1940: THE ABNER CHAMBERS FARM

Many years ago, Robert Chambers established a hotel at what is now the intersection of South Broad and Cass Streets. The area was ultimately known as Chambersburg. While most local residents associate the Butler, Bayard, Divison, Streets and Emory Avenue as the center of Chambersburg, the original area was along South Broad Street. The article above is an interview with Chambers grand daughter, Sarah Chambers, who recalled the story of Robert Chambers and his huge land holdings in the area of Hamilton and Chambers Street. The site of today's Trenton Central High School is on a part of the Chambers farm. The above map gives a pretty good idea of the Chambers land holdings in the area. As can be seen in the map, the homestead Sarah Chambers described in the article can be seen in the lower left of the 1905 map.

1914: BACK THEN IT WAS "EAST TRENTON HEIGHTS"

Once again from the "NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT" folder, this real estate ad for what would ultimately become part of today's Cornell Heights. One of the more fascinating segments of local history is the expansion of Hamilton as it went from a rural farming community to the megalopolis of today. And what about those prices!

1905: YOUR GRANDPARENTS' BROMLEY

This fascinating 1905 map of the Bromley area as it was laid out in 1905. Even as Nottingham was borrowed from Great Britain as was Millham, so too was Bromley named for an area in England. Bromley, Cedar Lawn, Broad Street Park, and Deutzville, with their very close proximity to the city of Trenton, are gradually changing into more urban areas. It is hoped that the town fathers recognize and respect the change.

1891: Description of the proposed Trenton Battle Monument

Here's an historic graphic which was published before the completion of the famed Trenton Battle Monument. Note that the statue of George Washington is different from the statue that was finally decided upon.

1890-1891 MARRIAGES AND OBITS

This is a new departure in my attempt to post full page graphics. In the interest of displaying very clear images, I have been editing and saving my graphics in JPEG grayscale (or color) format. I am going to try to scan sizeable text pages such as that above in "Black and White." Unfortunately, unless you have a larger LCD screen, it will be difficult to read. On my 15 inch notebook, I can barely read the page. However, on my 17 inch LCD it is reasonably clear. You will also note that the text in the above graphic is not nearly as clean and trim due to the fact that the scan was done as a black and white scan rather than grayscale. (Grayscale would have been 3 megabites and far too large. I will also be experimenting in converting articles such as that above into word processor text, using my OCR (optical character recognition) software.

2008: 75,000 "HITS" AND COUNTING

When I began this website in November, 2005, I asked those who visited to please send comments pro and con. I have received many "pro's" and only recently my first "con." The latter being the fact that my descriptions of the graphics are written in all capital letters. It never entered my mind that this would be a negative, and as I responded to the writer, I will henceforth revert back to the standard structure. Interestingly, my penchant for all caps reverts back to my U.S. Army years when our typewriters were called "Mills," and there were no other keys but "Caps." It is much faster to type with all caps, but I can see where a proof reader or other grammar-minded person would rather see text written in normal sentence structure. Thanks again to the visitor whose comment I will accept as constructive criticism, and also "lose the caps."

2008: Monsignor Leonard Toomey

"Make the world a bit more beautiful because you have lived in it."

1891: Patrick J. Berry's "Berryville"

From the "NEIGHBORHOODS AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT" folder, this graphic and and the map in the next post relate to "Berryville," a Trenton area neighborhood developed by real estate man, Patrick J. Berry.

1905 BERRYVILLE

This is "Berryville;" an 1891 real estate development established by Mr. Patrick J. Berry, at the time a resident of 494 West State Street. The development was located between Edmund C. Hill's Cadwalader Place and the city of Trenton, in the area West State Street, Prospect Street, and West End Avenue.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE "COMPUTER CHALLENGED"

A NUMBER OF FRIENDS WITH WHOM I AM IN CONTACT SEEM TO HAVE PROBLEMS ACCESSING MY SITE, PROBABLY DUE TO THE LENGTHY URL, WWW.GLOVER320.BLOGSPOT.COM.
AN EASY WAY TO GAIN ACCESS IS TO GO ON LINE, ACCESS GOOGLE, AND TYPE IN THE FOLLOWING STRING IN THE GOOGLE SEARCH BLOCK:

TOM GLOVER HAMILTON TRENTON.

THE FIRST FEW ENTRIES WILL BE LINKS TO MY SITE. JUST CLICK ON IT. THOSE WHO ARE OUT OF THE AREA AND READERS OF MY "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" COLUMN IN THE TIMES WILL ALSO FIND THE LATEST COLUMN BURIED IN THERE SOMEWHERE. LOOK FOR A LINK WITH NJO.

1891: EVEN THEN WE HAD GANGS!

ALL WAS NOT SIMPLE AND BUCOLIC BACK IN VICTORIAN ERA TRENTON. THIS ARTICLE FROM THE "CRIME, MORALS, SOCIAL VALUES" FOLDER TAKES US BACK TO THE YEAR 1891 WHEN THE TRENTON POLICE WERE CRACKING DOWN ON ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.

1923: Circa 1923 photo of Martin Brothers, Yardville

I REMEMBER THE MARTIN ESTABLISHMENT AS SELLING CONCRETE BRICKS. THEIR AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP WAS WELL BEFORE MY TIME.

A REMINDER FOR NEWCOMERS TO THIS SITE

LEFT CLICKING ON A GRAPHIC

WILL ENLARGE IT

TO MAXIMUM SIZE.

USE THE BACK ARROW KEY TO

RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGES

2004: MONSIGNOR LEONARD TOOMEY: A ONE WAY TICKET TO GLORY

I received the devestating news of the passing of Monsignor Leonard Toomey on Wednesday evening, September 10th. Judy and I were as shocked as was Brian M., who delivered the bad news. We had all been praying that his recent illness was only temporary.

*****************

THIS IS THE MAN WHO CONVERTED ME TO THE FAITH WAY BACK IN 1960. THE PHOTO ABOVE WAS TAKEN AT GIOVI'S RESTAURANT IN YARDVILLE WHEN MONSIGNOR JOINED FATHER MICK LAMBETH AND THREE SACRED HEART SEMINARIANS AS THEY HONORED JUDY AND ME BY ATTENDING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN APRIL, 2004. FATHER TOOMEY WAS LIKE A BROTHER TO THE LATE FATHER JAMES "JIMMY" RUSSELL.

JIMMY WAS JUDY'S FIRST COUSIN. SHE RECALLS THE TIME WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG GIRL IN THE 1940's, THEN-SEMINARIANS TOOMEY AND HER COUSIN JIMMY RUSSELL SENT HER A CARD WITH A FEATHER ON IT, AND TOLD HER THE FEATHER WAS A RELIC FROM THE WINGS OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL. JUDY PROUDLY TOOK THE "RELIC" TO ST. ANTHONY'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL TO SHOW THE SISTERS. THE SISTERS DID NOTHING TO DISCOURAGE JUDY'S TREASURE. MONSIGNOR BAPTISED ALL OF MY CHILDREN, AND HAS BEEN A VERY DEAR FRIEND FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS. WHEN I WAS BEING INSTRUCTED INTO THE FAITH BY FATHER TOOMEY, I REMEMBER HOW HE TOLD ME AFTER I HAD CONVERTED THAT IN ALL HIS YEARS OF GIVING INSTRUCTIONS, I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO PROLONGED THE PROCESS WITH ALL OF MY QUESTIONS ON THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE FAITH. I WAS DEEPLY HUMBLED WHEN MONSIGNOR TOLD ME HE NEVER MISSED MY TRENTON TIMES "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" COLUMNS.

***************************

THE FOLLOWING WAS A COMMENT FROM ANONYMOUS IN MY GUESTBOOK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE VISIT AND COMMENT. ANONYMOUS WROTE:

FYI: Msgr. Toomey passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 86. He was a wonderful man and a wonderful priest who will be missed dearly. Rest In Peace, and may the angels come to greet you and take you to paradise.

1891: FROM THE "POTTERIES, TRENTON" FOLDER: JOHN HART BREWER: MASTER OF BELEEK POTTERY

The man written about above was one of the reasons Trenton became a center of fine porcelain china back in the heyday of the pottery industry in the city of Trenton. When I was a younger man, I remember seeing all those conical brick pottery structures that lined the New York Avenue area of East Trenton. Mr. Brewer went on to establish the Ott & Brewer Company, known around the world for fine china.

1894: TRENTON'S POTTERY INDUSTRY

This is a portion of the front page of an old Trenton Times, the article on potteries being of interest. To my friend Alan Wildblood, there's another of your relatives in the shaded area.

2008: THE JOHN ABBOTT II DOCTOR'S HOUSE

THIS, AND THE NEXT POST PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON ONE OF THE ATTRACTIONS TO BE SEEN AT SUNDAY'S SEPTEMBER FEST CELEBRATION. THE DOCTOR'S HOUSE IS BEING MAINTAINED BY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP. BE SURE TO VISIT THE ABBOTT FARM AREA IF YOU GO TO SEPTEMBERFEST. YOU WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO PURHASE A COPY OF HAMILTON'S NEWEST HISTORY BOOK AT VERY ATTRACTIVE PRICES: $10.00 FOR THE SOFT COVER VERSION, AND $20.00 FOR THE HARDBOUND EDITION.

2008: THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP

I CREATED THIS, AND THE PRECEDING JOHN ABBOTT II GRAPHICS TO PLACE THE SPOTLIGHT ON ONE OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP'S HISTORICAL TREASURES, THE JOHN ABBOTT II HOUSE. I TOOK THESE PHOTOS OF THE AREA A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THAT AUGUST GROUP OF HAMILTON HISTORIANS. AS I PILE ON THE YEARS, I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT ALONG WITH THE JOHN ABBOTT II HOUSE, THERE ARE MANY OTHER HISTORICAL TREASURES IN HAMILTON TOWNSHIP. ACCORDINGLY, I CREATED http://www.glover320.blogspot.com/ . THE SITE WAS CREATED IN NOVEMBER, 2005. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FASCINATING JOURNEY BRINGING LOCAL HISTORY NOT ONLY TO HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, BUT ALSO TRENTON AND THE OUTLYING MERCER AREA. I AM ALSO PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I ENCOURAGED GARY LIPPINCOTT WHO IS A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE HISTORIAN ON GROVEVILLE TO START A WEBSITE FEATURING GROVEVILLE. GARY DID AND HIS http://www.grovevillememories.blogspot.com/ IS A WONDERFUL SOURCE OF HISTORICAL ENLIGHTENMENT. NOW I AM WORKING ON BROAD STREET PARK HISTORIAN JIM COLELLO TO CREATE A BROAD STREET PARK WEBSITE. JIM IS AN EXPERT ON THE HISTORY OF BROAD STREET PARK. I AM NOT AS ACTIVE IN THE HAMILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY AS WHEN I WAS THE PRESIDENT, BUT I STILL ADMIRE THEIR DEDICATION TO THE PRESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THIS WONDERFUL HISTORIC TREASURE.

BE SURE TO VISIT THE JOHN ABBOTT II EXHIBIT AT THIS SUNDAY'S SEPTEMBERFEST! IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST STOPS AS YOU ENTER VETERANS' PARK ON THE KUSER ROAD ENTRANCE. HAMILTON'S NEW HISTORY BOOK WILL BE ON SALE: $10.00 SOFT COVER, AND $20.00 HARDCOVER.

1937: LAWRENCEVILLE'S NEW FIRE ENGINE

I'M SURE THAT'S A 1937 DIAMOND "T" JUST LIKE THE ONE THE GUYS AT COLONIAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY HAD IN THE 1940's.

1934: LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP MINI HISTORY

THESE FULL PAGE SCANS ARE A CHALLENGE. LACKING A "TABLOID SCANNER," I HAVE TO MAKE 5 FULL PAGE SCANS AND "STITCH" THEM TOGETHER IN ORDER TO GET A DUPLICATED FULL PAGE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE LARGER THE PAGE, THE SMALLER THE PRINT WHEN IT IS LOADED ON TO THE WEBSITE. IF YOU HAVE A LARGER LCD MONITOR, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO READ THE FINE PRINT. A RE-SETTING OF YOUR COMPUTER DISPLAY TO 800 X 600 WOULD ALSO HELP.

1938: THE KILLER HURRICANE OF SEPTEMBER, 1938

It took the Rafferty administration to figure out how to stop the flooding of Pond Run in the Bromley section of Hamilton. Prior to the construction of the concrete spillway back in the 1970's the folks along Greenwood, Johnston, Richland, and other streets in the area became inundated with flood waters. Here are two photos showing the area as the great hurricane of 1938 ran up the middle Atlantic to New England, spreading death and destruction.

1938: TRENTON HIGH SENIORS GO TO WASHINGTON

HERE'S A TRIBUTE TO THE CLASS OF '38 AT TRENTON HIGH. I ADDED A COUPLE LITTLE PHOTOS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AS IT LOOKED WHEN IT WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND IN PRISTINE CONDITION.

1938: GROVEVILLE VFD ANNUAL CHICKEN SUPPER

TO MY FRIEND GARY LIPPINCOTT, GROVEVILLE HISTORIAN, THIS POST ALSO BELONGS ON YOUR WONDERFUL GROVEVILLE SITE, http://www.grovevillememories.blogspot.com/.

I SEE A LIPPINCOTT IN THAT LIST OF PARTICIPANTS. YOU PROBABLY KNOW MANY OF THE FOLKS LISTED IN THE ARTICLE. I KNOW YOU CAN EMBELLISH THIS ARTICLE FAR BETTER THAN I.

1938: TRENTON GOES "HI-TECH" WITH A NEW STREET SWEEPER

CHECK OUT THE PRICE THE CITY PAID FOR THAT SWEEPER. I WOULD BET THAT RICH BALGOWAN OF HAMILTON'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE A FEW OF THOSE UNITS AT THE OUTRAGEOUS PRICE OF $3,500.

1938: HAMILTON SQUARE BAPTIST CHURCH HARVEST SUPPER

THESE SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOOD POSTINGS ARE OF INTEREST TO MANY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH, DUE MAINLY TO THE FACT THAT THE PARTICIPATING FAMILIES WERE LISTED IN GREAT DETAIL. HERE'S AN ARTICLE ON THE ANNUAL HARVEST SUPPER HELD AT THAT VENERABLE OLD HAMILTON SQUARE CHURCH.

1938: MISS JOSEPHINE BENCIVENGO

EVEN AS POETS TAKE "POETIC LICENSE," SO TOO DO I EVOKE "WRITER'S LICENSE" AS I POST FAMILY NAMES OF FOLKS WHO HAVE TRAVELLED ACROSS THE STAGE OF MY NOW-LENGTHY LIFE. I MAY HAVE LOST CONTACT WITH MANY OF THOSE WITH WHOM I GREW UP, BUT THEY HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE WITHIN MY HEART AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THEM. THUS IT IS WITH THE FAMILY OF SHIRLEY WHITEBREAD, FRED AND EDNA KUSER, DON SLABICKI, ERNIE PLAAG, MADELYN LEAR, THE LENHARDTS, EMILY REYNOLDS, MARY KELLEY, JULIA MCLAIN, AND MANY OTHER KUSER SCHOOL AND HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS, AND TOO MANY OTHERS TO LIST.

INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE LIST ARE MEMBERS OF THE BENCIVENGO FAMILY.

THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED MY MANY COLUMNS RECALLING GROWING UP IN THE KUSER FARM AREA WILL RECALL THE COLUMNS I WROTE INVOLVING ONE OF MY SERIOUS TEEN AGE CRUSHES, MADELINE BENCIVENGO. MADELINE'S COUSINS, ALEX AND NEIL WERE ALSO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RESIDING ON ATKINS AVENUE, ACROSS FROM PLAAG'S GROVE. ALEX AND I WERE THE ONLY YANKEE FANS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HE WAS ONE OF OUR GUYS WHO PLAYED TRUE "SANDLOT" BASEBALL ON PLAAG'S GROVE'S VERY DUSTY AND SANDY FIELD. ALEX COULD HAVE BEEN A PROFESSIONAL BALL PLAYER. HE WAS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SHORTSTOP AND FIELDED THOSE HOT GROUNDERS AND FIRED TO FIRST BASE WITH A BLAZING FAST BALL. HIS HERO WAS PHIL RIZZUTTO. PHOTOS OF ALEX AND NEIL ARE POSTED ELSEWHERE IN THIS WEBSITE, AS ARE PHOTOS OF MADELINE AND ABOVE, JOSEPHINE. COULD THIS BE A RELATIVE OF MAYOR JOHN BENCIVENGO? ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

1938: FROM THE "AMERICAN-ITALIAN" FILES

MY DEAR FRIEND, BOB IMMORDINO, LAWRENCE HISTORIAN INSISTED THAT I CHANGE MY HAMILTON LIBRARY LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION FOLDER FROM "ITALIAN-AMERICAN" TO "AMERICAN-ITALIAN." (I DID.) THESE TWO PHOTOS CAME FROM THAT FILE WHICH IS GROWING VERY RAPIDLY. THE ITALIANS, CHAMBERSBURG, ST. JOACHIM'S, AND ST. JAMES CHURCHES HAVE MANY VERY INTERESTING HISTORICAL PHOTOS AND ARTICLES ON THE SUBJECT.

1938: MISS JANE SAYEN

DAUGHTER OF FRED SAYEN, JANE WAS A LOVELY, VERY SOPHISTOCATED LADY. SHE WAS A REGULAR VISITOR TO KUSER FARM AT THE MOVIES WE HAD THERE ON SUNDAY NIGHTS. DON SLABICKI AND I WERE THERE THE EVENING SHE PRESENTED FRITZ AND EDNA KUSER WITH AN OIL PAINTING SHE HAD DONE DEPICTING A CORNER OF THE KUSER MANSION. THE PAINTING STILL REPOSES IN THE KUSER MANSION.

1935: THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP DUMP AND INCINERATOR

IT WOULD MAKE 21st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

1935: WOODLAWN PARK

IN ITS HEYDAY, WOODLAWN PARK WAS ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR CENTRAL JERSEY AMUSEMENT PARKS. THE MAP SHOWS THE LOCATION IN THE BROMLEY SECTION OF HAMILTON. NOTE THAT MY STREET, ATLANTIC AVENUE WAS NOT CUT THROUGH TO GREENWOOD AVENUE AT THE TIME, IT IS SAID THAT RED SKELTON GOT HIS PROFESSIONAL START AT WOODLAWN PARK. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY THE CLAIM. PHOTOS OF WOODLAWN PARK ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO COME BY. YEARS AGO, MR. YEAGER, WHO LIVED ON CONNECTICUT AVENUE GAVE A PHOTO TO COPY OF A PORTION OF THE PARK. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO OTHERS IN MY COLLECTION.

ANOTHER TIP FROM TOM

USE THE "FULL SCREEN" FEATURE TO ENHANCE VIEWING.
CLICKING the "F11" KEY ON YOUR KEYBOARD WILL CHANGE TO FULL SCREEN VIEWING. THE SCREEN WILL GIVE A REFRESHING FULL PAGE VIEW. TO GO BACK TO REGULAR VIEWING, JUST CLICK ON THE "F11" KEY AGAIN AND YOU ARE BACK TO NORMAL.

AS OF THIS MORNING, SEPTEMBER 7, 2008 THERE ARE 2,308 POSTS ON THIS WEBSITE, AND WE ARE APPROACHING 75,000 "HITS". FOR THOSE VISITORS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC SUBJECT, USE THE "SEARCH BLOG" FEATURE AT THE UPPER LEFT OF THIS SCREEN.

TYPE THE SUBJECT OF YOUR SEARCH INTO THE WHITE SPACE NEXT TO "SEARCH BLOG" FOR THE SUBJECT OF YOUR SEARCH, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE ANY AND ALL REFERENCES TO THE SUBJECT YOU TYPE.
EXAMPLE: TYPE LALOR AND ALL REFERENCES TO LALOR WILL APPEAR ON A NEW SCREEN. TYPE KUSER AND ALL POSTS FROM KUSER SCHOOL TO KUSER FAMILY MEMBERS WILL APPEAR.

1875: C.V. MEADE ESTATE - HAMILTON AVENUE AT NOTTINGHAM WAY

Earlier this week in a previous web page, I posted a news photo of the C.V. Meade estate

with a news photo of the mansion shown in the engraving above. This engraving is a true historic treasure. Today, that area is the site of Lockwood's Electric Motor Repair, the Hamilton Republican Club (former Barton Francis auto dealer), and on the Hamilton Avenue side the home of the Old Heidelberg Restaurant, today the site of DeFrank's Appliance store.

1959: TRENTON BEARING COMPANY

My co-worker Bill Kuestner and I gave more than 40 years of our lives to this company, with the verbal promise that we would one day retire in comfort. Unfortunately, I didn't heed my many friends, who admonished me to never put your career in the hands of a "mom and pop" company. I did. When the principles retired, the business was turned over to family and within a year or so, we descended into Chapter 11. The bittersweet memories remain.

1896: ST. MARY'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL

The building is still there, but the school is long gone. Many Mercer area residents have ancestors who attended that grand old school on the corner of North Warren and Bank Streets in Trenton.

1896: ST. MICHAEL'S ORPHANAGE HOPEWELL

Even though this graphic is incomplete due to the fact that the pages were seriously degraded and torn, the initial article is quite interesting. I have received numerous requests for information on St. Michael's, which is no longer in existance.

I have received an email from Kuser Principal Roberto Kesting announcing the first formal meeting of the Kuser School Centennial Celebration. I know there are some visitors to this site who are "Kuser Kats" and have expressed an interest in being kept informed as to the activities surrounding the planning for this memorable and historic celebration. If you are interested in being kept informed, or are interested in attending as an alumnus (as I am), contact either Mr. Kesting at the address below, or email me.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THE FIRST CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION MEETING

The first Kuser School 100th Anniversary meeting will be held this Tuesday, September 9th @4PM. This will accommodate parents and alumni that wish to participate. The first meeting will be held at 4PM. The meeting is open to parents and alumni are cordially invited. The initial agenda will be a discussion of each committee's objectives and activities. We will solidify our memberships in each committee. Mr. Kesting stated that his goal is for our committees to be self-sufficient and our future meetings will be to discuss progress in each committee.Thank you for your support in this exciting endeavor!Roberto KestingPrincipalKuser Elementary School70 Newkirk AvenueHamilton, NJ 08629(609) 631- 4155 ext. 3850rkesting@hamilton.k12.nj.us

1935: William P. Howe, Jr.- Pennington

We called him "young Bill." His dad, was an incredible man who was the Mayor of the bucolic town of Pennington. Young Bill was Edna Howe Kuser's brother. He also went on to be a big game hunter and I remember one Sunday evening at Kuser Farm when he spoke of his adventures while on an African safari.

1935: E. STATE STREET EXTENSION

Now you know how E. State Street Extension from Klockner Road to Nottinhgam Way came into existance. My father worked on the WPA project that constructed Arena Drive back in the 1930's. WPA=Works Project Administration. It was a governmental program that assisted the unemployed who in turn upgraded our infrastructure. It was one of the Franklin Roosevelt administrations "New Deal" programs.

1935: HAMILTON TEACHER ASSIGNMENTS, ETC.

THE ABOVE ARTICLE IS IN THE HAMILTON LIBRARY'S "HAMILTON BOARD OF EDUCATION" FOLDER. IT IS QUITE INTERESTING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS TO READ ABOUT THE PERSONS, PLACES, AND THINGS IN THE LOCAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. PARTICULARY INTERESTING ARE THE TEACHERS AND THEIR ASSIGNMENTS.

1935: FROM THE LOCAL HISTORY "GOVERNMEN" FOLDER

MY FATHER WAS IN POLITICS BACK WHEN THIS MAN WAS A PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE LOCAL POLITICAL SCENE. JAMIESON, CHRLIE TRIER, AND HARRY LIEBERMAN ARE NAMES WITH WHICH I AM FAMILIAR.

1940: FROM THE "HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, GOVERNMENT" FOLDER

ONCE UPON A TIME, HAMILTON HAD A COMMITTEE FORM OF GOVERNMENT. INDEED, THOMAS E. GLOVER (MY FATHER) WAS A COMMITTEEMAN IN 1945. HIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION IS IN THE "GOVERNMENT" FOLDER.

1896: VILLA PARK JAMES MOSES SCHOOL

I REMEMBER THIS OLD SCHOOL WHEN I WAS A BOY. IT WAS ON PARK AVENUE, NOT TOO FAR FROM MY BARBER AT THE TIME, TONY (AND CARL) AMATO. IT WAS REALLY A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE.

1935: "Saturday night is the lonliest night of the week.."

That old song certainly doesn't apply to the MANY night spots available to local area residents during the depression year of 1935. I am familiar with a number of them, but the majority were before my time. CHECK OUT THOSE PRICES!

1935: JAMES MOSES SCHOOL - VILLA PARK

What a great photo of a young group of Moses classmates entering an old school with clapboard siding! I only remember the Moses School as being made of brick. Does any old timer from the Villa Park - Park Avenue are know anything about the school building shown in the graphic?

1935:EDWARD DILATUSH OBIT

The Dilatush family is legendary in the history of the Edgebrook area of Hamilton. Most recently, the family conducted a Holly farm along Route 130. In earlier years, there was a fertilizer processing plant on the site.

1935: Groveville Fire Dept. Annual Dinner

1935: The country was still in the throes of the Great Depression. Even so, the guys and gals at the Groveville Volunteer Fire Department continued their annual fund raising dinner. There are many notable old time residents of the Yardville-Groveville area.

2008: ATTENTION KUSER SCHOOL ALUMNI

I have received an email from Kuser Principal Roberto Kesting announcing the first formal meeting of the Kuser School Centennial Celebration. I know there are some visitors to this site who are "Kuser Kats" and have expressed an interest in being kept informed as to the activities surrounding the planning for this memorable and historic celebration. If you are interested in being kept informed, or are interested in attending as an alumnus (as I am), contact either Mr. Kesting at the address below, or email me.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF

THE FIRST CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION MEETING

The first Kuser School 100th Anniversary meeting will be held this Tuesday, September 9th @4PM. This will accommodate parents and alumni that wish to participate. The first meeting will be held at 4PM. The meeting is open to parents and alumni are cordially invited. The initial agenda will be a discussion of each committee's objectives and activities. We will solidify our memberships in each committee. Mr. Kesting stated that his goal is for our committees to be self-sufficient and our future meetings will be to discuss progress in each committee.
Thank you for your support in this exciting endeavor!

Roberto Kesting
Principal
Kuser Elementary School
70 Newkirk Avenue
Hamilton, NJ 08629
(609) 631- 4155 ext. 3850
rkesting@hamilton.k12.nj.us

ADAM EXTON: Various Dates

I spent a bit of extra time combining a few graphics from the Local Collection's "Businesses, Trenton" folder. I have a strange fascination with that area of South Trenton along the Delaware River. There are promising improvements being made to that area of Trenton. As I traverse Centre Street every Sunday Morning, I look with interest on the "Cracker Factory" which is being converted into living quarters. Another fascinating building which is still in what appears to be very nice condition is the old Centre Theater, now a drug store.

1929: TODAY IT'S THE GREATEST GENERATION

Even as we are losing over 1,000 veterans of WWII, AKA "The Greatest Generation," so too did we note the passing of veterans of the war between the states, AKA the Civil War. May they all rest in peace.

1929: HAMILTON'S BUDGET NOT GOOD NEWS FOR THE POLICE

As can be seen by the above article, Hamilton decided against any salary adjustment for the Hamilton Police Dept. Check out the budget figures. Incredible!

1929: "PARENTS TAKE PART IN PENALIZING.."

What a refreshing concept! Imagine parents taking responsibility for the mis-deeds of their offspring. The last time I remember anything like that was way back in Kuser School in the 1940's when "Tommy" Glover was "busted" by Miss Anna Lacy for being "rude and impudent." When Mom Glover was apprised of my behavior by Kuser Principal, Miss Emily Reynolds, Mom gave her permission to mete out whatever disciplinary action she deemed appropriate. At the same time she assured Miss Reynolds that "Tommy" would be punished very severely...and he was. No 25 cent allowance and no radio programs for 2 weeks. Talk about capital punishment!

1909: THE ROMANCE OF THE CIVIL WAR AND OLD TIME RIVER BOATING

THERE'S A CERTAIN CHARM ABOUT THE PADDLEWHEEL SHOWBOATS THAT PLIED THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FOR YEARS, AND EVEN TODAY. INDEED, THERE IS A CERTAIN FASCINATING "ROMANCE" TO RIVER LORE. PERHAPS THAT IS WHY I FOUND THIS ARTICLE SO COMPLETELY ENTHRALLING. THE STORY OF MR. LENOX IS INDEED FASCINATING.

1929: WILLEY FIELD, BROAD STREET PARK

I WOULD NORMALLY HAVE PLACED THIS ARTICLE IN THE "BASEBALL" FOLDER IN THE HAMILTON LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION, BUT INSTEAD, OPTED TO PLACE IT IN THE "BROAD STREET PARK" FOLDER. JIM COLELLO, (OR ANY OTHER OLD TIME BROAD STREET PARK EXPERT,) DO YOU KNOW WHERE WILLEY FIELD WAS LOCATED? I HAD NEVER READ NOR HEARD ABOUT THE WILLEY FIELD UNTIL THIS ARTICLE TURNED UP AS I BEGAN TRAVERSING A 1929 TRENTON TIMES VOLUME TODAY.

THANKS TO JIM COLELLO, BROAD STREET PARK HISTORIAN, AND RODGER MCMAHON, A BSP OLD TIMER, WE HAVE LOCATED WILLEY FIELD. A "GOOGLE EARTH" SATELLITE VIEW ACCOMPANYS THIS POST. THE RED ARROW POINTS TO THE LOCATION OF THE FIELD. THANKS JIM, THANKS RODGER!

JIM WROTE:
Tom, the article you posted about the game for the baseball championship for Broad Street Park was enjoyable reading. I didn't know the location of Willey Field. So, I called my friend and fellow firefighter, Rodger McMahon. Rodger informed me that Willey Field was located at Westcott and Rowan Avenues. Home plate was located at that corner with left field on the Rowan side of the field and right field down Westcott Avenue. Rodger lives a short distance from there on Overlook Avenue. He said he would be happy to meet you there and provide any information you might want about the field. Thanks for posting the article that provides another piece of history about BSP. Jim.