Keating’s DrugstoreKeating’s ad New Era 2-20-1936Vintage Postcard Presentation by John McCormick, January 2009
I had heard a little about Keating’s Drug Store that once operated out of the corner property in the Williams and Wright Building at Broad and Main from audience members when I presented slide shows of old postcard images for the Historical Society.
Someone would mention the fountain Cokes or some other purchase and maybe a recollection of Mr. and Mrs. Keating, and the general consensus was that people had warmhearted feelings just remembering what it was like to go in there.
That’s Mr. Keating standing at the entrance. Can any reader help with a date by looking at the car?
Keating’s Drugstore B77.09.07
Keating’s New Era 11-2-1939When I found these three circa 1924 photos of the place in our files I knew that seeing them might evoke some nostalgic memories from a Rivertonian, but I was quite unprepared for the spontaneous outpouring of memories that they produced from Mabel Kloos when I showed them to her. She wrote them down in an email to me:
I have many fond memories of Keating’s drugstore, as I passed it every school day for nine years, walking to and from Riverton School twice a day, in the late 40’s to mid 50’s. How could I ever forget Mr. and Mrs. Keating, better known as Blanche and Larry (Chappy) to the adult patrons! Mrs. Keating always had upswept hair, and Mr. Keating had snow-white hair with glasses.
Keating’s Drugstore B77.09.09
On my way back to school after lunch, I would usually see some teachers and my favorite doctor, Dr. Mark, coming out the door, as they ate lunch there several days per week. Many days after school, a group of classmates and I would stop by Keating’s for a delicious vanilla coke that was most often made by Mr. Keating. He would put our vanilla Cokes with lots of crushed ice, which he made at the fountain, into a triangular paper cup. We never used a straw, just drank directly from the cup. Since we sipped it very slowly, it lasted us till we arrived home. We just hoped the paper cup wouldn’t leak!!
Other times we would stop by and get ice cream cones. My friends and I always liked it when Mrs. Keating made them for us, as she would give us a little extra ice cream!! When we became 7th and 8th graders, we would sometimes order a dish of ice cream that was served in a triangular paper cup and placed in a silver holder. That way, we could sit at the round glass top tables and admire all kinds of jewelry and other trinkets underneath the glass that one could purchase. The wooden chairs always fascinated us, as they had unusually-shaped seats.
Keating’s Drugstore B77.09.10
My last memory of Keating’s is when I would stop there with my grandfather, and he would ask for ice cream to go. Mr. or Mrs. Keating would place a rectangular dish made of heavy cardboard on a scale, then scoop our favorite flavor(s) into the dish, place a piece of tissue-like paper over the top, and then place it into a brown bag to take home. The ice cream just tasted sooo delicious!!
I would just love to be able to walk through the drugstore door one more time, but since it will never happen, I will live with my many fond memories of Keating’s.
Mabel Gnang, Riverton School Safety, 1954
In these circa 1924 photos Mr. and Mrs. Keating look different from Mable’s description because the couple had only been in business for about a year–young Mabel Gnang would know them over twenty years later.
Maybe one of you Rivertonians can help match up these names written on the backs.
The first two digits of the Index Accession Number of each item tell me the HSR acquired them 1977, I believe, from B. Terrell, a name that is on all three photos.
Artifact #B77.09.07: writing on the back shows Keating’s Drugstore, LawrenceKeating, and 35 years old, but that is crossed out. This one is easy since there is only one person in the photo.
Keating’s Drugstore photo backs, left to right, 07, 09, 10
Artifact #B77.09.09: writing shows Keating’s Drug Store, about 1924, Walter Miller the cop, Blanche Keating, Lawrence Keating, Chick Seagrave, Harry Herman. Larry and Blanche and Officer Walter Miller I have figured out. I think that Chick Seagrave is the young man seated next to Mr. Keating and the fellow standing at right is Harry.
Artifact #B77.09.10: writing shows Keating’s Drug Store, 1924, John Sotham, Blanche Keating, Lawrence Keating, Harry Hebrew. OK–Larry and Blanche, I get. John Sotham must be standing at left, in front of Mr. Keating. The fellow on the right must be Harry. But Harry Hebrew or Harry Herman? Something must have been recorded wrong. Does a reader know? Please advise, and I’ll update the file.
Mrs. Mabel Kloos, July 4th Parade 2010, John Kloos at the wheel
Remember, Readers,, especially parents, that these will be the good ol’ days for the youngsters of the 21st century, and consider ensuring that your family creates some enduring “artifacts” of your own. Here’s why.
You are already aware of the declining state of the newspaper industry and print media, and few people write letters or postcards today. Considering that cell phones and emails, text messaging and digital images make up so much of the everyday photographs and personal communications of today, what will be available for historians to help reconstruct what life was like in Riverton decades from now, as we just did? – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor
P.S. The postcards and Keating’s interiors images are high-resolution so that you can really inspect them. You can read some of the labels of the items in the drugstore. Check out the price of a milkshake.
Broad & Main Sts., Riverton, NJ
P.P.S. Awhile back I received a note from Roberta Riddle who wrote:
My father, Harry Riddle owned “Sharons Sweet Shop” back in the 40’s. Abt. 1945/49. I am looking for an old photo of the sweet shop and any information pertaining to same. The shop was named after his first daughter was born.
I recall eating lunch there during the mid-1970s. I’d love to help her out, but I have nothing and found no reference to the Sharon Shop in our HSR files. If you can help, please contact us with a comment or photo. – JMcC
Since this is the website for the Historical Society of Riverton, the operative word being ‘historical,’ it is worth noting some remarkable facts which we shall record for August 2011. A rare 5.8 earthquake struck NJ August 23rd, followed closely by a hurricane, tornado warnings, and floods. And according to the yesterday’s Courier-Post, it is now official: For the Philadelphia/South Jersey region, August is already the wettest month in recorded history, breaking a century-old record.
I wondered how Riverton would fare after the white-capped Delaware finished slamming that riverwall at high tide and hurricane winds ripped through the streets and avenues of our favorite Tree City. So I emailed my stringers (actually two other HSR Board members) and they checked in with this report.
The sea was angry that day, my friends. (credit: Susan Dechnik)
My friend and former teaching partner at RPS, Susan Dechnik accompanies her Facebook photos of Irene’s effects on the riverbank with an àpropos quote from Seinfeld, her favorite TV show. It’s from the classic “Marine Biologist” episode.
She reports that winds blew down a large part of a tree near 8th & Main, blocking the sidewalk.
She adds, “The river was wild, didn’t breach the bank, but was splashing over. The wind was incredible and a little scary.”
Does that line of debris across the grass indicate the high water mark? (credit; Ivrie Myhre)
HSR President Gerald Weaber reports that the river rose above the riverwall and winds had strewn about some limbs and branches, but he did not hear of any major damage from the storm.
These few stills, kindly provided by local photographer Ivrie Myhre of cinnaminson.patch.com confirm that Riverton generally withstood what Irene dished out.
That was not the case for all the surrounding communities, however.
credit: Ivrie Myhre
Just five minutes away at Riverton Road and Rte. 130, Irene’s capricious winds toppled a large tree in front of Bayard’s Chocolate House, and her relentless rains flooded some Cinnaminson homes and streets.
Our HSR website gets dozens, sometimes even over a hundred visits daily. True, most of them were probably googling for Rivertons in CT, CA, IL, UT, VA, WY, or even AU and wound up here by mistake. Nonetheless, inquiring readers want to know, Rivertonians. What happened in your neighborhood?
You can click on the Facebook link at the bottom of this page to visit the HSR wall where Susan Dechnik and a varied, albeit short, cast of characters “liked” us in a moment of lapsed judgment. Please join in.
Also, that CinnaminsonPatch is a cool community-specific news, events, and information website that I never heard of, but one which I’ll certainly look up again. You’ll find more photo galleries by Ivrie Myhre and other local photographers along with news stories written by the local Patch Team.
It’s a young and growing website, but if the amount of Riverton coverage continues to expand they may have to change the name. – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor
Hunkered down here on high ground in Delran watching the 20 lbs. of grass seed that I put down in my backyard a few days ago wash down the street, I thought I’d take my mind off dire forecasts of flooding and power outages by catching up on some HSR website correspondence.
My Mother remembers the boardwalk at Stone Harbor. Does anyone know when it was built and when it was destroyed? Thanks
I emailed my good friend who has provided so many scans of these old postcards, and I asked him about the Stone Harbor boardwalk. Of course the topic of the day is the hurricane (four days ago, it was the 5.8 earthquake), so I mentioned that. He wrote back:
Brace yourselves for Irene. I sure remember, most vividly still today, a hurricane that hit South Jersey and headed up and did substantial damage in New England back in the mid-fifties time frame. The wind was incessant as I recall. Most harrowing for a child or adult to experience. Good luck.
As for Stone Harbor’s boardwalk, it was dedicated in 1916 and lasted slightly less than 30 years. Sadly, all of the boardwalk washed away in the terrible storm of 1944. Always happy to provide information relative to these super postcard time- capsules.
My aunt and uncle had a place on LBI and we took a drive down to view the aftermath of that 1950s hurricane. That’s when “the bay met the ocean” and water cut the island in two. We saw so many cottages and homes destroyed. Was it Hurricane Hazel, Readers??
OMG! (as these young folks say). Comcast just interrupted the TV cable feed for a Burlington County tornado warning.
A couple of weeks ago we received a comment about a LBI postcard which evoked sweet memories for A. Kotzin who writes:
I have the most wonderful childhood memories of staying at the Baldwin Hotel. Our family spent a couple weeks each summer at Beach Haven, staying at the Baldwin. As a child this spectacular building provided exceptional exploring opportunities. My dad was a watercolorist who painted a wonderful painting of an adjacent property, where nuns spent summer vacations. He did so while sitting on the balcony of our room.
When the Baldwin burnt to the ground, Beach Haven lost a large part of its identity.
Thank you for posting this beautiful rendition of the grand old Baldwin.
It’s my pleasure to bring these pictures and information to you. What have you found in these pages that has struck a chord for you? We have lots more room to post any images or recollections you have to share.
In a earlier blog entry you met Edwin L. Kaewell, a Civil War reenactor who endured near hundred degree temperatures in his replica Union woolen uniform for four days at the recent Burlington County Farm Fair July 20-23, 2011, as he tried to recruit new volunteers for his reenactment unit based on the 23rd NJ Regiment Volunteer Infantry known as the Jersey Yahoos.
Another soldier of an earlier era cheerfully explained to onlookers how to load and fire a Revolutionary War type flintlock firearm. Jeff Macechak, Education Director at the Burlington County Historical Society, demonstrated the weapon at several intervals throughout the day right outside our History Faire tent. And I couldn’t help from jumping every time he did it.
Jeff’s flintlock demo was the centerpiece of the special exhibit that members of the Children’s History Center at Burlington County Historical Society created that obviously held appeal for kids of all ages. The Children’s History Center knows how to tailor hands-on local history lessons to the interests of school groups and families.
In full Revolutionary War garb, Jeff endured the elements to instruct the rabble in loading and firing a flintlock firearm.
With my short-sleeved shirt and cold drink in hand, I felt like a piker watching another sergeant overdressed for the weather carrying out his duties without complaint. But here he was, pitching his history-lesson-in-disguise to the kids, explaining terms like “flash in the pan” and inviting them to smell the rotten egg odor of the sulfur after firing the weapon. Here’s a video I shot with my iPhone of Jeff loading and firing the flintlock musket.
I went back to my perch beside the fan in the tent and my thoughts wandered to past family vacations and day-trips to Philadelphia, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Boston, Washington, DC, Plymouth Plantation, St. Augustine, and other such historic sites.
I guess because I grew up with my grandmother taking me to New York City in 1957 to see the Mayflower II, it seemed natural for me to take my own kids to see the same ship at Plimouth Plantation 30-odd years later. I grew up with a love of history, even if I was not always a fan of the school version of history. With all the uncertainty about our future, do you think there is still a value in emphasizing our history?
Keeping cool in the History Faire Tent
My kids probably thought that all parents planned such educational outings. They took it well because they knew that after that next Civil War battlefield might be a stopover at Busch Gardens, Sea World, or Disneyworld.
I was gratified to see that many parents took the road less traveled at the County Fair, away from the amusements and food vendors, and ventured over to our History Faire tent with progeny in tow. If you attended, what did you think of our first History Faire? And what ideas or suggestions do you have for the next? I know at least that I’ll need to bring a bigger cooler and more ice. – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor
seated at left and standing at right: HSR members Barbara and John Palko. Barbara has run the Home Arts & Crafts Tent for some 15 years at the Burlco Farm Fair.
Last week HSR President Gerald Weaber and I went to our History Faire tent at the Burlington County Farm Fair prepared to preach a litany of Riverton history sermons to the multitudes. There was some proselytizing on our part, to be sure, but I had the best time listening to the recollections of members of our own and other historical societies.
Too, there were visits from other local history buffs such as Nick Mortgu and wife Beth Lippincott who came hoping to find a source for searching some family genealogical information, which I believe, they found in County Historian Joe Laufer. They’ve been trying to find the burial site of one of Beth’s 17th century Quaker ancestors.
Nick is the historian for the RYC and an avid collector of all sorts of Riverton memorabilia. (Beth and he live in the historic 1860s era home that had been the site of Riverton’s Cole Dairy which was the focus of a Nov. 2010 Gaslight News article.)
While Beth and Joe were talking, Nick told me that Beth’s first ancestors to immigrate to the US, the Lovecott family, decided to rebadge the clan as Lippincotts.
I did not know that.
Then, Kim, one of my former students (so sweet that she didn’t introduce me to her young man as “my old teacher”) stopped by hoping to find a picture of her house or street in with the box of reproduction prints of vintage postcards that we had brought. No luck, but if you have looked for a particular street in our images collection, and don’t see it, ask for it at the end of this article and maybe the Universe will hear you.
Lucy Evelyn, Long Beach Island, NJRecently, Ms. Lois Gorbe, now residing in Florida, sent us two snapshots of the burned remains of the schooner Lucy Evelyn that once served as a one-of-a-kind gift shop in Beach Haven. She has fond memories of visiting the ship/shop as a child during the 1940s. It’s so cool for me to be able to help her and others remember the good ol’ days back in the neighborhood.
Now gone, like so many other landmarks and buildings in our Images compilation, perhaps the entire collection might better be called, “Things That Aren’t There Anymore.” You can find them under Long Beach Island, NJ Images under the Images tab. Such unexpected bonus finds from across the miles were never possible for us before the launch of this website. Thank you, Lois.
Don't you love to get mail? We do, too.
Readers, wherever you are, please know that we would like to hear from you about your memories and images of Riverton and the region. We wish for this website to be a virtual meeting place for anyone who wants to know more about this region’s local history or has something to bring to our readers’ attention. What could we in the HSR do to help you?
Historical societies from each corner of this largest of New Jersey’s 21 counties exhibited displays celebrating the founders, landmarks, and various movers and shakers throughout their respective histories which have made each community so unique. HSR President Gerald Weaber and I viewed the affair as a kind of mini-convention in which we could network with colleagues at other tables, as well as showcase our organization’s preservation efforts to the public.
Pierre Lorillard and his dog - Library of Congress
I so thoroughly enjoyed David Smith’s PowerPoint presentation summarizing his four-year long research project on the Rancocas Stud Farm owned by Gilded Age tobacco millionaire Pierre Lorillard IV that I listened to it twice.
David’s account of the life of this extraordinary entrepreneur and sportsman who traveled in the same rich and famous social circles as the Astors and Vanderbilts intrigued me, and it left me wondering how I hadn’t heard of him before.
Lorillard advertisement 1789
I mean, the Lorillard Tobacco Company is older than the United States! And it “invented” the cigar store Indian in order to advertise its products. According to one school of thought, the tuxedo was invented by Pierre Lorillard IV and named after Tuxedo Park, a sportsman’s preserve and enclave of mansions he created out of 2,200 acres of mountain wilderness 40 miles outside New York City.
Certainly Pierre Lorillard IV had a head start when he inherited a large fortune from his father which included one of the most extensive tobacco companies in the world, but under his shrewd stewardship he shortly further increased his fortune at least tenfold.
Such history bits initially drew me in, but the tobacco magnate’s lofty triumphs in the sporting world coupled with his unimaginably extravagant lifestyle and colorful character makes for a compelling story of achievement and, at times, head-shaking disbelief.
David Smith hopes to write a book that begins with the tobacco company’s 1760 founding which created such fabulous wealth for the Lorillard dynasty that they could engage in horse breeding and horse racing, dog breeding, yacht racing, financing excavations of Mayan ruins in Central America, the building of incredibly lavish homes and estates, and the development of a country club and luxury retreat for the super rich.
NYTimes headline: How Mr. Lorillard Divided His Estate, July 14, 1901
Lorillard died at 67 in 1901, and willed Rancocas Stud Farm, now known as Helis Stock Farm, to his mistress Lily Livingston (AKA Lily Allien), and the sensational scandal that resulted played out in the pages of theNew York Times for all to see. A book that could tell the epic story of the tobacco heir’s bigger than life bio along with all of his diverse sporting and commercial interests plus include the development of his company would be weighty, indeed.
I’m thinking a blockbuster movie or maybe an HBO mini-series a lá the glitz and glam of Boardwalk Empire (without the gunplay) would be the way to tell this story. Who could play Young Pierre? Who would you cast for Mrs. Lorillard, Older Pierre, and Lily?
Each of our historical societies has colorful characters and persons of achievement perhaps just as compelling Pierre Lorillard, even if not as rich. For our diminutive borough, it’s the Ogdens, Grices, Dreers, Lippincotts, and Dorrances of years past, with new names of people who have effected recent change such as Betty Hahle now added to that honored roll. Who’s on your town’s list?
Unidentified Union Soldier - Library of Congress
We are always looking to expand our virtual image collection and add to our knowledge base. The latest plea was for information from anyone with a Riverton Civil War veteran tucked back in one of those branches of their family tree.
Ultimately, we hope to investigate the position taken by Riverton women, area Quakers, the general public, the business community, and various Riverton institutions toward the Civil War, so please let us know what you can. – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor
