1971: DISASTER IN MERCERVILLE: UNION METHODIST CHURCH EXPLOSION

 

I remember this disaster quite well. I had just passed the area on Quaker Bridge Road perhaps a half hour prior to the explosion as I was on my way to my New Brunswick office. One of my work mates was Al Tobias who lived on Holt Avenue, mere streets away from the explosion. It was the talk of the town way back there 42 years ago. How time has flown; it seems like just a few years ago. The church was rebuilt in the beautiful edifice on Paxon Avenue off Edinburg Road.

If any of my visitors are classmates or know any of us from the Class of 1951 at Hamilton, click on the link below and view a few of those who attended our 60th reunion.

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d7a63344e6a4d784d6a4a384e6a41354e6a4d774f54553d0d0a&sb=1&campaign=SboxAnncmnt&utm_source=SboxAnncmnt

1916: (Ca. 1916) THE TERMINAL HOTEL

Here's a rare photo of a little known hotel among the many that proliferated in the city of Trenton during the last century. Note the Reading Terminal building on the right.

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” provisions 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_xxg0130

1947: REMEMBERING THE TERMINAL DINER

This closeup view shows the popular "Terminal Diner" next to the Perry Street bus terminal. I had a cup of coffee hear back in the 1950's, waiting for a TRAILWAYS bus to take me back to Fort Devens in Massachusetts.

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_XXH1568

1947: GUS HEINTZ'S BAR - CHAMBERS STREET APPROACHING LIBERTY

 

Above is an R.C. Maxwell photo  zeroing in on Gus Heintz's bar on Chambers Street; a very popular "watering hole" back in the 1940's. The 1964 ad under the photo was imported from the Hamilton Library's Local History database.

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

EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY AND MAY NOT BE USED FOR ANY COMMERCIAL MONETARY PURPOSE

http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rcmaxwellco_XXH1560

1944: TRENTON'S GOLDBERG'S OLD TIME EMPLOYEES

I tried posting this on Facebook and as usual the limits on graphic size rendered it illegible unless one has a 20 plus inch monitor which most of us do not. I have decided to publish only very small graphics on FB and save the good stuff here where it belongs.

1978: TRENTON LOSING FACTORIES

There were a number of reasons why Trenton lost so many factories and businesses over the last 50 years of residing in Trenton. Cheaper labor wages and sometimes better tax relief from southern and other states, imports, and civil strife all came together and in my opinion (and mine alone) the exodus began.

1920: WINE IS A STAPLE IN ITALIA

When I was in Italy during my Army assignment, I learned early on that wine was a very ordinary and standard drink of the masses. One family who invited me to dinner didn't understand that I can't drink any form of wine. I am a tee totaler not only wine but beer and hard liquor. I tried to develop a taste for wine because there are definite health benefits to drinking it in moderation. My pallet simply rejects it. Even young children tip a small glass at dinner. I was amazed but assured that moderation was the operating word.

1888: THE CHAMBERSBURG LAW AND ORDER LEAGUE

We could use one of those "Leagues" today in many of our towns and cities.

1994: FROM THE TRENTON TIMES' "A TASTE OF CHAMBERSBURG"

I will be posting numerous historic articles and photos from the Trenton Times papers in my collection. Above is an example of the many Chambersburg subjects from the era of the 60's, 70's and 80's. There will be many former and present "Burger-bits" who will be familiar with some of these posts. I had been posting a few on Facebook's Chambersburg page, but the size limits on graphics do not do these historic treasures justice.

SORRY FOR THE INACTIVITY

All our visitors are probably wondering why the inactivity on this website over the past few weeks. The summer doldrums along with personal health issues between my wife Judy and I has commanded much of my time. We are slowly coming back to normal, and you will once again see interesting historic posts here. Sorry for the delay caused by hypothyroidism (under active thyroid on my part) and poor circulation on Judy's side of the ledger. The former "hype" is apparently under control, and the latter is being treated with a future visit to a specialist.

In the meantime, here's a photo that will be familiar to many of us old timers who remember Ward Avenue before it was re-routed and a dog leg added.

1974: CARL MOLDOVAN: HE TOLD IT LIKE IT WAS

You either agreed or disagreed with the views of Mr. Moldovan, but even the most staunch teachers' union advocates had to reluctantly agree that he did have some valid complaints about budgetary excesses in the township's annual tax increases. I inserted "LIGHTNING STRIKES THE HAMILTON B.O.E." into this graphic. I have a history of being a fierce supporter of Hamilton's schools and teachers, but as a senior citizen I find myself wondering why I don't get just a bit of a tax break from the large amount of my income that goes to the schools. Most of monthly social security check goes to Hamilton Township for my quarterly tax payment. The last time I looked which was a few years ago, I found that more tax dollars went to the school system than to the township. Most of us in the senior citizen community have been paying those exorbitant taxes many years after our children graduated from grammar and high school.  It is long past the time that the powers that be in the state, county and local municipalities look into what is an unfair senior citizen tax burden and at least consider some relief.

1949: WEST STATE STREET AT S.P. DUNHAM AND TRAVER'S BOOK STORE

This view is special for me with the front facade of the Traver's book store on the right. What a wonderful shop that was for those of us who were book lovers! It was one of the saddest days in my existence when news of the closing of that legendary store was closing. I was there on the last day of the store. There were still COUNTLESS books on the shelves. Mr. Jim Brimmer from the Trenton Rescue Mission was there and he told me I could take as many as you can carry, I overheard his conversation and introduced myself to him and asked him how I could get a truck load of the books he was loading. He quoted me a price of $35.00. I was delighted. I paid him and he got my address, He told me they would be delivered the next day. At the time, I was working in New Brunswick. At about 11:30 A.M. the next day, I received a call from my wife. "Tom, they came here about an hour and a half ago and our second garage is filled with books!"

I still shudder as I realize how many of the books I couldn't save went to the Rescue Mission. Many of those that were delivered to me were historic treasures including Barber and Howe's History of New Jersey, the two volume set of the History of Mercer and Burlington County, and countless others that I added to my collection. I gradually succeeded in disposing of them to book dealers, and some of them went to Mr. Don Sinclair who was the Curator of the New Jersey Room at Rutgers at the time. Had I known then what I know now, there would still be many in my garage.

1939: SOUTH BROAD STREET APPROACHING HAMILTON AVENUE

I was six years old when this photo was taken by an R.C. Maxwell photographer. As you can see, the intersection has changed drastically over the years. Long gone is the Hamilton Hotel, and even longer gone the red brick American Steel and Wire building on the corner of today's arena.

1955: THE GREAT FLOOD OF AUGUST, 1955

I was in the U.S. Army overseas when this disaster struck the Delaware Valley. The first I heard of it was on "AFN," the Armed Forces Radio Network. Eyewitnesses watched as the Yardley bridge was swamped by the angry waters. This event goes down in history as one of the area's most severe disasters. The riverfront would never be the same.

THE TOLL GATE AT THE CALHOUN STREET BRIDGE

That toll taker who lived along Calhoun Street during the years when it cost 2 cents to cross into Morrisville and 2 cents more to return, saw a number of instances where some crossed without paying and others were caught in the act and punished. Toll gates are always an interesting subject. Elsewhere in the library files is a list of where some of Trenton and area toll gates were places. Some that come to mind are South Broad at Laylor, Hamilton Avenue at Nottingham Way, E. State and Nottingham Way.

1940: NORTH BROAD APPROACHING STATE STREET

Though not practical, I would like to have seen retain the intersection of State and Broad as it appears in the photo. The RKO Capitol is standing tall on South Broad Street "hill."

1823: ARTHUR COREY'S MILL HILL MUSTARD MANUFACTURING FACTORY

Mill Hill: To me, the most historic area of Trenton. I have been giving special emphasis on this historic area of Trenton, and my research thus far has shed little known light on the area as it was way back when. My interest was drawn to the neighborhood back in the 1970's when former Mayor Art Holland, who in my personal opinion, was one of Trenton's best Mayors. He and his lovely wife Betty took up residence in that neighborhood which was to ultimately develop into the very charming community we see today. That gutsy move by the Hollands was a courageous move to dispel the myth that Mill Hill which at the time, had a reputation of being a undesirable neighborhood. Art saw the potential of the neighborhood and gave credibility to many that the neighborhood would ultimately become a very attractive area in which to live. He was right. Walking or driving down those narrow streets always reminds me of Philadelphia's "Olde City."