Hackettstown Retail trivia

Can you name any of the jewelry stores that "used" to be in the Hackettstown area? I can think of about 4.

Nerbak Jewelers. DOnt know of any others. I have been here 42 years.

Plate was on the corner of Moore and Main. Nerbak was further up the street, towards the Trading Post. Do you know what else was in the block in the earlier years? When Cavanaughs was there and also the Cottage?

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Nov 7, 08 2:49 pm

Nerbak's and another business (Prudential?) were next to Bach's Drugs and after knocking down a few walls that space became part of Bach's because the surgical section was running out of room. And they moved the pharmacy over to the new section as well.

Farrells Bakery comes to mind and the Strand movie theatre 1.00 a movie,(wow times have changed).

Towne Jewelers used to be across the street from star dust diner.

Yes...Towne Jewelers used to be J&S Jewelers..different owners. And now its M. Stephans I believe.

The other 2 I was thinking of were:

J.Yardley Jewelers..owned by Janet Gallo...now the Karate school is there.

SM Jewelers..was on Mountain Avenue...later moved to the Riverside Plaza in Mansfield for a while. SM stood for Sam Milici .

Also on the Main St. block was a hardware store.

There were several jewles in old Hackettstown mall (RIP)

And we had two pharmacies when I came to town -- on Main Street that is.

Nerbaks, Holmes sporting goods, Westren Auto,The strand

Who remembers the name of the women and children clothing stores that were on Main Street until the early 90's? Started with an "L"

Doh! Leeter, right?

Scary....Dolly is playing with herself!

Leeters, (is that right?) H. Cohen, and there was a dress shop next to the Bakery....but I can't remember the name! We are going back a few years. Mr. Novak owned the Hardware store.....there was Thorp Stationery, next to the other drugstore....in the block next to Dad and Lad. And across the street from NEWBERRY'S!!! And Kostenbader's liquor store was in that block too.

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Nov 7, 08 5:21 pm

And there was a terrible fire in the apartment above the bakery and the Farrells lost their home. And I think the bakery and the dress shop closed after that? Is my memory any good?

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Nov 7, 08 5:22 pm

Kerr's Pharmacy was next to dad & lad

how about Burkes Office Supply

Foster And Lee

There was also Leonard's that had children's clothing on Main St. about 30 something years ago.

The Cottage- our dentist used to give us coupons for a free ice cream after every visit & you got to go sit on the bar stool and eat it.

Not Main St. but Mall Theatre.

Also, the Central House...

I remember the jewelry store Alston Beck used to me on Main St. I think that's what it was called, he also owned the Alston Beck in the Rockaway Mall and a store in Livingston Mall. Not sure it they were all called Alston Beck but it was the same owner.

Gravatar for jenninjgirl jenninjgirl Message jenninjgirl
Nov 7, 08 10:51 pm

Was there a fabric & notions store on Main Street in the early 60's - more likely mid 50's? I have vague memories of my grandmother shopping for dress fabrics and sewing supplies in a Main Street store. It may have been a variety store. Just not sure.

Hope some folks on the forum are old enough to remember that far back.

Your Grandmother probably shopped for sewing stuff at Newberry's - one whole side of the store was devoted to fabric, notions, etc. At least that is the way I remember it! We moved to town in 1966 and that is where my mother shopped for such things, and then me for HomeEc classes.

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Nov 8, 08 12:53 am

Here's another 1 for you. Back in the 80's there was a very small boutique that had trendy female apparel. It was right on Main Street and at some point they took over the hair salon next door and started cutting hair...what was their name?

The dress shop next to the bakery was The Genevive Shop (SP?). My mom bought me lovely Kate Greenaway dresses there.

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Nov 8, 08 7:09 am

Does anybody remember the Irish Setter that used to hang out at the old Jigger Shop (when it was a newspaper/candy store)? I always wondered if that was the same one I would see at Kostenbader's liquor store. He was a beautiful dog and very friendly.

OH LIL! Thank you. The Genevieve Shop. That was going to make me nuts if I could not remember. And I do remember the Irish Setter, probably was Mrs. K's dog, (Rusty) because he used to sit in our driveway and wait for our dog to come out. He was a lovely dog, and really had the run of the town. Everybody knew him, and he was quite the gentleman, as I recall.

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Nov 8, 08 10:01 am

L.Martin, where on Main Street? I am not coming up with anything, probably because I was living in Morristown by then....?

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Nov 8, 08 10:02 am

not too far from hackettstown pet supply

Nope. I got nothin'. Do you remember, or are you trying to find out?

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Nov 8, 08 4:23 pm

Mrs.Kostenbader told my husband that she would take the day's money, put it in a case and tie it around the dog's neck and send him to the bank on the corner of Main and Grand to make a deposit. He knew when he had that case on his neck, he was supposed to go to the bank. Someone in the bank would take the money and make the transaction, putting the receipt back into the case. The dog did this everyday to get there before the bank closed and she said no one ever touched that money. We had just moved here from Essex County and thought that was about the coolest thing we'd ever heard.

What are the odds that the dog would make it to the bank in this day and age?

Don't forget Milton Thorpe's bookstore ! I leached all information I could from the Tiger Beat magazines...What has happened to downtown Hackettstown? yeah I know it's been going on for a long time....

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Nov 8, 08 6:00 pm

Oh, wow, I forgot about Rusty and the bank! Great story, thanks!OK, here's another - does anyone remember the grocer who used to be at the corner of Church and Main, where Michael's is now??

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Nov 8, 08 7:11 pm

OK the trendy boutique/hair salon was called "The New York Connection" & it was owned by Karl Ballo, I believe. He left there and went back to Sucussuna to just do hair. I think I heard that he passed away a numbver of years ago.


Ok here's an easier one....name the 3 locations of Calicp Country Flowers or for that matter the two locations for Florist on the square or the two locations for Katarina florist.


and do you remember "Stop at 10" ??

The Food Basket was a grocer but it was where Home Towne Hardware is now

ooooo I know the answer to the calico question as I worked there back in high school and also I had my wedding floweres done by them.
1- in the strip mall on 46 by block buster
2- in the building by mountian ave quick check now bagels abroad.
3- on willow grove street by the hospital.

Very good Cherie...you got all 3! Of course way back when that 1st location was referred to as the A&P shopping center.


As for Katarina's. She was originally in what used to be called the Main Street Plaza...The 2 level mini mall that is now mostly offices. Now Main Street Plaza is on Stiger St.


Florist on the Square was orginally by David's Country Inn on that little square.


Here's another one to throw out. Who's slogan was "Come bounce with the "Bear" and watch Color TV!" (and why a "bear"?)

Florist on the square was once where Pandan Roo is now also.

L.Martin..........wasn't that the Econo-Court on Route 46? And I have no idea why a bear.

I thought the bear is because the owners name was Winnie like in Winnie the Poo, who was a bear. I dont know if that is the reason. I stayed there once, a really long time ago.

Gravatar for Justasking Justasking Message Justasking
Nov 9, 08 6:17 pm

I worked for Mark's Jewelers in the mid '80s. First located in back of L. Davids, later it was in the old "Jamesway" shopping center.

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Nov 10, 08 4:45 pm

Florist on the square was not where Pandan Room was, it was a Flower shop called Primrose Lane or something like that.

The grocer on the corner of Main and Church was owned by Mr. Heidenberg and was called Ruby's. Wow, am I dating myself! I remember all of these. My grandparents used to own a pseudo-department store way back in the 40's on High Street called "Solomon's". Anyone remember?

Justasking was correct...owner's name was (is?) Winnie


OK here's another....Where Marshall's is now was at one time a "bulk foods" store...actually way ahead of its time..considering BJ's , Sam's Club, Costco etc.

Anyway do you recall the name of this store?

I remember that store but cant remember the name.

Basics

Gravatar for Carol Millett Carol Millett Message Carol Millett
Nov 11, 08 2:52 pm

Basics was the grocery store where Marshalls now is.

Remember Grants, Reynolds, Rockaway Sales all under one roof..

Johnny Walker Red
Nov 11, 08 3:12 pm

How about Litchenstein's General Store on Mt. Bethel Road?

Johnny Walker Red
Nov 11, 08 3:15 pm

I thought Basics was in the "old" A & P mall. There was a small department store before Marshalls and a Grand Union before that

Gravatar for Jersey Joe Jersey Joe Message Jersey Joe
Nov 11, 08 3:33 pm

That was it Basics!

Before Basics and Grand Union, it was W. T. Grant's.

Does anyone remember when Mountain Avenue had NO gas stations, mall, fast food? I remember the little houses that used to be there.....and the road was alot narrower. And as for Basics, didnt you have to bring your own bags with you? I remember that as being where Skylands Orthopedic is now. Does anyone remember the name of the lady who had the Texaco station on Rt. 46, near the Blue Mist? The building is still there.

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Nov 11, 08 4:39 pm

Mrs. Foster I loved her

Gravatar for Justasking Justasking Message Justasking
Nov 11, 08 4:43 pm

WOW. That was quick. Well done. Yea, wasnt she a sweetheart? OK-another-the name of the shoemaker on Main Street? This might be easier because I think his son is in the shop now.....and while we are at it, name the first owner of Jack's scissorwiz and the subsequent owners?

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Nov 11, 08 4:59 pm

I remember getting Tootsie-Rolls from the lady at the gas station. Also remember when McD. opened (I think it had just opened, could be wrong) and what it treat it was when we stayed home sick from school and had to go to work with our parents, we would get an Egg McMuffin for breakfast.

One of my favorite pictures of me and my Dad was taken at a picnic table along the river at the Orange Pit, early 1970's.

I alway's thought the "shelby's" was before Marshalls at the Hackettstown Mall

Mrs. Foster always gave us candy. She was just so nice. When I think of her I always think she was one of the stronger women I ever meant. She ran that gas station all by herself, most women still wont pump their own gas. I remember going into the house part of the gas station and I remember all the pictures of her children. But I dont remember ever meeting her children or anything about a husband.

Gravatar for Justasking Justasking Message Justasking
Nov 12, 08 9:22 am

I remember back in the late '80s Hackettstown had a video game arcade/ pool hall. Was it where Hot Bagels Abroad is now?

Mrs. Foster was a widow. Her husband died and she took over the gas station. She loved kids. I really dont remember her kids though. My Dad was friends with her husband.

I think you are right. I think it was originally in the Hackettstown Mall

There was a pool hall on Main Street in the 60's called "The Golden Cue"....I think it was where the bicycle store is now. Later, (70's or early 80's) there was a pool hall in the store which is now Achieve Fitness. anyone remember these? Also, anyone remember "Carl's Place" at the corner of Mountain Avenue and East Avenue?

LVmom - Reference the barbershop originally Tomaino's Barbershop, after that Jack Pace became the owner/operator and renamed it to Jack's...Now of course, Jack's son Scott is running the place...Judging by your posts above and knowledge of the town, I must know you. did you graduate HHS?

Also Barbara's Pantry had a store on Main Street near the Strand, it was a little Ice cream parlor place. And she had another store in the middle of the Hackettstown mall.

Jacks was Tomatoes.

I remember The ice cream parlor and the pool hall.

I did graduate HHS.

For a while, the upstairs at Charlie Browns (aka the Clarendon) was also a pool hall.

The ice cream shop/stationery store next to the Strand movie theater was called "Knapp's". They had the best chocolate cokes!!!! How about Niper's Studio owned by Howard and Glady Niper on Moore Street. I grew up knowing them and their daughter Lani.

Nick & Betty's was the ice cream place and Knapps was a shoe store. Also, Scott is Jack's son in law.

heres one for you...Mr plate had glued coins...quarters... nickels and dimes... to the floor in his jewelry shop...so that when entered the store you would try to pick them up...other hackettstown merchants were outright racists i grew up there...they would sell you anything...but they did not like your kind...being around...and i am not african-american...just not of the correct religion or european nationality...

Sorry Jane, you've got it a little incorrect. Scott is Jack's son; if you don't believe me, stop in and ask him. Jack was the son in law of the original owner, Hank Tomainio.

the arcade that was where Hot Bagels abroad is was Pinball Wizards, i think thats what it was called. I used to hang out there ALLLLL the time !

Gravatar for jenninjgirl jenninjgirl Message jenninjgirl
Nov 12, 08 1:28 pm

thanks, jenn... i was beginning to think I imagined it, lol.

I dont think "pinball Wizard" is the right name, but I could be wrong. And before it moved there it was next to Mama's in the Mall and on the other side of Mama's was the liquor store

Gravatar for Justasking Justasking Message Justasking
Nov 12, 08 1:41 pm

Sorry deviljet, I was quizing the "old-timers" at work and they got me confused. You are right...

Deviljet, graduated HHS 1978. Moved to Hackettstown in 1966. :)

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Nov 12, 08 2:06 pm

Jane, Sorry to disagree but in the early 60's Knapp's was located where Plate Jewelers is now and it was a stationery store and had an ice cream counter in the back of the store where I went to get hand-dipped ice cream and chocolate sodas after a Saturday afternoon movie where I paid 45 cemts. Of this, I am totally sure!

ok ... so you really had me doubting myself but I asked a few other people (townies back in the day) and they all said it was pinball wizards ... i really thought thats what it was. And Oasis was on Main Street, is that still there ?

Gravatar for jenninjgirl jenninjgirl Message jenninjgirl
Nov 12, 08 3:37 pm

taters. what was the correct religion and nationality at the time?

I've got a couple more...Ruby's Butcher/Deli was mentioned above (corner of Main and Church), but there was another butcher on Main St. at the same time, Tynan's, located a few stores down from the Strand Theatre....Also, does anyone remember Mick & Hedy's Luncheonette across from Leo's ? It was a great place to hear all the town news/gossip. In the mornings there would be policemen, firemen, DPW workers, Rec Director Nelson Hoyt, then mayor Pat Harper, a whole cast of regulars....They were there from the late 60's until 1989, when the owner of the building (and owner of Hackettstown Auto Parts) terminated their lease so his girlfriend could open a jewelry store there...The building is now Ishinru Karate.

Yes, I do remember all that you mentioned and so much more. The Jigger Shoppe took over the location of Mick & Hedy's before moving to their location on the corner of Main and Moore. So does anyone remember Class and Hurley's Applicance Store located diagonally across from Hackettstown Ford?

Mick and Hedys saved me when I was 5. Got lost coming home from school. Brought me in and gave me ice cream and called my parents! O the memories.

I used to play at that arcade next to Mama's outside of the Mall.

Another thing I miss from times ago is having a wide-open Fish Hatchery. We used to cut through there everyday after school. You had full access to see all of the fish. The guys who worked there were always willing to show the hatchery part of it. They had fish food to feed. We also used to go out on the ponds when they would freeze over. They had an A-Treat soda machine that was cheap and I used to love getting those chocolate drinks, lol.

Hey, what was the name of that department store on Main Street, near where Verizon store is now?

The name of the department store was Newberry's

Yes...Basics Food Warehouse was where Marshall's is today.
You did have to bag (or box) your own groceries. I think they had some if you didn't bring your own. The A&P had a similiar concept but it was much later...and kinda non-sanitary?

Someone mentioned pool halls in Hackettstown...let's do this in reverse. Where would you have found "Slot n' Pocket in Hackettstown.......or "Cue Connection" ??

L.Martin, yes, I remember the Stop at 10 clothing store, but I cannot remember the exact location. I definitely remember buying some unusual blouses and skirts there.

Well, it was definitly Cue Connection, above the Clarendon.

And thanks, Isricc, for remembering Newberry's

I got one for you:

Who remembers "Big Momma" and "Suicide Hill"?

Oops, sorry about that last post - I forgot this was a RETAIL trivia thread - those locations were obviously not reatil, lol

OK, it's making me crazy! What was the name of the clothing store (a couple of stores up from where Newberry's was located) where I used to get my Girl Scout uniforms?

Does anyone remember the clothing store it was right next store to where Target is now. (where that electric supplier is now)? I know the name of it just wondering if anyone else does.

Christine, Robert Halls if I remember correctly.

It finally came to me!!!! Leonard's was the name of the clothing store just up the street from Newberry's! Phew!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember Robert Hall's! My parents would bring us up here from M'town to get our Easter outfits. Everytime I drive by that building, it brings back those memories!

Gravatar for Karen in LV Karen in LV Message Karen in LV
Nov 13, 08 5:56 pm

What was the name of the drugstore on Main Street in Hackettstown? It no longer is there.

There was Bach's (on the corner of High and Main)and Kerr's (about where Hackettstown Pet Supply is).

Drugstore on Main St. was Kerr's Pharmacy. In the Dad and Lad block.

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Nov 13, 08 7:56 pm

Karen, it is funny to me that you would COME from Morristwn, because my mother used to take us TO Morristown to go to Epstein's for a special dress, or our Girl Scout gear.!

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Nov 13, 08 8:26 pm

Kelly is right it is Robert Halls Clothing store. We would always get our school clothes there and at another place in town.

Does anyone remember the other big chain that was where Plates is now? (hint: You had to order it first!)

Was it an S&H Green Stamps?

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Nov 13, 08 8:44 pm

Nope! But I remember that!

Christine, I am older than you so I should know more, but your younger memory is better than mine......I am stumped!

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Nov 13, 08 11:24 pm

Thanks....

Wasn't there a furniture store in the center of town,I think it was called Reliable Furniture?????I think it had two floors of furniture. Wow, Christine I am also stumped!!

The furniture store was called Reliable(located across from Hometown Hardware) and was owned by Benny Kass. OK, please tell us what the chain store was that was located where Plate's Jewelers. It's making me crazy!!!!!

Ok...Stop at Ten was in that sort of Industrial Park where the Skating Rink is. They briefly even had men's clothes.
Toward the end I heard the merchandise was so flimsy..that you would probably rip it just trying it on!!

Slot n Pocket was in the "Little Village Mall". Unfortunately that whole mall burned to the ground one Sunday Morning.

L. Martin, When that mall opened up, I loved it. Three floors of stores, of all different types. It was sad when that burned down. My friend and I rode out bikes up there when they were trying to put out the fire. Every time I smell that burning smell, it reminds me of that day.

As far as Stop at 10 goes, I actually worked there on weekends when I was in college. It was a pretty neat concept. They had silk ties and nice belts that were a great price for its time. The Men's dress shirts weren't bad, kind of like what you get at Marshall's. I don't know about the quality of the women's stuff, but maybe those were flimsy.

LVMomofBoys - Too funny. We were passing each other to and from H'town and M'town! We actually came up to H'town quite a bit - the hatchery, Newberry's and, of course, Robert Hall! (Actually, I think my dad just liked the drive up here! lol)

Gravatar for Karen in LV Karen in LV Message Karen in LV
Nov 14, 08 2:16 pm

Sears catalog store was where Plates is now.

OOhhhhh, I was thinking it might be Sears.......

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Nov 14, 08 3:10 pm

You are right! Sears it is!

Remember Dogs n Suds, Cactus Jacks & The Orange Pi1!

I meant The Orange Pit

Does anyone remember the first pizza place?

I don't know if it was the first pizza place, but just after we moved here in '72, we used to go to (I think) Luigi's. And if I remember right, it was a few doors down from the Strand movie theatre. And the funny thing was, everytime we went, he would charge us a different price. One time we went and bought a pie, and my neighbor went about an hour later and paid more money for the same thing. He then moved to the other side of Main Street, can't remember exactly where, but he didn't stay there long and went out of business.

I think it has to be Mama's. They used to have just a counter an a few tables in the Hackettstown Mall. I think they moved to town in the late 60's? Look how well they have done!

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Nov 14, 08 11:53 pm

I thought it was a small place called Tony's on the same side as Newberry's. When it first opened, there would be a long line of people waiting to order.

tonys was a 25 cent pizza slice...he was the first pizza place in town...it was owned by the caputo family

I worked at K-mart in the late 70's and lived in Mansfield Village. Does anyone remember trying to pull out of that mall and go towards Mansfield on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I gave up trying to go home for lunch on the weekends.

Oh wow. I dont remember Tony's but I do remember the Caputos.

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Nov 15, 08 9:25 pm

I remember that place and the Caputos. Went to school with one.

I thought tony's was by where the shoemaker is now.
How about Jack n Jill, Art's barber shop and there was the original Dairy Queen where Hess is now!!

My friend who grew up in Hackettstown back in the 50's told me there was a grocery store, (I think she said Safeway, but not sure) in the Knechel Ford location. Can anyone verify that?

Acme was in the Knechel Ford location.

Tony's by the Strand was a great stop for a slice if you didn't feel like riding your bike all the way to Leo's walk up window before that 25 cent addmission to the town pool in the summer! Anybody remeber that dry cleaner on main street that we all thought was a florist from the look of the front window? And for the really old people out there.....now it's time to date yourselves.......what make of cars were sold where Bagels Abroad is now?

Lemasters Dry Cleaners. Wasnt Mrs. Lemasters the loveliest lady?
OK< I have one. What was the name of the CHILDREN'S Librarian, downstairs at the library. (Where is Bagels Abroad?)

Gravatar for LVMomofboys LVMomofboys Message LVMomofboys
Nov 17, 08 3:24 pm

Sorry, libraries give me the creeps! Anybody remember the Sears catalog store where Skylands Orthopeidics is now?

I can't answer the question about cars in the Bagels location because then that would mean I am really old.

Gravatar for LVMomofboys LVMomofboys Message LVMomofboys
Nov 17, 08 4:33 pm

That's OK. I just happen to have an "inside" source for that one! Many moons ago it was a Ford dealership. Now that I gave that one up, can anyone guess what the Ford dealership's son ran in good ole' H-town?......Now that's prize winning trivia!

Bachs Drug Store?

Not even close Christine. Shots in the dark don't count.

What was the Car Dealership on Washington Street by the Middle School....I think it started with a V

Down Town Leroy Brow
Nov 17, 08 8:25 pm

DTLB, If I recall it was Vey's Garage. At one time I think it was also an overflow lot for Kevel???

No takers on the trivia from 8:04?....Whimps!

Wasnt VEY a Cadillac dealer??

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Nov 17, 08 9:00 pm

OK This is my guess: a STILL.

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Nov 17, 08 9:02 pm

I actually think the Ford question is a trick question. Ralph Knechel's father brought the Ford dealership to Hackettstown, which he expanded on Main/Valentine Streets.....so the answer is: the dealer's son ran a FORD Dealership! Do I win?????

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Nov 17, 08 9:31 pm

The car dealership on Washington st. was Vey's Garage. It also was the home of Johnson Dodge before they moved to the location on top of the mountain. The original location of Kevil Chevrolet was located on the corner of High & Miller streets by M&M Mars in what is now a auto body shop.

Cara Mias (Corner of Main & Church) was the Kam Fu Chinese Restaurant...
Strand Theatre $1 to see a movie & $1.50 to sit in the balcony...
Stewarts Root Beer on Route 46 east in the area of Sherman Williams paint...
Bonzana where Blue Mist & Stardust Diners were....
Bowling Alley in the Block Buster/ Skylands Orthopedics Strip Mall....
Kostenbaders Liquor Store in the Dominos Pizza location....
Welsh Farms Restaurant in PV Strip Mall....
Cohens where at the 2nd Time Around Consignment location....
"The Barber Shop" at the Hackettstown Mall...
Fat Cycle in Great Meadows.....
Shirley's Yarn Shoppe across from M&Ms
Krafts Paint Co. on Main Street

Down Town Leroy Brow
Nov 18, 08 12:55 pm

Great memory Down Town Leroy Brown. The only inconsistency that I recall is that the bowling alley was not in the Blcok Buster strip mall but was (about 1/4 mile up the hill) between the east and west bound lanes where there is now the remaining parking lot.

I dont think there was a bowling alley there Leroy, there was a bowling alley at the park-n-ride located on the hill to budd lake between east and west bound. Could not remeber the name of Chinese rest...the first in town on the site of the former Danley's Diner.

I believe both of you are correct...My bad!
The mind ain't what it use to be....
I think I can come up with a couple more.....

Down Town Leroy Brow
Nov 18, 08 2:22 pm

In the area of Hometown Hardware or its parking lot, wasn't there a car dealership?

And KevIl Cheverolet was at the corner of Miller and High Sts.
Carvel and Shoe town where where the old A&P was
And I can't remember the pet/fish store on Washington St, bottom of the hill.

wasn't the building that is now Cara Mia's also the location of the post office way back when?

YOu are all making me so nostalgic and I wasn't even in Hackettstown for the timeframes to which you're referring - I've only been here 10 years.

Tanktown was the name of the fish store on Washington St.

Good old Tank Town...owned by Phyllis Hartman...and there was a coin shop right in the same block.....that was really "grandfathered zoning".

A while back someone asked about where they got Girl Scout uniforms... I'm pretty sure you got them at Holmes Sporting Goods.

Hey remember Sound Effects Records on Main Street? The previous owner ran the store as a record store as well...anyone recall the name?

Bach's Drugs opened a second store in the Hackettstown Mall...what was its name?

The clothing store where Girl Scout uniforms could be purchased was Leonard's. I remember it well.

Cue connection could be found above the Clarendon (now Charlie Browns) but it moved from there to what is now Bachs home health care.......Rich - Big mama was behind Alexandria apartments (it's now townhouses)....suicide hill is now Home Depot!! Remember devil's pit? Pyronix, the quarry by diamond hill?? I also rode my bike to town when the Mall burned...Looks like we hung out in the same places.

Gravatar for The Idea guy The Idea guy Message The Idea guy
Nov 18, 08 4:35 pm

Good call on the old coin shop next to Tank Town...I remember the smokey smell of that nice old guy who sold me so many coin holders for my collection. No trick question on the Ford dealership. His son "Norm" ran Norm's auto parts which was a NAPA dealer. Next question for those who doubt... What was the brand before NAPA?

I am still stuck on Vey being a Cadillac dealer...........

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Nov 18, 08 5:27 pm

I went to a source.....The very first Ford dealership in town was located in the building where Hometown Hardware is. The business did not do well, so Ford took it away. Mr. Ray Lemasters Sr. opened the dealership on Mtn. Avenue at a later time. The Ford dealership on Main St. became Rockaway Sales.

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Nov 18, 08 5:46 pm

Nice work LVMomofboys! Now for the NAPA question... Any takers?

Thank you, thank you. But now I am pooped! Need a nap :)

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Nov 18, 08 5:51 pm

While we're all strolling down "memory lane", does anybody remember the meeter guy who used to patrol Main St. and keep the money in his "I wish I was a cop" hat?

And yes...for the record...I do remember that cool old dog Rusty who used to make the bank deposits. Try pulling that off now! Can't quite remember the name of the sporting goods place from Main St. Was it Holmes?

Holmes, yep.

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Nov 18, 08 6:28 pm

OK. here's a few to rattle your memories. What gas station was on the corner of Main and High Streets and who owned it? Also, what was the name of the two brothers that owned the Clarendon?

Itwas a Gulf station on the corner of Main and High

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Nov 18, 08 8:10 pm

Everybodys was in the Ma owned by Bachs.....I think anyway.

Zellars brothers owned the Gulf station. I think.

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Nov 18, 08 9:39 pm

Mr. Hoover owned Bachs.

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Nov 18, 08 9:40 pm

Jersey Joe, you're right that it was a Gulf Gas Station but the Zellars were not the owners. Keep trying!

Les Smith owned it, then it was purchased by John Zellars, according to my source.

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Nov 18, 08 10:09 pm

Ok, related to the Gulf Station, which Hackettstown teacher lost control of her Cadillac and drove it into the pumps?

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Nov 18, 08 10:10 pm

What was the name of David's before it was David's?

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Nov 18, 08 10:13 pm

Where was the Grange Hall located in town?

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Nov 18, 08 10:18 pm

What is the FULL name of the first owner's of Leo's?

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Nov 18, 08 10:29 pm

Couple of answers to questions above - before L. David's the building was called the Warren House.
The original owners of the Hotel Clarendon were Klaus and Ernie Putz.

You're almost right LVMomofboys. It was Les Smith that owned the Gulf station. One of my dad's best friends. I'm not sure about the Zellars purchasing it. So, any takers on the two brothers that were owners of the Clarendon?

lsricc - Read the post above yours.

Wasn't L. David's a furniture store called House of Wittig after the Warren House closed?

Yes Bach's location in the mall was "Everybody's" . They didn't do enough business to pay the pharmacists!

And of course before them 'Rite Aid" was in the mall...you could go in and out the back door instead of the mall entrance.

Later Rite Aid moved to the A&P shopping center and eventually to East Ave. & Mountain Ave.

And speaking of Mountain Avenue...I'm wondering how many people recall that the Hackettstown McDonald's was a test market for introducing new products. It was one of the very first to have Chicken Nuggets and McRib

Cara Mias (Corner of Main & Church) was the Kam Fu Chinese Restaurant...was Danley's Diner before all the other's above

This is a long post so I am not sure if
"Class and Hurley" Furniture store was mentioned (they also sold bottled gas) on main or Victor's Drapery store or originally Plates Jewelers was on the corner where the vacuum place is and a greyhound bus stop was where Plates is - there was also a soda fountain in the bus station. The bowling alley was right next to the moose lodge where Osa's is or somewhere in that little area - Osa's was a soda fountain place (where I snuck my first cigarette)can't remember the name - I know there was pinball games in there and more of a 'bad' hangout. Next to Leo's was a "grange hall" not exactly sure what it was used for. The bank on the corner "the old People's bank" was a 'sewing notions' store on the first floor and where Tillie went to the show the night she was murdered on the second floor was a stage for theatre shows. If you are going back this far do you all know that Hackettstown was very famous for their horse buggy making over on Valentine Street - people would come from all over to buy them.

On the corner where Verizon on main used to be a hardware store called Western Auto, bycycle parts etc.

Kathy's Kove's was a grand union at one time but at one time there was a roller skating rink in there.

The house across from M & M's was a stage coach stop and inn, they had a tavern in the basement. Much later a librarian from Centenary bought it and lived there with his wife and mother (Howie or Huey??) and he or his mother/wife had a yarn shop in the back. He had a very large collection of statues.

where the town square is used to be a tavern - Tony's pizza used to be next to the tattoo place. the H'town hardware was the grand union, then rockaway sales. How many of you used to walk the muddy path from the Sand Bar to Seber's getting squishy black muck between your toes? Do you remember having your first frozen milkyway bar at Seber's

Ed Huey had the Yarn Shoppe across from M&M's before he was robbed and beaten nearly to death and left hand-cuffed to the steering wheel of his car! He had quite a collection of valuable antiques and I'm not sure if anyone ever figured out who robbed him. He was a hell of a nice guy!

Isricc, Didn't Ed Heggamin own the Service station where the Shell is now before moving to the former Mall Mobil?

Here is one for you huys.

WHere was the Christmas tree originbally displayed. (no it wasnt near the gazebo)

The Christmas tree was on the divider on Grand Avenue at Main St.

There was a small(island)at the Grand Ave.light,I think it was displayed there?!???

By the post office in the intersection of Grand and Main, more on Grand.

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Nov 21, 08 8:44 pm

Kornell Davis owned the hardware store on the corner of Grand and Main.

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Nov 21, 08 8:46 pm

I kinda of remember getting scout uniforms at a store near Kerr's pharmacy. I thought the name was Foster and Lee's.

What was the name of the garage across plane from Rockaway sales. Now Valley auto??

HackyTowny - Ed Hegeman owned the gas station (now the Shell Station) at the five corner intersection. Les Smith owned the Gulf Station on the corner of Main and High. Also, the Hardware Store where the Party Store is on Main Street was owned by the Fursick's (sp?). The Jigger Shoppe was owned by Charlie and Helen West in the 1970's.

lsricc, Jigger Shoppe was later owned by Gary Looft

The Christmas tree stood in the street on Grand Ave. So you are right LVMOM, Pam and Kelly. Guess that was easy.

Every year the girls and boys scouts would put handmade ornaments on them.

Back to the discussion about the car dealers in town. . . . . . LVMomofboys, the story I heard, from a very reliable source, is a little different than yours. Let's see if there is anyone who can tell us which is correct.

Mr. Lemasters was the Ford dealer, but his dealership was in the building where the outdoor kitchen place is now, not where Hometown Hardware is. Unfortunately, the business did not survive so the building was sold to Mr. Poyer who opened Hackettstown Auto Parts. Norm Lemasters worked for Mr. Poyer before he opened Norm's Auto Parts on Willow Grove Street. I don't think there was a brand name - just Norm's.

Meanwhile, Ralph Knechel worked, first as a mechanic then as a salesman, for William G. Vey & Sons on Washington Street. Vey's started out as a Packard dealership, then added Cadillac. When the Buick dealer (on Stiger Street - the building is now part of Hackettstown Ford's shop) closed, Vey's picked up the Buick franchise, and Pontiac too. By then, Packard was no longer in business. Ralph Knechel was able to purchase a Ford franchise and bring a Ford dealership back to Hackettstown. His dealership was originaly on Mountain Ave, next to the little Quick Chek, then later moved to Main Street by the railroad tracks.

Anybody know how the Vey's building was used before it became a car dealership?

Whoda Thunkit
Nov 22, 08 1:07 am

Oops. The Buick dealer was on Valentine Street, not Stiger.

Whoda Thunkit
Nov 22, 08 7:17 am

Didn't Mr. Novak own the hardware store on Main St?

Whoda, I will check back with my "source" (dont I sound like a CIA agent or something....) with what you have posted. Thanks for confirming that Vey was Cadillac - I was certain that was what I remembered. Kelly, I also thought Mr. Novak owned the Hardware Store. His mother used to work in their when I was very young, probably in the later 60's, and later, his son Mike. lsricc didnt give a timeframe for when the Fursicks owned it, if they did, perhaps it was prior or after Novak? Ibet Mr Lemasters, our town historian, could clear up a few of the foggy areas for us! (Wonder if he reads these posts??)

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Nov 22, 08 9:59 am

Does anyone know hat Harpers was a loooooonnnngggg time ago?

The Opera House. The front windows are hinged so that they could open wide into the street to allow the crowds in.

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Nov 22, 08 11:05 am

ROTLOL!

Nope but nice try!

Well, that is what Mrs. Harper told me.

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Nov 22, 08 12:15 pm

Carriage house Christine

Funny Mrs. Harper told me a carriage House and then a car dealership. Hence the hinged windows. LOL!

A carriage house for who? Maybe she originally thought it was an opera house....well, this is another for Mr. Lemasters, I think!

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Nov 22, 08 1:25 pm

Where carriages were made you know the ones that horses pulled. LOL! Ray Lemasters told them that.

OMG just realized that e-mail is wrong!!! LMAO!

Actually, I think you both are right!!!The building was a carriage house in the 1800's and the Opera House opened there in the early 1900's.

I would consider Mr. Lemasters the final word. So, carriage house it is. When you said carriage house, I was thinking where the carriages were stored for somebody, on their private property.

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Nov 22, 08 2:05 pm

Thats funny LVMom!

If my memory serves me right (as I was just a very little girl)- my parents were friends with the Class's, Hurley's (Class and Hurley's Applicance Store), Fiedler's (Fiedler's Real Estate) and the Fursick's (Hardware Store) during the late 50's and early 60's.

Thanks Kelly! (Nice to know I am not crazy, at least some of the time) and, lsricc, do you think the Fursicks sold the hardware store to Mr. Novak? Or did Mr. Novak work for them maybe? I remember him being there in the late 60's and into the 70's. I remember Fiedler's Real Estate too.

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Nov 22, 08 3:37 pm

LVMomofboys - I'm not really sure about the progression of who owned the hardware store first. But I assume that the Fursicks must have sold it to Mr. Novak if he had it during the last 60's and 70's because I's pretty sure that the Fursick's must have sold it by then.

I remember the hardware store. I went to school with the Novack boys. I loved the floor in there. It was wood and when you walked it creaked ALOT!

Oh yeah, and didnt it have a great smell too?? My Dad used to call down there with a shopping list, Mr. Novak would put it together, and Dad would send me down there with $$ in a little bag to pick up whatever it was. I think I was about 10.

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Nov 22, 08 4:17 pm

My Dad liked it because you could buy 1 screw not a whole box.

Those were the days!

I remember the creeky wood floor in the hardware store. Fiedlers real estate has been gone for many many years - but his softball team lives on (Huntington mortgage /Fiedlers). There have been a few other Real Estate offices on Main street....Henry Monetti, Kevin O'Neil, Bill Miller, there was one across the street from the new Quick Chek (victorion house) can't remember the name, and one near Harpers (across the street in a brick building, the other side was a hobby store. I believe it was a womans name). There was a carraige house where Harpers is - my Grandparents had one of the carraiges/sleighs, they put it in the yard at christmas time as a decoration, had it in a few parades also. I remember the christmas tree in the street on grand ave - used to be two huge humps in the road there also. Also remember big Christmas parties at the Monetti real estate office...all the local business owners would attend.

Gravatar for The Idea guy The Idea guy Message The Idea guy
Nov 22, 08 6:23 pm

I believe the lady real estate agent was Ann Bodine and I thinke the hooby store next door was run by her husband Bob?

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Nov 23, 08 7:37 am

Harper's was Tony's Shoe Repair back in the mid 70s. I worked there one summer cleaning up for the owner.

Exactly Bob's Hobby Store in the same building as Ann Bodine Real Estate...Near Kapper's!

Down Town Leroy Brow
Nov 23, 08 10:11 am

At the current location of the "Old Music Store Cafe" there was previously a music store and way back in the 60's there was a beauty salon. My mother used to walk to the beauty salon every Saturday to get her hair done and then on her walk back home she used to stop at Leo's (the old Leo's where there was a walk up window) and bring me home the best hot dogs or hamburgers and the incredible fries!!!! I can almost taste them now. What a great memory of the "old" Hackettstown.

Now for the show stopper..........The first Ford dealership in town was not where any of you have claimed. The first was an agency located where Rich Fixit is now. That dates back before any of "us" would "remember". By the way.....did anybody ever play mini golf at Cactus Jacks?

Cactus Jacks.........was so cool. Loved it.

Music store was great also. Bought my hubby his first guitar there.

Does anybody remember Newberrys.They had a soda fountain and it had a basement.

Does anyhone remember Rockaway Sales' Midnight madness.

Who owned the first Ford dealership, according to your source? There are a few different opinons floating.....I am very confident in my source....he had firsthand knowledge :)

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Nov 23, 08 8:43 pm

Newberry's was great! It's where I got my first 45. I think it was the song "Sherry".

Is your source still alive? Or is he/she really first hand?

Don't remember a mini golf in or near Cactus Jack's BUT remember that Dogs & Suds was that that location. The Orange Pit was in the same location as the Riverstar Diner. Anyone remember when Tony's Catering was on Main Street?

Down Town Leroy Brow
Nov 23, 08 9:45 pm

Oh, still alive, yes!

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Nov 23, 08 9:58 pm

When was Johnson Dodge hear in town? ? ? This one is easy. Lets see if we can get a "correct" answer.

Anyone remember the day old bakery @ the site of Safelite auto glass on Mountain Avenue?

Could be wrong but wasn't there a Cactus Jacks where Boston market is? ( or in that immediate area?) and they had a little mini golf thing?

I know that this is a bit of a stretch but does anyone remember the candy store that was behine Hackettstown Middle School (then the K-8 school) back in the 1960's? I recall walking out of the back door and heading toward the high school. There was (and still is) a two family house and one of the sides was this cute little candy store where you could buy penny (yes, penny!) candies. I know that I'm dating myself but just had to ask.

I remember the store but for the life of me I cant remember the name of it. SOrry

Anyone recall Holy Bagel in the shop rite plaza in the early 90's? My uncle was the manager and would always bring my family free bags of bagels. Those were the days :)

I believe the candy store near the middle school was called "Glover's". I also remember a similar type store on Liberty Street, across from the Knights of Columbus. Anyone else remember this one?

Oh deviljet, I think you are right....I went to school with a Glover and they lived just behind the Middle School (not the MS at the time) and I kind of remember the store.

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Dec 5, 08 9:19 am

I also remember the candy store on Madison St.Loved to walk there from my house. But I have to say I can't place the store on Liberty St. Holy Bagel was my favorite,loved the spinach bagels toasted with butter!!I love the memories of downtown Hackettstown,lived here my entire life, and love to reminisce with you guys!!!Thanks.

Regarding Norm's Auto Parts, the brand before NAPA was American Parts.

Raymond Lemasters Sr. had the North Jersey Motor Sales & service & Ford Dealership on 150 mountain ave in 1949, per my uncle ray.

Grandma had the cleaning store.

Sorry, I cheated! I had inside connections.

Christine.....I do remember the Rockaway Sales Midnight Madness. I went one year on a Friday night and there were about a dozen people. We didn't have a lot of money in those years and I was able to buy so much for my kids for very little money. And everyone was so polite and friendly, I was very impressed. Then there was another the next week. I went back and it was crazy. Didn't get anything the second week.

Pam....I remember the day old bakery on Mountain Ave. If I remember correctly it was Tip-Top bread.

This memory is slightly outside of Hackettstown, in Great Meadows. Does anyone remember Jean's butcher shop? It was across the street from the entrance to Sts. Peter and Paul's church on Hope Road. We used to go there when we first moved here. Jean was the owner, which she made very clear. Her husband's name was Bruno and she used to beat him up all the time, even when customers were in the store. Sometimes they would just fight without getting physical, but there would always be a fight. Her meat was fantastic at very reasonable prices, but it was very uncomfortable going there with all the fighting. Eventually we stopped going partially because of the fighting, but everytime we were there she would tell me that one of my sons was too pretty to be a boy and I should let his hair grow long and put him in dresses like she did with her son. After a few times of her saying the same thing, we decided to buy our meat elswhere.

Tanya - I remember Jean's and Bruno - and you were right the fighting was unreal but the meat was great. Did you grow in the meadows then? I am married to a meadows man and I grew in H'town.

No one answered my post about the Sand Bar and Sebers - did anyone walk the trek to and fro???

The corner where the Fix it station is was a Hotel VERY long time ago

DL are you a relative of Ray/Angie Lemasters?

Does anyone remember the bakery on main street and the night it burned down - we used to get the best cheese bread there. They would slice it on the machine - great stuff~

We always walked the trek to the Sand Bar. We lived on Liberty St so we would ride our bikes the whole time.

Kathnolan
Yes, Ray and Angie are my Uncle and Aunt.

kathnolan....No I did not grow up here. My husband and I both were from Essex County. We moved here in 1972. It was quite a change from what we were used to, but we loved it then and still do.

Farrell's Bakery had superb sticky buns too. (Sticky honey on top with nut) They lived in the apartment over the bakery and were out of a home with the fire. The Genevieve Shoppe was next door. Christine, growing up in Hack. we rode bikes EVERYWHERE and my mother never worried about where we were. There was always somebody around who knew who we were.

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Dec 8, 08 9:55 am

Kathnolan,I walked the Sand Bar to Seber's paths many times too....It used to be extremely muddy in there, even during summer. Now the town has walking paths through there, and they are somewhat elevated, so no more sneakers drenched in the black mud! I also remember Farrell's bakery, and the night of the big fire. They had awesome cookies there too.

Does anyone remember the Williams & Hibler Lumber Yard fire. Was in Aug. 1970. AT that time my parents rented the duplex whixh was owned by them. We lost everything from that fire.

I vividly remember the Williams & Hibler fire. The town fire horns just kept blowing and blowing, and it was around 1:30 AM. I looked out my bedroom window and the whole sky was red....I woke up my Dad and we went to see where it was. By 3 AM it seemed like the WHOLE town was out and watching the fire. After chruch the next morning, it was stil smoldering. For those who weren't here then, the whole Blue Ridge Lumber area (on the railroad track side), was one huge enclosed building, so when that went up, it was some fire ! It ended up being caused by arson too.

Anybody remeber the name of the original Grocery store in the Mansfield shopping plaza? (It wasn't Shoprite)

It was arson. A disgruntled employee set the fire/ I believe he did not do any jail time.

Oh wow. I never knew that fire was arson. How did the culprit avoid jail time?? Wow. That must have been awful for your family Christine,.....and then for the guy to walk just adds insult to injury.

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Dec 8, 08 2:47 pm

It does lvmom, to make things even worse. H'town firemen were GREAT they started taking furniture out of the house when they knew they couldnt control the fire and it was left on the street, people started going thru our dressers and stealing things! The worse ever. I was only 10 but remember it like yesterday.

Your story is shameful. Hard to believe that there are people like that in Hackettstown, but I guess they are everywhere. It reminds me of the story of the train that crashed in Mansfield, on the tracks back behind Donaldsons,I suppose it was back in the early part of the century. The train was carrying many German tourists - and the locals went through the train and looted the luggage rather than help the injured. Well, I am sorry that you had such an experience and I give you alot of credit for staying in town after that.

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Dec 8, 08 4:07 pm

LVmom it was a horrible time for our family but many good things came out of it. My Dad worked at M&M's and his co-workers took up a collection and raised over $4,000. That helped my parents buy their first home. We made many good friends that we still are in contact with. And as my late father once told me I would never forget to give back. BTW the house we bought was 6 houses up from the lumber yard.

I could never leave my town. My DH and I tried when we were married and didnt last a year.

Anyone remember how nice the town used to look at Christmas time back in the day? You had the town Christmas tree literally in Grand Avenue, and the firemen put up decorations from the Hess Station all the way to the Shop Rite (now Quick Check). Also, they weren't only snow flakes like we have now, but they were a mix of Christmas trees, candles, Santas, etc.

Who can name the owner of the Chevrolet dealership before Kevil bought it? For 5 points.... and for a few more, what church did they go to?

Glover's is correct for the candy shop behind ( and one block east of) the Hackettstown Public School (when I started in kindergarten it was K through 12). Teddy G was in my grade, more or less.

The high school went up on a field where we got pumpkins for Halloween; I remember getting pumpkins the year it started to go up, just the outlines of the place. I want to say Morrison owned it, but my memory may fail me here.

What was the name of the funeral parlor near the public school? I can't remember this one. Half a block from the library.

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Jan 9, 09 11:45 pm

Is the Central House still there? Still a bar on the first floor?

salutatorian1968
Jan 9, 09 11:46 pm

Funeral home was Cochran's at 326 Washington Street. Sirkis and Lavery law offices were in there until recently.

Central House is long gone.

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Jan 10, 09 12:33 am

The original supermarket in the Mansfield Shopping was Falks if my memory is OK. The discount store was Jamesway. Those were the days.

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Jan 10, 09 7:43 am

The car dealer where rockaway sales was studebaker,the chevy dealer was whitehouse.dont know if it counts or not but does anybody remember George the egg man on Mt. ave?

So how many things burned down? I know of the mini-mall, Williams and Hibler, Shop Rite - anything else?

The bakery and Genevieve dress shop, also an electrical supply store called theLight House. (On Main St. near Trading Post) They didnt burn DOWN but the fire was bad.

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Feb 15, 09 2:39 pm

Jack Burk's bowling alley next to the moose lodge burned down but I don't remember what year.How about warren retread tires or bucky's wrecker service both on mt. ave. then there was Mr.Smale's tailor shop on liberty st. and Tim's sporting goods next to cunningham's bar corner of moore and main

do I get my 5 points for knowing whitehouse was before kevil chev.

Wait just remembered another one Williams music store on main st.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaa blast from the past...anyone remember the original stewarts root beer stand in hackettstown...turn on your headlights to get served...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe town christmas tree on grand avenue was fun until some jerk set it on fire on christmas eve...what about the christmas star and easter cross on buck hill...at least we can still enjoy that...

Is that the old railroad station with the Hackettstown Sign?

yes that is the original hackettstown railroad station...the picture dates from 1969...ps...who remembers Helens toyland at the corner of main and liberty streets...

sure looks like it.used to play around there a lot as a kid.

any body remember al kings hot dog stand

Yogel, I lived in Hack. from 1966.....and none of your "remembers" are ringing a bell?? Could my memory be that bad? Would you mind giving some idea of a year? Thanks! Love your pics, too....

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Feb 17, 09 10:04 am

Don't know how old you are but I'm talking mid 50's to mid 60's,maybe I'm too old for you guys ha ha ha ha

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayes i remember al king kowalicks hotdog stand...he as well as other merchants on that stretch of rt 46 made big bucks serving the people who were stuck in traffic on rt 46 before rt 80 was built..the traffic could be backed up for 8 miles on any sunday afternoon...Popular Mechanics magazine named Hackettstown as the worst traffic jam in the nation at that time...

Hack:
You are right,backed up to the top of budd lake hill.Island dragway was a big part of the traffic.People from all over the country knew Leo's .

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviai remember middletown leather burning down...on valentine street...back in the late 60s 0r early 70s...the place was full of of paint and thinners...etc...it flashed over and went off with a huge mushroom cloud...i still remember the heat on my face...also the freight house by the railroad station burned down too...that must have been in about 1971...anybody remember...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaLeos...the 15 cent hamberger...and a great cheesesteak... and milkshake... that was so long ago...Leos is still there with new owners...

does anyone remember the name of the little food shop inside the hackettstown mall? you used to be able to get ice cream in little baseball caps. 90s or so this was.

i was pumped about stumping people, then i read all the posts and realized it was trivia from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. oh well, who knows it?

Anyone remember when the Dentists office blew up in '87? I was living in Mansfield Village at the time, all the way in the back before all the new buildings were built and we actually heard the explosion.

Of course nothing beats going over the bridge on Allen Road back in '94 and seeing a glow of red from behind the mountain in the direction of Long Valley.. turns out it was when that chemical plant in Edison had a disaster.

joeguy - was it Barbara's Pantry?

any one know the name of the studebaker dealer on main st. by rockaway sales back in the 60's?

I've just been told of this website. Thanks guys for taking me back. My father and mother built the Orange Pit and I spent many a Saturday wishing I was at the football games rather than working. The town was truly amazing. Our gordon setter would travel around town, especially the school and everyone would know who to call. Remember Garden 5?

Ah the orange pit,a chuck wagon sand. and a soda.we used to sit on the benches and feed the trout bread from the rolls,really made the fly fishermen mad.Sometimes at night(after you closed)guys from town would drag race on that stretch of 57. oh for the good old days!

Loved the sound of the the drag racing outside my window. Reminds me of summer nights. Actually that was called Route 24 at that time. Route 57 was only from the light up to Windy's gas station. (Mountain Avenue)

Barbara,do you remember the name of the littlt diner that's the golden skilit?

Anyone remember Hackettstown Milk Co (Welsh Farm Milk) delivering door to door? Also serving the A & P and the Gof Course??

jettailgaiter
Feb 24, 09 4:59 pm

Yogel - River Edge

jettailgaiter - Yes, my uncle Steve drove a milk truck for Welsh Farms. As kids we loved going into the truck and getting choc. milk.

Trivia Question: Does anyone remember the name of the tiny store on the border of Hackettstown and Vienna? It was a school bus stop and we all bought our 5 cent Devil Dogs for a snack for school.

I remember Barbaras Pantry when I worked at K-mart in 1978. I used to go get lunch there all the time. Or at the K-mart Lunchenette or Diner whatever it was.

Remember Carl's Place? My mother would stop there for bread and other sundry items and we would go to the cooler for a soda (glass bottles). It used to be on the corner of Mountain Ave and East Ave. The Schaeffer's lived across the street (owners of Carl's). I believe these places are both now drug stores.

I remember carl's when I was a kid(early to mid 50's)Carl,his wife and daughter lived in the back of the store,if you looked to the right when you walked in you could see their kitchen.directly across mt.ave was al chareek's(not sure of spelling)nursery business.

Deb,the only store I can bring to mind is Curl's on the left just before the top of the hill,n.main st.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviacarls place died not long after McDonalds moved in...right across the street... in 1970...who remembers redeeming soda bottles for 2 cents a piece at Acme on main street ...better yet who remembers the Tulsa Gas station on north main street...

Yogel, you're right! Curl's Store it was!

hack
sure do remember the tulsa,do you remember the carpenter brothers(monk and tow)garage/junk yard at the bottom of budd lake hill,and when there was no down track?How about warren retread tire on mt.ave.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviahell yes i remember monk carpenter...i helped clean out that garage...after it closed...i wish that junkyard was still there today...he had lots of old iron...heres one for you...i used to go up to kobers junkyard too...thats gone now too...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayogel...we always trusted our re-treads and tires to Tom Whelan he was a friend of our family...take care...

My uncle worked for Tom Whelan for years....Remeber when Whelan owned the bar, The Millstone (now the Pumphouse)?

I can't for the life of me remember the name of the bar on the river. It was owned by my Aunt Pinky's family, the Housel's. I think it's a big liquor/beverage store now.

My dad, Paul Solomon, also worked with Tom Whelan.

barbara

where on the river?



I remember when whelan used to have the big tire fires~

OMG... you folks are taking me back. I remember the dog that walked up town as a Irish Setter named Kelly & owned by the Kostenbater family who owned the Liquor store .

do you remember when williams & hibler burned down....you could see that for miles!!!

dogs name was rusty unless youre talking later years and it's another setter same owners.

oh crap!I meant to post here but started a new topic by mistake!

I remember the fire! The housee we lived in burnt down in it.

by the way..... Great Thread!

Yogel - On the Muscanetcong on Route 57 just down on the left around the curve from the entrance to Mansfield Village apartments.

I remember some fires. When the drug store and bakery (I loved the smell inside that bakery) and the lumber yard went up.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe liquor store you mention...on the musconetcong river...that was johnsons...it is now bottle king...there was also the Pub...that was turned into the bakery that burned down and is now the japanese steakhouse...then there was the old Mansfield Inn...i was there the day of the shooting...enough said ps kostenbaders dog used to take the liquor store money to the bank...the dog was that well trained...

tom whelan also owned the site where scrub a dub car wash is now located

hack

when was a shooting at mansfeild inn?

wasen't strikes body shop on that same stretch?

Which shooting in Mansfield....the one by the RR Tracks....shooter had rifle

Hack - yes, that's the name. The mind is going. Had many a good time at the Mansfield Inn.

Yogel - Strike was a hoot. His place was on that stretch.

gotta be old to remember hap hibler the ice delivery man(we didn't have an"electric ice box "till I was 5 or6)or the ice house on the left side of 46 where water st comes out,at least thats where I remember it being.

I guess this is retail,the old guy with the pull cart who used to sell vegies,fresh eggs,and fresh killed chickens.he lived on the lower part of mt.ave.everybody called him george the egg man.

My great grandmother worked at the hotel claredon till I think the late 50's and the owners at that time were willie and arthur putz.anybody remember the christmas parties they had for the town kids,first time I tasted pumpkin ice cream.

lvmomofboys
leo lomason owned leos.

how about a place called sol braggards ice cream parlor?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe shooting at the mansfield inn happened.when jamesway was still open...paul hemphill still owned the place...it has been so long...it had to be sometime in the 80s...i was coming back from washington nj on an errand and stopped in to buy a six pack...the bar was completely empty...there were cars in the parking lot...if you knew the mansfield inn at the time that was unusual...there was no one to pay for the six pack...so i put it back and left...i went to a buddies house and he had a police scanner...and there was all this chatter about shooting...and people being shot...i told him i was just there and the place was deserted... the shooter had apparently scared everyone out of the bar and run home for more ammunition...i guess i just stopped in during the lull...

now if you remember strikes body shop...he was ok...i remember he had a sign in his office...Helen Wait Is our credit Manager...if you want credit go to helen and wait...

I'm kinda goin out of town for this but where was the only place to get gas between hackettstown and washington back in the 50's.
any body know the name and location?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathere was two places..there was a gas station in stephensburg...which had 33 cent per gallon gas price signs on rt 57 for years after it closed...and bathgates garage near the mansfield school on rt 57... bathgates now sells used cars ...

who remembers Jimmie The Fish...the fish guy who delivered fresh fish all around hackettstown...he had a blue chevy step van ...what about Western Auto...on the corner of grand ave ...and main street

OMG I remember Jimmie the fish. Us kids actually did Idive into our pool when we saw him pull up. LOL!

can't picture the station in stephensburg,guess i'm having a brain fart as my friend mike refers to it. bathgates was the one I was refering to.does any body remember the name of the station on 517 on the left as you rounded the hard curve in allamuchy,if I remember they sold tractors also.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathat was Seagraves gas station...i knew joe seagraves...he was a great mechanic...now lets ratchet this up a bit...who remembers Butler Park Amusement Park...along the musconetcong river...by Mansfield TWP...i have already included a picture of the butler park merri-go-round on this thread...start scratching your heads...thanks

The gas station was at the corner of Route 57 (24) and Heiser Road. My great-grandmother lived across the road. We loved going in the tunnel under the highway. Thought we were great adventurers! Of course her house has been gone for well over 50 years.

Hack - Gosh, there's a blast from the past. I do remember Butler Park.

YEA butler park,went there a lot as a kid,it was a great little park.too bad all the small ones faded away ya didn't have to wait hours to get on a ride like at dorney.they're trying to bring back bushkill in easton but it's not looking good.

ever go to bertrands island park,a lot bigger than butler but still small enough to do in one day.

Hey hack! do you remember the merry go round in budd lake?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviahi yogel...you got me there...the budd lake merry-go-round...was that part of the old night club...thats was recently torn down...that served as the police station...tell me more...hell yes i went to bertrands many times right up until it closed...got to www.youtube.com they have videos of the park when it was still open and after it closed

catholic by family
Mar 4, 09 12:03 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaheres an old time place from budd lake nj...this was a bar that made most of its money before rt 80 opened...

catholic by family
Mar 4, 09 12:06 pm

Where was that bar located cbf?

Gravatar for Seein the Reality Seein the Reality Message Seein the Reality
Mar 4, 09 12:26 pm

Wow I just went on to youtube to watch the videos about Bertrands Island. That was awesome. I remember when I was a kid there were still a few bumper cars and an upright for the ferris wheel. But then I watched the videos of the Alpine Slides at Action Park. Wow the memories LOL

Gravatar for Seein the Reality Seein the Reality Message Seein the Reality
Mar 4, 09 1:08 pm

Aw I really liked that Gravatar but it's so small ya cant even tell what i is.

Gravatar for Seein the Reality Seein the Reality Message Seein the Reality
Mar 4, 09 1:10 pm

CBF
the merry go round was on that kind of point where sand shore rd. shoots left off 46 right by the lake. please tell me and str where that bar is I'd like to know too!

Wasn't there a bar right on the lake and then it was up on the hillside?

What was the name of the hardware (?) store on Willow Grove just at the bottom of the hill before you turned off to go to the football field and the Sand Bar.


Barbara

Didn't they always say that the Bertrand's roller coaster had been condemned for many years (but still open)?

Has anyone mentioned Hoff's Auto Electric??

jettailgaiter
Mar 6, 09 1:58 pm

I think think the name of the Hardware Store on Willow Grove Street was Bower's

Does anyone remember the name of the funeral home where Scala's currently is? Scala took over in the early 70's, but before that it was owned by someone else. Metzger's...... I think. Can anyone verify my memory?

bowers hardware was located on willow grove street by the football field...i remember hoffs auto electric when it was located behind the old shoprite on stiger street...anybody remember class&hurley furniture on main street...anyone remember the Mr Softy ice cream truck that roamed the streets of hackettstown...

I do rememer Hoff's. Johnny sponsored our softball team. Also remember Class & Hurley and of course the ice cream truck. We'd be at the softball games under the lights and always looked forward to the ice cream truck. It never came by our house but I could hear it over at Kenwood Village. I suppose Kenwood Village is not considered a subdivision anymore.

Does anyone remember Harold Best's store across from the
Studerbaker dealer. I think it was Johnson's Studerbaker right
next to the Food Basket.

Bud Class and Jack Hurley (Class and Hurley) were great family friends. They both still have children & grandchildren in the area. I'm lucky enough to have them as part of my life. Bea Class lives in Florida but comes up to Great Meadows regularly to visit her daughter, Mim Gulick (whose husband, Jack, just sold his service station a short time ago which was located across the street from the old Class and Hurley location). Small world!

We used to go to Bud and Bea's motel, Thje Golden Nugget, in Wildwood almost every summer. Bud was a great guy

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe picture of the bar i posted is still there and a still a bar in budd lake...right next to the budd lake motel...i think the name is now the log cabin...who remembers when stiger street near the auction market was still a dirt road...who also remembers the candy store that was on liberty street across from the knights of columbus hall

I can remember getting licorice in that little store on Liberty Street! Can't remember the name though....There was also a small store on Madison Street by the school called Glover's.

Wow, I do remember Glover's. Used to stop there after school and on the way to Morgan's Tract.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaa little more about the candy store on liberty street...there was a fortune teller next door...she was known far and wide...when i would do errands on main street strangers would approach me and inquire about her address...i know she passed away years ago...but i still remember her...she was very religious...and i do remember glovers store...both Mr And Mrs Glover are deceased...they moved to missouri years ago...

any body remember the of the only cab co. in town back in the day

LaBars?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaand there was the hackettstown taxi...with a stand right by bachs drug store...

LaBars it was. Anybody remember Mr. Smale's tailor shop on liberty st.

My family's house used to be where the Shell station is on Mt. Avenue right now. My father sold the property to Shell Oil Company in 1954. He put the house on a flatbed truck and moved it to its current location on Pine St. I bet no one remembers that!

Uncle Ronnie
Mar 24, 09 3:01 pm

Does anybody remember Morgans Florist, HHS football field is there now. How about sledding down Hospital hill (before hospital was there) all the kids in town went there. How about Willow Grove Park when it was a cabbage field. Anybody?

I remember morgan's green houses on washington st.hill,walked by them every day on the way to school. we used to sled between sharp and lafayette st can't remember if we went down cook or franklin st.if you got a good run you could fly off the bank go all the way through the field,under the barbed wire fence and into the second field.after my first time down I learned to lay down on the sled or get closelined off,

who remembers a little short lived resturant on main st.called the establishment.I think it was by the strand.

yogel, My mom is 76 and she lived on liberty st. when she was a kid, talkes about it all the time. My great grandfather owned the ort building (gone now) on main st. It was a candy store in the 20"s, and the local bootlegger outlet. Most public officials were there patrons. Dirt streets, real Hackettstown history. I know of women who would come to Centenary by horse and sled in the winter, no cars at the time. They came from Milford PA. And I remember the fields of Morgans was where the HHS football field is .

Uncle Ronnie, Where on Pine Street was the House moved to?

aka? on a good day with a spotter you could cross Willow Grove Street on your sled and go down Pine Street.

oh my gosh yes, no traffic to worry about.

Cool stories. And the pictures here are great!

aka, I grew up on Liberty St. First before Williams & Hibler fire then above 3rd house down from the school. Ask her if she remembers the Morgan girls?

aka

where on main was the ort building???

BeenArouind, It is located at 107 pine st, it is much larger now then it was back then, when my parents had a baby, they'ed just build a new addition on. my parents sold it back around 1982 I think, moved to Cape Cod.

Uncle Ronnie
Mar 28, 09 2:01 am

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviai remember morgans greenhouses and they also grew plants on bells lane...formerly a part of the bell farm...and yes i sledded down hospital hill...and valley view hill also...valley view street was cordoned off by the town foe all the local kids to sled down...years ago....the ort building was on the corner across from rockaway sales...next to where chics barbershop building stands today

I do believe Ed and Dot Glover are still alive. I almost bought their house back in 2000 when they moved to Missouri, and we still get Christmas cards from Patty.

OK, I do not recall how to spell this but...Does anyone remember Dr. Shevitz (sp.)? He practiced here in the late 1950's and into the 1960's and had an office on Grand Avenue. I recall him coming to our home. What a memory...a doctor that made house calls!!! Dr. Minier (sp.) took over his practice when he retired.

Hack, what train bridge is that a picture of?

Gravatar for Seein the Reality Seein the Reality Message Seein the Reality
Mar 29, 09 12:24 pm

Mr and Mrs Glover have both passed away...in missouri...i am a friend of the family...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe train bridge picture...is a veiw of the Paulinskill Viaduct...just after is completion...thanks for your question

Thats what I thought. I had the priveledge to go inside that bridge once. It was awesome. Being a history buff it was really cool to see something like that up close. Im not sure if you can get inside anymore, as some stupid kid jumped off there and ruined it for everyone else. But if its still possible its an adventure worth taking.

Gravatar for Seein the Reality Seein the Reality Message Seein the Reality
Mar 29, 09 5:35 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaCatholic by family, where is that picture of the roller coaster from?

Gravatar for Seein the Reality Seein the Reality Message Seein the Reality
Mar 29, 09 5:39 pm

Dr. Stanowicz was the Dr who was on Grand Ave. and did house calls.

Dr. Stanowicz was on Grand Avenue as well. Dr. Shevitz was on the opposite side of the street and a half a block up. On the same side as the Post Office and on the same block as the bank.

If I remember right there was dr.stanowicz,shevitz,miller,hall and dr.harmon.
doc harmon delivered me and stayed my dr.till he retired.I think they all made house calls and rotated being on call for the emergency squad.

The roller coaster is Bertrand's island, and it stood until at least 1979 because we rode it before a graduation keg party on the Mt Arlington Beach.

Tossed a handful of dimes in the carny games to win a beer glass that came in handy at the party. Which was a short walk from the park.

Christine, which house was Dr. Stanowicz in? Our home appears to have been used as offices and I'm curious if it was the one he used.

Doctor Hall was famous for his mysterious "Pink salve" which he applied to just about every injury...It worked too! Doctor Stanowicz was a great man too, you could ALWAYS get in to see him if you were sick.

dr.stanowicz lived in and had his office on the corner of grand ave.and washington st.directly across from the post office.

Doctor Hall's office and residence was on the corner of Madison & Grand Avenue. I know the people who live there now, but I don't want to mention names on the internet.

Thats right yogel. It is now a dental office.

the paulinskill viaduct is heavily patroled by the state police...so dont waste your time going there...you will be ejected from the property...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaThe Davis family owned the Western Auto - later True Value - hardware store at the corner of Grand and Main from the late 1950's into the early 1980's. Wooden creaky floors, you coudl buy screws / nails individually or by bulk, auto parts (when the store closed the auto part inventory had filters, and parts going back to the Model A - an antique car owner's dream - bicycle repair.

On the corners opposite the Western Auto Store were "People's Bank" (Grand & Main), Gulf Gas Station and full service Auto Repair, Knapp's Drug Store. (High & Main). Clarendon Hotel was located directly behind the Western Auto Store.

Rusty - Irish Setter - that ya'll talk about was owned by the people that ran the liquor store at the corner of Liberty and Main, and yes, Rusty was given the daily receipts to be carried to People's Bank for deposit. He crossed only at the intersection, and actually waited for the appropriate light to change. After his daily chore at the bank, he then used to stop in and visit several other store owners to receive "other" treats.

trapper


I could be wrong but I think the drug store at high and

main was bachs drug store

hi Yogel, yes that's right. i remember that!

The other drug store, I believe it was Knapp's, was located next to Dad & Lad. So for years, we had 2 drug stores thriving on Main Street.

knapps was around where the chinese is on main st. kerr's was the drug store next door.
Bachs was on main and high where the trading post/furniture is.

I grew up in Schooley's Mtn. There used to be a doctor who made house calls from Hackettstown and I took piano lessons fromMr. Phoebus...did anyone else???????

jettailgaiter
Apr 3, 09 2:09 pm

I went to school with a Ronna Phoebus,don't know if she's any relation or notthough.

Liquor store was Kostenbader's. Rusty was a great dog.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviawho remembers the old Central house when Bill Dougherty owned the place...Jackpot Ryan hung around there then...the Central House dated to 1860...before they tore it down...

I was looking back through the thread and want to mention a couple things. vey's dealership also had mercedes and citroen, before henry tomainio was uncle joe tomainio,he had this really nice old buick conv.

old man,you asked what was the proper religion or nationality, back then h'town was W.A.S.P country.

Yes, I took piano lessons from Mr. Phoebus. It was a wonderful experience taking lessons from a man who had played in theaters for silent films - which he demonstrated if you happened to ask! I think that he also wrote at least one popular song way back. Thanks for letting me remember!

Gravatar for lilindependance lilindependance Message lilindependance
Apr 5, 09 7:28 pm

can you tell me,is the schooleys mt.general store/post office still open,I remember the pot belly stove right in the middle of the building.

Anyone remember the salesman in Dad & Lad's, I think his name was Louie? Very persistent! If you bought boots he would try to sell you socks, if you were buying a pair of jeans he would try to sell you a belt to go with it...he was hilarious.

Yes it is still open for business

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayou are talking about louie lusardi..he was a great salesman...he had an ice cream shop before he worked at dad and lad...he lived on prospect street...he was one of a kind

That's the name - Louie Lusardi ! Everyone in town went to him. Back in the day, if you needed jeans - you went to Dad & Lad's. There was no Rockaway Mall, Walmart, Target, etc. If you needed dress clothes, you went to Leonard's or Foster & Lee. Everything we needed to survive was right there on Main Street; and all the businesses flourished.

We also remember Leeters. There was a ladies side and a mens. Actually they started in where my store is now and then moved down to where Trading Post clearance center is now.

I remember I wasn't thrilled when Dr. Shevitz came to the house. I always got a penicillin shot. I also remember my mother crying when he died. Dr. Stanowitz delivered by sister. There was no hospital in town at that time. Usually went to Newton. The Gartelmann's owned the Schooley Mtn Store at one time. Pete has since retired so don't know if it is still in operation. Sort of getting homesick. Will visit in June.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviastill no helens toyland store memories...that was quite a place..i bought all my kites and balsa wood gliders there when i had the money...who remembers when rockaway sales sold toys at the main street store...as well as military surplus...

I've enjoyed reading this thread and remembering great childhood memories. One business I haven't seen mentioned was Tickner's Feed, next to Shop- Rite on Main St. Every spring I would go in there and play with the chicks and bunnies they had in crates for sale. No one ever told us to leave or discouraged us, even though it was obvious we would't be buying as we had no adult with us. Remember when kids could wander around town without a parent right on their tail.

Gravatar for Nostalgic for H-town Nostalgic for H-town Message Nostalgic for H-town
Apr 10, 09 11:00 pm

LV General Store is still open!!

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviawhile on the subject of hackettstown memories...when it snowed we kids would shovel out our parents house out first...and then head for main street to shovel out the sidewalks in front of the stores...you could make some money quick there...and how about the old jigger shop candy store...most everybody stopped by there either on their way to school or on their way back...

I used to go to the Schooley's Mtn store when it was owned by Charlie Skinner. We lived not far from there and we owned some donkeys who used to get loose now and then. Charlie Skinner would call our house and say "Virginia(my mother) your donkeys are loose again!" My mom would have to go there and get them and pay for the apples they would eat off the front stairs. I loved the penny candy...

How about K & K Fencing at the top of Hackettstown Mountain?? My father worked a second job there. It was where the Dodge Dealer is now. The owners father lived on Rt 24 in Schooleys Mtn. He was blind and used to sell apples off his front porch. We used to go and hang out there. Inside his house he had a player piano which was amazing...

jettailgaiter
Apr 14, 09 9:20 am

oh yea I shoveled a lot of snow,made some quick cash then head to mike and bettys for food soda and an afternoon of pinball.I think it was 1958 we had a hugh snowfall , made mucho bucks that time.

yogel wasnt that Mick & Hedy's?

Christine
no it was mike & bettys on high st. around the corner from bachs drug store long before mick & heddys.remember I'm going back into the middle 50's . I think either mick or heddy were related to mike and betty bacon the owners.

Yogel, Is correct, except neither Mick nor Hedy were related to Mike Bacon.
The original Mike & Betty's was on High Street, and then Mike and Betty Bacon moved it down Main Street across from Leo's, where Ishinru Karate is presently located. Hedy worked for Mike and Betty Bacon at both locations, and then in the mid 60's, Mick and Hedy bought the business from Mike Bacon and renamed it "Mick & Hedy's". The business existed there until about 1989, a year after Mick passed away; the owner of Hackettstown Auto Parts terminated Hedy's lease because he wanted to open a jewelry store for his girlfriend.

Does anyone remember the name of the clothing store that was on High St in the building that Green Bean's coffee shop is in? I remember going in there with my grandmother when I was little.

I see you guys are older than me. I ended up ay Mick and Hedys when I got lost in kindergarten! LOL!

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviamick and hedys was run by the souders { correct my spelling if needed} when it re-located to main street...both mick and hedy have passed away...as faras the greenes beans site if you do your research you will find that was a cheese factory many years ago...more for you...does anyone remember the jimmy giamolvo { correct my spelling] cheese factory in tranquility that made and delivered cheese to hackettstown for many years

Waybill,

Is that the old Hunter's Lodge down on Rt 46 in Deleware? They used to have the deer in a pen outside? It looks familiar...

Lori...since '73
Apr 15, 09 1:38 pm

Man I love this thread....memories of when going uptown was a literal adventure. My dad would clean up & shave & put on his dress clothes. You did your clothes shopping, your food shopping, your christmas shopping, got your haircut, clothes tailored everything.... self contained & convenient place to live and work. Now its a sumhole (forgive my language)

Begin Again Finnigan
Apr 15, 09 3:07 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayes thats the old hunters lodge sign..the new owners restored the sign but the deer are gone...the old saying is the more things change the more they stay the same...

I'm really suprised no one remembers tim's sport shop on main st. right next to cunningham's bar!

Good ole fella on 206 ....all he needed was a honk & a wave!!!

Begin Again Finnigan
Apr 18, 09 1:26 pm

I remember the guy on 206. Sadly he is not there anymore......

Wavin Willie he was called he used to work at the Tamarracks

waving willie ....always loved driving by him as a kid always smiling :) they even have a page on facebook for and about him I have become a member :)

Remember Dr. Silber the Dentist next door to Rockaway sales?

Dentistry has come a long ways since the time I sat in his chair...OUCH!!!!

Waving Willie...he is gone, but the chair remains. It makes me smile as I drive by.

Gravatar for Lori...since '73 Lori...since '73 Message Lori...since '73
Apr 19, 09 10:59 am

Waybill,

I knew the deer were gone...it's been a long time. I always felt bad for them in there.

I have another question for you. Not far from the Hunters Lodge there was another small Hotel, I have no idea what it was called. If you are at the Lodge and turn around to look at the hill directly behind you there is a building back in there. It can't be seen from the road, although once in a while, depending on the season, you can catch a glimpse of a chimney. At the bottom of the hill is an old chained off driveway that leads to it. When I was in High School (early 90s) I went up there with some friends. We snooped around a bit. There were some magazines laying around, all from the mid 80s. So it can't be more than 25 years since the place closed up. Does anyone know this place that I'm asking about? Aside from the kids I went there with everyone thinks I'm imagining the place...Do you know anything about it?

Gravatar for Lori...since '73 Lori...since '73 Message Lori...since '73
Apr 19, 09 11:08 am

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaLori since 73...let me do a little look around...i will get back to you...here is a little history of the town of Delaware...it was built as a railroad town by John I Blair...and it was the template he used to build more than 80 railroad towns out west in his business with the Union Pacific railroad...the streets in Delaware are named after his wife and children...the high hill behind Delaware is named Blair Mtn after the Blair family...

WABBILL! I love your pics.
Got any of the Morris Canal about town stashed away?

Waybill,

I''m assuming thats the same John Insley Blair that started up Blair Academy? I live about a mile from there and on beautiful days my son and I like to stroll along the grounds and take in the scenery. The cemetary is old and interesting and the falls, though small, are also nice. You have a wealth of knowledge concerning the area and I appreciate you sharing it with us. And your pictures are fantastic. Thanks! Oh, and just for the heck of it I used Google Earth to see if I could find that old building (hotel) from an ariel view, but it wasn't there. I did however see the trail that led up to the place. It's off of Anne St at the back of the town of Delaware. Not sure if that helps at all...

Gravatar for Lori...since '73 Lori...since '73 Message Lori...since '73
Apr 20, 09 6:16 pm

There was a man that hung out in the parking lot of Dr's Laurara ( spelling?) and Dr Weideman's office and directed traffic. Anyone remember him?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathank you for your compliments...i will post more pictures soon..

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviamorris canal...pictures...here is a shot of morris canal boatmen at smiths store...in Waterloo village from 100 years ago...enjoy...i have many more...enjoy

Thanks! Never seen that one. I dont think I've seen many photos of the canal between Hackettstown & Waterloo.

Anyone remember the old Homefreeze building by Lafayette Street, and Pete Smith, the old guy who used to live across the street from it?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviahey deviljet...was that the old guy who lived in the little house on the intersection of maple street and lafayette street...he always walked around wearing new york yankees hats and shirts...this is about 40 years ago...as far as the homefreeze building...we used to go in there...and it was abandoned...and the phone would ring...nonstop...enough for now...

Waybill, YES, that is who I'm talking about! He lived next door to my father's uncle... He always had Yankee gear on and he used to tell everyone each year that he was going down to spring training to help them out.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviahey deviljet...its a small world...and what memories of hackettstown...heres another...remember swimming at sebers grove...or at the sand bar...that was a time...i never bothered much with the town pool...heres a big memory...swimming at the indian fields behind rustic knolls off of willow grove street...every time i hear the CCR song Green River...john fogerty has a line..." i wonder if my old rope still hangs to the tree"...i remember the indian fields

love this thread.

I remember Wavin' Willie. When were young we would laugh at the old coot but soon realized that he was an integral part of the town (Andover, I think) and we looked forward to seeing him as we drove by. When he was gone we definitely missed him and, to this day, I still think of him every time I drive by.

Waybill, do you remember the college view section before the homes were built? Any pictures?

Waybill, Yes I remember swimmming at the grove and the Sand Bar, I spent most of my childhood summers there, especially the Sand Bar. They just tore the dam down at Seber's abour 4 weeks ago - it was decrepit. Also a trip back to the Indian Fields felt like you were in the wildnerness...Now it's all housing developments.

Wow! Are the ladies having an outing on the morris canal boat?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathis is a real blast from the past...100 years ago...in fact...the picture i am posting...is a view east...showing centenary college... in the background...note the dome...and a VERY rare view of the hackettstown iron foundry that used to exist on grande ave...the iron mill is in the foreground...i remember hackettstown before pretty much all the apartment complexes and developments were built...they were built mostly on old farm fields...deviljet...the worst thing about the indian fields was those darn huge blackflies...we used to climb on the big rock in the middle of the river...too...but there was nothing like a good swing on the old rope...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaheres another morris canal shot...this was taken near phillipsburg...heres what the boatmen looked like...by the way... the morris canal was called slack water navigation...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathose ladies might be having an outing...but some woman had to earn their keep...remember the times...this was over 100 years ago...this is a woman working a gate on a lock near saxton falls

I've seen that last one. Thats Flukes lock just outside of Stanhope. Very popular place... I think the Flukes had something like 7 daughters, a few ran the lock.

I am loving these old pictures! (I MUST get over to the Historical Society one of these days) It think it would be really cool to see the photos at the same angle but taken today......

Waybill....My friends & I always swam, river tubed & fished those banks of the mighty muski especially during the summers & after baseball practice. Fond days & gone forever! Alas!!!

Begin Again Finnigan
Apr 23, 09 3:08 pm

Firefly.... I believe the man (was he old) was Mr. Lou Petty. Mr. Petty lived above the Doctors & owned the building. He & his son were both carpenters & built homes & apts around the area. My family lived in one right next to the American Legion on Willow Grove St in Hackettstown. Behind it was Morgan Farms cabbage patch that became the Willow Grove Development (mostly M&M Plant Workers and Teachers back then).

The Tickners home was close by & they had a barn where they stored hay....we kids would play in the barn & get yelled at. We would also swim & fish at the Sand Bar (that was our pool) & I would help Mr. Seber pick tomato's & corn for his farm stand.

Begin Again Finnigan
Apr 23, 09 3:32 pm

Anyone recall swimming at the lock ....Saxon Falls? People would take blankets & lawn chairs like the shore & swim. There was a snapping turtle there & my dad would advise that us boys should stay away least the turtle bite our weaners off...lol! That will keep you away!!

Begin Again Finnigan
Apr 23, 09 3:38 pm

Yes I remember swimming in the hole as we called it. They had a lifeguard and everything. We would ride our bikes along the tracks to get there.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayes i used to go swimming at saxton falls that was the free place to swim until they closed it down...

Waybill, I am trying to figure out the Centanury College picture from the angle of the dirt road & the water on the left (is that the canal). If the canal ran next to toepath apts then what road is in the picture? Is that Willow Grove St?

Begin Again Finnigan
Apr 24, 09 9:02 am

Waybill or anybody who might have...pictures of the boat next to the building on Stiger street. (Early to mid1970's) Greatly appreciated...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe picture of centenary college and the iron factory is taken from the towpath on the morris canal...from my vantage point i would say it was taken from somewhere between where airport road meets rockport road.. and the allen road intersection with rockport road.but on the canal towpath...here is another picture from hackettstown...it is the katie kellogg morris canal payboat...this was taken near baldwin street...ps i vividly remember red grogans steel boat but i would have to say you might find pictures of it in the hackettstown gazette archives because they did a story on it while it was under construction

Oh, I know what boat you mean.....went to school with the kids....I wonder what ever happened to it?

Begin again: I think the road in the foreground is the canal towpath, where the mules would walk.
The canal in this section ran near the bottom of bucks hill.
Probably a mile or two from towpath apartments. Other side of town...

wasen't grogans "ark"concrete and steel?

or maybe I'm suffering false memory again,I've suffered C.R.S. a long time now.

yogel: you are correct. which is why i am so curious as to how it was removed!

I was gone by the time the ark was removed but I remember leo(red) grogan as being quite a guy.the only biker I ever knew that was concerned enough to run for town council many times.I'm not sure but I think either my mom or uncle went to school with him.

yogel: It took me a minute to remember what C.R.S. is. I suffer from it, too.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviagrogans boat was a steel frame...with mesh sides that were to troweled over with a special concrete to form the hull...he was going to get his masts for the boat off of buckhill...the reason that i was told that he cut the boat up for scrap...was that some one pointed out that the boat was 10 feet on town property...if i remember correctly to boat was very close to stiger street...last i heard anything of red he was living in TN...and was in his 70s ...heres another old time picture...this is the trolley that passed through washington nj...and the line ended just outside port murray...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe weathers getting nice how about a trip to the old swimming hole...Saxton Falls...

AH saxton falls what a great place(day or night)had lots of good times up there.kind of all purpose place you could swim ,fish,picnic,whatever.I went by there 10 years or longer ago,no water in the swimming hole just a bunch of weeds and stuff I thought at the time what a shame to lose a great place like that.

another place I used to go was the dam at beattys mill by east ave. had a friend who lived right there with a canoe,fished there a lot too.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayes i go by saxton falls on a regular basis...its not the same now that the swimming hole has been drained...but you can still fish in the river...here is a picture of first day of fishing season from years ago...

Never knew there was a trolley in this area. What other towns did the trolley serve?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe trolley was a part of the Easton & Washington Traction Co...the trolley came out of Easton PA...and ran to Port Colden NJ...the plan for the trolley line was to expand through Hackettstown and connect with the the Morris County traction line at or near Lake Hopatcong...but a very stubborn farmer near port Murray NJ named Adam Wandling...fought the trolley line that was to go through to Hackettstown...and the service ended at Port Colden...the trolley went out of business in 1925...if you drive along rt 57 some remnants of the old trolley line can still be seen...here is a picture of the trolley running down the main street of Washington NJ

Jac mentioned Dr. Silbur a while back on this thread. I want to let him know that I know his pain. When I moved from H-town and found a new dentist, I was pleasantly suprised that dentist visits did not have to include fear and intimidation.
I always enjoy reading this thread and remember the Grogan's ship very well. I always wondered what happened to it. It's a shame Mr. Grogan didn't get to fulfill his dream.

Gravatar for nostalgic for H-town nostalgic for H-town Message nostalgic for H-town
May 3, 09 11:26 pm

Suz - the name of the dress shop in High Street was Ann's Dress Shop. I remember when Mom bought me my first grown up dress. She usually shopped at Leonard's or the Sears catalog. I loved going in there.

Jac - I went to Dr. Silber as a kid. To this day, I don't like going to the dentist.

I own a 1965 Pontiac Tempest that was purchased from Vey on Washington st. I don't recall the full name of the dealer at the moment. BTW when my son was at Hatchery Hill school, his teacher, Mrs. Vey was part of the same family. I think I gave her an original "Vey" key chain that I got with the car. Later my father bought a Cadillac from Vey when they moved to Rt. 46 in Rockaway. Was it first Vey then Johnson Dodge?

Ok, not right in town, but does any one remember Bayer's Store on Rt. 46 in Great Meadows? My mom used to take us there for jeans. It is where they have all the flags out for sale. Across from there was a place you could buy cases of soda in big glass bottles, but I can't remember the name of that. It was always a treat when we had summer picnics to go get the soda for the party!

Or the Villa de Rocco on 46 by St. Peter & Paul. We had a couple of family parties there too.

bayers store of course I remember it and the soda place was brookdale soda.as long as were in the area on hope road just past the cutoff for mt.lake on the left was a little what I think was a drive in , snack shop? any body old enough to remember when it was open or the name of it????????????

I know it's not retail but all the way back on stiger st. during w.w.2 there was a place called essex specialty co. that made flares and other items for the military. My mom,grandmom and great grandmom all worked there.any of you old time h'town history buffs have any thing you can share about it?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayogel my mother worked at Essex Specialties during ww2...they made parachute flares that were used all over the ww2 european theatre of operations a lot of people were killed there during ww2 in accidental explosions...there has been a small book written about that place my mother was interviewed by the author... Essex later became Pyronics...as far as the Villa De Rocco...the very nice people who owned the restaurant were like family...Benny and his wife...were the best...

the beverage place you speak of was i think at one time Peters beverage...i think they sold hoffmans and kotts soda beverages and the Bayors flag lady is still there...

Mr. Bayor is stilee alive but not well. His daughter sells the flags now. Wasnt the soda place up on 46 Brookdale? They had the best grape soda I have ever had.

We used to jokingly refer to Bayor's Store as the "Great Meadows Mall" !

I laso remember Benny & Pat from Villa Dec Rocco; great people! We ate in there almost every weekend, and had our rehearsal dinner there as well.
Always good food, and a lot of fun with them!.

Christine.... Yes it was Brookdale. I would always buy it by the case (with REAL Glass bottles too)

Begin Again Finnigan
May 7, 09 1:03 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaBenny and Pat from the Villa De Rocco...were the kind of people that make this world right.... they were generous and honest...and you will notice that the restaurant has not been successful since they left...we used to call Benny ...Bennihana...like the popular japanese themed restaurant chain...nice people good food...and family oriented

The Villa De Rocco restaurant used to be called Weber's (owned by the Weber family) when I was growing up. Wherever my parents and I were either in NJ or elsewhere, when asked where I would like to have dinner the answer was always, Weber's. Does anyone else remember?

i remember the Webers...i went to school with their children...and i remember when they owned the restaurant...that has to be over thirty years ago...

anybody remember the colonial tea room(long since torn down now)on schoolys mountain?You're a long time local if you do.

You're right waybill it was definitely over 30 years ago that the Webers owned their restaurant. I remember going there in the early 60s. Wow, am I aging myself!!!! Great place, great people and really great memories!!!!

Where on the mountain was the tea room?

the tea rom was on the right side just before the top on the hackettstown side

Do you mean near Flocktown Road?

no ,a litle before you reach the top as youre going up the hil,if memory serves me there is a little bridge near the spot.

What's there now?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaclosest i remember anything there...is skinners store...and i did some work at the christadelphian bible camp...they have a spring fed pool there...and the people at the camp were very nice...theres also the old mineral spring hotels in that area...U.S. Grant went there when he had cancer seeking the mineral waters as a cure anybody remember the Derribar...ice cream and candy shop...just down the street from the old hackettstown diner...that place was a treat...they had an ice cream sundae shaped like a pig trow...and if you finished the sundae...you got a button that said "i was a pig at the Derribar " here is a picture...long time area residents will remember this...

nothing,tea room was torn completely down many years ago, ,need some real old time townies to remember this one! it was built on the right side against the bank,to the left is the big ravine,used to be a house on the other side of the ravine,don't know if it's there anymore though>

I gotta be fair and tell you the tea room was closed when I was a little kid,early 50s,but I remember my grandmom talking about how nice it once was.

I remember an old building that was built into the side of the hill, sort of hung over the road almost.....across from the "log cabin". Is this where you mean? There is water running under the road at that point. But it was empty when I remember it, and then torn down soon after. The bible camp cottages and pool are still there but I have never seen anyone over there - it doesnt look run down or deserted though.

LVM
you got it,thats the place.as for the bible camp I remember as a little kid going there to visit someone but it's been so long and I was so young I've forgotten who now.also on the right before the turn to the camp there (is,was?)a mansion my grandparents always called ,if I remember right,the tearberry estate.ya know anything about it beautiful old place!

Yogel, I think I know the house you mean, it has been for sale for some time. Big beautiful house, with a mahogony library I think.....isnt LV beautiful??

sears appliance?

ok,anybody remember de'nee's sporting goods on waterloo road,early 60's or so?

How about K & K Fencing at the top of Hackettstown Mtn where Johnson dodge is now??????????

jettailgaiter
May 13, 09 4:17 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviamy parents were friends of the Denees...i remember them well...

I remember the sporting goods store. Dad use to bring us there.

another business I don't think was mentioned was hart block co. kind of across from the hackettstown diner.my dad and a couple of his buddys worked there when I was very young.also krumm distributers at mt.ave. and at that time rt.24.an extended family member worked there till he was killed in a car accident on his way home to easton.

I believe Tom Krumm owned both the beer distributor and the Orange Pit at the same time.....Back to Denees on
Waterloo, was the owner's name Warren?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayes it was warren Denee...he lived not far from my grandmothers house...as i said my parents were friends with the Denee...i remember the Krumms also...i went to school with one of their daughters...i remember hart block very well also...who knows how many years ago they closed down...

I went to school with warren denee ,his dad owned the store don't know if his name was warren too or not.

Justasking, Margaret Foster had one daughter who, when the gas station was sold, suggested the new owner, a dentist, name his business "The Filling Station."

Deviljet & Waybill - My father Tom Krumm owned the Orange Pit. My grandparents had the Rheingold distributorship but had sold it to the Browns, parents of my uncle Fred.

Barbara - I was telling my husband all about the Orange Pit, back when I was a kid and there were windows to the outside for service......but I couldnt tell him WHY it was called the Orange Pit? Can you help with that bit of trivia? Thanks! (I still call it the OP, by the way :)

Anyone remember Tim Swanson's sporting goods store on Main street in the 1950s?

I'm a little to young to remember Swanson's but I do remember Holmes Sporting Goods in the 70's....I believe Tom Holmes was a retired state trooper. He made a real good effort with that store, but even back then, the major chains had the best prices and merchandise.

What was the name of the hot dog stand on Rt 46 in Independence (Its that old abandoned red building at the top of the hill just outside Hackettstown)

al kings

The name of the small candy store next to the middle school was Batsons and she also made lunches I loved her Mrs. Batsons hamberegrs

I thought there was mention of a candy store named Glover's near the middle school.....was that at a different time? Or did Glover's buy it from Batson?

It was Glover's when I was in the middle school.

Thanks...I thought so. I had gone to school with a few Glovers....but the memory ain't what it used to be!!

Speaking of candy shops, Does anyone remember the Jigger Shop Candy store. They sold papers, candy smokes etc. We went there every morning and spent our luch money on candy. LOL! It was always dark in there. LOL!Ah the memories.

I spent many many hours at the Jigger Shoppe and I worked there as a pre-teen and teenager. Helen and Charlie West were the owners at that time. Now I know that I am dating myself but I remember selling cigarettes to people for 45 cents a pack!! Boy am I old!!!!!!!!!!! I, also, recall never sleeping in on a Sunday morning as I had to be at work really early. There were piles and piles of newspapers waiting at the door!! So many years ago!!!!

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviai remember the jigger shop very well...what a candy selection...and dont forget the packs of cards that came with a piece of gum inside...they also had a large greeting card selection...hard to believe that store is gone...

What about the long gum they sold. You could break it off piece by piece. I would buy all my teen magazines there also.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe long gum you speak of was a big buddy...it was about a foot long...shaped like a ruler...and yes they had a large magazine rack...if only i could find some good old turkish taffy...by bonamo...they dont make it anymore

thats it gtown. thanks for remembering it.

Can't let this thread die! How many of you remember the common name of "Bower's Brook"? This is the brook that runs by M&M field then behind Park Avenue and eventually runs into the river by the Sandbar.

is that s%#@s creek?only one I can think of.

We used to capture turtles and salamanders out of that brook when I was a kid. Never knew the name of it though!

yogel you beat me to it. I also called it s**t creek! LOL!

....you mean without a paddle????

Everyone in town referred to it as Sh#t's Creek ! Good answers!

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe name of the brook was Sh*ts creek...everybody along there dumped their wash water into that creek...i remember seeing that creek run colored blue during the summer and it stunk...i would not play in that water...that creek runs from a farm that my family used to own...in independence twp...it starts out as pure spring water...there are old garbage dumps all along that creek...from maple street all the down to the river...at one time there was a pond behind where the old norms auto parts was located...it was called bowers pond...but it has been filled in long since...

The man who worked at Krumm Distributors and was killed in an auto accident on his way home to Easton was Ernie kinny

The lady who owned Ann's Dress Shop in the 50's & 60's was Ann Sullivan.

The Texaco Gas Station on the corner of Mountaia Avenue & Route 24 right along side the Musconetcong River was Testers Texaco.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviawho remembers when the Henderson family ran the American gas station on main street next to the railroad tracks...thats going way back

oh yea I do,pappy henderson and his son lloyd.remember pap's saying pappy's my name,twisting wrenches is my game.
chester mentioned testers texaco,remember when jim tester and marty keegan ran I think a b modified production vette at island,didn't they call the car snowball?or maybe I'm caught in the cobwebs again>

Re: Hackettstown Retail trivialloyd had a yellow 57 chevy 2-door hardtop...that was sharp...i remember pappy too...lloyd had a brother...and i think they had a race car they worked on...it may have been a circle tracker...well heres an old picture...thats the old american station...viewed from the hackettstown railroad station

Another Jigger Shop comment- a little late. In the 60's and 70's we lived 2 blocks from the Jigger Shop. Starting when I was about 8 my father would send me down with money for 2 packs of Benson and Hedges cigarettes (I think they were .55 a pack). There was also a lot of candy purchased there. I'm not sure who the owners were, but I remember them being really nice.

Gravatar for Nostalgic for H-town Nostalgic for H-town Message Nostalgic for H-town
Jun 11, 09 12:25 am

When I was a kid, in the late 60's, early 70's , Dad would send me down to Kostenbaders for a bottle.....once in awhile.......he would call ahead, I would bring the money, all done. !! My husband's Dad would send him out for "smokes" too. Cant do any of that stuff now!

When I was a kid, in the late 60's, early 70's , Dad would send me down to Kostenbaders for a bottle.....once in awhile.......he would call ahead, I would bring the money, all done. !! My husband's Dad would send him out for "smokes" too. Cant do any of that stuff now"

OMG My dad too!!!! We just have to know each other LVMomof boys

o.k. do yall remember prall's sweet corn stand in front of whats now riverside gardens.remember from where the apts. are now all the way to the river was farm land.

sorry I meant to say behind the houses,duh

Nostalgic for H-town - the owners of the Jigger Shoppe were Helen and Charlie West. I believe the prior owners were a family by the name of Shapiro (not absolutely sure about that one).

I'm suprised nobody has said anything about music stores.there was mr. and mrs. williams music store kind of across from the strand theatre.I was friends with theyre son Dean.there was also a music store 1 or 2 stores from danleys diner,a guy named jerry hirshman ran it.

Sadly, Dean passed away last year. I was friends with him too. Does anyone remember Phill Quick? He used to sell vegetables from his truck.

Annette and George Shapiro owned the Jigger Shoppe in the early 1960s. My family moved to Hackettstown right after WWII. At that time, an older man, I believe his name was Sam, ran the Jigger Shoppe. I thought he was a very nice person who greeted his customers warmly. My favorite day was Sunday, when my Dad bought the Sunday papers and read the "funny sheets" to us.
Millie

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaheres a blast from the past...the old Larisons turkey farm + restaurant...if you grew up in hackettstown you went there at least once...

Yea, Phil used to huckster around neighborhoods with his truck....funny the truck had his name painted as " P. QUICK" which was a big joke to us kids.

don't know if they were related or not but my great grandmothers married name was quick,her maiden name was poyer and first name was mary,she loved to tell people her name, mary p. quick,she thought that was so funny and I guess it is.

you guys must be from great meadows.

I was just looking at a list of names of ministers in Pa for an ancestery thing about my relatives and as I was blowing through it I saw the last name that I thought strange & so I went back to it to insure it was spelled correctly....upon further examination, I called over my wife & son to insure that I was correct. Long & short, the last name of both the minister & the principle is "Schmuck"

Could you just imagine all the jokes ..... where else than Pennsylvania would you see that! LOL!!!

Begin Again Finnigan
Jun 24, 09 12:02 pm

Name three places in the Hackettstown Mall where one could get G.I. Joe figures in the 1980's.

I grew up in HTOWN Oldman & was never at Larsons .... I hate turkey!

Begin Again Finnigan
Jun 24, 09 2:20 pm

BAF - you'll see whole stores in any German speaking country devoted to it.

Schmuck = decorations.

Erik, K-Mart and Rockaway Sales, for sure....I can't think of the third one though

GI JOE: Kmart, The drug store (CVS?) and Rockaway Sales.

Just a guess. My memory isnt what it used to be.

oh yea the turkey farm,remember going there with grandpa,he'd pick out a good live one they would "get it ready"and home we'd go and grandma would make a great holliday dinner. good thing p.i.t.a wasen't around back then WOW they'd have a field day with that place!

To clarify the G.I. Joe question. What three stores "IN THE MALL" could you get the G.I. Joe figures in the 1980's.

Another clue: AT THE SAME TIME.

Wasnt there a hobbie store there at one time? I dont know the name. Always hated malls.

Begin Again Finnigan
Jun 25, 09 11:30 am

Wasnt there a Rockaway Sales store in the mall for a short while?

I know my answer isnt correct, but now the question has me thinking, especially the last clue.

There were 2 RS in town....one up on Main st & one at the mall.

Farms are businesses too. McPeak's on Rt. 46, just east of town was a time capsule. At least up until the1960s they farmed with horses hitched to cultivators and wagons. They had property further up the highway, and went to it with horse and wagon right along with the regular traffic. Is the farm still there? Millie

Well, it's been two days.

The answer to the G.I. Joe Question is:

Shelby's
K-Mart
and
drum roll please:
Shepherd's

thanks for playing

You can get G.I. Joe's at Target now, same characters, but they are not nearly as good quality as they used to be.

I am not looking forward to the G.I. Joe movie. The Transformers movies are a disgrace, and it's being made by the same producer.

Mr.McPeak was also the justice of the peace back in the 50's anyway.

Wow Shelbys .... I dont even recall it .... there was one in stanhope. Gettin old.

Begin Again Finnigan
Jun 26, 09 8:11 pm

Oh wow, I dont remember Shelby's OR Shepherds in the mall. But 1990? I was living in Morristown then..........hmmmm......

I bought my son GI Joe one year for Christmas, because my brothers always had them.....and I was so disappointed. And he barely looked at it.

Id say no Millie, since there is few precious farms left in Htown but Yogel been here longer than I . Maybe Hack or Waybill could fill you in.

Begin Again Finnigan
Jun 26, 09 8:19 pm

I remember Shelbys but not Shepherds. HHHHHHHHMMMMMMMM

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaheres something that most newer residents might not know...Miss America of 1937 was from Hackettstown...her name was Betty Cooper...and she remained in the area after she won the contest...she joine a beauty contest at nearby Bertrands Island Amusement park on a dare...won that contest and went to Atlantic City and won the Miss America contest...here is an ad she did for a local business... American Sawmill Machinery...my late mother knew her

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaBette Cooper
Miss America 1937
1937
Mrs. C.D. White, wife of the Atlantic City Mayor, accepted the invitation to serve as the first Chairman of the Hostess Committee. Also formed were: a Board of Directors, an Executive Board, a Finance Committee, and a General Committee. It was revealed that a leading contender Phyllis Randall, Miss California, had a marriage annulled. She finished among the top five. Seventeen-year-old Bette Cooper, who entered the Miss Bertrand Island (NJ) Pageant on a dare, took the national title. For reasons still unknown, Bette quickly left Atlantic City and returned home the next morning before her press conference, which was elaborately staged on the Steel Pier.

Wow, she was really cute. What a good picture. :)

Anyone remember when the Mr. Softee truck first appeared in town in the late 60's? We thought that was the coolest thing ever -soft ice cream from a truck! It put the Pied Piper to shame... Whenever we heard the music, everyone would RUN home for a quarter - that bought you a large half and half cone.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviare: Mr Softee ice cream...truck...i remember...very well..better yet who remembers the clown that accompanied the ice cream truck...all over town...his clown name was eddie spaghetti...

old man : can you tell me which bridge this is,I'm thinking the one on 46 but maybe i'm wrong

OMG! I remember Mr. SOftee. Would scream for him to strop. AWE WISH I Had some soft ice cream now I have a sore throat. LOL

who remembers dairy queen where hess is now first opening, first soft icecream place in town.
b t w what was on that lot before d.q. .damn c.r.s. again

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayogel... thats the cemetery bridge off of mountain avenue...yes i remember the old Dairy Queen on main street...there was a laundry right next door...near the corner...Hess has occupied that corner since the late 1960s...heres what the mill street bridge looked like with the old Greundyke mill in the background...Mill street is where present day rt 46 enters Hackettstown...as far as Mr Softee...on a hot summer day mom and dad always seemed to have a little extra money to send us out for an ice cream when the truck passed by...

Oldman, Thank you for the pictures of the bridge. I too remember the Dairy Queen and laundry.
I also remember when ice blocks could be purchased at the mill by people who still had iceboxes. The man who ran it, I believe, was named Sal.
Millie

Milliee:we had an ice box up till i was about 4 or 5 lived on mt.ave. a guy named Happy Hibler was our ice man .I still can see him carrying that block of ice with those tongs.btw we had a coal and oil stove to cook on.it used coal on the burner part and kerosene to fire the oven.remember i'm talking 1952/53.

a little out of town but there used to be a real small store back in the 50's maybe even into the 60's by lake tranquility.after you went right at the y on 517 the store was on the left.the two old folks that ran it were real nice.the lady was blind but would always take care of the money.anybody know the name of that place or even remember it?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaMillie...those old iceboxes you speak of still turn up at house auctions around Hackettstown...my brother bought one...it was in nice shape...if you dig a little deeper...once in a while an old Still...for making bootleg booze... turns up at an old house auction...and the old ice tongs can still be found also...the old Greundyke mill...also was a place that bottled beer many years ago...enough history for now...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviai am digging really deep here..when i was a child we had several people who would drive the streets of hackettstown trying to make money...there was hap...and his pal...and the old woman called the wood chopper...she drove an ancient station wagon...they would pick up old newspapers...and such...they all lived right near the intersection of mountain ave...and bells lane...the old wood chopper lady had some connection to the beattie grist mill on east avenue...my parents always let these folks bundle the old newspapers and take them away...

Wow this forum brought back memories!

Gravatar for Chip Griswold Chip Griswold Message Chip Griswold
Jul 10, 09 2:47 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaafter re-thinking and re-considering my comments in the previous post...i remembered the names of the two older fellows who had a route around hackettstown picking up old newspapers...their names were Honas and Ray...they lived in a house on mountain avenue...across from the current Quik-Chek location...if anyone else can recall them or what ever happened to them i would be interested in finding out

oldman: I sure do remember sherman honas and ray,they went all over town and would buy newspapers and bundeled up rags,they had a scale and paid you by the pound.one of them bought the house my grandparents owned further down mt.ave.
the woodchopper you refer to was a lady named Bertha DeHart her family i'm told owned the sawmill i think at the top of budd lake hill.the story my grandmother told me was that her young daughter was killed somehow at the mill. b t w thanks for the pictures,I never knew newberrys used to be where dad &lad's is.

oldman:if you remember those folks I have to think you must have knowen George the egg man.lived on mt.ave. across from were riverside apts. are now.he used to go around with a pullcart selling eggs,fresh killed chickens and some veg. funny we ate those chickens and never got salmonella.didn't have them on ice,sun beating down on them,maybe we were just tougher back then,just maybe!

Oldman, I love all these pics of yours! Thanks for sharing!!

Gravatar for LVMomofBoys LVMomofBoys Message LVMomofBoys
Jul 11, 09 3:38 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayogel...i barely remember the old eggman...he lived in a small house....that was all grown up with weeds...he was always called the catman...because he always had kittens to give away...i think his house must have been somewhere near where Burger King is today...in any event...enjoy the old pictures...because i am having just as much fun here as everybody else...thank you...ps heres a place i miss...they sold all kinds of hardware...if you lived in hackettstown you went here to the big hammer hardware...in washington nj

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviare: heres another shot of Hackettstowns Miss America Betty Cooper...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaI looked around the site but didn't see this one if it's already here sorry for posting it twice.
firehouse,police station,town hall and court all in one.paid a few traffic tickets here lol.

Anyone remember the "lawnmower man" Tom Kane? he lived up the street from us in a little house on fifth Street. He used to mow the grass islands on Prospect Street and the lawns of just about every old timer in Hackettstown at the time. He would tow his push mower with his little riding mower he had. I even remember when he had his little dog named Gretchen.

Hey oldman ,if anybody knows this you probably do .there was a shop I think on the corner of main and plane st's.did small engine repair along with other things.do you remember the name of the place or the man who ran it?He fixed a carb from a briggs & stratton for me once when I was a kid.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaLets see Plate,Nerback,Johnsons,Towne.

deviljet...i remember Tom Kane very well...he mowed all the middle islands on prospect street as well as lawns all over the north part of Hackettstown...he was very quiet and as far as i knew him he kept to himself...he always wore a long world war 1 army coat...all year long ...he lived in a small house...on 5th street...while mowing lawns he would collect soda bottles and take them to Acme...for the 2 cents deposit...thats enough for now...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayogel...the closest i can remember anything near plane and main streets...that handled lawnmowers...might have been Krafts Hardware & Paint...it was two brothers...they sold all manner of hardware...other than that there was a lawn mower/small engine repair shop...right near the Ford dealer on main street for years

old man, what is that image you posted, a two dollar silver certificate? AFAIK local currencies are/were illegal in this country. Wish I could read the writing.

That's cool though. Any idea of the history of that bill? Was it circulated in the 1800's?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe bill was printed and not distributed...but yes the Hackettstown bank as well as other local banks did print and Honor local currencies...there are many other notes like this that are very highly prized by currency collectors...the reason that locally issued paper money went out of use was that federal banks took over the printing of money and the worth of local paper money was very dicey...some banks would honor it and some would not...let alone the fact that counterfeiting...was a big problem

Snyder Motors was on thecorner of Main and Plane and then there was a Studerbaker dealer joining what is now part of Hometowne hardware...I think I can answer all of the questions asked....etting reall old...grew up on main St

Gravatar for Danny Fiedler Danny Fiedler Message Danny Fiedler
Jul 23, 09 7:30 pm

Remember the Chickie Shop and the merry-go-round horse? How about Endicott Johnson Shoe store and At Axfords Mens Hat store next to Sammie Lockards Barber Shop?

I remember the Endicott Shoe Store. For a while it has a machine that allowed you to see your feet (bones) in the shoes you were trying on. Folks must have been pretty relaxed about x-rays (?) in those days.

It was actually Mr. Knechel's father in law Bill Rossy who helped him start Knechel Ford. Bill Rossy also owned the Derribar

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviafor all you who have moved to hackettstown recently...here a shot of Htown when there were still farms in town...enjoy

From what direction is that photo taken? I would like to be able to figure out where my house is....

Gravatar for LVMomofBoys LVMomofBoys Message LVMomofBoys
Jul 28, 09 7:51 pm

This thread should be printed and given to the Hackettstown Historical Society. Really -- accounts and memories of so many long-time residents are priceless! The thread and all these interesting town facts shouldn't disappear into cyberspace.

I agree with Rebecka. The memories and pictures are priceless. What year was the picture of Hackettstown taken , Hilly, when there were stiill farms?

Old Man, I live in Tom Kane's old house on fifth st. and I have heard so many really interesting stories about him and about the house! I have been trying to find out more and am very interested in seeing an old photo - I understand it was called the "haunted house" for quite awhile. . . It's actually quite nice now!

hilly, I haven't moved in recently, but I still appreciate that photo. It's so great to see what the town looked like from above, back then.

Here's something that I thought was cool for anyone who knows the town. Find the Middle School (The high school at that time) in the middle of the picture. Now follow Washington St. down where it is parallel to Mountain Ave. and look where you would now make the right to go into Kenwood. Its all farmland in that pic - no pool, no apartments, no houses. :)

The high school isnt there either!

Gravatar for LVMomofBoys LVMomofBoys Message LVMomofBoys
Jul 29, 09 8:07 pm

rich: that was bells lane and I remember guys bird hunting those fields.

Re: Hackettstown Retail trivianotice that M&M Mars was not built yet either the picture is an air view taken from above schooleys mountain looking west...notice the high steeple of the presbyterian church and use that as a reference point

I believe I remember a farm out on Willow Grove Street on the left going out of town. I do remember the old biplane crop dusters spraying fields in the late 40s and 50s.

Willow Grove park was a cabage patch. I was talking to my mom yesterday. She told me how and why willow grove street got its name. Willow grove street was lined with willow trees, both sides starting at main st. What a beautiful site it must have been.

Tim Swansons Sporting Shop. Bought my first .22 rifle there.
Saved change until I had the $14.95 for the Remington 514 A.
Live in Alabama, but this page brings back memories.

Gravatar for Biker Broc Biker Broc Message Biker Broc
Aug 2, 09 1:03 am

there are still many willow trees on willow grove street...they are close to the American Legion Post..164...while on this subject...i remember...when Prospect street was lined with chestnut trees...and the Propane gas company ran a new line up the street and cut all the chestnut trees down...

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaARCO gas station Mountain Ave (which is now a dry cleaners) It was a gas station that you could still get your car fixed at. In the 70s my dad Claude Eroh Managed it a lot of the town hot rodders would hang out there cause dad let them work on there cars, there was Jack and his 65 black GTO,Paul and his 73 rust Duster Uncle Chucks black Mustang and many more. the local street to race was the allamuchy flats those were the days . even thow we did not live in hackettstown its was a great town

I remember Mr. Honas. We moved to Hackettstown in late 1968 when I was four and then to Schooley's Mt in 1977. In the mid 70s my mother took Mr. Honas as her "project" and would hire him to do odd jobs around the house. On a number of occassions I went with her to visit him at his house when he was sick and we helped him clean his house and bring him some dinner. (As a life-long bachelor the cleaning was nearly futile). He gave us a number of gifts during that time because of my mother and father's kindness including dandelion wine, blueberry preserves (which include a good rattlesnake story from collecting the berries out at the Gap), and fresh apples and peaches. In the year before we moved to Schooley's Mt he grew rather feeble with age, and eventually that year, if memory serves me, moved to live with a niece in Pennsylvania.

Nice thread - I've been gone from NJ since '84, and return to visit often, but rarely to H'town. Remember it as a great place to grow up in the early and mid 70s, hiking the old canal bed, poking around old factories and plenty of baseball and football at Tannery and Bergen fields. Funny, had a crush on girl from a Cuban family in the 5th grade and ended up marrying a South American woman. Guess you develop a lot of preferences as a kid that carry through life.

Question
At the intersection of East Ave and RT46 there was a gas station at that spot it was a Sinclar or a Texaco and in the 70s the name of the owner excapes me he had a drag raceing car or two so what was his name ?
Question
at the edge of town there was a tulsa station was it run by the monjac brothers they two drag raced cars

Answer to older question
Brookdale soda yes just a bit west on rt 46 on the right side you could get soda there or they would deliver it , the build did not suite the owners of the out let so they moved to water street in belvidere across from the old fire house they still sold out from the location and delivered as far south as washingtons crossing north to sussexs and east as far as newark afer time they added a truck that home deliverd snack foods pretzels and chips by groff
the Brookdale soda delivery was run by (Mountain Lake distributors )
as a kid i would go with my dad or uncles on the trucks on there routes

Biker Bronc, Tim Swanson's Sporting Goods store attracted a lot of customers who liked to hang out and talk a while, especially before deer season and trout season. I used to tag along with my dad. I especially remember the large flat display cases filled with fishing lures and flies of every color and type. Also the beautiful deer heads mounted up high on the walls. One time a group of regulars, as a joke, told a customer that the game warden had seen electric eels in the Muskanetcong River, just to see how long it would take before someone else came in the store with the same story. As I recall, it took four days. The pictures of the fishermen below Saxon Falls brought back memories.

claude...the guy who had the gas station at rt46 and east ave...was Marty Keegan...he was a great mechanic...and even better drag racer...Marty later moved on to the Hackettstown Tulsa...on north main street...the Monjack Brothers took over after him...Marty later had a garage in Portland PA...after that i dont know where he went...the Monjacks ran the Tulsa for several years...and left the area...the old Tulsa is still a car car repair shop...but no longer pumps gas...

Claude: the station at east ave & 46 was owned by Joe Monjac,the name of the drag car was "for reasons of insanity"that is if I remember right.Joe's brother was named Larry(Moonie)Monjak.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathank you yogel
my dad gave the Monjaks a 55 chey wagon to turn in to a drag car back in the day
Bill Skinner who owned the radiator repair shop behind norms auto parts and then on stiger st he was a good racer and had nice cars
Question
at the five conners light where the bank is there was a muffler shop and be for that a cheveron gas station who had the gas station and the muffer shop
Question
ok dose any one rember the Arnolds Bread Store on main street was on the same block that the jiger shop

Question
east bound on 46 from east ave there was a gas station then berrie and jacks auto body and a small mom and pop gas station and next to it a ice cream place what was the ice cream place and who had the gas station

Question
do you remember the consignment clothing store just east of the main street parking lot by the jiger shop ?

Comment
some one asked what Big Momma memt that was the CB radio name of the local leader of the REACT radio club

Question
do you remember the two hot spots in mountain lake

yogel-5 months later. the ort building was on the corner of main and plane st. it's a parking lot now. christine-i'll get back to you about the morgan girls. my mom lived there in the late 30's

Claude ;the beach bar and the mt.lake casino,great times!

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaclaude...the ice cream shop you speak of was the derribar...they great ice cream...the gas station was Bill Fosters...he was a friend of my father...the building still stands but is no longer a gas station

Comment
yes back in the day Mountain Lake filled up with vaccationers
The Derrie Bar yes thats it it was were my grandfather would stop on the way and get ice cream for us kids
Bill Fosters gas station my dad stoped at from time to time
thanks for the answers
Question
Dose any one remember The Three Pines Resturant west out of town where the smokehouse now sits
Qusetion
As you left town going east in the center where 46 split there was a bowling place any one remenber

LVMomofboys - so sorry it took so long to get back to your question re: Orange Pit. I'm afraid why it was named that died with Dad. The Dairy-O, however, came from a play on words from The Farmer in the Dell.

Yogel - yeah there were great times at Mountain Lake! Long ago and far away.

Thanks Barbara. Sorry about Dad :(

Gravatar for LVMomofBoys LVMomofBoys Message LVMomofBoys
Aug 10, 09 4:37 pm

Question
What good or bad changes do you see happening to town
I went though washington and the new builds on main street looks ugly
for me its the loss of the stores sue to the mega department stores and that houseing project that sticks out like a sore thumb on the mountain

As a kid, I could walk to Main Street and do all the shopping: Shop Rite, the bakery, Genevieve Shop, H.Cohen and Dad and Lad for clothing, Bach's for a drugstore, Holmes for sporting goods, Kostenbaders for a bottle of wine, the hardware store, Plates for jewelry., Jigger Shoppe for a newspaper, .......I think the profile of town really changed when Rockaway Mall opened and families had two cars and didnt mind driving 20 minutes to do a wide variety of shopping. I don't know if it is all good or bad.....it is just change.

Gravatar for LVMomofBoys LVMomofBoys Message LVMomofBoys
Aug 11, 09 8:51 am

We moved from H-town 30 years ago when I was a teenager. We've lived nearby, so I have enjoyed returning many times over the years. Recently, while my son was at the Tigers football camp, I spent a whole day immersed in my memories and then looked at the town with fresh eyes.

Walking from the high school to Hatchery Hill, I was sad that the Fish Hatchery is no longer open to the public. Hatchery Hill was the same quiet little school. Heading up through the tree lined path to the college, there was a lot of construction going on. Such is progress, I was just so glad the path between the trees remained.

The area around the college and Moore street, where I grew up, were pretty much the same. The town pool is exactly the same.

I felt like in some ways town had stopped in time. It still has that nice small town feel. The one thing I missed were kids out playing. Where are all the kids? Where are all the people for that matter? On my 2+ mile walk, I encountered a hand full of people out and about. I am happy to say, the people I did see were very friendly.

My last observation is about Main Street. LVMomOfBoys is right, the Main Street of our childhood was relevant and filled most of our needs. While Main Streets everywhere have changed, many towns have managed to sustain or bring back their downtowns.

I live and own a business in the Stroudsburg area. My office is on Main Street and have seen the struggles over the years to make it a destination spot. Recently they have revamped the sidewalks with brick, and bump outs at traffic lights for safer crossing. They've added flowers or other seasonal decorations to the poles lining the street. New businesses are coming in and not turning over as quickly.

Hackettstown is such a wonderful town, but the first impression to people entering the area is Main Street. I say this with love for the town, not to be critical. It's a great town that with a happening Main Street could be even better.

Gravatar for nostalgic for H-town nostalgic for H-town Message nostalgic for H-town
Aug 11, 09 10:01 am

i vacationed at Mt. Lake also as a kid. Stayed at the 'Sun Ann' if anyone knows that. i remember swiming to the rafts thinking they were so far ! i remember the Mt. Lake Casino also, the canoes... fun times

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaclaude...the three pines restaurant was a pizza /ice cream place...they made their money like anybody who had a business along rt 46 before rt 80 was built...the traffic jams on weekends were legendary...and the people stuck in traffic jams went into the bars and food stands...who remembers Al Kings hotdog stand......Hackettstown used to have Blue Laws ...that forbid the sale of alcoholic beverages...the town folk would head to taverns just outside the town borders...to drink...but it was forbidden to bring alcoholic beverages into town...the police set up checkpoints...ah the good old days...

Gravatar for greenstripe greenstripe Message greenstripe
Aug 11, 09 1:41 pm

It has been fun reading all of the things I have forgotten about since I was a kid.

Gravatar for Janet Ott Philhower Janet Ott Philhower Message Janet Ott Philhower
Aug 11, 09 4:10 pm

Does anyone recall the A&P grocery store being on Main St. before it moved out past East Ave. on Rt. 46? Also was there an Acme or Grand Union or some other large grocery chain store on Main closer to the railroad tracks? Two of the clerks on Main St. who transferred to the newer A&P were Arlene Bailey and a tall fellow named Obie. I don't think anyone has mentioned these stores so maybe my street memory is inaccurate.

Foster's Service Station reminds me of Summer, NeHi chocolate soda, peck-sized baskets of peaches, and coconut watermelon slice candies.

Does anyone remember the rendezvous motel being like a vacation spot? I barely remember my Aunt and Uncle when they came from NY, staying there.

Check it out now! But Saxton falls used to be something too.

Gravatar for lost towney lost towney Message lost towney
Aug 14, 09 10:33 am

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviai tell you i would like to know who owned all those old soda machines around Hackettstown ...i bought sodas all over town when i had the money...millie at one time there were 2 A&Ps...in hackettstown on main street...plus a grand union...i remember the A&P that was on rt 46 on the bottom of hackettstown mountain...where blockbuster now operates...the Rendezvous motel was just like any other tourist stop before rt46 gave way to rt 80...rt 46 was the major highway to leave new york and head west towards pennsylvania...there were many bungaloe motels like that all along the highway in and out of hackettstown...and the whole area...enough for now...

Ok greenstripe you got me with that last picture
I all to well know how rt80 changed the lives of people who had businesses on rt 46 i remember the back ups and lines of traffic out in white township my dad grandfather and uncle had a food stand and produce stand it was called Doc's Hut
Question
as you go out willow grove street just where it changes to water lou over the rail road tracks there was a dirt lane to the left abd back that road was some kind of factory that looked like it exploaded what was it

Question
there is that statue at five conners where was the old one and what happen to it

claude...the factory you speak of was some kind of chemical works...i explored that place years ago...it was Oxy chemical...they closed up shop...and left...the place was a mess...sacks of powders left all over the inside of a large cinder block building...and there was a sand pit there too...also and old dirt road ran from waterloo road to bilbys road through that site...there was also a tunnel that ran from the building to the railroad tracks...it is probably still there...also there is a very well preserved section of the Morris Canal...as far as the statue at five corners there is a picture of it on this page...it was a civil war monument...that was a wter fountain...for horses and people...in separate troughs...during a highway widening project the statue was accidently destroyed...the monument has been re-created on bank property adjacent to five corners..

I was reading the whole forum and have met a fue of the people we are talking about in there later years Mr McPeek the farmer who loved his farm and used horses to plow his feilds till he could no longer do it i remember watching him rake the hay the house still had a working hand water pump in the kitchen
Mr Babbson who was the founder of the bates company Mrs Tomeio who had the hair dressers shop Milton thorp and Mrs Knapp
Ok remember the John Deer tractor shop on stigher st
or the guy who put the harley motor cycle on the roof with santa
whats up with the statues of liberty at that drive way and will they ever put in the health food store there
OK next to the rail road track and rt 46 was a gas station i would like to know about that place

I think the John Deer place was owned by Donchesky(spelling)if memory serves.

Does anyone remember the Gulf gas station on the corner of Main and High Streets? The owner was a man named Les Smith. He and my dad, Paul Solomon, were best buddies.

Did any of you go to the 'Grove' when they had a food stand, a sandy beach, 2 diving boards and 2 big concrete pipes that you could ride through ? How many of you remember the Sand Bar when it was deep enough to swim in, including a float with a diving board and when it froze over in the winter you could skate all the way to the dam on 46 and up as far as the Miller's house?

How about Red Grogan and his concrete sailboat on Stiger street ? 40 years on and off in H'town. What a ride !

Milton Thorp owned the stationery store on Main St.......his grandson Tom is the town attorney now. I remember the Gulf station at the corner of High and Main. Mrs. Freeman, my first grade teacher, lost control of her Cadillac and ran into the building, or maybe into the side of Dad and Lad......narrowly missing the pumps.

Gravatar for LVMomofBoys LVMomofBoys Message LVMomofBoys
Aug 15, 09 10:29 pm

The Gulf station yes i know it i did not know them how long ago was that

Claude, I recall a gas station by the rail road tracks and Main St. on the left leaving town. It was right in front of a large Purina feed, hay, straw and farm supply store named Tichnors. I recall it partly because my dad bought animal food there, partly because Tichnors burned down one summer in the 50s. The flames were huge and the smoke rose a couple hundred feet in the sky. The closeness of the gas station to the fire was a worry, but it did not burn.

Claude - I'm not sure when Les Smith first opened the Gulf Gas Station there on High and Main Streets because I was a little girl. But my dad passed away in 1964 and I know that it was before that but I do not recall how long after Les owned the station.

The last time i saw Red Grogan and his concrete sailboat it was on rt31s before flemmington

Red Grogan passed away last week, actually. I believe he was living in Kentucky?

Gravatar for LVMomofBoys LVMomofBoys Message LVMomofBoys
Aug 16, 09 3:47 pm

Thanks for the email Claude about the photo!

Gravatar for LVMomofBoys LVMomofBoys Message LVMomofBoys
Aug 16, 09 4:02 pm

Lori....since 73
wrote April 19 09

I knew the deer were gone...it's been a long time. I always felt bad for them in there.

I have another question for you. Not far from the Hunters Lodge there was another small Hotel, I have no idea what it was called. If you are at the Lodge and turn around to look at the hill directly behind you

there is a building back in there. It can't be seen from the road, although once in a while, depending on the season, you can catch a glimpse of a chimney. At the bottom of the hill is an old chained off driveway that leads to it. When I was in High School (early 90s) I went up there with some friends. We snooped around a bit. There were some magazines laying around, all from the mid 80s. So it can't be more than 25 years since the place closed up. Does anyone know this place that I'm asking about? Aside from the kids I went there with everyone thinks I'm imagining the place...Do you know anything about it?

Lori it was first called the Delaware House it was a pub later on it was known as the Jabberwalkie long has it been closed
hope that helped

LVMomofBoys
Thank you i will pass that on to my dad about Red


Question to all
Willow grove st 1960 and befor where the House of The Good Shephard sits once was a farm and also a small vaccation comunitty with a pool and a bar of its own dose any one remember this

Question
in the area of the ford dealer there was a long lost gas station where the pump was at the edge of the side walk and that is where you parked to get fuel
any one know this

The gas station by the railroad tracks was called Smith's garage when I was a kid. I remember this because we would buy ice cream bars there.

Gravatar for Janet Ott Philhower Janet Ott Philhower Message Janet Ott Philhower
Aug 17, 09 7:40 am

It's the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Does anyone remember what happened in Hackettstown during that weekend. The traffic. Most all stores closed on Rt. 46. Stewart root beer was roped off. I remember standing in front of Tony's shoe repair(harpers) and watching the HIPPIES. I think traffic was backed up from NYS to the Gap. No Route 80 then. I was thinking of my uncle at the time. He was 18, in the jungle fields of Vietnam.

Claude,

Thanks for the info! Now that I have names for the place I googled it, but so far no luck. I'm not giving up though!

Gravatar for Lori...since '73 Lori...since '73 Message Lori...since '73
Aug 17, 09 10:16 pm

there are changes in town that i like and dont like but every thing changes one is that big scar on the mountain of a houseing project thank you mount oluve
Now we had small town Oil dealers Kappers Mayberry
My uncles brother Dean Sargent owned Sargents Oil what others are there ?

On another post the mention of a small mom and pop store near mt bethel road
there was sargents in vienna at the post office
Question at the top of the hill going east out of town at the sand shore rd lite there was a gerage who had that

LOL! whitey I remember standing on the intersection of Rt. 46 and Liberty St. watching the hippies ride by! There also was an odor like no other thru town.

I actually do....vaguely. I was about 9. I don't think I remember precisely that the traffic was Woodstock related....but I do recall my parents discussing the terrible mess out there. :) That was the year AFTER the Williams and Hibler fire, yes?

Gravatar for LVMomofBoys LVMomofBoys Message LVMomofBoys
Aug 18, 09 12:02 am

I remember well all the folks going through town on the way to woodstock,thought about going but decided not to.Not one to make the same mistake twice I did go to pocono in 72 rain and lots of mud but what a great lineup,emerson,lake and palmer,j geils,edgar winter,three dog night,wow .kinda like to do it again but at my age I don't think I'd survive lolol.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaas far as hackettstown...during and after Woodstock...i lived near main street...we never saw so many hitchhikers...and people just camping by the side of the road...they all looked like drifters...

Gravatar for greenstripe greenstripe Message greenstripe
Aug 18, 09 1:45 pm

I remember in 1972 the traffic that came though town our gas station was over wellmend the soda machine went empty as with the candy machine we pumped a lot of gas that day that concert was at pocono race track
woodstock we were on our way to canada the roads were packed

Lori since 73
your welcome there was another bar just up rt46w was called Vitales aka Scurvy Erv's

Does anybody remember? Conklins lumber on moore st. before that i believe it was a dodge/plymouth dealer that my father bought our 1966 plymouth. or hummindingers a.k.a cozy corner. we would sleigh ride down hospital hill right into the parking lot, get a hot chocolate and head back up the hill again.The u-haul dealership behind the methodist church,and the pool hall that the beattys owned downstairs, next to jack and jill dairy.

in 1972...the hitch hikers you remember were from the Watkins Glen concert in New York state...the Allman Brothers played there with The Grateful Dead...Hackettstown was full of hitch hikers...and travelers for days...they camped out all over...behind bergen tool etc...when lollapollooza played waterloo village it reminded me of the same type of scene...young people coming from everywhere looking for directions to the concert...most if not all were polite...but what a mess they left behind at waterloo...the concert field was full of trash...and the whole area of waterloo road before and after the concert site was littered with just about anything you can imagine...youth is wasted on the young

Gravatar for greenstripe greenstripe Message greenstripe
Aug 19, 09 5:49 pm

I remember Conklin's Lumber , not sure of that being a car dealer . i remember no hospital i remember all the people standing on five conners raiseing the money to build that hospital and warming up at cozy corner store were was the u-haul dealer? I remember the pool hall

Main street #204
is now empty there was a pet treat store and befor was a kite wind socks store was a consignment store called the Cloths closet and befor that Brick oven bread store what other stores was at this location

I do remember the traffic during Woodstock! How about the roller rink up at Mt. Lake? Every time I ride by it I remember a lot of fun!!!! Also - Knapp's used to put sundae's in a chinese take-out container!!!!

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviai was out there on the bucket brigade for hackettstown hospital...it was during the worst traffic jams of the early 1970s...before Rt 80 was built...it was hot and sweaty work to stand there with the plastic buckets...to get donations...they used to give us a free soda after the end of our shift...go to Hackettstown hospital now and tell them that...i guess they forgot all about the bucket brigades people who stood there and volunteered...they are too busy collecting paychecks and bonuses...and having coffee clubs...

ML, i remember the roller rink at Mt. Lake. it was outside and had colored lights around the top. Used to vacation there as a kid, probably mid 1960-s
good memories :)

Hey oldman. My grandfather coordinated the bucket brigade. I would be out there too. I was about 7 yrs. old. At the end of every day my mom and grandmom and grandpa would sit at the dining room table and count the $ and roll up the coins. I got to roll the pennies! I think we donated the coin toss sign to the historical museum. My grandfather took the first shovel full at the ground breaking. I am still so proud of his hard work and all the Hackettstown residents who worked so hard to build that hospital! I do hope as the hopital grows the administrators don't forget how they got there!

I will say that the people of hackettstown should be proud of what they did to build that hospital

I remember, and all the people puting in their time and effort to build the hospital plus the money town resoidents donated only to have the S.D.A.C kind of take the credit.By the way wasen't it supposed to be Hackettstown Community Hospital?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviare: Mountain Lake Casino...here is a picture i have of the casino complex...the lake is still very nice to this day...the casino is gone...but Liberty TWP...has bought parts of the waterfront...

besides the residents of Hackettstown...i must say that most motorists were generous to the bucket brigades...before rt 80 opened there was so much traffic on rt 46 / main street and many accidents...all Hackettstown had to offer were local doctors and the Hackettstown Rescue squad...if you needed a hospital..you had to go to newton or phillipsburg...or dover...

Claude,

I remember Vitale's. I went there with my parents when I was a kid...

Gravatar for Lori...since '73 Lori...since '73 Message Lori...since '73
Aug 21, 09 12:56 pm

waybill, thanx for the pic...brings back many memories... we used to go to the other side of the lake

I was asked if their was a Danleys Diner Dose any one know this place

it was on main st.where the chinese place is or was,whatever.

Thanks yogel
there was a woman that worked at that diner and she has passed on this week and we could not remember where it was

re: Danleys Diner...heres some trivia...Perry Como was a regular there...when his daughter attended Centenary college...back in the 1960s...

How about R & K Frame on Valintine St any one remember them its now called Scotties import repairs
So who were the owners of R & K Frame

There was a Scottys Muffler in town on stiger street who owned that place

I believe Red Kamprath owned R&K.....didn't Ralph Seagraves own Scotty's Muffler in what is now Camp's Auto Repair?

pete and ed laux were the last operaters of R&K frame...ed passed away...pete has taken up another occupation

The Mansfeild Inn on rt57 any one remember it whats there now

A while back unusual characters were mentioned. Does anyone remember the man who was a gardner? His name may have been John. He took care of people's yards and shared their plants. So, if one person had nice tulips or other bulb plants that could be divided, he did, and planted them in other yards. This was in the 1950s and the yards around High Street that he worked on were really pretty in the Spring.

I came across this website and what a blast it has been reading all of the posts. I grew up in h-town in the 60's, moved away and came back for three yrs. 75-78. First let me say to Claude and yogel that my mouth dropped to see you mention The Monjack Brothers who had the Texaco station and the Tulsa station. I am Joe and Larry's sister. We are all in Calif. now. Actually Larry is a trucker so he is all over. Also way back in an early post there was mention of Tony's pizza on Main St. Well before Tony's I bet no one will remember that from about 1962 to about 1965 or 66, it was Theresa's Pizzeria. My mom and dad owned it. I remember having my birthday parties there. Thanks for the memories.

jlynn,Yes I do remember the pizza place there was a post about what was the first pizza place in town every body said tony's but I knew there was at least one before that but I couldn't remember the name,thanks.I liked both your brothers,both nice guys.as I remember Joe was the more serious one and Larry aka Mooney was a real clown,lot of fun.I don't know why you were so surprised it was still a fairly small town back then and pretty much all us guys knew or knew of each other.Be sure to let them both know they are gone but definately not forgotten.

the mansfield inn is now a pasta restaurant...we used to call that place when Paul Hemphill owned it the Hog inn...i just missed the shooting that happened there in the 1980s by minutes

jlynn I have to say that your welcome I live in Liberty Township but i worked in hacketstown for 30 years and my dad ran the ARCO station on Mountain Ave in the seventys it was all ways a safe place for every one were happy you droped in if you think of someting to talk about bring it up

Anyone remember delivering newspapers for Mr. Thorpe?

i delivered newspapers for the daily record.{ they were great to work for }...the dover advance...and the family forum...and very briefly the newark news...the best paper to deliver for was the daily record...they took us on bus trips...gave us good gifts...a great after school job...those were the days

I worked for the Forum drove bulk delivery truck for them and helped at the press stripping the plates my route started in parsippany and though hopatcong as far north as ogdonsburg and had a 600 paper route in independance our wearhouse was first the old ice house in townsberrie then the old tip top bakery wearhouse on mountain ave

What kind of store's do we not want to see come to Hackettstown

Gravatar for BrookdaleMan BrookdaleMan Message BrookdaleMan
Sep 7, 09 1:25 pm

brookdale man
maybe your question should be on a thread of it's own since this is a trivia thread.j.m.o.

"I was a pig at the Derribar " Thank for sharing the great picture, waybill. Makes me want to order a hot fudge sundae right now...this very minute. It's been fun reading about Mrs. Foster, the Derribar (Dairybar?), Robert Halls, Newberries, Cohens, and that little stationery shop with the counter in the back. I remember the neat piles of paper and pads on the shelves. No one mentioned Plaid Stamps. I believe we got them at the grocery store. I remember my mother used the booklets for lamps and a framed picture for the wall. I remember Shelby's in Chester, but for some reason I don't recall a Shelby's in Hackettstown. I remember when Mr. Plate actually worked at Plate's Jewelry. I remember Sebers and the Sandbar. I remember Glovers candy store and 5 cents for a Devil Dog and 7 cents for a 7-Up. A Pepsi was a dime. I remember crossing Morgan's Tract and walking through the Fish Hatchery. I remember riding my bike in the Cemetery. Kids were welcome everywhere. We kids really got around. We even went into the auction house and saw the cows herded in and out. I remember the auctioneer's accent and his sing song delivery. And I remember those soda machines. Postal collection boxes were all over the place, too. I remember Leo's, Carl's Place, and Stewarts Rootbeer. I can remember what food I ordered where. The first time I ever had chocolate shavings on top of the whipped cream was when I had a mug of hot chocolate at The Cottage. I remember banana cream pie at the Four Oaks diner. Orange pop and a hotdog was my favorite at the Orange Pit. A slice and a small coke at Tony's Pizza. I remember it all. I remember it all like it was yesterday.

Gravatar for Dora Cookie Dora Cookie Message Dora Cookie
Sep 9, 09 9:41 pm

there was a place to eat near hackettstpwn auto parts i know little just got a sandwich there

To the question of the Irish Setter who brought the bank bag to Pepoles Bank on the corner, I was a teller at the bank and thedog's name was Rusty. The original New Berry's Store was where Dad and Lad is now. To the person who asked about Batson and Glover Candy Store. Mrs Batson owned the store
store before Glover's did and I also went to school with the glover children. The jigger shop was original down the street on main and center which is now I believe a Karata place.

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviadora cookie...nice trip down memory lane... i also remember Mr Plate...in his store he had a nickel...a dime and a quarter glued to the floor...i tried to pick up those coins...i guess that was his personal prank...they also made a very nice ice cream sundae at the Derribar...it was later sold and known as Mee-Mas...who remembers that...i remember bill Foster at his gas station...he was a friend of my dad...

Shelby's in Hackettstown I dont think so washington had a shelbys it was ny the acme market
there was one in newton there was one in stanhop on 206

Now why dosent any one talk about the hackettstown Diner we spent a lot of late nights there like diner food

Gravatar for CagedAnimal CagedAnimal Message CagedAnimal
Sep 11, 09 9:27 pm

Hey Caged! My brother learned early about Grandma's Social Security check and around what the first of the month meant. If my mom cooked something my brother didn't like, Grandma would give him a little kick under the table and a nod, and not much later, off they would go to the Hackettstown Diner for a hamburger!

He would remember it well!

I should remember but I don't,what was on the corner of main and willow grove before the dairy queen was built?????????

There was a laundramat and I think a house was torn down but I'm not sure.

Cagedanimal, I remember the Hackettstown Diner on rt. 46. It was there in 1947 when my family first moved to Hackettstown. It was there in the1950s also. At that time I believe a family named Barkow owned and operated it. Is it still there? I enjoyed eating there.

there's a dairy queen on willow grove now?

Shelby's was where Marshall's is now

the hackettstown diner burned down years ago...from arson...dairy queen left main street in 1967...it has been hess gas ever since...dairy queen has been on rt 57 for years...shelbys was a flash in the pan...they had about seven stores all total and did not last long...who remembers when marshalls was grand union...

grew up in h-town,1970-82. heres just a sample of what i remember.....T.Y. Ward on the lot between,Washington St. , Bell's Lane ,and Mtn.Ave......Mazzone Real Estate on the corner of 46 and east ave. Sciavones Ski and Bike Shop on mtn ave.... Cozy Corner on Willow Grove St.....Country Pie records and Tomanios Barber shop on Main st. Basement Billiards behind the music store on Main....One -Hour Martinizing.......County-Line Sports on rt.46....dog n suds....hackettstown raquet club on rt. 57....centenary bells.....McDonalds being built....the Mall being built.....Dunkin Donuts being built...Friendlys.....Burger King......and so on.....bob's hobby shop......middletown leather....bergen tool....catv on north main.....

There were several businesses in the 50s and 60s on rt. 46 just east of the Mill pond bridge. One of them was a laundry (not laundramat) across from the diner. My folks had a wringer-washer and outdoor clothes line. In the winter they took the dirty clothes to the laundry. One of my earliest memories is the huge brown paper- wrapped bundle tied with string coming back with clean clothes. It was amost an explosion on the dining room table when we cut the string. As I recall, they were all neatly folded and we just had to put them away.

Where was the bowlin Alley that burned down?

Joe : Depends on which one.There was Jack Burk's bowling alley on main st next to the moose that burned in the early 60's I think and the one at the bottom of budd lake hill where there is a park and ride,not really sure when that one burned.

more memories...Phillips 66 gas station on 46 on the spot Meineke later occupied....Fosters Mobil..my dad played softball for them...had an historic collision with the gym teacher Mr Boeppel.. not only was Boeppel out ..HE WAS REALLY OUT !!!!..ah the tannery field ..mrs. fosters son-in law was my first little league coach...Dean Depuy....he and his wife had a son named Devon...Mr. Joseph Bristow was his assistant and STILL my favorite coach EVER and i'm still playing hardball at 44........played my first game in right field at morgans tract...had to watch out for a big rock that stuck up that has since been removed..same thing at old morrison field at the sand bar....im an umpire in the skylands conf.(which my beloved Tigers have just left) :(.....anyway i still love to hear those centenary bells.......bad memory...aug. 26,1977......enough said.....the prall and dyser farms before the mall was built.....my neighbor Julius Narducci told me that our street East ave. was originally known as Pigtail Alley.....his daughter margret..i think worked at the OP........Mrs. Powers getting hit by a car at the corner of Water St. & Mountain Ave.........finding the gear handle to raise the dam stops on the muscenetcong at beattys mill AND ACTUALLY DOING IT!!!! boy was the fishing better that spring...Mr. Schiavones Step-son Art Guarino was a fishing buddy.....RIP buddy..miss ya......this forum is great , brings back a flood of memories......

the bowling alley at the bottom of hackettstown mountain burned down in the early sixties...they always promised to rebuild...there or move to the top of the mountain...it never happened...so now its a park and ride...the more things change the more they stay the same

Proudtiger,

My younger brother was Arthur's best friend & when he was hit by that car, my brother went into a deep depression. That poor kid was only 12 & Mrs. S ,because she had MS really relied on him. Aurthur had to assemble the bikes & string the tennis rackets for his foster dad....he did it without ever bitchin & was such a joyful & well behaved little kid....YES Rest in peace.

Arthur was a classmate of my younger sister and I remember that horrible accident very well. And I remember 8/26/77 all too well.......siblings of several friends were lost that day. I still have the newspaper clippings. Then of course, two significant fires in town: Williams and Hilber and the Main St. Fire that displaced the Farrells from above the bakery among others. The Christmas tree on an island on Grand Avenue near the Post Office. Sledding down Cook St during a snowstorm. Playing kickball in the street (not too many cars around!!) WALKING (OMG) to school in any weather. Hackettstown was a great place to grow up in.

Gravatar for LVMomOfBoys LVMomOfBoys Message LVMomOfBoys
Nov 23, 09 6:41 pm

JJ Newberries was my favorite place to shop when I was a child. The counter's contents were pretty impressive when I could just see over the top of them. My most memorable present was Blue Waltz" perfume which I pruchased for my mom when I was about 7 or 8. I loved the aroma and the heart-shaped bottle. As a young adult I was surprised to see that Newberries still sold it.
When I was a teenager my favorite winter retail spot was the Cottage. Hot chocolate. In the late 50s it was owned and operated by the Wacker family.

How about the fish tanks downstairs at Tank Town , the rope swing over the Musconetcong river at the bend near the tennis courts,the tank near the Lackawawanna railroad that contained plastic that we would toss araound, the steep short cut down to the RR tracks behind St. Marys school ,Kneckel Fords show room as you walked home from school, the fire station birch beer after the Memorial Day parade, the sound of deer hunting around Buck Hill on opening day, the ski shop across from Mc Donalds, getting out of class at HHS because of bomb scares, the Dixie Kidds marching band from the elementary school, the stocked Trout Brook at Main St.,Hess Station madness during gas rationing according to license plates,the funky ponds behing the old Lackawanna leather factory, the wooden floors of the hardware store on Main St., the ever present owners of Dad and Lad , being forced to get new clothes at Leonards, Rockaway sales when they had a great fishing department, buying truck tubes at the old Sinclair gas station, and on and on

I've been trying to remember the name of a store at Hackettstown Mall back in the early 80"s. It was across from the Rite Aid, an early " dollar store type" that sold all kinds of odds and ends. Any ideas?

Gravatar for anniebananie anniebananie Message anniebananie
Jan 25, 10 11:49 am

Daemarts. I worked there. That was the most funniest and hardest job I ever had

Gravatar for Just Asking Just Asking Message Just Asking
Jan 25, 10 4:53 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviai dint know who you are Bob R....but i must have grown up with you...heres a shot of the old Hackettstown railroad yard...where they parked and unloaded the cars full of plastic pellets...

I think one of my very favorite memories of growing up in Hackettstown was being sent to the Hardware Store to pick up something for my Dad.....the creaky floors and the smells.....and all the different things to look at! Nothing like it anywhere else!! (Thanks Mr. Novak! :)

Gravatar for LVMomOfBoys LVMomOfBoys Message LVMomOfBoys
Jan 25, 10 8:33 pm

to waybill ; I will provide a few hints . Were you a graduate of HHS near 1975 ? I have the same last name of a Middle School teacher (at my time , there was only one school unless you counted fifth grade class over at the Community Center on main street - because of overcrowding) who taught over 30 years and always sixth grade... and have an older brother who set the HHS high hurdle record of 15.4 seconds (back when everything was in yards)....the quarterback of our senior team at HHS lived over Cavanaughs at one time and I was the starting fullback.

what were those pellets for ? and thank you for the cool railroad picture....

Bob i know who you are...i grew up about 3 blocks from you...and i knew your brother and dad too...the picture i posted is the area where the plastic pellets were offloaded from the rail cars...the pellets were used by Cooke Color Chemical in manufacturing ...the plant later relocated to mansfield township...where they built a siding for direct offloading...the picture dates to 1969...i still remember all the piles of leaked plastic pellets all along the railroad tracks...the site in the picture is now Hackettstowns NJ transit passenger station...glad you liked the picture

waybill, I have to tell you that I can't get enough of your pictures. If you are ever inclined to stop posting them, please don't!

I've never been to the historical society's building. I'm guessing they have tons of photos like the ones you post here?

Gravatar for justintime justintime Message justintime
Jan 26, 10 4:32 pm

Does the Erie Lackawanna Railroad still exist ? I remember the railraoad company offloading cars at Tickners spur. I recall that old train station , but I can not recall ever seeing it used. Bergen Tool also had a railroad spur. I believe that there was some type of switch on the tracks above M and Ms. What was the main cargo of the Erie Lackawanna that passed through town ?

Bob.....not Apgar? Or is it Bill C

Gravatar for Begin Again Finnigan Begin Again Finnigan Message Begin Again Finnigan
Jan 27, 10 4:47 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviathe Erie Lackawanna was taken over by Conrail ...in the 1970s... Norfolk Southern later bought the railroad line through Hackettstown...there is only a single track through Hackettstown now with a short siding near stiger street...Hackettstown does now have limited passenger service...thanks to NJ transit...M&M Mars still gets freight delivered from a private siding...but the railroad yard as you remember it has long since been removed...Bergen Tool is closed...Hiblers lumber sold out and is now owned by a new company...Hackettstown still sees two freight trains a day...they just pass through headed west... at times a string of cars will be left for pickup near stiger street...towards Mansfield and Washington...NJ Transit...has more traffic on the Hackettstown line than any freight traffic...the original Hackettstown Railroad station was torn down in the early 70s...

waybill and begin after finnigan....nice to hear from friends and neighbors....I miss it up there.....I have been in Phila now near 30 years...Bob Rotermund(use to live on East Valley View)......I enjoy reading about the past and history of H Town and area. Quite a book about H Town could be put together with the information brought forward on this site.

Finnigan, If you read the hints he gave a few posts, up, it's "Bob R." His father taught 6th grade forever in the Middle School, that totally gives it away. I know who you are, Bob. you were a senior when I was a junior, we were on the same football team, coached, by "Sass", "Seniore" and "Marty O".

Mr. Rotermund was one of my favorite teachers in all the years of school in Hackettstown. :)

Gravatar for LVMomofBoys LVMomofBoys Message LVMomofBoys
Jan 28, 10 1:31 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaBob...here is a comparison picture...looking east from stiger street...of the former Hackettstown Railroad yard...and the new NJ Transit station...as you can see just about everything has changed...just behind the train is the parking lot of the NJ Transit station...the station in no way resembles the old Hackettstown station...heres a few names you might remember from the old neighborhood...Skinner...Sharpe...DiRenzo...Len Mooney...

Thanks LV for kind words about Dad. Bill , I remember the well manicured Mooney house on Valley View. Tom Sharpe was a friend , kept in touch up until about when he went into the Air Force years ago.The family had that corner property towards Trout Brook. Bill Skinner was a good friend of my brothers. Didn't Skinner own the old ARCO gas station on Main Street for awhile ? Nice to hear from you Deviljet; I guess we shared some good times at old Morrison's Field. They tore down our club house. I guess you were also running in the Musconetcong River at the sand bar during our double sessions.
The train history is fascinating. I forgot about the Hibler lumber yard railroad spur. My family actually owns a Lionell Erie Lackawanna engine set. Another subject of underdiscussed history of H Town is everything surrounding the Morris Canal. Up towards the hill range behind the Lutheran Church, if you look closely, you can see the old canal bed. We use to try to ice skate in the bed.

This post has been going on for over a year - great stuff! By now I've figured out who most of you are.

One post not directly answered - at one time my great aunt ran that Candy Store on Liberty Street where Kirdziks now live - Mid to Late 60's I guess. That was before the Fortune teller (Gynia?)I remember 'Christines' Family's belongings carried over to my Aunt's Lawn during the W&H fire - plus the melted car behind those houses.

Interesting item - if you drove by the Kof C this past week or so with the siding being removed it looked like it did in the 60's - like an old Church (except the windows are boarded up) covered with Tar paper shingles. I also remember when A lot of houses on that street had that same type of siding. Many a hot summer night spent on the porches of Liberty Street, with plenty of people walking up and down just to chat. Really not that long ago at all...

Lots of really good memories in this thread.

Longtime Tiger
Feb 3, 10 10:29 pm

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviaBob heres an old time shot of the Morris Canal when it was still in operation...many local people from Hackettstown...were either maintenance workers on the canal or some work as boat crews on the canal...there was even a canal boat captain from Hackettstown... Sharpie...and the Skinners still live nearby Hackettstown...ps this picture of a canal boats was taken near north main street...at the foot of Buck Hill

Waybill -

Where did you get such great pictures? you should get your own website! Love to see more...

Bob -

The field to the right of Waybills canal picture would now be the dead ends of 2nd/3rd/4th St, I believe...Am I right Waybill?

Re: Hackettstown Retail triviayes McFly you are right...heres a better shot of the same site...my interest in the Morris Canal...dates to my childhood...reading the books that the late James Lee wrote about the canal...only got me more interested...getting to meet and chat with James Lee...was great... he was a fascinating gentleman...to talk to...there are so many old and interesting stories about the canal...

I have very fond memories of Hackettstown from when I was a child. When I was a young teen there were certain shops and stores we went to. Does anyone remember the following shops. Allen's Hardware; The Cottage (great malts); Hagaman's Shell Station; The barber shop (which still had a working pot belly stove ) around the corner from the Clarenden Inn where Chef Willi Putz reigned supreme; Peoples National Bank; and the bakery run by two german women with hot, fresh cheese bread and fresh rye (w/o seeds if you please). Anyone care to guess when all this was? Is Carvel still there?

from what you say...my guess is your memories date to the late 50s early 60s...i dont remember Allen hardware...in my time it may have been Hackettstown hardware...my dad was a customer of Hagamans shell...its still a shell station...but ed hagaman left many years ago...ed hagaman is still living near hackettstown...the barbershop you speak of had to be Lockards...next to the Flock building...The Putz brothers were probably the last people to run the Clarendon right and make money off of it...Peoples National bank closed and moved by stiger street...now Bank of America...i dont remember Carvel...but a new Carvel...opened on stiger street...and has already closed...the only bakery i knew from then was Farrells bakery...and they had very good baked goods...

Waybill, you are pretty close in the era. We had a summer home in Budd Lake and also went there in the winter as well. The time period was 1944 to 1964. I moved in 1962 to Alabama and we sold our home in Budd Lake in 1964. I brought my wife to Hackettstown several times in the 1970's and she loved it. Just good memories.

Now you have me thinking about the small sandy beach and swimming at Budd Lake near the smorgasbord(sp) restaurant just off route 46. Does anyone recall that German Restaurant on the corner across from the lake ? It later reopened as a Chinese Restaurant. What is it now ? Is Budd Lake still known for its good Pike fishing ?
I remember years ago trying to find the beginning section of the Raritan River at the lake. Mountain Lake , Budd Lake , Cranberry Lake, Swartswood Lake.....you have some real treasures in your backyard! Warren/Sussex County( I know Budd is in Morris) are very unfamiliar to everyone in the Phila area. The Poconos is the destination, but not many venture into NW New Jersey from Southeast Pa.

bob...the german restaurant you mention was the HOF BRAU...that closed...and the chinese restaurant is still there to this day...the part of the raritan river you mention flows out of the west end of budd lake...it meets up with several tributaries and later flows through long valley...making its way to the main raritan river...yes we know about the lakes you mention...and they are treasures...but you have left out some very nice lakes known only to locals...who remembers when some prankster dumped dead sharks into Budd Lake...and everybody was scared to swim there ...this happened back in the 70s...

Budd Lake was (supposedly) the head waters of the Raritan. When we turned right off Rt 46 from NYC, we first crossed a small bridge under which flowed the waters of the lake on their way to the river. Immediately after crossing the bridge we were on Manor House Rd. We lived on Babs Rd (now Place?) which was one street below Manor House just off Sand Shore. just below our street there was Jack Sartoris' farm and huge concrete barn. I was good friens with his son Lee.

I forgot to add that the "Wigwam" was on 46 near the Municipal Building, and our beach was on the North side of the lake near what is now a preserve.

I don't know if it's mentioned anywhere on this thread but does anyone remember the little mt.bethel ski area,late 60's or early 70's.

http://www.nelsap.org/nj/bethel.html

Ice fishing and ice boating are two vivid memories I have of Budd Lake. I tried ice fishing once, got way too cold, and decided to leave it to my dad and his friends. I wondered how fast the iceboats were going as they skimmed along. My dad said sitting so close to the ice made the speed seem even faster to the iceboater. I did iceskate on the area in front of the municipal building. It was a large enough area to allow quite a few skaters at once.

i remember Mt bethel ski area very well...i drive by the closed ski area quite often...the building for the cable lift is still there...the actual slope is very overgrown...the place is right near the old church at the intersection of snyder road and mt bethel road...one more bit of trivia...the ski lift was powered by model T ford engines...at the bottom of the slope was a lodge where they had hot chocolate and food...that place has been closed for many years

I remember the ski area in Mt Bethel there was a A-frame building by the road

Gravatar for CagedAnimal CagedAnimal Message CagedAnimal
Mar 2, 10 9:53 am

My brother and I skied (sp?) at the Mt Bethel ski hill many years ago. I remember that the Ski Patrol was there to help us. That darn rope tow stopped and started without warning and today I have shoulder problems because it jerked so hard when it started once. Everytime I see the A frame building on Mt Bethel road I remember the good times we had and how my father used to wait at the rope tow for us to quit to go home.

Gravatar for lilindependence lilindependence Message lilindependence
Mar 2, 10 6:00 pm

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