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2nd annual Groveville & Yardville Reunion Saturday, September 10 at 1:00pm at Alstarz Sports Pub (alstarzsportspub.com), Bordentown, NJ 08505

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Cow Tunnels

Many people have seen this tunnel under the turnpike, in Crosswicks.  Not many know its purpose.  Years ago my curiosity got the best of me and I rode my motorcycle through it, it was one of those deals where once you started you had to go all the way through as it was not wide enough to turn around. When the Turnpike was widened, last year, the tunnel was extended.
I was intrigued as to why it was here, then after some question asking and research I found this was not the only one in New Jersey, there is one under Route 206, near Chester, New Jersey, and another farther south under the Turnpike, there are three under Route 70 and another under The railroad that has been abandoned and is now the Pequest Hiking Trail (near Johnny’s Hot Dog’s).
These are “Cow Tunnels”, The one in Crosswicks was built for the Hendrickson Farm, When the turnpike was built they were an active Dairy Farm, they’re grazing land was divided, with no way for the cows to get there, this made the land unusable, it was up to the turnpike to remedy this, so they built a tunnel for the cows to pass.

One of the ones under Route 70 was for the Engle Farm.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Refreshment Stand


At one time this was listed as a Refreshment Stand, I have talked to the present owner of the property, they have no knowledge of what the building was used for, it is locked and they have never been in it.   I talked to some folks a little older than I and they remember it as a Hot Dog/Hamburger Stand, being a Drive-In type establishment selling Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Sodas, and Milk Shakes.  They said it was quite busy, mainly for those returning to Trenton, from the shore.
On May 30 1948, Mr. Louis Mason of Yardville – Allentown Road, Yardville was issued a building permit to construct a garage.
On Tuesday March 2, 1949, Louis Mason of Yardville was issued a permit to use a building on his property as a refreshment stand.  In the Mason decision the board included the proviso that should the stand become a nuisance the permit can be revoked by either the Zoning Board or the Township Committee.
This is how the building, located on the Yardville - Allentown Road, near the intersection of the Groveville - Allentown Road looks today.
Mr. Mason passed away in 1986, His wife passed away in 1985, he was listed as a tailor with Donnelly Men's Store, in Trenton.  Mr. Mason had a son of the same name.
Anyone having any Information on this I would appreciate it, shoot me an Email at Gary401@aol.com.
Well I asked on Face Book if anyone had any memories and information on this place, this is what I received, great job people;
Christine Coughlin Estwan commented; Christine wrote: "That is really nice to know, they were my parents neighbors, my mom always took clothes to him for repair!"
Glenn Scotti commented; Glenn wrote: "It was Shady Oaks. It also had pinball machines that we played for hours. The owner was an elderly gentleman who tolerated us as long as he could. The fruit stand down the road was Mr. Senf's. His two sons George and Fred would work there sometimes. We played Hide and seek all the time around the farm. Great days indeed!!"
Debby Lyons Muench commented; Debby wrote: "I remember. it was a real treat to stop there on a hot summer day and there was a produce stand on the road before that that we frequented"
George Senf commented; George wrote: "I remember the place. I can't remember the name of it. I think Shady something. Maybe Shady Oaks but really not sure. It was open in the late 50s and early 60s. If Glen Scotti reads this he will remember."
Mark Yaple commented; Yes I do it was called “The Shady Oak” or something like that.
Gladys Marsh commented; Gladys wrote: "yes I remember the hot dog stand we used to go there all the time. It wasn't too far from our house"
Barry Raymond Parks commented; Barry wrote: "Remember it well my father always took us there"
Elaine Harvey Kennedy commented; Elaine wrote: "I remember it!"

Sunday, January 5, 2014

The Owl House




Much of this information gathered and written in 1914, The Owl House is located on the East Side of Route 156, then the Yardville - Bordentown Road, at the intersection of the Yardville – Allentown Road.  The top photo was taken in 1914, the bottom photo is the house today.
Visitors to Yardville have an opportunity to see two of the most unique homes in the State of New Jersey, homes that are virtually hand-carved.  They are the properties of William H. Mount, the Postmaster and George DeVennaville Keim, a nephew of Joel Middleton.  The last named did the carving in both instances.

The Keim home is the more extensively carved because it was the homestead of the Middleton who died about 10 years ago.  Middleton a cabinet maker by trade, was a very handy man and spent all of his spare time in carving, painting and drawing, although he was never taught the arts.

The Keim Home, the picture of which is picture here, was an old fashioned homestead, without any veranda or front porch, Middleton, conceiving the idea th4 idea that the house would be greatly improved by the addition of a carved veranda and cornice, set out to do the work.  Days and nights were consumed by his carving wood by hand and in piece-meal style.  When he had completed his labors, he erected the porch and placed a new cornice around the building.

When finished, the exterior o0f the house presented a fine appearance.  In fact his work was so praiseworthy that it attracted the attention of the residents of the vicinity.  As a result Mr. Mount had Mr. Middleton do some work on his property?  Over the center of the Keim home is carved an owl, surrounded by bunches of grapes, acorns, and leaves.  Directly above the owl or on the angle of the roof is carved a Sea Dragon.  The cornice of the house is carved with leaves.

In the interior, the skill of Mr. Middleton is illustrated.  On the walls are numerous color painting of scenes in that vicinity and also of gunners with their dogs in the field.  One view, in particular, a view of Lakeside Park, in two parts, showing the mansion house and the old barn, that was recently torn down to make way for modern improvements, this attracts the favorable attention of visitors.
Having been a cabinet maker, Mr. Middleton constructed many pieces of furniture.  A Parlor Table, Book Case, and a Bedroom Suit are evidence of his skill in that line.  In addition to having been talented in the art of painting and carving, Mr. Middleton was somewhat of a cartoonist.  His drawings found a ready market.

He was also an Undertaker and years before he died he made his own coffin.  Before his demise, however, it was destroyed and Mr. Middleton was buried in a more modern casket.

For some reason Mr. Middleton never named his homestead.  At one time he started to carve some words on the side of the house, but after he had “The” finished, he quit.

Edmond Middleton, a relative and Episcopal Clergyman, spent many of his younger days at the house and found enough material for a fiction story from among the charters in the vicinity.  The title of his story was “Gaskill’s Gold Mine”.  The story of a Yardville resident, believing he had found a gold mine in the rear of his house, had employed an expert mining engineer from New York to make soundings.  The near-discoverer had a golden haired young woman in is house and the engineer decided that she was the only gold mine in the village.

In carving the piece for his home, Mr. Middleton was assisted by his nephew, Mr. Keim, then a boy.  Mr. Keim has a number of paintings about the home that he has executed himself.

Sunnybrae Country Club

A question was raised on Face Book about the Sunnybrae Country Club, for those that don’t know this was located in Yardville on South Broad Street where now you find Dover Manor Homes, Dover Apartments, Sunnybrae Gardens Apartments and the Dover Manor Shopping Center.  This prompted a little research;

The Sunnybrae Country Club opened in the 1920's as The Mercer County Golf Cub, in March of 1933 the name was changed and in April, 1933 it reopened as the Sunnybrae County Club.  Among the many amenities advertised there were a Club House, a Restaurant & Bar and Beach Swimming.  On July 16, 1948 a large fire consumed a barn full of hay belonging to the Totten Hay Company of Yardville, and equipment belonging to the Club was destroyed, this was adjacent to the Club House.  The fire was fought by the White Horse, Groveville, DeCou, and Rusling Hose Fire Companies.  In March 1952 it was announced the Club and the 271 acres of golf course had been sold and would be closing.  Three days later they announced they had gotten the OK to start building, in 1956 they began to sell homes.  I can pick out two guys in this photo, Jim Donnell and Eddie Klink.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

The Lakeside Community Center

I know I am streching the boundaries of a Groveville Memories Blog, but I find this photo so nice I had to find room for it.

Russ Anson; I took this photo in 1953 of the Lakeside Park Community Center across the street from my home then at 142 Lakeside Blvd. I was 12 years old at the time and learned to develop my own film in my bathroom darkroom.

Yardville in the 60's and 70's

There is a Face Book Group called "Yardville in the 60's and 70's, sharing memories of times growing up during that era, these are great groups, a lot of modern and some old hsory are learned and shared on these pages, thinkiing that this may still be here when the face Book pages are gone I will post the information I find interesting here.

One story started with somone discovering a rusted sign on a pole on Kim Valley Road, Behind the 7-11, at South Broad Street, after discussion this was the sign for American Paint Factory, this was located in the remaining building of the Mack Toy Works and was destroyed by a gas explosion and fire on May 21, 1974.  Now a little History;

American Paint Factory building was originally part of a complex of 3 or 4 buildings, it was the last one standing, it was part of the Mack Toy Works Company, which later became Mack Dinette Company. The company owners home was at the corner of Highland Avenue and South Broad Street, the one on the hill across form the Baptist Church. In the 1960's Broad Street was moved or realigned, it used to be closer to Dover Plaza and The Dover Apartments, which were not there at the time. Broad Street made a hard bend where it intersected with Sunnybrae Blvd., the road to the Sunnybrae Golf Course Club House and Restaurant. They moved it closer to where the 7-11 is now, to soften the bend. The Mack Toy buildings were not as close to the road as they now seem.

Another little fact, the house next to the Rite Aid Pharmacy was not originally there, when they built Yardville Estates, they needed and entrance into the complex, so they put in Winding Way, but there was a house where they proposed to intersect it with South Broad Street, so they moved the house to its present location, next to Mack Toy Works, now Rite Aid.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Just Us


Must have been a "Snow Day", I don't think we had Graduated yet or we would have been working, So I'm guessing early 60"s.  Left to Right, Glenn (Ugly) Munson, Gary (Lippy) Lippincott, Jim (Jo-Pete) Longmuir, and Walt (Wuzzy) Sehorn, and I think the guy being blocked was Mike Moyer.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

The Gang

I'm just guessing at the date, early 1960's.  This was taken behind Beideman's House on Church Street, next to the Church Educational Building.  The Truck in the back is Charlie Beideman's GMC,and the barn in the back  is Tilton's.  Others seem to be watching the Baseball field, so again I am guessing its Memorial Day.  The Guys. left to right are; Tom Dwier, Joe Dutco, Mike Moyer, Walt Taylor, Pete Mickshutz, Jim Longmuir, and Art Moody.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Memorial Day - 2013

Tom Atkins, Comander, U.S. Navy, Retired

V.F.W.

1957 Chevy

Pontiac Firebird

New Jersey South Base Submariners


Our Mayor, Kelly Yaede and the Township Council


Our Mayor, Kelly Yaede, FYI, she marched the entire parade in High Heels (5 Miles)

Mercer Racer


George restores antique Tractors and engines
George towing a trailer with two running antique engines



Nottingham High School Band

Replica of the Abbott House

Civil War reinactors Volenteers fire a volly

Hamilton High Marching Band

Steinert Marching Band

Steinert Marching Band


Revolutionary Reinactors, fire a volly

Crosswicks Volunteer Fire Company


Revolutionary Reinactors

Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts

White Horse Volunteer Fire Company

DeCou Volunteer Fire Company

Folks gathering for the Memorial Service in the Cemetery


Salute




















Thursday, March 7, 2013

Robert F. Thompson

                    

Robert F. Thompson, 83, of Wrightstown, died peacefully at his home on Monday surrounded by his loving family.


Born in Trenton, he grew up in Groveville. Robert graduated from Hamilton High School and then joined the Groveville Fire Company at 18 years old. He served in the United States Air Force as a flight engineer. Upon his discharge he returned to the Groveville Fire Company where he served as Chief for 5 years and President for 17 years, he retired as a paid driver from the Fire Company and is a 65 year lifetime member. Robert was also a member of Rose of Sharon Lutheran Church.

Son of the late Charles F. and Elizabeth Nagy Thompson, father of the late Gerald F. Thompson and Susan M. Nutret, he is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Shirley Buchner Thompson; four children, Charles Thompson and his wife Lynee, Linda Senf and husband George, Beth Thompson and her friend Joy Harrington, and Keith Thompson and his partner Daniel Dowd; one sister, Josephine Rousseau; seven grandchildren, Christina and husband Mando, Jennifer and husband Brendan, Stephan, Jason and wife Lisa, Robert, Nicole, and Lauren; 5 great grandchildren, Kylie, Madison, Isabelle, Emma, and Makensie.

Relatives and friends may call on Friday morning, March 8, 2013, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Buklad Yardville Memorial Chapel, 30 Yardville-Allentown Road in Yardville. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. from the memorial chapel with Pastor Robert Russell officiating. Burial will follow in Brig. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made for his great granddaughter Emma, to the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation, Inc., 302 W. Main St., #100, Avon, CT 06001-3681 or the Jacobstown Rescue Squad, 86 Chesterfield-Jacobstown Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Trick or Treat in Groveville

There was a little discussion on Facebook about the amount of children out for Trick or Treat in Groveville, some had a fair amount and some had few, I think it’s just a sign of the times. Some mentioned that they had Trick or Treater’that they didn’t know. At my house we had about 30.

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As, I guess, a long time resident and Karl Kraft who was also in this discussion, remember when there seemed to be a very large number of Trick or Treater’s, and everyone knew each other, both children and parents, times were different when we were younger, we had a school that we all attended together and some parents walked to school with their children, not for safety, but just to have time to spend with them and other parents, doing the same, we had a post office where you had to pick up your mail, this too was another place to gather.

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We had a corner store where people actually shopped for groceries and fresh meat and again a place to chat for a bit.
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The majority of town’s people worshiped at the same church with their children in Sunday School, parents belonged to the fire company and the auxiliary, and there too were social events that involved parents and children and most of the people in town worked at the mill.

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We had a lot of children in Groveville, most born when TV was limited; leaving more time for our parents to, well never mind, there was a lot of kids. After school it was no problem for us to play Baseball, two teams, with substitutes or Football, same thing and this was just the boys.

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When we trick or treated, you went into the house, people would guess who you were, before you got your candy, it was a process, now we meet them on the porch give them their candy, wish them a “Happy Halloween” and send them on their way.
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Times change and sometimes that makes me sad, but that’s the way it is, the sad part is some towns have banned Trick or Treating, because of predators to our children, the good thing is Groveville has not come to that.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Mr. Pettit Joy - Gilford Park



This is a letter to Mr. Nathaniel Pettit Joy, concerning his purchase of 3½ lots in Gilford Park, New Jersey, Dated July 31, 1924. During this time period several families in Groveville owned lots in Gilford Park, the Joys, the McEmoyl's and the Rollings. It always amazes me that people save letters like this for over 80 years.


Mr. Joy was known by his middle name of Pettit, He also had a brother Henry "Hen" Joy. Pettit was born in Bordentown in December 1894, lived in Groveville and was a Weaver at the Cotton Mill, he died in November, 1974.


Both he and his brother were original members of the Groveville Volunteer Fire Company.


Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Chamberlain Family, Easter Sunday, 1940



Neil Chamberlain posted this great Family photo on Face book, I told him I had to steal this one for my website. This is a great photo of the Chamberlain Family and the church, not to mention the cars. This was taken on Easter Sunday, 1940.


Left to right, Donald, Betty, Marge, Jean, Neil Chamberlain.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

1932 Chevrolet Sport Roadster, Charlie Beideman

Received some interesting stuff from Chuck Beideman, he has kept a list of the cars owned by the Guys in Groveville, we both know someone that will jump on this list with additions as soon as I post it, Chuck and I are ready for his input.

Chuck also sent copies of his father, Charles Beideman's paperwork for his new 1932 Chevrolet, Sport Roadster, his father bought on his 17th Birthday, in 1932.

I added a photo of a 1932 Chevrolet Sport Roadster, I don't know a guy our age from Groveville that would not love to have this beauty of a car.

The cost of this car is about 7 tanks of gas in my Chevrolet Tahoe.









Chuck and I knew it would not be long before Charlie Donnell sent me a list, I got it the next day, like Charlie said "We wish we had these classics back", I'm glad we still remember them.


Charlie Donnell said he also had a 32 Ply, a 48 Chevy 4 door that he bought from Otto Warren for 300 bucks.


And Dave Seahorn had Charlie’s mother’s ole 55 Dodge.


Ronnie “Tink” Taylor had a 55 olds and a 58 Olds.


Tom "Tucker" Dwier, his 55 Chevy was turquoise exterior


Ronnie “Robbie” Robinson had a 59 Chev convertible.


Lynn “Bolton” Bolz had a 60 Chev.


Tom “Snodgrasses” Snyder 55 Chev was a 2 dr, hdtp in coral orange color that I converted to a stick shift. He also had a nice 48 Ford coupe he bought from Dave Stout that him and Bill Straley put a Chevy into and then drilled a hole into the side of the power glide trans when installing the Chev engine. Jimmy Gould soldered it up.


Barry Wright also had a 56 Chev with the twin antennas that we called the tuna boat.


Al “Buddy” Weiss had a 59 ply fury which was a rare find even then with all the power options it had. Then he went for a 1960 Pontiac 389 with a tri power 4 speed. A real classic today that we all wish we had back.


Gary “Lippy” Lippincott also had a 1952 Chev, with a 1956 GMC 270 6 cylinder, bored with Jahn’s domed pistons and three, one barrel carburetors, I locked the rear and spent all my money on axle’s at Brownies.



























1932 Chevrolet Sport Roadster

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Memories, Going to Church as a kid




My very good friend Claire Dwier Zarr, noticed in the picture that the stained glass windows not only open from the bottom, but also from the top, she mentioned this to me in an email, which sparked a whole bunch of memories about church as a child in Groveville.

During my childhood almost every one walked to church, mainly because everyone lived local, it was nice there were two services, 8:30 and 11:00, The bell would be rung prior to the service and all the neighborhood hound dogs, would howl. As we walked to church, neighbors would also be walking to church and as you neared church the group would grow, greeting each new addition with a “Good Morning”

After getting your “Church Bulletin” you eventually found your seat, after your parents stopped talking to everyone, it was the same seat, same pew, every week, it’s still that way today, if you don’t show up for church your seat is empty.

As a child in church I was allowed to bring something to occupy myself during those long sermons, that I probably didn’t understand, I was allowed a pencil and a piece of paper, to draw on, if I was particularly “antsy” that Sunday, Mom would play Tic-Tac-Toe” with me, with the paper on the pew, never so someone could see her. Trudy Atkins told me she was allowed a small coloring book and limited crayons.

When we became teenagers, or at least reached the age where we didn’t want to be associated with our parents, some things never change, we sat together in the “Amen” Pew, the back pew in the church in the, alcove. Should we “Act up” our parents would be told and next week we were back with them, like it or not.

For a short time several of us, as teenagers were in the Choir, this was definitely not for our outstanding singing ability, I think it was so our parents and everyone else could keep an eye on us, either that or just to occupy a seat in the choir.

For a while Sunday School was held in the “Old” Community House, I believe as that building grew older Sunday school was held in the church, I remember both. My father, Ken Lippincott, was the Sunday School Leader, or Secretary of the Sunday School there was a short service, which he led, then we broke up in classes by age, Sunday School was not just for kids, it was all ages. Ray Bell still tells me how he can picture my Dad leading the singing, he didn’t sing good, but he sang loud -- and proud, always wore a suit.

I remember as a kid going to church it was so hot in the summer and I still had to wear a tie, just no jacket, now we have air conditioning and I wear shorts. I remember my Dad having to go early to open the church. No air conditioning and no screens in the windows. The nice part was as you walked to church you could hear the piano being played and those that did not go to church could hear the singing and the service, all over Church Street, because they didn't have Air Conditioning either and their house windows were open, too.

To keep you cool in church each book rack on the back of the pew contained The Methodist Hymnal, a Bible and a hand fan, made up of a stick of wood and a cardboard fan, this had a prayer on one side and advertising on the other, "Saul Funeral Home. Hamilton Square, New Jersey"

As I remember only the lady's used the fans and use them they did, they worked up a sweat just using the fan, I think the men were smart, they took advantage of the breeze they created without expending the energy.

Now the windows are never opened, we have Air conditioning; the insurance company requires that they be covered completely with heavy Lexan Plastic on the outside to protect these valuable windows. No one on the outside can hear the beautiful singing and the service from the outside and inside we can't hear the sounds of the outdoors, like happy voices of kids running past or the birds singing. Progress?

When church was over we could not wait to get out of there, get home and get that tie off, of course our parents had to talk to all the same people they talked to on the way in, Why? We had stuff to do, while they were getting religion, we were planning a baseball game for the afternoon.

I know Dad had to get home, he had the collection money, he had to get home, count it, wrap it, write it down in that big Green Book, with the Red Binder, put it in the Green zippered bag, and then get it to the Yardville National Bank, another memory. I thought it was great, my Dad had a key to the bank, what did I know, it was only the “Night Deposit”.

I know Mom and Grand mom had to get home, Mom had to get that Chicken or Roast in the oven, it was Sunday.

As much as I didn’t want to go to church as a kid, it was a wonderful experience, besides all of the other kids in town were there too. The only ones that weren’t there were the Catholics, and it seemed they went to church a whole lot more than we did.

One proud thought is that I have followed in my Father’s footsteps, being active in the church, having held several positions, just like him. Also just like him, I can’t sing either, but I do.

Memories are a wonderful thing.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Groveville United Methodist Church - 175 years old

Circa 1880











In May, 2011, The Groveville United Methodist Church Celebrated 175 years of serving God and the Community. The church has been a focal point of the community since before 1830, worshiping in homes prior to the construction of a church building in 1836.

As part of our celebration we had, on Sunday, May 22, 2011, a service dedicated to the history of the church and the community. We had Pastors from the past speak in church, all recounting their time spent in Groveville. This was followed by a very nice luncheon prepared by our Kitchen Crew.
Fellowship hall was decorated with some great Memorabilia, photos of the Church, the community, the Fire Company, and the Mills & Businesses that made Groveville the place to live.

This celebration was continued on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 with an Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social. Two members of the community, and the church that have gone on to serve in the Methodist Ministry spoke and recounted how the church and the community helped to lead them down the path of life they have chosen, Elizabeth "Betty" Vaneekhoven of the Fieldsboro Methodist Church and Karl Kraft, who has served as Senior Pastor at several South Jersey United Methodist Churches.

There was also entertainment, Judy Mock and five gentlemen of the congregation, George Goldy, Al Herbert, Laddie Srahola, Jack Mock, and Dave Bergeron, performed "Hello Dolly".

Al Herbert - Dave Bergeron - Judy Mock - Jack Mock - Laddie Srahola - George Goldy









Reverend Fran Ballinger holds an Ice Cream Scoop used by Mrs. Naomi Rollings when she ran the Company Store for Morris and Company Mills. This was a Three Cent Scoop. Circa 1897.
A large variety of Ice Cream was served, everyone donated a topping, and a good time was had by all that attended, over one hundred from the church and the community. As the evening wore on it seemed no one wanted to leave, as groups chatted inside as well as outside on a nice cool evening.


A Brief History of Groveville United Methodist Church.1836 - 2011

In 1830, Groveville had only 10 houses in the entire village, but the good people met in their respective homes for worship led by Pastor Thomas Stewart of the Crosswicks Circuit. Then in 1833, a group of Christians led by John Rulon held their 1st meeting for the purpose of forming a committee to discuss the building of a house of worship. It was then to be called the Groveville Meeting House.

It wasn’t until May 25, 1836, that the plans were finalized at a meeting in the old school house on lower “Mill Road.” John Rulon was given a subscription book to be circulated from one Trustee to the other for the purpose of collecting funds.

At the same time, 1 acre of ground was to be purchased from Richard and Samuel Jaques to erect said church. John Rulon was to procure the deed for the same. Signed by: Enoch Knowles, George S. Green, Joseph Forman and John Rulon – Trustees.

Ezeck Middleton was engaged to build the pulpit and altar rail, of which each spindle was hand made with a lathe drawn by Ezeck’s horse. The cost of the pulpit and rail was $9.31. The altar was made from local trees. It might also be interesting to know that wine was used for the 1st Sacrament at a cost of 25 cents and bread for the cost of 5 cents.

On August 28, 1884, the Trustees met under the leadership of Pastor Blackeston to take subscriptions for the purpose of building a parsonage.

The amount required to assure success was estimated at $500.00. The entire project cost should not exceed $1,000.00 The Trustees agreed to buy the lot for the parsonage from John Clymer for $125.00.

On May 4, 1887, permission was given by William Morris to hold services in the Lyceum Hall while additions were being made to enlarge the church. The bid was awarded to J W. Bowers for the changes at a cost of $2,450.00, to be completed by December 1, 1887. Horse sheds were also built by Mr. Anderson at a cost of $55.00 for lumber, plus $5.30 for labor. These were situated where the Education Building now stands.

On August 15, 1887, the cornerstone was laid for the new church and on January 26, 1888, the steeple was erected at a cost of $77.00. The community progressed and on May 10, 1896 the Trustees voted to build 2 more rooms on the parsonage at a cost of $114.00.

During the next 10 years, Groveville quickly increased in population. The factories were working full time. The leaders of the community found it to their advantage to plan organized activates for our village.

On July 3, 1916, the Trustees, lead by the Rev. Charles S. Fees, voted to erect a one story building for the work of the church and community. They obtained a lot from Harry Clymer. J. W. Bowers was awarded the bid at a cost of $2,800.00. Then on September 10, 1917, the Community House was completed. The building served its purpose well as a meeting place for all religious and recreational activities.

With the completion of Groveville Gardens and new homes being built in surrounding areas, our little church bulged at the seams. In October 1956, under the leadership of Rev. David Seeland, a new Education Building was erected on the old Community House site. This was truly a Faith Project, with the estimated cost being nearly $100,000.00. With the initial loan obtained by the Trustees, mortgages were obtained at both Yardville and Bordentown banks. Each month became a struggle to meet out indebtedness. However, the years passed, and with each new pastor, the responsibility of reducing the mortgages was met.

With the help of God and the church community the goal was reached when Rev. Douglas J. Kersey was pastor. The mortgage was burned on September 19, 1974.The next major step was the renovation of the Sanctuary.

Planning began in 1996. The Trustees decided a Handicapped Accessible Ramp was needed for the church. This project was completed in 1997. Of equal importance was the restoration of the stained glass windows. This became a long term project as the renovation of the sanctuary continued. Under the leadership of Trustees Robert Plummer, Carl Frech, George Goldy, Al Herbert, Reade Holzbaur, Jon Kasper, Michael Matecha, Ed Sheldon, and John Wood, the $14,000.00 renovations were completed in 1999, except for the stained glass windows.

On October 5, 2008, with thankful hearts and giving the honor and glory to God, we celebrated the completion of the stained glass window restoration. The project was in the talented and capable hands of craftsman Joe Ratajczak, of Plowman Stained Glass. Mr. Ratajczak began the window restoration in November of 1996 and completed the work in February of 2008.

Under the present leadership of our Trustees: Gary Lippincott, Jon Kasper, Bonnie Adams, Trudy Atkins, Julie Baronowski, George Goldy, Al Herbert, Ron Robinson, and our pastor Rev. Fran B. Ballinger we look to the future of Groveville United Methodist Church with great hope as we continue to serve God and community. Whatever the future holds, we look forward to facing it with “Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors.”.

Adapted from the 1974 Mortgage Burning Booklet and the 1999 Restoration Booklet