Steel and Iron - Special Holiday Gift for History Lovers

 

 

        Here’s a special “ring out the old” end-of-year gift from historian Clifford Zink who was one of the presenters at the County’s “Mercer Makes…” symposium in October. He just shared an expanded version of the presentation he had prepared for the symposium with us, and it’s terrific! Thanks and congratulations to Clifford, and best wishes to all of you for the coming year. Read all about it in his online article Iron and Steel: Entrepreneurs on the Delaware.

14. Happy Fourth of July!!!

       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!

11. Around the World in Three Hundred and "Eighty Days"

Harriet Fisher entourage arriving at the Vendome, Paris France

         In 1909, seven years after the death of her husband, Harriet White Fisher - owner of the Fisher & Norris Eagle Anvil Works on Fair St., Trenton - piled her Italian maid, her butler/cook, a dog named Honk-Honk and her chauffeur (and nephew) Harold Fisher Brooks into her four-passenger Locomobile and set off to travel around the world. More than a year later, she returned triumphantly to 125 East Hanover St. in Trenton - the first woman (and entourage) in history to have successfully traveled around the world. Harriet documented some highlights of the trip a year later in her book A Woman’s World Tour in a Motor.

     More than 100 years later, a new exhibit at Ellarslie, the Trenton City Museum, shares even more information about the trip - from the chauffeur's perspective. Harold Brooks left his personal collection of photographs, diaries, artifacts and other ephemera about this trip to his grandchildren. One of them, retired Reynolds MS teacher Rebecca Urban has curated this exhibit Trenton Entourage Motors ‘Round the World in 1909 which opens this coming Saturday, June 22. Ms. Urban will also be presenting a slide show featuring her grandfather's photographs and taped reminisences at 2 pm on Sunday, June 30. (Click the exhibit title for more information.) 

Fisher Norris display, Machinery Hall Bldg.

     Her exploits may have captured the imagination of the world - but it was Harriet's business acumen and manufacturing leadership that earned her the respect of Victorian businessmen and political leaders. Wu Ting Fang, the Chinese diplomat who served as Chinese ambassador to the US, Minister of Foreign Affairs and, briefly, as Premier during the early years of the Republic of China, reportedly called her the most wonderful woman in America.

     Harriet was born into a wealthy Crawford County, PA, family in1869. She attended a classical seminary for young women and took finishing courses (in “music and lacework”) abroad. For some time she lived in Flushing, NY, where she served as vice president and treasurer of the Flushing hospital where she also built an infants’ ward. Then, in London in1898, she married Clark Fisher, owner and sole proprietor of the Fisher-Norris Anvil Works of Trenton. [Cptn. Clark Fisher also served for 13 years as Chief Engineer for the US Navy, including time during the Civil War with George Dewey.] Harriet was 29, Clark was 61; she moved from NY to his home at 125 E. Hanover Street in Trenton.

      A year later Clark was felled with a serious illness. Harriet immediately stepped in to handle the business. Clark recovered, but in 1903 the Fisher’s were involved in a train derailment near Menlo Park (Middlesex County) that almost crippled Harriet and left Clark with injuries that lead to his death. Twenty five years later, after being named to American Magazine’s “Hall of Fame,” she reflected on the many challenges of being a woman boss a man’s world.

9. Making & Exploring History in Trenton

                 This coming weekend is a big one in Trenton: Art All Night, the 24 hour long extravaganza of arts in all forms, is making its own history, celebrating its 7th year of offering art-for-everyone this Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16. The day, a labor of love for ARTWORKS and a small army of passionate volunteers, takes place in the historic Roebling Wire Works factory building (above) and the adjacent Mill Yard Park.

                 Visitors to Trenton on Saturday, June 15, can make it a full day. The Cadwalader Heights Historic House and Garden Tour goes from noon until 5, and showcases some of the most beautiful and historic homes in that section of the city. This year 11 historic houses and several gardens will be featured in the tour (along with art displays and delicious deserts!) Among the houses open to the public will be 9 Belmont Circle (above) - the first home built in the Cadwalader Heights neighborhood by Frank Forrest Frederick, the director of New Jersey's School of Industrial Arts. 

5. Great Community "Finds"

      

Chase XCG-18A US Air Force glider at Mercer County Airport during WW II, 1947. courtesy of J. Turek

      Throughout the 175th anniversary year, the County will be sponsoring community "History Share" events where you're invited to bring in your own historic photographs, articles, programs, and other memorabilia about life in Mercer County. Items are scanned in, documented, and shared with the rest of the Mercer County community.

Testing a Switlik parachute during jump over Mercer County airport in 1936.  courtesy of R.L.Pidcock



      Folks at the first three events (in Trenton at the County's McDade Building, at the Lawrence Library and at the county's One-Stop office in Hamilton Twp.) brought in some great photographs and articles. You can see them by clicking on the "Photo Gallery" link on the Mercer 175 main page. In honor of Memorial Day, we're sharing some terrific photos and articles brought in by John Turek and Robert Lee Pidcock that show Mercer people and scenes during WW II and the Korean Conflict.

 

Trenton resident, Sgt. Michael Karaffa, a six-time decorated veteran flyer with the 394th Bomb Group during WW II
recalled to active duty during the Korean Conflict.  courtesy of J. Turek



2. Sabotage at the Roebling Steel Works? 1915

 

Between now and February 22, 2014 (the conclusion of Mercer County's 175th Anniversary year) this blog will feature 175+ posts featuring just a small sampling of the fascinating faces, places, events, mysteries, photographs, things that make this area's history so rich.

 

The photos above show Trenton's famous Roebling Steel Works engulfed in flames and some of the devastating aftermath of a series of fires set during a January night in 1915. The fires, suspected to be sabotage by German agents, caused millions of dollars worth of damage, but the Roeblings quickly rebuilt - and the rest is history.

 

Check out this story by Jon Blackwell that appeared as part of the Trentonian's Capital Century series.