1914 (Circa 1914) Yardville Post Office

Mr. William Mount's Yardville Post Office. I don't know whether I posted this previously or not, but bear with me. I LOVE these old "village" photos showing the dirt roads, and the general store era.....reminds me of Mayberry, RFD.

1937: WAIT! BEFORE YOU ENLARGE THIS PHOTO....

The graphic above was a very intimidating place for us teenagers.
(You must be well over 60 to remember)
Give up?
Now you can click on the image and enlarge it.

1956: Spec 3 Glover, Thomas L. Reporting for duty, Sir!

I can't believe the guy staring back at me is the same guy who is entering this post! I was all of 140 pounds, looking at 900 plus days in Uncle Sam's army, and counting each and every one of them. Was I really ever this young?

1913: Pastor Case Olivet Baptist Church

That little church on the corner of Mulberry Street and Ohio Avenue has an historic heritage all its own. My research indicates that the little edifice dates back to the Civil War era; 1863 to be exact. I haven't found any further information as to whether the early establishment of this church was on the site above, nor if the building is the original. Research continues. If any visitor familiar with Olivette Baptist Church can fill me in, I would appreciate the information. It will be added to this post and the Hamilton Library's digital Local History files.

Yardville's Lakeview Hotel - Date Unknown

This is one of the more rare historical items in my Hamilton Township collection. Prior to acquiring it back in the 1970's, I had no idea there was a Lakeview Hotel in Lakeside Park. It was located on the site of Dick Peterson's Service Station on South Broad and Lakeside Boulevard. I would guess that the above extract was circa 1914.

1921: Cooper Street in the early eears

Today's Cooper Street is a mere shadow of its former self. The Government buildings along Market Street and other high rises make it difficult to visualize the area of Cooper and Union Streets, both of which terminated on the southern part of Market Street. Check out the prices for those row homes! This real estate graphic has been added to the digital "Neighborhoods" folder in the Local History Collection.

The New DeCou School Date Unknown

The photo above is from an old glass slide from the early part of the 20th century. I am trying to determine when the school was built. If any visitor happens to know, please contact me.

1946: The Fightin' Phillies

My long time friend and most ardent Phillies fan I know, Fred Schulz is probably still walking on air with the rconsidering the recent good news that the Phillies had won the 2008 World Championship.

1927: Hamilton Police Joins the PBA

I have been looking for definitive information on the local press coverage of the formal establishment of the Hamilton Township Police Department. This graphic from 1927 indicates that the new department was formally announced in June, 1927. I'm looking.

2008: A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE Doug Mertz K2ITX

This was posted on my www.gloveradio.blogspot.com website, but for the benefit of those amateur radio operators who are not familiar with my radio website, I opted to post it here on the local history site. Doug Mertz had many Mercer County area friends who may not have read about his untimely passing.

K2ITX, W2AEI, W2FDE, N2HX (Formerly WA2JZF), K2AAR, W3SHY, W3GWZ, WB2EIZ, N2GJ, K2ZE (Formerly K2SNK), K2ZSY, W2SVV, W2CCO, -----oh my gosh, I could go on and on! We have just lost one of the finest gentleman it was my privilege to call a friend. Along with the aforementioned call signs, and many more whose call signs elude me at this particular moment, Doug Mertz was one of our regulars on the morning and evening "Commuter Net" which was a very popular morning QSO center back in the mid 1970's. One of the real treasures to be found in the hobby of amateur radio is the acquisition of life long friends. The memories of our DVRA "Commuter Net" will be with me until we hams all join Doug, K2ITX, in that eternal DX-pedition which will come when we receive the final "CQ" from above. RIP, DOUG!

YOU CAN SIGN DOUG'S TRENTON TIMES GUESTBOOK.
CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL:

http://obits.nj.com/trenton/GB/GuestbookEntry.aspx?&PersonID=120246757

1946: St. Mary's Cathedral 75th Anniversary

The "St. Mary's" Folder in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection has a few stories from the 1800's and early 1900's relating to the very earliest years of St. Mary's Cathedral. Did you know that the original church bells, weighing many tons, were each named for a Saint?

1982: It's November

This is a column I wrote 21 years ago as I eagerly awaited the arrival of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the winter season with its promise of snow. I was 54 years old, and now, at 75 I realize how differently I look at "the arrival of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and winter season with its promise of snowy days and snowy nights." I have always looked at the changing of the seasons from a biblical point of view. Even as we have a Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall, so to do we have seasons in our lives. There was a time when the falling leaves, crisp, frosty mornings and the prospect of another November turning into December a snowy winter was eagerly anticipated. Now, at 75, that perception has been replaced. Those eagerly anticipated snowy winters somehow have lost their appeal. Winters were fun at 20, 40, and 50, but they started getting to be a problem at 50 and now at 75, as I realize that I am approaching the "winter" season of life.

1906: TRENTON CRIME STATISTICS, JANUARY, 1906

Very interesting look at the police blotter for the month of January, 1906. The number of incidents in January, 1906 would be interesting when compared to those of January, 2008.

1901: Unbelievable Assault of a Groveville Girl in Yardville

NOTE: FOR THOSE VISITORS WITH THE SMALLER NOTEBOOK PC DISPLAY, THIS ARTICLE WILL BE A BIT EASIER TO READ IF YOU MOVE YOUR LCD DISPLAY RESOLUTION DOWN TO 800 X 600.
(GO TO START, CONTROL PANEL, DISPLAY, SETTINGS,
SLIDE TO THE LEFT FROM 1024 X 768 TO 800 X 600)
When we read stories like this incredible early 20th century crime we realize just how important a police force is. The Constable was a complete coward and many of the local citizenry were intimidated by the mad man who assaulted the young lady who worked in the Groveville textile mill. Read this incredible story of a demented man and the unbelievable agony that young lady must have gone through. First, the inept behavior of the lawman and then the agonizing ride on a horse drawn cart to St. Francis Hospital.

A TIP FROM TOM

IT RECENTLY CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT A VISITOR DIDN'T KNOW THAT CLICKING ON AN IMAGE WILL ENLARGE IT. I MUST ADMIT THAT I AM GUILTY OF ASSUMING MORE THAN I SHOULD WHEN IT COMES TO KNOWING THE SUBTLE INTRICACIES OF THIS WEBSITE.
FURTHER, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT PERHAPS THERE MAY BE VISITORS WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE GRAPHICS CAN BE SAVED FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE IN A SCRAPBOOK OR PRINTED AND SENT VIA "SNAIL MAIL" TO A NON-COMPUTER FRIEND OR RELATIVE.

JUST PUT YOUR CURSOR ON THE GRAPHIC,
RIGHT CLICK
AND CHOOSE
"SAVE IMAGE AS,"
THEN CHOOSE A FOLDER ON YOUR COMPUTER HARD DRIVE.

AND FOR THE FINAL "FURTHER," WITH NEARLY 3,000 POSTINGS GOING BACK 3 YEARS TO NOVEMBER,2005, THE "SEARCH BLOG" FEATURE AT THE UPPER LEFT OF THE MAIN PAGE CAN SAVE MUCH TIME IF YOU ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN A SPECIFIC SUBJECT. ADDITIONALLY, THE ALPHABETICAL LISTING TO THE RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN SERVES AS AN ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF THE CONTENT OF THIS WEBSITE.
THE "INDEX" FEATURE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AND YOU MAY SEE DUPLICATE LABELS WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY BE CONSOLIDATED INTO A SINGLE LABEL.

THANKS FOR VISITING ----- RETURN OFTEN!

1935: Thie Was St. Raphael Church in White Horse

This little known news photo from my collection is very interesting when one considers the beautiful St. Raphael's Parish of the present time. Back in the early years, austerity was the buzz word. St. Anthony in Trenton also started out with a very small edifice, very similar to St. Raphale. Then along came the transition from rural to suburban and the little buildings proved to be completely obsolete.

1944: Local Heroes from "The Greatest Generation"

1944: Bob Hope Defines Patriotism

Everyone has heard about Bob Hope's visits to our military forces starting in WWII and moving right up through Korea and Viet Nam. Bob had a bit of a tussle with Paramount, when they tried to get him to take time away from Uncle Sam's military to make a movie. Bob opted to stay with the G.I.'s.

1941: Trenton's "Home Away from Home" for Fort Dix Soldiers

"I left my heart at the stage door canteen.....I left it there with a girl named Eileen.."
That oldie but goodie from the WWII era would have been playing on their Wurlitzer juke box at the Trenton Soldiers' Club in downtown Trenton.

1941: St. Mary's Greek Catholic Choir

1941: CCC Boys off to Duty

The "CCC Civilian Conservation Corps" folder in the library is admittedly quite sparse, but I do have a few articles and photos, and I am sure more will turn up as I delve deeper into the newspapers from the FDR era of the late 1930's.

2008: Kuser School Centennial

CALLING ALL "KUSER KATS"

ATTENTION KUSER SCHOOL ALUMNI:

IF YOU WANT TO BE KEPT UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS AND EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR THE 100th CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF KUSER SCHOOL, PLEASE USE THE GUESTBOOK TO REQUEST INCLUSION ON OUR LIST OF ALUMNI, OR EMAIL ME AT

thomglo@verizon.net
OR rkesting@hamilton.k12.nj.us
OR djulie@AOL.COM

IF YOU KNOW OTHER ALUMNI WHO ARE NOT ON THE COMPUTER, SEND ME THEIR MAILING ADDRESS AND WE WILL SEE THAT THEY ARE KEPT UP TO DATE.

BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

1972: The 1972 Elections

Mayor Maury Perilli on the results of the 1972 Presidential election, wherein Republican incumbent Jack Rafferty won the office of Mayor of Hamilton and Don Tamutus added another Republican to the Hamilton political scene.

1972: The "Rusling Sunshiners"

I will leave it to my Broad Street Park Historian Jim Colello to tell us whether he knows anything about the "Sunshiners." It would appear that they were a senior citizen group from Broad Street Park. I wonder if Mrs. Tilton is from the Tilton Bakery Tiltons. Jim?

1941: Yardville - Groveville Community News

Yardville and Groveville were considered next door neighbors back in the 1800's. These "community news" articles provide an insight as to the life and times of the featured communities. In this case, early World War II.

1941: Nottingham Fire Company's New Officers

The Hamilton Square and Nottingham VFD Folders in the library are of much historic interest. The West family, the Cubberleys, Hutchinsons, McCabe's and other old families provide fascinating historical research material.

1941: The German-American Bund

Northern New Jersey was one of the hotbeds of the German-American Bund during the 1930's. There were many Bund members who were very early supporters of the
National Socialists until they began to show their real colors in the early 1940's.

1941: Hamilton Township to Lower Taxes!

1941: Rusling Hose VFD Appoints New Officers

That veteran fire company in Broad Street Park has a splendid historical heritage. Indeed, the entire Broad Street Park area is well represented in the Hamilton Library's "Broad Street Park" folder and Jim Colello's Broad Street Park blog. Jim's link is found on the right side of the home page.

From Mr. Bob Stockton - Jacksonville, FL.:

Harry MacDonough was my great-uncle. He and his family lived on William Street two blocks north of Chambers.
Bob Stockton USN, ret.
Jacksonville, Florida.

Thank you, Bob. Nothing pleases me more that profiling the past of friends and relatives on specific posts. Thanks for visiting. I hope you return often.

1972: St. Raphael PTA on the Job

The PTA: The back bone of many schools. As a card-carrying former President of the St. Anthony Grammar School, PTA, how familiar are those events as listed in St. Raphael's "Family Fun Fair;" Let me see....Tricky Tray, White Elephant, and Face Painting. As a great philosopher once said, "been there - done that!"

1949, EARY 50's: When those hormones were raging!

One of the more memorable times of my life was my teen years when I was still a student at HHS and ultimately a graduate of "The Class With Class," HHS '51. Countless people over the years have asked me how in the world I remember all those little obscure things of which I write. The same question always arises when I am asked how I remember the lyrics to songs that are over 60 and 70 years old. I just don't know. I do know that I and my brother Bud have inherited Mom Glover's incredible memory. I have very vivid and lively memories of those simple, easy, laid back innocent, coming-into-puberty years. The above column I wrote many years ago is an example of the things we did and the places we visited.

1977: Farewell to the old Colonial Fire Dept.

As a neighbor who grew up in the shadow of that old firehouse on Liberty Street and Newkirk Avenue, I must admit that I was disappointed when I learned that the old building was to be vacated by the fire company and re-located to the Lenhardt Farm on Kuser Road, where they built a beautiful and much larger facility. Nevertheless, memories of my very short Colonial volunteer year coupled with a few Kuser School class visits to the venerable old fire company, can still kindle melancholy memories. As we all know, the senior center featured above was moved to the Baron A.C.facility on Cypress Lane in Hamilton, following a mini scandal which resulted in the Baron losing their property. Colonial's old building is now very well maintained and quite attractive as the home of John Scarpati's Mercer County Italian American Festival Association.

1977: Herb Griffiths, School Board Member

Bromley's Herb Griffiths was a Hamilton High Biology teacher when I was a student at West. He was also very active in the school's soccer program. Herb went on to be in the upper echelon of the Hamilton school system.

1977: Mr. Harry Sayen

This portrait photo was borrowed from the following post wherein Mr. Sayen received a YMCA award from Jack Lacy and Bob Innocenzi. This is one of two photos I have of Mr. Sayen in the "NOTABLE PERSONS" folder.

1977: Hamilton's Harry Sayen Receives a YMCA Award

Harry Sayen, whose Sayen Gardens has evolved into one of the sparkling jewels in Hamilton Township's park system, is seen here receiving a YMCA award from a young Bob Innocenzi and Jack Lacy.

1977: Carmella De Marco: Board of Ed Candidate

Before she became a Democratic Council member, Carmella was involved with the Hamilton educational system.

1977: S.O.S. Groveville School:

The post on the left has already been published previously. In order to maintain continuity of the unsuccessful "S.O.S" Save Our Schools campaign, I have added an updated article which was subsequently published in the Mercer Messenger.

2008: Rest in Peace, Bill Opferman

I hope there will be a respectable turnout at Veterans' Park on Tuesday, November 11 at 12 P.M., when local Viet Nam veteran Bill Opferman will be honored for his service to our country and his active interest in the general welfare not only of Hamilton Township, but Mercer County as well.

The above is a digital copy of the Jack Knarr's Trentonian article which is a poignant but sad retrospective on the late Bill("Billy" Opferman. He was a close friend and frequent visitor to my music concerts at Kuser Farm Park, my Kuser Mansion programs, and the Local History Collection at the Hamilton Library, We will miss you, Bill. You were the best.

2008: A REDUNDANT REMINDER

Just a reminder (and suggestion) that you will find a

very definite improvement in viewing this website

if you use the "FULL SCREEN" feature.

(VIEW-FULL SCREEN).

2008: Circa 1935 Delaware State Police

This beautiful 8 x 10 black and white photo of a Delware State Police officer with his old side car motorcycle will find a special place in the Hamilton Library's "POLICE, MISCELLANEOUS," and

"NOSTALGIA" folders. Many thanks, Michael!

2008 Don't miss Alan Wildblood's Genealogical Website

You know that old saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the street?" Well, when I accessed my friend and fellow historian Alan Wildblood's BEAUTIFUL website, I was completely enthralled at the depth and logical transitions on the site. The graphic above is the home page of this fascinating website, and a tribute not only to Alan Wildblood, but also to the technology which allows people all over the world to realize what can be done with this computer technology. This is the epitome of the perfect genealogical website. Well done, Alan. I wish I could emulate the layout on your site, but unfortunately Blogger.com is an austere (and free) website with limited templates. Yours is exquisite! www.wildblood.org

1905: The McGalliard Family

It was truly a very painstaking project to restore this faded, brown with age, and very fragile article from 1905 which detailed the Silver Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. David C. McGalliard. With the Christmas holiday approaching, it is only a matter of time that I will receive a request to expand on the historical story of the McGalliard Christmas tree farm. It was supposedly the first Christmas tree farm in America, although I have heard that a New Englander challenged the claim.

1977: Steinert N.J. Youth Soccer Assn. Champions

Once again, the Spartan Green walks off with another sports championship. These young men are now grown up young men; tempus does indeed fugut!

1977: The Death of a Classic - Groveville School

It was a sad time in Hamilton's history when it was decided to "nuke" some of Hamilton's pioneer schools. I have always worried about the demise of the neighborhood school. Lalor, Klockner and Kuser are historic education classics, and I hope I am not around when the wrecker's ball falls on them.

1977: Mayor Rafferty on the Expansion of the Hamilton Sewage Facility

Brrrr! It even looks Arctic tundra cold in the photo above as Mayor Jack Rafferty pretends to break frozen ground with the township's ceremonial shovel.

1977: Once Upon a Time in Financially Secure Hamilton...

Many of the persons, places, and things of the past can have an impact on the persons, places, and things, of today. This letter, which Jack Rafferty submitted to the late, great Mercer Messenger give an insight to the financial situation as it was in Hamilton 38 years ago, soon to be 39.

1988: HAMILTON WEST BAND PARENTS

Here's a twenty year old photo of the incoming movers and shakers from the Hamilton West Band Parents Club.

1988: HAMILTON WEST BAND PARENTS

Here's a twenty year old photo of the incoming movers and shakers from the Hamilton West Band Parents Club.

1988: HAMILTON WEST BAND PARENTS

Here's a twenty year old photo of the incoming movers and shakers from the Hamilton West Band Parents Club.

1988: HAMILTON WEST BAND PARENTS

Here's a twenty year old photo of the incoming movers and shakers from the Hamilton West Band Parents Club.

1988: HAMILTON WEST BAND PARENTS

Here's a twenty year old photo of the incoming movers and shakers from the Hamilton West Band Parents Club.