1905: DR. WILLIAM WETZEL'S WETZEL FIELD

Many of us have fond memories of attending Wetzel Field on Trenton's Morris Avenue and either watching a long forgotten "INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE" baseball game, perhaps a city-wide baseball championship game, or heard your great grandfather recall being at the game where Babe Ruth socked a ball completely out of the expansive ball park. This page presents a very interesting early history of what was once the home field of the Trenton High students who attended the original Trenton High School on Chestnut and Hamilton Avenues.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....I'M ONE OF THE GREAT GRANDFATHERS WHO SAW EVERYTHING YOU MENTIONED BELOW. I SAW AND PLAYED IN MANY OF THE LEAGUE GAMES AT WETZEL AND WAS THERE WHEN THE BABE HIT ONE OUT OF THE PARK. WETZEL FIELD WAS MY SECOND HOME DURING THE 30'S AND EARLIER WHEN IT WAS ALSO A PLAYGROUND. I ALSO RECALL WATCHING MY BROTHER LOU PRACTICE FOOTBALL ON THE TRENTON HIGH TEAM IN THE 20'S; LOU GEHRIG WAS ALSO WITH THE BABE WHEN HE WAS THERE. BEST REGARDS

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Tom Glover said...

RALPH:

THIS POST IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS I COUNT YOU AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS WEB SITE.

TOM GLOVER

Saturday, April 14, 2012

1937:TRENTON INDUSTRIAL BASEBALL LEAGUE

Pleasant memories are one of the many gifts bestowed upon us by our Creator. This is especially true for we senior citizens. To all the younger generation who visit this blog, as you age, you will realize that memories of your younger years will be a very important part of your life. That classic old hymn calls them "Precious Memories," which indeed they are. This is one of the reasons I subtitle this blog, "LOCAL HISTORY WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH."

As long as there are visitors like Ralph Lucarella, Sally Gillman, "Lakeside Girl," "Mike Kuzma," "Lee Belardino," and too many others to list who write with very welcome comments relating to their memories of younger years, I will continue to provide a very pleasant mix of bittersweet nostalgia, along with many little known historic articles that relate to our local area. It is my belief that indulging ourselves in these pleasant visits to the past are a healthy and rewarding pastime that leaves us with a sense of well being.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM.....YOUR COMMENTS TODAY ARE SO VERY TRUE AND BRING BACK THE HAPPY DAYS OF OUR YOUTH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY LOVE OF SPORTS AND LIVING SO CLOSE TO WETZEL FIELD AND ALL THE FRIENDS IN THE BURG AND VILLA PARK. THE DEPRESSION YEARS OF THE 30'S GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPENDMOST OF OUR TIME OUTDOORS AND HELPED ME TO STILL BE AROUND TODAY. BEST REGARDS.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Well said Ralph. We were poor but didn't know we were poor! In the long rung we are better people for the trials and tribulations we endured during those difficult years.

Tom Glover

Michael said...

Tom: Hope you and the family had a happy, and blessed Easter. I say unabashedly, that besides my family; in particular my grandchildren; Aleksander Michael of Virginia, and Emily Elizabeth of Pennington NJ, I look forward to reading your columms and adding what little memories I have to share. The oppotrtunity to share joyful memories of our youth,and the impetus you provide us to do so, it most appreciated. Keep up the good work. Best regards Mike Kuzma

MANY THANKS, MIKE. IT'S FOLKS LIKE YOU WHO MAKE ALL THE HARD WORK EASY. AS TO MY EASTER (AND MY EASTER DAY 57TH ANNIVERSARY, A REAL PROBLEM. I CAME DOWN WITH A WALL BANGING HEAD COLD AND UNFORTUNATELY SHARED IT WITH MY WIFE. PLEASE KEEP THOSE ALWAYS LUCID KUZMA MEMORIES COMING!

TOM GLOVER

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: The Logan family was lucky to have had one car. When my mother needed something at the store, I rode my bike to Hermitage Avenue and back to Carteret. When there were too many groceries for my bike basket, my mother, sister and I walked to the store and hiked back, each carrying a bag or two of groceries. I walked every where that the bus did not go and never thought anything of it. I used to walk home from Rider, through downtown, to save bus fare. It was just second nature and part of the wonderful growing-up years in Trenton. They are memories I would not trade for anything.

Tom's reply to Sally:

Most of our generation feel the same way, Sally. As to the bus, when my kids were growing up, they couldn't believe that I had to wait for a "Crosstown" Trenton Transit bus at the corner of Greenwood and South Olden Avenue to get to my Trenton Bearing job at 1812 North Olden Avenue. The bus only went to Prospect Street and I had to walk the rest of the way down North Olden Avenue to Parkside Avenue. Then after a quick sandwich at 5 PM, it was another walk back up to North Olden Avenue and Prospect Street where Jerry Fisher and I served soft "frozen custard" ice cream until 11 PM closing, and I got a ride home in Jerry's car.

(Come to think of it, I can't believe that I did that every day until I bought a 1938 Ford Business Coupe for twenty five bucks.)

Tom Glover

Monday, April 25, 2011

1934: WETZEL FIELD BEFORE IT BECAME WETZEL FIELD

The graphic at the top heralds the acquisition of the real estate where the original Trenton High School established and athletic field. There was no room on Mercer Street in the Mill Hill area of Trenton for a field. 

William Wetzel was a noted educator in the city of Trenton's educational system. The graphic above shows today's Wetzel field as it looked before the city of Trenton took it over and changed the name from "Trenton High School Field" to "Wetzel Field." My friend Don Slabicki and I spent many afternoons at Wetzel watching the games of the old Industrial League. A neighbor, Reynold "Rennie" Funari was one of our heroes. Some of the teams I recall from the Industrial League: Roebling, American Steel and Wire, Panelyte....any others?

Mack said...

Hi Tom:) Great work as always. I had no idea Wetzel Field was once called Trenton High School Field:)

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...THAT'S A GREAT SHOT OF WETZEL FIELD AS I KNEW IT IN THE EARLY DAYS. IN ADDITON TO THE GRANDSTAND, THERE WAS A LARGE BLEACHER SECTION ALONG THE FIRSBASE LINE. IN ADDITION THERE WAS A LARGE CLUBHOUSE BEHIND THE GRANSTAND WHICH SHOWS ALL THE CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION SCHROTHS WON. YOU MENTION REYNOLDS FUNARI, WHO WAS ALSO MY NEIGHBOR ON FRANKLIN ST. WHEN WE BOTH PLAYED AT WETZEL ALON WITH ALL THE OTHERS IN VARIOUS LEAGUES. BEST REGARDS.

Friday, December 10, 2010

 REYNOLD (RENNIE) WAS ONE OF OUR FAVORITES WHO MARRIED JUNE SOFFEL, A NEIGHBOR ON THE SAME BLOCK WE LIVED ON. HE WAS ALSO A FELLOW YANKEE FANL.

TOM GLOVER

1938: WETZEL FIELD IN WINTER

As a baseball fan of the Yankees for over 50 years, I always dislike that period from the October World Series, through the long winter to early Spring Training. Here's a 71 year old view of Trenton's fabled Wetzel field, lookin oh, so forlorn as the dormant outfield greens awaits the call of "Play Ball!" As indicated in an earlier post, Wetzel Field was the home field of the old Trenton High School on Hamilton Avenue. It was named for Dr. William A. Wetzel, a noted Trenton educator, and first Principal of Trenton High School.

1911 AND 1934: Trenton's Fabled Wetzel Field

How well I recall the Wetzel Field of my youth. Don Slabicki and I spent many evenings over on that field at Morris and Chambers Street watching the guys from the Industrial League who had a game there nearly every afternoon. The field has an interesting history. On November 9, 1906, the field was established for the use of the students at Trenton High School, which at the time was located on Hamiltn and Chestnut Avenues. It was known as Morris Field, and later changed to Wetzel Field, in honor of Dr. William Wetzel, Principal of Trenton High School.

1946: REMEMBER TRENTON BASEBALL'S "INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE"

Many were the hours Don Slabicki and I spent watching those Industrial League games almost every afternoon during the baseball season. Wetzel Field was the playing field for most of the games. I specifically recall a very talented Hartley Avenue neighbor, Reynold Funari as being one of our local Industrial League stars.

1885: Local Trenton Baseball Teams

When I was a boy, I frequently walked over to Wetzel Field on Morris Avenue to watch the Trenton "Industrial League." One of the players I recall was Reynold "Rennie" Funari, a guy who could have made "the bigs." Panelyte, Roebling were two of the teams I recall, but that's about it. The accompanying clip from my BASEBALL folder reveals that the area was baseball minded back in the 19th century. There will be future baseball clips in future posts.