1939: WHEN GREENWOOD AVENUE WAS A THROUGH STREET

Back in the 1940's when the Trenton Freeway was being constructed, Greenwood Avenue was dead ended at South Clinton on the east, and the Clay Street area in the west.

Attention all you folks who are Mill Hill residents, historians, or visitors to that beautiful historic area: Check out my current Mill Hill column in today's "Sentimental Journey" column. Click on the link below. It will only be available for a limited 2 weeks or so.

http://www.nj.com/columns/times/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/127995039684070.xml&coll=5

SJBill said...

The long red brick building on the left is still present. We had a firebox like that on our corner by Bodnar's Service Station. Everyting on the right is long gone. Folks in these properties must have been kept up all night during the Summer. They were up close to the Pennsy Main Line, and they blew whistles and horns all the time when passing through town.

It's amazing how many places were "on hard times" back then, but we didn't know any better. My family was not yet infected with prosperity, even in the early '50s.

I remember when S. Clinton was dug up like that. Mostly they were getting rid of the old cobblestones or trolley track remnants, and laying new pipe for water and sewers.

1887: TRENTON'S GARFIELD, CLEVELAND, SO. LOGAN AVENUE DEVELOPMENT

Right now I am going through my "NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT" folder; scanning,
cutting, copying, pasting, and tweaking images so you can see how the city of Trenton expanded into what were then the suburbs. Time has taken its toll on many of these neighborhoods. Most of the families of the original folks who availed themselves of the bargain lots as offered in the above 1887 ad subsequently moved out of the area to newer suburban developments. Time marches on.

1912: CUYLER-COOK-ARDMORE AVENUE DEVELOPMENT

Here's a plat map showing the burgeoning community adjoining Villa Park, as Trenton expanded ever eastward during the first decade and early teens,

1897: TRENTON'S PROGRESS

From the "TRENTON, DEVELOPMENT OF" folder, this interesting look back at the city of Trenton as it was 112 years ago. I find these articles to be completely fascinating. Comparing the vital and growing city as it moved into the 20th century.

1890: PROGRESS OF THE CITY BRIGHTENS

How I would love to have a few photos and engravings of the Trenton downtown area from the Victorian era! Trenton was a grand old town and very active both culturally and commercially. Lacking those graphic images, we must depend on the old reliable news reporter to describe persons and events as lucidly as possible.

1897: TRENTON GROWS INTO A VIABLE TOWN

One of the treasures in my newspaper collection lies in the 19th century articles within the pages of the Daily State, Trenton Times, and Daily True American wherein we get a tantalzing glimpse of just what the city was like back in the horse and buggy years. The above article is an interesting look at a city that would ultimately grow into an industrial giant among other American cities.

1873: TRENTON'S BRIGHT FUTURE

THE SHADED ARTICLE TELLS OF THE GREAT HOPES THE CITIZENS HAD FOR THE CITY OF TRENTON. THE TOWN WAS JUST BEGINNING TO BE A HUB OF INDUSTRY. THE LOCATION BETWEEN NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA WOULD SURELY PROVE TO BE AN ADVANTAGE FOR FUTURE GROWTH. HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT TRENTON DID INDEED BECOME AN INDUSTRIAL GIANT IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, WHEN TRENTON MADE AND THE WORLD TOOK.

1897: TRENTON IS GROWING

HERE'S A NICE REPORT ON THE CITY OF TRENTON FROM SOME 111 YEARS AGO. THE ARTICLE GAVE THE GRAND OLD TOWN A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE WITH COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL AS A CITY.

1873: TRENTON AREA EAST OF E. STATE STREET AND CLINTON

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MOST INTERSTING TO SEE THE AREA EAST OF EAST STATE STREET AND CLINTON AVENUE AS THE AREA BEGAN TO DEVELOP. THE PERDICARIS FAMILY HAD LAND THERE AND THERE WAS AN AREA ON WHICH "THE COTTAGES" WERE SITUATED.

1873: Trenton Advancing From Village to City

This post and the post that follows is another article detailing the interesting growth of the city of Trenton.

1868: The Village of Trenton Expanding to a City

Perhaps nothing is more interesting than reading of the growth of Trenton from a small village to a city as new neighborhoods are created and real estate ventures proliferate. Particularly interesting is the area of "Calhoun's Lane," and its widening and changing to Calhoun Street. Back in the days of the horse-drawn trolley, Calhoun and West State Street was the end of the line.

1913: J.L. Mott Eleven Years Later

The previous post reported the decision of J.L. Mott to bring their facilitites to the city of Trenton. Here's a photo showing the progress of construction going on at the J.L. Mott plant on Hancock Street.

1913: Roadwork on Riverside Avenue, Trenton

I really like these photos that show places from the very distant past. I have no idea just where this photo was taken and if if can be located today. Perhaps an area resident can make that determination.