1934: THE TRENTON EAGLES - INDEPENDENT TRENTON FOOTBALL TEAM

These formidable jocks are ready to take on any challengers as they pose for the team photo of the Trenton Eagles football team. I'm sure Ralph Zucarella will be able to add some color to this post where there is a "Chick" Zucarella whose name I assume was incorrectly entered instead of "Chuck." Help me out here, Ralph.Anyone who saw the recent movie "Leather Heads" will relate to this photo. Three members of the team are wearing their leather football helmets.

Lawrence Guest said...

If it's who I think it is this is a relative of mine and his name was indeed chick. At least they called him Uncle Chick. he was my paternal grandmothers uncle I belive.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....THAT CHUCK WAS NOT MY BROTHER, AND OF COURSE IT'S ZUCARELLA, NOT LUCARELLA. I WAS VERY FAMILAR WITH THE EAGLES FOOTBALL TEAM DURING MY YOUNGER YEARS. WE WORKED WITH JIMMY PETRUSSIO AT THE POST OFFICE, WHO WAS ONE OF THE EAGLES STARS ALONG WITH LARRY MANGINE'S BROTHER AND MANY OTHERS. SAMMY CORTI, ANOTHER FRIEND, WAS ALSO VERY ACTIVE WITH THE TEAM. THEY WERE MOSTLY FROM NORTH TRENTON AND DID VERY WELL. BEST REGARDS.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

RALPH: A THOUSAND APOLOGIES FOR TANGLING YOUR NAME BY ADDING A "Z" INSTEAD OF THE "L!" JUST ANOTHER OF MY ALL TOO REQUENT SENIOR MOMENTS,.

TOM GLOVER

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

1951: NO THANKS, I AM AN ALUMNUS FROM HAMILTON HIGH

This is not meant to offend or demean in any way those Hornets who attended Hamilton High after it became Hamilton High West, and then Hamilton High West with the Watson appendage. You fellow Hornets are still members of the high school of my youth,but with a new identity. I sent an email to www.alumniclass.com suggesting that there are still some of us Hornets who didn't attend Hamilton High with the West and the Watson appendages. I will make my own accessories using my computer and an iron on transfer to proudly display "HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF '51."

 

Mack said...

The law here to me is...you get to call your school the name it had when you attended FOREVER.
If the name of your school changed while you attended you have the option of either name.
PS: I have read of the nice things Grace A Dunn did in her day when running my old school decades before I was there...but it will always be Junior Four to me:

Thursday, December 09, 2010

1934: THE PRE-1912 TRENTON POLICE STEAM PATROL WAGON

The original photo published in John Cleary's 1934 "TRENTON IN BYGONE DAYS" column was a washed out photo. I tried my hand at hand-coloring it, and not spending as much time on the process as I could have, I at least feel it is better than the gray-scale original.

1934: DEDICATION OF TRINITY P.E. CHURCH SYNOD HALL

A number of years ago, I was one of the tour guides in the annual "Four Views of Trenton" sponsored by Trenton's Contemporary Club. One of our stops was at Trenton's magnificent Trinity Cathedral. Perhaps it is my British ancestry that spurred my imagination as we viewed the basement tombs, the incredible icons from the Roebling family, and the thing that impressed me the most, the awe inspiring woodwork in the altar area of the old building. That visit has left an indelible spot in my memory. My father was from the Stoke on Trent area of Great Britain and the Glover's were what we called "High Episcopal." My parents didn't attend Trinity, opting for that beautiful little British emulating "Christ Episcopal Church" on Hamilton and Whittaker Avenues. Even though I am a convert to the Roman Catholic faith, I still feel a kinship with those Anglicans who cling to that "old time religion."

A NOTE FROM TOM: 

The original of this article extended down the full page of the Sunday Times. It  took some time to re-format, cut, copy, paste, and re-size so that it would be more convenient to read within the limited size of a computer monitor.

1848: TRENTON'S "PATRIOTS' WEEK" IN YEARS GONE BY: RE-ENACTORS FIGHT THE BATTLE OF TRENTON

Trenton's "Patriots' Week"is  looming on the local horizon. Wwe will be reading about the battle of Trenton as the season progresses and we arrive at Christmas day and the stories of the battle of Trenton and the ensuing battle at the Assanpink Creek. I have been digging out the older articles relating to that historic Trenton battle and above is a re-counting of the mock battle of 1848.

1913: CHRISTMAS AT TRENTON SCHOOLS

This list of schools doesn't include all of Trenton's schools. However, it will be of interest to those visitors to this site who are genealogically interested in the names included in the various classes. On a personal note, I see the names of family members whom I have been acquainted with over the years, and I would bet that there are other visitors who  also find familiar names.

(The formatting and highlighting of the school names

has been added to this article which was once a 14 inches in length.)

1913: KUSER SCHOOL GETS A STAGE FOR A CHRISTMAS GIFT

The George Ferguson family was one of the early members of Kuser school from its very beginning in 1909. There were two Ferguson family members when I attended in the 1930's and 40's: Jim and Ruth. It is unknown whether the current stage at Kuser is the same as that built by Mr. Ferguson. The Ferguson stage was built before the 1924 additional wings were added to the school. Perhaps a future news item will be found relating to the original Ferguson stage.

Harry said...

Maybe our outrageous taxes would be lower if more wealthier families would make these kind of gifts to our local schools.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

1913: THE MOTOR SHOP 636 - 640 E. STATE STREET

21st century technology now allows for an exciting concept in local history. With the advent of satellite aerial views from Bing and Google Earth combined with old news photos, I am creating a new folder in the Hamilton Library Local History collection, giving us a "Then and Now" view of who occupied what building in the past. There will undoubtedly be times when street numbers have changed, but they are in the minority,

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom. I can't tell you anything about The Motor Shop, at 636 E. State St. It was before my time. I can fill in some blanks on your map. During the late 1940s and early 50s, the building to the left of 636, on the corner, was split into two separate business firms. The left side of the building contained Trenton Packard. Their showroom took up the front of the property. The building behind, with the ramp, was their service department and body repair shop. The right side of the building contained a Hudson dealership. The name escapes me. Possibly Trenton Hudson. The corner lot was for used cars and parking. Around 1955, Reese Buick, the firm that bought out Brock Buick, opened in this building, taking up the complete front of the building. In 1957, Coleman Buick bought out Reece and opened at this location. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Spruce St., where they remained for many years. The building to the right of 636, was Keats Studebaker, during the same time frame. Their service department entrance was on Monmouth St. I believe it was 1956,when they dropped Studebaker and became a Ford dealership, later ending up on N. Olden Avenue Extension for many years. I enjoyed making stops at these locations, because they really were old style buildings that had a certain charm and nostalgia. I remember seeing my first 1956 Ford 2 dr Parklane station wagon right inside the front door at Keats. It was Ford's answer to the Chevrolet Nomad. The building to the far right of the map with the cars spread around was, I believe, Fitzgibbon Auto Body. I'm not sure of the connection between this outfit and the truck and coach building firm Fitzgibbon and Crisp, which in earlier years were located in town on Bank St. and possibly S. Warren. Perhaps you can clear this up in your archives. Well, I've gone on too long. Best regards, Ray Paszkiewicz

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THIS GRAPHIC, RAY! THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VALUED INPUT. THESE HISTORICAL ENHANCEMENTS ARE WHAT I HAD IN MIND WHEN I STARTED THIS BLOG 5 YEARS AGO.

TOM GLOVER

1913: N.J. BELL TELEPHONE BUILDING; A TRENTON "SKY SCRAPER"

That old building is a landmark in downtown Trenton, reminding us old timers of the years when the familiar olive drab Bell Telephone trucks were hard at work servicing the community. I really miss "Ma Bell" and the very prompt and straightforward service the company provided to the community. We always believed that Bell employees were chosen very carefully with special emphasis on quality workmanship, prompt service and most importantly, courteous service.

JoeZ said...
Tom I remember going with my mother downtown to pay her phone bill there. There was so much to see and do back then. Thanks for the pictures.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

1913: EUGENE WILLEY ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING ANDREW ROWAN

One of the really fascinating facets of this journey into the past of our local history is uncovering little known and largely forgotten events that made the news so many years ago. In all my researching on the Broad Street Park area, there were countless articles relating to Eugene Willey and Andrew Rowan. This little-known event which occurred in 1913 has lain hidden for all these years and it makes for very interesting reading and also makes a valued addition to the "BROAD STREET PARK" folder in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection.The article refers to an article in the December 18th edition of the Trenton Times. I searched in vain for the article and didn't find it. 

I discovered this article through the Ancestry web site a couple of years ago. They have the Trenton Times archived until 1922. I also discovered it in the New York Times. But, I could never find a follow up article on the outcome. I can only presume Eugene was found not guilty. After all, Eugene must have thought a great deal of Kinsey to name a son after him.
Merry Christmas!

Pam Townsend
PS Your caption is backwards! lol

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

MANY THANKS FOR CATCHING MY REVERSED CAPTION PAM. I WOULD NEVER HAVE CAUGHT HAD YOU NOT LET ME KNOW.

TOM

1913: MADDOCK POTTERY EXPANDING

Back during Trenton's heyday as a national pottery center, there were pottery kilns located all along the D&R Canal. Maddock was one of the more prominent potteries, specializing in sanitary ware. Correct me if I am in error, but the American Standard and Sanitary Company in Hamilton was an offshoot of the Maddock company.

Tom,
Happy 300K-hits! In the 1850s, Maddock set up shop at Perry and Carroll streets and began marketing his tableware and tiles along the East Coast. If not the equal to Staffordshire pottery, Maddock pottery
was strong, craftsmanlike and cheap, and it became a national brand name. Maddock really found his niche in 1874 by branching into a new field, sanitary ware, which is basically a nice term for toilets. Soon, with Maddock at the forefront, Trenton was making more than 80 percent of the nation's bathroom fixtures. http://capitalcentury.com/1923.htmlBy SJBill 

THANKS, BILL. THANKS ALSO FOR THE LINK TO MADDOCK IN "CAPITAL CENTURY."
TOM

1913: CHRISTMAS AT KING'S DEPARTMENT STORE

I am completely enamored with those old ads from the local businesses of the past. Imagine if you could acquire that beautiful old "friction truck" that's advertised for 39 cents today! If any have survived the years, it would be a local treasure in value. The jointed  Teddy bear would also be a prized addition to a collector these 97 years later.

1913: DOWNTOWN TRENTON'S MUNICIPAL CHRISTMAS TREE

The huge and somewhat "foliage impaired" Christmas tree that graced Trenton's Municipal building back in 1913 reminds one of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. As can be seen in this very primitive offset photo, the tree lacks the fullness of boughs that we have come to expect from our current community tree. However, what it lacks in branches it compensates by the size. Look at those two little guys standing at the base who are dwarfed by the giant!

1913: HUTCHINSONS AMONG THE PIONEERS OF MERCER AND MONMOUTH COUNTIES

Conover, Tindall, Probasco, Hulse, Mount, Cubberley, and Applegate: Just a few of the names of families who are and were very prominent in our area. My mom was a Mount, and my search for her genealogical connections is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. I have learned that her branch of the family was connected to the Huguenots. The above article lists many of those old line families.

1913: BAYARD DUNKLE'S TRENTON TURKISH BATH

I think we now refer to the "Turkish Bath" as a Sauna. A quick check on the internet shows that Turkish baths are a Turkish custom, but not exclusive to Turkey. Many middle eastern countries and even here in North America, many cities hosted these public baths. The helicopter view of 132 North Warren Street places it next to St. Michael's P.E. Church. Be advised that this was 132 North Warren Street in 1913. Perhaps the number of the buildings has changed over the years.

1913: HAYNES AUTO FIRST WITH ELECTRIC GEAR SHIFTING, FIRST CAR WITH A HARD ROOF

It was "hi tech" back in 1913 when Haynes introduced their quite expensive auto line. I tried to find a photo of a vintage 1913 Haynes in a web surfing expedition but was not successful. I did see a note that Haynes was the first auto maker to dispense with the "rag top" and build an auto with a steel roof. So, here you see an attempt to solve the grinding gears problem which was and is so common with "stick shift" vehicles. 

1913: ABNER BRAUN - TRENTON FARMER AND POLICEMAN

These retrospective articles give a very interesting insight into the life and times of our area as it was lived back in the distant past. Abner Braun's mini farm is long gone, having been replaced by rows of homes on all corners of the South Clinton Avenue and Stanton Street. Note that the article places the farm "2 blocks from his home." As can be seen in the aerial view above, his home is on the same block as the intersection. It is possible that the street numbers have changed in the intervening years. However, the farm site is at one of the 4 corners on the map.

It has been 20 years since we lost the man who will never be forgotten by the parishioners of St. Anthony Church on South Olden Avenue in Hamilton. Monsignor Michael P. McCorristin was a very dear friend to me and my family, and to countless others who attended that church back when he was the Pastor. I wrote the above eulogy in memory of the "Iron Mike" in 1990 when we learned of his passing. A memorial Mass is being celebrated this coming Saturday evening at Trenton Catholic Academy. I would love to attend that Mass, but I didn't know of the Memorial service until only recently. Unfortunately, I have a prior commitment.

Mack said...
What a nice tribute Tom:)
God Bless Msr Michael McCorristin:)

Thursday, December 02, 2010

1913: ADDITION NEEDED AT THE TITUSVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL

These wonderful old country schools hold a special interest for me. Some communities have had the foresight to preserve them so that the present generations can get an idea of education in the long ago years of the 19th and 29th centuries,

1913: A NEW ORGAN FOR TRENTON'S FIRST M.E. CHURCH

It had all the "hi-tech" bells and whistles of the day. The graphic above is a  combination of 3 graphics. The middle graphic is a 1913 organ announcement from the Trenton Times; the other two are from the "FIRST METHODIST CHURCH" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection. .

1913: SOME OF CHAMBERSBURG'S PIONEER MERCHANTS

This fascinating cut, copy, and pasteup of ads from Chambersburg in 1913. Note the ad for Silk's Pharmacy, the same Silk's that was taken over by Harvey Silk who served the Bromley community for many years in his drug store on Greenwood and Norway Avenues. Harvey was the best, and he is very much missed. It was a sad day when the independent Pharmacy became the victim of the Walgreens, CVS's and RiteAids.

SJBill said...

The Urken store at S. Broad and Dye must have predated S.S. Allen and sons. The old brick building is still present, but it's been a long time since I was in there. I was probably looking at Lionel trains just before Christmas, or getting my feet x-rayed to see if my Poll Parrot shoes would fit.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

JoeB said...

SJBill: I beleive that Urken's was located at S Clinton and Division Streets.

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Mack said...

There were a few Urken Stores:) Also..Salamandra was still there in my Burg day wow:)

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

1913: REV. VINCENT SERAFINI: CHAMBERSBURG PROTESTANT CHURCH LEADER

Contrary to popular belief, not all Americans of Italian Descent are Roman Catholic. Rev. Serafini presided over a very popular congregation during his years as Past of the Italian Evangelical Congregation back in the erarly part of the 20th century. The message below from my friend Carlo Benedetti resulted in me removing the Baptist church graphic and replacing it with the Immanuel Presbyterian church. Many thanks, Carlo. One of the great things about this blog lies in the fact that there are always visitors who will keep the facts and photos historically accurate.

Carlo Benedetti said...

Hi Tom, The church that was led by Rev Serafini was on Whittaker Ave between Roebling Ave and Swan St. It was called Immanuel Presbyterian Church. The church in your photo is on Butler St and was known as St. John's Italian Babptist Church. There was also the Christian Apostolic Church in North Trenton that catered to Italian immigrants, but the vast majority remained Roman Catholic as did their descendants.

1913: FRED McCABE BECOMES A PARTNER IN THE HAMILTON SQUARE GENERAL STORE

Among those buildings that I believe should be on the list of the National Historic Register is the old "General Store" of Hooper and Chamberlin, later to include McCabe. I drew the pen and ink rendering way back in 1983 or so, when Mr. Chamberlin let me borrow the original photo for the weekend. I understand that the historic old building supplied the village residents with all their needs. It was also a supply house for local farmers who needed replacement parts and other farm-related supplies. The second story of the building supposedly once housed a harness making factory.

Mike Bree said...

I live on mercer street from 1949 to 1979. As a kid this store was a center point for kids and candy. The also use to deliver and I still can remember their van coming down our driveway. They were great people and found to talk to.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

1946: TRENTON HIGH CLASS OF 1941 ANNOUNCE 5th REUNION

The Tornadoes pictured above are card-carrying members of "the Greatest Generation." It was from these classes and those adjacent to them that many men went right off to WWII. Note that the reunion was held in the Stacy Trent Hotel; a Trenton landmark for many years,

Mack said...

I see this is in room c108..my brain immediately said c106 next door was Ms Pearson Geometry back in my 70s day. All the C100s are the C Building (AKA the one closest to Hamilton Avenue not counting the Library) and on the first floor. After day 1 in Trenton High in Sept of 1977 when I walked thru the Main Doors, I always used the C building doors to enter and leave and had my locker on the 2nd floor of the C building, where THS fine Science Department was:)

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

 

SJBill said...

This was the last full year my Dad attended THS. On Dec 08, 1942, he was on the front page of the Trenton papers as being near first in line to go into the Navy. He was an honors student and was never graduated here. He later recewived a GED while serving till the end of the war.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

1946: THE FIGHTIN' PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

It was such a more laid back era in the 1940's baseball seasons. The players wore baggy pants and shirts, leather shoes with steel cleats, and in the case of the Phillies, shared Shibe Park with the American League Philadelphia Athletics. The graphic above from the "BASEBALL" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection invites one and all to buy their tickets for the upcoming 1947 baseball season. Are there any visitors to this site who remember Byrum Saam as the voice of the Phillies? Do any of you old timers remember listening to a baseball game via a remote radio broadcast where the play by play was read from a teletype machine? Now I am really going back in time; and yes, I do remember! It was strange to hear the play by play with no roars from the crowd....only the "click click" of the teletype as the game is sent to the studio via telephone. The graphic at the top lists the players who would make up the 1947 Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. Unfortunately,, the 1947 season proved to be a losing proposition with the team residing very near the "cellar" in the National League.

Mack said...

Harry Kalas & Richie Ashburn were a fun part of Phillies radio and TV broadcasts and I am sure they are smiling from up above over the phillies recent success:)

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM AND MAC..BACK IN THE 1930'S MY COUSIN LOU MALLASIE WORKED FOR WESTERN UNION AND SAT IN THE PRESSBOX AT PALMER STADIUM WHERE HE USED MORSE CODE TO RELAY EVENTS BACK TO THE SPORTS DEPTS. HE BROUGHT ME ALONG WHEN PRINCETON'S BILL BRONTON ATTEMPTED TO BREAK THE MILE RUN. I GOT TO MEET MANY SPORTS WRITERS AND HE LATTER BECAME MANAGER OF THE WESTERN UNION OFFICE ON WEST STATE STREET. BEST REGARDS.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 JoeZ said... Connie Mack Stadium was a great ball park, my Dad and I were there several times. Back in 1946 I bet tickets were about 2.50 for box seats.

Wednesday, December 01, 2010