In the photo he's identified as Bernie Hughes. We knew him by the nickname, "Pinky" Hughes. Lea Terry let me copy many of his photos when he visited my table at the 75th anniversary of Hamilton High. Ed Marchand left the teaching profession because he couldn't live on the meager salary he was paid at the time. He was my "phys ed" teacher along with Don Divine in my Sophomore year.
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Tuesday, September 23, 2008
1949: Thanks to Lea Terry for this photo
In the photo he's identified as Bernie Hughes. We knew him by the nickname, "Pinky" Hughes. Lea Terry let me copy many of his photos when he visited my table at the 75th anniversary of Hamilton High. Ed Marchand left the teaching profession because he couldn't live on the meager salary he was paid at the time. He was my "phys ed" teacher along with Don Divine in my Sophomore year.
1949: Thanks to Lea Terry for this photo
In the photo he's identified as Bernie Hughes. We knew him by the nickname, "Pinky" Hughes. Lea Terry let me copy many of his photos when he visited my table at the 75th anniversary of Hamilton High. Ed Marchand left the teaching profession because he couldn't live on the meager salary he was paid at the time. He was my "phys ed" teacher along with Don Divine in my Sophomore year.
1949: Thanks to Lea Terry for this photo
In the photo he's identified as Bernie Hughes. We knew him by the nickname, "Pinky" Hughes. Lea Terry let me copy many of his photos when he visited my table at the 75th anniversary of Hamilton High. Ed Marchand left the teaching profession because he couldn't live on the meager salary he was paid at the time. He was my "phys ed" teacher along with Don Divine in my Sophomore year.
1949: Thanks to Lea Terry for this photo
In the photo he's identified as Bernie Hughes. We knew him by the nickname, "Pinky" Hughes. Lea Terry let me copy many of his photos when he visited my table at the 75th anniversary of Hamilton High. Ed Marchand left the teaching profession because he couldn't live on the meager salary he was paid at the time. He was my "phys ed" teacher along with Don Divine in my Sophomore year.
1949: Thanks to Lea Terry for this photo
In the photo he's identified as Bernie Hughes. We knew him by the nickname, "Pinky" Hughes. Lea Terry let me copy many of his photos when he visited my table at the 75th anniversary of Hamilton High. Ed Marchand left the teaching profession because he couldn't live on the meager salary he was paid at the time. He was my "phys ed" teacher along with Don Divine in my Sophomore year.
1941: American Legion Post 31
Any time I hear the organizational name "American Legion," I automatically think of the area's legendary "Post 31." Back in the winter of 1941, fresh into the conflagration that was World War II, the Legion embarked on a project to sign up vets of World War I to aid in various local defense causes.1941: Holy Angels Church Stages a Presentation
Back before we had Monday night football, baseball games, television programming and other 21st century "stay at home" diversions, our society was alive with dances, musical programs, and as above, stage programs. The parishioners at Holy Angels got together and presented "Varieties of 1941" to the public.1985: From Trenton Mayor Art Holland
He was my favorite mayor, and a true gentleman. Art Holland was responding to a column I had written during the Christmas season of 1984, in which I referred to my parents as "Mom" and"Pop," which parental names he also used as a young man. Art did a lot for the city of Trenton, and I sure wish we could go back to those years before malls when Trenton was a vivacious city. The note on the bottom is from my buddy, then Publisher of the late, great Mercer Messenger.
1941: Hildinger's Movie Theaters
I'm not completely sure about the information on the name of the new theater written about in the article, but I think the theater ultimately went from the Orpheum to the Mayfair. In my many years of local history, I have found that there is a fierce interest in the many movie theaters that were once part of a viable city of Trenton.THIS FROM MIKE KUZMA, VERIFYING MY "ORPHEUM" TO "MAYFAIR" TRANSITION. MIKE ALSO BROUGHT UP THE LEVY NAME; A FAMILIAR NAME TO ME. EDGAR WAS A FRIEND OF FRITZ AND EDNA KUSER, AND A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE KUSER FARM TENNIS CLUB. WHEN THE KUSERS WENT TO NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE SUMMER AND MY BUDDY DON SLABICKI AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COME TO THE SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIES AT KUSER FARM UNTIL THEY RETURNED IN THE FALL, EDGAR GAVE US FREE ACCESS TO HIS GREENWOOD THEATER. ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS TELL THE TICKET TAKER, "EDGAR SAYS OK." THEY WERE THE MAGIC PASSWORDS, BUT WE ONLY HAD TO USE THEM TWO OR THREE TIMES WHEN WE WERE RECOGNIZED AS "FREEBIES." MANY THANKS FOR YOUR MEMORIES, MIKE.
Tom:
It was indeed originally the "Orpheum" I vividly recall the transformation of it to the "Mayfair". It was owned by a group consisting of the Hildinger family, the Levy family, and the Henry's. This group also owned and operated the Greenwood, Strand, Princess and I believe the Rialto. The Mayfair was a sparkling addition to the Movie theatre scene in downtown Trenton, and was located diagonally across from the Stacy Theatre, and up the street from my Favorite all time best movie house "The State" which was just beyond Montgomery St.(Where incidentelly they had the public rest rooms built on an Island in the middle of the street.Vince Henry who managed the Mayfairhad a grandson who later starred with Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer.Thanks for the memoriesMike Kuzmaemail: Princetonvaluer@msn.com
1945: Thomas E. Glover, Hamilton Township County Committee
My old man was a dyed in the wool FDR Democrat. He was ecstatic when I told him I was voting for John F. Kennedy in 1960 but he went ballistic when I told him I was voting for Ronald Reagan. When he asked me why I changed, I explained that the new "Woodstock" type Dems were leaning too far to the left wing of the plane, and I felt more comfortable on the right wing, In his best British accent he........well, this is a family website; let's just say he would have voted Democrat regardless of the candidate's political IQ.
1905: First Baptist Church Centennial Souvinir Booklet
This beautiful graphic illustrating the front cover and frontis page photo of the First Baptist Church on Centre Street in Trenton was forwarded to me by Alan Wildblood, who is an historian specializing in the history and genealogy of the church and the Wildblood family tree. Note the beautiful "steeple" which was on the original church; undoubtedly the victim of the weather sometime during the church's magnificent past. Thanks, Alan.Monday, September 22, 2008
1923: Valentine's Blacksmith Shop
Long before the Battle Monument was erected and dedicated in 1893, the land on which it was built was occupied by Valentine's Blacksmith Shop. Photos of this type spur the imagination. I can vaguely visualize what the are known as "five points" looked like back in the 18th and 19th century.1941: Even in the 40's we had Vultures
To anyone who attributes purse snatching to the current crime scene, here is a set of sobering articles proving that the practice was alive and well. Earlier posts pointed out the fact that there was also a proliferation of burglaries, graffiti and vandalism. We will always have anti-social types who prey upon honest and upstanding citizens.1941: Harry Lieberman
From the "Politics, Trenton" folder, this photo of Harry Lieberman. Lieberman, along with Crawford Jemison were familiar names in the Democratic party of Hamilton Township.1941: "Enemy" Planes on a Trenton Bombing Mission
I would guess that there are few visitors to this site who are over 65 years of age. Those of us who are will remember the scary situation in America back in the very early years of World War II. I can remember sitting in the dark during a blackout and hearing aircraft passing overhead and wondering if the plane was friend or foe. There were other scary stories of spies, Fifth Column, etc.
1914: News From the Wilbur Section
Each week, the Times gave a page to the Chambersburg section of Trenton and also to the Wilbur section. Back then, the boundary between Trenton and Hamilton, even though it was actually So. Logan Avenue, many Bromley news items were included. This page has notes from East Trenton and South Trenton.1914: Horses Replaced by the Horseless Carriage
With the price of gas going up and up, it might seem like a good idea to reverse that headline in 21st century America: "Automobile Replaced By Horses."
Sunday, September 21, 2008
From the "Crime, Morals and Social Values" folder
Courtesy and ettiquette are sadly out of fashion in the majority of today's society. It warmed my heart to learn that my alma mater, Kuser School, and the other Hamilton Township schools are placing "character" in the spotlight. I wrote the column as a sort of rebuttal after a reader sent me a negative letter, suggesting that our attempts at exhibiting courtesy and ettiquette were old fashioned, and out of date. Rather than reply with a burning letter, I decided to cool down and recall the enviornment in which I, and many in the over 60 generation lived.1924: School Discipline, 1924
The hose "stings, but doesn't make a mark." Can you imagine 21st century school teachers taking a rubber hose to one or two the the "n'er do wells" in our modern system? My mom would give unconditional authority to use that hose anytime I stepped out of line, and I dare say most of my contemporaries would agree. I recall that now archaic saying...."spare the rod, spoil the child."2008: BILLY OPFERMAN
Bill was a personal friend of many years. I met him 25 or 30 years ago when we both met while indulging in our hobby of metal detecting. Bill died this week, a shocking death which police are calling a suicide. He was the champion of veterans. An ardent proponent of the P.O.W. fiasco where the U.S. Government claimed all prisoners of war had been accounted for. Bill, along with many of us, felt otherwise. He, along with August ("Augie") Scotto were self appointed watchdogs at nearly every Hamilton Township Council meeting. One of his solutions to Hamilton's fiscal problems was to cut back on the very expensive public entertainment programs until the township once again became fiscally balanced. In perfect harmony with the aforementioned solutions, he was also an ardent supporter of the volunteer summer music concerts my son Tom Jr. and I performed our "The Music We Grew Up With" at Kuser Park over the past 2 summers. I miss Billy, and he will be on my perpetual prayer list. May he rest in peace.Saturday, September 20, 2008
The Fashion Stud Farm in Hamilton was a rich equestrian's paradise. Smith was a wealthy gentleman who chose the area where the Trenton Fairgrounds would ultimately be built. General Grant stabled a horse at the farm. It was also the home of "Goldsmith Maid," a championship trotter who was unbeatable in the 1880's. A monument to the Maid was placed on a site of Fashion Stud Farm, and was ultimately moved to Kuser Farm Park, near the tennis court. The above article is one of the few with a comprehensive history of the farm.1888: THE INTERSTATE FAIR: IN THE BEGINNING
It has been a long time since the New Jersey State Fair was in operation in a huge spread of land bordered by Nottingham Way, Ward Avenue, E. State Street, and Klockner. Each of us with silver in his or her hair can tell stories of their experiences with that wonderful fall event. The fair, also known in earlier years as the "Interstate Fair." The Henry N. Smith referred to in the article was the site of Smith's "Fashion Stud Farm."Friday, September 19, 2008
1875: Ewing Township as it was in 1875
This map is from the 1875 Evert and Stewart Atlas of Mercer County. Many Ewing visitors to thi site will be interested in seeing the area "the way it was. The numbers in the map which are found near the names of the land owners represents the number of acres of the owner.1934: Mini History of Ewing Township
Back in 1934, the Trenton Sunday Times Advertiser ran a weekly series featuring a thumbnail sketch of the communities in Mercer County. The above graphic on Ewing Township is very interesting. Remember: Full page scans can be difficult to read. I suggest you temporarily change to a monitor resolution of 800 x 600.1938: Liberty Street Church of Christ
As a young boy of 12 or 13, I attended Sunday School at Liberty St. Church of Christ. It is located on the corner of Liberty and Wesley Streets in Hamilton. The minister at the time was "Brother Graham," and my Sunday School teacher was Mrs. Margaret Anderson; a lovely and kind lady. I don't recall any plays such as that illustrated above while I was there. There are numerous "Colonial Gardens" names I recall, including John Frese, and Bill Bolz to name only two.Thursday, September 18, 2008
1937: RUTH KELLER - KUSER AND DE COU SCHOOLS
This young lady was a straight "A" student throughout her years at Kuser Grammar School. She ultimately went on to be a teacher at the late, great DeCou School on South Broad Street. She lived just up the street on Newkirk and Kuser Avenue (Today's Leonard Avenue)and was a classmate of my sister Dorothy.1954: DeCou School
I have been perusing the "DE COU" folder in the library's local history files. I put this vignette together from a little yearbook given to me by the late Ruth Keller, a neighbor who was a teacher at DeCou in the 50's.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
1905: Fire at the Dilatush Farm
The late Don Dilatush was one of Hamilton's environmental and historian treasures. Don walked the woods and fields around the Edgebrook area of Hamilton, finding countless Indian relics, and the uncanny skill at identifying every tree, weed, and living creature. He and centenarian Bob Simpkins, were both experts on the history of the Yardville-Edgebrook area of Hamilton. I was a regular reader of Don's weekly columns on his ramblings about the sprawling Dilatush farm. He and Bob Simpkins were two of the most knowledgable members of the Hamilton Township Historical Society.1905: DEUTZVILLE SCHOOL
There was an "issue" with certain Deutzville residents back in 1905 when the subject of a new school for the little village came before the town fathers. These 2 interesting and little known articles from the "DEUTZVILLE" folder reveals the issue and the construction of the school.1905: Census figures for the year 1905
I found this chart to be very interesting. I'm sure many visitors will concur. It is amazing how Mercer County has grown and how diverse we have become in 103 years.1909 Lakeside Park: In the beginning
Note that that it hadn't yet come into the ownership of the Gropp family. It was known as Hutchinson's Lake. There are numerous Lakeside and Gropp's Lake graphics in the Hamilton Library local history collection still to be posted.1940: Andy Gropp, Lifeguard
Did you know that Mr. Gropp was a lifesaver at his Lakeside swimming lake? I sure didn't, and this very clear graphic is an interesting file from the "LAKESIDE - GROPP'S LAKE" folder.1897: Very early campers at Hutchinson's Pond
These adventurous gentlemen loved camping out along the banks of Hutchinson's Pond back in the late 1800's. The area was truly one of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "forest primevals,"andI would bet that there were also Longellow's "murmering pines and hemlocks."1901: "Cool Hutchinson's Pond"
This old offset photo was in my collection with no reference to any Trenton Newspaper. It is suspected to be a State Gazette photo. Even though offset printing was quite primitive back in 1905, these photos are quite acceptable.
1905: AVIATION: THE EARLY YEARS
Three years earlier, Wilbur and Orville Wright succeeded in getting a very flimsy aircraft to make a relatively prolonged flight. That was the beginning of an early era in aviation when other would be flyers began to construct their own aircraft designs. The above gentleman chose to try a flying "kite" made of bamboo. As you can see in the article, the attempt was a dismal failure.1963: Card Party Sponsored by St. Raphael PTA
Former Hamilton Mayor and dear friend Maurice (Maury) Perilli has donated some papers to the library for inclusion in our local history database. The above photo is extracted from a copy of the newspaper, "Hamilton Life," published in the early 1960's.1917: Nottingham Way
It would be impossible to determine just where on Nottingham Way this 1917 photo was taken. Back in 1963, Meredith "Med" Havens submitted this photo to "Hamilton Life," a local short-lived Hamilton newspaper.1905: First Baptist Church: 1805-1905 Centennial
These 3 columns were gleaned from 3 seperate editions of the Daily State Gazette. I looked for a comprehensive 100 year history, but so far there is nothing uncovered.Tuesday, September 16, 2008
1908: Police and Lighting for Bromley Place
The development of Bromley really began during the first decade of the 20th century. The "BROMLEY" folder has numerous real estate ads on that section, including Bromley Place and Bromley Manor.
It was one of the most horrible train wrecks in New Jersey History. The page above is has been digitized in "Black and White" instead of 
1940: The War Clouds are Forming In Hamilton
Beginning in the 1930's when Adolph Hitler came to power, more and more articles were being written as the National Socialists took control of Germany and began to threaten world peace. Here in America, the German-American Bund openly demonstrated their allegiance to National Socialist Germany. Threats of the "fifth column" and sabotage were more and more prominent in the news. In Hamilton, the forward thinking town fathers decided to organize a municipal defense council.
1940: Trenton Catholic High School Honors
Once again, familiar names pop up from out of the past. On a personal note, I see two of the Deitrich boys, Bob and Fran, Jimmie O'Rourke, and Bob Rupprecht. Other visitors will also probably see acquaintances.
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