1916: THE GENESIS OF GREENWOOD SCHOOL

The overcrowding of Farmingdale School back in 1916 spurred Bromley officials to begin solving the problem by building a new school for the area, or expanding Farmingdale School. It is interesting to note that the Hamilton Fire Company hosted classrooms for the overloaded Farmingdale School.

1916: BROMLEY AND THE BROMLEY CIVIC ASSOCIATION

This page has been extracted from a weekly Trenton Times feature under the byline, "WILBUR AND EAST TRENTON." Bromley began to seriously during the first decade of the 20th century. However, the proximity of the new suburb to Trenton' Wilbur section on the west, and East Trenton to the north, the editor failed to change the byline and as a result, news from Wilbur and Bromley were grouped into the Wilbur portion of the feature. I have highlighted the main article dealing with Bromley's early Civic Association.

2009: BROMLEY'S COMMUNITY DAY

Weather was absolutely gorgeous.....low humidity, bright sunshine, and very happy attendees to the first annual Bromley Community Day celebration.

2009: BROMLEY PRIDE DAY: BE THERE

I am a proud "Bromleyite" dating back to 1964 when we purchased our Atlantic Avenue home. At the time, Atlantic Avenue and Massachusetts Avenues were among the prettiest tree-lined streets in the township, even as they are today. But alas, we all age, and age takes a toll on our physical countenance. This applies to neighborhoods as well as our physical appearance. I have come to love the Bromley section of Hamilton, and have seen a gradual decline in the community. One of those negative indications of that decline is found in the numerous sales people who have knocked on my door offering to sell me an alarm system. One wonders if those salesmen and women are plying their trade in Hamilton Square, the Sawmill-southern section of Hamilton, Briar Woods, and other "upscale" township areas. I think not. If I had a wish list, it would be to see the incredibly beautiful Hollywood Drive, Park Lane, Waverly Place area given the attention it deserves. That little "village within the township" known as Bromley Place, along with Bromley Park, were probably among the more attractive neighborhoods in the central Jersey area. Thanks to community minded organizations like the Bromley Civic Center who are making a valiant effort to "Change Bromley," an effort is being made to bring pride back to the wonderful residents of Bromley.

CHARLES FULKERT'S BROMLEY INN

This rare photo of the Bromley Inn came from a glass slide. I date it circa 1912. I have been searching for historical news items on the founding of the inn. The guest list at Mr. and Mrs. Fulkert's 25th anniversary party lists many local notable Bromley pioneers, including Peter Dolan whose Hamilton Hotel was a favorite watering hole for Bromley residents and also visitors to the New Jersey State Fair. John Harter operated a nursery on Nottingham Way behind today's Hamilton Municipal Building. Daniel Klockner operated a cabbage farm in the area of today's Klockner School.

1910: BROMLEY PLACE

The above plat map shows the layout for Bromley Place as developed by Charles Teunon, who was also the developer of Lakeside Park in Yardville. This is a fascinating graphic. The map does not indicate where the "Entrance To Bromley Manor" was located. However, the directions indicate Greenwood and Johnston Avenue. I took "artistic license" in the engraving above showing the entrance to Bromley Place in 1910. The original ad was black and white. I'm sure you will agree that it is much more attractive when "tweaked" with computer image editing software. It is pure speculation on my part that the view could be looking from Greenwood Avenue toward E. State Street on Johnston Avenue. Remember, the area was newly developed and the buildings we see on the corner of Greenwood and Johnston Avenue today were probably not there in the early years of the settlement. Fascinating!

HENRY N. SMITH'S FASHION STUD FARM

One of the more fascinating historical places in Hamilton along with Charles Fulkert's Bromley Inn is the Fashion Stud Farm, once located in the area of Hamilton in the area of the New Jersey State Fair grounds. Newspaper descriptions of Smith's Fashion Stud Farm indicated that it was a sumptuous facility with a grandstand, a race track and the home of the fabled "Goldsmith Maid," whose tomb is now on the Kuser Farm property. General Grant kept his horse at the Fashion Stud Farm. Unfortunately, the farm was involved in a number of destructive fires over the years of its existance. Back then, there was no Bromley fire company, and fires were fought by Trenton fire companies.

1987: OFFICERS ELECTED

Hamilton Volunteer Fire Company
officers for the year 1987.

1987:THE BROMLEY TAX REVOLT

Even then citizens were up in arms about the high taxes. Those folks would tremble with rage if they saw our tax bills today.
(You will note that the graphic is not quite as clear as those I scan in "grayscale." Grayscale is much cleaner, but large text files can take up huge amounts of space. The graphic above has been scanned using the "Black and White" mode, which is a "bare-bones," non-adjustable graphic, but very small in relation to the size of a grayscale graphic.

1963: HAMILTON VOLUNTEER FIRE CO.

With this graphic, I am beginning a completely new departure from posting HUGE grayscale articles. Thanks to Mr. George Conwell, Director of the Hamilton Township Public Library, a full size tabloid scanner has been added to the arsenal of the Local History Collection. Add to this the fact that the Director has also updated my equipment with an incredible 17 inch Dell laptop, which will be used for my many outreach programs here in Hamilton, and we are well on our way to 21st century technology. It is truly gratifying that our Director has in interest in local history,

(If this graphic were to have been posted in "Grayscale" Jpeg format, it would be a huge 8 megabytes in size, versus the "Black and White" scan above of 970 Kilobytes.)

2009: COME SING WITH ME!

A case of bad planning, along with a lack of publicity will probably result in a dismal turnout for my Wednesday night May 13th musical program at the Kuser Mansion. Unfortunately, the dates available did not coincide with the appearance of my "Sentimental Journey" column in the Times of Trenton. However, the program will go on, and perhaps a visitor or visitors to this website will be interested in participating in our journey back to the years of good music.

Here's the advertising poster for another of my very popular Kuser Mansion music programs. If you have two hours available next Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30, come on over to Kuser Mansion on Newkirk Avenue and Cedar Lane and join those of us who love the music we grew up with. We'll be remembering all those great 40's, 50's, 60's, and 70's vocalists that sang the music we loved. Remember Tony Orlando and Dawn?....Barry Manilow?.....Englebert Humperdinck? Perry Como? Bobby Goldsboro? There's music with a melody and understandable lyrics....music for all ages from World War II right up to the recent past, when the music died, vocals turned to spoken words or screams, and instrumentals that puncture the ear drums.

2009: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME!

Join us tomorrow (Sunday, March 22) from 1 to 3 PM as I bring the program, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" to those of us who remember the golden years. The program will be presented in the main dining room-theater of Kuser Farm Mansion on Newkirk and Leonard Avenue in Hamilton. I will be recalling those wonderful years of our youth as we played sandlot baseball, the first girlfriend, the story of the old boiler, and of course, the main feature of our program, singing along to the songs we all loved. Come on out; based on past programs, I can assure you that you will spend a very happy two hours.

1941: ENTERPRISE HOSTS "TMA LOCAL 62"

The Trenton Musical "get together" included numerous names with which I am familiar. Among them, William Groom (Bill's Dad?), Kirkham, Giedlin, Radice and Cook.

1914: BROMLEY AREA EXPANDING

1914: DENNIS FRAWLEY : HAMILTON'S WYATT EARP

Detective-Constable-Policeman Dennis Frawley was a very well known individual in the Hamilton area. Along with Constable Ceaser from the Broad Street Park area, rural Hamilton was under the watchful eyes of these lawmen. Early 20th century newspapers have many articles of the roving bands of Gypsies that wandered around the area and getting into all sorts of trouble. The article above shows how Frawley drove 'em out of town.

1914: BROMLEY COMMUNITY NEWS

Back in the first decade of the 29th century, the local press always included Bromley news under the "Wilbur" area community news. Bromley had not yet earned a reputation as being a viable neighborhood, when compared with Wilbur, which bordered Bromley eastward from North and South Logan Avenue.

1914: The Copes of Bromley

I went to school with all kinds of "Copes." Richard, who went on to be a Hamilton Fire Co. legend, was in my class of '51. Another Richard Cope, whom we dubbed "Dick,"(in order not to confuse the two Richards), was also in my class of '51, and indeed, he dated my dear wife of 55 years, Judy Britton while we were in Kuser Annex. Then there was Edward Cope, also an HHS '51 classmate, and his "little brother" Alan Cope who was also part of my high school years. Did I confuse you? Join the club! Believe me, it was very difficult to cope with all the Copes!

1950's: Cook's Deli

I can't begin to recall how many bucks I spent at Cook's. The largest collection of magazines were neatly displayed an one wall, and it was a very complete assortment from Aardvarks to Zanzibar. Cooks was also a great place to stop for a bit of socializing with the locals.

BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF BROMLEY

This beautiful aerial photo of the Bromely area from Greenwood Cemetery to a point just short of Johnston Avenue is one of my favorites. My long time friend and fellow HHS '51 classmate Bob Shinkle has identified "who lived where" when he was a Dickenson Avenue resident.

1959: BETHANY LUTHERAN PTA BROWNIE TROOP

There are undoubtedly numerous Bromley residents who will be familiar with one or more of the above young girls who made up part of Brownie Troop 152.

1908: 101 YEARS AGO: WE HAVE LIGHTS AND POLICE!

As the city of Trenton grew ever eastward, the borough of Wilbur was annexed and an unsuccessful effort to annex Bromley brought a number of citizens to the Bromley area of Hamilton. Bromley Manor and Bromley Place were established and we had our own little community. With the growth in population, law and order was demanded, and street lighting was provided. Note that Ben Kuser was one of the movers and shakers in the early development of the borough. Kuser was a major player in the breaking up of Henry N. Smith's Fashion Stud Farm, located in the area of the N.J. State Fairgrounds. Kuser's real estate developments included the area around the Enterprise Fire Company. Victor, Rosalie, and Adella Kuser had streets named after them. Ben Kuser was also responsible for the Pennsylvania Railroad Yards which were located behind the De Laval plant in an area off Whitehead Road.

1934: Greenwood School Class of 1944

Hey, that's my lifelong friend Web Grimm in that class! Web's relationship with the Glover family goes way way back to the 1k930's when he and my older brother Len conducted a boys' club known as the "Lynx" club. I can still see those guys pouring the jelly stuff into a flat pan and duplicating documents that came out printed in blue. It was called a "Hektograph" process. Now I know I'm getting on in years! I haven't heard that word in years.

2009: VOTE TODAY

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

Polls are open at the Hamilton Volunteer Fire House for Bromley Fire District 4 on Klockner Road. Polls open at 2 and close at 9. Paper ballots are being utilized, and the time taken is minimal.

If you are a Bromley resident, you owe it to your community to cast your vote. While you're at the firehouse, wish the fire guys a happy 100th birthday for their fire company!

HAMILTON VFD: 1909 - 2009

A century of service to Bromley

1959: HAMILTON VFD: FROM THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM

A week or so ago, Joe Whartenby, Jimmy Cope, and Bob Wiles of the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Company visited my archives workshop at the Hamilton Library. It was at this meeting that I decided to form this website. The fact that I have numerous files in both the "BROMLEY" and "HAMILTON FIRE CO." folders

seems to be a good time start the website to coincide with Hamilton VFD's centennial. One hundred years! They must be doing something right. As a resident of Bromley for nearly half the time Hamilton has been in existance, I find the history of this veteran fire company to be very interesting.

2009: A HEADS UP FROM TOM

This Sunday afternoon, February 22, from 1 to 3 PM, I will be presenting my music program " When Music Was Music" at Kuser Farm Mansion, Cedar Lane and Newkirk Avenues in Hamilton. We will be singing the songs of Patti Page, Dean Martin, Barry Mannilow, Joni James, Andy Williams, and all of the "easy listening" songs from the 40's, World War II, and choice ballads and novelty songs through the 60's and 70's. This year, in recognition of the centennial of Kuser School, I will also be recalling grammar school in the years of my (and our) youth. Once again we'll be singing "Do You Know the Muffin Man," "Go In and Out the Windows," and other school playground songs, and recalling ink wells, blackboards, milk boards, girlfriends, lavatories, cloak rooms and all those fascinating vestiges of a now vintage era. I can pretty much guarantee a fun filled two hours. I hope to see you there. Call 890-3630 and leave a message to reserve a seat (or seats). I hope to see y'all there!

1918: SLACKWOOD VOLUNTEER FIRE CARNIVAL

These fire fighters protected the Slackwood area of Lawrence Township. They were also very supportive of the Bromley section when assistance was needed....over the RR tracks on Whitehead road, and they were on the scene; a short trip from Slackwood to Bromley.

1939: FARMINGDALE SCHOOL

It's so very sad that many of Hamilton's schools became victims of the wreckers' ball. Farmingdale School had an incredibly interesting history, but unfortunately there is very little in the way of original photographs and other documentation.

1858: FARMINGDALE SCHOOL

This rare page lists a few of the Farmingdale students' names from one room school years. Farmingdale is said to be the oldest school in the township of Hamilton.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

"LOVING GREETING" from this early 20th century trade card in my collection. I hope each and every visitor to my website has a love-filled St. Valentine's day. Have a great day, and remember to keep that

lamp of love burning brightly! As Petula Clark sang so beautifully back in the 1960,s,
"What the world needs now is love, sweet love..not just for some, but for everyone..."

1909: BROMLEY DEVELOPMENT

The real estate ad heralds the establishment of one of our older Bromley communities, Bromley Place. Charles Teunon was a prominent real estate firm back in the early 20th century, with numerous developments in Hamilton Township, including Lakeside Park. I have intentionally scanned this graphic in high definition so that the street names will be legible.

1924: CARNIVAL ON THE HAMILTON FIRE COMPANY GROUNDS

I will defer to a more knowledgeable Hamilton Fire or Bromley historian to tell us the location of the fire company grounds referred to in the graphic. There will be future carnival posts as they are uncovered.

1937: DANCING CLASSES HELD IN THE FIRE HOUSE

Over the years, our local fire houses have hosted community-centered events. This 1937 photo shows the young ladies who were involved in the dance classes in 1937.

1909: RAISING FUNDS AT PETER DOLAN'S HAMILTON HOTEL

They were on the way! The fire "laddies"* at Hamilton Fire Company were confident that their first piece of fire-fighting apparatus is just a few hundred more dollars away.

* Instead of "firemen," or "fire fighters," firemen were often referred to as "fire laddies" in the 19th and early part of the 20th century.

1909: HAMILTON VFD: IN THE BEGINNING

Here is the earliest news release I have found on the establishment of the Hamilton Fire Co. I hope to find additional material from the earliest years as I go back to the year 1909 and search for other Hamilton Fire-Bromley related press releases.

CLASS OF '47 BROMLEY'S GREENWOOD SCHOOL

These eighth graders were my classmates in HHS class of 1951. I can still remember how I had more than an unrequited crushes on Grace Miller, the pretty young lady on the left in the second rowd, and Joan Holland, 4th row, second from left. The memories linger!

1978: INSTALLATION DINNER DANCE.

Yup, that's my old friend, Fred Yaede in there with Emma, Pat, Joe, and John, liesure suit and all! Hey, we all wore 'em back then. In fact, the "liesure suit" we wore in the 1970's was the spittin' image of the "Slack Suit" we would get at the Metropole Clothing Factory in Trenton back in the 1940's; Remember? Ahh! Memories are made of this.

1927: WAS ELLIOT NESS INVOLVED IN THIS BUST?

Rather than "an open and shut case," this post illustrates a "shut and open" case. Indeed, a bit of interesting Prohibition lore from yesteryear. One can conjure up images of the Feds going undercover and buying a few shots of bootlegged booze, then clipping on the handcuffs, closing and locking the doors, and taking the violators to jail in a 1927 Model "T."

1912: Hamilton VFD's New Digs

I regret to say that it is not possible to align these historic clippings in chronological order. There are not provisions in "Blogger" to cut, copy and paste a graphic without going through a very tedious and time consuming project. Accordingly, the posts on this website, as with all of my websites, will reflect non-chronological posts.

1916: HAMILTON'S NEW FIRE TRUCK

These two graphics heralded the exciting news that the Hamilton Fire Company was to receive a new fire fighting engine. Peter Dolan was the proprietor of the Hamilton Hotel, a photo of which I have been seeking for well over 30 years. President Charles Fulkert was the owner and proprietor of the Bromley Inn.

BROMLEY MANOR

This area shown under Route 33 on the map might well be called "South Bromley." It will be quite familiar to many visitors to this site. Kuser School's Mabel Carnall lived on Richland Avenue, The late Horace "Buddy" Rick's Elmwood Tavern was located on Elmwood and is still operating as a tavern under new management.

1909: HAMILTON FIRE COMPANY: THE EARLY YEARS

These are the earliest proponents of establishing a fire company in the fast growing Bromley section of Hamilton. Heavy industry would be moving in and a building boom would add to the necessity of a fire company. The relatively new (1901) De Laval Steam Turbine Plant, the Mercer Automobile plant, the development of Bromley Place, Bromley Park, and other area expansion was on the horizon, making it imperative that the area cease to depend on Trenton and Slackwood for fire fighting service.

HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY TO THE HAMILTON VOLUNTEER FIRE CO.

My friend and Broad Street Park-Rusling Hose Historian Jim Colello was kind enough to donate this beautiful photo of the fire company that is celebrating its centennial year in this year of 2009. The familar gray fire trucks are a beautiful sight to see, but much more beautiful as we watch the brave volunteers risking life and limb as they protect our community from fire.
There will be numerous vintage graphics relating to the Hamilton Fire Company in subsequent posts. Stay tuned, and by all means, email your comments, pro and con to me at thomglo@verizon.net. I will be adding a "Hit"counter and a Guest Book in the near future.