1909: TOM GLOVER'S FICTIONAL LAWSON TATTLER

This series will continue in future "Sentimental Journey" columns in the Trenton Times. I have based the "diary" concept using a fictional Trenton character whose diary consists of actual events that happened during the earlier years of the city of Trenton.

1979: MARY JACKSON REMEMBERS THE 1940's

From the Hamilton Library Local History "TRENTON REMINISCENCES"  folder, this fascinating little Trentonian article contributed by Mary Jackson says a lot about the Trenton we knew and loved. Times sure were different, as she poignantly points out.

2012: DIANE ALSO REMEMBERS "THE TRENTON THAT WAS

Thanks for this email, Diane. Downtown Trenton also had the State and the Stacy. I will leave it to my many old time Trentonians to fill in the info regarding the theaters. My wife Judy Britton worked at yards in the late 40's and early 50's in "Infants' Wear." Thanks for visiting my website. I hope you return often. Diane wrote:

Dear Tom:

I came across your web site and I thank you for it. It brought back a lot of wonderful memories.

I was raised in North Trenton, left in 1966 when I married and last August, 2011, I moved back to North Trenton, a mile from where I grew up. Unfortunately my old street has fallen to ruin, some of the houses are boarded up. I'm now on Ohio Avenue, a predominately Polish neighborhood. Never did I think I'd end up back "home."

I used to work at Yard's Department Store. I thought there were five movie theaters: The Lincoln: Mayfair: Capitol: Trent: and I can't remember the name of the fifth one. Do you happen to remember or were there just four? I remember a lot of the businesses in downtown Trenton from the late 50's to the early 70's.

I attempted to sign your guest book but I was unable to access it.

Diane H. Witkowski

Trenton Central High School

Class of '61 - Black Team

1899: CADWALADER PARK TO YARDVILLE ON THE TROLLEY

I am a hopeless romantic. Indeed, this incredibly interesting and fascinating 113 year old article from the Trenton Evening Times will find fellow romantics hoping that the trip will never end. As the writer describes the scenes along the 3 or 4 mile journey, we romantics can imagine the cows grazing in open fields, apple orchards, the White Horse Tavern and........well, you click on the graphic and draw your own mental images as you ride a 113 year old historic journey to the past!

1848: "LIFE IN TRENTON FIFTY YEARS AGO"

"Life in Trenton 50 Years Ago" was a popular column. These are just a few of the hundreds of clippings I have salvaged from old and very damaged Trenton newspapers. They give a very interesting insight to life as it was lived in a growing city of Trenton. There will be similar future posts from this era which will give an interesting insight to the Trenton of old,

1844: WHEN TRENTON WAS A VILLAGE

It's very difficult to conceive of the city of Trenton as it was 167 years ago. However, Mr. John Napton gives us an idea in the above extract from his famous Napton Diaries as he recalled living in the town of Trenton as a young man who grew up in the city of Trenton. From his writings, I have opted to update information on the school he and his classmates attended in 1844. There are many locally prominent names of family members who attended the school. I found the exploits of the school master to be of special interest. One can visualize the old gentleman sitting atop a tall stool surveying the class, with his ever present whip at the ready to lay a few on the derriere of an unruly student. 

1910 HISTORY REPEATED!

THANKS TO ALAN WILDBLOOD FOR CALLING MY ATTENTION TO THE ERROR IN THE ORIGINAL POST, WHEREIN I ERRONEOUSLY ENTERED 1911 AS THE DATE ON THE GRAPHIC. IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO 1910. THANKS ALAN!

As this blog enters its sixth year, I look forward to providing our visitors with still another year of "Local History with a Personal Touch." To begin this new year of 2011, I felt it would be interesting to look back at our area as it was 100 years ago. 

The graphic and part of the article was on the front page of our local TRUE AMERICAN and it is interesting to note that our 2010 had the same problem with snow. The graphic was fragmented with the photo out of dimensional bounds, and the text continuing on page 7. A bit of formatting, cutting and pasting has resulted in a graphic that fits on the computer screen. How ironic that history apparently repeated itself a century later, almost to the day! 

I am currently going through a 1911 January through March edition of the TRENTON TRUE AMERICAN. It will be fun to visit our area as it was a century ago.

OH, BY THE WAY......HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1869: BLOOMSBURY-SOUTH TRENTON BENJAMIN FISH

What a joy it is to find a column from over a hundred years ago that deals with retrospectives an old resident recalling his or her early years. Such is the case with this article as 90 year old Benjamin Fish recalls his years as a Delaware River sloop owner, and general all around business man. The article on the left is from the "TRENTON RETROSPECTIVES" folder and that on the right is an early 1823 ad for Benjamin Fish's enterprise.

2009: Donna Cubberley, You're the Best!

I Think they call it "kindred spirits;" but whatever it is, I received this remarkably well composed email from Ms.Donna Radice Cubberley. Even though I am 25 years older than Donna, I find she has captured in a very well written missive the strange, emotional, nostalgic and bittersweet memories many of us hold in our hearts of the friends and neighbors and the neighborhoods in which we grew up. I couldn't have said it better, Donna. Your letter is a true gem! By the way, I also dream of visiting my old home; never did believe that old "you can't go home again" blather. Pleasant memories live on forever, and like you, I believe they live beyond time as we understand it.

Donna wrote in my guestbook, which must be shared for those who do not follow my visitors' comments:


Hi, Tom. Feeling a bit nostalgic and sad tonight, and wanted to share a recent experience with you. On Saturday, 7-18-09, I took a ride down to Trenton to honor my deceased mother's 70th birthday (she died suddenly at 28 years old in Saint Francis hospital after having given birth to my brother in 1968) by visiting her grave in Saint Mary's cemetery on Cedar Lane and then meeting up with my brother and his family at DeLorenzo's on Hudson Street for the best tomato pie on this planet. After eating, I took a ride past 22 Mott Street where mom was born, and then made the rounds past the house in which I grew up (627 Woodland Street; I still visit this house in my dreams several times each month) as well as several other spots in the area which remain so near and dear to my heart and which continue to live - thrive - in my memories (Franklin Park; Jr. 4; White City Lake; Cadwalader Park; etc.), despite the current, utterly depressing reality of the entire area. I drove back to my home in the New Hope area with a lump in my throat. I have been blessed by God's grace on numerous occasions in my 51 years, and I firmly believe that what one believes is what will come to fruition in the afterlife (i.e., we each create our own realities): If a certain individual believes in nothingness, then that individual will pass into nothingness. I for one believe that I will be reunited with my loved ones after I die. I only hope that the backdrop for this reunion will be Trenton, NJ in the 50's and 60's, for that would truly be heaven.