1926: MANY PROTESTING THE SITE OF THE NEW HAMILTON INCINERATOR

This would have been ten years before the Glover family moved to Hartley Avenue. At this juncture, I have not found succeeding articles relating to the opposition local neighbors lodged against the placing of the incinerator in the Patterson Avenue area. However, I do know that the residents' appeals to change the location were in vain. My buddy Don Slabicki and I made many trips to the incinerator when I worked for Fred and Edna Kuser. In fact, I remember the day when Don's dog "Rex" died. We carried him to the incinerator and cremated him in the huge underground oven that always burned brightly. (There was a very large steel manhole cover over the underground incinerator. A chain driven block and tackle with a huge hook on the end raised and lowered the cover.

1925: WHEN THE TRENTON TIMES WAS ON STOCKTON STREET

I dare say there are a few visitors to this web site who remember the Trenton Times when the paper was located on South Stockton Street in Trenton. The above photo is an interesting illustration of what the building looked like back in the day. The Times was rightly proud of the large electric "TIMES" sign that graced the top of the building.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM.....I SURE AM ONE WHO REMEMBERS. I WOULD GO THERE EACH WEEK AND GIVE THE SCORES AND NEWS ITEMS OF OUR HAMILTON BOWLING LANES TO HERB CLARK IN THE SPORTS DEPT. WE WERE VERY ACTIVE DURING THE TIMES BOWLING TOURNAMENTS AND THE SPECIAL EVENTS WE HELD ON ROUTE 33 FROM 1955 TO 1970. TONY CAL'S AND PATTERSON CHEVROLET WHO WERE ACROSS THE STREET ALSO PARTICIPATED ALONG WITH THE TIMES DURING SPECIAL EVENTS WE HELD. BEST REGARDS.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Jerseymikesr said...

Tom: Anyone visiting City Hall back in the day was sure to see that imposing building. Home of the Trenton Times, State Gazette, and the Sunday Times Advertiser. I  used to pick up my papers there to deliver to my South Trenton neighbors. Ironically on the othe end of the block at the corner of South Stockton, and East Front Street, Sam Jacobs started the "Trentonian" newspaper in the old Volk Tire Building. Sam worked hard to catch up to the quality of Jim Kerney's Trenton Times, and the joke we newsies would tell was; "The Trentonian is behind the Times" in more ways than one!! Regards Mike Kuzma

Sunday, February 13, 2011

1986: THE DAY THE KU KLUX KLAN CAME TO HAMILTON TOWNSHIP

As we all know, February is Black History Month. Part of that celebration must include the negative aspects of the black experience in America's past. Nowhere is that experience more negative than one finds in the pages of yesterday's newspapers as accounts of anti black outrages were committed all over the United States. Above is an article I wrote in 1986, recalling a Klan auto parade and rally that culminated in  Springdale Park in Yardville. .

1925: THE KU KLUX KLAN HISTORY AND IN NEW JERSEY

In this year of 2011, with all the societal changes America has made insofar as racial segregation is concerned, it is difficult to imagine the 1920's when the Ku Klux Klan held forth in many New Jersey cities. Years ago for Black History month, I did an article entitled, "The Klan Comes to Hamilton," telling of a auto parade through Hamilton streets by Klan members which terminated down in Spring Hill Park for a Klan rally.

1925: "BEST INVENTION SINCE SLICED BREAD"

You join me as a card-carrying senior citizen if you remember when bread was sold by the loaf and you sliced it yourself. I can still see my mom with a butcher knife, trying to make a straight slice in a loaf of bread as seen in the graphic above. Even though un-sliced bread was not a major seller back then, my mom preferred it, claiming that it stayed fresher longer without air permeating the slices as in sliced bread. Chances are when mom sliced a couple slices, we would smear on a coating of Mickey Jelke's "Oleo margarine" top it off with sugar, and voila! A typical 30's and 40's snack. YUK!

1925: SUSPICIOUS EXPLOSION AT A FRANKLIN STREET STORE

From the "CRIME-MORALS-SOCIAL VALUES" Folder, this graphic:

I will keep looking for additional information on this possible gang-related article in which a bomb exploded on Franklin Street in Chambersburg. An aerial view of 129 Franklin Street shows that the original buildings do not appear to be the same as in the aerial view.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....WE LIVED AT 137 FRANKLIN STREET IN 1937 AND I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT EXPLOSION FROM THE NEIGHBORS OR ANYONE ELSE. MY MOTHER, SISTER AND BROTHER LIVED THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AFTERWARDS.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

SJBill said...

Bombing of stores was pretty commnplace during the period. During the early 30s, thee was a dynamite blast at (about) 808 South Clinton (I think it was where Anderson's Floral shop was located in the early 50s) Apparently, the blasts were reprisals to businesses (mostly "beauty shops") for not paying protection to the mob. During the blast, there were three children upstairs that felt the full force of the blast - my father, my uncle and my Aunt Betty. Betty was very young at the time. She was covered in blankets at the rear of the apartment and was not injured from the glass fragments. My father and uncle were. My grandmother was severely injured from the blast and succombed to the wounds before her 33rd birthday. This left my grandfather to raise the three children. I have the article somewhere. It's too big for me to scan - a full page spread in the Trenton papers. Of the three kids, only my Aunt Betty is still alive. She lives in the Denver area.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Bombing of stores was pretty commnplace during the period. During the early 30s, thee was a dynamite blast at (about) 808 South Clinton (I think it was where Anderson's Floral shop was located in the early 50s). Apparently, the blasts were reprisals to businesses (mostly "beauty shops") for not paying protection to the mob. During the blast, there were three children upstairs that felt the full force of the blast - my father, my uncle and my Aunt Betty. Betty was very young at the time. She was covered in blankets at the rear of the apartment and was not injured from the glass fragments. My father and uncle were. My grandmother was severely injured from the blast and succombed to the wounds before her 33rd birthday. This left my grandfather to raise the three children. I have the article somewhere. It's too big for me to scan - a full page spread in the Trenton papers. Of the three kids, only my Aunt Betty is still alive. She lives in the Denver area.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Omadf said...

Hi Tom, Interesting article. Our family restaurant was on Hamilton Ave and Pasola's Barber Shop on Franklin backed up to our back yard. Billy Pasola (who must have been the grandson of the barber mentioned in the article) went to Villa Victoria with me. He also became a barber and eventually moved down to Pt. Pleasant and opened a barber shop. My granddad was also a barber in Trenton and he moved there from Pt Pleasant. Strange coincidence as Billy's barber shop in Point Pleasant was on the corner of the street where my granddad was born many decades before. Kind of confusing but proof that the Circle of Life continues. Billy & I were born in 1935 so the fire was long before our time.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

1931: A FIRE SALE IN THE DEPTHS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION

Just look at those prices! Even before the fire sale at Haveson's, the "Regular" prices shown are a livid example of how tough the times were back during the Great Depression. Imagine paying $5.95 for an overcoat, or a suit marked down from $15 to $20 for the amazing price of $4.95! This was one of the years when many citizens were unable to keep their homes, had no work, and some were even selling apples on the street corners of American cities.The chopper view of the neighborhood and the location of the Haveson store is marked in the graphic. The most beautiful building in Trenton during that era was the furniture store of J.B. Van Sciver. Judy and I had a rock maple dining set from that quality furniture store that lasted for many years. 

The building still stands today. Surprisingly, they didn't demolish it with the wreckers' ball!

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT BOND'S SOLD A SUIT WITH TWO PAIR OF PANTS FOR 25 DOLLARS AT THAT TIME. AND REGARDING VAN SCIVERS, MY FRIENDS FATHER MR. PAGLIARO, WAS ONE OF THE MASONS INVOLVED IN THE STONE WORK DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THAT BUILDING. REGARDS.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

1831: HAMILTON SQUARE RECEIVES HOUSE NUMBERS

Even though this article deals with events in Hamilton government those 80 years ago, it is interesting to note that the township decided to give street numbers to the homes in Hamilton Square. Commercial delivery establishments were having difficulty locating recipients with addresses merely reading "Hamilton Square."

1886: AN ADVERTISING EXTRACT TRENTON DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS

I have always had a "soft spot" for old advertising, whether for old automobiles or merchants who once set up shop in our local area. The above vignette is a representation of just a few of the downtown establishments that were popular back then. Convery's Furniture survived until the 1960's when rioters burned the town down and looted many Trenton stores.

Note: I have not been able to establish the exact location of DeCou's building lots. I do know that it was within the boundary of South Broad Street, Chambers, and South Clinton Avenue. The ad also includes Hamilton Street which was probably re-named. I don't know which area street was once Hamilton Street. Time will tell. 

Chris said...

Hi Tom, From Trenton Historical Society's Web site: "GENESEE STREET... This thoroughfare was once designated Hamilton Street in honor of Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury. Its name was changed to Genesee Street by ordinance passed November 1, 1889, in order to avoid confusion with Hamilton Avenue. Genesee Street was probably named for Genesee Falls in New York."

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

THANKS "CHRIS" FOR THE INFORMATION THAT HAMILTON STREET WAS TODAY'S GENESEE STREET.

YOUR INFORMATION IS MUCH APPRECIATED. THANKS FOR VISITING!

TOM GLOVER

Mack said...

Hi Tom:) I too love old advertising and when they digitize newspapers for libraries, they remove the advertising. The advertisements are an important part of the history of any area and to remove them is wrong. Thus the digitized version of the Trenton Times from 1993 on and the Trentonian from 2000 on only will mention stores and restaurants if they are reviewed or somehow part of a written piece. I hope in future days they find a way to include them, even if just as a suppliment or list.

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

1897: TRENTON INDUSTRIAL EDITION, PAGE1

Unfortunately, there are limitations to posting larger graphics on the web. The larger the image, the smaller the written word. The printed word is legible on my 17 inch LCD monitor, but I don't think those who have the old CRT tube monitors will be able to read the accompanying text. However, this page (Page 1) from the DAILY STATE GAZETTE 4 page insert from July 31, 1897 gives an idea of the really nice engravings of Trenton's more notable sites.

1937: REMEMBER THE READING STATION ON NO. BROAD STREET?

I have been diligently working on source material for the Reynolds Middle School 50th anniversary program which will be held this week, and have limited my blog posts for today.

This graphic shows what the Battle Monument area along North Broad and Tucker Streets in Trenton looked like 74 years ago, and of course, the lower birds' eye view shows the area today. This is one of a number of high definition Trenton area folders I received many years ago from Mr. Bob Kelly.

1916: MOTT SCHOOL, CENTRE STREET TRENTON

This photo and article from 1916 gives a nice view of Trenton's Mott School. The historic edifice has been the school of many notable Trentonians over the years, and continues today to educate South Trenton students. My friend, the late Leon "Lee" Buker gave me a photo copy of an 8-1/2 x 14 twelve page pamphlet entitled, "MOTT SCHOOL MEMORIES' which is filled with brief memories of many of the alumni who attended the school from its earliest years up to 1983 when the pamphlet was published. Unfortunately the interesting document does not lend itself to re-producing as a web graphic. I am working on bringing extracts of some of those memories, and will publish them in future blog posts.The building to the right in the photo is of the Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church which was also a South Trenton landmark.

1906: CARROLL ROBBINS SCHOOL-IN THE BEGINNING

Just now I am going through my growing "SCHOOLS, TRENTON" folder in the Local History Digital database. I had wanted so much to be a teacher when I was a boy, but Mom and Pop Glover couldn't affore the $900 tuition at Ewing's Trenton State Teachers College. Even though I never made the grade, historical information on our early schools holds a special fascination for me. From the quaint one room school houses of the 19th century, to the evolution of the larger "neighborhood schools" in the early 20th century, one will find many school references on this website.
(Of course, My Kuser School, and Hamilton High School web sites reflect my personal affection for both of those local institutions of learning. (www.hhs51.blogspot.com and www.kuser-school.blogspot.com )
The beautiful old building still stands on Tyler Street in the city of Trenton. Its neighbor, the old Trenton High School was located diagonally across the "lots" on Greenwood and Chestnut Avenue. This article gives a detailed description of the building as it was proposed in the 1906 article above. It would be interesting to learn how many changes have taken place over the past century.

An interesting history of Carroll Robbins, for whom the school was named, can be found at

http://www.trenton.k12.nj.us/Robbins/THE%20HISTORY%20OF%20CARROLL%20ROBBINS.pdf

1896: THE NEW JAMES MOSES SCHOOL

It was a landmark along Villa Park's Park Avenue when I was a boy. I passed the school whenever I was going to Tony Amato's for a haircut, ,or to Margerum's delicatessen on the corner of Hamilton and Park Avenue to get a "side by side" double dip French Vanilla ice cream cone. Many local Villa Park residents went to Moses school; indeed, I would bet that many who are no longer residents of that fascinating community in Trenton also attended the school. like many neighborhood schools, Moses became the victim of the wrecker's ball and is no more, but I'm sure the memories remain for those who were educated there,.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...THAT CORNER OF PARK AND HAMILTON WAS PRETTY BUSY WITH THE SCHOOL NEARBY, THE STORE AND OF COURSE, DEARDEN'S BUICK OPERATION TAKING UP A GOOD PORTION. DEARDEN'S BROTHER BILL,WHO WAS THE STATE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSIONER, WAS OUR NEIGHBOR ON BERT AVE. IN THE 30'S. REGARDS TO ALL.

Saturday, February 05, 2011

1925: WOODLAWN PARK GRAND OPENING

Along with Camp Olden, I consider Woodlawn Park to be one of the more elusive Hamilton Historic sites. Advertising for Woodlawn Park is plentiful; but over the years, I have failed to find anyone except Mr. Frank Yeager, who loaned me the originals for the photo article I wrote a number of years ago. If you use the "SEARCH BLOG" spot on the top left of my home page an type in Woodlawn Park, you will find a number of other graphics relating to that very popular amusement park.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...HERE AGAIN I'M GOING BACK TO THE 20'S WHEN I RECALL TED LEWIS AND HIS ORCHESTRA PLAYING AT THE PARK. AND I REMEMBER MY SISTER ROSE ENTERING A CONTEST FOR BLACK BOTTOM DANCERS. IT WAS A VERY POPULAR PLACE IN THOSE DAYS, ESPECIALLY THE ROLLER COASTER AND THE SWIMMING POOL REMAINED OPEN AFTER THE PARK CLOSED DOWN, REGARDS.

Friday, February 04, 2011

1935: THE 20th ANNUAL TRENTON AUTOMOBILE SHOW

Were I able to climb into a time machine and journey back to the auto show illustrated above, I would take a couple thousand dollars cash and buy two or maybe three of those great old autos you see on the show room floor. "Streamline" and various forms of that word was added to the vocabulary of auto dealers back in the mid 1930's as cars began the transformation from those square autos to slanted grills, windshields, front ends and other body modifications that cut down considerably on wind resistance.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...IN 1940, MY WIFE WON $25 AT A BINGO AND WE BOUGHT A 1933 CHEVY WITH THE MONEY SHE WON. IT WAS THE FIRST CAR WE OWNED AND IT NEEDED SOME WORK. I PAINTED THE CAR GREEN WITH A BRUSH AND MY FRIEND AND I OVERHAULED THE ENGINE. IT RAN VERY WELL AND AS I RECALL WE WERE VERY HAPPY WITH IT. BEST REGARDS.

Friday, February 04, 2011

1987: REMEMBERING THE HOKEY POKEY AND OTHER CHILDHOOD GOODIES OF YESTERYEAR

Remember the penny and nickel "Chance Board?" Come on back with me to the 1940's and early 1950's when gas was 19.9 a gallon, candy bars were a nickel, Coke (the beverage!), Pepsi, and Kerns, Twin Cola were a nickel a bottle and a large bottle of was 15 cents. A cup of coffee was a nickel, donuts were 30 cents a dozen, But best of all, those great goodies described in my 1987 column "Goodies From the Past" were within the reach of some, but not all of us. Today, a quart of ice cream has been quietly reduced in quantity with a package just a bit smaller than the original package. The nickel candy bar has morphed into a smaller package with a price of around 80 cents.

Mack said...

Hi Tom:) I remember saving popsickle sticks until I had enough to make something out of them with glue for art class in school back in the day:)

Friday, February 04, 2011

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....I'M GONNA A LITTLE FURTHER BACK TO THE 1920'S. WE HAD THE OLD MAN IN THE PUSH CART ON MOTT ST. WE CALLED HIM ADI ALP, WHICH MEANS HURRY UP IN NEOPOLITAN. HE HAD ALL THE HOOKEY POOKIES IN HIS LITTLE CART AND CHARGED TWO CENTS. LATTER ON IN THE 1940'S, LIVING ON EMORY AVE. MY WIFE WOULD BUY 15 CENTS WORTH OF GRAVY MEAT FOR PASTA AT NARDI'S STORE. THAT'S THE THE WAY THINGS WERE WHEN PEOPLE WORKED FOR AS LITTLE AS 25 CENTS AN HOUR AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO GET ALONG. BEST REGARDS.

Friday, February 04, 2011

1987: THE ELI MOUNT BROAD STREET PARK DIARIES

Broad Street Park has always been a place of interest to me. As neighbors who were just across the old St. Mary's Pond back in the 1940's, and the very familiar Rusling Hose fire alarm that rang out at all hours, my interest was increased as I learned about the splendid historical heritage of the area. My friend and colleague Jim Collelo has a site devoted to Broad Street Park. Click on the link on my home page.

1986: CHRIST P.E. CHURCH - HAMILTON AND WHITTAKER AVENUES CHAMBERSBURG

Alice Mount and Thomas E. Glover were married in Christ Protestant Episcopal Church back in 1923. They were not as active as they should have been, but in later life both returned to the church. My father came from to Trenton with his brother and 3 sisters from Longton in the Stoke On Trent area of Great Britain back in the teens. The church was built along the lines of a typical British small town church. The grand old edifice survived the years until the mid 1960's when a drop in attendance along with an unfortunate schism between progressive liberal Protestant Episcopal members and those who leaned toward the Conservative Anglican persuasion brought the church down. My family was conservative Anglicans and left the church.

1986: BROAD STREET PARK DIARY WEEK 1 MESSENGER

Earlier today, I posted Part 2 of a multi-week column I wrote which brings persons and events in Broad Street Park into focus, as we look back on life as it was lived there during the very early years of this vintage Hamilton Township neighborhood. Ladies and gentlemen, the Harry Martin family of Broad Street Park!

1986: BROAD STREET PARK DIARY

Anyone experienced in history knows that there has to be a certain "hook" when writing about things historic. There is nothing more boring than reading a small and insignificant community article in the daily paper. However, when these community articles are arranged in chronological order, and given a fictional person to relate to those articles, the end result is an interesting chronology. Such is the case with numerous columns I have written over the years. The above Broad Street Park retrospective kept by the fictional Harry Martin family is one. The actual dates and events in the diary re-edited into diary form and accurate as published..

1988:DO YOU REMEMBER THESE?

Over these many years, my columns in the local press have featured both historic and nostalgic subjects. The 1988 column "Do You Remember These" was calculated to stir the gray matter in those of us who are card-carrying members of what I jokingly call "WRINKLE CITY." See how many of these long lost vestiges of the past you recall. (Assuming you are old enough, of course!)

  Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: I remember many of your wonderful "memories,'' especially the movies on Saturday and the toaster in which my mother would burn one side of the bread and either flip it over on the plate or scrape the burned stuff off. She did not like black on a young lady and made we wear brown and white saddle shoes when all my friends wore the more popular black and white version. It was a great childhood and there is nothing "corny'' about recalling such great times. Beat wishes.

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Tom Glover said...

HI AGAIN, SALLY:

"CORNY" IS NOT PART OF MY VOCABULARY, SALLY. I HAVE REPLACED IT WITH THE LITTLE-USED WORD, "WHOLESOME!"

XO

TOM GLOVER

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Right you are,Tom. "Wholesome'' is a much better word than "corny.'' Either way, it was a great time to be growing up. Regards.

Thursday, February 03, 2011

2011: TRENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2011 CALENDAR: MAGNIFICO!

It's one of the most pleasant $15 investments I (or you) will ever make! I received the 2011 calendar from the Trenton Historical Society via PayPal yesterday. It is an incredible collection of the most beautiful and interesting views of downtown Trenton that you can imagine. I was especially interested in the views of the downtown Trenton of my youth. Strange, but the last time I set foot in that Trenton was when I was on furlough from the Army back in 1956. I remember parking in the "Maiden Lane" parking lot on Hanover Street and visiting my dear wife Judy in the Infants' Wear department of that wonderful old Trenton landmark. Many of the visitors to this blog will be very interested in acquiring a copy of this wonderful keepsake.
Details are in the graphic above.

Credit for this beautiful folio of Trenton photos goes to:
The Trentoniana Collection at the Trenton Public Library
Ms. Carolyn Stetson for the front cover
Mr. Karl Flesch for Design/Photography
Mr. Damon Tvaryanas written text
Calendar Committee: Mr. Karl Flesch, Ms. Sally Lane, Ms. Wendy Nardi, and Mr. Gary Nigh

WELL DONE!

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: Thanks to you, I just ordered my calendar. I was going to do it months ago, but you just sold me. Hooray. I have an orginal etching by George Bradshaw who was my mother's art teacher. She passed it along to me and it's displayed on our wall here in NH. Best wishes and again, thanks Tom.

Tuesday, February 01, 2011   Aprilicity said...

Thanks for the reminder Tom! I too meant to order this a while ago.

Wednesday, February 02, 2011 Hi Tom: Got my calendar yesterday and I just hung it up in the messy room I call "my office.'' I love it. It brings back so many wonderful memories, esp. State and Broad where I would take the bus home from THS and Rider. I loved seeing those shots from  the '50s. Thanks for the reminder about this great collection of wonderful photographs. We are buried in the white stuff up here and we're running out of places to put it. Stay well, Tom. "West End Sal.''