Profile: Sylvia Gulden McMahon, -1950

Sylvia G. McMahon of 401 Schiller Avenue, spouse of Francis X. McMahon, was a highly acclaimed songwriter and poet.  Among her published songs were:  "Little Purple Pansy", "Clover Blossom", "When Hearts are Happy, Home is Paradise" and "All My Love I Gave To You".  She was a nurse, a charter member of Holy Angels Church, where she was the first president of the Altar and Rosary Society, and a charter member of the Rowan-Willey PTA.  Her son Moses McMahon and grandson Rodger McMahon both served as Chief of Rusling Hose Company.

PROFILE: Kate B. Cochran Willey, - 1939

Kate B. (Carter) Cochran began her teaching career as principal of the school in her home town of White Hill.  She became principal of the new Rowan School in 1909.  It was reported that Mrs. Cochran raised Rowan School to one of the best regulated schools in the county by introducing studies that were not called for in grammar schools.  She taught seventh and eighth grades and taught students during the summer at her home on Lafayette Avenue.  She was a musician of note who performed on the piano and mandolin.  She led singing in the school as well as the Broad Street Park M.E. Church Sunday school.  Mrs. Cochran moved to a new home on South Broad Street in 1913.  She became the principal of the new E.S. Willey School in 1914.  The annual reunions of the Alumni Association of the now two Broad Street Park Schools continued at her home on South Broad Street.  Mrs. Cochran, widow of Hugh Cochran, married Eugene S. Willey on June 25, 1916 at Park Place.  She eventually gave up the responsibilities of being a principal but continued to teach   She was teaching the seventh grade at Lalor School in 1934.   Mrs Willey was a member of the Hamilton Township Library Commission. 

PROFILE: Eugene S. Willey, 1862 - 1922

Photograph courtesy of Pamela Townsend

 Eugene S. Willey was one of the most prominent citizens of Broad Street Park.  He served the Broad Street Park M.E. Church as Trustee for many years.  Mr. Willey was a civic activist .  He was a Justice of the Peace and was a member of the Hamilton Township Board of Education.  Willey School was named for him in appreciation of his donation of land for its construction,   He was a banker, land developer, contractor and businessman. He was a charter menber of Rusling Hose Company and a member of the original board of trustees. 

1911: Blackwell's Enterprise

Trenton Evening Times, March 5, 1911

     Mr. Blackwell's advertisement helps us envision Broad Street Park in the early part of the 20th century when many small farms were prevalent.   Research on Mr. Blackwell revealed that while his farm yard was at 368 Lafayette Avenue, he resided at 92 Lafayette Avenue.  He was a son-in-law of Wesley Gibbs and served as treasurer of the Broad Street Park Civic Association    

John S. Cook

Trenton Evening Times, August 26, 1934

    
     John S. Cook was a notable Broad Street Parker.  He was an archaeologist and local historian.  Mr Cook was a member of the New Jersey and Trenton Historical Societies.  He passed away on November 29, 1949.  His residence at 103 Park (cor. Lafayette) Avenue is pictured above.

Street Names

Trenton Evening Times, October 19, 1913

This information on Broad Street Park street names was excerpted from a larger article.  It explains the unfamiliar origin of the name Sewell.  William J. Sewell moved to Camden NJ from Chicago IL in 1860.  He became a Union Army officer during the Civil War and served with the New Jersey Volunteers.  He became a breveted brigadier general in 1865, a year before General Rusling received the same promotion.  He received America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the battle of Chancellorsville.  General Sewell served in the NJ State Senate from 1872-1881 with two terms as president.  He served in the US Senate from 1881-1887.  

PROFILE: Colby M. Barcalow, 1856 - 1947

Colby M. Barcalow resided at 227 Lafayette Avenue.  He was first employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in its accounting department and remained there for nine years.  Mr. Barcalow then, at the request of A.V.D. Honeyman, owner of the Trenton Times, became circulation manager of the newspaper.  He was with the Times until he became publisher of the Town Talk which he directed for two years.  He then became a salesman for E.F. Hooper and Company for 23 years.  He served two terms on the Board of Chosen Freeholders and one term on the Hamilton Township Committee.  He was a charter member of Rusling Hose Compay and was a member of United Commercial Travelers.  Mr. Barcalow was chief of Rusling Hose Company from 1918 to 1921 and president in 1924 and 1925.

Profile: James Fowler Rusling, 1834-1918

James F. Rusling, LL.D. was born April 14, 1834 at Washington, Warren County, New Jersey and moved to Trenton in March 1845. He was educated at Trenton Academy, Pennington Seminary and Dickinson College. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1859. In August 1861, he became First Lieutenant, New Jersey Infantry Volunteers and served in the Civil War. By the end of the war, he was Inspector of the Quartermaster Department of the US Army. He received a brevet promotion in February 1866 as Brigadier General of Volunteers before returning to private law practice in Trenton in September 1867. He organized four land associations in Trenton from 1869 to 1881 (Linden Park, Hamilton Avenue, Greenwood Avenue and Broad Street) and became secretary, treasurer and solicitor of each. He was one of the founders of the Broad Street (Trenton) and Broad Street Park Methodist Episcopal Churches.

PROFILE: Howard C. Smith, 1860-1941

Howard C. Smith resided at 319 Lafayette Avenue. He was a wheelwright by trade. Mr. Smith was a charter member of the Broad Street Park M.E. Church and was the first Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday school
Mr Smith was a charter member of Rusling Hose Company and served as its first president. He served in that capacity for a total of 22 years in various terms. He served more years as leader of the Company than any of his successors. Mr. Smith was elected to the first Board of Fire Commissioners, Fire District 3, in 1912. He also served as president of the Broad Street Park Firemen's Relief Association.
Mr. Smith was a member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No.28, F.&A.M.; Washington Camp No. 14, P/O/S. of A., and Mercer Commandery NO.25, Loyal Sons of America.