Happy 4th of July! Trenton Inter-State Fair Early 1900's

I thought this real-photo postcard showing the Trenton Inter-State Fair in the early 1900's would be perfect for today the Fourth of July.  Although I believe the Fair was typically held in September, with the big flag waving prominently in the front, it seems to say "patriotism" to me which is apropos for Trenton where so much of our country's early history took place.  It's a little hard to date this photo but I believe it to be from the very early 1900's (1900 - 1905) as some of sleeves on the women's dresses look very puffed up on top.

About the Inter-State Fair:  According to Grounds for Structure the Fairs were held intermittently in Trenton since 1745 when King George II granted a royal charter for the purpose of buying and selling livestock.  This was the first fair in Colonial America.  State Legislature banned all fairs in 1797 until 1858 when a revision was sought by the State Agriculture Society.  They were held sporadically in the mid-1880's.  In 1888 Trenton businessmen organized the State Fair Association and purchased more than 100 acres for a new park.  

The Inter-State Fairs were wildly successful, bringing in large crowds to see the horses and other livestock.  There were also contests in culinary arts and needlework - I have found newspaper reports in the Trenton Times where my husband's great-great grandmother and great-grandaunts won prizes in these categories.  The Midway attractions at the Fair featured daredevil stunts, horse races and special events such as a shooting match between Annie Oakley and Miles Johnson.  In the 1890's parachutists jumped from hot air balloons; at the turn of the century pioneers of aerial navigation, including the Wright Brothers, thrilled the crowds with their stunts.

Over the years people lost interest in the Fair and attendance dwindled.  In 1980 the land was sold and the last Fair was held that year.  For more information on the history of the Interstate Fair visit the Grounds for Sculpture at:  http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/fairhist.htm.

Those Places Thursday - Trenton, NJ

Trenton, NJ Postcard (unused) ca 1940

Postcard of Trenton, NJ circa 1940, showing night view of State Street West from Broad Street - you can see the Hotel Stacy Trent in the rear left.

Madness Monday - Trenton Insane Asylum (Part II) Sad Tale of Two Sisters

Entrance to State Hospital for the Insane, Trenton, NJ 1917

This 1917 postcard showing the entrance to the New Jersey State Hospital, or more commonly called at the time, the Trenton Lunatic Asylum presents a pleasing picture of calm and tranquility.  As we all know however, pictures can be quite deceiving.  As I discussed in Part I of my story on Mary and Ella Rogers, from what I have learned I believe their time spent in this institution was anything but pleasant.

In the 1910 Census, the only Rogers listed in the State Asylum is Ellen Rogers which I believe to be Mary although the age is off a few years.  I could not find her listed in the 1920 census.  In the 1930 census, once again under the State Asylum is a Mary Rogers, born in Pennsylvania, which is correct.  However, the age is listed as 53 which would be incorrect.  Surprisingly, also listed is Ella Rogers, her sister. 

1930 Trenton City Census, New Jersey State Hospital

Dec 1927 Trenton Evening Times

Next I found two articles on Ella Rogers;  the first pertaining to guardianship in December of 1927 in the Trenton Evening Times for Miss Ella M. Rogers, formerly of 125 Jackson Street who is now a patient of the state lunacy hospital.  The article stated Ella Rogers had entered the institution on 6 Jun 1925, had been released twice when her condition improved, but was now bedfast and a guardian was needed and her property must be sold to assist in payment of her care.  The second article was her obituary dated 24 Nov 1948 in the Trenton Evening Times. 

24 Nov 1948 Trenton Evening Times

This entire story makes me terribly sad.  These two sisters both seem to have spent a large part of their lives in the New Jersey Insane Asylum; Mary for nearly forty years, Ella for over twenty years.  The research I’ve done on this institution has been horrifying.  From 1907 to 1933 the asylum was run by Dr. Henry Cotton who believed that insanity was the result of untreated infections in the body.  His treatment was “surgical bacteriology” or the removal of teeth, tonsils, testicles, ovaries, gall bladders, stomachs, spleens cervixes and especially colons.  The patients of the asylum were continuously subjected to these gruesome experimental surgeries in a time before antibiotics which resulted in a high mortality rate.  Many were dragged kicking and screaming to surgery as they knew what was coming.  Amazingly, Dr. Cotton was considered a "pioneer" in his field by the medical community, as reported by Mike Adams, award-winning journalist in his article about the "Dark History of Modern Medicine."

Several things occur to me;  one, before his death in 1907 Dr. Elmer H. Rogers, their brother, according to newspaper articles I have found, admitted patients to this asylum and went there on occasion to treat patients - he surely must have witnessed some of the shocking conditions although from what I have read the worst started around the time of his death. Two, how ironic that these two women who came from what seemed to be a charmed background, lived and died in this horrific institution.  Thirdly, I wonder if they were housed in the same vicinity and if so, were they even sane enough to know that they were sisters?  

It’s been over one hundred and ten years since Mary was admitted to this institution, around her early thirties and it brings tears to my eyes to think of this poor woman and her sad, tortured, wasted life.  I have no information abut her actual diagnosis, was she really “mad” or was she sent away by her family as was common for the times when they didn't know how to handle what is easily treated today as depression or perhaps even a bi-polar condition?  Whatever the truth, I don’t believe she and her sister deserved the “cure" they received.

Those Places Thursday - Warren Street, Trenton, NJ

Warren Street, showing St. Mary's Catholic Church, Trenton, NJ ca 1900-1910

Another great find on eBay, a postcard from around 1900 showing St. Mary's Catholic Church on Warren Street in Trenton, NJ.  What is the particular interest in this card you may ask?  Well, St. Mary's Catholic Church which is still there today is located at 151 N. Warren Street and my husband's ancestor, his great-grandfather, Dr. Elmer H. Rogers lived and conducted his medical practice from 126 N. Warren Street which would have been across the street.  I don't know if the house still exists today, but he and his family surely shopped frequently on nearby Warren Street and this postcard gives me such a visual of what the street must have looked like.  I have posted before how Dr. Rogers frequently took his horse and buggy on medical calls.

Those Places Thursday - Mercer Hospital, Trenton, New Jersey

I was lucky enough to score these vintage postcards on eBay of Mercer Hospital in Trenton, New Jersey where my husband's ancestors were affiliated, first his great-grandfather, Dr. Elmer H. Rogers who died in 1907 and then his grandfather, Dr. Alvin Stackhouse Rogers, Sr. who died in 1937.

These postcards are postmarked circa 1910 -1913 so are very indicative of the era.

Those Places Thursday - Trenton, NJ - A Century Ago

Having never been to Trenton, NJ where many of my husband's paternal ancestors lived for quite some time, it is hard to get a feel for the area.  Since there are no family pictures from his father's side of the family I can't look back that way either.  I have been lucky to find a couple of old pictures by purchasing a subscription to the historical archives of the Trenton Times for which I am thankful.

Broad Street, Trenton, NJ Postmarked 1909

Another way I have recently found to get an idea of the times these ancestors lived in is to buy old postcards.  I have been lurking on eBay and bidding on those of interest.  Just last night I lost out on one of Mercer Hospital where both his grandfather and great-grandfather both worked as doctors.  That really hurt, but I have to believe I will come across another one!  Here is one I recently bought with a postmark of 1909 depicting a typical scene on Broad Street.  My husband's great-grandfather, Dr. Elmer H. Rogers, well-known, respected doctor and city physician of Trenton died in 1907, but this is close enough to give me an idea of how he must have driven about daily in his horse and buggy, navigating the streets of Trenton.  Evidently this undertaking could be quite precarious and tricky.  See the stories below.

Trenton Times 18 Aug 1888

Trenton Times 7 Nov 1903

 

 

Trenton Sunday Advertiser 13 Dec 1903

Those Places Thursday - Stacy-Trent Hotel, Trenton, NJ

I bought this great old postcard of the Stacy-Trent Hotel in Trenton, New Jersey.  The first class hotel was located at the corner of State and Willow.  It opened its doors on 19 Sep 1921.  Many important people including celebreties and government officials made the Stacy-Trent their base while in Trenton.  Unfortunately, business declined during the 1950's and 1960's and the building was demolished in 1967.

Stacy-Trent Hotel 1920's