1983: New Firehouse

The Trentonian, April 6, 1983

Firemen To Break Ground

     Groundbreaking for a new firehouse in Hamilton Fire District 3 will be held sunday at noon at South Broad and Chsambers Streets.  residents of the mfire district - who approved a $1.3 million bond issue in February 1982 - are invited to attens.

     Contractors have already nbegun to stake out the empty lot next to the Ruslimg Hose Co. firehouse where the Rowan School used to stand.  Construction on the new firehouse is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

     Bids for the project came in at $810,000 - almost half a million dollars less than expected.  malloy and Duffe of Hamilton Township is the architect and Donald Burris of Burlington County is the general contractor.

     The Board of Fire Commissioners has not decided yet what to do with thw 53-yar-old firehouse now occupied by Rusling Hose.  Once the new one is builty, however, the company will move all equipment there.

Trenton Times, April 11, 1983

The Trentonian, April 11, 1983

Trenton Times, March 24, 1983

      

1898 Broad Street Park Notes

Trenton State Gazette

February

March

1982 Santa's Ride

Rusling Hose Company 100th Anniversary Parade

October 1996

        Members of Rusling Hose Company, organized in October 1896,  march in the parade commemorating the Company's  100th anniversary on Bow Hill Avenue.   

1922: Unexpected Shower

Trenton Sunday Times, July 30, 1922

 Deliberately showering the spooners?  Nah, just a coincidence that the water fell on the hot spot sparks.

Hamilton Public Library

1931 Genesee Street

     The Hamilton Township Public Library was organized in 1923  and located in the municipal building.  Since that location was not accessible to many people, Hattie Sherman and Lida Van Sant organized a branch in Broad Street Park.  At first it was located in Harry Robbins' store at the corner of South Broad Street and Sewell Avenue.  It then moved to the basement of the Broad Street Park Methodist Church.  Later it was located in a building across from the old Rusling Hose Company building.  While at this location the Library was open one night a week and Mrs. Sherman and Mrs. Van Sant were paid $2 for working that evening.  Next the Library was moved to a house which was located on what is now the parking lot of Providence National Bank on South Broad Street.  In time, this house was moved to  Genesee Street to make way for the bank (then Yardville Bank) and then moved again to Independence Mall.  Interestingly, the Library located in the municipal building charged two cents per day for overdue books.  There was also a Library truck which picked up and delivered books to the various branches  Special thanks to Lee Lugossy for this narrative.

August 1933

Hamilton Township Public Library Local History Collection

1942: BSP Youngsters

December 1942

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PAT PEOPLES

         This group of Broad Street Park youngsters collected "scrap' for the WWII war effort.  Pictured L to R are:  Unknown, Unknown, John (Jess) Peoples, Tommy Peoples and Theresa (Tess) Peoples..

1907: BSP Happenings

Trenton Evening Times, May 19, 1907



1923: Miss Trenton Contest

Trenton Times. 1923

Information exists that a "Miss" didn't have to live in Trenton to compete for the title.  Ninety=seven young ladies entered the Trenton Times  "Miss Trenton" contest.  The third contestant from BSP remains a mystery.  Alma D. CeCone, 18, was crowned the winner.

1967: Easter Egg Hunt

Trenton Times, March 26, 1967

Ah, yes.  The anticipation, excitement and  joy of success.  The egg hunts were always fun for all who participated.

World War II Poster

It is fitting to post this World War II poster during the month of November when we honor our veterans.  Many BSP residents honorably served our country.

1971: Rusling Hose Company 75th Anniversary

Members of Rusling Hose Company pose in front of the firehouse at South Broad and Rennie Streets.  The men gathered for the picture prior to parading through Broad Street Park.

1936 WPA Project

THE WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION (WPA) WAS THE LARGEST AND MOST AMBITIOUS PROGRAM EMPLOYING MILLIONS OF UNSKILLED WORKERS TO PERFORM PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

1907: Mr. Hamer's Horse

Trenton Evening Times, January 29, 1907

These tidbits of information help us to create a fascinating image of what BSP was like in the early part of the 20th century when people were able to keep horses in a barn in their back yard.  Charles R. Hamer, carpenter, lived at 202 Lafayette Avenue 

1905: BSP Notes

Trenton Evening Times, January 15, 1905

1913: Perey's Aeroplane

Daily State Gazette, July 8, 1913

Trenton Evening Times, July 9, 1913

Trenton Evening Times, July 14, 1913

It was reported that a good-sized crowd gathered to see Alexander Perey's unsuccessful attempts to fly his aeroplane.  There are no reports if Mr. Perey ever attempted to fly his airplane again or what happened to him or his aircraft.  Information does exist regarding his nephew Charles Perey, Jr.   Young Mr. Perey enlisted in the army in 1918 and was assigned to Fort Slocum, Kelly Field, where he received instruction in the School of Aeronautics.  By 1919 he attained the rank of lieutenant in the Air Service, U.S. Army.  He wed Elizabeth D. Stewart of 515 Lalor Street on June 10 and began a painting and paperhanging business from is home at 2416 South Clinton Avenue in 1920.

1896: Around Broad Street Park

Trenton Evening Times, October 25, 1896

The name of the newly organized fire company was changed to Rusling Hose Company on Novenber 25, 1896.  The headquarters building was moved to  354 Schiller Avenue in March 1897.

1904: BSP Christmas Musings

Trenton Evening Times, December 25, 1904

The newspapers of the early 20th Century published "happenings" in various communities.  These are invaluable as they give us a glimpse of people and places in bygone days.

1938: Little Loretta Lost

Trenton Evening Times, December 9, 1938

Hmmm, 9 years old.  She had plenty of exercise that day and must have slept well that night.  Loretta graduated from St. Hedwig's School in 1943 and wed William Argust of 24 Marshall Avenue in 1948.

1921: Christmas Spirit

Trenton Evening Times, November 23, 1921

The goodness in the hearts of children never seems to fade.  It has lasted through the decades.