1937: WEST STATE AND WILLOW STREET

Here's a zoomed in view from the Duke University Library R.C. Maxwell file number XXX3527 which gives a beautiful closeup of the Stacy Trent and Hildebrecht hotels including the Llewellen corner drug store as it looked in the year 1937.

1955: JUST A FEW OF MY MEMORIES OF TEEN AGE "EATERIES"

Above is a column I wrote many years ago telling of a few of our teen age destinations either before or after a date with that special someone. Somewhere among the thousand plus columns I have written over the years is the story of a legendary hot dog stand known to many of my generation as "Dirty Bill's" up along the River Road in Yardley just a bit away from the bridge. These were years right out of the movie "Grease" where we were in the bloom of youth. We guys had raging hormones, and the girls had that special femininity which can be liked to fresh, newly matured gorgeous flowers. In those years before the in your face sex we find in the media, the girls were home taught in the area of social behavior while we boys CHASED girls that were CHASTE. Read the above article and let's go back for a very few precious minutes to a much simpler and less complicated time. 

1936: TRENTON'S "BROOKVILLE BRIDGE"

I will defer to old time former and present residents of the Brookville section of Trenton for any information on this vintage photo of "The Brookville Bridge," taken in 1936. The Brookville area is along the Riverside Drive-Sanhican Drive area. I was told that years ago, a tile manufacturing company was located in the Brookville area. That tile company was the predecessor of the American Biltrite Rubber Company. Perhaps a local visitor familiar with the area can fill us in.

1912: DEVELOPMENT OF THE CUYLER ST. AREA

Neighborhood development history is exciting. It gives one the chance to know when a neighborhood had it beginnings. Here's a plat map of the Cuyler, Cook. and Ardmore area which was quite suburban back in 1912.

1949: SOUTH BROAD STREET AT FRONT ST.

I really love this photo. It is an area of Trenton close to Goldberg's; which was my favorite place when I was a boy. Their "Toyland" was beyond compare. Later in my young life, I worked in the mens; wear department at Gimbels with Mrs. Whitebread, the mother of one of my Kuser grammar school sweethearts. Then, along came Swern;s and Santa's annual climb up the ladder to the second floor of the store, and finally, Lit Brother's took over. With the social unrest, rioting and pillaging of the town back in the sick sixties, all those great old landmark stores left town.

1949: NO. OLDEN AVENUE EXTENSION AT PENNINGTON ROAD

PETE SAPNAR, THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING MY ERROR!  It was I who gave the incorrect information that this was a view of Pennington Road "heading toward the city of Trenton." Thanks to the sharp eye of Peter, it is really North Olden Avenue Extension heading toward Parkway Avenue.


A CORRECTION FROM FACEBOOK 
VISITOR PETE SPANAR:
Pete Sapnar The photo captioned "1949: Pennington Rd at No. Olden Ave Extension" is mislabeled as the camera is looking up No. Olden Ave. The cross road is Pennington Rd. Note the sign pointing to the right leading to Ewingville and Flemington and pointing left to go to Trenton

Following is the re-written information which will correct the error:
 This was familiar territory for me back in 1952 when I was employed in the very beginning of what would be a dead end career at the Trenton Bearing Company at 1812 North Olden Avenue Extension. Frank Ayres' Esso station is on the right, and across the street one of my many lunch time stops, a littl shack on No. Olden Avenue where a guy I only recall as "Frank" offered the most delicious Italian sausage sandwiches you could imagine

1940: INTERESTING PHOTO ROUTE 33 AT GREENWOOD CEMETERY

Here's an interesting view of NottinghamWay at Greenwood Cemetery. In the distance you can see the continuation of Nottingham Way and Greenwood Avenue to the left. The "Cottage Counter" is on the right. today there's a pizza restaurant at this location, The Cape Cod style building housing the Cottage Counter is long gone.

1922: THE ROARING TWENTIES IN TRENTON NJ

This exquisite  R.C. Maxwell-Duke University Library photo taken from the area of Trenton's City Hall has remarkable detail. I have brightened up the dark areas and balanced the overall contrast in this photo with PhotoShop. It was originally scanned in color in the Maxwell Duke library  instead of gray scale. Converting to gray scale allowed for enhancement as seen in the photo.

1941: SO. BROAD STREET AT GREENWOOD AND CENTRE STREET

This is a beautiful R.C. Maxwell copyrighted photo of the "Green-Mar" area of Trenton, adjacent to Trenton's Sacred Heart Church; the oldest parish in the State of New Jersey which is celebrating its 200th anniversary in this year of 2014. Note the predecessor to Samuel F.B. Light. Note also the Gulf station that is long gone and replaced by a vacant lot.

2014: MY SUNDAY "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" COLUMN IN THE TIMES

Thanks to Mr. Dennis Hawver of West Windsor for this interesting link to the 1950's in the Delaware Valley.  

Dennis wrote:
 
Liked your Sunday column on earlier TV. Here's a video from only 58 years ago (only???)

Notice all the things and places that aren't there anymore!
Thought you might like to re-see a little history ---

This is a Mid-Fifties slice of life and landscape in Philadelphia and its surrounding towns, with excellent color footage of downtown scenes, neighborhoods, the Mummers Parade, Levittown, factories in Camden, NJ, and many other subjects that can no longer be seen.

It was produced at the time by WPTZ Channel 3, now known as KYW CBS 3. Pete Boyle Sr., father of Pete Boyle, cast member of Everybody Loves Raymond, had a children's show and is briefly shown in this clip. Some good shots of Dock Street as well. Notice too that all the cars shown are American!

CLICK ON LINK BELOW

http://www.archive.org/details/Miracleo1955

1946: "LEST WE FORGET:" VILLA PARK REMEMBERS

It took a little longer than I usually do to put together this graphic, but my admiration and respect for our men in women in uniform serving our country is a small sacrifice. Here we see that those citizens of one of Trenton's lovely neighborhoods also had respect and admiration for their native residents who served in World War II.

2014: "LOVE; IT'S WHAT MAKES A SUBARU A SUBARU"

Truer words were never spoken! My Impreza literally walks on the snow. Here's my two driveways that were made passable by my Subaru Impreza that is seen in my garage.

1941: GRAND OPENING OF THE WHITE HORSE BOWLING ACADEMY

I dare say that grand old bowling palace was the most popular venue back in the day. I wasn't and am not a bowling person, but most of my buddies were. Indeed, I would guess that most of the local community visited this legendary bowling academy at one time or another.

2014: WOW, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS!

Bill Klek is, and has been a regular visitor to this website. He is also an accomplished researcher who has found numerous items for which I have been searching. Yesterday I received this email from Bill and was very pleased to see that we are considered a source. Thanks very much for this much appreciated "shot in the arm!"

MESSAGE FROM BILL KLEK:
 
Tom:

I finally got a reply from the library of congress. The researcher went above and beyond trying to find any diagram, picture, sketch; did a great job searching numerous resources. But in the end, no luck. But get this: She mentioned you by name, and said I should contact you!

Bill

2014: BLOGSPOT DID IT AGAIN! JANUARY 2014 LOST!

This website is hosted by Google. In all the years that I have been posting, I have only ran into one glitch which resulted in the loss of material which I have posted. In doing routine and necessary housekeeping I was prompted to erase errors of posts that were defective for one reason or another. I am still trying to find out what caused the loss, but unfortunately there is no peronal contacts; only "FAQ" type situations. I have gone to my most recent posts and post some of the recent graphics. You will note that the page following this dates back to December which means I lost most of January for the past 20 days. Sorry for the error.

Tom: I will repeat my post which obviously was victim of the "Google Gremlin" You never fail to hit the right key strokes with your postings. My favorite two subjects are connected herein. The " Fitzgeorge's who as the adv. noted as the selling agents for the Chambersburg lots, lived just in the 200 block of Jackson St. where my sister, and cousins once lived, just a block from our revered Sacred Heart Church. Ted Fitzgeorge; his grandson was a communicant at Sacred Heart while I was a regular attendee there. Ted a local attorney married a fellow student of mine from where else; Jr. 4 by the name of Joy Nabinger. See my 2 favorite places, all in one paragraph. Nice going Tom, and Thanks for all the wonderful memories. As I have said before, Performing the hundreds of wedding ceremonies, and reading your blogs, keep me from destroying some beautiful golf course with my inability to play the game. 
Best always Mike Kuzma

With the drastic and rapid change in the Chambersburg we all know and love, the history of that wonderful "borough" is a very apropos subject. With the advent of the personal computer and the ability to display graphics of historic interest, I find more and more historical material on the web. Facebook has many local interest historic pages relating to our local area. It's difficult to envision that very crowded area of Trenton as being farmland dotted with cornfields, orchards and open farm land. Above is graphic proof that indeed it was.

1948: INTERSECTION OF "OLD LIBERTY STREET" AND CHESTNUT AVENUE

This pristine view of the intersection of Liberty Street and Chestnut Avenue at Lalor Street is a familiar scene to those who traveled the streets of the Trenton of yesteryear. The intersection hasn't changed much since then, to today there would be no R.C. Maxwell sign visible. Our automobile historian Ray Paskiewicz will identify that "torpedo" auto with the fender skirts we see on the right in the photo. At first glance it looks like it could be a Buick, but I am not a reliable source of identity on this particular view. Ray? He could see a red tail light on a 1937 Ford and identify the car!

1935: NOTTINGHAM WAY APPROACHING THE BROMLEY INN

LOVE THIS PHOTO! IN THE DISTANCE BEHIND THE R.C. MAXWELL ADVERTISING BOARD YOU CAN SEE THE BROMLEY INN. I AM GUESSING THAT THE CAMERA IS VERY NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO SUBURBAN PLAZA (BURGER KING, PAYLESS SHOES, ETC.)

1998: THERE WAS A REAL SCANDAL BREWING

There was a very substantial scandal brewing back in 1998 when the State Police raided the site of today's Hamilton Senior Center on Cypress lane and found slot machines, poker tables and other Atlantic City type gambling appliances along with a selection of liquor and other spirits. It turned out that there were many prominent local citizens who frequented the establishment. Fortunately for those prominent folks, the Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal was the front page news and helped to overshadow the situation. It turned out that politicians of both parties were involved and even some connected to the judiciary.

1940: SOUTH WARREN ST. AND THE CURTIS BOWLING LANES

I'm sure Ralph Lucarella and other "vintage" visitors to this page will recognize the Curtis Bowling building on the left in this photo. I didn't realize they were located there and it was quite a surprise to me. How I would love to hop into that beautiful Oldsmobile in the foreground! It probably had less than 7,000 miles on the odometer! I would also add that I am completely disoriented. What is that tall building in the far distance?

*****

Facebook has developed into a universally popular meeting place for millions of computer users. In addition to our popular www.glover320.blogspot.com website which has over 700,000 visits, the decision has been made to move on to Facebook for additional visitors who are dedicated Facebook users.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Glovers-Hamilton-Library-Local-History-Scrapbook/529296263810111

WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINK. MAKE SURE YOU ARE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE. YOU WILL SEE EITHER "SHOW" OR "HIDE" ON THE UPPER RIGHT OF THE PAGE.
IF IT SAYS "SLOW," CLICK ON "HIDE"TO GET TO THE MAIN PAGE.

1977: THE GERTRUDE SIMPSON CENTER

Today it is the home of John Scarpati's magnificent Italian American organization. Formerly the home of the Colonial Volunteer Fire Company, this building on the corner of Liberty and Newkirk Avenue was given up when it was decided that the fire company had outgrown the building which was much to small to house the much larger contemporary fire fighting equipment. When the Baron Club scandal broke back in the 1970's, the property was acquired by Hamilton Township and it is the site of today's Hamilton Senior Citizen complex on Cypress Lane.

2013: ALONG WITH THIS WEBSITE, WE ARE NOW POSTING ON FACEBOOK

Facebook has developed into a universally popular meeting place for millions of computer users. In addition to our popular www.glover320.blogspot.com website which has over 700,000 visits, the decision has been made to move on to Facebook for additional visitors who are dedicated Facebook users.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Glovers-Hamilton-Library-Local-History-Scrapbook/529296263810111https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Glovers-Hamilton-Library-Local-History-Scrapbook/529296263810111

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR WONDERFUL VISITORS!

Christmas is a holy time; a time to reflect, a time to remember whose birth we celebrate, and of course a time for bittersweet memories. A Merry Christmas to all, And as Tiny Tim said, "God bless us all!"

2013:

This time of year always holds bittersweet memories for me. The "bittersweet ledger" for the year 2013 reminds me that it was the year when I lost two of my "Greatest Generation" brothers Len and Bud. The "sweet" part lies in my website and Facebook entries that bring back very precious memories of growing up the Hamilton Township and my memories of the entire Trenton area. Above is a memory of one of my dear friends from childhood to manhood; Jesse Anderson. Jesse, along with Don Slabicki have burned memories in my mind that surely will live through eternity. The graphic shows the Anderson family who lived in that little Sears Roebuck cottage on Ward Avenue adjacent to Greenwood Cemetery. Ironically, my Mom and Pop's grave site is within view of Jess's house.

1982 MY CHRISTMAS WISH FOR TRENTON

This was my Christmas wish for Trenton 21 Christmases ago. As might be expected, events have really changed things over these years.

1910: DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT TRENTON'S SACRED HEART CHURCH

By 1910, newspapers were starting to vastly improve their photographs. I have MANY old Trenton are photos that are so light or dark that it is difficult to see the photo. As can be seen in the photos above, the images are remarkably clear for that era.

1946: MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR COMIC PAGE FRIENDS

1959: THE DOWNTOWN TRENTON I REMEMBER

Thanks to Mr. Tom Tighue for posting this view of downtown Trenton as it looked during the golden years. The photo is from the Wendy Nardi's TRENTONIANA collection at the Trenton Free Public Library. I had completely forgotten about that hanging decoration so prominent in this photo. What memories this photo brings back to me. Over the years, I have written countless "The Way We Were" columns recalling Christmas shopping trips to Trenton. A trip to Public Service to pay our phone bill, the guy with the hand cranked adding machine pulling the crank and handing Mom Glover the receipt, and then down to Goldberg's which was little Tommy Glover's idea of heaven on earth. A Tom Mix six gun with a bejeweled holster, an A.C. Gilbert Chemistry set, a raft of beautiful "Tootsie Toys," and A.C. Gilbert Erector set, not to mention an A.C. Gilbert "American Flyer" train set. Ahh....the memories are eternal!

1919: COMMUNIST PLAN TO TAKE OVER AMERICA - SCARY!

The "Reds," also known as Communists, were beginning to take hold in the years following World War I as far leftist Socialists and Communists demanded changes in the American way of life. Their remedy for "change" is list in the 6 phases of the plan to overthrow the American republic. This article is from the November 11, 1919 Trenton Times.

1893: ST. MICHAEL'S P.E. CHURCH A CRITICAL PART OF THE BATTLE OF TRENTON

 Just in time for Trenton's annual "Patriots' Day" celebration, here is a graphic of one of the major players in the battle of Trenton. Fortunately, St. Michael's P.E. church has survived the years and stands proudly on North Warren Street in downtown Trenton. LIttle Tommy Glover was confirmed in this church way back in his early youth. The magnificent landmark played a very critical part in the battle of Trenton. This engraving is from an October 1893 newspaper telling of the dedication of the Battle Monument.

1800's: TRENTON DESTROYS HISTORIC REVOLUTIONARY WAR LANDMARKS

The Hamilton Township Public Library's Local History Collection honors Trenton's upcoming "Patriots' Week" celebration with these two graphics which picture and give historic background information on two of the main players in the battle of Trenton. One must wonder what ever possessed the town fathers back then from destroying rather than preserving these two historic Revolutionary War structures. Those who are not history minded would dismiss those of us who are for historic preservation with the lame excuse that "progress" is more important than preservation. How sad!

1876: CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE BATTLE OF TRENTON

With the annual "Patriots' Week" looming on the horizon, I thought it would be interesting to read about the 100th anniversary of the battle of Trenton as told in the Daily State Gazette. This is a very large file; hopefully you will be able to find it legible.
Note: right click on the image and choose "open link in a new window." You will see a magnifying glass with a plus + click it and it will enlarge.

TO ENLARGE EVEN FURTHER, CONTROL AND THE + KEY WILL BRING IT UP LARGER AND AS IT DOES, THE TEXT WILL BE BLURRY. HOWEVER, ONE CAN READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE WITH THE INCONVENIENTLY BLURRY TEXT.

GERMAN CRAFTSMANSHIP: UN-RIVALED!

Allow me to bypass local history for a video that will amaze anyone who chooses to open it. What an incredibly beautiful "secretary" desk with incredibly beautiful craftsmanship! Just take a 2 minute or so look at this video and try to imagine the mind of the genius who designed and built this desk which was made by a German craftsman many years ago.It is absolutely incredible!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/MKikHxKeodA?rel=0http://www.youtube.com/embed/MKikHxKeodA?rel=0

1986: WBUD; WHERE ALL THE GOOD SONGS HAVE GONE

I posted this on Facebook, but they do not allow for large size graphics and the column I wrote back in 1986 would not allow for a legible read. Gone are the days of the old fashioned radio "disk jockey." William B. Williams on WNEW, Alan Freed on WABC, and locally on WBUD, Jack Pinto, Herb Brooks, Rusty Austin, Bernie Cosnoski, George Bannister. Jack Pinto and his little sidekick "Cheery the Gremlin" followed me to my 1812 North Olden Avenue job at the old Trenton Bearing Company for many years back in the early 1950's. How we teens waited for the noon day broadcast of Herb Brooks' "Big Top Ten!" THOSE WERE THE DAYS, MY FRIEND, WE THOUGHT THEY'D NEVER END. But they did. Ahh, the memories!

FROM THE "AUTOMOBILIA" FOLDER

I wanted so bad to own a Kaiser of Frazer! They were the new kid on the block on the late 1940's along with the fabled "Henry J" which Sears marketed as the "Allstate." Remember Balderston Chevy? Gilbert & Mott? You do? Hey, we're gettin' on in age!

1989: BIRDS' EYE VIEW OF MILL HILL

Lacking the ability to intelligently place the camera man's position in this photo, I am going to take a huge leap of faith and assume it is a photo of Mill Hill from the area of the Assanpink Creek looking toward South Broad Street. My perception tells me that the familiar twin spires of Sacred Heart Church at S. Broad and Centre Street to the far right where I believe I see the steeple of the German Lutheran Church, and the street to the extreme right appears to be Livingston Avenue. Please correct me if I am in error.

2013: MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME

 

These photos I took this morning take me back to my young years growing up on Kuser Farm with my best friend Don Slabicki.  Sunday night movies, driving all over the property in one of the Kuser Ford cars, summer time in the woods, winter time sledding or skating on Kuser Pond. As I age, I frequently walk in areas of Kuser Farm where few people ever venture. For me, it is a spiritual thing, and I somehow feel closer to God. There's the wild cherry tree in the area where we set up a tent and camped out. The decayed trunk of a wild cherry tree reminds me that this is the remains of the same tree with a wood pecker hole where Don and I stashed our illicit packs of Herbert Tareyton, Lucky Strike, Regents, or Old Gold cigarettes.  The windmill, which thanks to the skill of Hamilton Township workers has been beautifully restored to it original splendor. The Kuser maintenance garages where Don and I christened a brand new Ford truck body that was so new the paint was still tacky. Edna Kuser's formal garden where Don and I spent hours of drudgery weeding the paths that made it a "formal garden." Memories like these are timeless; they live on and will certainly be relived in that place they call eternity, and I call Heaven.

1897: BROMLEY HOTEL -- NOT BROMLEY INN!

Even though we have become accustomed to hearing that historic and rapidly deteriorating building on Route 33 having its name changed years ago to the Bromley Inn, it all started out as the Bromley Hotel. Before he moved out to the Bromley section of Hamilton Township in the latter part of the 19th century, Charles Fulkert operated a saloon at the corner of Centre and Furman Streets in South Trenton. There are countless romantic articles telling of the weddings and other community events that were part of the history of this historic Hamilton landmark. Back in the years when Henry N. Smith's Fashion Stud Farm was in operation in the area behind the Hamilton-Enterprise Fire Company and all the way to the fair grounds area, wealthy horsemen from all over the country stayed in the sumptuous hotel. Later, many from far and near stayed there during those many Septembers of long ago when the Interstate Fair was in operation.

1932: A SPLENDID AND MAJESTIC NEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR TRENTON STUDENTS

 

Trenton Central High School......"In the beginning." Well maintained up into the early 1960's, then down hill from there. Anyone care to enumerate some of the reasons that Trenton landmark descended into a neglected state?