A Christmas Tradition

Santa Clause arriving in Groveville, on our 1941 Ward LaFrance, in the 1940's, must have been a icy night, with those Snow Chains on the truck

Santa Clause arriving in Groveville, December, 2007

Almost every volunteer fire company in the area has this tradition and they all do it on their own schedule.

Groveville Fire Company has been doing this as long as anyone can remember. The oldest picture here goes back to Santa on our 1941 Ward LaFrance, so we know it goes back at least that far. I was the Santa on the truck that went through Groveville for over ten years and loved every minute of it.

Our Santa schedule was the same as far back as I can remember. About three months before Christmas the Christmas Committee would have their meeting. Usually the committee consisted of the same members as the year before, with the addition of maybe one new member. On the agenda was deciding how many children we would be planning for, each year we seemed to plan for more children. I believe the highest number, I remember, was us planning for five hundred children.

Next we would see if we have candy boxes and stockings left over from last year. We always bought these in lots of one thousand, so this year we were prepared to the next year and we got a better price that way. Then someone would be appointed to go to Levin Candy on South Clinton Avenue and order the candy boxes, the stockings and enough hard candy to fill five hundred boxes and five hundred Candy Canes.

A committee member would contact the costume store and reserve three Santa Costumes, later we bought our own and then someone would have too make sure they were cleaned and ready for the big night.

Another person’s job was to go to Lou’s Home Movies on Chambers Street and reserve one hour of 16mm cartoon films and make sure we had a spare bulb for the projector.

In the beginning of December someone would go to Blue Eagle Fruit and Produce on South Broad Street and order five hundred apples and oranges. They would take a stocking with them to make sure they got the grade of fruit that would fit the stocking, one year we bought fruit too big and almost caused a catastrophe.

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One year a member said that he could save us money on the fruit, he had a better deal somewhere else. When we opened the boxes we found that somewhere along the line the fruit had gotten frozen, it was like filling the stockings with "prunes". Thank goodness the owner of Blue Eagle, Gerry Munson, was a friend and long time Groveville resident and saved us at the last minute.

All of the ordered items would be picked up and at the firehouse about a week before Christmas.

The Sunday afternoon before Christmas we would gather at the fire house and get the stockings ready. We would put tables in a row to form a production line. Candy boxes would be filled the same way every year. The boxes had to be folded and put together, and then each would get filled with eight ounces of hard candy, each filled with an eight ounce beer glass filled with candy.

Then the stockings would be filled, the apple had to go in first, because they would fit in the toe, if you put the candy box in first you would run out of room in the stocking. Next you put in the orange, followed by the candy box, and then the candy cane and was slid in. Sometimes a coloring book or fire safety book was added. There are a lot of rules for stocking filling, all tried and true.

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Most of the work was done by the men, but it was all accomplished with a lot of help and support of a very active Ladies Auxiliary.

On Christmas Eve, we would gather at the firehouse by 4:30 PM, most of us came right from work, without stopping home.

The wooden chimney seats, painted like brick, had to be fastened to the trucks, the Santa’s had to get ready. We had two Santa’s on two trucks, one was designated as the “In Town Route” and the other was the “Country Route”.

The “Country Route” would load up a Karch’s Esso Station on Route130 (now Mule’ Auto Body) and later at the Yardville First Aid on Route 156. They would cover the streets behind Iccara’s Pizza, streets behind Yardville School, Papp Village, Yardville – Allentown Road, Crosswicks Road, and Crosswicks area. They would be done long after the other route.

The “In Town Route” started precisely at 5:30PM at Anchor Thread and proceeded up Main Street, bear right on Allen Street to the end, then back to Main to Broad Street. Then right on Broad Street, to Pettyridge Road, right on Pettyridge and complete all the streets in Groveville Gardens, exiting at Richbell Road and Main Streets, right on Main Street to Broad Street and left on Broad, bearing right on Pilgrim Way, back onto Broad and continuing to Route 156. We turned left on Route 156.

We then would stop at St. Elizabeth’s Home, for the longest time this was a home for Mentally Challenged Adults. We had a patient count from the Nun’s and we would bring enough Filled Stockings for each patient and Nun. Santa would get off the truck there and greet the patients and give them stockings, this was the most rewarding part of me being Santa that I could ever hope for, and this made it all worth it, even when it was cold, snowing, or raining.

Then we continued on to the Polish American Club, there we turned around and proceeded up Martins Lane. Then we returned to Route 156 to Church Street, right on Church Street, and through Eagle Rock or Sherwood II Apartments, (depending on your age). Continuing on Church Street to Main Street, right on Main Street to the fire house. There Santa would exit the truck behind the fire house.

The Children waiting for Santa at the fire house would have been treated to an hour of cartoons. The Santa on the truck would be cold, sometimes wet, snow covered, or just blown apart from his ride on the truck so the third Santa, warm and dry would appear for the children. He would have each child sit on his lap; listen to their Christmas Wishes, give them a filled stocking, and parents would take pictures.

The crew from the first truck would bring the truck back inside, remove the chimney, and return it to service. They would then load up the utility truck (9-3) with filled stockings and take them to some underprivileged family’s we knew of on the other side of Crosswicks, and families of children unable to get to the firehouse, whether due to illness or handicapped.

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All of the left over stockings would be donated to needy families, Rudy Coderoni always knew of someone needy and would take the stockings to them.

By the time all of the trucks were back and had been returned to service, the fire house cleaned and straightened, most of us got to our homes about ten o’clock on Christmas Eve to start our families Christmas.

The time spent doing this was so rewarding that rarely did anyone complain. Today most Volunteer Fire Companies can’t accomplish this on Christmas Eve.

Groveville Fire Company, for example, does it on a Sunday afternoon and it takes all day.

Why, you ask, well with the growth and expansion of Groveville's district, the amount of streets that Santa must cover has almost doubled, the fire house is no longer in the middle of Groveville, most people used to walk to the firehouse, today they would have to load the family in the car to get there. If all the “Santa Aged” children in the fire district showed up for a stocking, I would bet it would be well over 1200, that’s a lot of filled stockings and I doubt that Santa would have time to hear all those wishes in one night, let alone wait while the parents took their pictures. The final and most important reason and the one that bothers me the most is that volunteerism is way down, its way down everywhere, just a sign of the times, and there is just not the manpower to accomplish this task today, shame ain’t it.

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Just remember even in these times they still try to give the children something, even if its not what we remember.

At war during Christmas

God Bless Our Troops and those that give their time and their lives that we may celebrate Christmas at home as we like, in peace.

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My father joined the army and had been discharged and when WWII was declared and he was called back. During WWII he was stationed in England and Germany. He was in Germany and assigned to a communications section, it was Christmas time and he was helping his company’s mess section unpack rations for their Christmas dinner. As he was unpacking boxes he came across a pie filling and the box was labeled “Brick’s Mincemeat, Crosswicks, NJ”. He said “Here I am halfway around the world and away from my family and this box came from three miles from my home”. He said he was never that homesick. It’s amazing the things that are said that stick with you through the years, but I will never forget my father and this story.

Merry Christmas To Everyone

I want to wish everyone that enjoys my site and has sent me stories, memories, photos and yes, even those that have sent me corrections, a very Merry Christmas. I have enjoyed passing on all that I have learned so much.

Merry Christmas

Groveville PAL Basketball Team ~ 1949

This is the Groveville PAL Basketball Team, about 1949

Standing ~ Ray Bell, Gerry Munson, Ed Jones (Manager & Coach), John Buckley, Donald Richardson.

Kneeling ~Lee Jones, Denny Bloomer, Donald Mack

The Bridge at Anchor Thread

These are photos of the bridge at Anchor Thread, over the Crosswicks Creek. This is the Iron Bridge I remember growing up in Groveville. The old bridge had a Dedication Plate, stating its date of construction and the engineer and builder, I wish I had a picture of that or at least the information it offered.

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This was a Truss Style Bridge, very popular in the late 1800's and early 1900’s.
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There is a wide band of webbed steel that ran the entire span on each side about waist high, this was a guard to keep pedestrians from falling off the bridge. As kids we found that if four or five of us pulled on this with some type of rhythm the entire bridge would shake, that was big excitement in Groveville in the 1950's. It was also a great bridge for climbing, but not me.

This picture is the beginning of the end for this bridge, the picture of the bridge with the truck on it is the day they began to dismantle the old bridge. The next picture is the ribbon cutting ceremony, this was on the Burlington County side of the bridge an I believe these are Burlington County officials, as I don’t recognize any of them. This was in 1990

This photo below is the bridge today, not as much fun, you can't climb on it or shake it, and no I haven't tried either.

The Automobile in Hamilton

The first automobile appeared in Hamilton Township in 1899. On September 3, 1902, an ordinance was passed reducing the speed of automobiles from Twelve miles per hour to Eight miles per hour, with a fine from $15.00 to $20.00 for violation. Numerous complaints had been received that automobiles were speeding through the township at Ten miles per hour.

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This little tid bit of information is from a booklet I have titled;

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"Hamilton Township 1842 ~ 1942

100th Anniversary Observance Week, April 26 ~May 2, 1942"

Groveville School ~ 1943 ~ 1944

1St Row

Arthur Inman
C. Ray Bell
Miss Elias’s (Teacher) niece
Loraine Engle
Anne Schroder
Rose (Sis) Sellers
Dick Inman
Muriel Becker

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2nd Row

Walt Grove
Gerry Munson
Janis Riggs
Joan Laven
Connie DeMent
Bobby Chamberlain

Groveville School ~ 1944~1945

Second & Third Grades

Top Row; Richard Inman ~ Arthur Inman ~C. Ray Bell ~ Pat Deviney ~ Loraine Engle

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2nd Row; Mickey Wright ~ Joan Lavan ~ Sally Jones ~ Robert Chamberlain

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Center; Miss Elias

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3rd Row; Walter Grove ~ Anne Schroeder ~Margie Beuhler ~ Rose (Sis) Sellers

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4th Row; Janice Riggs ~ Gerry Munson ~ Connie DeMent ~ George Pelke ~ Allen Taylor

Daryl, Tom, and Claire

Daryl, Tom, & Claire Dwier standing in front of their house at 205 Main Street, Groveville. In the background is Don & Clara Snyder's house. To the right is Jo Hepburn's Store. This picture was taken in 1950.

Groveville Fire Co. Officers ~ 1962

These are the Fire Officers of the Groveville Fire Company in 1962. Three things happened that year, I graduated high school, joined the fire company, and the fire company promoted me to S.O.T (Santa On the Truck). That position lasted more than 10 years. I did a good job at that Santa thing, never fell off once, more than I can say for some.

The Last TBM-3E Avenger Torpedo Bomber

This is a photo of the last TBM-3E Avenger Torpedo Bomber, produced anywhere rolling of the line at Eastern Aircraft, General Motors, Ewing, NJ.

The tie to Groveville is long time Groveville resident, Groveville Fireman, Hamilton Township Committeeman, Hamilton Township Mayor, and friend Ray Dwier standing in the center, with coat open. On Ray's right, leaning away from Ray, is Groveville resident, Bob Smith, of Main Street. Kneeling, center, in front of Ray is long time friend of Ray’s and Yardville resident, Ralph Beck.

Below is a little history of this aircraft and the plant from research done on this interesting time in our local history.

The TBM-3E illustrates the massive military manufacturing effort that New Jersey made during World War II. The Avenger built at General Motors' Eastern Aircraft Trenton-Ternstedt plant. Formerly used to manufacture and assemble General Motor's automobiles, the plant was converted in 1942 to assemble TBM Avengers and built them from 1942 until the end of hostilities in 1945. In recognition of its great effort to produce war materials, the Trenton-Ternstedt plant was awarded the "E for Excellence Award" for superior war production on January 2, 1945.

The Avenger participated in every major air-sea battle of World War II between June 1942 and August 1945, and played a significant role in search-and-destroy missions hunting German submarines, proving its worth in both night and daytime assignments.

The most famous American to fly an Avenger was George H.W. Bush, later 41st President of the United States, who joined the Navy in 1942 and became the youngest naval aviator ever, at the age of 20, in June 1943.

"Big White Stone"

Most people have seen this large white stone in front of the Groveville Methodist Church, inscribed with M.E. Church, but were unaware as to what its purpose was. The inscription is for Methodist Episcopal Church, this was the former name of most Methodist Churches; now known as The United Methodist Church.

This large white stone has been there, unmoved, for over one hundred years. Before Church Street was lowered and widened to improve the grade of Church Street this stone was at the level of the street.

This stone is known as a Carriage Stepping Stone. People arriving at church by carriage would stop at this stone and it would give them a safe and sturdy place to dismount their carriage or horse. Most carriage steps attached to the carriage are high off the ground to allow for ground clearance, but are inconvenient for those dressed for church.

I learned this the same way I try to pass on little bits of knowledge on to my daughter Kati. One day as I was walking home from church with my father, Ken, he said to me, bet you don’t know what that is, of course I had no idea, and he explained it to me. Doing research and asking questions of others proved he was right, not that I doubted him.

It’s amazing the things we pass every day and take them for granted, to most it’s just a “Big White Stone” that has been there forever and hopefully always will be.

To me as a kid it was a place to sit and eat your penny candy on your way home from Jo Hepburn’s store, cause if you took that candy all the way home your Mom would not let you eat it all.

Old Yardville School Today

This is the old Yardville School as it looks today. It is now four apartments.

Yardville School ~ 1937

This is the eighth grade at the old Yardville School, 1936~1937. For those that do not know the location of the school, it was on Route 25, now Route 156, between Yardville - Groveville Road (Church Street) and the Yardville - Crosswicks Road (Broad Street). It's across the road from the old Saint Elisabeth's Home and is now apartments.

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This was most likely one of the last classes in the old school, as the new Yardville School opened in 1939.

First Hamilton Township Fire District

March 10, 1879, the first Hamilton Township Fire District was created at Crosswicks. Crosswicks is still Hamilton Township Fire District #1

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The following has nothing to do with Groveville, but Crosswicks is our close neighbor. I knew most of this before, but I am sure many did not know this and will find this interesting.

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From the history of The Crosswicks Fire Company;

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The people of Crosswicks met at the home of Joshua English on January 5th, 1822, to form a fire company and purchase a fire engine. Committees were appointed to collect money, purchase an engine and draw up a Constitution. Robert Vanderbeek was named Chairman and Nathan Satterwaite, as secretary. At a meeting January 26th, 1822, it was reported that subscriptions totalling one hundred-eleven dollars ($111.00) had been obtained and Crosswicks Fire Co. had purchased the ancient hand-drawn, hand-pumper from a pump concern in Seneca Falls, New York. The cost of the engine was one hundred dollars ($100.00)

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Of more use than historic value in those days and in as good condition today as if ever was, it turned out to be equipment dated 1744. first used by the Union Fire Co. No. 1, of Philadelphia, organized in 1736, formed through the efforts of Benjamin Franklin. Several of the original buckets, made of leather and inscribed "Union Fire Co. No. 1, Phila. 1744, are part of the equipment Crosswicks folk have been taught to appreciate, even thought the purchase may have been part of an old time trade-in. It was the only fire protection the area had for a hundred years.

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The old apparatus is still in the possession of the company and is in good working order today.

Groveville Fire Co. ~ 1947 Ward LaFrance

This is a photo of Groveville Fire Company’s 1947 Ward LaFrance as it appeared in the December 2007 edition of 1st Responder Newspaper.

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This photo is from a parade in 1950, I don’t recognize the men in this photo or the location of the parade, but if I had to guess I would say it’s a parade in Trenton or maybe the convention in Atlantic City and its Don Snyder, driving and Roy (Smut) Champion on the back. I do have some 1950 convention photos, this may help put a date and place on both.

This photo does not show it, but Groveville Fire Company equipment was painted Gray. As I understand it this color was adopted as the official color during the war when “Blackouts” were common. The Gray was a non reflective color; even the chrome was painted gray during the war.

This was not just any gray, this was a blend and tint of gray that was developed for Groveville Fire Company and the exact color was known as “Groveville Gray”. Hamilton and Enterprise Fire Company’s had gray equipment, but each had its own unique tint of gray.

If you want to buy a brand new 1947 Ward LaFrance here is an advertisement I have, in my collection, (I call it a collection, at home it’s referred to as “Gary’s Junk”) that appeared in Fire Engineering Magazine in 1947.

Groveville Kindergarten ~ 1958

As the photo says, this is the Groveville School Kindergarten class of 1958. As always, Miss Longstreet is the kindergarten teacher.

By looking at this picture, all I can says is “Groveville sure has some good looking children” and you can tell they are from Groveville, they are all smiling. I know all of these people, but can only name a little more than half.

As you can tell by the cute little girl in the center with the blue jumper that skinned knee, it tells you we liked to play hard too, maybe a game of Tag or running for home during Hide & Seek. Maybe her big brother pushed her, I doubt it. Hey, I know her, I knew that smile was familiar, but then in Groveville we never forget each other.

Some of the people in this photo are not with us any more and that’s sad, because they left us too soon and they are missed.

Most of these people have left Groveville, but some still come back when necessary, a funeral, a wedding, or Memorial Day Parade. Just the other week I was at a gathering of people, not Groveville people either, and I overheard someone being asked where they were from, their response was “I have lived in Virginia for forty two years, but I am really from Groveville”. Kind of makes you smile to hear that.

Just a Thought

I thought I should post this photo before it to turns out to be a piece of history. After this weeks election I am sure this sign will be coming down, my questions is will it be replaced or will there be two pieces of sign post material just sticking out of the ground on Church Street, by the school and Main Street, by the park.

I don’t mean to editorialize, but then this is my site. Mayor Gilmore did a lot for Groveville, maybe not him personally, but he was instrumental in getting the work accomplished and I appreciate it.

The concerned people of Groveville have for years questioned the dangerous conditions at the old Anchor Thread Company, but no one seemed to care or respond. It was in danger of collapsing onto Main Street. If there were a fire it would have been life threatening to the firefighters. The city water supply in the area is poor and drafting from the creek is difficult due to the lift from the creek.

Jean Mushinski made a call directly to the mayor, explained the conditions and he, personally, was out to look at in a day and we were on our way from a dilapidated, dangerous, eyesore, to a lovely park through grants and donations.

For quite some time we had a trash problem on Church Street. People coming into Groveville on Church Street felt that this was the place to dispose of bottles, cans and fast food packages, between the creek and the school. It was dark, high weeds and brush, and no houses. Different areas of government were contacted and we were always told it was not there problem, it was the property owners.

A call was place to Mayor Gilmore, the situation was explained, and it was soon after that the brush and trees were cut back, new period lighting was installed, with fresh hanging plants, azaleas were planted and this sign erected. Now the trash is not thrown there and what is can be seen and not hidden in the brush and is readily picked up by the township employee that comes to water the plantings

Mayor Gilmore found out that our WWII Memorial had been removed and not replaced. Last Memorial Day our pastor, Rev Lin Hofacker, was retiring. Mayor Gilmore came to Groveville Methodist Church that Sunday to wish her well in her retirement. He and I spoke about this earlier, but he proposed at Church that day, that he wanted to remove the hedge around our WWI monument, put in a planting garden and erect a new WWII monument on Church Street. I spoke to him lately and this is in the works after the winter weather breaks, I hope this still comes true.

My fear and I hope I am wrong, is that now Groveville will go back to being the forgotten end of the township that it was before. My seventh grade teacher, Miss Mae Davis said “Maybe you don’t like the person elected and maybe you did not vote for him, but the majority did elect him and it’s up to us all to support him” (and you all thought I didn’t learn anything in school).

I am sure Groveville will still get what it needs, we just might have to speak a little louder to get it.

Just a thought from Gary, for what its worth.

Obituary ~ First Chief of Groveville Volunteer Fire Company ~June 5, 1925

Maurice Doughty was the first chief of the Groveville Volunteer Fire Company. He along with his brother, Bud Doughty, were two of the group of organizers of the fire company. Both were employed at the mill.

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I did know that he was a cousin of mine, but during the research, speaking to Shirley Wright DeGenova, I found he was her uncle. One of the bearers, George B. Rollings was my Great Grandfather.

Main Street in Winter ~ 1945

This is a photo of Main Street, Groveville in winter, looking north from in front of the old firehouse at 200 Main Street.

The house on the left is Snyder’s, next is the store owned by Diamond’s, then Hepburn’s and know as “Jo’s Store” when I was growing up, for Josephine "Jo" Hepburn. The large white house on the corner was their house.

The general store is visible in the distance with the gas pump in the front.

The date this photo was printed is 1945, by the date stamped on the back by the developer.

Groveville Fire Company, December 21, 1967

This was the equipment we had in 1967 to keep Hamilton Township, District #9 safe.

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First in line was 9-1, a 1957 Ward LaFrance, 750 GPM 3 Stage, High Pressure Pump, 500 gallon tank. Hose, 2 1/2 & 1 1/2, two top mounted high pressure booster reels.

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Second in line is 9-2, a 1947 Ward LaFrance, 500 GPM Pump, 500 gallon tank. Hose, 2 1/2 & 1 1/2, one booster reel in the rear above the tail board. (I learned to drive & become a pump operator on this one).

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Third in line is 9-3, a 1958 Ford Utility/Support vehicle. This carried a Portable Pump and Portable Generator, portable lights, and wire reels. Masks, MSA & Chemox (we've come a long way from them, amazin we are still alive), Indian Tanks (for brush fires), and extinguishers, brush brooms (for brush and grass fires), shovels, and salvage equipment.

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This photo was taken on the Baseball Field behind the old fire house at 200 Main Street in Groveville

Local Groveville Boy is Hero

Groveville; July 13, 1923

Charles C. Borden, 13 years old, rescued Rose Leiderman, 13 years old, of New York City, from drowning in Mill Pond at Groveville. He is the son of Mrs. Susie Borden of 103 Mary St. Bordentown and is staying with his grandmother, Mrs. Susie Borden of Groveville.

Without any thought for his own safety, young Charles C. Borden jumped into the pond and pulled the young girl to safety. She was unable to swim.

Groveville School~Miss Longstreet's Class

Miss Longstreet was the Kindergarten (Reception Grade) and First Grade teacher at Groveville Elementary School for many years, she taught children of parents she had taught. This picture was obviously taken at Christmas. The children were learning to buy and sell items. They used play money, learned to make change and handle money. This photo was taken Dec. 1940- Back Row 1st Grade - Albert Grove, Shirley Wright DiGenova, Joan Weast ~ Front Row Kindergarten or Reception Grade- Ruth McEmoyl Knight, Skippy Shelton Goldy, Jackie Errickson Marchesi.

Groveville School ~ 1932

This is a class at Groveville School, in 1932. I do not know what grade this is or who any of the students are. I do know that in 1932 Groveville School went as high as Seventh Grade.

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My mother tells me that from there she went to Klockner School for Eighth Grade and then on to Hamilton High. Mom graduated from high school in 1939.
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The new Yardville School was not completed until 1939, this is why the trip to Klockner School.
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When I look at this picture, I think about that fence, its the original and still there today. My father, Ken climbed that fence, I climbed that fence, my daughter, Kati climbed that fence. I doubt if my my mother, Dot, climbed that fence, I think she was more of the "Straight "A", school work doing group".

Groveville School Post Card

This is a Post Card of the brand new Groveville School, mailed October 28, 1908, Ninety nine years ago. The school was only six years old, at this time, built in 1902. The school when built had only two rooms. I believe I had heard the rear two rooms were added around 1916.

The message on the card is;

Yardville;

We are having a nice time, saw Maggie this afternoon, she is well. Tell Father & Mother to come out on Wednesday of next week.

Ida & Howard

The school has not changed much since 1916. When a new roof was applied the two finials on the peaks, as well as the finials on the belfry and the vent cupola were removed. Also removed was the corbel on the front peak in front of the belfry. The township has done a great job of maintaining the buildings historic integrity, while still making improvements, new heat, air-conditioning, energy efficient doors and windows, as well as replacing the original slate roof with a metal roof that resembles slate.

Everyone I ask about the history and their memories of the school asks me if I know what happened to the bell, I don’t. My mother remembers the bell and it being rung for school as well as others do also, but we don’t have an answer as to where it went. I had heard it was removed for maintenance and never returned. I started school there in 1949 and have lived across the street from the school all of my life and never remember the bell. Even if it never rang again it would be nice to have it back in the belfry.

An Elegant House on Church Street

This has to be one of the most elegant photos I have found. This wonderfully posed and composed photo is of a house on Church Street. This house is located next to the Groveville Methodist Church and Cemetery, across from the Church Parsonage.

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I have been told this is the Borden Family in this photo.
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To most Groveville people this will always be known as the home of Dot and Ed Jones, and their children, Lee, Tim, and Bonnie. I never remember the house with that fence in the front, but to me growing up this house was always a special house, I think it was that porch, a great porch for watching the Memorial Day Parade (Decoration Day then) or just sitting. I guess because the rest of us lived in houses connected to another house, this was a single family home.

Ed was one of the people that sparked my interest in Groveville History. He worked at the Mill and he gave me an old Post Card size photo of the mill, it might have been an old Post Card, and it showed the mill with the Mill Race in the front. It was then that I realized that the depression in the woods near the mill was the remnant of the Mill Race.

Ed Jones was one of the men in the Fire Company that I looked up to. When he and the other older men in the Fire Company would talk about Groveville Stories and History I would just sit there and listen, they were so interesting. I just wish these guys were here today to ask questions of or at least I should have written down some of what they said.

Dot Jones was my Sunday School Teacher, let me correct that, Dot Jones was everyone’s Sunday School Teacher.

"Just an old Ice Cream Dipper"

This may be just an old ice cream scoop, but it’s an old scoop from the company store of Morris and Company, Groveville, New Jersey. This is one of the scoops my great grandmother, Naomi Rollings, used when she operated the company store.

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There were two, one has been lost. My mother tells me this was a three cent scoop; I guess this size scoop of ice cream would be $7.50 at Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream, today.

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This dipper is about one hundred years old and in my kitchen drawer today, along with some modern stainless dippers of various sizes and still used today, carefully.

Epworth League Rally - 1914

This is a card commemorating the rally held at the Groveville Methodist Church in 1914. Below is a little history of the Epworth League.

A youth order of the Methodist Episcopal Church (Now the United Methodist Church) founded in 1889 in Cleveland, Ohio. Still active and on-line. For over half a century the Epworth League, the Methodist youth organization was especially strong. The group was authorized in 1890 by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and local churches soon began organizing their youth in Epworth leagues. The purpose of the leagues was to develop young church members in their religious life and to provide training in churchmanship. It was parallel to the Sunday school and typically met on Sunday nights. The name Epworth came from the boyhood home in England of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement.

The Estate on Church Street

At one time there was a man that lived on Church Street named Theophilus van Kannel, of Dutch – American descent. He was born in Philadelphia in 1841. He built an estate on Church Street on a piece of land between the Crosswicks & Doctors Creek and bordered on one side by Church Street and the Bordentown-South Amboy Turnpike on the other. This piece of land was as high as the top of the hill on Church Street, but the creeks had carved it into a single high piece of land over looking the Mill pond, Saw Mill, and Grist mill.

This is the only remaining remnant of the Van Kannel, estate. If you notice the three recesses on this pillar, this pillar is at the end of the fence run, in fact this is opening in the fence to the well house. These three recesses are only on one side. These three recesses held three shaped concrete pieces, the bottom pieces were concrete pieces approximately twenty four inches long, arranged in a checkered pattern and the top piece was a continuous concrete rail between two pillars. Pillars in the middle of a fence run had recesses on two opposing sides to create a fence. These pillars are approximately six feet high and eighteen inches square, with steel reinforcement rod sticking out of the top to support a pyramid shaped concrete cap.

There were two entrances from Church Street; the main entrance was across from the now Eagle Rock Apartments. This was a very steep upward drive, that curved to the right for about fifty feet, then curved upward to the left and straight to the estate, The entrance was marked with two concrete pillars as the one above with a light at the top of the pillar. The entire drive was lined with a concrete curb with a concrete pillar every twenty feet or so, with a short rail support pillar between the tall ones, on both sides of the drive.

The drive, at one time was paved with concrete and concrete rain gutters. As you neared the main house there was a small barn like building and a vegetable garden and small orchard. As you past the main house, which faced south, there was a large curved drive with a large flower garden and the remains of a fountain or large concrete area in the center.

As you stand facing the house (North) to your left is the carriage house. The carriage house is almost as large as the main house. The carriage was like two separate buildings attached with a common second floor structure, which formed open archways. One side of the first floor was a barn for stable horses and the other side was a large open barn for the storage of the carriages or cars. The archway was a covered outdoor area to prepare the carriages and hitch the horses. On both sides were the living quarters for the chauffeur and stable keeper and their families.

The most memorable was the clock tower above the Carriage house. The clock tower was the third story of the Carriage House on the top of a very high hill. This tower had a clock face on four sides and was visible from the Bordentown – South Amboy Turnpike and later Route 130.

The second entrance from Church Street is still visible and marked by the last remaining of the concrete pillars. This was about sixty feet long and ended at a small wooden building. This building housed a hand dug brick lined well and a pump. This well supplied all of the water to the main house and the carriage house. There was a tank in the clock tower below the clock mechanism and there was a large tank in the top floor or attic of the main house. The water was pumped to these tanks and gravity fed to the houses as needed.

Claire reminded me that there was a set of concrete steps that went from just beyond the well house, up to the drive, it was a very steep climb.

If you stood by the well house and walked down the path toward Doctors Creek you would see a pipe four inches in diameter and about a foot long, extending from the hill side, it was rusted and moss covered and there was a constant flow of pure, clear, and cold spring water.

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As I look back this pipe was over the side of the hill and directly in line with the well house and ran about thirty feet from the well, this pipe could have been an overflow for the well to keep the well at a constant level, as it was fed by many very active springs.

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When I was young I remember people coming constantly, with jugs, to fill them with water from this pipe, as kids we never missed a chance to drink from the spring. The spring is now dry and the pipe is gone

``````This is the Path to the Spring ``````



The owner, Theophilus van Kannel, was an inventor. While working for the Automatic Hook and Eye Co. of Hoboken, New Jersey in 1888, he invented and patented the revolving door. In high-rise buildings, regular doors are hard to open because there is a slight vacuum caused by air flowing upwards through stairwells, elevator shafts, and chimneys. Van Kannel's new type of door was easy to open in tall building (and also saved heat in the winter). Van Kannel patented the revolving door on August 7, 1888. It would have saved Air Conditioning too, but that was not invented until 1902.

I am sure he had no idea how much kids would love spinning in a revolving door, I did.

Even though the revolving door was his most memorable invention, he also invented one of the most popular rides at Coney Island’s Luna Park. It was the Witching Waves built in 1907.

The ride was destroyed in 1919, by the Rockaway Beach Hook & Ladder Co. in an attempt to save the life of 16 year old Tony Embricati who had crawled under the ride and was caught in the mechanism. The ride was not rebuilt.

Here are the Witching Waves ride in 1919, the cars of which were propelled by an undulating floor of hinged plates.

The Ride Witching Waves - Coney Island, NY


The Ride Witching Waves - Blackpool, England

Van Kannel’s other inventions were the Hydrant Valve-1869, Improved Hydrant valve-1873 (used in the Fire Hydrant), the spring loaded door closer we use today-1867, the Cider Mill-1867, the Commercial Cherry Stoner (for remove cherry pits)-1885. All were patented and in use today.

Mr. van Kannel passed away, December 24, 1919, at the age of 78 at the apartment of his nephew, Benjamin S. van Kannel, at the Roger Morris Apartments, in New York, of a heart condition. Mr van Kannel was buried in Cleveland, Ohio, Friday, December 26, 1919.

The estate changed hands several times, falling into disrepair and at some time the main house was damaged by a fire and never repaired. The last owner I knew was Chester King of Main Street in Groveville. The main house was torn down in the early 1960’s and the carriage house was intact until the late 1960’s, when it too was torn down. The high hill it sat on was leveled and sold for its soil and sand value.

For a short period, when my father was young he and his family lived in the carriage house and related some of what the estate looked like, to me. I was informed today in church that it was during this time that the mansion house was damaged by fire. Some of what the estate looked like was learned by me sneaking up to the “Haunted Mansion” with Charlie Donnell.

Local stories tell that during Prohibition, around 1930, the estate was owned by a family named Falcy, and was a large producer of illegal alcohol in central New Jersey.

A story told to me by the late Jim Stackhouse of Groveville; he remembered a late night raid of the estate and the next day he and others stood on the hillside, opposite the driveway on Church Street, watching government agents hauling out the illegal equipment in trucks.

I remember a small log cabin like building about fifteen feet square, on the hillside, in the woods, just above Doctors Creek and near where Route 130 is now. Storyies have it, there was a tunnel that connected this cabin to the cellar of the main house. It was speculated that this was an escape route should the house be raided. Thinking back and having seen this cabin, I could not see it serving any other purpose. It was not any where near the main house or easily accessible to any buildings, to be used as a tool shed or storage. It was not close enough to the creek for a pump house and it had no utilities. This speculation only adds to the mystery of the estate.

I spoke to several people familiar with the estate before writing this and everyone agrees it must have been a beautiful estate when Mr. van Kannel lived there.

Today the only remnant of this estate is the lone concrete pillar with steel conduit sticking out of the top on Church Street and the street in Yardville named for him.

Mercer Textile - 1934

This is some Groveville memorabilia I have picked up, this I bought on EBay. This speaks for it’s self. I purchased this envelope only because it’s just a little bit of Groveville History.

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A. B. Caya is a manufacturer of premium textiles in Canada. It was established in 1932 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. It’s interesting to wonder what was in this envelope, a payment for goods or a contract to supply A. B. Caya with some of the premium textiles produced by Mercer Textile.

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The other question is why someone in Canada saved this enveloped in such good condition since 1934, did they know EBay was coming ….. I doubt it.

Wedding Announcement

Groveville; Friday, October 2, 1874

We wish to announce the marriage of Fannie Salter of Groveville to Ezra W. Keeler, owner of the Clarence Cotton Mill, also of Groveville, on Sunday, August 30 1874. The ceremony was performed in Newport, Rhode Island by Rev. J.C. Kimball

Mom and Dad - 1954

Mom & Dad on vacation in Williamsburg Virginia, 1954. I was there and so was my Grandmother Kate Johnson. I can't believe Dad's 1950 Hudson made it.

The Stores of Groveville

During our childhood in Groveville there was not an Acme or Wal-Mart, but there was not shortage of stores as far as we knew.

At one time there was a General Store, The Company Store, a bakery, shoe repair, Pool Hall, barbershop, and these were the ones I heard about.

For serious food shopping we used to go to, I believe it was, Giant Tiger, a grocery store on Chambers Street, just past Trenton High School on the same side of the street, but for meats Dad always went to Public Meat Market at Clinton and Olden Ave. Sometimes we would go to the A & P at Park and Broad, now R&S Strauss Auto Parts.

For a town with only three streets, Church, Main and Allen, we had three stores, we thought that was plenty. These three stores were totally different,

Then - 1930

Now - 2007

The corner store was more like the General Store; they sold fresh butchered meat, luncheon meats and cheese, wheels of cheese fresh cut, canned goods, produce, bakery items, paper products, dairy products & packaged ice cream, soaps, and household goods. In the very early years, when Mr. Hartmann owned it, it had a gas pump out front. This is visible in the “Then” picture (by the tree). Wonder if it was removed by and approved Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Remediation Co. – I doubt it.

This store had a variety of owners and names, Lester “Les” Johnson, Len’s, Ben & Sadie’s, Manny’s, Hartmann’s, and Isaac “Ike” Bowers. These are the names that Mom and I remember.

The other store was more of a candy store, our kind of place; it was owned by Josephine “Jo” and Harley Hepburn. Before Jo and Harley owned the store it was know as Diamond’s.

This was before my time and I have no idea who Diamond was, but this was an advertisement from the Trenton Times for Diamond’s. My mother remembers it being Diamond’s but could not tell me much more than that.

Jo and Harley sold hand dipped ice cream (Abbott’s), bottled soda (E.L. Kerns), penny candy, bread (Bond), Hostess and Tasty Cakes. They sold Cigarettes, cigars, pipes & pipe tobacco, Chewing Tobacco, shredded dry and plug style. Don’t forget Triple Cola, 16 oz for twelve cents, two cents bottle deposit.

There was very little liter back then, there was no soda in cans, only bottles, and if you returned an empty bottle to the store you got .02 for a small bottle and .05 for large, big bucks in those days.

They sold lots of odds and ends; guess they were called “Notions” like corn-cob pipes on a card, combs, marbles, fish hooks & sinkers, even cheap fishing poles. I remember she used to have Punch-Cards. This was a card about a foot square with a series of about 50 covered small holes. You paid a dime or a quarter and picked a hole and punched it through, which pushed out a small piece of paper with a prize listed on it, not every hole was a winner.

The screen door was pulled shut with a big spring, it always squeaked as it closed and slammed when it shut, some things you always remember.

To the right of the front door was a wooden phone booth. The phone in the booth had three coin slots, Nickel, Dime, and Quarter. The mouthpiece was fastened to the phone and the ear piece was on a cord.

On the left side of the door, behind the shelves of bread, rolls, donuts and Tasty-Cakes was a pinball machine.

Claire Dwier Zarr reminded me that as a child she used to help Jo Hepburn out in the store, dispensing Penny Candy. She remembers Danny Mozer, who's father George, owned Crosswicks Sand and Gravel Co., on Church Street in Groveville, later owned Yardville Supply, riding his horse, Patches to Jo's store and buying two Ice Cream cones, one for him and one for the horse. Everybody wanted to ride Patches, but Danny would not let us, neither would Patches.

I wish I had pictures of the store; it was a one room, one story building with a large concrete porch.

Sometime in the late fifties, Jo closed her store. It was soon after that Groveville went modern; we got home delivery of mail, good news for the mailbox salesman. This meant the Post Office Boxes were removed from the Post Office, freeing up room in the building for Jim and Betty Stackhouse to add hand dipped ice cream, penny candy, greeting cards, and soda.

Then - Post Office 1930

Now - Post Office Building (Beauty Shop) - 2007

Betty’s, as it was known, continued until the post office consolidated and closed the Groveville Post Office and the Yardville Post office (Brick building, South Broad, across from The Yardville Bank) and opened the present Post office on Route 130 and Klockner Road.

It was not long after that Jim and Betty closed their store, leaving one store, on the corner.

Its no longer the General Store, now it called the Family Place Deli, They sell packaged ice cream, candy, cigarettes, soda, lottery tickets, and small items. It is mostly a deli, coffee and sandwich shop.