1951 AND 1908: TRENTON BRASS AND MACHINE CO.

The view above shows the front facade of the Trenton Brass and Machine Company which experienced a very serious fire back in 1908 as can be seen in the article below the photo.

1981: KING'S FAIRGROUND MALL

It was a very convenient mall for those of us who lived in the Mercerville-Bromley area. For a while, the mall thrived with a Shop Rite as the anchor store. As is so often the case, the character of the area changed and with it the closing of the mall and except for a few tenacious store keepers, the mall is relatively vacant. But the good news is that Walmart plans to open an outlet in the Fairgrounds Mall and if this does happen, there will be other merchants who will be eager to return to a once again busy and viable place to shop. 

1936: A TRENTON SATURDAY NIGHT DURING THE GREAT DEPRESION

I tried doing this graphic in color, but I exceeded the size limit allowed and had to convert it to gray scale mode. It is an interesting representation of what the Trenton area had to offer those who were affluent enough to end their work week with a rousing venture into the very lively Trenton area of 1936. Unfortunately, the size constraints makes reading the details a bit daunting; but if my 80 year old eyes can see some of the ads, how about yours?

1984: SALLY LANE GRAF: TRENTON HISTORIAN EXTRAORDANAIRE

I have always admired the writings of Ms.Sally Lane. She had a perspective on historical Trenton and environs that brought a unique perspective to the history of the Trenton we all know and love. I have been digitizing Sally's columns and to date have succeeded in recovering nearly 50 columns, all of which will be available in the Hamilton Library's Local History Database.

1949: THE 400 BLOCK OF EAST STATE STREET

OK so I love these photos with the familiar cream and green colored Trenton Transit buses, This venue was a popular site for the Maxwell photographer as can be seen on many former posts on this site. Were he still with us, my dear friend Leland "Lee" Buker would tell us who drove that route back in 1949.

1949: TWEAKED AND ENHANCED PHOTO AT THE WHITE HORSE CIRCLE

  A few Maxwell graphics on the "It's a Trenton Thing" website, including a number of those from this website, all of which are properly credited. One Facebook member referred those who are interested to visit the Maxwell site where they will find images of "much greater clarity." apparently referring to the posts that I have tediously tweaked. Good luck with that! The many Maxwell posts on this website also have first person comments giving additional historic information on a specific graphic. For copyright reasons I hope the source of the graphics posted include the the Duke University Library R.C. Maxwell collection on the photo. I also heard that an Ebay member is posting these graphics for sale, which I believe is a violation of U.S. Copyright laws.

1937: A RE-RUN: BALDERSTON CHEVROLET WAS ON PRINCETON AVENUE NEAR THE BATTLE MONUMENT

1937: MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM YOUR LOCAL CHEVY DEALERS

This was posted a while back, but a Facebook visitor requested information on the location of Balderston Chevrolet. Accordingly, I am re-posting complete with comments received at the time of the original post.
An original portion of this ad has been eliminated in order to get the complete greeting on the screen. This was the year of "knee action;" that incredibly hi tech feature which gave the cars of the 30's more stability on the road. That old Chevy grille is as familiar as the one we all knew and loved on the Ford V-8's from that era. I found the Weigel Chevrolet listing very interesting. I am quite familiar with the 1300 block of Hamilton Avenue and will have to see who is now occupying that plot of land.

FROM LOCAL AUTO HISTORIAN RAY PASZKIEWICZ, THIS INTERESTING UPDATE, advising me that Weigel Chevrolet was located in the building ultimately taken over by the Royal Crown Bottling Company. Today it is a day care center. MANY THANKS FOR THE FOLLOWING EMAIL, RAY; YOU'RE THE BEST!(BY THE WAY, I REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT I EXPERIENCED AS I TOOK OVER THE CAB OF A BEAUTIFUL NEW 1952 CHEVROLET PANEL TRUCK, ADVERTISED BACK THEN AS "ADVANCED DESIGN!"

RAY WROTE:

Hi Tom, This is a very interesting advertisement, because two of the dealerships changed names, one changed ownership, and the third is totally new to me and is an exciting discovery.
Balderston Chevrolet, later became Gilbert and Mott Chevrolet, remaining in the Princeton Avenue location for many years. They moved to Spruce Street, probably in the 1970s.
South Broad Chevrolet became Bonderchuk Chevrolet at the Broad Street location, until they finally moved out to Nottingham Way for lack of space. I knew Mr. Bonderchuk personally, as I called on the dealership, in my capacity with General Motors and would speak with him often. He was always outgoing and friendly to me and I had much respect for the way he ran his business. He was hurt by the fact that his employees went on strike to bring in the union and one day he locked the doors and walked away.
The South Broad location was very compact. There was no showroom. The new cars on display were were parked out front of the office area facing the street. Only 2 cars would fit. The service entrance was in the center of the building and the parts department was on the corner.
On the new model announcement date, the service area was cleaned, painted and decorated, so the new models could be displayed inside. I still remember the thrill, back in late 1952, when the first 1953s came in on the truck. They were covered and the truck driver pulled up the cover just enough to get into the cars and back them off the trailer. They were immediately hidden from view. We could see enough to read Bel Air on the side of sedans, as well as hardtops. This was a first, and it had us pretty excited. Previously, only 2 door hardtops were Bel Airs. Now there was a whole series of Bel Airs. A big deal for a couple of car crazy 13 year old kids. Sometimes, the new cars were hidden on the property of the Russian Orthodox church on the corner of Stanton and Adeline. Mr. Bonderchuk was a member and benefactor of the church. Bonderchuk had their used car lot a block south on Broad, between Remsen and Lakeside. I purchased my 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop there in 1959.
Weigel Chevrolet is the mystery. The location, 1337 Hamilton Avenue, is the old Royal Crown Bottling Co. building, on the corner of Charlotte Ave. I was unaware of this dealer and I will do some research to find out when and how long they were in business. Thanks for finding this advertisement. Another piece of the puzzle in the automotive history of Trenton, NJ.
Best regards, Ray Paszkiewicz

Thanks to Alan Wildblood, this Royal Crown Cola Hamilton Avenue information on the location of the Weigel Chevrolet company:

I Did some research on the Royal Crown address. My findings:

Times, Wednesday, April 23, 1923 nice ad announcing opening of Nale & Weigle (all makes) at Davis and Hamilton, owners William S. Hale and Fred Weigel.

November 19, 1924 ad for Nale & Weigel's new garage, 1337 Hamilton

It was given as Nale & Weigel as late as May 1930

Last mention of Weigel's (in Times classifieds), a "clean-up sale" on October 6, 1938

September 7, 1939, Page 14, a big bottle-illustrated ad for Royal Crown, 1337 Hamilton, (patent or trademark challenged)

August 1, 1952 Royal Crown suspending operations.

Anonymous said...

There was a fourth Chevrolet dealership. Possibly they were too small to participate in the poster advertisement or maybe they were a "sub dealer" which I'm not familiar with. Patterson Chevrolet was oriignally on Nottingham Way in Hamilton Square. Bertis Dean Patterson started in '33 selling Ford and in '33 or '35 switched to selling Chevrolet. If someone has more information for that time frame (1931-35) please post.

Friday, January 15, 2010

1949: ROUTE 33 AT YARDVILLE-HAMILTON SQUARE ROAD (??)

 

I always tell the younger folks how many open farm fields there were back in the day. Huge farms sprawled all over Hamilton Township. These two photos are identical, except for the fact that I have enlarged and changed the focus in the top photo. I will ask for visitors to affirm my belief that this is the intersection of Yardville-Hamilton Square Road with Route 33. The area has built up so much in the ensuing years that I must admit, I wasn't really certain. My premise is based on the "Yardville" sign and the "Hamilton Square" sign located over the larger sign that points to Trenton.

On Thu, May 16, 2013 at 3:43 PM, Zehape1@aol.com wrote: Tom,
 It looks more like Whitehorse Hamilton Square Rd and Rt 33. Building  on the left looks like Lockwood's Marine Service and building on the right could  be Veldof's. The houses just beyond Veldof's could be the ones on Herbert  Avenue.
 
Harry Z. 

Thanks Harry: I have made the change as above.

Tom

Hi Tom, I believe you were  right, from the beginning, on identifying the location of this photo. It is The Yardville Hamilton Square Rd. Check out the distance to Veldof's and Lockwoods. It is way too far in the distance to be the White Horse Hamilton Square Rd. On the right, there would be Patterson Chevrolet, then the intersection. Then, Hamilton Chrysler Plymouth, now closed, the car wash, the strip mall and , on the corner, the Citgo gas station. There is plenty of room on the left, for the Wells Fargo Bank, the intersection, and the whole shopping center. One other thing, I now know why that same 1941 Chevrolet Club Coupe is in so many of the photos, it is the photographers car! Ray Paszkiewicz


Harry, Based on Ray's comments above, I agree and I am going back to my original observation that this is the Yardville-Hamilton Square Road.
Tom 

1949: AN INTERESTING VIEW OF SOUTH BROAD STREET AT GRIFFITH ELECTRIC

I had a real rough time enhancing this photo in order to bring the Hamilton Hotel sign into focus. This is an incredibly interesting photo of the are of the Sun Arena. I managed to manipulate the original photo and bring the far distant objects into a bit more clarity. The dome of Sacred Heart Church can be seen in the far background.

1840's abd 1869: THE FABLED GREENE STREET MARKET

 

It took quite a bit of Photoshopping to bring more detail into this old news photo. However, one can get a good idea of the Greene Street Market. 

 

Back in the day it was not unusual to see a butcher, whip in hand, driving a beef steer in the rural streets of Trenton on his way to the slaughter house. Chances are the meat from that steer would end up at the Greene Street Market. It was a veritable supermarket of the 1800's where food, farm fruits and vegetables, and countless other stalls offered their wares to local customers. The Department of Health would cringe today if they saw the way perishable meat was on display. Many stalls selling perishable products wrapped some in newspapers, and the rest were on display and at the mercy of the flies and other insects that were drawn to the tasty food. I would bet that more than one customer became seriously ill due to the unsanitary conditions at that old downtown market.

1888 - 1903 - 1912: CHAMBERSBURG'S CHRIST P.E. CHURCH

 

 

 

My mother and father were married in this church in 1923. History shows that this church has had its share of schisms over the years, right from the very beginning when parishioners were at war with the Bishop regarding the appointment of a Pastor whom the congregation didn't agree. The same thing happened in the 1960's, this time resulting in the closing of the church. The building is still there much as it was. It is now under a different religious faith.

1951: 100 BLOCK OF WEST HANOVER STREET

That could very well be Fred Kuser's Ford Country Squire station wagon tooling down West Hanover Street in this interesting view of downtown Trenton.

1951: THE DOWNTOWN TRENTON I REMEMBER

How many of you guys took advantage of one of those Bond suite with two pair of trousers? I did, for my 1951 graduation at Hamilton High. I wager there are other visitors who also were patrons at that legendary store. I could never afford the more affluent Donnelly', Eton, and other high priced mens stores. This view brings back many treasured memories. There's Yard's where the love of my life worked in the infant's wear department and modeled teen clothes from the Yard's "Junior Deb" shop.

1950: NO OLDEN AVENUE EXTENSION

I may have posted this previously, but it is worth posting again, Last Saturday, I performed patriotic songs for the Ewing Township Patriotic Committee over in the Scotch Road-Upper Ferry Road area. I chose to go via the same route I took on a daily basis to my former job at the Trenton Bearing Company in the building formerly occupied by the Carrier Cleaners but vacant and abandoned. As I wended my way down the very busy North Olden Avenue, once again I was amazed at how that strip of highway as developed! The R.C. Maxwell Duke University photo above shows the intersection at the Arctic Parkway, Home Depot now resides across from the parkway with a huge store. Gone are all the names I recall from the 1950's: Moffatt Bearings, Richardson & Son, Breihler's, the Carvel store, Biter's Transfer, Frank's hot dog stand near Pennington Road, Jack and Bob's, the Edgewood Inn, Mrs.G's, Polish John's Parkside Diner which has become a beautiful and very much larger diner, and others that many visitors to this site will recall.

1950: 1900 BLOCK OF BRUNSWICK AVENUE

Thanks to our auto expert Ray Paskiewicz, for correcting me on the location which I identified as  of Brunswick Avenue and Spruce Street. It is the intersection of Brunswick and Mulberry street. Thanks, Ray.

1872: SOUTH TRENTON OVER TO CHAMBERSBURG

The original version of this map is in color. Converting it to "gray scale" saves a vast amount of space. To those of us who are interested in the city of Trenton before the downtown Trenton renovations of the 1960's, and specifically the old South Trenton area and Chambersburg, this map should prove interesting. Instead of the current trip down South Warren Street from West State Street and the rerouting of the road over to South Boad Street in the 1960's, you will see that South Warren Street continued on a more or less straight line southward terminating at Federal Street.

1837 and 1847: JOHN WHITTAKER'S GENERAL STORE

It is quite difficult for a 2013 person to understand how rural the Mill Hill area was back in the early to mid 19th century. Mill Hill holds a special fascination for me, and I am building a respectable digital library of persons, places and things in that wonderful area of Trenton. John Whittaker was a very substantial land owner back in the years before Mill Hill became more fully settled. He operated a general store on the South Broad and Market Streets opposite to the Mercer County Court House. Below  the offer for SPRING GOODS is an unused scrip from Whittaker's store, valued at $1.00 for redemption. Fascinating Mill Hill history!

1932: AN EXQUISITE AND PRISTINE VIEW OF THE TRENTON MUNICIPAL WHARF

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and so it is in this incredibly clear R.C. Maxwell photo of the old Municipal Wharf down on Lamberton Street. Ocean going vessels regularly plied their way up the Delaware which was then a "deep water" port. Over the years the river lost the depth necessary to accommodate ocean going vessels.Thanks to Mike Kuzma for correcting me. I assumed the Municipal Wharf was the same as the Marine Terminal. Had I looked closer I would have realized that the Marine Terminal was further down river nearer to Duck Island. Thanks for the correction, Mike, and to all visitors for keeping me honest!

1934: SOUTH WARREN STREET LOOKING SOUTH

Believe me ladies and gentlemen, the only folks who will recognize this view of the 100 block of South Warren Street are those of us in the advanced senior citizen community. As we traveled down South Warren Street, instead of making that left turn which takes us to South Broad Street, South Warren Street continued south and was a lively are for various businesses. Remember Penn Jersey? "Tilden for Brakes?

1931: AS THE OLD SONG GOES, "SMALL WORLD, ISN'T IT?

Paging through millions of pages has become a part of my existance over these last 25 years. One never knows what one will find. Add to that this website, which has many visitors who keep coming back for more, I realize that it is indeed a small, small world. The above graphic is a clipping from loyal and every day (every hour?) visitor to this website, nonagenarian Ralph Lucarella. Imagine my surprise when I saw the Lucarella name in a 1931 Trenton Times newspaper. My surprise doubled when I read the guests who were at Rose's sweet sixteen birthday party. There in glorious black and white was Bill Stoker. The Stoker family was very friendly with my family. Indeed, Marge and young Bill were well known in our family of friends. I think I still have a photo of Marge in front of our Hartley Avenue home standing in front of her 1937 black Ford. "Uncle Bill" as he was known by all in the Kuser neighborhood was a crossing guard for the Kuser School kids at Newkirk and Liberty Street. He let me keep my bike in the garage at his Newkirk Avenue home. Small world indeed. As I recall, young Bill, along with Charlie Corbishley,  were friends of my cousin John "Goog" Williamson. SMALL WORLD INDEED.

2013 KENNY GLOVER AND JOE POWELL "JUST ONE MORE"

That's my son Ken on guitar and Joe Powell on drums going over the music for their appearance at this year's Azalea Fest at Hamilton Square's Sayen Gardens this Saturday morning from 9:30 to 12.:30. The guys call themselves, "JUST ONE MORE!" due to the fact that everywhere they play, as their program is ending, the audience yells out "just one more!" If you're at this weekend's fest, stop and say hello and tell 'em Dad sent them!

WOODLAWN PARK: THE EARLY YEARS

My home is on the site of the old Woodlawn Park and I have devoted many hours to researching photos relating to this very elusive site. The " WOODLAWN PARK" folder in the Hamilton Local History Collection is expanding nicely. There are a number of clippings that have yet to be formatted in order to present a very clear and pristine series of photos and articles. Stay tuned.

1939: SOUTH BROAD STREET AT HUDSON

Another incredibly pristine high definition R.C. Maxwell photo of the Trenton of the late 1930's. So clear, you can read the sign on the side of the "Neeto" paint store where the letter "s" has been inserted; obviously after the sign maker saw that he had to pluralize the word, "Enamel."

1906: SOUTH BROAD STREET FROM STATE

This was another case of melding two graphics into one from the growing "BUSINESSES-TRENTON" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History database. It is a relatively clear and very old photo of South Broad Street toward "the hill." The tower of the First Methodist P.E. Church can be see on the right.

MOTHERS DAY AND FATHERS DAY COMING UP

The months of May and June are always months that we parents observe Mothers day and Fathers day. I am posting this on the blog with Mothers Day just around the corner and Fathers Day right behind in June.
It is a time to reflect on those of us who are mothers and fathers, but also on our own mothers and fathers. Those of you who have been following my musical presentations over the past 35 years will recall that I consider music a gift from God. Indeed the two links below I consider to be musical prayers to our Lord. There are love songs, funny songs, and songs that touch us right down to our very souls, or as I like to refer to it, the holy spirit that resides in all of us. Each time I hear or sing these songs, my emotions bring me to tears. I'll bet you will also experience a musical emotional experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-pKY0g9NXk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PavmTrfofYk

 

MERCER COUNTY'S 175TH ANNIVERSARY

As can be seen in the graphic above, a drive is on to ask citizens who may have photos or historic documents relating to the early history of Mercer County to bring them to the Mercer County Connection on Route 33 in Hamilton where they will be digitized via a scanner and included in the County's historic archives.

As the countless visitors to this website have seen over these many years since its inception in 2005, we at the Hamilton Township Public Library have been diligently bringing together graphics and articles on this website centering on Hamilton, Trenton, Ewing and other metropolitan areas. The site currently has nearly 8,000 "pages." This project is far from complete. We have begun to expand to the outlying areas with posts on Hopewell and Pennington. The outlying areas of Hightstown, Plainsboro, Princeton, and other areas of this huge project will ultimately be a part of our site. As the current  "webmaster" on this site, I realize that this project that will be continued far into the future as more and more material is uncovered. 

VISIT THE MERCER COUNTY 175 WEBSITE AT www.mercer175.org
 

NOTE: THE GRAPHIC IMMEDIATELY ABOVE IS FROM THE
TOM GLOVER'S "THE WAY WE WERE" FOLDER IN THE HAMILTON LIBRARY LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION. TO ENLARGE IT, PUT YOUR CURSOR ON THE GRAPHIC, RIGHT CLICK ON IT AND CHOOSE "OPEN  LINK IN A NEW WINDOW;"  
THE GRAPHIC WILL ENLARGE.
For Further information conctact me at: tglover320@optimum.net 

SCRAP BOOK: HOPEWELL - MT. ROSE - WOODVILLE GRAPHICS

MOUNT ROSE, 1875

Graphic above is from the "NOTABLE PERSONS" folder in the Local History Collection

Detailed map of the "Stawberry Hill" area of the 

John L. Kuser family.

WOODVILLE, 1875