Great Photos of my Era

These photos were sent to me by Charlie and Marlene Donnell, Charlie grew up in Groveville and still has family here, Marlene grew up in the Whitehorse area. They now live on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I have been to the town they live in several times, it is very small and quaint, reminds me of Groveville, only smaller.

This is a photo of Charlie Donnell and Barry Wright, with Charlie's dog "Blackie". The snow man is unnamed. The house in the background is Charlie's, on Church Street, next to the Cemetery entrance.



This photo is Jack "Jake" Sellers. The Sellers family lived on Church Street, directly across from the church. The car is a "34" Ford, it had a bored 1950 Oldsmobile engine. If my memory is correct it was bright "Yellow". This photo was taken at Hatfield Speedway, by Charlie about 1958

One of my favorite pastimes was walking to his garage and watching him work on it. Jack would work on it all week and tow it to the "Drags" on the weekend. I remember the big place to go was Hatfield Speedway, in Pennsylvania. The track is now gone and is a housing development.

Some of Jack's trophies are displayed on the hood.

Yup, that's me, Gary Lippincott. The picture was taken in the left field corner of the baseball field behind the old firehouse. The house in the background is either Beideman's or Tilton's on Church Street, across from the old Post Office.


This is Charlie Donnell and Tom Snyder and Tom's dog, Snowball. The car is Charlie"s 36 Dodge Coupe. Charlie tells me that this was due to get a late 1950's Oldsmobile engine, guaranteed to beat everything. Due to other commitments, Charlie traded his Dodge to Dick Huff from Crosswicks for a shotgun, now he wishes he had both, the car and the shotgun.

The garage is located across from the mill, part of the property now owed by Jean Mushinski. It seemed like somebody in Groveville was always working on a car. Charlies garage was a good place to hang out, but it had it's drawbacks, as soon as you walked in he usually handed you a piece of Wet Sandpaper and a coffee can of water and had you sand somewhere on his car, that had to be the smoothest 36 Dodge coupe in the world, I am surprised it held paint.

This is Charlie doing what he did a lot, working building that car, looks like he had a long way to go at this point.

This is Tom Snyder and Marlene Goldenbaum, now Marlene Donnell, Tom's dog "Snowball" and that smooooth, well sanded car in the background.

Shipping From Groveville

April 18, 1824, The Trenton Federalist Newspaper

This ad was sent to me along with other news clippings by Cheryl who does Genealogy research in Florida. During her searches she has come across several Groveville News articles, which she has been so kind to forward to me.

Season Ticket and Church Sociable

No one seems to know the origin or the event that these tickets would grant you admission to or exactly where the events were held. The only meeting hall in Groveville at this time was meeting hall at the intersection of Main Street and Allen Street across from the mill. This building has been torn down, but was located between the Mushinski home and the former Company Store, now apartments.

No matter what the even it's hard to beat the price, especially a "Season Ticket" for anything for twenty five cents. Then again this was big money in the late 1800's

Yardville Train Station

I don’t have an exact date on this photo, but judging by the cars I would guess the late 1950’s.

This photo was taken as if standing at Broad Street and the Railroad Crossing in Yardville, looking south.

The Small white building in the lower right is now the Pizza Kitchen, at the time it was the office for Totten Feed and Hay. Later it was D’Amico’s Camera Store.

The building next to it is now vacant, but at the time was C.K. Blauth Lumber and Hardware. I am surprised that my father’s car is not parked in front, as a kid I spent a lot of time there with him buying lumber for home projects. The long building with the white roof, in the top of the picture and the black building behind the coal yard, was the lumber yard for C.K. Blauth. I remember you would buy your lumber at the store, and then drive to the yard with two copies of the receipt, one for you and one for Frank. Frank was the guy that ran the yard and cut your lumber. He was a tall thin guy always wore a hat, with a carpenter’s pencil sticking out from under the hat. I remember it like it was yesterday, not fifty years ago.

There were at one time two freight stations, as shown in this photo; one was also a passenger station, at one time. When the passenger station was active, and according to a Yardville map I have dated 1876 there was a Hotel owned by W. King, where the C.K. Blauth Lumber store is located in this photo.

As you can see there are two sets of Coal Elevators, the first set were owned by Martin Brothers, the grade of Anthracite coal is marked on the Elevators, they are Pea, Stove, and Chestnut. The second set of elevators, with the large sign “Coal”, is owned by T.B. Anderson Coal Company, we got ours from T.B. Anderson. When you were a kid, especially a boy, coal delivery day was a big event; after all it involved a dump truck and noise.

Miss Florence Longstreet

Just a little note to tell everyone that Miss Florence Longstreet, everyone's Kindergarten (Reception Grade) and First Grade teacher at Groveville Elementary School, has just turned One Hundred Years old. Miss Longstreet taught several generations at Groveville. Shirley Wright DiGenova called to pass this on to me.

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Miss Longstreet has been very active and a member of St. Mark Methodist Church, on Paxson Ave. Her health has been failing lately and was being cared for by her younger sister, Dorothy Scarborough, until her younger sister needed to be placed in an assisted living facility in Florence, NJ.
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Now Miss Longstreet is being cared for at Mercerville Care Center. If you could find the time to send her a Birthday Card or a Get Well card it would be nice. She helped make us what we are today.

MISS FLORENCE LONGSTREET
MERCERVILLE CARE CENTER
2240 WHITEHORSE-MERCERVILLE ROAD
MERCERVILLE, NJ 08619

Groveville Methodist Church Bible School - 1960

I know most of these people, but can't put a name with the photo, so feel free to email me with thier names. Thanks to Cheryl (Bialota) Natriello, who sent me this picture and some of the names, Groveville resident, now living in Florida. Thanks to Cheryl, Claire Dwier, and Linda LeJambre for filling all the names.

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Bible School teachers are Doris Atkins and Josephine "Sis" Rousseau.

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Standing left side is Ed Shelton, Unknown, Tom Weiss, Charles "Chuck" Fisher, Unknown, Unknown, John Spisak (in front of Doris Atkins) Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Cheryl Bialota, Paul Simpson.

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Seated on the left is Russel Mifflin, Bill Rochford, Gayle ?, Timmy Warren, Peggy Applegate, Arlene Hart, Jack McMahon, Janet Carl, ? Clark, Beverly Bystrychi, Linda LeJambre, Judy Maddox, Unknown, Norma Olszak, and Charles Thompson.

Groveville School to Firehouse

This is the Groveville School, on Main Street. This photo was taken around the turn of the century, 1900, maybe earlier. I can't believe how many children are in this photo; this is when Groveville only had three streets, Church, Main and Allen. Remember this is also when the mill was in full production.

This is the men of the Groveville Fire Company, standing with their hand-drawn pumper, in front of the new fire house. This is just after the old school was converted to the firehouse.

Firemen, left to right, Albert Simpson, William J. Henry, Joe Rollings, Samuel Pancoast, George Rollings, Fredrick Becker, Jack Johnson, Morris Doughty(rear), Lou Cook, Bud Doughty, Unknown, Walter Dwier, Charles Fisher, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. The children on the right are unknown also.

Several of these men are my relatives, Joe Rollings is my uncle, George Rollings is my Great-Grandfather, Jack Johnson is my Grandfather, Morris and Bud Doughty are cousins. Several of these men still have family in Groveville.
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Other members of the Groveville Fire Company at its organization were; William J. McElmoyl, W.S. Trickett, Christian Berkyheiser, Robert Rogers, Frank Whitman, Isaac Bowers, Winfield Vogts, George I. Borden. These men are most likely the "unknowns" of the above photo, but I can't tie the name to their photo, suggestions appreciated.

This is a photo of the old Groveville School on Main Street. The school was located where the old fire house is now, 200 Main Street, Groveville. The building was approximately where the center of the dinning hall, of the existing building is now.

When the new school was built on Church Street and the new Groveville Fire Company was created this became the home of the fire company.

Some changes were needed when the building was converted. The small front entry door was moved to the right, the front windows were eliminated and a large “Barn Like” door was added to allow access for the fire equipment. The floor was reinforced, the interior center stairway was removed and an outside stairway and second floor outside door was added, this to make room for the equipment.

One favorite story about the conversion is that when the building was a school there was an upright piano in the second floor classroom. After the conversion to the firehouse the piano was still there, but the interior stairway had been removed and there was now no way to get the old piano safely out of the building. When it was determined that the fire company no longer needed the piano, I am sure after several lengthily meetings on the subject and the fact that firemen have very few “Sing-a-longs”. The piano was removed in a very unusual and unceremonious way. The top rail of the outside stairway was removed; they got a running start and pushed the piano out the second floor door and off the landing. It was said that when the piano hit the ground it played one very loud and unusual note that sounded for two days. I am sure that this was an exaggeration, but then we all know how “Firehouse Stories” go.

Another story is how the fire company raised money, they held “Bingo”, not unusual, but they did not have a lot of room in the old firehouse and there was a large stand of old trees that lined the drive from Main Street to the firehouse. During the summer they would string lights from tree to tree, set up tables under the trees and there they held their Bingo, outside. Sounds like a nice community gathering.

The sad part is there are people in this photo that I can not identify. I took this photo to all of the “Old Timers” of the fire company, older people in church, and the only thing I found is that I am now one of them. All of the people I used to turn to for answers to questions like this are gone.

There was a time I sat in the meeting room at the firehouse and looked around the room, a young kid of eighteen, at all the older men of Groveville that I admired and looked up to and could not believe I was now one of them. My father had recently passed away and these were the men that would teach me and shape me, in place of my father and I could not ask for a better group, and in a blink of an eye they were gone and I looked around and found that I was now the oldest active member of the fire company.

Being a volunteer in your own community, the people you help are mostly family and friends.

Being a volunteer in your own community you will find lasting friendships and will laugh more than you have ever laughed before.

Being a volunteer in your own community you will work harder, for no reward, side by side with people that care about their community.

Being a volunteer in your own community is a family endeavour, if the alarm should sound in the evening, it’s your wife or mother that keeps dinner warm till you get home. If it sounds at night, it’s your wife or mother that runs ahead, as you put on your pants, and opens the door and turns on the porch light.

Being a volunteer in your own small community you will find a ladies auxiliary that will be there to support you with hot soup and coffee, sandwiches and iced tea, no matter what time of day or night it is.

Being a volunteer in your own community you will stand side by side with grown men and cry when you do all you can and it’s not enough, to save a home, a life, or a child.

When I look at this picture I thank these men for starting something and working hard and sacrificing, that everyone in Groveville can be proud of our Groveville Fire Company, even through its years of change.

Groveville Fire Company Mascot ~ 1941

On Decoration Day (Memorial Day) 1941, C. Ray Bell

marched in the parade as the Mascot of the

Groveville Volunteer Fire Company.

A Letter Full of Memories

This is an excerpt of a letter I received from Jill Jones Meyers. Jill and her parents and family are long time Groveville residents, associated with Anchor Thread, members of Groveville Methodist Church, Members of The Groveville Volunteer Fire Company. Jill's uncle, married my aunt, I swear everyone in Groveville is connected in some way, but that's another story.

This letter brought back a lot of memories. One was the Groveville School fundraiser's, the one I remember the most was selling Old Monmouth Peanut Brittle, still made in Freehold, NJ today. The other is Prior's Donuts, at Liberty and South Clinton, Avenues. I remember going there with my Dad, seeing the donuts riding on their little elevators and conveyor belts, and getting sprinkled with powdered sugar. There has never been a donut that good.

I would like to have a nickel for every time I have related the story of the movie stars pictures on the inside of Dixie Cup lids, to my daughter, Kati, she says "Not again, Dad".

When she mentioned the "Halloween Masks" I could almost smell what it was like to wear one, not a bad smell, but a "Memory Smell", Like coming home from school and your Mom cooking your favorite food, you smell that food today and it takes you right back to Mom's kitchen and her home cooking.

It's great to get letters like this, as much research as I do, letters like this make me just smile and say "O yea, I remember that".

Jill's full letter can be read in "My Guest Book"

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Jill writes;

Mom would send me to Hepburn's store with a bowl and a piece of waxed paper and Harley would put scoops of ice cream in the bowl, cover it with the waxed paper, and send me running home before it melted.

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I also remember that they would put up a line in the store and hang all the Halloween masks out for us to choose one. I think they were 15 cents. They were made of some type of stiffened muslin and by the end of an evening of trick or treating the color would come off all around your mouth.

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Another treat from the store were the ice cream Dixie cups (chocolate and vanilla) that had pictures of movie stars on the inside of the lid.

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A couple of things I remember about Groveville School concern fundraising! I remember selling seeds and also taking orders for Prior's donuts and delivering them door to door. Three flavors.....glazed, cream filled and jelly.

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Another memory is of the "hot lunch" our Mothers would get together and cook for us. They were 25 cents and were served downstairs in the lunch room (turn right at the coal bin!). It wasn't every week. More like once a month.

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Speaking of the coal bin, do you remember how they spread the cinders on the playground and how they always ended up embedded in your knees? Remember sliding down the slide on a piece of waxed paper so you would go faster?

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I was a summer playground supervisor (my first job!) one year and we would take the kids to Woodlawn Pool sometimes. You could always smell the chlorine a block away!

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.