1925: TRENTON MERCHANTS ABOUNDED

This graphic is probably much too large to gain full legibility, but the line engravings will give a good idea of the Trenton in the "roaring twenties."

1924: CARLMAN RIBSAM'S NURSERY

This sign in this photo was on East State Street at Carrol St. Rider College can be seen in the background. The Ribsam greenhouses were located on E. State Street where the old H.D. Lee factory still stands.

1927: CLOVERDELL PORK ROLL ("SUGAR CURED")

This very interesting photo of an R.C. Maxwell sign is accompanied by baskets of potatoes and who know what else? I pasted the caption at the bottom of the photo which was a remark written by a Maxwell employee.

1915: MILL HILL'S "GREEN-MAR" SHOPPING CENTER

 In an effort to gain some of the downtown Trenton business back in 1915, merchants established a section called "Green-Mar" Greenwood and Market Street. Below are a few of the participating merchants.

Mike Kuzma wrote:

Tom:
What memories. Sharlin Electric was a mainstay in this even when I made my first Communion at Sadred Heart church across the street in 1941. I think Chippy Ross the lawyers' family took over the spot when Sharlin moved "uptown". Fred ran his father's speedometer shop in Conover's Alley behind this row of stores after he came home from WWII. It was a necessary stop prior to selling your car in those days.
Regards

Mike Kuzma

2013: JUNE 14: WELCOME FACEBOOK VISITORS!

TO MY FRIENDS FROM FACEBOOK:

WELCOME TO THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION, AND THANK YOU FOR VISITING! TO ENLARGE A GRAPHIC, MOVE YOUR CURSOR OVER THE GRAPHIC, RIGHT CLICK ON IT, AND CHOOSE "OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW." IN SOME CASES, AFTER THE GRAPHIC IS ENLARGED, YOU WILL SEE A LITTLE "+" IN A MAGNIFYING GLASS ICON WHICH MEANS IT CAN BE ENLARGED STILL FURTHER. HAVE FUN. THE WEBSITE IS APPROACHING 8,000 PAGES OF PHOTOS, ARTICLES AND HISTORICAL INFORMATION RELATING TO LOCAL HISTORY FROM HAMILTON TO TRENTON, TO EWING, TO PENNINGTON AND THROUGHOUT MERCER COUNTY AND GROWING HOURLY. 

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE INDEX OVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN (ARROW DOWN). IT IS ALPHABETICAL AND CLICKING ON THE SUBJECT YOU FIND WILL BE RETRIEVED.YOUR SEARCH WILL BE SEEN IF YOU ARROW DOWN.WELCOME! YOU CAN ALSO USE THE "SEARCH" FUNCTION IMMEDIATELY UNDER THE HOME PAGE. TYPE IN A KEY WORD AND CLICK SEARCH. FINALLY YOU CAN ALSO FIND A GIVEN SUBJECT BY GOING TO GOOGLE AND SEARCHING FOR TOM GLOVER DEUTZVILLE, OR TOM GLOVER YARDVILLE, ETC. 

THANKS AGAIN FOR VISITING; I HOPE YOU RETURN OFTEN!

TOM GLOVER
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION

TRENTON'S OLD DOWNTOWN MARKETS

Even as I was an avid follower of John Cleary, Harry Podmore, Bill Dwyer, Alma Lawson, and Hamilton's Joseph West to learn about our local history, so too was I an equally avid follower of Ms. Sally Lane (Graff.) Sally's knowledge of Trenton is on par with the aforementioned Trenton historians. Indeed, as can be seen in her "Then and Now" column in the above graphic, she delved deeply into the history of the Trenton Markets of a century or more ago. I am in the process of digitizing many of Sally's columns. She and her husband Sam Graff are among the more informed contemporaries of mine who are very knowledgeable on the magnificent history of the city of Trenton.

The Stockton Street Market

 

The Washington Market

City Market, No. Broad Street

The South Trenton "Farmers' Market"

THE UNENDING SEARCH FOR CAMP OLDEN

 

THE UNENDING SEARCH FOR CAMP OLDEN - AND THE EQUALLY UNENDING SEARCH FOR A REASON WHY THERE HAVE BEEN CONFLICTING REPORTS OVER THE YEARS AS TO ITS LOCATION. 

 

My 1992 Mercer Messenger column, relating to the Lawton brothers and Camp Olden pretty much affirmed that the camp was located on a part of the Lawton Farm located in the area of Liberty, Hamilton Avenues and Kuser Road. However, there have been very strange conflicting stories. One from historian Francis Bazely Lee never mentioned the Pond Run area. Then there is the article above, where Mr. Coffield says it was located on North Olden Avenue on the site of Hill's Brewery. Over the years, Hamilton Township officials have apparently been derelict in keeping records relating to Camp Olden. Indeed, it is safe to say that Hamilton Township has been derelict in most matters of preserving Hamilton Township's historical records. There certainly must have been a real estate map and other relevant documents relating to the area in possession of the township when the camp was abandoned; it was probably disposed of as historically insignificant. Camp Olden will be a research subject for years to come. Mr. Coffield's placement of the camp is based on his recollection going back 56 years. Very intriguing. Could it be that there was a Camp Olden office or other location there along with the tented Camp Olden out on Pond Run?

2013: GRADUATION TIME. PERHAPS YOU KNOW ONE OF THESE GRADS FROM THE PAST!

ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL CLASS OF 1937

ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1937

ST. HEDWIGS' CLASS OF 1938

ST. HEDWIGS' CLASS OF 1956

JUNIOR 3 SAFETY PATROL

MINUTE MEN (AND WOMEN) JR. 3 1943

 WILBUR'S COOK SCHOOL

 

HOLY CROSS SCHOOL CLASS OF 1937

1951 THROUGH 2013: PROUD OF MY CLASSMATES FROM HHS '51

We're all familiar with those reunions where our classmates tell us of the great success they have had since leaving the hallowed halls of learning; many times regaling us with stories that foretell a fantastic and affluent lifestyle. Back in Hamilton High, Louise Baird asked us to memorize the following quote and to live by it:

"GREATNESS IS HUMBLE." 

That personifies Pat and Bob Beckett who as you can see in the graphic above, have quietly shared their intellectual accomplishments for the benefit of others. Indeed, they have remained true to the slogan of the high school of our youth, "ENTER TO LEARN, GO FORTH TO SERVE." You and Pat have done that, Pat and Bob, we are very proud of you and what you have accomplished.

Comment:

 

Congratulations to my cousins (Bob Beckett and Pat Stoy Beckett) for all that you have done for your family and for your community over so many years. Your efforts will live on for a long, long time.

Best wishes always,

Ron Stoy and Kathi Parent Stoy

both Steinert Class of 1969

2013: A HAMILTON HIGH MUSICAL LEGEND TO RETIRE

I received the above email from Mr. Brian Maher advising me of the forthcoming retirement of Suzanne Proulx from the Vocal Music program at Hamilton High School. Over the ensuing years this very talented and music-minded lady has kept the tradition of musical excellence alive at Hamilton West as she very admirably continued the tradition of musical excellence set by her predecessor. I'm sure all HHS alumni wish you a very happy retirement, Suzanne. You have given the Township of Hamilton a reason to be proud of your incredible music talents. 

Anyone who has followed my column and my internet sites knows the great love I have for my musical education beginning way back in 1943 when I was in Miss Ruth Margerum's Kuser School "Glee Club" to 1948 when I was privileged to have been a student of Miss Louis Simpson Baird who was the Vocal Music teacher at Hamilton High before it was known as "West." When "Ouise" retired in the early 1960's Hamilton lost a lady who left her musical mark on countless alumni. Sue Proulx filled that spot and has maintained the tradition of vocal music excellence that has become a Hamilton West hallmark. As that song I often sing from

the movie "Momma Mia" goes, 

"Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing,

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing,

Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty,

What would life be,

Without a song or a dance what are we,

So I say thank you for the music,

For giving it to me.."

May God bless you, Suzanne, and a very long and happy retirement!

 

Tom - Thank you, thank you for the tribute to Ms. Sue Proulx on her retirement this year. Both of our sons were fortunate to have worked with her in their years at HHSW. The performances were outstanding and she was/is a master educator! Good luck, Ms. Proulx and thanks for some wonderful memories and all you have done! Lakeside Girl (Eleanor Guear)

THE CENTRE THEATER, CENTRE STREET TRENTON

Lew and Isaac Levy built the old theatre on Centre Street way back in 1913. It served the community for many years before Trenton's landscape changed due to civil upheaval, white flight, and redevelopment of the downtown Trenton area in the 1960's. I took the above photo back when I was a Eucharistic Minister at Sacred Heart Church and ministered to the shut ins at the old Stokeley Plant on Lalor Street. That section of South Trenton has a fascinating history from it early years as Bloomsbury, Lamberton, and far far back to the ferry (Ferry Street) in Colonial times. I wonder if the Levy brothers have a relationship to my friend who had the Greenwood Theater, Edgar Levy. Perhaps another of our knowledgeable South Trentonians can enlighten me.

1952: ZOOMING IN ON STATE AND BROAD

The is a "zoom" photo which zooms in on the RKO Capitol Theatre, Gimbels, and Swern's. The R.C. Maxwell/Duke University Library photo that precedes this was used in order to get a more intimate view. This particular view is very familiar to those of us who remember Trenton before it was decimated in the 1960's and the city converted into a haven for the many buildings occupied by the state of New Jersey.

1952: ANOTHER VIEW OF STATE AND BROAD THAT I REMEMBER

This is the era in which I and many of my contemporaries remember. This camera man is standing on the west side of North Broad Street looking down to the Capitol Theater, Goldberg's, etc. Wonderful town back then, alive, busy, and orderly.

1920's - 1930's: REMEMBERING THE NON SLICED LOAF OF BREAD

Back when I was a boy 7 decades ago or more, we bought unsliced bread. Why? Money was tight. Bread cost a nickel or dime a loaf and with 5 hungry mouths to feed, Mom Glover saw that slicing one by one kept the other end of the loaf fresher than if there were air circulating between the slices. The interesting sales ad from Freihoffers lists the "corner stores" and others who carried the then popular bread.

"LAKESIDE," AKA GROPP'S LAKE

 

 Here's a folio of interesting Lakeside/Gropp's Lake graphics. The two photos above were given to me by Mr. Harold Yaede whose family lived in the Lakeside Park area for years. I have begun to brand these graphics since I find that they are being borrowed without following the protocol of crediting the source. Mr. Yaede and his friend Harold Hager treasured their years as Lakeside residents.

1883: DISASTROUS FIRE AT ST. JOHN'S R.C. CHURCH

St. John's preceded today's Sacred Heart Church on South Broad and Centre Street.

.There is a very detailed account of this destructive fire at St. John's in the Local History Collection, but it is a very large file, and cannot be made legible due to its size. Consequently, this article will give the very basic details of the fire.

SACRED HEART-ST. JOHN'S R.C. CHURCH, TRENTON

 What the well dressed clergy are wearing

 One of the columns I wrote dealing with the oldest Roman Catholic Parish in New Jersey

 The interior of old St. Johns, Centre Street. Replaced by today's Sacred Heart after a disastrous fire.

  There were many Sacred Heart events that were patronized by local citizens

Another fire at Sacred Heart