1979: Al DeMartin, Superintendent

Al was a high profile Hamiltonian who was accessible; a very rare trait in today's society. Were it not for him, many of the historical entries you are finding on Hamilton High, Kuser, and other Hamilton Township schools would never have seen the light of day. How refreshing it was to pick up the phone, dial it, and have a real live secretary answer, and more refreshing, to ask for Mr. DeMartin and have a real live conversation with the real live Superintendent of Hamilton's schools. None of the "If you know your party's extension, enter it now...." "....I'm sorry, I can't come to the phone right now. If you leave your message, someone will get back to you..." "..he (or she) is in a meeting; I'll have him return your call..." You know the drill; you're still waiting for the return call. Voice mail is the worse thing that ever happened to mankind's efforts to correspond with fellow citizens who are insulated in their respective offices.

1890: SANDTOWN AND SAND HILLS

Read the above article and learn why Mercerville was once known as "Sandtown," and Yardville "Sand Hills." Indeed, a very large part of southern Mercer County was the recipient of sandy sediment which I assume went back to the age of gaciers.

1890: TRENTON'S SUMPTUOUS MANSIONS

Don't you wish we could go back and start all over again? Greenwood Avenue area near the rail station, Monmouth Street, West State Street, and the immediate environs had some of the most incredibly beautiful homes with the accompanying gardens and verandas back in the Victorian era. As you pass down Greenwood Avenue today, you will still see some of these beautiful mansions, once owned by some of Trenton's most affluent and influential people, falling into ruin. Some are even boarded up.

1890:TRENTON IS A BASEBALL TOWN

Play Ball! With the start of the 2009 baseball season getting underway with another week or so, it's appropriate that I start to enter a few interesting items regarding America's favorite pastime from my "BASEBALL" folder. I really look forward to another season of Yankee baseball. (Yup, a Yankee fan since 1948 from radio 1010 WINS in New York with Mel Allen, Red Barber, Mickey Mantle, White Ford, Yogi Berra and countless other baseball heroes I have heard and watched over the years.) I find the above article to be of great interest. There are many articles relating to the Cuban baseball players. Apparently they were much like the Negro league which had many stars that I am sure were superior to a number of major league players.

THANKS, TOM REED

Tom Reed has been a glover320.blogspot.com visitor since the very beginning. Tom is also the nephew of legendary fire fighter "Cap" Dempster. Thanks for this interesting photo, Tom. Thanks also for your support. If there are any former Trenton "Goose Town" residents who visit this site, Tom would like to hear from you.
TOM: ABOVE IS A PHOTO OF A GENTLEMAN STANDING ON A BRIDGE AT REED'S MILL ON QUAKER BRIDGE ROAD. MAYBE THIS IS PHOTO IS NAMED FOR YOUR FAMILY. I AM ALSO INCLUDING A PHOTO OF THE DAM BREAK AT REED'S MILL. I THOUGHT THAT THESE REEDS MAY BE RELATIVES.

Tom writes:

Tom,

I'm sending a picture of a family reunion at Grand pop James Reed's farm in Hamilton, taken in the early 1930's. That's me on Mom's lap in the left front. The tall man in the white shirt in the back row is Uncle "Cap" Dempster whom the Mercer County Fire School/Museum is named for. Beyond the fence is a cemetery. In my trips to Trenton, I've stopped many times at the Hamilton Tax office to try to look up the location of the property, but everyone was always very busy. G'pop sold it in the later 1930's and it may be part of one of the cemeteries now.

1890: PROGRESS OF THE CITY BRIGHTENS

How I would love to have a few photos and engravings of the Trenton downtown area from the Victorian era! Trenton was a grand old town and very active both culturally and commercially. Lacking those graphic images, we must depend on the old reliable news reporter to describe persons and events as lucidly as possible.

1941: MERCER COUNTY MILITARY INDUCTEES

War clouds were forming over Mercer County in January, 1941, a mere 11 months until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The shaded area above lists the names of local men who entered the fray before combat began.

1941: CATHEDRAL HIGH ALUMNI CHRISTMAS DANCE

"..on the avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us, and you'll find that you're in the

ROTOGRAVURE.."

Remember them? Well the Trenton Times once had a rotogravure section appended to the Sunday Times Advertiser. It had a full color front cover, and beautiful photos of the persons, places and things of the era. Here we have a really nice photo article of the Christmas dance held by the lovely ladies at Cathedral High School.

1941: JUNIOR JEWISH COUNCIL DANCE

"Old Timers" will remember Green Acres Country Club in Lawrenceville. One must wonder how many of the young men with their young ladies went off to fight in World War II, which was just 11 months away. Can any visitor tell me if Green Acres still exists, or has it been developed into a housing area?

1963-1964 HHS 45TH AND 46TH COMBINED REUNION

FROM CLAIRE DWIER ZARR, HHS '64, THIS REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING MISSING MEMBERS OF THE HHS CLASSES OF 1963 AND 1964.

On Saturday, October 10, 2009, the HHS-W Classes of 1963 and 1964 are planning a combined 45th High School Reunion. At our age, retirement and relocation has taken a toll on the accuracy of our mailing lists. So we've spent several months searching for and locating classmates, but some have not been located. Finding female classmates is especially difficult, since many married and have different last names. We plan to advertise in the local media this summer, but your site now reaches so far and wide, we thought a notice from you might help us find more missing classmates.

1963-1964 HHS 45TH AND 46TH COMBINED REUNION

FROM CLAIRE DWIER ZARR, HHS '64, THIS REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING MISSING MEMBERS OF THE HHS CLASSES OF 1963 AND 1964.

On Saturday, October 10, 2009, the HHS-W Classes of 1963 and 1964 are planning a combined 45th High School Reunion. At our age, retirement and relocation has taken a toll on the accuracy of our mailing lists. So we've spent several months searching for and locating classmates, but some have not been located. Finding female classmates is especially difficult, since many married and have different last names. We plan to advertise in the local media this summer, but your site now reaches so far and wide, we thought a notice from you might help us find more missing classmates.

.

1992: CAMP OLDEN

I wrote this column in 1992, and shortly thereafter the Camp Olden Civil War Roundtable was organized. Shortly after the column appeared, a Civil War buff whom I only recall as "Vince" was inspired to organize the Camp Olden group. Were we able to journey back in time, my guess would be that the property was a huge tract of land bounded by Newkirk Avenue, Pond Run, and according to the article which I cited regarding the Lawton Civil War Reunion, included a portion of Johnston Avenue. In another newspaper search, I found a short real estate note indicating that the Steward family was disposing of their land holdings, thus connecting today's Steward Avenue within the confines of the camp. Little did I know at the time I wrote the article that Mayor John Rafferty would follow my suggestion to recognize the site with a marker of memorial and establish Camp Olden Park!

2009: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME!

Join us tomorrow (Sunday, March 22) from 1 to 3 PM as I bring the program, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" to those of us who remember the golden years. The program will be presented in the main dining room-theater of Kuser Farm Mansion on Newkirk and Leonard Avenue in Hamilton. I will be recalling those wonderful years of our youth as we played sandlot baseball, the first girlfriend, the story of the old boiler, and of course, the main feature of our program, singing along to the songs we all loved. Come on out; based on past programs, I can assure you that you will spend a very happy two hours.

2009: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME!

Join us tomorrow (Sunday, March 22) from 1 to 3 PM as I bring the program, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" to those of us who remember the golden years. The program will be presented in the main dining room-theater of Kuser Farm Mansion on Newkirk and Leonard Avenue in Hamilton. I will be recalling those wonderful years of our youth as we played sandlot baseball, the first girlfriend, the story of the old boiler, and of course, the main feature of our program, singing along to the songs we all loved. Come on out; based on past programs, I can assure you that you will spend a very happy two hours.

2009: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME!

Join us tomorrow (Sunday, March 22) from 1 to 3 PM as I bring the program, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" to those of us who remember the golden years. The program will be presented in the main dining room-theater of Kuser Farm Mansion on Newkirk and Leonard Avenue in Hamilton. I will be recalling those wonderful years of our youth as we played sandlot baseball, the first girlfriend, the story of the old boiler, and of course, the main feature of our program, singing along to the songs we all loved. Come on out; based on past programs, I can assure you that you will spend a very happy two hours.

2009: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME!

Join us tomorrow (Sunday, March 22) from 1 to 3 PM as I bring the program, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" to those of us who remember the golden years. The program will be presented in the main dining room-theater of Kuser Farm Mansion on Newkirk and Leonard Avenue in Hamilton. I will be recalling those wonderful years of our youth as we played sandlot baseball, the first girlfriend, the story of the old boiler, and of course, the main feature of our program, singing along to the songs we all loved. Come on out; based on past programs, I can assure you that you will spend a very happy two hours.

2009: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME!

Join us tomorrow (Sunday, March 22) from 1 to 3 PM as I bring the program, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" to those of us who remember the golden years. The program will be presented in the main dining room-theater of Kuser Farm Mansion on Newkirk and Leonard Avenue in Hamilton. I will be recalling those wonderful years of our youth as we played sandlot baseball, the first girlfriend, the story of the old boiler, and of course, the main feature of our program, singing along to the songs we all loved. Come on out; based on past programs, I can assure you that you will spend a very happy two hours.

2009: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME!

Join us tomorrow (Sunday, March 22) from 1 to 3 PM as I bring the program, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" to those of us who remember the golden years. The program will be presented in the main dining room-theater of Kuser Farm Mansion on Newkirk and Leonard Avenue in Hamilton. I will be recalling those wonderful years of our youth as we played sandlot baseball, the first girlfriend, the story of the old boiler, and of course, the main feature of our program, singing along to the songs we all loved. Come on out; based on past programs, I can assure you that you will spend a very happy two hours.

2009: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME!

Join us tomorrow (Sunday, March 22) from 1 to 3 PM as I bring the program, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" to those of us who remember the golden years. The program will be presented in the main dining room-theater of Kuser Farm Mansion on Newkirk and Leonard Avenue in Hamilton. I will be recalling those wonderful years of our youth as we played sandlot baseball, the first girlfriend, the story of the old boiler, and of course, the main feature of our program, singing along to the songs we all loved. Come on out; based on past programs, I can assure you that you will spend a very happy two hours.

2009: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME!

Join us tomorrow (Sunday, March 22) from 1 to 3 PM as I bring the program, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" to those of us who remember the golden years. The program will be presented in the main dining room-theater of Kuser Farm Mansion on Newkirk and Leonard Avenue in Hamilton. I will be recalling those wonderful years of our youth as we played sandlot baseball, the first girlfriend, the story of the old boiler, and of course, the main feature of our program, singing along to the songs we all loved. Come on out; based on past programs, I can assure you that you will spend a very happy two hours.

2009: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME

Join us today (Sunday, March 22) from 1 to 3 PM as I bring the program, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" to those of us who remember the golden years. The program will be presented in the main dining room-theater of Kuser Farm Mansion on Newkirk and Leonard Avenue in Hamilton. I will be recalling those wonderful years of our youth as we played sandlot baseball, the first girlfriend, the story of the old boiler, and of course, the main feature of our program, singing along to the songs we all loved. Come on out; based on past programs, I can assure you that you will spend a very happy two hours.

1941: ENTERPRISE HOSTS "TMA LOCAL 62"

The Trenton Musical "get together" included numerous names with which I am familiar. Among them, William Groom (Bill's Dad?), Kirkham, Giedlin, Radice and Cook.

1941 ARE FORCE CANDIDATES AT LUSCOMBE SCHOOL

One wonders how many of the young men in the photo actually went into Uncle Sam's United States Air Corps as a result of the meeting pictured in the photo above. Luscombe was a thriving aircraft manufacturer during this era. I was introduced to the building of model airplanes when brother Bud and his buddies Bill and Elmer Peters introduced me to the joys of model aircraft construction. Among my first "stick models" was the Luscombe "Silvaire." She flew like a trooper!

1930: GROVEVILLE CAMP MEETING

THE METHODIST CHURCH PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN THE HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE OF GROVEVILLE.
=========================

BACK IN JUNE, I POSTED THIS, AND ANOTHER ARTICLE ON GROVEVILLE'S WESLEY GROVE. GROVEVILLE HISTORIAN GARY LIPPINCOTT HAS POSTED AN INTERESTING COMMENTARY WHICH REVEALS INTERESTING HISTORIC FACTS ABOUT WESLEY GROVE FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE AND OTHER GROVEVILLE ENTITIES.
CUT AND PASTE www.grovevillememories.blogspot.com.

(FOR SOME REASON, MY WEBMASTER WILL NOT LET ME MAKE THIS A CLICK ON LINK. WHEN THE LINK IS CLICKED, I RECEIVE THE DREADED "404" MESSAGE THAT THE SITE CANNOT BE ACCESSED. GO FIGURE!)

1941: JUNIOR FOUR SAFETY PATROL

My old friend Gus Perilli has informed me that the Junior 4 - Grace Dunn Alumni Association will be meeting here at the Hamilton Township Public Library. I have assured him that I will save each and every article and photo which I uncover as I peruse thousands of newspaper pages. Above is a sample of the type of material I am sure will be of interest to the Association.

1941: TRENTON HIGH'S LITERARY STAFF

We were a month short of the December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor attack that plunged America into WWII when this photo hit the street. How the lives of those students changed with that incredible incident! Many of the class of '41 in high schools all over America were in uniform within weeks.

1951: HHS: The Memories Linger

I have been writing newspaper columns for nearly 30 years, and in all those years, many of the hundreds of columns have dealt with pleasant and sometimes bittersweet memories of Kuser Grammar School and Hamilton High School. (before it became Hamilton West). The above column told of the trials and tribulations of a young man who was just approaching puberty, and the social and emotional toll it took on his emerging journey to adulthood.

1951: HHS: The Memories Linger

I have been writing newspaper columns for nearly 30 years, and in all those years, many of the hundreds of columns have dealt with pleasant and sometimes bittersweet memories of Kuser Grammar School and Hamilton High School. (before it became Hamilton West). The above column told of the trials and tribulations of a young man who was just approaching puberty, and the social and emotional toll it took on his emerging journey to adulthood.

1994: HHS PRESENTS "WEST SIDE STORY"

1994: STEINERT'S TOP 12 SPARTANS

There they are ladies and gentlemen, the "top of the crop" scholastically at Steinert High School during the year 1994. How I wished that I had the intellectual abilities of those fellow students who were members of the "Honor Society" during my high school years. But alas, that math...

1994: NOTTINGAHAM PRESENTS "SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

"I'm singin' in the rain, just singin' in the rain, what a glorious feeling, I'm happy again..."
I love that musical classic and really miss Gene Kelly, one of my favorite movie stars from years gone by. I didn't get to see Nottingham's production of the musical, but based on my experience with the musical excellence of ALL of Hamilton's high schools, I would wager that the presentation was professionally performed.

1994: HAMILTON POLICE OFFICERS KIWANIS VEST FUND

The Hamilton Policemen received protective vests thanks to the community outreach of our local Kiwanis Club. There's Hamilton Officer Mike Kelvy in the photo. Mike's Dad was a classmate of mine the the class of ;51 at Hamilton High. Mike was also the very capable Hamilton officer who covered my area of Bromley a number of years ago.

1994: FIRST CAR: REMEMBERING MY '38 FORD BUSINESS COUPE

Why is it that I have such vivid memories of my past? Really: How in the world do I manage to recall all those little bits and pieces of ephemeral flashbacks that occurred 50 or more years ago? I don't know, but I am sure delighted that my brother Bud and I have both been gifted with my Mom's incredible memory for the very distant past. I had forgotten about this column which I wrote back in 1994, recalling my first car, Ernie Plaag's '40 Studebaker President, Don Slabicki's uncanny mechanical abilities, my lack of those abilities, my love of cars, girls, Betty & Bill's, Del Rio, Hamburger Heaven in Bordentown, learning to drive on Fritz Kuser's Kuser farm by the time we were 13, and so many other vivid reminiscences. All the guys who read this post will also harken back to their first car also. When this column was written, I had numerous letters recalling everything from Model "T" Fords, Model "A's," Nashes, Oaklands, and even one letter from a Franklin owner.

1994: SAYEN GARDENS TO OPEN IN MAY

Even as Maury Perilli was the Mayor who began the process of founding our beautiful Veterans' Park, so too was Jack Rafferty the Mayor to whom we should all be grateful for bringing two local treasures: Kuser Farm Park and Sayen Gardens. Kuser Farm was saved from the developer's bulldozer, thanks to the Rafferty administration's determined efforts to keep Hamilton as green as possible. Ms. Doris Rafferty and her corp of talented ladies brought back the ambiance that was the original Fred Sayen home, while the township Public Works employees restored the beautiful outdoor landscaping.
In recent years, the glory years of municipal financial responsibility has left us. Kuser Farm's one-of-a-kind Carriage house is falling into ruin. The rear of the building could soon be beyond salvaging. The old chicken house was set ablaze a few years ago by ignorant vandals, and the roof has been covered with a tarp for a year of two. The Kuser tennis court, acknowledged to have been among the finest clay courts in New Jersey, has become a weed infested eyesore which served as an animal display in recent Kuser Winter Wonderland affairs. All these historic treasures are victims of the financial crisis we are experiencing here in Hamilton Township.

1994; MINI HISTORY OF YARDVILLE HIEGHTS SCHOOL

Yardville Heights: One of the more fascinating areas of Hamilton Township. The little community on the "heights" overlooking Crosswicks Creek has always held a special fascination for me. Indeed, the Yardville-Groveville-Lakeside Heights-Gropps Lake-Lakeside area is frought with many memories of my teenage years. I was a frequent visitor to "Lakeside" back in the 1940's. It was here that my classmates in the choir at Hamilton High Class of 1951 held a beach party, and where I fell in love with my wife of 55 years, Judy Britton. Ahh, the memories! Don't miss the dark hair on that guy in the photo. Rest assured it is all silver today.
NOTE THAT "SYKES" AND "DILATUSH" ARE MIS-SPELLED.
THE EDITOR'S ERROR, NOT MINE!

1994: GROVEVILLE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

Great article with a great photo of the guys at the Groveville VFD tending to their beautiful fire equipment. Groveville and Nottingham have a Memorial Day parade each year. Groveville's is the oldest Memorial Day parade in Hamilton and is avidly followed by the local citizens each year.

1994: KUSER SUMMER CONCERTS

How times change! I don't think I missed a single Kuser Park summer concert as instituted by the Rafferty administration back in the early years of Kuser Farm Park. In the ensuing years, the township budget went to hades and we are left with a huge deficit. The Gilmore administration terminated the Sunday concerts due to the overtime required to pay the township employees, security police, and last but far from least, the expense of paying professional musicians, all of which most certainly was a budget buster.

1936: AREA PARENT TEACHERS' NEWS

800 x 600 RESOLUTION SUGGESTED TO MAGNIFY THE IMAGE.

They have always been there. From the early years when they were generally known as "Mothers' Clubs right up to the time the assumed the name of Parent Teachers Association, local community citizens assisted in fund raisers community events, and other activities which were of a benefit to their respective schools.

1936: MRS. ALBERT RUBINO BONACCI

Thanks to "Lakeside Girl," I have correcited my previous caption to reflect the fact the Mrs. Albert Bonacci was the mother of Harry Bonacci. THANKS, LAKESIDE GIRL.

Once again I submit a post on a person whom I never knew, but whose name is prominent in Hamilton Township. Miss Rubino was the wife of Mr. Albert Bonacci, parents of Mr. Harry Bonacci who was honored by former Hamilton Mayor Jack Rafferty by naming the Hamilton Recycling Center on Kuser Road after him.

1936: HOPEWELL HIGH SCHOOL ALMA MATER

My Niece Cindy has been a teacher at Hopewell Valley H.S. for many years. When I see her, I will ask if Cherry Magner's Alma Mater has stood the test of time. Or perhaps a Hopewell area visitor to this site can tell us.

1936: THE CANAL FEEDER AT CADWALADER PARK

Unfortunately, there are pitifully few 70 and 80 year old seniors who use the computer. If there were, I would bet that many of the "West Enders"in their number would fondly recall taking a cooling dip in the canal at Cadwalader Park.

1936: FATHER KEARNEY - BLESSED SACRAMENT PARIS

I had heard about Father Kearney but never had the pleasure of meeting him personally. I'm sure there are numerous "West Enders" who attended that great old edifice on Bellevue Avenue.

2009: JERRY'S GREAT CIVIL WAR FIND

I have been a metal detector user since the old "BFO" era of the 50's and 60's. I have also searched Kuser Farm and its environs for relics. I received the following email and photo from "Jerry" (last name withheld). Jerry, your find is very interesting, and very historic in nature. I have a number of lead bullelts and "minnie balls" which I have found in the area over the years, but I was never fortunate enough to find a real live identifiable relic. I suggest you send a photo to Kellyco down in Florida. They would probably be interested in posting your find in their national magazine. I also suggest you advise Bruce Sirak, the President of the Camp Olden Civil War Roundtable group of your find. Those folks are real experts when it comes to Civil War relics. Thanks very much for sharing your find with us Jerry.

JERRY WROTE:

Hi Tom. My name is Jerry. I'm a Hamilton resident and I metal detect for a hobby. I see you are a Camp Olden historian. I was metal detecting in Kuser park in a wooded area near Leonard ave. I dug up a civil war gunpowder lid. It was from a 25lb cannister of gunpowder. The spot I found it must have been a reloading area. I thought you might like to hear I found it because I researched Camp Olden and I found you are the leading historian of camp Olden. I enclosed a pic of it also. If I find anything else I'll send you a pic.