2013: WITH THANKS TO MR. BOB LABATE!

This very little know postcard from White City was sent to me by Bob LaBate for inclusion in the "WHITE CITY" folder in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection. It is a charming representation of the famed Lovers' Lane at Hamilton's White City. Thank you very much, Bob. This makes a nice addition to the many White City articles and photos in our collection.

2012: BACK TO KUSER MANSION

A number of locals have been asking about the absence of my Kuser Mansion programs over the past couple years, and if I am planning any future programs. Thanks to Ms. Patty K. Hill and Cathy Tramontana, I am working on programs for the fall and winter season. Above is the "Coming Attractions" broadside I have composed for an on-screen/lecture program which I will be doing on Sunday, September 23rd. Jim Colello, my friend and fellow historian on the Broad Street Park area, will be there to share his knowledge on thi historical area of Hamilton Township. Jim's Broad Street Park website is avidly followed by many area residents as well as former residents outside of the area. Jim's website can be found at http://www.bsp086.blogspot.com. You will find many very interesting vintage and contemporary graphics on Jim's site, all carefully posted with tender loving care for maximum legibility. Even as we recall Hamilton's historically famous White City, we will be discussing Broad Street Park, the Rusling Hose Volunteer Fire Company, James Rusling, Andrew "Kedzie" Rowan, and numerous other subjects. It will be an entertaining and very educational program, and I look forward to a respectable turnout.

1912: WHITE CITY IN TROUBLE......AGAIN!

During the time that White City was at its zenith, there were "temperance" and religious citizens who vigorously objected to liquor sales and Sunday operations at White City. The above article tells of a trial which was to have been held but due to a foul up in paperwork, was called off. The school referred to above is the school shown in a pen and ink drawing I drew back in the 1980's of the old "Broad Street Park School" which was located where today's Rusling Hose Voluntary Fire house is located.

1956: FROM WHITE CITY TO ROEBLING PARK

I was over in Italy serving in the U.S. Army when this event occurred. In the intervening years, the park has gone from White City Park to Capital Park to Spring Lake Park, to Roebling Park.

1897: BROAD STREET PARK PARK

NO, "PARK PARK" IS NOT A TYPO. BEFORE IT WAS NAMED SPRING LAKE PARK, THEN WHITE CITY PARK, THEN CAPITAL PARK, IT WAS REFERRED TO AS BROAD STREET PARK. THUS, BROAD STREET PARK PARK.

1922: ANOTHER "GHOST" AT WHITE CITY

ONE ACCOUNT BURIED DEEP IN MY FILES TELLS OF A YOUNG LADY WHO WAS IN THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE WHITE CITY "CASINO" AND SAW THE HEAD OF A MAN WHO WORE A STETSON TYPE HAT. THE FIGURE WAS STARING INTO THE WINDOW, AND VANISHED FROM SIGHT THE MOMENT THE LADY SAW IT. THE GHOST IN THE ARTICLE ABOVE PROVED TO BE A KITTY CAT.

1910: WHITE CITY REAL ESTATE

ONE OF THE UNFORTUNATE FEATURES OF EARLY 20TH CENTURY NEWSPAPERS WAS THE DEARTH OF CLEAR GRAPHICS. HOW GREAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD THE ARTICLE ABOVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY ILLUSTRATIONS OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF WHITE CITY.

1910: BEFORE TRENTON HAD A WATER FILTRATION PLANT

I WOULD SUSPECT THAT THE SPRING IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL IN THIS 21st CENTURY. IT IS SURPRISING THAT A MOVE HASN'T BEEN MADE TO DRAW WATER FROM THAT SPRING AND TURN IT INTO A MUNICIPAL SOURCE OF PURE H2O.

1912: WHITE CITY DEBAUCHERY

IN THE FALL I WILL BE DOING A KUSER MANSION PROGRAM ON WHITE CITY, "THE CONEY ISLAND OF NEW JERSEY." EVEN THOUGH WHITE CITY WAS A GLAMOROUS AMUSEMENT PARK, THROUGHOUT ITS EXISTANCE IT WAS CONSTANTLY INVOLVED VIOLATIONS OF THE "BLUE LAWS," WHICH MANDATED CLOSING ON SUNDAYS. THERE WERE ALSO MANY INCIDENTS SUCH AS THE GRAPHIC ABOVE, WHERE LADIES WITH QUESTIONABLE MORALS HELD FORTH.

WHITE CITY'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

ON MEMORIAL DAY, 1907, THE FAMED "CONEY ISLAND" OF NEW JERSEY WAS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC. IT WAS A SLAM-BANG SUCCESS. PEOPLE FROM MILES AROUND CAME TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK TO ENJOY THE RIDES, THE MUSIC, AND THE BOATING ON THE LAKE. IT WAS ALWAYS ADVERTISED AS A TRENTON ENTITY INSTEAD OF HAMILTON. AS RODNEY DANGERFIELD WOULD SAY, "HAMILTON TOWNSHIP GOT NO RESPECT!"

THIS CLIPPING IS FROM A VERY OLD SCRAPBOOK WHICH WAS IN MY COLLECTION. IN 1907, THE NEWSPAPERS HAD A PROBLEM WITH PRODUCING CLEAR PHOTOS. HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU WILL SEE THE FRAME OF THE BAND STAND UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THE HAMILTON LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION HAS AN EVER-EXPANDING FOLDER ON THIS HISTORIC PLAYGROUND, AND MORE MATERIAL IS IN THE FUTURE.

WHITE CITY PARK - BROAD ST. PARK CA. 1908

It must have been a wonderful place to spend a summer afternoon! It was known as "The Coney Island of New Jersey," replete with a huge roller coaster and countless other rides. Did you know that every building was painted white at "White City?"

Circa 1908: White City - Broad Street Park

Did you know there was an amusement park at the foot of Harrison Avenue in Broad Street Park that was once known as the "Coney Island" of New Jersey? Did you know that it was called, "White City?" Did you know the reason they called it White City was due to the fact that every structure in the park was painted white? In its short heyday, White City hosted thousands of visitors. The local history collection has an interesting selection of historic White City material. The photo accompanying this post is from a somewhat frayed postal card from the era. Thanks to my graphics program all the blemishes have been removed and once again we have a pristine color shot of White City.

1907: White Citym- Broad Street Park

Here's a publicity ad for the July 4th 1907 activities of White City, known as the Coney Island of New Jersey. White City succeeded Spring Lake Park with opening ceremonies on Memorial Day, 1907. During its short duration of only a few years, White City drew thousands of people. There will be more White City posts in the future.

Charles Conrad Abbott's "Meadows"

MONDAY, JULY 3, 1893
THE BEAUTY OF BROAD STREET PARK AND “THE MEADOWS”
Among the numerous near by places where a day’s outing can be obtained readily and cheaply, Broad Street Park is worth a passing notice. Having an hour or two to spare on Saturday, the writer boarded an electric car, and in a few minutes was set down at Harrison Avenue, the entrance to the park. and a walk of a very few minutes sufficed to reach the park itself, and enjoy a view of nature unadorned. The scenery at the park is quite diversified, consisting of highland, lowland, lake, field and forest. On the bluff is located the Overlook House, on the spacious verandah of which cool breezes constantly play, and on Saturday Winkler’s orchestra for an hour or two discoursed a number of choice selections. Near the mansion in the cozy groves are located tables and seats painted a vivid red an yellow, designed for the use of picnic parties.
The view from the bluff is somewhat restricted because of the thick growth of trees and underbrush, which while it affords abundant shade, interferes with the view of the lake and the long low lying levels toward the river. The visitor may descend the bluff by means of the terraced stairs, in easy stages, by the road that winds down with many a turn, and angle. In passing down the steps the visitor reaches the side of “Spring Lake,” which is supplied by springs, with which this locality abounds; in fact almost at the foot of the stairs is Silver Spring, affording an abundance of pure water cold as ice and distilled fresh from its rock-bound recesses. As one passes along Lakeside pathway other springs come in view bearing beautiful names. This pathway runs along the northern edge to its southern side, and then along in that direction until the ramble is reached, where the path diverges to the left beneath old forest trees grown heavy with age, and the real beauty of the place appears. Seats and tables are scattered about, and the debris lying around indicate that many a picnic party has had good times here. Passing over the Suspension Bridge, the Boiling Spring is reached, where the water boils up, cold as ice, and causes the white sand through which it forces its way to bubble as it in a cauldron. The meadows are covered with a luxuriant growth of red and white Boneset and other wild flowering plants, which present a beautiful appearance when in full bloom. If now wearied with walking, a boat is readily procured, and a row on the lake, covering twenty six (acres ?), is an enjoyable way of passing an hour, or if your taste runs to fishing, you may gratify that at the same time. Water lilies and other aquatic treasures may be secured with but little effort. Wearied perhaps, with all this, you ascend the bluff, and there are swings inviting you to a dreamy siesta, or seated on the comfortable seats on the terrace you can feast your beauty-loving eyes on the attractions spread before you. A number of the city Sunday schools have already engaged days on which to enjoy their annual picnics and the youngsters say they always have a good time when they go to the Broad Street Park.

WHITE CITY - HAMILTON'S "CONEY ISLAND"