1923: YARDVILLE'S WILLIAM WIDMANN REMEMBERED

The gentleman whose untimely death is revealed in the article and photo at the top of the page was one of Yardvillle's prominent citizens. His Yardville Hotel was one of the pioneer landmarks in historic Hamilton Township. Citizens from all over the area came to avail themselves of "mein host" Widmann as they gathered at the old hotel for companionship and a good time. Pigeon shooting was one of the events that was held regularly on the hotel grounds.

1902: THE "YARDVILLE ROAD HOUSE" UPDATED

THIS IS AN UPDATED POST RELATING TO THE WIDMANN FAMILY OF YARDVILLE. THANKS TO KATHLEEN HOWARD WIDMANN IVINS FOR THIS HISTORICAL BRANCH FROM HER FAMILY TREE.

Even as Bill's Olde Tavern" in Mercerville was once known as the "Mercerville Road House," so too was Widman's Yardville Hotel identified in the early years of the 20th century as the "Yardville Road House". It was the gathering place for many transients who were going to or from the depot at Sand Town on the Camden and Amboy Railroad. It was also the location of Zwerlein's German oriented hotel and restaurant where many prominent local men gathered for a lively pigeon shoot....yes, with live pigeons. The Kuser boys were avid shooters.

On December 15, 2011, Kathleen Ivins wrote:

Widmann's Yardville Hotel was owned by the parents of John Phillip Widmann who married Mary Hand Widmann. (Note the two "n's" on the end of Widmann.) When John's father died his mother was not allowed by the "city fathers" to run the hotel as she was a "woman" and it would be unseemly. She moved from her hotel into the little voting house next door to the hotel where she raised her children. John enlarged the house after he married Mary. They raised four sons in that house. Their fifth son died at the age of 7 after being hit by a truck. Mary Hand Widmann still lives in that house. Her oldest son, John P. Widmann and his wife, Charlotte live with her. Mary celebrated her 100th birthday on July 22, 2011. Yes, local men gathered there for pigeon shoots. One year Annie Oakley attended a shoot where John Widmann (the first) out shot her.

I am Kathleen Howard (Widmann) Ivins.

Thank you Ms. Ivins. Your input is appreciated and historically valuable.

Tom Glover

1910: (Circa )WIDMAN'S YARDVILLE HOTEL

This is probably the photograph from which the hand colored post card was made. There is a graphic of this postal card elsewhere on this blog. (SEARCH BLOG) "WIDMAN" or "YARDVILLE." Unfortunately the camera lens on this particular photo lacked the necessary precision to bring a high quality focus. However, this is a rare photo from the Hamilton Library "Credenza Hideaway."

Widman's Yardville Hotel Ca. 1910

Old postal cards in my collection always provide an interesting view into the past. Here's a very interesting hand colored card showing the venerable old Yardville Hotel.