By: Iris Naylor
The late 1940s and early 1950s The Beacon ran a column called "This & That."
It was written by Editor John C. Hazen and contained a section that was titled "Memory Lane."
There was no way John Hazen could have had first-hand knowledge of some of the events mentioned in that section since he was not born until 1906. However, in his boyhood years he must have heard many a story from his father, Joseph N. Hazen, and his grandfather, Phineas K. Hazen. That, along with the aid of the various other old-timers who contributed information, makes the Memory Lane part of This & That a most interesting feature and makes possible this column that might be titled "Did you know?"
Did you know that Phineas K. Hazen was not a native Lambertvillian but was a New Jersey Civil War veteran? He was mustered out in Trenton, found this up-river small town to his liking, married a local girl, bought the local newspaper and settled here for life.
Did you know the Common Council passed an ordinance in 1863 to prevent the running at large of geese, ducks and goats? It wasn’t until 1894 that the Board of Health began to enforce the ordinance that banned keeping hogs within the city limits.
Did you know that Union Street stopped at Delevan Street until 1863 when a petition to extend the street was presented to the Common Council with signatures from residents above and below Delevan? By 1865 it was reported that some 20 houses were being erected in Lambertville, mainly on lots recently laid out on the north end of the town.
Did you know, according to a letter from an old-timer in 1951, that once some businessmen kept a herd of cattle on Delevan street and served milk around town?
Did you know that at one time out-of-town ball teams arrived in Lambertville by train, suited up at the Lambertville House and walked to the ball field? They walked in the middle of the street so the "spokes" on their shoes would not be dulled on the sidewalks.
Did you know that one of our residents celebrated his 11th birthday in 1916 with the help of his son, age 19, and his wife of 20 years? George Weber was born Feb. 29, 1868, one of those unfortunate enough to be born on a day that occurs only once every four years.
Did you know when the Second Regiment of the New Jersey National Guard (including members from Lambertville), went to Sea Girt for training in 1916, their colonel banned cigarette smoking? The penalty for using the "coffin nails" was they would not be promoted.
Did you know when the new Third Ward school was built in 1916 (across Main Street from the present public school) it was planned to have the first six grades in the new building? Grades seven and eight would be sent to the high school building on the hill. This would eliminate classes that were being held in St. Andrew’s Hall and the Lyceum building on Coryell Street.
Did you know that renovations to the high school building in 1916 caused a recess for the students that lasted several weeks in January and February? Parents thought the work could have been scheduled for the summer vacation but authorities thought otherwise. Naturally, the students agreed with the authorities.
Did you know that in the beginning the Columbia Hose Company was housed in a brand new building on George Street? It bought a hose carriage in 1894, housed it in that brand new building and in 1896 had to buy another hose cart because the old one was too heavy to pull to a fire.
Did you know that fire engines as well as hose carts were pulled to the fires by firemen until someone decided that horses should be used? It was not unusual to find ice wagons stopped in the middle of the street so the horses could be transferred to the fire engines.
Lambertville history is full of interesting tidbits like the above, and the Memory Lane section of The Beacon recorded many of them.
