Glassboro

Robert W. Sands Jr.

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2004
• ISBN:
  9781439616000
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Glassboro is the first illustrated history of the community whose name pays tribute to the industry that made it what it is today. Filled with treasured memories, the book preserves a remarkable collection of vintage photographs that capture historic Glassboro in the past two centuries as a booming southern New Jersey community at the height of its glass industry. The pages are filled with never-before-published images of the Whitney Glass Works, the Warrick-Stanger Glass Works, the Glassboro Auditorium, the Palace Theatre, and other landmarks from long ago.

Three

BUSINESS STRENGTH IN COMMERCE

The old Olive Glassworks Company Store was built in 1810. Located on the point between Main and State Streets, opposite the former Franklin House, this structure housed Glassboro’s first post office in 1822 and the town’s first Ford agency in 1908. E. Linwood Lacy, seen standing on the porch with one of his cars, sold Model N for $600 and Model R for $750.

The Whitney Glass Works Department Store stood at Main and High Streets for 48 years. This became the third company store. Construction began in April 1896, with more than 100 workers on the job. At the time, it was considered to be one of the largest structures erected in Glassboro. Pictured here c. 1915, the old store became the Glassboro Post Office in 1913.

The Whitney Department Store interior is shown shortly after its October 10, 1896, opening. It offered Glassboro residents a complete stock of essentials. The first floor contained an up-todate grocery department, dry goods and housewares, ladies’ and gentlemen’s furnishings, shoes, and hardware. The second floor housed the carpet and furniture, china and glassware, and millinery departments. In September 1912, the Whitney Store ceased operations.

Stewart’s Meat Market was owned and operated by Andrew G. Stewart. Originally the Whitney Market, it was located on Main Street in the old Whitney Store. Andrew Stewart was the manager of the Whitney Market unit it closed in 1912. He then purchased the market and continued the operation. Pictured c. 1915 are, from left to right, Thomas C. Stewart, Andrew Uhl, and Henry Rynhart.

Andrew and George Uhl purchased Stewart’s Meat Market in 1919. Renamed the Uhl Brothers’ Market, the store was popular, as this 1923 interior view shows. From left to right are William Heritage, Elizabeth Hillyard, William Abdell, Charles Fowler, and George and Andrew Uhl. By 1935, the store had relocated to the Middleton Building, on High Street. This became Glassboro’s first self-service market and sold the first frozen foods in town.

In 1928, Anthony Costanzo constructed this building at High and Lake Streets. The Great Depression crushed the dreams and livelihoods of many Americans, and Glassboro was not immune to this tragedy. Costanzo found he had too many unpaid customers on his books. The store soon closed. Over the years the building was occupied by various businesses, and in August 2001, it was demolished.

Shown is the interior of Costanzo & Sons Meat Market in 1928. When Costanzo’s opened, it was one of the finest markets in town. It was stocked with some of the best cuts of meat in the area and carried a large selection of fruits, vegetables, and groceries. From left to right are Lucy Saia, Samuel Costanzo, Henry Costanzo, and Michael Costanzo.

Oscar Carr’s general store stood on South Main Street for 64 years. Oscar Carr purchased the property in 1907 from Joseph Shute, who sold coal, lumber, millwork, building materials, paint, lawn mowers, and refrigerators. Carr continued the business but added a full line of groceries and other hard-to-find items. Pictured c. 1914 are, from left to right, daughter Ada Carr, wife, Clara Carr, and deliveryman Harry Mick.

Oscar Carr, at age 85, stands behind the counter in 1967. He was active in many local organizations and was a former member of the Glassboro Borough Council. After closing in October 1971, Carr’s general store was boarded up and stood empty until being torn down in the mid-1980s.

The S. H. Stanger Store, located at State and New Streets, was built in 1852 as a boardinghouse. Stanger purchased the buildin...