown in the photo. The earliest material I could find was 1915. However, their business filed for bankruptcy a year later in November 1916. Thanks for the Duke University Library's R.C. Maxwell collection for thisvery rare photo.

little known Trenton Jeweler.

1942: TRENTON'S TOMATO DEPOT: STOKELEY

I worked on Joe Bertothy's cornfields back in the 1940's. Joe had a small area set aside for the fabled Jersey tomato (4 or 5 rows) and his output was not enough to truck over to the Stokeley plant on Lalor Street. However, many of us veteran Trenton area residents remember seeing the huge line of farm trucks laden with tomatoes as they were being unloaded at the Stokeley receiving doc. The aforementioned veteran Trentonians will also recall how the baskets being transported via those trucks were tilted to the centerline of the truck to assure proper weight distribution. Ahh, those memories. I remember Bobby Soffel, Don Slabicki and I sitting in a tomato patch on a warm summer day, each with a salt shaker, imbibing in a snack of a ripe Jersey tomato. We would pick the ones closest to the ground, wipe off the dust and dirt, and enjoy. MMM-mmm GOOD!