1954: MARION GOLDENBERG SCHWARTZ'S TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND

When we were young, we looked in the Society page to see who was getting married to whom. As we age, we now look in the Obituary section of the daily paper to see if one of our relatives, friends, or treasured classmates have gone to be with the Lord. Marion Schwartz's moving tribute to her friend late Marilyn Lister hearkens back to those carefree high school years.

1964: TRENTON'S GOLDEN ERA COMES TO AN END

I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to remembering the Trenton of my younger years. Memories of those many Saturdays that I went "up town" with my mother as she paid our electric bill, to the many happy visits to Goldberg's incredible "Toyland".........those delicious hot dogs as we dined at Woolworth's or Kresge's lunch counter.........those countless Thursday nights when I went to pick up my my dear wife Judy as she finished her day in Yard's Infants' Wear Department, have giving me memories of Trenton that will be with me forever. History will show that the 1960's marked the beginning of the end of the Trenton we all knew and loved. One by one, merchants moved out as racial turmoil from the slaying of Dr. Martin Luther King resulted in a complete breakdown of law and order as stores were burned, looted and decimated. Old stores that had been in the city for over 100 years were systematically burned and looted. One of the last old line stores to give up and move to safer and more accessible locations was S.P. Dunham. I miss that old store to this day. The best in shoes and mens' wear.....even as good as the Eton mens' shop, F.W. Donnelly, Bond, R.A. Donnelly, and Lord knows how many others.

From my Hamilton High class of '51 classmate, Lee Belardino:

Tom
What happened to Trenton is what happened to almost every major city. Flite to the suburbs and the malls. I remember taking the bus near Holy Angels church to go uptown. In the winter the bus was warm. I remember the hot dog smell out of the 5 AND 10 and no money to buy one.Xmas time shopping with all the crowd and the brisk air. Xmas songs coming from the stores. You don't get that atmosphere from the malls. Dunham's was my mothers favorite store. Lee

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....MY DEAR FRIEND, SOPHIE DeANGELO, WORKED AT DUNHAM'S FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. SHE WAS IN THE COSMETIC DEPT AND KEPT ME IN GOOD SUPPLY OF VARIOUS SAMPLES ALL THE WHILE. SHE WORKED WITH THEM IN BROAD STREET PARK AND ALSO, I BELIEVE, IN LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP. SHE DEVOTED HER ENTIRE LIFE TO THE STORE, MAY GOD BLESS HER AND MAY SHE REST IN PEACE. REGARDS.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Stephen Doyle said...

Great writing- its a shame that people did not take your very good advice to restore what was in Trenton rather than building anonymous, characterless, monstrosities of the 1980's and 1990's. BUT, even if its coming 30 years later, there is a slow shift to recognize the value of the historic buildings. They help make Trenton unique, and the younger generation would much rather live in a historic, unique, older building than a cookie cutter development. I still hold out hope that someday a new version of a Dunham's will return- who knows how long it will take though!!!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Tom: Your wonderful writing sure struck a chord with a lot of people. I fondly remember the downtown Trenton of my youth. I loved to shop Yard's and Dunham's and Stacy Sport Shop. Later, Arnold Constable where my friend and I bought matching yellow, oilskin slickers with corduroy on the collar. I rode the bus in and out and could ride everywhere on a transfer. I'm so sorry for what happened to our city but many of the large cities here in New England have suffered the same fate. Thanks again Tom for all you do.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Michael said...

Tom: I'm compelled to inject my 2 cents worth on the demise of "Uptown" Trenton. Growing up in "Jewtown" as we goyum, and our Jewish brethren referred to our hallowed neighborhood, ( This will be elaborated on in another item herein published) "Uptown" began in the same block as my Parish Church; Sacred Heart on South Broad St. The Baby Carriage Factory was the first significant store, than crossing Market St. began the Court House Complex. (The old Court House, the Annex, and the jail) Than we got into the Palace Theatre,with Mama Manukas's Washington Restaurant, Maury Robinson's, Harold's (Zelt) Mens' fashions, Eton ( the original) Mens'& boys Factory St. and Georges Men Shop, Kahn's "Treadeasy" shoes, which were across from O'Neill's shoe repair, and the magnificent "Van Sciver's Furniture Store (Castle like) facade, Bea Greenberg's NJ Plumbing Supply, ( before she became "Mrs. G", Wolf's floor covering, Hamilton Jewelers ( Both lost in a terrible fire and relocated We now approach the holy Trinity, Goldberg's, Swern's, and Gimbels etc. etc. I have photographs of downtown Trenton from the 50's when I was a State and Broad Cowboy in front of Yard's swooning to the aroma of the goodies from the Federal Bake shop across the street, next to Kresge, where you walked in on State St. and came out on Broad passing Mrs. Fisher as she made those wonderful hot dogs. If I can get my aged mind to figuring out how to scan those photos, I will send them along to you. Now about the demise. I went to work for the City of Trenton in 1959 as a Housing Inspector. At that time the Urban Renewal was all about buy 'em up, knock 'em down and wait for some good luck. Chirp Holland fell for it, hook line and sinker. A scammer by the name of Graham promised all sorts of things if Holland would give him downtown Trenton land cheap, and level it all for his design team to show up and go at it. Well Holland gave orders to his political cohort; Hy Urken to get those businesses out of there. Hy did a bang up job, with the City's money, he relocated 90% of them to the townships. When all that Graham produced, was vacant weed and garbage strewn lots, I stood in front of a bulldozer to protest any further destruction of my town. My option was to do restoration. Holland became enraged at me, and stopped speaking to me. He got defeated by Carmen Armenti, and Carmen allowed me to do my restoration bit adjacent to my old neighborhood. I put together the first application for historic restoration in NJ and it was designated NJ1 by HUD, and became the highly successful "Mercer Jackson", now known as Mill Hill. BTW those "Barber poles" were known as "Bollards" and cost thousands of dollars each. When they were removed, and sold at auction, they commanded the heady price of $10.00 for scrap value. I left the City as Chief Real Estate Officer in 1971, after Holland threatened the Director with firing if he didn't get rid of me. I went with the State, and finished my career in 1989. Embarking on a highly successful career in Real Estate valuation, and land use. But the real love was the 90 or so properties I restored. Thanks again for stirring the memories. Cordially Mike Kuzma Now raising hell in Virginia It may be gone, but

Thursday, January 27, 2011

JoeZ said...

Tom: Great post about a great town. I also remember growing up with all the stores, the buses, the smell of peanuts and hot dogs, the rush of the Christmas crowds along with the cold of the night and the holiday music. Fond memories that will always be with me and I'm sure many others.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Mack said...

Hi Tom:) Just my 2 cents on the subject. The Automobile killed downtown and all attempts to stop it would only have slowed down the pace. Look at the people in this picture walking. Downtown Trenton TODAY still has many people walking aka state workers and they help keep downtown going at a reduced level but they go home at 5pm and on their days off go to malls. My generation drove to malls where there was PARKING and you could go in and out fast and drive home with the item in your car. Big department stores in central cities without parking?? Why go there??? Trying to prevent this process would be like a candle maker trying to prevent the sale of light bulbs. Only genuine customer loyalty kept places like Dunham's downtown going for as long as they did but the older generation with its shopping habits faded. Many of the older generation were a family where the man worked and had no car or used the 1 car to go to work and the wife stayed home and thus had the time and reason to take a bus downtown. That's gone too. Now most families are 2 car and 2 jobs. Obviously these folks now go to malls. Wait, did I hear someone say but New York City has successful urban big retailers.YES because its so big and its people have less cars and malls are too far away so it does'nt apply as an example. Trenton is not New York City. But the glass remains half full due to the state workers and thus we still do have a downtown. Its busy every workday from 8 to 5 and you can go there and see all the cool buildings and people going from place to place. While downtown Trenton can never be what it once was, it reamins something special and interesting and ALIVE in 2011.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Anonymous said...

Thanks, "Mike" -- so it was Kresge's where you went in from State Street and came out on Broad. I could not remember the name of that wonderful store.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Stephen Doyle said...

Mike- if you ever pass by, check out Mill Hill next time you are in town- your work paid big dividends! I've lived there now for almost 12 years with my family, and its an incredible gem in the City. here's a link to the neighborhood's website:

Friday, January 28, 2011

TO ALL WHO COMMENTED ON THIS AND OTHER POSTS:

First off, Mike, thanks so much for a very interesting insight into the beginnings of the crumble. I had no idea of all that chicanery going on. Steve, as a knowledgeable Mill Hill citizen, your input is also extremely valuable. My goal when I instituted this site was to have folks like those who have added their comments add to the historic significance of a specific post. Thanks to all.

Tom Glover

.I did go back to Mill Hill last September, when we buried my brother in law John Zuccarelli from our family parish; Sacred Heart. I still stay in touch with Larry Reilly, and took a moment to check out 408 Market St., a property I bought and personally restored after Holland had me done in in 1971. I went on to do several historically significant farm houses in Hunterdon County.
Still working as a restoration consultant here in the Williamsburg area, and serving as a Commissioner on the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and pushing the restoration agenda.
Regards to Joe LaPlaca for his recent loss.

Thanks

Mike Kuzma

Friday, January 28, 2011

1916:CLAIRE DWIER ZARR COMMENTS ON THE TRAGIC FIRE OF 1916

I had posted graphics on the tragic Chandler-Palruba fire in Yardville back in August. A recent guest book comment by Ms. Claire Dwier Zarr adds an historic comment to supplement the graphics and gives a personal flavor to the disaster. Claire wrote:

Hi Tom--Just catching up on some of your posts and read the post re: the Chandler Oilcloth Company explosion in Yardville, May 1916. My grandfather, Nimrod Dwier, was one of the injured that day. Growing up I had always heard about the explosion and that he had been seriously burned, but I didn't know all the details. It was very interesting to read the accounting of the explosion and to learn of the others who were injured or, sadly, succumbed to their injuries that day. After reading about it, one can just imagine how strongly the incident affected the residents in the Yardville/Groveville communities. I'm very grateful my grandfather made it through that terrible ordeal and lived long enough for me to get to know him!

1929 AND 2011: TONY TEMPESTA'S STACY TRENT HOTEL BLOG

I received an email from Mr. Tony Tempesta advising me that he is hosting a blog dedicated to Trenton's late, great Stacy Trent Hotel. Great job, Tony! I will add your site to the many links on my blog. In the meantime, the graphic on top of this page has the URL address of your blog. It can be manually entered to gain access to your home page.

2 Comments

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....WHILE I WAS WITH THE POST OFFICE, I EMPTIED THE MAIL BOX AT THE STACY TRENT HOTEL MANY TIMES AND WAS ALWAYS FASCINATED WITH THE LOBBY AND THE MARBLE STAIRWAY TO THE LOWER LEVEL. THE HOTEL WAS THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF DOWNTOWN TRENTON AND FEATURED EVERY AFFAIR WITH DIGNITY. REGARDS

Monday, January 24, 2011

Teresa Wilson Rogers said...

What a coincidence! I recently bought the same postcard on ebay and posted it on my blog this past week! http://rogersfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/01/those-places-thursday-stacy-trent-hotel.html I will be looking forward to reading Tony's blog.

Monday, January 24, 2011

1937: HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL FATHERS' NIGHT

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a society that had an educational system that taught all the necessary subjects, but included in that curriculum were many, many clubs and activities that became far too un-sophisticated for succeeding generations. Gone was the "Etiquette Club" and other clubs that were designed to prepare us for the adult world. Gone also were those Saturday night canteens that never required the presence of a police officer. Back in those years, drugs were sold in the drug store, Coke was sipped through a straw, sometimes two straws with your best girlfriend-boyfriend. Words like "self control," "wholesome," "courtesy," and "well-groomed" were all very important parts of our young lives. Things were much less complicated back in those ancient times. Can you imagine  how a Fathers' Club (highlighted above) would work today? I believe the Boy Scouts of still hold to the tradition of socially educating our youth, but I know of few other groups. I am proud to say that I was a part of that unsophisticated and simplistic generation.

Forty years after the Battle of Trenton in 1776, this map was published. It was re-produced in John Raum's famous history of Trenton. It is part of the Hamilton Library Local History Collection's "TRENTON-BATTLE  OF" folder. I have scanned it in high definition in order that a bit more detail can be seen.

1947-1948 KUSER ANNEX SOCCER TEAM

These were all my classmates during my year as a Hamilton High School freshman at Kuser Annex. In those years, our Liberty-Hamilton Colonial Gardens area went to Kuser School to serve our freshman year. Four rooms on the second floor of the Hamilton Avenue side were reserved as Annex class rooms. During that year, Lou Rader served as Principal. Dick Watson taught Math and Junior Business Training. Veronica Larkin taught Latin, and other subject far above my ability to comprehend. Indeed, hers was the mecca for those students who chose the "Academic" course of study. We also had a "Commercial" course, and the one I ultimately chose, the "General" course. How different it was when compared to today's huge education system in Hamilton!

The red markers on those in the photo are students who have passed on and are no longer with us. They all remain in my prayers. 

1938 (Circa) Interstate Garage, 1021 E. State Street Trenton (Wilbur section)

White flight in the 1960's and 70's has changed the character of the Wilbur section of Hamilton. Father Brian McCormick's MARTIN HOUSE, and many selfless volunteers have been doing an incredible job in their efforts to restore one of Trenton's historic communities. For many years, Deacon and friend Bill Wilson gave hours of his time with his expertise as a master carpenter.  The graphic above  is an old ink blotter from the "BUSINESSES-FACTORIES" folder. The view below shows where the Inter State business was located.

1944: REMEMBERING "CONNECT THE DOTS"

As a young boy, the Trenton Sunday Times Advertiser has a page dedicated to youngsters. One of my favorite features of that paper, along with their incredible comic strips, was the weekly "connect the dots" puzzle. From the time I learned to count, right up to the time it became an obsolete feature, I laboriously connected # 1 through # whatever! 

JoeZ said...

Tom, haven't seen those in years, if remember doing those in the Sunday paper growing up.

Monday, January 24, 2011

MERCER COUNTY'S MAGNIFICENT JEWISH HERITAGE

 Can you say, "Demisemiseptcentennial or quartoseptcentennial? Well if you can't, it is quite understandable. If a centennial is 100 years and other familiar "centennials" are easily recognized, how do we represent 175 years? The answer lies in the above tonque twister terms. Bottom line: Mercer County celebrates its 175th anniversary in this year of 2013. I will be posting Mercer County related material on this website during the celebratory year. Hopefully, these posts will survive the ages and be available to future generations. 

  

  Below are only a few of the numerous articles in the "JEWISH" folder in the Hamilton Township Public Library Local History Collection. Note that each graphic must be clicked in order to be enlarged.  There are numerous files in the "JEWISH" folder that are later than those in the above graphic. There are a few articles on the YMHA, Brith Shalom, Anti-Jewish matters, and other related subjects, more to come as they are uncovered. Unfortunately, digital slide shows do not allow for oversized articles on an individual slide due to the fact that each article has to be reduced in size to accommodate the individual slide. Our Jewish residents have a splendid historical heritage in our local Trenton-Mercer County area. These articles and those to come are sure to be of interest to those of our visitors are of the Jewish faith and are interested in its origins in Trenton and the Mercer County area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had posted numerous graphics back in 2010 and 2011 and unfortunately, a "Google Glitch" removed them and replaced them with a "!" exclamation point in a black background. With the arrival of the 175 anniversary of Mercer County, I have re-posted most of the graphics to be found in the Hamilton Library Local History "JEWISH" folder. The comment below was submitted by Mike Kuzma, a very knowledgeable Trenton area "old timer" and regular visitor to this website. Mike Wrote:

Tom:

It's ironic you chose this week to feature Trenton's Jews.
I spent last weekend Jan. 15th in Jacksonville NC with Ivan (Itchy) Popkin. Itchy and I grew in the 30's, 40's and 50's in "Jewtown" That wonderful enclave bounded by Market St. Warren St. and Bridge St. The hub of activity was Maket St. between Broad and Union Streets.
All of the schuls were located on Union St. between Market and Fall St. where I was born.
Itchy and his brothers left Trenton in the late 40's,and early 50's. They went on to become one of the wealthiest families in the South, owing several furniture companies, and real estate holdings. Like all my old neighbors, he was thrilled to see an old friend who he could sit and rembember the days of his youth, poor but happy were the bywords.
Though born in the USA, my mom and dad spoke several eastern European dialects, among them was the mostly spoken "Yiddish". Growing up, I was able to get by with my yiddish, and had a hard time convincing Jews, I was goyum. While waiting for the bus to go to Jr.#4 on Union St. I was approach regularly to come to schul to form a minion (10)for dovin (prayers)
It was a standing joke, that the important Schuls were located on our blocks of Union St., and the "Hungarian Schul" was situated on the other side of the Penn. RR main line across from Parker School.
We had the best deli's in the world, and at least a dozen butcher shops, Kosher, and non Kosher, and a bakery or two for each block. Dr. Julius Hafetz who passed away last month grew up on Union St. where his dad was an outstanding Kosher Butcher.
We didn't have just food stoes, but beyond Van Sciver's reputation, we had Herman Spiegel Fine Furniture on Market and Union.I still chat via email with his son Herb, Uber Professor at MCCC.
Alex Segal famous for "Playhouse 90" grew up over his father's deli on Market St. next to Kohn's bakery. Segal came to Trenton back in the sixties to film a movie with Van Heflin, and Peter Fonda. The had a casting Call at the State house, and I showed up.
In the lull of selecting extras, I shouted out, "Your father had the best Pastrammi on Market St." He demanded that I identify myself, and when I did, he asked if I was Eddie Kuzma's brother, when I acknowlged it, he bellowed ,"than you deserve a speaking part"
And that's how I became a star!!! LOL It's all about neighbors!!
Hanging in my office, is a photo of me, and my basketball teamates from the YMHA, Every other year, I was honored as "Best Goyum" in the league. Russell Hedden a buddy from Lamberton St., who went on to become a VP with Bell Telephone, got it the altenate years. Can you imagine, we Catholics were not even supposed to join the YMCA in those days.

Best regards

Mike

Thursday, January 27, 2011