1001 Hamilton Avenue, Villa Park
Once upon a time this was Mabeline Shoes according
to my records. Its an interesting looking building:)
UPDATE: Ray from Villa Park adds:
rayfromvillapark said...
Hi Mack, When my family moved to the 800 block of Fairmount
Ave. in 1945, this corner store at Fairmount and Hamilton,
was Riker's Bakery. Mr. Riker (can someone provide his first
name) was a well respected Trenton city councilman and
businessman. I remember good aromas emanating from the
rear area of the building where there were large garage
doors, just next to the alley. I don't remember the year the
bakery closed. This was such a lovely neighborhood at that time.
There was an elderly gentleman, named Denny ( don't remember his
last name, who raised the lowered the American flag, each day in
the park. That flag would be just out of the picture to the right.
There is a monument with the flag, with the names of local
servicemen who lost their lives serving in WWI and WWII.
Just across the street from the Bakery, on the corner of Ardmore
and Hamilton, was a small store which served as the original
location of Carella's Shoes. No gift shop, just shoes. They then
moved to their Mercerville location. Right next door, in another
small shop, an older gentleman, ran a Lionel Train sales and
repair shop. His 1936 Ford Sedan Delivery was always parked out
front of the store. It had the famous Lionel Trains graphics on
the sides. I wish I could remember his name. Just a few of the
nostalgic memories one photograph can bring to mind.
Rayfromvillapark
Thank You Ray:)
5 comments:
Hi Mack, When my family moved to the 800 block of Fairmount Ave. in 1945, this corner store at Fairmount and Hamilton, was Riker's Bakery. Mr. Riker (can someone provide his first name) was a well respected Trenton city councilman and businessman. I remember good aromas emanating from the rear area of the building where there were large garage doors, just next to the alley. I don't remember the year the bakery closed. This was such a lovely neighborhood at that time.
There was an elderly gentleman, named Denny ( don't remember his last name, who raised the lowered the American flag, each day in the park. That flag would be just out of the picture to the right. There is a monument with the flag, with the names of local servicemen who lost their lives serving in WWI and WWII.
Just across the street from the Bakery, on the corner of Ardmore and Hamilton, was a small store which served as the original location of Carella's Shoes. No gift shop, just shoes. They then moved to their Mercerville location. Right next door, in another small shop, an older gentleman, ran a Lionel Train sales and repair shop. His 1936 Ford Sedan Delivery was always parked out front of the store. It had the famous Lionel Trains graphics on the sides. I wish I could remember his name. Just a few of the nostalgic memories one photograph can bring to mind. Rayfromvillapark
Hi Ray:)
Thank you for this. I will add
it to the post.
According to Prominent Families
of New Jersey by Author William
S Myers:
George Rieker, father of George
W Rieker came to the USA from
Germany and settled in the Trenton
area.
In 1895 he went to work for the
SOST BAKERY.
On May 1 1896 he married the oldest
daughter of his employer (Louisa Sost)..he continued to be associated with the
administration of the bakery until
the retirement of Mrs Sost in 1919.
Upon Mrs Sosts retirement the name
of the Bakery was changed to
Riekers Bakery.
George W Rieker was first an
employee at Roeblings and got a
degree from Rider before returning
to the family Bakery in 1925.
In 1938 George W became Deputy
Surrogate to the County by being
appointed to fill out someones
unexpired term and was re-elected
in 1943 to this office.
On December 12 1941 he became a
City Commissioner and Administrative Executive of
the Department of Public Parks and
Property (Ed note-sounds cushy !!)
George W married Anne Maul in
1921. He was a member of Advent
Lutheran Church.
Other Riekers who were associated
with the Bakery:
William,Walter,Carl.
Hi Ray: I remember George Riker very well, he was a commissioner about the same time that Arthur Bray of Washington St. was. This was all during the Donald Connelly days when the city seemed to do very well. Regards, Ralph.
Mac, I find it amazing how one photograph can lead to my recollections of the neighborhood, and then you fill in the very interesting missing background of the Rieker family. Just like a jig saw puzzle. What a wonderful source of information your blog has become. I thoroughly enjoy this adventure in documenting our hometown history. Makes my day! Best wishes, rayfromvillapark
Thank You for your comments
on the blog Ray:)
You provided enough details for me
to look into the Rieker Bakery
thing and find out about it.
If you had never mentioned it was
a bakery I would have never known
about it at all:)
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