Many thanks to Carla Olszewski Cook who
brought us this terrific photograph of the Fourth of July, 1945, taken in the
Chambersburg section of Trenton. Elizabeth and Nancy Morzillo and their friends
show off their babydoll carriages decorated with red, white, and blue crepe
paper for the holiday. They’re gathered in front of the old Liberty Theater
building on Cummings Avenue and West Street. The theater operated briefly as one
of Trenton’s early “moving picture” venues in the early 1900s (listed in
Trenton’s 1917 City Directory.) The structure, which still stands is used today
as a warehouse (by Landolfi’s?) on Cummings Avenue.
[UPDATE: Nancy Morzillo Paulus, Carla's aunt, shares her memories of this location:
"When
we lived at 325 Cummings Ave. (approx. 1939--1949), our home faced the side of
the then-abandoned large building which previously had been "The Old
Liberty," a theatre. I think it is still there used as a
warehouse for Italian frozen foods? This triangularly-shaped piece of real
estate divides West Street from Cummings Ave., with – what in a child's eye – was
fronted with a large side-walked area that was great for roller skating,
bicycling and parades, as you see in the picture on the fourth of July........it
was a fun spot.......
"I
loved climbing up the boarded windows and looking at the cobwebbed interior of
abandoned stage, seats and old draperies. Outside rear was the high-fenced
forgotten parking lot. I have no idea of its life, its placement just seems odd,
there on the border of Chambersburg, a then mostly residential neighborhood. Maybe
some Italian city planner envisioned the spot as a little city/suburbia town
with Hamilton Township so close by at Liberty St. and Chambers St...(there's
that name Liberty, so maybe it was on the planning board......cruise by and
check out its existence.....now I'm curious. Love, Aunt Nancy Have fun.."
This charming photo of a family gathering on the Fourth of July, 1924, comes from the collection of the Historical Society of Princeton, celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year! This image, and many others from the HSP can also be found on their FaceBook page. Remember to "like" them!
And, finally, thanks once again to our friend Tom Glover who compiled and posted these Trenton articles and ads from July 3, 4, and 5, 1904 for this fun fireworks "blow by blow." Though we don't see free firecrackers given away with our coffee purchases anymore, the cautionary tales on July 4 and 5 continue to resonate today. Hope everyone in the Capitol County of Mercer and beyond had a safe and happy 4th!
