Vacation Bible School - 1947

I received this photo from our Pastor at Groveville Methodist Church, Rev. Fran B. Ballinger. The adult in the photo is Dot Jones, of Church Street (Groveville has more than one Dot Jones).

Written on the back was "Vacation Bible School - 1947". Vacation Bible School usually takes place during summer vacation, by the way everyone is dressed it must have been a cold summer in 1947.

Baseball Scores - in case you missed it

Baseball Headline: September 13, 1895

The Groveville baseball

club defeated the

White Hill team on Saturday, 4-1.

We just Called it "Playground"

During the summer there was a program, sponsored by Hamilton Township, I don’t know what the proper name for the program was, but we called it “Playground”. If someone asked what you’re were doing today, your response would be, I’m going to “Playground”, strange huh.

Ours was at Groveville School, I know there was one at Switlik Park and I am sure they were at all township schools, in the 1950's

I seem to think it started the week after school ended and stopped a week before school started. It used to start in mid morning and end in mid afternoon, five days a week. We had organized games, projects, and contests. Once a week we would have pool day, where we would be taken to Woodlawn Pool, for the day, I think it cost .25 to go and you would usually take another .25 for a soda and a snack, WOW. It was no Great Adventure, but it was to us, but then Great Adventure is 59.99 + 15.00 to park, more than Dad made in a week in 1954.

It gave us a different place to swim, instead of Cold Spring or Black Rock on the Crosswicks Creek

The person in charge was usually a High School student or college student that needed a summer job. The only person I remember doing it was a girl named Sue, she is in the pictures below, and my friend Leota Mushinski Walder reminded me that she and Carol Spence were in charge of the playground at one time, but there were others.

The kids in these photos are, Charles Donnell (with hatchet), Mike & Denny Moyer, Walt Sehorn, Emma & Ann Reynolds, Tom Dwier, Gary Lippincott (me), and Sue, the counselor.

Below are some of the activities, it must have been pool day as some of us had towels and tubes. These are some of the things we learned;

We learned how to do nothing

Left to Right; Dennis Moyer, Tom Dwier, Sue the counselor, Charlie Donnell (behind Sue), Mike Moyer, Walt Sehorn (blowing Double Bubble). Girls left to right Ann Reynolds & Emma Reynolds.

To Give Free Hatchet Haircuts

Left to Right, rear; Walt Sehorn, Sue, Dennis Moyer, Tom Dwier, Charlie Donnell, Front row, Left to Right; Emma Reynolds, Mike Moyer, & Ann Reynolds

How to Play the Harmonica - I think

Left to Right Front; Sue, Mike Moyer, Walt Sehorn,

Rear Left to Right; Dennis Moyer & Charlie Donnell

How to look tough - When your not

Left to Right; Charlie Donnell, Dennis Moyer,

Ann Reynolds, Walt Sehorn, Sue, & Mike Moyer

How to control the Kids

Left to Right; Sue, Charlie Donnell, Mike Moyer, Walt Sehorn, & Dennis Moyer

Dennis Moyer & Sue

How to Control the Camp Counselor

Left to Right; Sue, Charlie Donnell, & Walt Sehorn

First Aid

Left to Right;Walt Sehorn, Charlie Donnell, Sue,

Dennis Moyer & Gary Lippincott is the patient.

How to impress the Girls

Left to Right; Emma Reynolds, Ann Reynolds, Mike Moyer &

Gary Lippincott rear pretending he has a cigarette.

The Mill

Birds Eye View of Groveville


This is a very interesting artists rendering of Groveville. This was published in the State Gazette, circa 1876. The original of this publication is framed and hanging on my living room wall.

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At this time the mill was owned by Ezra W. Keeler and known as the Clarence Cotton Mill, it later became Morris and Company, Inc. and when it was closed the buildings had been divided into two companies, Anchor Thread Co. and Mercer Textile Co.

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It is now owned by the Township of Hamilton, some of the buildings have been preserved for future use. What could not be saved has been turned in to a beautiful community park, canoe launch, and seasonal events.

Interesting points of this drawing are the two bridges on the center left. Now Main street curves around the park, then Main Street intersected with Camden Road and it was Camden Road that crossed the bridges. The first bridge is no longer there, but was the mill race that powered and supplied water to the mill; the second is the Crosswicks Creek

If you are at the park and cross the street and look behind the “Welcome to Hamilton” sign and the pump station, its easiest after Fall and no leaves on the trees, you will be able to see the depression where the mill race ran.

At one time there was a Lock or Gate Dam, a type of diverter on the Crosswicks Creek below the entrance of the millrace that served two purposes. It controlled the down stream flow of the Crosswicks Creek, diverting water through the mill race to feed the needs of the mill.

Crosswicks Creek is a tidal creek and as the tide rose in the creek the lock held back the tide allowing the creek to run deep enough to allow barges to navigate the creek to the mill. This allowed raw materials and coal to be transported to the mill and finished goods shipped out. The Crosswicks Creek intersects with the Delaware River and The Delaware – Raritan Canal at Bordentown, direct routes of commerce to Philadelphia and New York at the time.

The mills of Ezra W. Keeler, known as The Clarence Cotton Mill, were powered by water power and a coal fired steam boiler.

The Clarence Cotton Mill fell on hard times, when in February of 1869, Herman Keeler of Rome, NY began a foreclosure of a $20,000.00 mortgage on the contents of the Clarence Cotton Mill and Ezra W. Keeler, which he held.

In the upper right of this drawing is the Methodist Church, across from the church is a long building that appears to be on Church Street, but is really on Main Street and set back from the street. This building was the original Groveville School. When the new school was built and dedicated in 1902, this building became the original Groveville Fire House.

Many of the houses in this drawing are still in Groveville.

Groveville Methodist Church

Yesterday ~ 1888

Today ~ 2006

This taken from the History section of the Groveville Methodist Church Website

A little bit of history:

In 1830, Groveville had only ten houses in the village but, led by pastor Thomas Stewart of the Crosswicks Circuit the faithful met for worship. By 1836 plans were made for the building of a house of worship. One acre of ground was purchased from Richard and Samuel Jaques and the church was built at an entire cost of $999.49. A renovation of the Church was completed on December 1, 1887 at a cost of $2,450. On August 15, 1887 the cornerstone was laid for the new church and on Jan 26, 1888 the steeple was erected. The altar was made from local trees. In 1884, the Church was under the leadership of Pastor Blackeston. A parsonage was built in 1886. As the community grew, so did the needs of the Church. A community house was built in 1917, later replaced by an educational building in 1956, completed and dedicated in 1958, at a cost of almost $100,000. Under the leadership of Rev. David Seeland the mortgage was paid off and the Church continues to grow with the community. Recently the Church interior has been renovated and the stained glass windows restored to their original beauty. Joyously, the Church continues to faithfully serve the community today

Groveville Champion Baseball Team

I believe this was the forerunner of the Little League. According to Carl Cubberly this article was from 1940 or 1941 and this was the forerunner of the Little League. Anyone who knows more about the Midget League let me know, I'll be glad to post it.

World War I Memorial and Honor Roll

The World War I Monument was erected on Church Street, between the Community House and the Methodist Church Parsonage. The monument was not moved, but the Community House was taken down and the new church eductional building was built behind the monument.

Grist Mill on Church Street

This is a photo of the Grist Mill on Church Street,. This view is as if you were standing on the side of the creek between the Bridge and the dam on the Groveville side, looking down Church Street toward Yardville. The small white bridge in the center is the raceway bridge and is no longer there. The building to the left of the bridge is the Grist Mill; there was a Saw Mill further down the Raceway. The long dwelling in the trees was a multi family dwelling where the Mill workers lived, at one time my Uncle Jack Coffee lived there. The dwelling was torn down in the early 1950’s to make way for Route 25, now Route 130.

As you follow Church Street to the top of the hill, this is where the intersection of Church Street and Route 156. Route 156 at this time it was know as the Bordentown-South Amboy Turnpike, Chartered February 16, 1816, becoming Park Street as it entered Bordentown, along the Railroad Tracks.

The road forked just past the Crosswicks Creek, the right fork was the Bordentown-South Amboy Turnpike, the left fork is now known as Hogback Road, which continued on to the Bordentown–Crosswicks Turnpike, a privately maintained road, the Toll House is still on the corner. These were the two main roads to Bordentown long before Route 130 (Route 25, before 1953).

Sorry, I get carried away, now back to the Grist Mill

Below is a receipt for grain purchased at the Grist Mill, March 12, 1918

Groveville School

The normal progression of schooling at this time was, you attended Groveville School, then moved on to Yardville School, after Yardville School you graduated on to Hamilton High West, then named Hamilton High, it was the only one. This is why the photos of Yardville School are 25% Groveville Kids.

Yardville School Sports Club- 1953-54

My good friend and life long Groveville resident, Howard LeJambre brought this picture to my attention. As he stated, this is something you’ll never see again, Kids bringing their guns and Bows and Arrows, to school and standing with the Principal.

This club discussed fishing and hunting techniques. Along with that they were taught Gun and Archery safety. The person running the club was the school principal, Mr. Hancock.

If this many kids brought Guns and Bow and Arrows to school today, you would not be able to see the school for the SWAT teams. How times have changed.

Howard and I speculated how they got the guns to school and they were most likely brought on the School Bus, in 1954 no one had an extra car to take a child to school, dad had the car at work.

Groveville 4-H

If not read able, the caption below the picture reads;

Growing plants in boxes will constitute the major project this summer of the younger boys of Groveville, who are members of the 4-H Flower Club. Pictured above are several of the group at work constructing the boxes, under the direction of Henry Freeze, leader. They are left to right Leo Reed, William Mich, Samuel Bainbridge, Henry Freeze, Melvin Becker, Robert Thompson, James Jones, Lester Lippincott and William Jones. Other members Ernest Becker, Carl Cubberly, and Lloyd Blanchard

Knowing the people in this newspaper clipping I would guess this picture was taken in the early to mid 1940’s. Some of the boys don’t look real happy to have their picture taken and put in the newspaper as members of the 4-H Flower Club. It’s hard to be a tough guy in school after this. Jimmy Jones looks down right dangerous with that hammer in his hand.

Groveville Community House

The large two story building on the center right of this picture is the Groveville Community House.

The Groveville Community House was quite a place. It was built in 1917. It very much resembles the Crosswicks Community House. It sat on Church Street where now the Groveville Methodist Church Educational Building is located.

From the front the building resembled a movie theater of the time. The entrance was right at the sidewalk. It had a large front overhang that covered a large concrete pad, adjacent to the sidewalk. The overhang was held up by four large pillars. When you entered the building you were on a landing and had the choice to go up stairs or down.

Upstairs was a large auditorium with a stage at the far end. The stage was fairly professional for the little town of Groveville. It had a stage curtain, lighting, and wings off the stage for those waiting to go on. It also had a large pull down movie screen. There was an exit on the north side of the building that led down an outside wooden stairway; I hope this was not meant as a fire exit, as it was made of wood.

The auditorium was used by local theater groups; the church and the fire company. On special nights it would be used for movies. I remember going to variety and magic shows there. There were plays put on by local groups and even Minstrel Shows, by the Pocahontas Lodge, using local “actors”. The church would use it for Sunday School

The downstairs was a full Basketball Court; originally it had a hardwood floor, with a professional Basketball Court finish. My Grandfather Jack Johnson was in charge of the court and the floor. He was quite an athlete in his day; I have his YMCA Track and field medals. He was a speed skater, I still have his skates, and I have pictures of him riding a unicycle. I was told that organized basketball games were played there, but I don’t know who played.

At some time the hardwood floor was removed, I only remember a concrete floor marked as a basketball court. From what I know it is very hard to maintain a wood floor on concrete, below grade. The dampness takes its toll.

Downstairs there was a large kitchen on the back of the building. The church Thanksgiving Breakfast and other church dinners were served there, the fire company used the hall before the new firehouse was built, and other local groups used it for fund raiser dinners.

I was told that time took its toll on the building and it was torn down in 1956.

If you stood on the same spot as the picture above was taken you would see that the only thing changed on Church Street is the Community House is gone and the cars have changed, other than that it’s the same.

Groveville Mill Pond

This is the Mill pond on Church Street between Groveville and Yardville and is also the unofficial border between the two. The dam is still there, but failed in the early 1940's. The pond was originally created to provide power, through a raceway, to power a Grist Mill and a Saw Mill owned by R.C. Huchinson.

Portions of the raceway, along with the supports for the Water Wheel axle are still visible next to the entrance to Hamilton Township Department of Water Pollution Control Facility on Church Street.

The pond dam was located on Church Street and extended under Yardville-Crosswicks Rd. (So. Broad St.) to the beginning of the pond at Springdale Park (CYO Camp) on Yardville-Allentown Road, across from Yardville School.

During the winter The children from Groveville that attended Yardville School, would walk to the dam, put on their skates and skate to the end of the lake and then cross over Yardville-Allentown Road to school. I am sure many were late.

Before the Crosswicks Sand & Gravel Co. (now Yardville Supply) removed the sand from what is now Eagle Rock Apts. there was a very high hill that extended from the banks of the pond to the top behind the Groveville School, with a steep trail know as "The Indian Trail". During the winter only the bravest of boys would sled down this trail and right out on the pond. I understand that many a Flexible Flyer was lost on this trail.

There was always a usually friendly rivalry between the boys from Groveville and the boys from Yardville. Many times disputes would be settled with the words "I'll meet you at the Dam" I never remember it going any further than words.

During his time as Mayor of Hamilton Twp., Groveville resident Ray Dwier attempted to secure funds through the Green Acres Program to restore the pond and dam.

Groveville Elementary School

Attending Groveville School was a great experience that was not realized until later in life. When my mother went there in the 1930's the school went to the seventh grade in four rooms, when I attended school there, in the 1950's it went to the Fifth grade in four rooms. Kindergarten and First grade were taught in one room by Miss Longstreet, Second and Third grades were in another room and taught by Miss Elias. Fourth and Fifth Grades were taught by Mrs. Sarah Brecht, who was also my Sunday School Teacher. She was a long time Groveville resident that lived on Main Street with her husband Charlie. It was a strange time, she used to walk to school like the rest of us.

There was also a Fourth Grade class in the other room that consisted of children that were bused to the school from Yardville School, Mrs. Donehower was the teacher's name for that class, the teacher for this class changed often, the other three were there forever.

One advantage of having two grades in the same room was, the teacher would give one grade a reading or work assignment to do while she taught the other. A good second grade student could do their work and also learn third grade studies, something I am sure I never did.

Everyone in Groveville started school there, the first day of school was a very social event, for our parents. Everyone's mother was there for the first day of school (most mothers didn't work in the 1950's), if it was your first day of Kindergarten or not. I think they were there to give support to the mothers that were sending their children to school for the first time. Even after the bell rang the mothers could be seen standing around in large and small groups chatting. Slowly they would disperse and wander down Church Street, most likely stopping at the Post Office to see if the mail had been sorted yet (no home delivery then) or to catch up on any gossip they had missed at the school.

The custodian then was Nimrod Dwier, know as Nim, to us he was Mr. Dwier or Uncle Nim, long time Groveville resident, with a lot of family in Groveville. We always thought of him as a "Grumpy" old man, really he was yelling at us for our own good, but then we were kids and he was an adult, so we thought he was "Grumpy".

Being a school custodian back then was not an easy job, he was the only man there. He had to open the school, put up the flag, make sure the heat was up (coal) and the school was ready to go when the lovely children that would spend their day making a mess of the school that he had to clean up at night, would arrive.

As I mentioned before the school was heated by coal, which meant he had to stoke the fire all day and I remember him carrying out the ashes in a large galvanized tub and spreading it on the school yard. I remember when he was not doing maintenance or cleaning he was helping the teachers with any help or heavy lifting they needed. It seemed like he was always there, he was more than a custodian When we left he cleaned the school, banked the fire and closed up.

He was also our crossing guard at the crosswalk in front of the school. He was there before school and before lunch and after lunch and after school. Guess this is why he was "Grumpy".

We had a lunch room in the basement, but I never remember a hot lunch or any lunch being served. We could buy milk and eat your lunch there, but most of us walked home for lunch.

We had no school principal, he was at Yardville School, Mr Hancock, he came over if needed. We also had no school nurse, she also was at Yardville School and would come over if needed. We lived across the street from the school and my mother was a nurse and there were occasions when she would be asked to come over to school, I guess for a Band-aid for a skinned knee.

Our playground was unusual, by today's standards. The school yard was divided separating lower grades from the fourth and fifth.On the lower grade side we had a sliding board, steel, so hot in the summer you could actually get burned if you stopped on it, but if you saved the wax paper from your lunch, sat on it as you went down, you could fly.We had a pipe bar with four See-Saws on it, four swings on a pipe frame and a sand box.

On the upper grade side we had nothing, except the baseball field, outside the fence.

As we all know all playground apparatus must have a specified amount of approved cushioning mulch under them to insure that should a child fall off he will not be injured. We had the ash and cinders dumped by Mr. Dwier dumped under our playground equipment.

It is easy to identify children that attended Groveville School, they all have dark spots on their knees, these are the cinders still embedded there from falling in the playground.

Halloween was also a big day. Everyone would dress in their Halloween costume and we would have a parade. We would walk from the school to the Mill (Mercer Textile & Anchor Thread Company) from there up Main Street to about Phoebe Robinson's house (cemetery entrance) and then back to school. Parents would line the street to see us go by and the people at the Mill would come out.

It was a fun time