Trenton, New Jersey (NJ)
Archivist:
Dennis Bauer &
Hans
Martini
Genealogy &
History Section
Remembering the German
Hungarian Neighbors
By James Lieblang,
Roebling, NJ
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
TRENTONER DONAUSCHWABEN NACHRICHTEN PAGE 3
Dear Editor:
I wanted to write
you a short note/letter about your recent posting in our Donau
Schwaben Newsletter concerning German Hungarian businessmen in
Trenton taken from the 1937 issue of the Deutsch – Ungarischer
Familien Kalender.
My family had a
dairy and milk business in Trenton from 1916 to 1976. As such, I
was acquainted since boyhood with many of these (now) elderly
members of our community who came from “the old country”. I
served milk and collected bills from many of them. Growing up, I
certainly remember the names of various families who it seemed
all knew each other. The Schoens, Herdts, Basslers, Bohns,
Winklers, Drobneks, Rohrbachers, Fredericks, Hahns, Weissers,
Yungers, Ofners, Schmeltzes, Klespies, Knotts, Reegers, Dingers,
Weiners, Kiss’s, Karlowitsches, Wildmanns, Mahlers, Wilwols(sic)
on and on and on.
Now to the
particulars of your article. First, the Wildmans. They
ran a corner grocery in the Franklin Park section. I remember
they had an old wooden freezer I used to take cases of milk into
when serving. I think the wife’s name was Rosa. Maybe not.
Anyway, I remember the store from my youth. Very nice people.
The Weissers
also ran a store as did the Klespies.
The Angebrandt's
lived on Division Street down by Hewitt. One of the benefits of
having a Dad with a milk business and many customers was that I
was always getting “fixed” up to date one of the daughters! I
dated Mr. Angebrandt’s daughter once or twice in my teens. He
was a “paper hanger” like another German customer, Frank
Fiest.
Mrs. Stetner
ran an upholstery business if I am not mistaken. My Aunt Anna
worked there as a young woman.
George
Marosovitz is another name I remember. He and his wife lived
directly opposite St. Raphaels Church in White Horse. He taught
me how to use a SCUBA tank in his pool! George used to deliver
soda to our house. His partner was Joe. The store was one or two
blocks from where Kuser hits Hamilton, right near St. Anthony’s
school. George used to sell his own version of a cross between
Ginger Ale and Sprite called “Tune Up”. It was delicious. He had
a great “crème” soda and a “root beer” which was the best. Home
deliver of soda, like milk, soon went the way of many things.
I don’t know if
the Duachek is who I am thinking of but I seem to
remember one that was a tailor.
The Yungers
(Tasty Bottling) lived (some of the family) right by Franklin
Park near the Schmeltzes and Ofners. I remember
Mrs. Yunger lived into her 90’s and eventually had a home off of
Parkside in West Trenton. She and the Ofners used to play
pinochle with my Oma and Opa often. As a matter of fact, the
Ofners were best man and bridesmaid to my Oma and Opa when they
got married in 1915. I still have their wedding picture. (My
grandparents came over in 1905 and 1907 from Banat and
Batschka).
I also remember
the name Hengert put can not place it any better.
James Lieblang
Roebling, NJ
