1949: E. STATE STREET AT THE U.S. POST OFFICE

Thanks to PhotoShop software with its ability to enhance and tweak photos, this incredible photo gives a special clarity to that Trenton Transit bus which is headed for Colonial Lakelands on the Brunswick Pike. The Moose Hall is the brick building on the extreme right, and of course the DeLuxe Diner where daily visitor and former mail man Ralph Lucarella had many cups of coffee before going on his daily rounds.

1949: SOUTH BROAD AT GREENWOOD AND CENTRE STREETS

There's the very familiar Samuel F.B. Light appliance store on the corner of Greenwood Avenue and South Broad Street. At the time, Greenwood Avenue was a through street before it was cut off when the Trenton Freeway was built and the area took the name of the "Barlow Circle." In the photo, Centre Street is seen on the far right behind the light standard. The photo was taken in front of Sacred Heart Church.

1933: INCREDIBLE DEPRESSION ERA PRICES

This was the year I was born. My mom and dad were completely enveloped in the depths of the Great Depression. My father lost his "Gills Express" business which he purchased in 1928 and was just getting ahead with his pickups and deliveries to the local potteries. Like a lightening chain reaction, people were out of work, businesses began to lose money, and in my father's case, he began to lose business that was shut off by the economic crash. The bare financial necessities were very poor and ultimately led to him not being able to feed the family and keep up with his other bills, including the telephone. Bankrupt!

1933: TRENTON'S NEW DOWNTOWN ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC SUPERMARKET

It took a bit of Photoshop tweaking, tilting and stitching to add the bottom portion of the original half page graphic I posted here yesterday. Upon closer examination, I found that the interesting articles at the bottom of the page were of GREAT interest; especially the article on employee pay.  The photo of the A&P that once graced downtown Trenton is prominent in the above page from the Trenton Times. Who could ever forget "Jane Parker," "Red Circle," "Bokar," "Eight O'clock," coffee and "Sylvan Seal milk in those cone shaped cartons?"

2013: WORKING OFF COMPUTER GLITCHES.

Many visitors to this site have undoubtedly noticed the lack of activity over the past week or more. I have had and am really still having very serious problems with the computer. I am currently working on finding a solution to a problem that includes extremely slow internet graphic loading time, intermittent computer freeze ups, and other problems which I am attacking from all sides. I am in the process of removing unnecessary files and folders, and attempting to single out certain software problems. 

2013: A CORDIAL INVITATION TO LOCALS TO VIEW SOME HAMILTON HISTORY

Tomorrow evening we kick off to the 2013-2014 season of the Hamilton Township Historical Society's monthly meetings, I will be introducing non-computer users to the wonderful ability the computer offers in  bringing LOCAL history to history minded citizens. At the ripe old age of 80, I have witnessed many public functions where the Kodak "Carousel" slide projector brought beautiful and sometimes boring historical objects to the silver screen. Then along came the computer with its ability to digitize (convert) articles and photographs into a beautiful pristine historical ON SCREEN presentation. Many local history minded citizens have seen samples of this innovative method of bringing history alive. A year or so ago, we had a full house as viewers saw photos and articles relating to the late, great New Jersey State Fair. Indeed a local collector whose name I unfortunately never got, brought scrapbooks with his absolutely incredible collection of New Jersey State Fair memorabilia for those in attendance to see. Still others watched in awe as my "THIS WAS CHAMBERSBURG" presentation (dedicated to my dear friend former Hamilton Mayor Maurice "Maury" Perilli). This presentation also had a standing room only attendance.  There have been numerous request for a command performance of both of the aforementioned programs, and they will be appearing again in upcoming Hamilton Historical Society or Kuser Mansion programs. When compared to the incredibly well organized Trenton Historical Society website (www.trentonhistory.org), it is no secret that Hamilton Township throughout many generations has been seriously derelict in focusing on Hamilton's rich historical heritage.You will note that the word "LOCAL" has been emphasized above. Local historians and dear friends Jim Colello and Gil Lugossy gave attendees fantastic historical insights to Hamilton's Broad Street Park area of Hamilton, including the Rusling Hose Fire Company. My friend Gary Lippincott, our Groveville "go to guy, along with Groveville native Claire Dwier Zarr have equally fantastic historic lore on the bucolic town of Groveville. The possible exposure to local history is practically endless, and except for the incredibly wonderful Trentoniana collection in the Trenton Free Public Library, and the aforementioned Trenton Historical Society, LOCAL history can once again shine brightly for all citizens to enjoy. In November, I will be presenting another on screen program dealing with Bromley, the little known Fashion Stud Far, and a repeat of the N.J. State Fair program I presented a few years ago. We will learn that Bromley's Adella, Rosalia, and Victor avenues were part of the Kuser family's involvement with the development of that area of Hamilton. Our age old connection to the city of Trenton, and indeed most towns and townships in Mercer County will be an integral part of future programs presented by the Society and also those in future programs at Kuser Mansion . These programs are all completely free of charge to all residents of Hamilton, Trenton, and the outlying townships and villages from Ewing to Lawrence to Pennington, to Hopewell and other Mercer communities. The Monday evening meeting starts at 7:00 P.M. in the lower level of the Hamilton Township Public Library. Refreshments will be served. I hope to see at least a few of the visitors who brought this website to 700,000 plus visits!

2013: TO THOSE WHO ASKED ABOUT ACCESS TO MY COLUMN

Above is an article I wrote back in 2006 wherein I announced the launch of this website. Note that the hair was not the grey that I wear today! I note that at the time the article was written I proudly announce 700 readers. In the ensuing years up to the present time, we are pushing 700,000 "hits" and over 8,000 pages!

MANY people who are Times of Trenton subscribers tell me that they love re-living their younger years and an equal number tell them that my column is cut out and sent to those who are no longer in the area. At my recent Kuser Farm presentation, there was a full house; A number asked how they could access my column on line. I told them in order to access "Sentimental Journey" you must be an online subscriber. HOWEVER,
my once per month column in "HAMILTON PLUS" is available on line. If you click on the link below, you will find the column I write the first Thursday of each month. You will find a number of them by clicking on:

http://search.nj.com/tom+glover/http://search.nj.com/tom+glover/

2013: YOU'RE INVITED! HAMILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 70TH ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM

Monday evening, October 7th, I will be the guest presenter at the monthly meeting of the Historical Society of Hamilton Township. My subject will be the fascinating John Abbott II House and its history, along with the history of the historical society as it celebrates its 70th anniversary in this year of 2013. The program will be an on screen presentation presented in Rooms 3 and 4 on the lower level of the Hamilton Township Public Library. The meeting starts at 7 PM and will be followed by the presentation. Refreshments will be served and the public is cordially invited to attend the first of what will be regular on screen presentations of the local history of Hamilton, Trenton, and the Mercer County area.

1890: THE FASCINATING DEUTZVILLE JEWELRY MANUFACTURING COMPANY

 

Today it's just a hop skip and a jump from the Trenton city line. Originally a part of the old "Lalor Tract," Adam Deutz founded a jewelry factory in the little village and for many years successfully operated the firm. Stories proliferate on that factory. Each employee had to be carefully screened upon leaving to be sure there was no remnants large of small, of gold on their person. Deutzville, like Bromley, borders areas of the city of Trenton that have deteriorated as old line citizens became a part of what has become known as "white flight" to the suburbs.

1890's: EAST HANOVER STREET

This is a fascinating photo showing the dirt road that was E. Hanover Street at the turn of the century. The very interesting building with the cupola was the home of Trenton Hose No. 1 of the Trenton Fire Department.

2013: FAREWELL TO ANOTHER TRENTON LANDMARK

As this is being written, the legendary once luxurious Glen Cairn Arms apartment buildings are being smashed by the wrecking company's dismantling equipment. How sad that this building was allowed to fall into disrepair! At one time, it was the home of many of the Trenton area's more affluent citizens.

2013: HAMILTON HIGH CLASSMATE BILL HELLEWELL

He was one of our booming bass voices in Louise Baird's vocal music class. I will always remember Bill who had one of those rare personalities that made you feel happy to know he is a friend. Along with his incredible sense of humor, Bill had that special something that has stayed in my memory 60 years after leaving the "4 H's:" Hallowed Halls of Hamilton High."
I took this photo at our 50th reunion in 2011.

2013: THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR!

At my last summer concert series on the lawn at the Hamilton Library gazebo in August, my friend loyal concert attendee Nancy Briggs told me I was to receive the Proclamation as shown in the graphic. We had a crowd of nearly 60 people at the event. Unfortunately, Mayor Kelly Yaede was on vacation and she asked my friend Councilman Ed Gore to do the honors. I am proud to say I now have 3 proclamations! One from the Hamilton Council a few years back, and one from my friend, former Mayor of Hamilton, Glenn Gilmore. It's nice to be recognized. I intend to be a volunteer until I am no longer physically able to continue. In fact, we have a full house for my Kuser Farm Mansion program set for this Wednesday evening, October 2nd. Unfortunately, we had to turn a number of reservations down due to the fire code and the number of people in the room.

2013 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HAMILTON HIGH CLASS OF 1953

Wow! I will reach the golden age of 80 on this coming Sunday, September 29. How fast those years flew by-----how fast they are still flying! As we age, memories of our younger years become a very important part of our lives and the aging process. Some of my happiest years were spent as a student of Kuser Grammar School, and of course, the best high school in the nation, Hamilton High! Even though they were a couple years behind me as an HHS '51 alumnus, I still remember a lot of the "kids" in the class of 1953. I wish all of you a very warm and wonderful reunion. May you have many more!

MAPLE SHADE SCHOOL

 

One of the subjects very near to the top of my interest in local history lies in the old one room school houses that once dotted our very rural past, and the early 20th century schools that replaced them. Above is a photo of Maple Shade School prior to the construction of the familiar red brick building that was once located on White Horse Avenue. The original was black and white and I took the liberty of hand coloring it to give it a bit of realism. Below is an early 20th century class photo with many well known local White Horse residents.

BROMLEY; ONE OF HAMILTON'S VINTAGE COMMUNITIES

I will be presenting two "on screen" Power Point type programs at the October and November meetings of the Hamilton Township Historical Society. The Society meets the first Monday of every month (except July and August) at 7 P.M. in the lower level Room #2 of the Hamilton Township Public Library. The October meeting will be a thumbnail history of the John Abbott II house, and the story of the founding of the Society which is celebrating its 70t anniversary. The November meeting will be another on screen presentation featuring Bromley, the New Jersey State Fair, and the Henry N. Smith "Fashion Stud Farm" which was once located in the Bromley area adjacent to the Fairgrounds. Both presentations are free and the public is cordially welcome.

1940: JUNIOR 4, DAYTON STREET; TODAY'S GRACE DUNN

 

I am building up a nice collection of Junior Four grammar school articles, photos and quite a few "ARGUS" yearbooks. It seems that this school holds many fond memories to many visitors who were fortunate enough to attend that school during the golden years of education in Trenton and the surrounding area. Of particular interest is the weekly "Assembly" which we all had back in the 1930's and 40's. It was usually a Friday affair and we were exposed to fascinating cultural and educational on stage programs.

1874: THE NEW GREENWOOD CEMETERY

What a great news photo! Greenwood was indeed a beautiful cemetery. In fact it sill is today but the landscape had s somewhat different appearance from theGreenwood Cemetery of today.

1940: BEFORE JET PROPULSION

I find this to be a very fascinating photo of a plane of the future as illustrated in an old Mechanics Illustrated magazine. Not being an aeronautical engineer, I must say I wonder if the push props on the back of the wings were superior to the conventional engine nacelles being installed as they were on most multi engine aircraft. I have a fear of flying but I love to spot those airliners in the early evening when the sun is going down here on earth, but still shines brightly on passing aircraft. However, unlike when I was a boy, I could really get closeup views with a 10 x 35 pair of binoculars because those old DC3 passenger airliners didn't fly the normal 30 to 40,000 feet. Unfortunatly my zoom binoculars are impossible to hold steady as the magnification is zoomed in and the price of image stabilization binoculars is out of the question.

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure that the Russian's had a few pusher bombers in their fleet. The "prototype" of the B-2 in the 1950's, the flying wing (V configuration), was a pusher also.

Ed Millerick

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Anonymous said...

Tom, the "flying V" that I mentioned was the Northrop YB-35. The only one manufactured in any numbers was the Convair B-36, of which they made 389.

The only others of note were a handful of flying boats done by the French, Italians and Germans only one of which saw commercial production and even that was only about 30.

Ed Millerick

Sunday, September 22, 2013

2013: AN ERROR CORRECTED and THE STORY OF THE KUSER FARM "BEAR TREE"

Give Glover a coffee break and you have to re-train him; he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. How stupid it was of me to enter the incorrect time for my upcoming Kuser Mansion program, "A Night of Nostalgia and Music!" This only applies to those who read my Sunday column wherein I write about upcoming fall and winter programs. As you can see by the current  www.glover320.blogspot.com home page the time is correctly listed as 6 to 7:30. This post is for those visitors who read my Sunday column and entered the incorrect time on your respective calendars. Sorry for the error. The graphic below is another nostalgic memory from the years my best friend Don Slabicki and I spent working odd jobs at Fritz and Edna's Kuser Farm. Imagine two 12 year old boys walking through the Kuser woods, talking about the headline of the day where a bear escaped from captivity in the N.J. State Fair area. It was one of those dark and foggy winter after school days when we came upon this tree which still stands on the lawn diagonally opposite the tennis court. I can still see the beast's rump and legs as he shinnies up that tree! When former Councilman the late Jack Lacy heard my story he was going to have the township re-name the tree with a plaque that read "Tom Glover and Don Slabicki's Bear Tree;" unfortunately, the project never came to fruition.

1990: WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

It seems like a hundred years ago when I sat under the studio lights at the old TKR Cable of Hamilton back in the 1980's and 90's. My program was called "IN FOCUS" and I interviewed politicians, artists, and other prominent people in the Hamilton area. My very favorite interview was with my favorite disk jockey Jack Pinto of WBUD. We had a wonderful interview and I found Jack to be a very spiritually religious man. He waxed poetic as he recalled the joys of waking up before dawn and watching the sunrise on a new day from his studio in Ewing Township. Unfortunately, Cablevision came into the scene and took away all of our local programming and replacing my program with a lady who interviews people from Middlesex, Ocean and Monmouth Counties, with only a crumb of  Hamilton here and there.

1959: I REMEMBER THE DATSUN. TODAY I CALL IT A NISSON

Here's and ad for the 1959 Datsun. In the dead end ball and roller bearing company I worked for for over 40 years, imports were a definite "no-no." Imported autos meant imported ball and roller bearings, and they were a critical threat to our survival. If we sold a "New Departure" (GM) wheel bearing made in Bristol, Connecticut for $9.95, a Japanese "NSK" equivalent would be $4.85. One of our customers was the U.S. Steel Fairless Works over in Morrisville. At the time, they wanted nothing to do with steel products that were made anywhere but in the U.S. They discouraged their employees from buying foreign. My boss asked us to buy American cars and drink from steel beverage cans. Along came aluminum cans and along with them came the demise of steel cans. Combine these foreign import  with the steel union getting all kinds of benefits including my neighbor's  13 week paid vacation as one who had the seniority for that perk,  and you can see one of the reasons for the beginning of the end for the U.S. steel industry.

Here is a view of the many businesses on East State Street heading west to Broad Street in the year 1936.

*******

Note that R.C. Maxwell-Duke University Library photographs published on this website, are in compliance with the U.S. copyright holder's “fair use” provision and that the material displayed is for
EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY AND MAY NOT BE USED FOR ANY COMMERCIAL OR OTHER MONETARY PURPOSES.  
http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/sizes/rcmaxwellco_XXX3420

1987: BROMLEY'S BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

 

This beautiful church is one of the landmarks in the Bromley section of Hamilton. On Monday, October 7 at 7 PM in the Hamilton Township Township Historical Society, I will be presenting an on screen PowerPoint type presentation on Hamilton's Bromley section. The presentation will include the Henry N. Smith Stud Farm and the New Jersey State Fair. I have been a Bromley resident for over 50 years, and have seen an incredible change in the area over those years. Bromley has a very interesting history. It was a beautiful getaway from the crowded city of Trenton with the incredibly beautiful Bromley Place and Bromley Manor real estate developments. .

2013: HAPPY 70th ANNIVERSARY TO THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

"COMPUTERS AND LOCAL HISTORY" PERFECT TOGETHER"

             I will be presenting an on-screen Power Point type presentation featuring the history of the Historical Society of Hamilton Township on Monday, October 7 in room #2 of the Hamilton Township Public Library. The meeting begins promptly at 7:00 P.M. followed by  the presentation which will be a thumbnail sketch of the history of the Hamilton Township Historical Society celebrating its 70th anniversary in this year of 2013. One of the wonderful features of these projected on the screen presentations lies in the ability of the presenter to leave the presentation open for anyone in the audience who would like to comment or ask a question as the photos and articles are projected on the screen.

            On Monday evening, November 4th, again at a meeting that starts at 7:00 P.M. I will be presenting another "COMPUTERS AND LOCAL HISTORY" program featuring the New Jersey State Fair, the story of the development of the Bromley section of Hamilton, including Bromley's little known Fashion Stud Farm. You will be viewing photos and articles that have been hidden from public view for many, many years.
           The public is cordially invited to attend and these programs are completely free of charge. There is adequate parking and access is easy by way of the handicap entrance in the lower level of the library. I look forward to seeing some of my fellow visitors, friends and neighbors to what will be a very interesting presentation.  

1875: THIS WAS YARDVILLE, AKA "SAND HILLS"

I dug into the "MAPS" directory in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection and zeroed in on Yardville showing the village as it was 138 years ago. Fascinating!

1934: E. STATE AT STOCKTON STREET

This is an exquisite view of downtown Trenton during the Great Depression. Harbourt's Drug Store is on the far right, just out of the photo. Can you identify the church on the left?
http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rcmaxwellco_

*******

Note that R.C. Maxwell-Duke University Library photographs published on this website, are in compliance with the U.S. copyright holder's “fair use” provision and that the material displayed is for 

EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY AND MAY NOT BE USED FOR ANY COMMERCIAL OR OTHER MONETARY PURPOSES.

http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rcmaxwellco_

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, This is the clearest photo,indicating the location of the Cord Auburn automobile dealership, to the left, past the church. This building became Bill's Hobby Shop, where I became a regular. One of the tall buildings just further up, had a huge painted sign on the brick wall advertising Cord and Auburn automobiles. It could clearly be seen coming East on State. Two of the most iconic cars of the 1930s, the very stylish Auburn, introduced the boat tailed speedster, with both Straight 8 and V12 power. They offered luxury at a relatively lower price than Packard, Cadillac, or Pierce Arrow, while the front wheel drive Cord 810 & 812, had the most advanced styling of the 1930s, with the coffin nose, hidden headlights, no running boards, pontoon fenders and a low center of gravity. They were powered by a Lycoming flathead V8, putting out 125 HP, naturally aspirated and 165 HP supercharged. The transmission was controlled by a Bendix pre selector gearshift. This car was such a great influence on my thinking about how an automobile should look, that I have coveted this model all of my life. Nearly purchased one in the 1960's but building a new home, at that time, interfered with the cash flow. I believe my wife may have interfered also. Still my favorite car. Auburn went out of business at the end of 1936, and Cord followed at the end of 1937. The last trolleys ran in the 1934, the date of this photo.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

joe lind said...

Tom, Look at the spelling on top of the building Broad Street Bank, It's backward as is all other spelling in the picture, It must be a picture of a negative that wasn't inverted.
Just thought I would mention it.
I hope you and the Mrs are doing well.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Tom Glover said...

Hi Joe: No, the photo is correct. The reason you are seeing the sign on the bank is due to the reflection on the opposite side of the sign is more prominent. To be sure, I opened the photo with PhotoShop and horizontally flipped it. When I did, all the signs in the photo were backwards. I tried to tweak the sign in the foreground but the contrast just wasn't there.

Tom

Thursday, September 12, 2013

1840: "The Delaware Bridge at Trenton"

 What a fascinating engraving! Below is a Trentoniana article from 1856 announcing the repair work being done on the old wooden bridge.Below is a photo from the Trentoniana collection at the Trenton Free Public Library which shows what the caption says is the Calhoun Street bridge. Which begs the question: Is the lower photo a later photo of the same wooden bridge with modifications? Perhaps a Trenton Historical Society member or another local authority can enlighten us.