1986: WBUD; WHERE ALL THE GOOD SONGS HAVE GONE

I posted this on Facebook, but they do not allow for large size graphics and the column I wrote back in 1986 would not allow for a legible read. Gone are the days of the old fashioned radio "disk jockey." William B. Williams on WNEW, Alan Freed on WABC, and locally on WBUD, Jack Pinto, Herb Brooks, Rusty Austin, Bernie Cosnoski, George Bannister. Jack Pinto and his little sidekick "Cheery the Gremlin" followed me to my 1812 North Olden Avenue job at the old Trenton Bearing Company for many years back in the early 1950's. How we teens waited for the noon day broadcast of Herb Brooks' "Big Top Ten!" THOSE WERE THE DAYS, MY FRIEND, WE THOUGHT THEY'D NEVER END. But they did. Ahh, the memories!

FROM THE "AUTOMOBILIA" FOLDER

I wanted so bad to own a Kaiser of Frazer! They were the new kid on the block on the late 1940's along with the fabled "Henry J" which Sears marketed as the "Allstate." Remember Balderston Chevy? Gilbert & Mott? You do? Hey, we're gettin' on in age!

1989: BIRDS' EYE VIEW OF MILL HILL

Lacking the ability to intelligently place the camera man's position in this photo, I am going to take a huge leap of faith and assume it is a photo of Mill Hill from the area of the Assanpink Creek looking toward South Broad Street. My perception tells me that the familiar twin spires of Sacred Heart Church at S. Broad and Centre Street to the far right where I believe I see the steeple of the German Lutheran Church, and the street to the extreme right appears to be Livingston Avenue. Please correct me if I am in error.

2013: MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME

 

These photos I took this morning take me back to my young years growing up on Kuser Farm with my best friend Don Slabicki.  Sunday night movies, driving all over the property in one of the Kuser Ford cars, summer time in the woods, winter time sledding or skating on Kuser Pond. As I age, I frequently walk in areas of Kuser Farm where few people ever venture. For me, it is a spiritual thing, and I somehow feel closer to God. There's the wild cherry tree in the area where we set up a tent and camped out. The decayed trunk of a wild cherry tree reminds me that this is the remains of the same tree with a wood pecker hole where Don and I stashed our illicit packs of Herbert Tareyton, Lucky Strike, Regents, or Old Gold cigarettes.  The windmill, which thanks to the skill of Hamilton Township workers has been beautifully restored to it original splendor. The Kuser maintenance garages where Don and I christened a brand new Ford truck body that was so new the paint was still tacky. Edna Kuser's formal garden where Don and I spent hours of drudgery weeding the paths that made it a "formal garden." Memories like these are timeless; they live on and will certainly be relived in that place they call eternity, and I call Heaven.

1897: BROMLEY HOTEL -- NOT BROMLEY INN!

Even though we have become accustomed to hearing that historic and rapidly deteriorating building on Route 33 having its name changed years ago to the Bromley Inn, it all started out as the Bromley Hotel. Before he moved out to the Bromley section of Hamilton Township in the latter part of the 19th century, Charles Fulkert operated a saloon at the corner of Centre and Furman Streets in South Trenton. There are countless romantic articles telling of the weddings and other community events that were part of the history of this historic Hamilton landmark. Back in the years when Henry N. Smith's Fashion Stud Farm was in operation in the area behind the Hamilton-Enterprise Fire Company and all the way to the fair grounds area, wealthy horsemen from all over the country stayed in the sumptuous hotel. Later, many from far and near stayed there during those many Septembers of long ago when the Interstate Fair was in operation.

1932: A SPLENDID AND MAJESTIC NEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR TRENTON STUDENTS

 

Trenton Central High School......"In the beginning." Well maintained up into the early 1960's, then down hill from there. Anyone care to enumerate some of the reasons that Trenton landmark descended into a neglected state?

1937: SO. BROAD ST. APPROACHING LIBERTY STREET

I posted a few of these COPYRIGHTED Duke University R.C. Maxwell  photos on Facebook but alas, Facebook graphic size limitations took away from the ability to view these beautiful photos in full size, full screen, thus detracting from their artistic value. Hopefully, those Facebookers will see that the Hamilton Library Scrapbook is not only Hamilton Township, but with the dearth of Trenton related local history on line, we find that there are countless area visitors who no longer live in Trenton but love the town and its memories.

1939: E. STATE APPROACHING CHAMBERS STREET

This view of E. State Street, trolley tracks and all, gives one a glimpse of a once well kept neighborhood. Lew Long's drug store is seen on the left at the corner of Chambers and E. State. Long's moved a few times during that era. As I recall he had an E. State and Olden location as well as a Greenwood and Olden establishment.

1935: NOTTINGHAM WAY APPROACHING THE BROMLEY INN

This photo shows the Bromley Inn in the background, and a concrete Nottingham Way in a very sparsely settled area as it was 78 years ago when I was a two year old toddler! Note the open spaces on either side of the road, and the gas station on the left.

THE TROLLEY COMES TO BROADWAY

I often wondered why South Broad Street went from a rather narrow 2 lane thorofare when one left the city of Trenton at Chambers Street and then the road became a boulevard. I found the answer many years ago as in the column above.

1937: SOUTH BROAD STREET APPROACHING LIBERTY

The "Used Car" sign at the left in this photo was the Broad Street Chevrolet dealership which ultimately became Fred Bonderchuk's Bonderchuk Chevrolet dealership. All the Glover Chevys came from that legendary dealership. In the distance is the bank at the corner of Liberty and S. Broad Streets.

1937: NO. BROAD APPROACHING ACADEMY ST.

Like my friend "RayfromVillaPark," I love these downtown scenes of Trenton and especially the old cars as they existed back in the day. It would be a rare thing to see cars parked end on end along the North Broad Street curb without parking meters. Ray, here are some fine specimens for you to check out. I know you share my fixation with old cars, but you have that extra auto knowledge to identify many of these classics that our fathers and grandfathers drove around the area.

1926: GETHSEMENE BAPTIST CHURCH

This photo will be familiar to those of us who loved in the Greenwood-Wilbur-Bromley area over the years. the church still stands. A correction is due, thanks to my friend Alan Wildblood who corrected my former caption that the church is no longer a Baptist church.The building is still a Baptist church known as the Macedonia Baptist Church. The church is well attended, and based on my observation of the cars lined all along Greenwood and Garfield Avenues on Sunday mornings. Note that I have also changed the copyright title from GethsemEne to GethsemAne.

1934: THE ORPHEUM AND STACY THEATERS, E. STATE STREET

How I love this photo! The clarity is remarkable. Years ago, many professional photographers used the classic "Graflex" camera, and I would be that these Maxwell photos were produced by that camera. I have an intense interest in photos of old Trenton, and when theaters appear in the photos, I am completely fascinated. For those too young to know, the old Orpheum theater was replaced by the Mayfair; one of Trenton's first run theaters. I remember going there as a boy with my father to see "Destroyer" with Glenn Ford and Edward G. Robinson. I was completely overwhelmed with the blue mirrors that lined the walls as you entered that beautiful theater.

1909: THANKSGIVING YESTERYEARS: IT'S YOUR HERITAGE!

From the Hamilton Township Public Library Local History Collection, these historic treasures on the holiday as celebrated through the years. To my dear friend Eleanor Goldy Guear, included is the enlarged graphic you asked for as seen in miniaturized form on my home page. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND VISITORS TO WWW.GLOVER320.BLOGSPOT.COM

PLEASE REMEMBER TO WHOM YOU GIVE THANKS; WE SOMETIMES FORGET.

1947: SOUTH BROAD AT THE RAILROAD CROSSING

In this photo, you are on your way into downtown Trenton. The John A. Roebling main office building is behind you on the right side of the street. Hmmm.....gas prices are going up again: 16.9 cents a gallon...where will it end?

1941: NORTH BROAD AT "FIVE POINTS;" BATTLE MONUMENT AREA

What a gorgeous photo! To the far left is "Levin's" Department Store. Many North Trenton residents will find this to be a very familiar photo. The are has been completely transformed over the years, and this picture is familiar only to those of us who remember the Trenton that was.

The Glover family Thanksgiving dinner, 1964. This photo accompanies my "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" column in today's Sunday Trenton Times (Page 2) wherein I recall my 80 year old memories of Thanksgivings as we lived them when it was widely accepted as a day to thank God for all he has given us. Unfortunately, this hallowed holiday is being turned into a commercial shopping orgy.

1935: SOUTH BROAD AND DIVISION STREET IN THE BURG

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the corner building also house 

"State Sales," an office equipment outlet?

How very interesting to see these pristine R.C. Maxwell Duke University Library photos! In this photo, it is a clear picture of that area of Chambersburg during the Great Depression; fascinating!

 

 RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM.....THAT FORD WITH THE RUMBLE SEAT COULD REALLY TELL SOME TALES. IN 1935 I WAS SELLING PAPERS ON STATE AND MONTGOMERY STS.MY COUSIN ROSIE LIVED ON DIVISION ST AND I WAS INTO PLAYING BASEBALL. IN 1936 I WASA SELECTED TO PLAY WITH THE SCHROTHS BY JAKE MILLER AND THAT MOVED PENROSE, THE SHORT STOP AT THS, TO THIRD BASE. THAT YEAR I MET MY GIRL FRIEND AND BASEBALL SEEMED TO FADEAWAY. BEST REGARDS.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

 

***********

As usual , Ralph, your memories of your years in Trenton add much to the posts. You are a treasure who can safely say,  "Been there-done that."

1939: HERE ARE TWO VIEWS OF NO. WILLOW ST. IN THE BANK-SPRING STREET AREA

How that area has changed! I recently found myself detoured from Hamilton Avenue due to a very large traffic jam at the Arena on Hamilton Avenue. I took a Route 29 detour and exited on Perry Street and out of curiosity wanted to see the area as it is and at the same time remembering it as it was. Negotiating the one way North Warren Street area and ultimately ending up in the Bank Street, Spring Street, North Willow Street area was a sobering realization of just how the face of the city of Trenton has changed over the past 50 or 60 years. The top photo is the original from border to border. The lower has been extracted and enlarged in order to get a closer view atof the 

Mike Kuzma wrote:

Tom:
To put things into perspective, the large building on the left just past Spring St. is where the Carver YMCA originated. Many of the fine young African American athletes of the day honed thier skills there. Prominent among them were the Groom brothers, Ronnie, Mel, and the other escapes me.
The railroad crossing you see in the distance is the old Reading Belvedere line emenating at the terminal across from the Battle Monument.
I was a "used tire" customer of Callen tire. You can see the bridge over the canal feeder just up on the right. The "Restuarant" became the home of Benny Taylor's "Night Club" His wife Gloris and I worked together at the NJ DCA.

Fond Memories

Mike Kuzma

Your insight and experience as a veteran Trentonian adds a lot to the posts on this site, Mike. Much obliged!

Tom

Thursday, November 21, 2013

1935: THE NEW STOCKTON STREET BRIDGE

It is very difficult to envision the city of Trenton as it was back in the 1920's and 1930's. Indeed, the dramatic changes in the city from the time of the renewal project coupled with the devastation which resulted in the riots of the 1960's has transformed the city into a far different and more complicated area than when this bridge was completed. Old buildings were torn down, burned out during the riots, and the rebuilding process over the past fifty years has resulted in countless glass-encrusted "skyscrapers."

1935: A GREAT DEPRESSION SATURDAY NIGHT

The above is a somewhat re-organized placement of the ads as found on the original page from the Trenton Times. It gives a good idea of the economic situation in the area as the financial ravages of the Great Depression began to subside and certain members of society had more money in their pockets to spend a night at one of the many local night clubs, restaurants and theaters. I added the 2 1935 Hudson "Terraplane" autos to enhance the spirit of '35.

1903: NO UNIONS BACK IN THE DAY!

Over the years, I have re-told the stories of the terrible conditions which were faced by 19th and early 20th century immigrants. The Italians were all too often victims of outrageous living conditions. However, their zeal to become productive citizens gave them the strength and courage to endure, knowing that better years were ahead. Above is an incredible and little known story of just a isolated incident where workers at Deutzville were forced to resort to oversized military trench type fox holes.

1935: MEMBERS OF THE ITALIAN AMERICAN SPORTSMEN CLUB DEER HUNT

It took a bit of cutting, pasting, enhancing and focusing, but we finally have an interesting photo of some of the area's more prominent members of the Italian American society. There will doubtless be visitors who are related or acquainted with one or more of these members of the IASC.

TO THE VERY FEW "VINTAGE" SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE INTO COMPUTING

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SENIOR CITIZENS WHO FREQUENT THIS SITE WHO TELL ME THEY ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AGING AND SLOW COMPUTERS.

As a fellow senior with limited gray matter when it comes to the high tech aspect of computing, I find that the suggestions below should help to speed up a clogged up computer. My old Dell laptop is heading into its 4th year with my old reliable Windows XP Professional as the software I use. I have an unused Windows 7 laptop that gets very little use. Most of us old folks resist change and in this case, it is very true. Windows 98 was very good for a number of years, and since then, XP has been my friend and I only use the "unused" laptop as my music computer.
For those who are not fully into computer maintenance, here's a bit of help that I find very effective for me. Perhaps it will for you also.
*************

Download the FREE CCleaner software program that will get rid of a lot of junk on your computer, including junk register entries. Click on http://www.piriform.com/. I have been using this program for years. When you open the program, download CCLEANER. When you do, you will be shown the screen. On the lower left you will see "ANALYZE." Click on it, and CCleaner will find all the files that are worthless and taking up much of your computer space. Let it list all the unnecessary files and when it reaches 100% you will move over to the bottom right and click on the RUN CLEANER button. It will ask if you are sure. I have been using this program for years and I always let CCleaner clean my computer. It makes a difference.

ALSO:
Assuming you are using Windows XP, when your computer starts, go to the lower left and
click on START, when you do you will see ALL PROGRAMS. Click on it and look up on the left down a few lines and you will see ACCESSORIES. Click on it and see the little arrow > click on it and a drop down menu will appear. Click on SYSTEM TOOLS and again> follow that arrow and click on DISK DEFRAGMENTER. WHEN YOU GET TO THE DISK DEFRAGMENTER, CLICK ON ANALYZE, THE COMPUTER WILL DECIDE IF YOU NEED TO "DEFRAG" YOUR COMPUTER. YOURS PROBABLY WILL SO GO AHEAD AND CLICK THE DEFRAGMENT BUTTON.
THIS PROCESS TAKES A VERY LONG TIME, SO LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER ON AND LET IT DEFRAGMENT THE FILES.

ALSO: Get a virus and adware program. Download  one of these free software programs:MALWAREBYTES OR KASPERSKY or SPYBOT.programs. 

Unfortunately, in order to get the best protection from computer viruses, one must purchase one of the many programs available.

VIVINT: DARK ORANGE AGAINST WHITE? SORRY, NOT FOR MY EYES ONLY!!

I have been a satisfied VIVINT security subscriber for months. I suggested that they change the color scheme on their signs, wondering if  the artist was optically challenged in choosing a color scheme which lacks very necessary necessary contrast. One representative told me that orange and white was the trademark color they chose, but they were working on a modification. My suggestion that there are varying and darker shades of orange that would render the sign legible from the walkway in front of my home. Their orange against white reflective text is ineffective. I expect high visibility like ADT, the old APX, Slomins, and others who want a distant warning to passersby that the house is protected. As you will see above, I have designed my own legible Vivint sign using PhotoShop and planted my own sign with logical contrasting features on my front lawn. My sign clearly reads "VIVINT" 25 or 30 away from my front lawn. The old faded orange sign looks like an orange lollipop.

2013 A WARM WELCOME TO NEWCOMERS TO THIS SITE!

NEWCOMERS: A number of my FACEBOOK friends have migrated over to this website. Welcome to the Hamilton Township Public Library and our Local History Site! Here are a few short cuts to help you maneuver around the site.
1)   Over on the far right and DOWN a few inches you will find an alphabetical index. Next to each item in the index you will see the number of files in parentheses. Clicking on the item will bring you to the home page BUT this time when you arrow down you will see a 1 to 8 listing of material sought.

2) Another method is using the "SEARCH" function, DIRECTLY UNDER THE HOME PAGE you will see a white space with a "SEARCH" LABEL.. Type in a key word, ie: YARDVILLE, GROVEVILLE, etc. You will be taken to any and all posts within the 8,000 plus pages that contain the key words.

3) Through a technical glitch in 2010, Google removed a number of graphics and you will see a triangle with an exclamation (!) inside the triangle. This graphic will ultimately be re-posted.

4) When you get to a specific photo or article, RIGHT click on your mouse and choose open in a new window. You will be presented with an enlarged graphic. In some cases you will see a "+" which will allow you to enlarge it even more. Using the aforementioned right click function, you can also save the graphic to your computer. BE SURE TO CREDIT THE HAMILTON LIBRARY AND ANY OTHER ENTITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SOURCE MATERIAL. ENJOY!

ANY QUESTIONS email me at tglover320@optimum.net

1928: APPROACHING STATE AND BROAD STREET FROM NORTH BROAD

Some of these R.C. Maxwell posts may be seen in former posts. For copyright reasons, I am including the source of the photograph along with my identifying text. A reminder that these photos are being presented as "Fair Use" for research and historical exhibition.  U.S. Copyright laws state that they may not be used for commercial purposes (e.g.: selling on Ebay or other outlets)

CIRCA 1920'S "NORTH WILLOW NEAR SPRING STREET"

THANKS TO BILL KLEK FOR THE MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION OF TONY'S PLACE, AND ALSO TO SJBILL WHOSE EMAIL WAS SENT ALMOST THE SAME TIME AS BILL KLEK'S MAP.
 THIS IS NO LONGER A "MYSTERY PHOTO;" THANKS TO THESE GENTLEMEN.
MORE TO COME.
 
This is a mystery photo. Going via Google Earth to this area identified as "Willow Street Near Spring Street" proved to be a fruitless search. However, in looking over the area via Google, one realizes the incredible changes that have been made in the Trenton of old. Even though it is un-dated and the location not exactly confirmed, it is fascinating to see this old structure which was once located in today's Spring-Church-Passaic Street area.

1949: COLONIAL LAKELANDS TRENTON TRANSIT BUS AT THE POST OFFICE

In order to satisfy U.S. Copyright laws, I am crediting the Duke University Library R.C. Maxwell collection. This pristine view of E. State Street and the fabled "DeLuxe Diner" across the street shows the area as it was 64 years ago. Note: These photos are the property of Duke University and MAY NOT be used for commercial purposes on Ebay or any other commercial venue. FAIR USE only!

1915 (Circa 1915) TOM GLOVER'S "MOUNT FAMILY" GENEALOGY

I could never be bright enough to trace my family's ancestry, but a fellow web friend, Warren Rue was kind enough to tell me that he too was a Mount descendant and had our family history traced back as far as the 14th century. My mom was Alice Naomi Mount from the little town of Locust in the Middletown area of Monmouth County. George Mount was among the earliest settlers in the Middletown area, and his roots trace back to the Salem witch era, and includes ties to John Adams, John Quincy Adams, the Borden family of Bordentown and Lizzie who did those "40 whacks" and on and on. There is even a connection to Lord Cornwallis of Revolutionary war fame. The above photo is among one of only a few I have from my side of the family. It shows my Aunt Ruth Mount Williamson who passed away at a much too young age leaving my Uncle John a widower with 3 children; my cousin John "Goog" and Ruth and June. Those Mount genes resulted in beautiful female descendants.  June and Ruth were Hollywood pretty, and Goog a very handsome specimen. I am posting this photo showing my Aunt Ruth and am amazed at the resemblance she had to my cousin June. In her younger years, my mom was said to have resembled then Movie star Jane Harlow.

2013: BE PATIENT, WE'LL BE BACK!

This website has grown to an incredible size since I started it back in 2006. As you can see by the hit counter, it is 300,000 shy of the million mark. A blog of this size has a number of adjustments that are long over due. Add that to the fact that even as the website grew in popularity,so did the toll it took on my computer which is where I am currently concentrating. I have also instituted a FACEBOOK page, "TOM GLOVER'S HAMILTON LIBRARY LOCAL HISTORY SCRAPBOOK."

2013: VETERANS' DAY

On this Veterans' Day I remember all those who served, especially those who were close to me: My brothers Len and Bud who passed away in 2012, and my neighbor and boyhood friend Ray Sypniewski MSMC, who was the first Mercer County military man killed in Korea.

1885: EWING TOWNSHIP AND OUR FIRST MILK BOTTLES

What a fascinating story! I had never heard of the Mourne Dairy nor the McEvoy connection. However, this article tells of the revolutionary new invention of the glass bottle to deliver to local customers. Heretofore, the dairy delivered the milk in those huge aluminum type cans, and carefully ladled out the appropriate measure to a specific household. The article above has me wondering if the Mourne Dairy Farm was located at or in the area of the Johnson Farm on Bear Tavern Road. Perhaps a local Ewing historian can enlighten us. The bottle on the right is a typical glass bottle from the mid to late 1880's and was downloaded from a bottle information post via a Google search.

1950: THE TRENTON WE REMEMBER

I will never forget the thrill of a trip "downtown" from our rural Hamilton home. Catch the L-Liberty Street bus at Cedar Lane and South Olden Avenue, wait on the porch of "Bee Bee's Tavern" in wet or cold weather, waiting for th Trenton Transit bust of reach what was then the end of the line. Then mom pays the driver a dime, he deposits it in a coin type receiver on his hip and we're on our way. Up South Olden to Liberty Street, Liberty Street to South Broad Street and all the way into town. What memorable trips they were!

2013: NOVEMBER 1. WE ARE NOW ON FACEBOOK!

 

  With over 8,000 pages in my Google website, I have instituted a Facebook site. It provides and excellent web place where history of the Hamilton-Trenton-Mercer County area can be found.

 Above is the home page. It is entitled "TOM GLOVER'S HAMILTON LIBRARY LOCAL HISTORY SCRAPBOOK". To access it,  Click on the link below. When you get the gist of how the site operates you will find it very convenient to enter your comments in the very easy to use "comments" part of the menu. I hope to see my Glover320 website over there!

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Glovers-Hamilton-Library-Local-History-Scrapbook/529296263810111https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Glovers-Hamilton-Library-Local-History-Scrapbook/529296263810111