1920 - 1925: ROMA BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION

At some point in the near future, I intend to present an on-screen PowerPoint type presentation relating to Chambersburg and the American Italian experience in that fast fading but legendary neighborhood. Among the files I will be highlighting will be a very interesting batch of files relating to the early years of today's Roma Bank. I am proud to say that I have chosen Roma as our family bank. Their direct deposit and courteous personal service are a winning combination. A very close look at the little graphic on the top right of the two graphics will show the home of Roma during its earliest years. The building still stands today on the corner of Hamilton and Chestnut Avenue in "the burg;" home now to M & D Liquors.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....THAT LIST OF DIRECTORS IN 1920 WERE THE MOST PROMINENT ITALIANS IN THE BURG AND A GOOD START TO A FINANCIAL GROUP THAT GREW EVERY YEAR. THEY ARE NOW LOCATED ON THE SITE THAT USED TO BE WHERE MY FIRST SCHOOL WAS LOCATED, THE HAMILTON SCHOOL. THEY FINANCED MY HOME ON EDINBURG ROAD IN 1955 AFTER I BOUGHT THAT LOT FOR $1200. THE LOT AND HOUSE COST ME $18,200. THE PROPERTY NOW MUST BE WORTH PROABLY ABOUT $250,000. BEST REGARDS

Friday, November 18, 2011

1948: KUSER SCHOOL CLASS OF 1948, HHS 1952

Many thanks to Ms. Nancy Sneath Mandzuk for sending this photo to me for the Kuser School and Hamilton High school folders. This is the class that had one of my numerous schoolboy crushes, Madeline Bencivengo, a close friend of Nancy's mom, Shirley Sneath.
One of my most intense local history interests is in the subject of our schools. In an era when self-control, discipline, morals and social values were placed at the top of the priority list as an important part of our education. Many of us who look back on those innocent years we spent in our local schools look on with awe in this year of 2011 when we hear that schools are now teaching sex education to many young students who don't know the meaning of the word "sex." Our societal descent into the world of drugs, drive by shootings, in-your-face sexual situations in the movies and on the television screen, like Pavlov's famous dog experiment, has been gradually spoon fed to American society beginning in the "soaring sixties" when our social values took a left turn and we "let it all hang out." We learned to read via that old classic "Dick and Jane," "Robin Hood" and other character building books. Today our younger generation gets to read about Tim having two daddies and Heather having two mommies. What was once "prime time" on television has morphed into language and sexual situations on TV and the movies that would have made us army, navy and air force veterans blush, as the social engineers change our perception of "tolerance" and what America should be. Please note that this is my (Tom Glover's) opinion of what I consider to be today's deteriorating social mores, and mine alone. I'm so inconsiderate that I still say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays" I don't decorate a "holiday tree;" mine is a "Christmas tree." I still love to see "In God We Trust" on the coins in my pocket while others are trying to remove the slogan that America's forefathers believed in. There are legions of honest American citizens out there who would vehemently disagree with my positions on the negative societal changes we are seeing in this year of 2011. Consider this the opinion of an "old geezer;" a card-carrying member of "Wrinkle City," who continues to cling to those antiquated dark ages traditional values.

Kyle said...

Tom,

I think it's all just perception and what people of different generations are used to. I'd bet your dad, grandfather, great-grandfather and so on would each have thought that their kids' and grandkids' generation were suffering through decline in morals and values. I'm sure one day I will be complaining about my kids and grandkids and how their generation acts.

As far as sex education, maybe your classmates could have used it more than you realize! The teen pregnancy rate was actually much higher in the 40s and 50s than it is today. For the most part, it's been on a steady decline for the last 20 years. It you're interested, here's an interesting chart: http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/TBR_1940-2006.pdf

Always love your thoughts, even if I don't agree sometimes!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Many thanks for your interesting insight, Kyle. Sorry I can't buy into that old (and very true) story of each generation being looked upon by their elders as socially out of control. However, those elders would turn over in their graves if they were to witness our 2011 morals and social values. Never in history have American morals and values sunk to the levels we experience today. As to teen pregnancy in the 40's and 50's chart, I'm not surprised at the statistics. Just think of how much higher that rate would be if those teens of the 40's and 50's were exposed to the sexy situations we see nightly on the TV and movie screen in this "enlightened" age!

Anonymous said...

Exactly Tom! Why is it the more they "educate", the worse the problems become? I am starting to believe that some things are better left unsaid and unexplained. Later in life and after the age of reason perhaps but this is too much and too early. But alas, education is a business no more or no less than Ford or GM.

Ed Millerick

Thursday, November 17, 2011

1926: SEARS & ROEBUCK HOMES

I had two very close buddies when I was growing up. One was Don Slabicki, and the other Jesse Anderson. Jess lived on Ward Avenue in Hamilton, across from Greenwood Cemetery. His father was a master carpenter and built a Sears Roebuck & Co. home back in the late 1920's. It was a charming cottage with a very exaggerated entrance way; a ski slope type roof at the doorway entrance. The building was recently demolished and a vacant lot now takes its place. On my many visits to my mother's grave site at Greenwood Cemetery, I had a very intimate view of Jess's old home. Mom Glover was very fond of Jesse and a strange spiritual connection seemed to connect the grave site with the home Jess grew up in.

CHECK OUT THOSE PRICES!

I really like to scan these old black and white ads from the past and enhance them with 21st century digital graphics software. Our forefathers would really be amazed at how far the graphic arts have progressed over the years. As to the Hildebrecht's of Trenton, there are files in my database indicating that the restaurant was in operation as far back as 1903.

2011: GLEN CAIRN: AFFLUENCE YESTERDAY, RAMSHACKLE TODAY

I received the email below from Mr. Rich Bartman, Real Estate Advisor from Princeton. Whenever I receive these requests,
I do my best to check my database and compile whatever I have. I find it very economical time wise to post it here on my local history blog and also any visitors who are requesting information. In this case, Rich was looking for Glen Cairn Arms information. Here is a Glen Cairn graphic I put together relating to one of Trenton's very exclusive apartment complexes back in the 1920's and into the 1950's when Trenton began the slide into neighborhood destruction.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....GLEN CAIRN ARMS WAS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET ON WEST STATE DURING THE TIME I WAS ON THAT ROUTE WITH THE POST OFFICE IN THE 50'S. IT WAS COSIDERED ONE OF THE ELEGENT APT BUILDINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT AREA WAS REALLY ONE OF THE NICEST PARTS OF THE CITY. I RECALL CHATTING WITH THE GOVERNOR EACH DAY AS HE WALKED TO THE CARTERET CLUB FOR LUNCH FROM THE STATE HOUSE. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT HAS HAPPPENED TO MOST OF THAT SECTION OF TRENTON. BEST REGARDS.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Anonymous said...

I guess you mean the early urban renewal projects of the 1950's that were wrought with errors that were, some say, the triggers of self destruction. I tend to agree very strongly with that sentiment but the larger trend of the TVA luring the mills south sped it along.

I went through the Glen Carin building in 1985 and I was shocked.

To have an address there or in The Carteret Arms meant you were among the "well heeled" didn't it?

Ed Millerick

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Michael said...

Tom:
In it's halcyon days the Glen Cairn Arms was home to most of the administrators in the State House.
The "slide" of "Cracker Hill" as we called the area west of Calhoun St. did not begin until the 60's, when the magnificent large homes along West State St. were bought up by investors and turned into apartments.
Just a few door west of the Glen Cairn was the Kuser Mansion with it's rich facade regally standing on the tree lined block that led up to the Carteret Arms.
many overlook the real culprits of the demise of the cities. It was the liberal Court system in this country that ran amuck, allowing zoning laws to be broken, and all good efforts cast aside for profit.

Sad; but still here. With all good wishes.

Mike Kuzma

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: It's so sad to see the once grand Glen Cairn Arms in such disrepair. My parents had friends that lived there -- they owned the drug store on Hermitage Avenue -- Leon and Molly Schutz. And it breaks my heart to see the big, lovely homes on West State Street turned into apartments and then into eye-sores. As you know, I grew up in West Trenton and I still love it very much. On our tour of Trenton with the Contemporary Club, we passed Glen Cairn and I was shocked and dismayed at its appearance. Thanks again for keeping me up to speed on my beloeved home town. I wish you and your family a great Thanksgiving. Regards

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Anonymous said...

So of course now I have to ask the origins of "Cracker Hill". Let me add that it seemed like the change in the western section seemed so rapid and dramatic. When I returned from the military in 1971, I started knocking on doors only have them opened by strangers. To a person, all of my friends parents had "up and gone" and I felt like I was a player in an episode of The Twilight Zone. A stranger in a once familiar town.

Ed Millerick

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

1969 AND 1973: ED MILLERICK, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU

I remember Perawel very well. During the early 1950's I was a near daily visitor to the Mueller Machine Shop in Trenton's Wilbur section. Perawel was located on the first block North Logan Avenue. The "BUSINESSES AND FACTORIES" folder in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection has only two files relating to that venerable old trucking firm which joined Kirby and Kirby, AAA, Lavigne trucking companies into obscurity. This post is in response to a recent request from Ed Millerick, a regular visitor who wrote:

FROM VISITOR ED MILLERICK:
Hi Tom! I had been trying to find information of what I recall as "Perawell" off the North Logan and East State area. The property ran back along the tracks to the north so it may have entered Bromley. Possibly a rubber or trucking company along the main line of the Pennsy and it was my "playground" growing up. It may have been Perewell? My searches reveal nothing. Imagine playing along the main line from 4 to 7 years old. We used to sneak food to the hobo jungle down there despite admonishments from Mom. Fun was putting a few pennies on the track and waiting and of course you held an ear to each track to find a train coming.

Ed Millerick

1949: BEFORE THERE WAS A WPST!

They played music on WTOA; contemporary music with lovely harmonious melodies and understandable lyrics. WTOA didn't place ALL of their emphasis on the 18 to 49 demographic group as is the norm in the current operation of FM radio stations today. Our musical tastes in America didn't change. What changed was the marketing. Stations wanted to target a specific listening audience. "Demographics" was the answer, and the younger generation was the answer. "Easy listening" was replaced with "Be-Bop," "Rock and Roll," and music with a rowdy "beat," Goodbye to Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Don Cornell, Andy Williams, Patti Page, Anne Murray, Dinah Shore, Rosemary Clooney and other singers of melodic music with understandable lyrics and musical beauty. Lawrence Welk's "ah one ah two a three" type music was replaced with very popular in your face vocalists with strobe lights, physical gyrations, and other talents which captured the imagination of a generation who has a much different perception of what constitutes music. As a card-carrying member of "wrinkle city," who are not fortunate enough to be in the "18 to 49" demographic, we are grateful that we have CD's and MP3 players; to each his own.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ABOUT THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW. IN ALL THE YEARS THAT I'VE LISTENED TO SHOWS ON RADIO AND TV, I NEVER SAW OR HEARD ANYTHING THAT COULD COMPARE TO A PROGRAM THAT SHOWED THE TALENT DISPLAYED BY SO MANY PEOPLE DURING A SINGLE PROGRAM. YOU OFTEN MENTION YOUR LOVE OF MUSIC IN SCHOOL AND THE PROFESSIONAL SINGERS OF OUR TIME BUT THERE WAS A GROUP WHERE MOST OF THE PERFORMERS EXCELLED AT EVERYTHING. TODAY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT;S WRONG WITH THIS WORLD. THEY DO NOT APPRECIATE WHAT THE OLDER GENERATION REPRESENTED. WHAT A SHAME

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Tom Glover said...

I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY, RALPH. I DON'T EVEN WATCH THE JUNK THAT PASSES A "MUSIC" TODAY. IT IS A DISGRACE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FROM THE 40'S AND 50'S. "DANCING WITH THE STARS" IS A GYMNASTIC DISPLAY.
TOM GLOVER

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Anonymous said...

Someone sent me a link to Johnny Mathis and his Twelfth of Never the other day. What struck me was that my son will never know such sweet sentiment. I was young then and only a year old when WTOA began so I don't remember it and doubt if we could afford an FM set in 1949! Rock was certainly the music of my generation but I was lucky enough to experience that lovely music through my parents.
I still have a hard time believing that Lawrence Welk was not Polish or Austrian with that accent; testament to the isolation of small Nebraska towns of that era.

Ed Millerick

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

HI ED: Without Googling, and if memory serves me, I seem to remember that Lawrence Welk was a native of North Dakota.

Tom Glover

2011: THANK YOU MR. AND MRS. DENNIS RUE!

Over the many years I have been out of Hamilton High School, many people have approached me and asked if I remember the lyrics to Hamilton's Alma Mater, and the Hamilton Fight Song. Time dims many memories, and Dennis Rue and Mrs. Rue have sent me the note above, along with the lyrics to Grice's Fight Song. I borrowed a portion of the graphics from the Grice 50th anniversary video that was given to me when I was a guest at that silver anniversary. Thank you, Dennis, thank you Mrs. Rue; your Alma Mater's fight song has been digitized for posterity!

1951: HERE COMES OUR 60TH! (RIGHT CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

The list of missing classmates is the latest I have in my records. If any classmates can add or see errors, please email me.

1944: TRENTON GI'S MEET IN ITALY

THIS WEEK WE HONOR OUR HEROIC VETERANS FROM ALL WARS. ON THURSDAY EVENING, AS SEEN IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW THIS POST, I WILL BE PRESENTING A TRIBUTE TO THE VANISHING MEMBERS OF THE "GREATEST GENERATION" WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN WORLD WAR II. THERE WILL BE AN ON-SCREEN PRESENTATION OF HISTORIC PERSONS, PLACES, AND THINGS AS RELATES TO WHAT WAS CALLED BY MANY, "THE WAR TO END ALL WARS." THE PROGRAM WILL BE HELD IN ROOM #2 OF THE HAMILTON LIBRARY'S LOWER LEVEL MEETING ROOM FROM 7 TO 8:30. ADMISSION IS FREE. COME AND SEE JUST A SMALL PORTION OF WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE IN OUR LOCAL AREA DURING THOSE WAR-TORN YEARS.

Michael said...

Tom:

Your timing is terrific. Great job on this post, as with all others.
Johnny Gresko shown in this photo grew up across the street from me.
Our families were very close, and remained so though the years.

Thanks for taking time to remember those who served.

Mike Kuzma

Monday, November 07, 2011

1915: THE DAM GIVES OUT AT GROPP'S LAKE

A destructive storm hit the Mercer County area in January 1915. One of the many casualties of the destructive storm was the washout of the dam at Gropp's Lake. Apologies are in order regarding the photos in the top graphic. The photographer was probably snapping photos on a dark and dreary day or perhaps his "F" stop settings were off. Add to that the fact that offset photo reproduction in the early 20th century newspaper was sadly lacking. After Andrew Gropp decided not to repair the dam, Charles Teunon, who had a lot of money invested in Lakeside Park and the lake itself, picked up the gauntlet and assumed the expenses of restoring the dam. "Lakeside," as we called it, also known as Gropp's Lake (which we never called it) is truly an historic natural resource with its spring fed lake. Were I to win the lottery for a few million dollars, I would spend the amount it would cost restore "Lakeside" to its former glory, including laying out a white sandy beach.

michael said...

Hello Tom,

I really enjoy some of these Gropp's Lake area photos. I just have a quick question. Do you know if Lakeside Boulevard and/or Arena Drive were there back when some of these photos were taken, specifically when that Lakeview Hotel photo was taken? I'm just trying to envision what the property around Lakview Hotel might have looked like a years ago. Thank you.

Monday, November 07, 2011

Thanks, Mike:

Old Olden Avenue was the original road to White Horse Avenue. Arena Drive was cut in as part of a WPA project in the 1930's. I am sure Eleanor Guear, George Golday, and other Gropp's Lake area historians will be able to add additional info. Lakeside Blvd. was part of Teunon's original Lakeside Park plans.

1908: THE LAKEVIEW HOTEL

It was billed as a "Temperance Hotel," but due to the temperance leanings of the management, it was bereft of alcoholic beverages. It is also one of the subjects I have searched for over the past 25 years. The Lakeview was located at the corner of Lakeside Boulevard and South Broad Street. My research thus far had led me to speculate that the hotel in the reproduced pamphlet above was once the home of Sylvanus Hutchinson and later, Robert C. Hutchinson both of "Hutchinson Pond" fame. This rare pamphlet has been in my collection for over 40 years. It has been digitzed and the original is being preserved in the "LAKESIDE PARK-GROPP'S LAKE" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection. A very fleeting look at Lakeside Park before the Teunon development.

(REMEMBER TO RIGHT CLICK TO ENLARGE!)

1914: CHARLES TEUNON'S LAKESIDE PARK BUNGALOWS

Here is a fascinating set of graphics from the very early years of the settlement of Lakeside Park. I have been crowned the un-official "Historian" of Hamilton Township. However, in that rather dubious and un-official position, I must admit that my knowledge of local history will never be as complete as I would wish. For example: as familiar as I am with the Lakeside Park area, there are historic Lakeside Park articles and photos which are puzzling to "historians" such as I. The photo of the lake in the above Donaldson photo shows what my un-informed eye tells me is we are looking at the lake from the vantage point of Lowrie's Mill on the "Bordentown" side of the bridge. The bridge can be seen along South Broad Street, and the trolley house next to it. I yield to my more knowledgeable Lakeside Park-Yardville heights visitors to add comments in order to clarify (or disavow) my assumptions.

NOTE FROM TOM: WITH OVER 8,000 POSTS (PAGES), I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT THERE WILL BE DUPLICATE POSTS. BELOW (HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN) IS ONE OF THOSE DUPLICATES INCLUDING THE ACCOMPANYING COMMENTS. I HAVE RE-POSTED BOTH PHOTOS; THE ORIGINAL, AND THE HORIZONTALLY REVERSED VERSION. LIKE MOST FOLKS, I DO MAKE MISTAKES!

Many Trentonians found Lakeside Park to be the ideal summer getaway back in the early 20th century. These "bungalows" could be had for a price which today seems incredible. I wonder if there are any Lakeside Park visitors to my website who can identify this house.
THIS EMAIL RECEIVED FROM "LAKESIDE GIRL."
Hi Tom - I believe this house is the former home of the Vogt family on the corner of Lakeside Blvd and Dancer Drive (formerly 6th Ave)Lakeside Girl.
THANK YOU, "LAKESIDE GIRL;" YOUR INPUT IS APPRECIATED.

waltsgirl29 has left a new comment on your post
"1914: LAKESIDE PARK: A BUNGALOW COMMUNITY":

This home faces Birch Street and is at the corner where Tettemer crosses it. The house looks the same today. Lakeside will always be "home" for me, so I love the wonderful old photos, thank you. My grandfather built on Tettemer and raised his family there. My father built on Lincoln Ave and raised us there. I raised my girls on Dancer Drive, sold the house to my daughter and in Jan. she will have a son to raise there.

THANKS TO BOTH "LAKESIDE GIRL" AND "WALTSGIRL" FOR ENHANCING THIS POST. YOUR INPUT IS REALLY APPRECIATED. (TOM GLOVER)

Friday, November 04, 2011

Tom - I think we settled this some months ago in your blog - my brother, George Goldy noted that the picture was probably reversed and you then published it in the reverse which make better sense and was correct.