1946: AN INCREDIBLY HISTORIC HAMILTON LANDMARK

We in the realm of historical interest intensely dislike the word "progress" when it is used in relation to irreplaceable historic buildings. Unfortunately. this wonderful relic of the 16th century is long gone. Here is a splendid R.C. Maxwell photo of the building as it looked when I was a lad of 13. I probably passed by it countless times on my way to Lakeside in Yardville, but had no idea of the incredible history that resided within its walls.

1982: REMEMBERING A LANDMARK THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN DESTROYED

When one gets involved with tedious art work such as the pen and ink sketch I made way back in 1982, memories of working on that historic "White Horse Inn" had my mind flashing back to the years when that historic old building was in full operation. As I laid in the details of the dirt road, I imagined a group Civil War Yanks coming to the watering hole from nearby Camp Perrine or Camp Olden. In passing the abandoned Bromley Inn on Nottingham Way, I fear we will soon hear news that historic old 1890's Charles Fulkert historic landmark will be relegated to the wrecker's ball. Were I to be lucky enough to win one of those massive lottery playouts, there would be MANY local venues that would be preserved. Dream on, Glover!

1946: GROPP'S WHITE HORSE TAVERN

It is a strange truth that I passed by this White Horse landmark countless times in my teen years and never stopped to realize what an historic treasure it was. I guess my interest in history took a back seat to my burgeoning fascination with the many young ladies who were the object of my affection. In retrospect, this photo of the old tavern is a sad reminder that we have lost many of our historic landmarks to the wrecker's ball. It was only after I matured, married, and had a family that my innate interest in history came to the fore. As that old Pennsylvania Dutch quotation goes, "Ve get too soon old, und too late schmart!"

1946: GROPP'S WHITE HORSE TAVERN

THIS IS ONE OF THE LATER VIEWS OF THE WHITE HORSE TAVERN AS IT APPEARED IN 1946. IT IS A SAD FACT THAT MANY OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP'S HISTORIC LANDMARKS FELL TO THE WRECKER'S BALL. THE BROMLEY INN IS NOW BOARDED UP AND ON THE ENDANGERED LIST. 

1946: GROPP'S WHITE HORSE HOTEL

This excellent photo showing cars on South Broad Street approaching the White Horse circle shows the White Horse Hotel which for whatever reason was demolished and lost to posterity. So many of our town fathers in years past had little interest in historic preservation as opposed to "progress."

2 Comments

Lee Belardino said...

Tommy:
I Remember the circle well. Hung out at Scotty's with the rest of the gang drinking milk shakes. Remember too there was a Tomato Pie place that we used to go after operetta practice. Can't remember the name but it was like yesterday. Wow! Tom,these pictures are the absolute greatest.
Lee

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Michael said...

Lee:

As Ralph reminded me the last week, when I digressed on this area, it was the great "Tony Cal's" aka the Petito family. They moved to Rt. 33, and prospered there for years, before being bought out by Dave Eide, who operated a "Boite" at that location; Shakespear's ?

Mike Kuzma

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

1949: WHITE HORSE CIRCLE BACK IN MY TEENS

How many times did we tool down to Bordentown to Hamburger Heaven or the White Horse Bowling Academy back in those wonderful years? if you took a right turn from Route 206 in the foreground in this photo, you would travel only a few 100 feet to "Scotty's;" a place where I never used as a hang out, but my dear wife Judy did when she was dating Bill Beckett. One of the sad parts of this photo is the White Horse Tavern shown prominently next to the R.C. Maxwell sign. Across South Broad Street was the ESSO gas station. Tires and an auto can be seen on the extreme right.

1982: TOM'S WHITE HORSE HOTEL STORY

Back in the 1980s when I had younger eyes, I was hooked on using the pen and ink media to represent some of our local historic places. The above engraving is one of those that I did for the Mercer Messenger in my "THE WAY WE WERE" column. Only those who are in one way or another involved with drawing or painting can understand the strange, almost ethereal emotions one experiences as his or her work develops. As I drew that old historic edifice, I could actually fell that I was a part of the scene as I pictured the old building as it looked from a bystander's position on the White Horse-Sandtown Road.

Note that I mentioned the soldiers coming from South Trenton (Camp Perrine.) It was more likely that they most of them came up Pond Run Road (today's Kuser Road) to the Sandtown Road to visit the old tavern. At the time this article was written in 1982, I hadn't yet discovered the ever mysterious Camp Olden. White Horse back then was just across numerous farm fields from the Camp Olden area.

1945: OBIT OF THOMAS PARENT

THERE ARE MANY REFERENCES TO THE PARENT NAME IN THE OLD NEWSPAPER ARTICLES IN MY COLLECTION. BEFORE ANDY GROPP TOOK OVER THE OLD WHITE HORSE INN, IT WAS UNDER THE PROPRIETORSHIP OF THOMAS PARENT. PARENT AVENUE IN WHITE HORSE IS NAMED FOR THE FAMILY. NOTE THE REFERENCE TO THE SCOBEY FAMILY, ANOTHER OLD LINE HAMILTON FARM FAMILY.