1915: RECLAMATION OF THE MASON'S "TEMPLE"

A note from Tom: I have always been historically confused as to the "MasonIic Hall" and the Douglass House.According to a 1915 engraving, the old Masonic Hall is at the foot of Barracks Street in Trenton. The confusion come into the fore where I am confused as to the similarity of the Douglass House. I see a similar structure at 163 E. Front Street at the foot of Montgomery Street (Next to the playhouse) but I can't be sure. Perhaps Mike Kuzma or another downtown Trenton visitor can enlighten me.)

Thanks to the local Masons, this historic treasure was never thrown into the recycle bin, and what an historic treasure it is! It stands today as a proud reminder of the historic city of Trenton and to the Masonic Lodges that know the value of historical structures.

Mike Kuzma said...

Tom:The house on Front St. at So. Montgomery is in fact the "Douglas house" that was located across from your Uncle Charley's domain the Memorial Building in Stacy Park. It was moved years ago to allow the widening and reconfiguring of Rt. 29.After Swimming in Uncle Charley's Pool; (LOL) the reflecting pool in front of the W/M we would cross over at the Douglas house, and head home across the Assunpink Creek Bridge to Bloomsbury St. Down past the Princeton Worsted Mills, and the Trent house to our houses on Fall St. Fall St. was aptly named, since it was at the Glacier "Fall line" where the rocks ended just above the Railroad bridge where beyond that the river was no longer navigable.As always, best regardsMike Kuzma

THANKS, MIKE; YOU'RE THE BEST.

TOM

1936: GEORGE CASE'S PORK ROLL - A PROUD TRENTON TRADITION

Back in the distant past, (1955-1958 to be exact,) when I was in the U.S. Army cloak and dagger gig, the talk was usually girls, army gripes, and food. On the latter subject, Tom Glover, RA 12480163 had many conversations with my bunk mates when it came to our respective tastes in food. Lloyd Hodgkins, one of my best buddies from Jefferson Maine told of Maine Lobsters. Jimmy Herndon from Ada Oklahoma regaled us with his breakfast that always included home mad grits. Sam Steckbeck from Lebanon Pennsylvania told of his love for good old fashioned Lebonan-made Lebanon Balogna. Tom Glover? Well he was sure that Sam's Lebanon Balogna was excellent, but it could never compare to a DeLorenzo Tomato Pie or a long canvas wrapped roll of Case's Pork Roll. To my amazement, none of those guys ever heard of Tomato Pie nor Pork Roll! Well, to make a long story short, a roll of that Trenton-made pork came to Detachment "D" in Aviano Italy by air mail, and with a bit of coaxing to our cook after one of our midnight shifts, we succeeded in partaking of a Trenton made Case's Pork roll breakfast with our choice of eggs on the side. Did my buddies agree that the Trenton made delicacy was the best......even better than old fashioned bacon, run of the mill sausage, Philadelphia Scrapple, and yes, even steak? Let's just say they went back for seconds!

By the way: I can't tell you how many times I had to explain what a Trenton made DeLorenzo tomato pie was! Those guys had no idea that there was anything other than what they called a "pizza!" To this day there are those who don't know the difference, even as I explained that the pizza is a cheese-encrusted flat disk, usually very little tomato that tastes like a cheese sandwich with a just a touch of tomato. On the other hand, a tomato pie was made only by those culinary artists who knew how to blend just the right amount of tomatoes and cheese on a very thin and tasty crust! I told those guys that only in Trenton would they find restaurants who serve original Trenton Tomato Pies!

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS GEORGE CASES'S PORK ROLL. GEORGE WAS THE BIG LEAGUE BALL PLAYER BUT IT WAS IN HIS FAMILY. IT COULD HAVE BEEN CLIFF CASE. I LIVED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YEARS AND WE ALL LOVED THE PORK ROLL. BETWEEN THEM AND THE TOMATO PIES, TRENTON STOOD ALONE IN PRODUCING TWO OF THE BEST TASTING FOOD PRODUCTS AROUND. BEST REGARDS.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

HI RALPH:

ACTUALLY IT WAS GEORGE CASE SENIOR (GEORGE JR'S. DAD) WHO WAS THE MOVER AND SHAKER AT THE "PORK PACK" FACTORY. AS I RECALL, THE FORMULA ORIGINATED FROM A FARMER IN BELLE MEAD N.J. IN THE LATE 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY. CLIFFORD CASE CAME ON LATER IN TIME.

omad said...

Here's the skinny on this one === Pork roll is a type of sausage-like meat product commonly available in and around New Jersey and Philadelphia. In North Jersey it is usually called Taylor Ham.[1] The product, as it is made today, was developed in 1856[2] by John Taylor of Trenton, New Jersey, though several firms produce their own versions. Got this from Wikapedia. When I first left NJ and moved out west, the two things I insisted my son bring when he came out to ski were Pork Roll and Tastycakes. HI OMAD: TAYLOR (JHN TAYLOR) WAS A SEPARATE ENTITY WHO ALSO MANUFACTURED PORK ROLL.

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hi Tom: We also load up on Tastykakes and pork rolls when we come to Trenton. My sons and grandson love the pork roll but the Butterscotch Krimpets are an acquired taste -- but that means more for me. We also bring back Krispy Kreme doughnuts from Acme Mrkt. on Route 1. They box them for us and have them ready when we stop by before heating north. Oh how I miss all my favorites from NJ. Regards

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Anonymous said...

Hi Tom, how about fresh versus smoked pork roll to separate the men from the boys. If you are not a Trenton native you may be aware of Taylor since they now ship to retirement venues. A fellow on an auto site gave himself away with his avatar of Taylor's logo. He wondered how I knew where he had roots. Sadly, I think the old fashioned pie is going to fade. Much of what we loved had to be in the quality of the cheese and such. The big companies dominate the market anymore.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Mack said...

Hi Tom::) NOW I know why my Grandma always called it prepared Ham. Thats what it was once called:) ALSO: The BREAKFAST only theme of Pork Roll did not exist in my house and I have only come across that after starting the blog. We might have pork roll for lunch or supper as well:)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Bob said...

Stop with the food! It's driving me crazy. There were so many small places that knew how to make a great tomato pies in the Trenton area. Taylor smoked pork roll was the best, especially with baked beans and home fries. And I lived on Tasty products all through high school and college. Whenever I get down there I stock up but now it's time to start having them shipped to me, hell with the expense. And yes, it has be difficult to explain tomato pies and pork roll to people in Mass and Maine.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Aww, c'mon Bob. Go back and read your comment above. You're making me crave a Taylor Provision Pork roll and egg sandwich for lunch today, a DeLorenzo's take out tomato pie for dinner tonight, topped off with a TastyKake "TandyTake" peanut butter delight. Thanks for being a visitor......I hope you return often,

Tom Glover

Omad said...

Nothing like food to bring out lots of discussion. My son, who lives in Morris County, is a true Pork Roll devotee and has his three boys all addicted to it. I'm a little confused, is Charlie Gaudette, Nancy's dad, also Mike Kuzma's uncle? Nancy and I are still in regular contact, especially since I moved back to NJ from Seattle.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

No Omad,Nancy ( "Dell") is my cousin, daughter of my Uncle Charlie and Aunt May. I lost contact with Nancy. I had a computer replacement and lost all my email addresses when Verizon fouled up when I signed on to Verizon WiFi., and cancelled Verizon DSL. In cancelling Verizon DSL, I lost all my email contacts. I assumed that Verizon WiFi was the same as my Verizon DSL and they never told me they were the same name but a different company! The bottom line, I lost all of my email contacts and had to start from scratch. Nancy and I were in regular contact, and I assumed that Nancy lost my email address as I lost hers.

Tom

1906: THE HISTORIC MASONIC HALL

The beautiful and very historic old treasure is alive and well today.Thanks to those who appreciate true antiquity. There are numerous Masonic clippings in my "MASONS and SECRET SOCIETIES" folder in the Local History Collection.

1915: THE PANTALEONE FAMILY OF CHAMBERSBURG

From the "CHAMBERSBURG" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection:

Some months back I published the full page 16 page of the Trenton Evening Times "CHAMBERSBURG" section which included the above extract. The Pantaleone family were noted musicians right up to the present era. Eddie Pantaleone was a part of a musical group known as "Valhalla," and were quite popular locally in the 60's and 70's. Most recently Eddie and his family lived on Greenwood Avenue just a bit west of So. Olden Avenue. Their dad, was a professional music teacher. Dr. and Mrs. Raffael were very prominent members of Chambersburg back in the early part of the 20th century. Their Pantaleone home was at 504 Hamilton Avenue, right next to Trenton Engine House #7.

omad said...

Yep, in that really nice looking house right across from where I lived until I was 10. In the middle of the block where the fire house was, during WWII, the Army had their motor pool that serviced the military stationed in the old Trenton High School down the street. The soldiers all came into our restaurant for many of their meals and became friends.

Friday, March 11, 2011

1915: MILL TRENTON'S CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH

The church was located on South Broad and Market Streets in the Mill Hill section of Trenton. Unfortunately, all references to the edifice places it only as "So. Broad and Market Street;" which leaves it open to speculation as to which corner the church was located. The Court House is on one corner, the old bank is across the street, Joe's Mill Hill Tavern on another corner, and a high rise (Luther Towers?) on the other. Until I am corrected, I will place the old church on the corner currently occupied by the Luther Towers. Any old-timers out there who can verify my position?

Stephen said...

Tom, I checked old copies of the Trenton Times from 1966-1971 time frame. You are correct in your placement of the church. The church membership disbanded in 1967 and the site was sold to the City of Trenton as part of Urban Renewal Plans. The church was razed in June 1968. Initial plans anticipated a 14 story commercial building at the site but in 1971 the Kingsbury Apartments were built. A few years later, Luther Arms were bulit on adjacent property.

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

NO STEPHEN, THE CHURCH WAS NOT RAZED. IT IS STILL THERE ON MARKET STREET IN MILL HILL, BUT NO LONGER AN M.E. FACILITY.

TOM GLOVER

Anonymous said...

Tom: Central Methodist was located as you suggested. I would pass this church while walking up the Market St. hill from my home in "Jewtown" in route to mass at Sacred Heart Church. Fr. Frederick Halloran was the pastor at Sacred Heart. He stood at least 9 feet tall ( at least to a 8 year old kid he did) and when he spoke, the church shook. When anyone came in late for the 9:15 Sunday Mass, he would stop the Mass, and roar "If you can't get here and be seated before Mass has started, than walk down to Central Methodist on the next corner, they have plenty of seats there". As the chief Real Estate Officer for the City of Trenton, I bought the church, and had it demolished in the name of "Irving Renewal" All the best Mike Kuzma

Thursday, March 10, 2011

1937: WHEN TRENTON WAS A SEAPORT

Many of the you't realize that Trenton once hosted ocean-going vessels at the Trenton Marine Terminal on Lamberton Street in South Trenton. The above photo shows a huge British cargo vessel being loaded with scrap iron and steel which is en route to Japan. The Marine Terminal is long gone. Over the years, attempts have been made to deepen the Delaware from Philadelphia up to Trenton, but the efforts have been abandoned. It is my assumption that the project was never attempted due to the expense. The deepening would have been a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project.

Anonymous said...

Wonder if this ship was bringing anything illicit into town? A few years before this photo, opium was found hidden in a hollowed out portion of the base of Raby Castle's mast.

Monday, March 07, 2011

Mack said...

Hi Tom:) I always heard it was Art Hollands dream to dredge the river and make the city a seaport, but the money could not be located on a county state or federal level to do it:)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Mike Kuzma said...

Tom: In addition to the "Marine Terminal" smaller ships, and barges would dock at the "Basin" located just below the Pennsylvania RR Bridge. These ships and barges hauled sand, and silicone for use in the famous Trenton "China" industry. These companies were lost to Ohio in the 1950's. As a kid in South Trenton, I swam and boated the Delaware from the RR bridge to "Duck Island" below the Marine Terminal. Does anyone out there other than me remember when the high retaining wall of stone was built on the Morrisville Side? This was done in the 30's, and I think as a WPA project. I attemped to post this a few days ago, but ran into problems. Regards Mike Kuzma

1935: WILLIAM G. COOK SCHOOL

COOK SCHOOL WAS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF ARCHITECTURE WITH IT'S VERY UNIQUE STRUCTURAL DESIGN. HERE ARE LOCAL "WILBURITES" FROM THE WILBUR AREA PTA OF COOK SCHOOL ALL DECKED OUT IN THEIR HILLBILLY HOEDOWN GEAR.

1934: FROM THE "RESTAURANTS - EATERIES" FOLDER

Most Americans were still in the throes of the Great Depression. Even so, many found the time to take a Saturday night fling and go out dining and dancing at one of the many venues available. I find these advertisements to be a fascinating look back at the Trenton area of my mother and father's day. Should this blog survive the years long after I have gone to my reward, I believe succeeding generations will also find these ads to be of historic interest.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....NOT ONLY WERE MOST DINNERS 25 CENTS BUT SOME PLACES WERE OFFERING CHICKEN DINNERS FOR FREE. I WAS JUST A TEENAGER IN 1937 BUT WENT TO THESE RESTAURANTS WITH MY OLDER FRIENDS FOR THE FOOD. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PERIOD OF GREAT DEPRESSION BUT THERE WERE MANY CAFES AROUND TO VISIT. BEST REGARDS.

Saturday, March 05, 2011 JoeZ said... Tom: Love these ads not only for the entertainment that was held but the food and liquor prices mentioned. Unbelievable.

Monday, March 07, 2011

1937 BUTLER STREET "HEAT CHEATERS" MEET UNDER THE FIRE HYDRANT

I often heard my mother comment that she felt sorry for those folks who lived in the city with the hot concrete sidewalks, row homes with ventilation only on the front and back of the buildings, and other urban disadvantages. On the other hand, I remember Uncle Charlie pointing out that he didn't have the mosquito problems we had in the rural areas. Check out the graphic above, those of you Chambersburg natives who are in your 70's and 80's; you may well be enjoying that refreshing shower of cold water on a sweltering Central Jersey Summer day.

Mack said...
I remember the days before air conditioning. The newpaper reporter caption says they are well behaved....well if its a super hot day they just wanna cool down as they are too tired to be mischievous LOL. We would go to Junior Four Pool or Skelton Library (which had decent air conditioning). And there was nothing more beautiful than a summer storm to cool us down for a while on a super hot day...I still remember the curtains blowing in the window as the sky darkened (and we cheered)..and to be fair
about it, there were only so many
UNBEARABLE summer days:)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

1935: SPLASHING IN PUDDLES AFTER A SUMMER RAIN

All right, all you contemporaries from the 30's and 40's, admit it! You also sloshed around in those post thunder storm summer rains.  I was a kid long before there was a TV set to occupy my childhood hours during a summer rain storm. I suspect that I am not the only one who recalls the joy of traipsing outside after a passing thunderstorm left huge puddles along the street. I am sure I  am not the only one who remembers going bare foot and splashing haphazardly all over the place. Out in the boondocks where I grew up, there were no concrete sidewalks; the street met grassy pathways and the puddles were supreme before the advent of municipal drains. Remember how we floated our boats on those all too temporary puddles? Ahh, recalling the joys traveling outdoors after a summer thunderstorm; a journey embellished with the aroma of a fresh spring rain. You talk about aromatherapy! For those who are not familiar with Clay Street where the boys are frolicking, it is located in the Mill Hill area just bordering the freeway exit to Morrisville. 

Noel said...

Tom, Both the hydrant shower and the two boys bring back memories.I lived at 235 Clay Street and the hydrant shower was across the street at Clay & Lewis. All of the children from blocks around would show up for the cooling shower. The two boys jumping in the summer shower were our neighbors and came to our neighborhood store for candy, soda and ice cream. Thanks Tom, Noel Goeke

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Thanks, Noel. I remembered that you were from Clay Street and I was sure that as an original follower of this blog, you would spot this post

1935: TRENTON TIMES NEWS BOYS

Any old time "Wilburites" out there? This graphic shows the young boys who served the Wilbur neighborhood back in the mid 1930's and during the Great Depression. The building shown in the photo is long gone, having been replaced by the Garfield Park, just off East State Street in the city of Trenton.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...I RECALL SELLING THE TIMES FOR 2 CENTS IN 1930. WE PAID 1 CENT AND SOLD IT FOR 2. I STOOD ON THE CORNER OF E. STATE AND MONTGOMERY AND USUALLY SOLD 10 PAPERS FOR A PROFIT OF 10 CENTS. MANY PEOPLE, I RECALL, WOULD GIVE YOU A NICKEL AND SAY KEEP THE CHANGE, THAT WAS GREAT. REGARDS,

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

1935: WILLIAM CHAPMAN - WHITE HORSE PIONEER

Chapman Avenue in White Horse is named for the Chapman family who were pioneer residents of the White Horse area of Hamilton. The 1875 Atlas of Hamilton Township indicates that the 30 acre Chapman Farm  was located along White Horse-Mercerville Road on the opposite side of the old Maple Shade School once stood.

2004: THANKS, GLEN GILMORE

I am always happy when the public expresses an interest in Hamilton, and Trenton area history. It's nice to be recognized. As can be seen in the letter in my files, former Mayor Glen Gilmore took the time to stop in to visit the Local History Collection for a personal tour. Above is his acknowledging letter.

 

JoeZ said...

Tom that was a nice acknowledgment for the excellent work you do providing us with the past and present history of Trenton and Hamilton. I truly enjoy reading your blog and wish you the best to come.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Mack said...

Amen:)
Support of local treasure Tom Glover is bipartisan I hope:)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

1885: THE JONATHAN AND RACHEL HUTCHINSON FAMILY REUNION

These folks were the "blue bloods" of pioneer Nottingham Township in the very earliest years of Hamilton Township. The Tindalls, Cubberleys, Rogers, and Robbins families, and I'm sure others which I have not named, were farming the land from the earliest years of old Nottingham. I have inserted the Hamilton Square Baptist graphic. In 1912 when it was printed, there were 19 Hutchinson family members who were communicants at the historic Hamilton Square Baptist Church.   .

1885 A MINI GENEALOGICAL LOOK AT THE TINDALL FAMILY

The above is extracted from a Joseph H. West booklet relating to the centennial celebration of the James and Sarah Hutchinson homestead in Hamilton Square. I have printed up an 11 x 17 graphic of this page which will be presented to Ms. Lillian Tindall Smith whose parents lived on the Tindall Farm on Kuser Road. Today, the home has been historically preserved and known as the John Abbott II house.

1932: LINI'S FRONT STREET BEAUTY SHOP BOMBED

Still another beauty shop bombing! The makeup of this blog results in posts that are related being out of chronological order. However, as you page down to the next couple of posts, you will see that the Trenton Police had a real problem on their hands in tracking down those responsible for the rampant disorder in Trenton during the great depression. Like the Trenton police, I plan to stay on this story until I find the culprits within the thousands of pages in the newspaper files. As you can see by the Lini's graphic I added from the "BUSINESSES-TRENTON" folder, it didn't take him long to move to new quarters. John Lini was a very popular hair dresser right up to the 1950's when my wife Judy and "Aunt Louise" Baird patronized his establishment.

1931: STILL ANOTHER BEAUTY SHOP BOMBING

Competing beauty shop operators, perhaps with mob involvement, were really up in arms back during the depression when some beauty shops in the area cut prices in order to make their services available to a public which was smack dab in the middle of the Great Depression. Times were very tough, and I imaging a trip to the beauty parlor would be low on the list of financial priorities for the average citizen.

1931: ANOTHER BEAUTY SHOP BOMBING

Thanks, Bill Schultz for sending me a heads up on still another beauty shop bombing. I scanned another copy from the December 19th 1931 Times into my computer and had quite a bit of re-formatting to do in order to get a legible post that fit in the screen. Your personal family involvement really adds a lot historically to the incident. Thank you very much! The graphic below gives an insight into your Grandfather's roofing business, and the building at 809 today.

SJBill said...

My father was no doubt working for my Grandfather at this time. He was just about to begin his senior year at Trenton High in September. He made the front page of the Trenton Times on Tuesday the 9th of December, raising his right hand to join the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

2011: HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL THE WONDERFUL VISITORS TO THIS BLOG

When I was a boy those many years ago, it was a custom to buy some penny valentines at the corner store, put the recipient's name on it, and walk around the neighborhood delivering them. We would slip one under the door, knock, and run away. (no one in our neighborhood had one of those newfangled doorbells.) Over at Kuser School, the REAL Valentines Day was celebrated. Before the big day, we took a large corrugated carton, covered it with red or white paper, pasted on red or white hearts, carved a slot in the top, and placed the big box of dreams in front of the class room. Boys would never admit it, but we all avidly looked forward to the valentine we got from that special girl. Ahh, the memories and simplicity of youth!

Sally Logan Gilman said...

Hello Tom: Thank you for the Valentine greeting. I remember the little valentines my mother would buy for me to paste up and take to class and put in the box. It was fun and, like you said, a simple joy of youth. As always, thanks for the memories.

Monday, February 14, 2011