Mrs. Davis recalled the horse and buggy days, trucking incoming and outgoing goods to and from Cranbury Station to the railroad. Three gray horses were used to pull a large wagon, which is shown in the accompanying picture taken at 46 North Main Street with it’s driver, James Phares.
John Barlow was head bookkeeper and Mrs. Davis comically remembered Mr. Phares being distracted by the horse racing on Main Street. Yes that is correct, horse racing.
When the winter snow fell, horses would be fitted with sleighs and raced down Main Street, which made it hard for Mr. Phares to keep his mind on work and he would leave.
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Mr. Silvers would become annoyed with his absence, but Phares would use his Irish wit and clear the air of the incident. John Bradley became President after the death of William Russell Silvers. Having been a salesmen he was very knowledgeable about the business.
In December 1927, a fire destroyed the main building but the records were saved. The new building was constructed in Hightstown, making it easier to get to the railroads. Trucks were now making deliveries.
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The company covered Monmouth, Mercer and Middlesex counties and some South Jersey areas as well. The large chains began to open and thus changed the need for wholesale grocers, and the company was closed in 1935.
One year prior to that Mrs. Davis, retired after 28 years with the company. Her memories included so many names that I could not list them all, but this was just a glimpese into the value of recorded history.
