1937: Princeton Borough Goes Hi Tech

Here's a photo showing the new radio equipment just installed in the local police department. Compare the size of that huge console with modern transistorized and integrated circuits in today's radio equipment.

Groveville VFD First Fire Truck

Thanks again to Gary Lippincott for this beautiful photo of the very first fire truck procured by the Groveville VFD. The fire house in the background is also an historical treasure. Thanks very much, Gary!

This is the Groveville Fire Company baseball team from sometime in the early 1950's, like 1950 to 1953.
FRONT ROW SEATED LEFT TO RIGHT - Frank Ferris, Ed "Pud" McClure, Bob Simpson, Joe "Jo-Jo" Dement, Charlie Thompson, Ed "Klinky" Klink, Charlie "Dot-Da-Da" Champion, Unknown, Ed "Murph" Mushinski.
BACK ROW STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT - Boy unknown, Howard Jones, Victor "Vic" Champion, Vince Symczyk, Charles "Deacon" Inman, Roy "Smut" Champion.

Thanks to Gary Lippincott for this great photo.

Mike Tozzi's North Trenton

My dear friend Mike Tozzi was a native of North Trenton, spending his childhood years in the shadow of the Battle Monument. Mike is an accomplished historian who is quite knowledgeable about the downtown Trenton as he recalls it as a young man. His dad operated a five chair barber shop in the "five points" district.

Luscombe Aircraft Co. - Ewing, New Jersey

One of the joyful memories of my childhood was found in the building of the old "stick" model tissue covered rubber band powered airplanes. One of the airplanes I remember building was the Luscombe "Silvaire," a beautiful top wing monoplane with aluminum skin. Here's a photo of the factory at Mercer airport with Luscombe guys assembling the real thing.

The Hibernians: Fascinating History

For many recent years, my son Tom has been active in the Irish community, singing the wonderful music of Ireland. Indeed, his music has resulted in Judy and I building a nice collection of Irish music. With the advent of St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to resurrect a column I wrote many years ago about the early years of the Hibernians. Tom may no longer be singing the music of Ireland in public, but his music has left a lasting impression on his mom and dad.

Double D - BRL Team

Could the young lad in the back row, 4th from the left be the same Harry Robinson from Hamilton's Buildings and Grounds? Do any of you BRL guys who happen to know when this photo was taken? If so, visit my guestbook andlet me know, or email me at thomglo@verizon.net
George Goldy, many thanks for this additional information:
Tom
In answer to your inquiry about the Babe Ruth photo the 71 at the bottom identifies it as the 1971 Double D Team. I spent 16 years in the league and all of the years photos were identified by the date in the front row.

Immaculate Conception Class of '38

The late Bob McLaughlin, my neighbor of 45 years was in this class, and a very close friend. I attended annual retreats at St. Alphonso with Joe Schnorbus for many years, and Postmaster Bob Suydam was a fellow parishioner at St. Anthony's Church when I attended that church in the 1950's and 60's. Small world indeed. Bob Nolan, this one's for you!

1929: Dedication of the Hamilton Township Municipal Building

Here's a view of Greenwood Avenue looking toward Johnston Avenue. Note the trolley in the far right of the photo.

1929: Dedication of the Hamilton Municipal Building

Here is just one contingent for Hamilton local fire companys who lined up on Greenwood Avenue in front of the Municipal building. They were only a small part of the many local fire companys who parked on the street at the dedication of the Hamilton Municipal Bulding in 1929. Greenwood School is the brick building in the background
Thank you Lorraine Feehan May for the following update on this post. Lorraine writes:
Well, Tom you did it again - the picture of the dedication of the Municipal Building in 1929 shows some of the firemen and in the front row is my Father - Tom Feehan. He is second from the left. Up in the seat on the right with the mustache is Bicketts Peterson and on his left is, I believe, Hans Peterson who lived catty corner from us at Newkirk and Liberty. I also enjoyed reading Betty Lou Rowe's letter to you about Lakeside. I graduated with her and her brother Joe in 1949.
Lorraine

Sacred Heart - St. John's Tom Glover Circa 1983

This is the manuscript for a column I wrote a number of years ago about the fascinating history of St. John's Parish, or as we know it today, Sacred Heart Parish.

"ST. JOHN'S OF TRENTON"
Tom Glover

Cooper Street ran behind St. John's (now Sacred Heart Church). It became the victim of urban renewal. Another long-forgotten street is Union Street. That area south of Broad Street in the Mill-Hill area was known as "lrishtown" in the 1860's and 70's, and later became a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.
Today, as one travels the streets of South Trenton in the area of Centre, Ferry, Bridge, and Lamberton Streets, one can still see many of the old houses which were a part of the original area known as "Irishtown." During the mid 1800's many Irish immigrants settled in this old area of Trenton; drawn there by the Cooper-Hewitt steel plant and the John A. Roebling factory, as well as other mills in the area. Even as the British settlers in the South Trenton area were to be drawn to Saint Paul's Episcopal Church on Centre Street, so too, were the Irish to be drawn into the tight little community of Irish Catholics who attended St. John's.
There was a vast difference however, in the levels of religious tolerance in those far off days of the 1860's. To be Roman Catholic was bad enough; to be an Irish Roman Catholic was sure to bring the tainted specter of bigotry; often subtle, but more often than not quite blatant.
It is little wonder that the early Irish settlers of South Trenton stayed together in a near-commune type existence for quite a number of years. Their world revolved around working at menial factory labor, providing for their families, and drawing their spiritual nourishment from St. John's.
The natural proclivity of the fabled Irish liquid nourish­ment was certainly no greater in the Irish than it was in the English, Italians, or any other ethnic group. Contemporary pubic opinion would have one believe otherwise. The Irish were perceived as irresponsible drunkards who owed their allegiance not to America, but to a foreign holy man who was bent on destroying America's system of public schools. One of the most widely circulated magazines of the day was a "Harper's Weekly." One of the issues showed a caricature of a young Irish boy holding the Catechism. He had an ugly, "dim-witted" look of a monkey, rather than a human being. The caption read: "If New York had been thoroughly educated it would never have fallen into the hands of the immoral Irish Catholics and foreign priests."
Such was the environment into which our Irish community settled. In a little one-story frame building on Cooper Street, many students labored under the tutelage of old school­masters who were born and educated in Ireland.
One of them was Peter Cantwell. Cantwell served as the first master of the Cooper Street School. He was in charge of the grammar school which was located in the basement of St. John's Church. Upon completion of the Cooper Street facility in the early 1860's, he moved in as head master; taking the older boys of the school with him. The younger children stayed in the St. John's Church basement under the care of the Sisters of Charity. Others to follow in Cantwell's steps as schoolmaster included Mr. Thomas Keogh, "Mr. Dunphy," and "Mr. Hogan." .
Time has vindicated the much maligned Irish of Tren­ton's "Irishtown." They remained faithful to their God, and equally faithful to their commitment to better themselves in an America which was very slow in accepting them. Following is a lengthy listing of the surnames of some of the early Irish settlers who attended that little wooden one-story frame schoolhouse on Cooper Street: Donnelly, Tyrrell, Barnes, Hickey, Nolan, Connelly, Burns, Stanton, Sheridan, Kelly, McGrath, Travers, Weldon, Keegan, McCaffrey, McKenna, Haggerty, Donovan, O'Neill, Mullen, Lane, Logue, Cahill, and Roche.
The bibliographical credit for this column is from an old copy of the Trenton State Gazette. When it was written the little school was still standing, but the Irishtown kids were now going to a new school on Lamberton Street. A quote from this article is a fitting way to bring this little historical sketch to a close:
"Many initials laboriously carved with a dull penknife upwards of a century ago, may still be traced on the storm ­beaten and time-worn weather boards of the school. In the case of not a few, the same initials have since been graven in marble in St. John's and St. Mary's Cemeteries, for a goodly number of the sprightly boys who used to answer the tinkling bell in the little schoolhouse are long since dead."

1945: Corporal Thackray VIsits Hitler's "Eagle's Nest"

This image, and another in the November archive would not enlarge when I posted it originally. The mysterious error message, "Error 404" comes on the screen. It is one of those computer "glitches" which is a mystery. When I dig into the basics of the file the answer is completely illogical. "Can't find the file." This file is in the very same place all the other files are, and there is no "Error 404." I have re-posted this, giving the file a different name. It is in the same folder as the r"Error 404" file, but this one enlarges... Go figure!

1907: The New Immaculate Conception School

The formal dedication on the new school had to wait until the Bishop returned from his European visit.

Pennington Grammar School Class of '37

Here's the first half of the class photo. The other half is in the next post. The following text which identifies those in the photo is also duplicated in the next post.

AWARDED DIPLOMAS. Members of the graduating class of the Pennington Grammar School were awarded diplomas at the exercises held on Wednesday evening in the auditorium of the school. Reading from left to right they are: Front row, Garrett Oldis, George Kuhn, Harold Hall, John Van Wagoner, James Hepburn, Ernest Johnson, Roland Wigley, Heston Smith, Wallace Smith, Joseph Hoffman, Charles Hefty, John Titus, Louis Orlando; second row, Jeanette Hildebrand, Eleanor Zielsdorf, Dorothy Slusser, Olga A. Sidelnik, Florence Zyla, Eunice J. Weart, Eleanor Applegate, Dorothy Riewerts, Claire S. Reed, Alice Hart, Joyce Wimpenny, Elizabeth Mahler, Beverly Reppe, Winnifred Burroughs, Margaret Miller, Marion Cadwallader, Mary Jane Dilts, Helen Witkowski, Marie K. Giabattista, Evelyn
Chatten, Santa Denza, Loraine Gootee, Emma Stephan, Betty Schek, Roma G. Stires, Alberta Bryan, Jane Hydes; third row, Enoch Blackwell, Robert Ruhlman, LeRoy Sked, Gerald Hujber, Harold Tobiason, John DeMerritt, William Alpaugh, Mary Kessler, Katherine Cruser, Claire Benedict, Charles N. Hartman, principal; Corneilius Offringa, faculty member; Bruna Roman, Margaret Hamran, Ruth Miller, Eva Delle Monache, Frank Hujber, Elwood Johnson, Hilton Palmer, Leonard Zuckerman, LeRoy Baumann; A1ceus Drake, Robert Jackson, Robert Guyer, Henry Curtiss; back row, Eugene Szecker, Frank Schreck, Ralph Connelly and John Shuster.

Pennington Grammar School Class of '37

THIS IS THE OTHER HALF OF THE CLASS OF 1937 AT PENNINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL. THE COMPLETE LIST OF THOSE IN THE PHOTOS HEREWITH DUPLICATED. IF THIS IS OF INTEREST TO YOU, YOU CAN PRINT THE PHOTOS AND THE TEXT.

AWARDED DIPLOMAS. Members of the graduating class of the Pennington Grammar School were awarded diplomas at the exercises held on Wednesday evening in the auditorium of the school. Reading from left to right they are: Front row, Garrett Oldis, George Kuhn, Harold Hall, John Van Wagoner, James Hepburn, Ernest Johnson, Roland Wigley, Heston Smith, Wallace Smith, Joseph Hoffman, Charles Hefty, John Titus, Louis Orlando; second row, Jeanette Hildebrand, Eleanor Zielsdorf, Dorothy Slusser, Olga A. Sidelnik, Florence Zyla, Eunice J. Weart, Eleanor Applegate, Dorothy Riewerts, Claire S. Reed, Alice Hart, Joyce Wimpenny, Elizabeth Mahler, Beverly Reppe, Winnifred Burroughs, Margaret Miller, Marion Cadwallader, Mary Jane Dilts, Helen Witkowski, Marie K. Giabattista, Evelyn
Chatten, Santa Denza, Loraine Gootee, Emma Stephan, Betty Schek, Roma G. Stires, Alberta Bryan, Jane Hydes; third row, Enoch Blackwell, Robert Ruhlman, LeRoy Sked, Gerald Hujber, Harold Tobiason, John DeMerritt, William Alpaugh, Mary Kessler, Katherine Cruser, Claire Benedict, Charles N. Hartman, principal; Corneilius Offringa, faculty member; Bruna Roman, Margaret Hamran, Ruth Miller, Eva Delle Monache, Frank Hujber, Elwood Johnson, Hilton Palmer, Leonard Zuckerman, LeRoy Baumann; A1ceus Drake, Robert Jackson, Robert Guyer, Henry Curtiss; back row, Eugene Szecker, Frank Schreck, Ralph Connelly and John Shuster.

1904: St..Joseph R.C. Church

Here's the story of the cornerstone ceremony at St.Joseph's Church on North Olden Avenue. The venerable old building has been there for over 100 years and through copious amounts of tender loving card, is still a very attractive building.

1941: Skating on Gropp's Lake

Thank you Bob Hagar for being such a wonderful photographer, and thank you Harold Yaede for saving this great photo of "Lakeside" as we knew it back in the 30's through the 50's. Do you old timers remember the store that was right on the corner of "Lakeside?" How about the bathhouses that lined up along Lakeside Boulevard?

My posts on Lakeside, Gropp's Lake and Lakeside Park resulted in this fascinating message gem from Bette Lou Rowe Lowery, a native from the Lakeside Park area:

I grew up in Lakeside and I remember reading some of your articles about Lakeside and loved them all. My mother had the Lakeside Corner store for years so we were right on the lake for swimming and ice skating. I graduated and so did my brother, Joe, from Hamilton in 1949. My older brother, Jimmy, graduated from Hamilton in the 1930's. My sister, Joan, graduated in 1952. One of my hobbies is genealogy. My grandparents on both sides were potters and came from England to work in the potteries. My uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hulse, lived on Newkirk Ave. right next door to Kuser School. We could never figure that one out as they were childless. I see that we went to Hamilton during the same era. I never knew what a good education I got at Hamilton until I went to college. If you have any special pottery information I'd love to hear about it. I do have an old picture of my Grandfather Rowe and other men on a break at a pottery. Could write more but you have others you need to hear from. Thanks for all you do.

Bette Lou, anytime you want to "write more," you go right ahead. It's input such as this that adds to the history of the area, and would otherwise have gone unknown had you not added these very interesting lines. Any other photos you may have will be gratefully received by the Local History Collection. Thanks!

1935" Garbage Day in Trenton

Back in 1935 when this photo was taken, Garbage collection differed somewhat from the hi tech auto loading trash trucks. On garbage pickup day, garbage was loaded on the truck, and another truck came by to pick up the buckets of ashes from mom and pop's coal burning furnace. I can't see the grilles on those brand spanking new Trenton garbage trucks, but I would bet they were "Internationals."

1885: Old Taverns in Old Trenton

In historic terms, I don't like to use the word, "rare." I choose to use the word "scarce" instead. The article on old Trenton taverns in this post can truly be described as scarce. Many of the posts you will be reading on "Tom Glover's Hamilton" can safely be described as scarce. The slogan on my office door at the library reads, "Digitizing Local History One Page at a Time." There are literally millions of pages in my Newspaper collection. Many of those pages reveal historic treasures such as this article on local taverns in the Trenton of long ago.

1945: Rev. Donald Kite First Baptist Church

I associate the Reverend with Central Baptist Church where he served as Pastor for many years. I didn't know that he had also served the congregation at the First Baptist Church on Centre Street.

Harry Podmore Writes About Trenton Street Names

Here's another PRISTINE copy of the Harry Podmore "Trenton in Bygone Days" column; one of the many in the BYGONE DAYS folder in my Hamilton Library Local History Collection.

Colonial Fire Company: From Lorraine Feehan May

I recently posted a copy of a column I did a number of years ago which told the story of Hamilton's Colonial Fire Company. In response to the column, Ms. Lorraine Feehan May sent me this fascinating story of Colonial along with excellent historical information on the surrounding neighborhood. Thank you so much Lorraine! This information is really a wonderful addition to the COLONIAL VOLUNTEER FIRE CO. folder, and also to my website.

Lorraine writes:
My Father helped build Colonial Fire (the original) and my Mother was the first dispatcher. They built their house on Newkirk Avenue in 1922 on a lot that had been part of my Grandmother's farm. The farmhouse was on Liberty Street next to where Frese's store was. In the farmhouse lived my Grandmother Golden and Aunt Amelia Davison. Frese's store was owned by my Aunt Hannah and Uncle John Frese. Next to us on Newkirk was my Aunt Mary and Uncle Johnny Vaughn. Around the corner on Camp Avenue was my Uncle Bill and Aunt Lucy Golden. You must remember their son Bill Golden. He still lives on Camp in their original home. The lot next to them was to be for my Uncle Herman VonFelde but he died before ever building on it. All of our back yards were connected so we had an extended family while growing up.

I too have fond memories of Kuser School and the whole neighborhood. I think my sister still has a picture of Kuser before the roads were paved and will try to get it to you for your archives.

I am curious about the picture you had on display at the library of the old Hamilton Twp Police Station on Harrison Avenue and wondered if you had any names to go with it. The first patrolman on the left of the dignitaries when you're looking at the picture looks a great deal like my brother-in-law Darwin Kieffer (Bill) who was a patrolman back in the 50's. He retired as a Captain and still lives in Hamilton Twp. Any info you have would be appreciated.

1945: Trenton's Perilli Family; True Patriots

The World War II folder recalls the untimely deaths of two of Trenton's World War II heroes, Dario Fortuanti and Sgt. William Perilli. Sgt. Perilli was former Mayor Maurice Perilli's brother. During World War II, Mr. and Mrs. Armando Perilli's sons Maurice("Maury"), Augustine ("Gus") , and daughter Louise served in the service along with brother William. Now we know why they are called "The Greatest Generation!"

1945: Trenton's own "Flying Tigers"

From the World War II folder in the Hamilton Township Public Library's Local History Digital folder comes this interesting photo of three local members of "The Greatest Generation" who served in China under General Chennault. There will be future posts from this folder showing our brave men who fought and some who died serving their country.

1937: Titusville Grammar School Class of '37

Here they are, the class of 1937 at the little school in quaint village of Titusville. Back in the 1980's, I visited the Titusville school yard with my metal detector, seeking out any old coins and ephemera. Anybody in the photo you recognize?

1913: A Civil War Vet

Here's the story of Joe Allibone, and his exploits in the Civil War.

Kuser School Class of 1960 Part 1

THANKS TO MR. ED ROSINA FOR IDENTIFYING (SORT OF) THIS KUSER SCHOOL PHOTO. ED SAY HE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1964, THEREFORE, I ASSUME THIS IS THE 8TH GRADE CLASS OF KUSER, 1960

I have a number of class photos that were thrown into the trash bin. Can you imagine anyone throwing these away? Strange, but true. Can anyone indentify the year of this photo?
The other half is continued in the next post.

Notice those school windows? Real glass! Glass was used in the schools back in the "old days" when only an occasional undisciplined and anti-social savage would throw a rock through one of them. Today, those little savages proliferate. The local authorities had to resort to a Lexan type of glazing. It was wonderful while it was new, but oxididation ultimately sets in and the "window" loses its transparency and turns into an ugly shade of brown.

Kuser School Class of 1960 Part 2

1895: The Crematory Remembered

Trenton was in the process of going with a crematory back in 1895. It was ultimately built and located in North Trenton, and as I recall, located off of Brunswick Avenue. Did you know that Hamilton Township had a crematory? Years ago, when Don Slabicki and I worked for the Kuser family, we would ride to the crematory with Fred Kuser, back the station wagon into the huge garage, and throw the trash down into a very deep, deep, flaming hole. The Hamilton Cematory was located off of Patterson Avenue. The smokestack towered high over the surrounding area.

Circa 1899: The View from the Reservoir

When I was a boy, I always wanted to take a trip up that grassy incline and peek into the Trenton Reservoir. This photo is from the very first years of the reservoir. Contractor Lawton started the huge project back in 1896 and it was completed at the turn of the century. Not being familiar with the early landscape that surrounded the reservoir back then, it is difficult to determine the dirt roads in the photo. Is that Parkway Avenue as it meets Prospect Street? I dunno!

1947: St. Joachim Parish Youth Club

Here are the officers for Youth Club at St. Joachim Parish.

Tony Carabelli, is that a relative of yours in the photo? Renny Funari, is that one of your family members in the photo? There are so many names in the photo who have the surnames of folks I know today......Anybody there you know?

A TRENTON POTTERY: THAT'S ALL WE KNOW

One of the most frustrating occurrances in the life of an historical researcher is finding an exquisitely clear photo from over 100 years ago, only to find that the picture has no identifying information as to "the five W's," who, what, when, where, and why. If any viewer knows with certainty any of the "W's," your input will be very welcome.

1913: The Douglass House

These interesting pictures of the historic Douglass house give a new insight on the changes that have occurred in the building over the years. Note the difference in each photo. The window in the photo on the left is gone on the photo to the right. Also the original photo shows a small roofed in area over the front door, missing in the newer version. The house has again been moved to the Stacy Park area of Trenton, and is beautifully restored.

1950: When Feminism was in Flower

The words that come to mind as I looked at the lovely models in the accompanying photo? ....hmmm,
how about "wholesome," "feminine," "modest," "good taste," and last but far from least, "lovely!" These are students at Hamilton High during the years when I went there. Barbara Cohen's dad was the physician who made house calls. In fact, he delivered all the Glover boys back in the years before we were born in hospitals. Lovely Elaine Globus was a straight "A" student through all her years in school. She and I went through Kuser School together from Reception grade right through HHS class of 1951.

Mercer Hospital in the Victorian Era

This is what Mercer Hospital looked like back in the late 1890's when it was founded. Did you know that Mercer hospital is not named for Mercer County? Rather, it is named in honor of General Mercer, who was a doctor.

1945: St. Joachim CYO Basketball "Kings"

Here's a photo of the crack St. Joachim CYO Basketball champs. 1945: Sixty one years ago!!
Where has the time gone?

1947: Brothers of Israel and People of Truth Combine

1896: East State Street Trenton

This engraving is from a little 1896 "Souvenir of Trenton, New Jersey." The size of the original is only about 4 x 5," but through the miracle of digital imaging technology, it has been enlarged and enhanced, revealing a very appealing view of E. State Street looking toward Broad Street. The YMCA is in the left foreground, and the familiar First Presbyterian Church and City Hall are seen on the right.

1913: Hopewell's Wyckoff Blacksmith Shop

These types of photos are those that I really like the best. A view of an area no longer in existance. In this case, the building was leveled to make way for the Hopewell Presbyterian Church.

1945: Hey, there's my buddy, Joe DeLorenzo!

Here's young Joey DeLorenzo enjoying a reunion with his fellow "burgers." The boys were on active duty in the South Pacific during WWII. Joe is a regular visitor to the library, and as you can see by the article, is a member of THE DeLorenzo family; the that made tomato pies famous.

Circa 1900 St.Mary's School Class Photo

This exquisite photo of St. Mary's School children is remarkably clear. It took a bit of touching up but as you can see, it is quite bright and clear. Thank you Candy Jens!

St. Patrick's Day is Coming

The graphic accompanying this post is from one of my columns in the Trenton Times from the 1980's when I was writing "A Look Back" for the weekly "People" section. I'm wondering if the Frank J. Clark ad for green carnations is an early version of "Clark the Florist."

1916: Rev. Harry Somers Ordained

April, 1916: The Yardville Presbyterian Church ordained their first Pastor, Rev. Harry Somers. The church in the photo was destroyed by fire in the Spring of 1932, to be replaced by the current Yardville Presbyterian Church.

1923: St. Raphael's Annual Carnival

From the growing ST. RAPHAEL folder, comes this note that the 1923 St. Raphael Carnival is heading for its final night. There are other clips from this church, and they will be included in future posts.

1948: "NEDICK'S:" Ah Yes, I remember it well!

Let me see.....downtown Trenton.....State and Broad, .....Nedick's on one corner, Dunham's across the street, Yard's across the street, the"Ballantine Beer and Ale" clock atop the building at State and Broad. The aroma of roasted nuts from the nearby "Nut House," a frosty glass of Pina Colada at that Hawaiian shop..... Patrolman Chet Hughes on duty on a Thursday night when all the stores are "open 'til 9,".... the streets are CROWDED with busy shoppers.......3 or 4 Trenton Transit buses pull to the curb and another 60 or 70 people step to the curb to join the already crowded downtown Trenton. ......Binders, Sun-Ray, Photo Art, Hamilton Jewelers, Kasen's Pants, Hurley Tobin, Whitehall, the "Famous" and "Savoy" restaurants, R.A. Donnelly, F.W. Donnelly, Thom McAn, Goldberg's, Nevius Voorhees, and the latest issue of "Look" magazine from the newstand at State and Broad.....ahh, the memories!

1946: Bell Telephone Co.

Here's an opportunity for you, ladies! You can earn the respectable salary of $27 per week!

How I miss those olive green N.J. Bell Telephone trucks! Remember how you would call them with a problem, the phone would be answered by a real, warm blooded, genuine human being who would take your call, forward it the appropriate service person, and within hours, not days, that familiar olive green Bell Telephone truck would pull up in front of your house.

1910: Another Fire at Sacred Heart Church

Here's the story of another fire that occurred at Sacred Heart Church back in 1910.

1943: Swamp Angel WWII Memorial Display

Thanks to Mr. Jim Puliti for this photo of the WWII Memorial installed at the Swamp Angel during the early dark days of the second world war.

Kuser School - My Alma Mater

Back in the 1980's, I was deeply involved in pen and ink drawing. The Kuser School drawing in this article was for the celebration of Kuser's School's 75th anniversary.The front facade of the school is the very same today. However, the little "wing" you see in the drawing was removed and two large wings added to each side of the school back in 1924. Kuser School was a "twin" to Klockner School. Indeed, Klockner kept the wing shown in my drawing of the original "Rosalie Kuser School," as it was originally known.

The "Flexy;" King of all Sleds

This is the best example of that oft-repeated verity,
"They Don't Make 'em Like That Anymore."
I drew this pen and ink sketch of the "Flexible Flyer" from memory back in 1985. From memory? Yep; to this day I remember each and every red steel runner and slat on the greatest sled ever made. It was on the top of my wish list every Christmas, but alas, it was not to be. The Glover finances were unable to purchase the Lexus of sleds. This week, I saw many children "sledding" on the hills around the library. Not a "belly flopper" among them! And do you know what else? All the sleds are made of plastic polymer! Bummer! Half of the fun of belly flopping was to break into a fast run to the top of that hill, dive headlong into the blue and land on that sled and coast all the way to north Jersey....well, maybe not that far, but it sure did outdistance those plastic "hi-tech" sleds of today.

1895: Trenton High School Reunion

To my friend, Sid Dietz, here's one of the files relating to the ORIGINAL Trenton High School that I promised to post. I hope you can relate to it, and maybe even send me a memory or two for inclusion in the Library's "SCHOOLS, TRENTON" folder. To those who are unfamiliar with the original Trenton High School, NO, it was not on Greenwood and Chestnut Avenues. That was the SECOND Trenton High School. This one was much much smaller and located on Mercer Street in downtown Trenton.

1895: Trinity Cathedral: In the Beginning

One of the most fascinating facets of my Hamilton Library Local History project is uncovering treasures such as the engraving of the Overbrook Avenue beginnings of what would become the exquisitely beautiful Trinity Cathedral. This file is from the Hamilton Library's "TRINITY CATHEDRAL" folder.