1931: REMEMBERING THE AUTOMOBILE "CRANK"

I would wager that 95 percent of the visitors to this site never had the experience of cranking an auto. My brother had a 1931 Pontiac with a cranking ability. I remember a number of people who told stories of guys getting their arms broken due to improper cranking. The crank was inserted into a hole in the lower part of the grill where it meshed with the crankshaft on the lower part of the engine. Supposedly a half turn clockwise would start an engine which was tuned properly. What an unpleasant task!

Anonymous said...

Tom:You bet I remember the hand crank when all else failed.My first car was an abandoned 1932 Chevie 2 door with bucket seats.I paid $10.00 for it. it sat in Thresa alley in South Trenton. We had a mechanic in that alley by the name of "Frog" who I implored to get it running so I could take my date to midnight Mass at Sacred Heart. The day before Christmas Frog toiled till near dinner time.Last thing we needed was a set of plugs. Nothing being opened, he drove me over the bridge to Morrisville, Helped me over the fence at Piscopo's junk yard, handed me the wrenches, got yher spark plugs, we got back, he gapped them, and got out the crank, and WOW, one turn and she fired up.What a night. I felt like Rockafella. Wooden blocks under the seats kept them upright. When it was cold and snowed, the car would not start even with a crank.We had to get to school, so we pushed her down Fall Street towards the Deleware, popped it into 2nd, and she fired right up.Too bad I didn't realize it had the old Bendix Brakes, which had frozen up over night, and were worthless. To stop it, we had to run it into the curb at my father's place of employment, Sokalner Brothers at Fall St. and River road. Without the curb, we would have been in the river heading to Bordentown.Now I call AAA when my Mercedes won't start! Life was good, than and now.RegardsMike Kuzma

GREAT STORY, MIKE!

Tom Glover

1925: JUNIOR FOUR UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Every good thing has a beginning. This is the beginning of one of Trenton's finest schools. I have a very soft spot in my heart for the educators and the schools of my generation. In all my years at grammar school and high school, the only time a policeman came was to give us safety tips in the auditorium. We had school fights during school hours out on the playground, but by the time Emily Reynolds was through with the trouble makers, they wished the police were called instead of being subject to Emily's Prussian discipline.

Mack said...

WOW Tom:)Great picture. And Junior 4 still looks good both inside and out:)

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM. SPEAKING OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE BUILDING OF JUNIOR 2. MY FATHER WORKED ALL THROUGH THE PROJECT IN THE 1930'S FOR NOTHING BUT A FOOD ORDER. IT WAS PART OF A LARGE FEDERAL GRANT DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND GAVE THE KIDS OF VILLA PARK AND CHAMBERSBURG A MUCH SHORTER WALK THAN GOING TO JUNIOR 4. I CAN RECALL MY BROTHER "CHUCK" GOING THERE AND THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT ERA OF SPORTS FOR HIM. WE OLD TIMERS IN THE BURG AND ELSEWHERE SPEAK FONDLY OF JUNIOR 4 BUT I'M SURE MANY YOUNGER PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME ABOUT JUNIOR 2. BEST REGARDS.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

1895: SYMMES B. HUTCHINSON BIOGRAPHY

The Homedell area has the Hutchinson family to thank for the development of that area of Hamilton Township. At one time, this branch of the Hutchinson family owned 100 acres of farmland which was in the general area between Cedar Lane, Chambers, and Liberty Street. I have been searching for the origins of the numerous cemeteries in that area, and would be interested to know if any of those plots were also part of the Hutchinson farm.

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Tom: My grandfather was David Silver Hutchinson who owned "a residence and mill in Hamilton Township.'' My mother, Sarah, told me that 1,000 people attended the 150th anniversary of the Hutchinson Homestead in 1935. The Hutchinson family, according to records, has been identified with Hamilton Square since 1735.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

1895 GEORGE PRICE'S CHAMBERS STREET SAUSAGE FACTORY

Time for more serious Trenton mercantile history:I have put together an interesting combination of graphics which illustrates the borough of Wilbur's Victorian 19th century "Trenton Sausage" factory. As you can see by the aerial view in the upper graphic, both buildings have survived these 115 years at Chambers Street just a bit south of East State Street.

Mack said...

I love this:) Its like urban-archeology:)

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Tom Glover said...

Indeed it is,Mack. It's nice to see a building that has evaded the wrecking ball. Tom Glover

Saturday, November 13, 2010

1931: TRENTON'S FIRST SNOWFALL OF THE 1931-1932 SEASON

I am an admitted snow lover. Except for the unpleasant task of shoveling the white stuff, I am completely, nostalgically, and romantically, a lover of a snowy day or night. Even though I drove through countless snow storms from light snow to blizzard conditions when I was doing a daily commute from Hamilton to New Brunswick, the fascination remains with me. Perhaps it's my British heritage to love rainy and/or snowy days. The above photo evokes fond memories of the many "first snowfalls" I have witnessed in my 70 Plus years.

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: Oh that white snow on Parkside Avenue. We used to haul sleds out and go over to Edgewood Avenue where friends had great front yards for hours of sledding fun. Thank you for keeping the wonderful memories coming. I hope you and your family have a happy Thankdgiving.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Thanks, Sally. It's visitors like you who make it all worth while.

Tom

1931: DR. PAUL LOSER - WHEN TRENTONIANS RECEIVED AN EDUCATION

The man above was the Superintendent of Trenton's school system back when a QUALITY education was a foregone conclusion. They were the golden years of Trenton's educational system, when students "entered to learn, and went forth to serve," to borrow a page from my Hamilton High School slogan. As I read of the countless stories from Trenton's educational past and try to compare it with the system in place today, I find a stark difference in the progress of educating today's youth. Dr. Loser, along with Dr. Wetzel was an "old school" educator whose dedication and ability resulted in a system of education which is sorely needed in this 21st century.

1951: EARLY BROADCAST TV IN THE TRENTON AREA

The Glover family got their first television set from Bond's Electric on Hamilton Avenue back in 1949. The cost was a then astronomical $489.00 for a ten inch screen. I remember going with my brother and seeing many other sets. One in particular caught my eye. It was a little "portable" set with a 6 inch screen. As an accessory, you could purchas a magnifying glass on a stand that clipped on the set to give a bit more magnification. The operating word here is "primitive!"
Looking back to those very early years of commercial television, and looking forward to this year of 2010 reveals an incredible leap in communication technology. Here in the Trenton area, Most consumers of the relatively new television technology were given the option of channels, 3 (WPTZ), 6 (WFIL-TV), and 10 (WCAU-TV) If you happened to be affluent enough to purchase a "double yagi" rooftop antenna, along with an "Alliance Tenna-Rotor" you might even be able to pick up some "DX" from New York. Back in those years, the basic New York stations were channel 2 WCBS-TV, 4 WNBC, 5 WABD, 7 WJZ-TV, 9 WOR-TV, 11 WPIX, and just across the river, 13 WATV. Our first television was an Admiral with a humongous 10 inch screen! It was advertised as an Admiral "Consolette." Very early television went on the air around 2 PM, and ceased operation at around 10 PM with the playing of the National Anthem. During the off hours, a "test pattern" was transmitted which was used by technicions to adjust the various controls and give definition to the normal broadcast. Test patterns usually had horizontal and vertical lines in the pattern so the tech could delineate the image. WHAT A LEAP IN TECHNOLOGY!

JoeZ said...

Tom this is so nostalgic and interesting to read about.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Tom Glover said...

IT SURE IS, JOE. ...TAKES US BACK TO MORE INNOCENT TIMES. TOM GLOVER

Thursday, November 11, 2010   Mack said... The 26 inch wood frame color TV was the one most familiar to me growing up..seems everyone had one from the late 60s to the late 70s:)

Saturday, November 13, 2010

1931: TRENTON POLICE BASKETBALL TEAM

Many familiar names in the photos above. Louis Neese was a Trenton Police legend. Coach Thiel married my Uncle's sister, Phoebe Gaudette. It is interesting to note the any extracurricular activities the Trenton Police had back in the day.

1931: A TRENTON THANKSGIVING AT THE WHARF AND IN CHAMBERSBURG

I was fascinated by this ad from the Farmers' Market when it was located along the river on Lambertons Street back in the 30's and 40's. What caught my eye was the alternate location of a market at Morris Avenue and Division Street in Chambersburg. Perhaps a trained and aged Chambersburg eye can tell us on which corner the market was located. The Baldassari Regency is seen in the lower left of the photo.

1 Comment

Close this window Jump to comment form

Mike Kuzma solves the puzzle. 

Tom: Using the process of deduction, there could no doubt that the market was located on the corner across Morris Ave. from Eddie Baldasarri's Regency. The ad in the post was from 1931. The houses on the other corners, and the old German Club (Now the Regency) were built pre-1931, and the school (Columbus if I recall) which now takes up the whole block from Chestnut to Division, was built like most of the "new" schools in Trenton; circa 1939. Since being born on Fall St. in South Trenton, the "Wharf" market was part of my playground. Oh the memories of the fresh fruits and vegetables, the smoked, and fresh meats. But most of all the hot dog, and pop corn stand run by Lou Zier's wife. It was South Trenton's version of State & Broad, where you went to meet, greet, and eat. Finally convinced farmer Walt Ellis to give me a job as a picker when I was 9 years old. Later moved up to Star Key, and Congressman Karl Kings farm outside of Morrisville during the war years. While Dad was working in and around slaughter houses, and I picking on the farms, there was always fresh meat and veggies on the Kuzma's table. Mom made sure we shared with those who were less fortunate. Hope this helps solve the puzzle. Regards Mike Kuzma  

THANKS MIKE! Thanks too for your interesting personal retrospective on the Trenton Farmers' Market in South Trenton. It seems we both have experience in our youth as "corn pickers!"  Shall we give them the "corny" definition of "smut?"

TOM

 

1931: JOSEPH DEVITO: A PIONEER ITALIAN-AMERICAN IN TRENTON

This article is of great interest insofar as determining the fact that the DeVito family is among the earliest Italian Americans to settle in Trenton. Note that Chambersburg was not predominantly Italian back during his early years, residing on Tyler Street in the area of the vast holdings of Samuel Wilson.

1931: MAKE YOUR THANKSGIVING DAY RESERVATIONS NOW!

A full course turkey dinner with all the trimmings for the princely sum of $1.00, $1.25, and $1,75, and a Thanksgiving "Dinner Deluxe" at Trenton's Hotel Hildebrecht for $2.00! Area restaurants and merchants were checking their costs and deciding how much they can cut prices and make a less than normal profit. Sound familiar? So here we are 70 years later realizing that what goes around does indeed come around!

NOTE: FOR PREVIOUS POSTS RELATING TO THANKSGIVING DAY, GO TO THE UPPER LEFT OF THIS PAGE, IN THE WHITE BLOCK NEXT TO "SEARCH BLOG," TYPE IN THANKSGIVING. WATCH THE GREEN PROGRESS BAR ON THE LOWER RIGHT OF THE PAGE AND PAGE DOWN TO READ THE NUMEROUS (SOME DUPLICATED) POSTS.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...THAT AD IS ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH BETTER WE WERE BACK IN THE 30'S. TO BEGIN WITH, THE NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA WERE NUMEROUS. IN ADDITION TO THE DINNERS, THEY PROVIDED LIVE MUSIC FOR LISTENING AND DANCING PLEASURE. THE TWO BEST HOTELS IN THE CITY FOR $2.00 PER PERSON IS UNBELIVEABLE. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A DEPRESSION BUT IN SOME WAYS THE COST OF LIVING MADE IT BEARABLE. LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE OLDEN DAYS.

Monday, November 08, 2010

SJBill said...

The Geneva Restaurant was later called the Geneva Inn. It was still in business well into the 60's or longer. I can almost remember the owner's name - Don (but not the last name). He was another of Big Brownie and Whitey. There was a string of restaurants out in the 'Burbs, that seemed kinda related. The others were The Marroe Inn (beside the Baker's Basin Inspection Station) and Don Young's, on Olden Ave. How were they related? They all had mysterious fires while past their prime, IIRC.

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

1976: STEINERT CELEBRATES THE BICYCENTENNIAL YEAR

Here we see the planting of the area to be known as Steinert's "Bicentennial Grove" landscaped with trees donated by Lou Makrancy. True patriotic spirit of which Steinert can be proud,.

1932: Trenton WAS an IndustrialGiant

 

Many of the younger set don't know nor realize how very important Trenton and the surrounding area was insofar as industrial prominence. DeLaval, C.V. Hill, Philco, Lenox, Baldwin Hill, Homasote (Agasote), General Electric, Westinghouse, General Motors, American Standard, Thermoid, Sloane-Blabon (Today's Congoleum), United States Steet, and many other industrial giants provided employment for many Mercer County and the surrounding area. Then along came the middle of the 20th century, times were good, salaries and benefits were moving ever upward, the Unions wanted more, management wanted less, and without being too simplistic, post war Trenton began to give way to Japanese and Brazilian steel, countless off-shore products that the high paying industries could not compete with, and within a period of transition, Trenton and the area could safely be defined as a card-carrying member of the "Rust Belt." Above is just a miniscule sampling of the wonderful companies that are no longer part of the "Trenton Makes - The World Takes" lexicon. But we had our time to shine, and it is very unfortunate that American workers couldn't compete with fifty cents and hour foreign workers.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE HOW MUCH CHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE TRENTON AREA SINCE THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY. WE WERE AMONG THE BIGGEST INDUSTRIAL SECTIONS OF THE EAST AND AS GOOD AS THE UNIONS ARE, THEY PROABLY WERE THE MAJOR CAUSE OF EVERYONE LEAVING. GENERAL MOTORS WAS THE LAST OF THE BIG GUYS IN THE LATE 1930'S. LENOX CHINA AND AMERICAN STANDARD AMONG OTHERS WERE NOT ABLE TO INCREASE WAGES AS MUCH AS THE UNIONS DEMANDED. I WAS TOO YOUNG TO GET HIRED AT THE TIME AND FINALLY MADE THE GRADE ON THE POST OFFICE EXAM. AFTER THAT I COULD WRITE A BOOK TO EXPLAIN ALL THE ACTIVITES I GOT INVOLVED IN. BEST REGARDS.

Sunday, November 07, 2010

1934: TRENTONIANS WATCH THE WORLD SERIES WITHOUT TELEVISION

It was an annual custom back in the early part of the 20th century for the Daily State Gazette to construct a huge scoreboard along side of their building on South Stockton Street. Bleachers were set up and crowds gathered to watch play by play action being displayed on the huge scoreboard. In light of the recent blackout due to the fact that the Fox network blacked out much of the early games of the series because they couldn't come to agree with Cablevision due to both sides having problems with the money
paid and the money received.  
Here's just a tiny but very logical piece of advice for the Federal Communications Commission from a very disgruntled Fox-Cablevision victim: Advise major league baseball that any and all contracts with cable carriers MAY NOT be subject to blackouts at the expense of their paying customers. Any network that bids on carrying ANY national interest sport or activity should be subject to these rules. After all, it is we who are paying for viewing these channels and any inter company arguing over price should not be shifted to us.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...I ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO WATCHING THE WORLD SERIES AT CITY HALL. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE GAZETTE PUT IT ON. I THOUGHT THE CITY WAS THE SPONSOR, THEY ALWAYS DREW A BIG CROWD. REGARDS

Thursday, November 04, 2010

1977: HAMILTON POLICE LOSE THREE TOP MEN TO RETIREMENT

The retirement of these 3 gentlemen must have left quite a void in the Hamilton PD those 33 years ago. I was commuting to New Brunswick on a daily basis back then, and didn't have much knowledge about their tenure as Hamilton's Finest. Perhaps a visitor can add some info on one or more of these gentlemen.

1938: TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, SOUTH BROAD ST. TRENTON

I was a guest speaker at Trinity Lutheran Church a number of years ago. It was like a trip to the last century. A beautiful old church that has stood on South Broad Street in the area of Livingston Avenue in adjacent Mill Hill. The Soffel family were long time members as was an "B.B. Wenczel" who was an amateur radio friend  in charge of  Mercer County Civil Defense.

1977: REMEMBER CB RADIO?

"10-4 good buddy"...."ya got the jack hammer here looking at a Smokey on 130 south at Perrineville Road"...."put your pedal to the metal and keep the shiny side up...." I don't hear much about CB these days and assume it is now still a regular companion of the long haul truckers. Back in the '50s and 60's, CB was very popular. As a licensed amateur radio operator, I never had an interest in CB. Quite frankly, I was turned off by the raunchy language in those times when I tuned in on my all band receiver. With the advent of the cell phone, CB has lost a lot of the novelty it had a few decades ago..

1977: JUSTICE DENIED!

I was a "Social Conservative" when I was a young man of 25. Here I am at the golden age of 77 and now I am  more conservative. I was outraged when the courts awarded a woman many dollars for burning herself with a hot cup of coffee which she had stored between her legs while she was apparently driving a car. From the court's stupid vantage point, MacDonald's should have known better than to serve hot coffee without warning her that it was hot. She should have been warned that it was hot! (DUH!)
When I read accounts such as detailed in the article above, I can't imagine being one of the 5 who overturned the conviction of the animal detailed in the article. The constitution should be modified to erase such miscarriages of justice. As it is, the parents of that child must live with the fact that a constitutional error takes precedence over the beastly rape and murder death of a child. Why not a constitutional amendment drafted and passed suggesting that the police officer who UNWITTINGLY committed the constitutional error did so never imagining that his conversation would be the key to a criminal's exoneration? Speaking of mis-carriage of justice, the untouchable Hollywood divas and other celebrities get away with outrageous activity that would land we common folk in jail.

The  above tirade is my personal opinion.  

(From another of those ignorant Constitutionally ignorant Conservatives.)

1977: CHARLIE BOUND AND TOM GOODWIN BACK IN THE DAY

Here we see two prominent Hamiltonians in their early years of civic activity as the travel through the Victoria Apartments on Kuser road with a petition demanding action on the unfinished Route 295.

1940: MORE NIGHT CLUBS, RESTAURANTS, THEATERS, AND LIESURE SPOTS

You must forgive me for posting these ever-interesting local night spots. I note a barn dance on Kuser Road, also a few newer venues that were not in previous posts. There will be more. If they bore you, just click on the "Pg Dn" key on your keyboard!

Mack said...

Great stuff:)

Thursday, November 04, 2010

1940: CARMELA DEMARCO ELECTED TO THE HAMILTON SCHOOL BOARD

After her service as a school board member, Carmela went on to become a member of the Hamilton Township Council. She is still active today as a member of the Mercer County Retired Teachers Ass'n. who meet monthly in the Hamilton Township Public Library,

1940: MEMBERS OF THE JUNIOR 3 BOYS' AND GIRLS' SCHOOL SAFETY PATROL

How proud we were to wear those Keystone Automobile Club belts and badges, identifying us as the traffic assistants for our under-class men! I don't know if Junior 3 was sponsored by Keystone as we were in Hamilton Township, Perhaps an alumnus can enlighten us.

1940: EVENTS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1940-41 AT JUNIOR 4

I am saving graphics from the growing Junior 4-Grace Dunn School for my friend, Gus Perilli. Gus is an active member of the Junior 4 Alumni Association which meets monthly  here in the Hamilton Township Public Library. I am really happy to hear that the Jr. 4 alumni folks are very active in their new found organization.

4 Comments

Close this window Jump to comment form

Mack said...

Hi Tom:) Please tell the JR4 Alumni to get on the net. If they have important memories they are sharing amongst themselves they can spread these to an additional and appreciative audience.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Tom Glover said...

UNFORTUNATLY MIKE, MOST ALUMNI ARE FROM THE OLDER GENERATION, AND THOSE WHO ARE ON THE COMPUTER ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. I AM TRYING TO GET GUS PERILLI TO LEARN THE BASICS. GUS IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE NEW ASSOCIATION. I SPEAK BEFORE MANY SENIOR CITIZEN GROUPS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. IF THERE ARE 50 OR 100 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE, I ASK HOW MANY ARE ON THE COMPUTER. MAYBE 2 OR 3 HANDS. IT'S FRUSTRATING. MANY SAY IT'S "TOO COMPLICATED," MANY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING, AND MANY ARE JUST TOO OCCUPIED WITH GROWING OLD. MY BLOG WOULD BE A TREASURE TO MOST OF THEM WITH THE MIX OF HISTORY, NOSTALGIA, AND PERSONAL PHOTOS FROM THE PAST. PERHAPS AS THE TECHNOLOGY MATURES, THERE WILL BE A "1-2-3" ABILITY TO ACCESS THE WEB. THANK GOD FOR OUR MANY VISITORS WHO TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO LEARN (RALPH LUCARELLA COMES TO MIND; JUST LOOK AT THE VALUABLE INSIGHT HE HAS ADDED TO MY POSTS.) TOM GLOVER

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Michael said...

Hi Tom:

I'm confused. You refer to Gus as "one of the founders of this new organization". To the best of my aged memory, i was a member of the Jr.#4 Alumni Association perhaps 20 years ago. We met at Johnny Cipriano's wife's dance studio on 2nd St. near Cass. Cip, and the late Ray Kostrua of the Amoroso Florists kept the group going. The last function I attended before heading South was our class of 1949 reunion at the Roman Hall in 1999. I was joined by at least 300 of my closest classmates. Just this past month, my sister Hilda (class of 1946) attended her 20 or 25th straight annual reunion, coming up from her place in Florida. I know Gus, from his Tindall Ave days, I remember dating his sister in law Jeanie, but don't recall him starting "our group" 20 some odd years ago.

On Jr. 4 roll up the score, we'll rally round you to beat the foe! etc. etc.

Regards, and good wishes

Mike Kuzma

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Tom Glover said...

 Monday, November 01, 2010

SORRY, MIKE. I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE ASSOCIATION WAS SOMEWHAT INACTIVE. WHAT I SHOULD HAVE SAID WAS THAT GUS WAS ONE OF THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS WHO RE-VITALIZED THE ASSOCIATION. 

GO SIT IN THE CORNER, TOM GLOVER, AND PUT ON THAT WHITE DUNCE CAP; YOU'RE GROUNDED! TOM