1928: The Chambersburg "Red Sox!"

Back in my younger years, the mostly Italian residents of 'the Burg" were New York Yankee fans. Indeed, Joe DiMaggio made numerous trips to Chambersburg for dining at one of the many wonderful restaurants.

1923 AND 1925: SPLENDID PHOTO OF THE TRENTON STATION AND PLANS TO UPGRADE

Above is a beautiful photo of the "Clinton Street Station" as it appeared in 1925. The original was quite dark and the station structure on the left was completely lacking in detail, but thanks to Photo Shop a quick tweak and sharpening give an exquisite view of the newly reconstructed station. Below is a sketch of the new layout. I always thought it was a strange arrangement if one entered from Walnut an crossed over the tracks with a pedestrian walk way.

1951: THANK YOU HAMILTON TOWNSHIP FOR A COMPLETE EDUCATION!

On August 10th 2017, my Hamilton High School classmates from the class of 1951 will celebrate our 66th class reunion with a luncheon from noon to 4 PM at Hamilton's beautiful Stone Terrace (former Italian American Sportsmen Club). Even though 66 years is a very long time ago, the influence Louise Baird had on me as a man shines even brighter in my life as I recall the wisdom which she passed on to those of us who were gifted with residency in her Hamilton High room 300 music courses, Beethoven? Brahms, Sousa? Hammerstein? Berlin? Kahlil Gibran? Shakespeare? Keats? Macaulay, Burke? Yup! They are all firmly imprinted in the impenetrable makeup of the man I have tried to become.

1964: ST. STAN'S 1964 CYO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

I have a number of photos showing St. Stanislaus sports championships from the 1930's and early 40's. This one from JoeWojciechowski is a later version; all of which proves that St. Stan's sports program was quite successful

1977: WHEN I WAS A BOY IT WAS COLONIAL VOLINTEER FIRE COMPANY

With the closing of the old Baron AA site on Cypress Lane after a controversial existence, the township of Hamilton moved the Hamilton Senior Center to the sumptuous Baron AA building and grounds.

1938: WHEN SOUTH WARREN WENT "WAY DOWN SOUTH."

Here's a beautiful photo of South Warren Street highlighting the legendary "Casa Lido" along with Capitol Motor before it moved to Sourth Broad Street in that ultra modern circular showroom. This photo is posted so that those who want to see the photo in full screen. 1) left click the photo, 2) Right click "VIEW IMAGE," 3) If (IF) the "+" appears, click again and you will have the maximum magnification. On my little 17 inch laptop, it fills my screen and I am on South Warren Street, 1938.
NOTE ALSO THAT THERE IS A "NO COMMENTS" at the bottom of the screen. I need and welcome your comments. Please click on that link ant speak up!

1884: Independence Day, July 1884!

 

A fascinating look back to the 4th of July in 1884 Trenton!

1938: THE LEGENDARY CASA LIDO ON SO. WARREN STREET

This splendid view of SouthWwarren Street bring back many warm memories. Note that Capitol Motors is also on the immediate right in the photo, before they moved to that ultra modern circularly constructed show room on So. Broad street near the Roebling complex.

1946: STATE AND WARREN INTERSECTION TRENTON

I originally posted this photo and incorrectly identified it as State and Broad St. Thanks to fellow Trenton historians Mike Kuzma and Gino Formaroli, the error which is attributed to advanced age-related senility, i herewith corrected. How could I ever not noticed that Woolworth's, Kresge's, Grant and Kitty Kelly were not in the photo? As my kids ised to say, "DUH!"

1946: WEST STATE STREET IN FRONT OF WEINMANN'S RESTAURANT

Who among my more "senior" visitors can ever forget Weinmann's Restaurant on West State Street? It was an upscale restaurant back in the 1930's and 40's. Further, who can remember that legendary statuette of the jockey standing at the entrance? Almost as legendary as the old "Toddle House" just up the street a ways!

1946: STATE AND BROAD STREET; A CLOSE UP LOOK

Note that this photo replaces the originaly June 30 post wherein I inadvertently identified it as "State and Broad St." Thanks to my regular visitors, Mike Kuzma and Gino Formaroli, for detecting my ever increasing episodes of age-related senility!.

This blog has been very well received and on behalf of the Hamilton Township Public Library Local history Collection, I am very grateful for the nine hundred thousand plus visitors who come here to view over 8500 pages (posts!) I have also decided to post on only one Facebook page, and that would be my page that has nearly 1,200 friends.

1946: STATE AND WARREN STREET

Another beautiful photo of a very familiar Trenton intersection. It almost seems one could walk along that sidewalk in this zoomed in photo.

1924: WHEN THE KKK CAME TO HAMILTON TOWNSHIP

Some years ago I wrote this interesting article recalling the day the Ku Klux Klan decided to lead a parade and picnic in and about Hamilton Township. There are hundreds of pages of Klan activity all over America in the 1920's. Indeed a number of very prominent citizens were members; many serving in a clandestine manner and not "outing" themselves in public.

1909 PANORAMIC VIEW OF TRENTON

This graphic is much too large to give a closeup, but I sure did try. Here's an attempt to segment and enlarge.

UNDATED STATE AND BROAD STREET

Here's an un-dated circa 1939 photo of center city Trenton showing traffic moving west on E. State Street at Broad Street. The clarity of this photo has been tweaked and enhanced and gives a beautiful view of the downtown Trenton main thoroughfare as it looked in the late 1930's

I am now writing for the monthly "HAMILTON POST;" a very popular community newspaper which is sent to every Hamilton resident via mail, and also available at the Hamilton Township Public Library. I have returned to my original byline, "The Way We Were" as used in the late great "Mercer Messenger" and "Hamilton Observer." Here's my May edition telling one and all that my singing partner and Hamilton High Class of 1950 classmate Jack Pyrah and I are back at the mike bringing "The Music We Grew Up With" to those who love to hear those great old songs from the past.

1930'S AND 1940'S: SCENES FROM TOM GLOVER'S CHILDHOOD

Never to be forgotten!

1945: ST. JOACHIM BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

Here's the 1945 St. Joachim basketball team which has earned a spot in the Hamilton LIbrary's Local History "ST. JOACHIM" and "CHAMBERSBURG" folder. Quite a number of prominent Chambersburg names here.

February 3, 1917 President Wilson addressed Congress to announce that diplomatic relations with Germany were severed. In a Special Session of Congress held on April 2, 1917, he delivered a 'War Message.' Four days later on April 6, 1917, The Trenton Evening Times front page headline read, "WAR DECLARED, WILSON SIGNING THE RESOLUTION AT 1:13; ALL GERMAN SHIPS HERE SEIZED BY ARMED U.S. FORCES" Congress overwhelmingly passed that War Resolution which brought the United States into the Great War. I put this graphic together and embellished it with a figure of a WWI "Doughboys" to accompany Lady Liberty as she waved Old Glory.

2017: "BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!"

As I enter my 23rd year as the Hamilton Local History archivist, you probably noticed that this site has been lacking in new posts over the past year or so. Let me explain. After years of coping with space problems, Interim Director Scott Chianese gave the green light to our ever talented Harry Meeks to construct shelving to accommodate the ever growing inventory of yet-to-be catalogued and digitized historical material. My workshop was overflowing with LARGE full cardboard boxes of donations, boxes from my personal collection, and other space stealing objects. It was a shameful scene that one would see if a grenade were lopped into the room. Now all of that has changed and thanks to those aforementioned problem solvers, I am able to breathe again and resume this website which will soon realize 1 million visits. Thank you for your indulgence and as we move forward, let me her from you via the "Comments" feature of this site.

1917: SPRINGTIME COMES TO MERCER COUNTY AND THE DELWARE VALLEY

This delightful catalog page from the Trenton Evening Times of April 11, 1917 brings back many familiar memories of tools that I remember very well from my younger years. The push mower with the steel wheels with horizontal treads, the very common high sided wooden wheel barrow, and in the photo I also see the roller that my buddy Don Slabicki and I so often used to roll the Kuser tennis court. The article indicates it was full of water which could be drained, but I seem to recall that the Kuser tennis court roller was oil filled. A fascinating page from an era when Hamilton was largely open farm land.

HHS '67: A REUNION TO REMEMBER!

This class can be included in the "Hornet Class with Class!" These folks are going all out with a 50th to remember down in Atlantic City! Further info on the reunion can be found at their website www.hhswreunion67.com. Have a great time, fellow Hornets!

1875: EVERT AND STEWART'S PENNINGTON RE-FORMATTED BY TOM GLOVER

This beautiful map of Pennington as it was in 1875 was scanned in at HIGH definition in order to bring the names of the citizens, merchants, and other landholders as it was way back in 1872.

1897: TRENTON'S CADWALADER PLACE - EXCLUSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD.

This interesting linkage of 3 different items from the "CADWALADER-WEST END" folder adds a bit of very interesting history of legendary "Cadwalader Place."

1905 and 1908: TRENTON'S FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

 This historic edifice still stands the test of time. Even though the ultra needle type steeple was knocked down many years ago by a lightning strike, the sturdy brick walls remain much like they did when the church was built in 1858. The 1905 photo above is from a penny post card and the graphic was quite faded. Thanks to Photo Shop, it has been restored to its former glory,






 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY VISITORS!

May we all remember to give thanks to our Creator for all He has done for us!

1909: THE JERSEY DEVIL ALSO KNOWN AS THE LEED'S DEVIL AND THE "WOZZLEBUG."

When you have been writing for over 32 years and when 20 of those 32 years involved digital computing, it is a very rewarding experience to dig back and bring preserved and digitized photos and news articles to still another generation. I would bet that there are few in the younger generation who are familiar with the "Leed's Devil," also known as the "Jersey Devil." I know I wasn't until I found these absolutely fascinating articles as I pages through the millions of pages in my 100 year collection of Trenton newspapers. Enjoy and imagine!

1940: THIS IS THE TRENTON I REMEMBER

Sorry folks, I just can't get enough of these photos of the Trenton I remember from my youth. I have modified the original of this photo to zoom in on the thriving intersection of State and Broad when the "Parisian" occupied the corner where Yard's would ultimately locate. Such pleasant memories of the Trenton we all know and love.

EARLY BIT OF HISTORY OF TRENTON'S LEGENDARY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITSL

Here's a vintage look back at Trenton's legendary St. Francis Hospital. In the very beginning times were really rough on the Sisters who managed the hospital which served everyone; especially those in need and too poor financially to pay for excellent treatment. Check out the lower right of the engraving and you will see Sister Hyacynthia's greenhouse where she carefully grew and cultivated food for the patients. What a blessing S.t Francis has been over the years! I thought I heard or read somewhere that the Sisters of St. Francis are giving up the hospital and going back to their Mother house.

1946: ROUTE 130 AT ROUTE 33 IN ROBBINSVILLE

This exquisite Duke University R.C. Maxwell photo shows a rural view of the Hamilton Square "cut off" from Route 130/33 as it looked in 1946. How that area has changed! Robbinsville has made incredible changes from the old rural potato shipping station of the last century and into the first of the 20th century.

1940's: TRACY'S LEGENDARY "FIVE AND DIME"

This was originally a black and white photo which happens to be a place I hold dear to my heart. I, and many others were regular visitors to this charming place where one could find anything from knitting needles to dish cloths to curtains and curtain rods...and let's not forget their toy department. This photo led me to the decision to revive my love of coloring books when I was a boy, and I used my photo enhancing software to hand color the old black and white and bring a delightful memory back to life in living color. I even had the option to give myself the green light in the foreground!

1891: THE PROSPECT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

 Above photo is from "TRENTON ILLUSTRATED;" an 1891 folio of exquisite engravings showing the city of Trenton in that era. Below is a postal card from the TRENTONIANA collection at the Trenton Free Public Library and digitized by Mr. Tom Tighue.

It is difficult in this year of 2016 to envision that neighborhood which bordered an area known ad "Berryville." It was also in the Cadwalader, Hiltonia, Berkeley Street area where our more affluent Trentonians resided.

1902: SPRING STREET: "THE RESIDENCE" A HOME FOR THE MORE AFFLUENT ELDERLY WOMEN

It was known as "The Residence" and as you can see on the accompanying map, crudely identfied as "The Old Ladies' Home."Judy and I spent many evenings visiting that home when our Hamilton High vocal music teacher found that she was no longer able to live alone and took a room in that exquisite example of early 20th century architecture. Here is a news photo showing the building when it was in its early years. The Roebling family played a large part in the establishment of this home for aged women which would have been a much more acceptable description than is shown on the map.

BROMLEY FROM THE AIR: WHO LIVED WHERE

lMany years ago, I acquired this incredibly fascinating aerial photo of my Bromley as seen by a pilot flying over Greenwood Cemetery and taking this incredibly clear photo. Then much to my delight, my Hamilton High Class of 1951 classmate Bob Shinkle (Dickinson Avenue) located fellow Bromleyites with the identifying labels I posted on the original photo. This is a huge map and only here will you be able to see the full photo. I have posted a "zoomed" image of the map on my Facebook pages. THANKS BOBBY! YOU'RE THE BEST!

This is a 4 page tabloid size insert that was in an April 1889 supplement to the old Daily True American. This is what the Hamilton Township Public Library's Local History Collection is all about. To many, this is boring and droll subject matter. To Me and others who are interested in the roots of the area, it is a true treasure. It is important to note that this graphic will not be too legible on Facebook. Scanning, tweaking, framing and digitizing this 4 page supplement required multiple scans due to the size of the page and the process was quite time consuming. However the content makes the time spent well worth while.

1961: HAMILTON TOWNSHIP INTRODUCES GRICE AND REYNOLDS MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

Steinert High School, Nottingham High School and Junior high schools. What a change in the educational system of the Hamilton Township public school system occurred as the second half of the 20th century arrived.! With the once rural farm filled township now experiencing phenomenal growth and expansion, with the very rapid loss of the countless farms being sold and turned into housing developments, it became clear to the township officials that Hamilton High School and the neighborhood schools were no longer capable of accommodating the influx of new residents. Thus the construction of two "Junior" high schools noted in the above article which I have re-assembled from the original full page Trenton Times edition of August 23, 1961.