1914: CHARLES TEUNON'S LAKESIDE PARK BUNGALOWS

Here is a fascinating set of graphics from the very early years of the settlement of Lakeside Park. I have been crowned the un-official "Historian" of Hamilton Township. However, in that rather dubious and un-official position, I must admit that my knowledge of local history will never be as complete as I would wish. For example: as familiar as I am with the Lakeside Park area, there are historic Lakeside Park articles and photos which are puzzling to "historians" such as I. The photo of the lake in the above Donaldson photo shows what my un-informed eye tells me is we are looking at the lake from the vantage point of Lowrie's Mill on the "Bordentown" side of the bridge. The bridge can be seen along South Broad Street, and the trolley house next to it. I yield to my more knowledgeable Lakeside Park-Yardville heights visitors to add comments in order to clarify (or disavow) my assumptions.

NOTE FROM TOM: WITH OVER 8,000 POSTS (PAGES), I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT THERE WILL BE DUPLICATE POSTS. BELOW (HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN) IS ONE OF THOSE DUPLICATES INCLUDING THE ACCOMPANYING COMMENTS. I HAVE RE-POSTED BOTH PHOTOS; THE ORIGINAL, AND THE HORIZONTALLY REVERSED VERSION. LIKE MOST FOLKS, I DO MAKE MISTAKES!

Many Trentonians found Lakeside Park to be the ideal summer getaway back in the early 20th century. These "bungalows" could be had for a price which today seems incredible. I wonder if there are any Lakeside Park visitors to my website who can identify this house.
THIS EMAIL RECEIVED FROM "LAKESIDE GIRL."
Hi Tom - I believe this house is the former home of the Vogt family on the corner of Lakeside Blvd and Dancer Drive (formerly 6th Ave)Lakeside Girl.
THANK YOU, "LAKESIDE GIRL;" YOUR INPUT IS APPRECIATED.

waltsgirl29 has left a new comment on your post
"1914: LAKESIDE PARK: A BUNGALOW COMMUNITY":

This home faces Birch Street and is at the corner where Tettemer crosses it. The house looks the same today. Lakeside will always be "home" for me, so I love the wonderful old photos, thank you. My grandfather built on Tettemer and raised his family there. My father built on Lincoln Ave and raised us there. I raised my girls on Dancer Drive, sold the house to my daughter and in Jan. she will have a son to raise there.

THANKS TO BOTH "LAKESIDE GIRL" AND "WALTSGIRL" FOR ENHANCING THIS POST. YOUR INPUT IS REALLY APPRECIATED. (TOM GLOVER)

Friday, November 04, 2011

Tom - I think we settled this some months ago in your blog - my brother, George Goldy noted that the picture was probably reversed and you then published it in the reverse which make better sense and was correct.

Ca. 1905 HELEN MACK (SUTTERLIN) ON KUSER FRONT LAWN

Many years ago, I interviewed Mrs. Helen Sutterlin, the young girl in the photo. on her relationship to the earliest years of Kuser Farm. Her father, Herman Mack was the second caretaker of the property, and also the builder of many of the buildings on the property that still exist including the corn crib, the old chicken house and the garages. Mrs. Sutterlin's reminiscences of those years were very interesting. Note that the mansion is seen as it was in its original state before the "wrap around" porch was enclosed. The original railing on the second floor was removed in 1950 when a hurricane knocked down a huge mahogany tree that was located precariously close to the building. When the township took over the property in the 1970's then Mayor Jack Rafferty replicated the railings on the upper level.

Michael said...

Hi Tom:

I must commend you on your detailed history of the Kuser Family and their involvement in the greater Trenton area, both socially, and as industrialists.
I like many others recognize your affection for the Kusers, and your personal relationship with the "Farm". I became acquainted with some of the Kusers over the years. At the farm and tennis through my good friend and tennis partner ( he carried me) Edgar Levy. Edgar would reflect how his dad, and Fritz Kuser bailed out Darrel Zanuck and 20th Century Fox Studios in the 29 crash. in gratitude Fox sent prints of films not yet release to Fritz for his Sunday viewing pleasure. Others through family contacts, and business. Many people, not paying attention, would hear my name, and assume I was "Mike Kuser of Kuser Mountain." Perhaps you can illuminate the connection between the Kuser's and the Jim Kearny family. I always had a great relationship with the Kearnys since Jim was originally from Cooper St. and the family beonged to Sacred Heart Church, my home parish. The Kearnys supported the church till the last.

Always happy to learn somthing new from reading your writings.
Continue the great work.

Sincerely

Mike Kuzma

Thursday, November 03, 2011

1910: ANTHONY AND JOHN KUSER SELL TRENTON 'S CITY HALL

Fortunately, this Trenton landmark has been preserved. Except for the original clock tower, the familiar State and Broad building with the mansard roof has survived the ages and is still with us today in a somewhat modified form. When the Lissners purchased the building, they were originally going to replace the building with a "new and modern" building. However, the structure was well built and ultimately left on the site. The Kuser involvement in the old building has somehow been lost in the historic past of the city, but we bring it back into the 21st century with this post!

1938: MARTHA HOWE COREY RED CROSS AIDE

From my "KUSER FAMILY RELATED" folder in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection, this article that brings back memories on a number of counts: Do you fellow members of wrinkle city remember how we brought in a nickel, dime, quarter or sometimes even 50 cents to school on "Red Cross Day" and were given one of the buttons seen in the graphic above? As to the graphic itself, the photo of Martha Howe Corey (sister of Edna Kuser) shakes loose memories of the many Sunday nights Don Slabicki and I spent at the farm setting up the chairs in the Kuser Theater after a Sunday night dinner. All of the Howe ladies were very active in civic matters. I remember Edna was very active in the local Junior League. I also recall the day Don Slabicki and I chauffeured Charlie and Inez Howe Howell around the Pennington area during his re-election campaign. Edna was a die hard Democrat and I recall that Fritz leaned more toward the elephant, except on the local political level.

1984: THE WHITE HORSE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY

White Horse is one of the more interesting sections of Hamilton insofar as local history is concerned. The McGalliards, McLains, Gropps, Parents, Chapmans and Sharps, along with many other old time families have logged hours of interesting local historical facts. The White Horse Volunteer Fire Company also has an interesting historical heritage.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....THE VOLUNTEEER FIRE COMPANIES IN HAMILTON ALL HAD VERY SUCESSFUL CARNIVALS IN THE 1930 AND 40'S THAT HELPED WITH THEIR OPERATION. ALONG WITH THEIR BANQUET HALLS THEY MANAGED TO PERFORM VERY WELL. WE ALWAYS FELT SAFE DURING THE YEARS WE LIVED THERE. REGARDS.

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

WHY I ESTABLISHED THIS WEB SITE

Mrs. Brady's incredibly interesting recollection of Maple Shade School as it was in 1904 is an integral part of Hamilton Township's history, as is her lineage as a member of the McGalliard family who were White Horse pioneers. This is the essence of LOCAL HISTORY! Most historical societies focus on ancient history;18th century history: whether "George Washington slept here," or how butter was churned in colonial times, or how colonial women cooked venison in one of those huge kitchen fireplaces with an equally huge copper pot boiling over a roaring wood fire. These are educational and excellent and relevant subjects for those who are interested in our Colonial and Revolutionary War heritage.
Personally, I, and the countless visitors to this web site, and the many readers of my "Sentimental Journey" column, prefer local history which chronicles the life and times of our more recent ancestors who settled into our numerous local neighborhoods. My concept of local history concentrates on all of the local area. It is far more expansive than the rather narrow and specialized concentration on persons places and things of 18th century America and our Colonial-Revolutionary War era.
I have chosen to concentrate on photos, articles, and other ephemera relating to the early years of our outlying villages of Hamilton Square, Sandtown (Mercerville), Sand Hills (Yardville), Groveville, Broad Street Park, Deutzville, and even our own capital city of Trenton, even including the towns in Mercer County. All are a necessary part of educating the public on the historical heritage of our area. It was with this concept in mind that I began to write local historical stories in the late, great Mercer Messenger under the byline, "THE WAY WE WERE." With the demise of the Messenger and its successor, the now defunct "HAMILTON OBSERVER," I concentrated on my current "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" column in the Trenton Times. Along with my personal reminiscences of recalling childhood experiences growing up during the 78 years I have resided in then-rural Hamilton Township, I always look for similar stories of folks like those in the above graphic who recall their experiences with our own Maple Shade School in White Horse. These eye witness contemporary stories provide an interesting insight into our past history which will be interesting to contemporary readers, but more importantly, to future generations who know little or nothing of Maple Shade School and other little known history.

Mack said...

Hi Tom:)
AS a reader who went thru every post on your blog from 2006 to now last month I salute both the content and tone of your wonderful site:))

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Anonymous said...

Tom - I noted with interest your blog concerning local history vs. older historical events. I my opinion it is fun to meld the two together, older history and how it affected the locale where we now live, what was it like to live in this area while very important things were happening nearby, etc. To make larger events live in the minds of children, it is necessary, in my opinion, to make it live for them by introducing it in a framework that they can understand, i.e. their local neighborhoods. Just an observation....
Lakeside Girl

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Tom Glover said...

HI LAKESIDE GIRL: I FOUNDED THIS SITE TO FOCUS ON THE HISTORY OF OUR LOCAL AREA INCLUDING POSTS RELATING TO THE ISAAC WATSON HOUSE, THE PEARSON FAMILY, AND OTHER LOCAL COLONIAL VENUES. HOWEVER, AS I REACH THE 500,000 "HITS" MARK, I KNOW THAT MOST OF MY VISITORS ARE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY EVOLUTION OF OUR AREA. THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT I AM NOT POSTING MATERIAL RELATING TO THE WATSON HOUSE, THE PEARSONS, JOHN ABBOTT II, ETC.HOWEVER, I AM NOT CONCENTRATING ON THOSE HISTORIC VENUES.I LEAVE THAT TO THE DAR, SCHOOL TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATORS, LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE HOPEFULLY IMPARTING THIS INFORMATION TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

AS I WROTE IN THE COMMENTARY ABOVE,

"I and the countless visitors to this web site, and the many readers of my "Sentimental Journey" column, prefer local history which chronicles the life and times of our more recent ancestors who settled into our numerous local neighborhoods. My concept of local history concentrates on all of the local area. It is far more expansive than the rather narrow and specialized concentration on persons places and things of 18th century America and our Colonial-Revolutionary War era."

TOM GLOVER

Thursday, November 03, 2011