Groveville WWII Memorial

This is a photo of The Groveville World War II Memorial. The Memorial was originally constructed on a lot between the McElmoyl home and the Groveville Post Office (now Joann's Beauty Shop). At some time this lot was sold. There is a home there now, a Cape Cod style, know to old Groveville residents as Catherine Crider's House and the Memorial was moved across Church Street and placed between the Groveville Community House and the World War I Memorial. In 1956 The Groveville Community House was taken down to make way for the new Groveville Methodist Church Educational Building and the Memorial was also removed and never replaced.

Church Street - 1920's

This is a view of Church Street, Groveville, opposite the Methodist Church looking north towards the school. I believe this was taken 1920's only because the photos I have of Church Street taken at the time of the sale by Morris & Co, 1931, do not show the fence. Only a fence as complete and matching as this would have been installed by one owner, most likely the Company.

If you notice each house, on both sides of the street, has a gate and each gate is unique. The gates were made to fit the opening of each fence and each gate is a different size. The gates are fastened by resting on two hinge pins and a latch.

One interesting story, as told by my father Ken Lippincott, is that when he was a child growing up in Groveville, one harmless practice was that on Mischief Night the boys would come out after dark and steal everyone's gate. The gates would then be taken and piled in front of the Community House on Church Street. The fun part was the next day watching all the adult men trying to sort the gates and trying to find the gate that fit their fence, they all looked alike, but not all fit.

Naomi Rollings

This is my Great Grandmother, Naomi Rollings, born in 1871, in England, doing what she loved, working in her garden. She passed away in 1962 at age 91. At one time she operated the Company Store for Morris & Co., which owned most of Groveville at one time. Her husband, George, my Great Grandfather was a Machinist and Engineer and operated the Groveville Water Co, for Morris & Co. and one of the organizers of the Groveville Fire Co., I'll post his picture later. Naomi was one of the organizers of the Groveville Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, and its first president. The Rollings family lived in a large house that was located across from the Groveville School, the property was sold and the house torn down.

Just a Little Background

I have lived in Groveville all of my life and my history in Groveville goes back to my Great Grandparents on my mothers side of the family and my Grandparents on my fathers side. Over the years I have collected many photos and stories, just by listening to family and friends.

I am a fourth generation member of the Groveville Volunteer Fire Co., joining in 1962, believe me some of the best stories are told at the Fire House, where the motto is "Never let a little exaggeration stand in the way of a good story". When I joined the fire company almost every one there lived in Groveville or Yardville and if they were not related to you, they had known your family back to the Mayflower's landing. The story's there were the best.

I have been attending and a member of the Groveville Methodist Church all of my life.

I did notice that the same stories were told at church, but they were much more colorful at the fire house, even though they were told by the same people, Hmm.

For Some time I have been sending my photos and stories to Tom Glover; TOM GLOVER'S HAMILTON SCRAPBOOK He has a wonderful blog, please view it. He not only does Hamilton History, but some Trenton, Ewing, and Lawrence Townships. Tom has told me that he is not sure how much he can post and hope he is not running out of space. Some of my photos have had stories attached. Tom encouraged me to start my own Blog.

I will still be sending my photos to Tom, but my stories and recollections will be posted here.

Years ago, when I would come home with a story about Groveville, from the fire house, my mother would say "You should be writing this down", I never did, guess it seemed too much like "Homework", which at the time I avoided at all cost. Now my mother is 86 and her memories of Groveville are fading and all of the people I grew up asking questions and hearing stories are gone, its time for me to start writing this down, Thanks, Tom Glover for the encouragement.

Some of the posts are the same as I have sent to Tom, but I will confine mine to Groveville and some references to Yardville and Crosswicks.