River View Inn

> > Demised < <
Rutherford Avenue
Bridge
Clifton (Delawanna), NJ

Hines very rarely provided a specific street address. It was as if you were expected to wander up & down the noted road and if you had trouble, simply ask. In the current day of google maps and GPS, this can be a bit frustrating, especially in regards to the MIA restaurants such as the River View Inn. It doesn't help much that it happens to have an incredibly common name or that this area is now a rat's nest of highways. I will have to presume it is gone, unless someone has more info.

Hines: Open all year, every day except Holidays, noon to midnight. Special foods they serve are guinea hen with wild rice, duck, lobster Canton style, frog legs and other sea foods. Deep dish pies are favorites in the dessert line. Lunch 75¢ – $2.00; Dinner $1.50 – $2.00. Liquor served.

I did find 1 mention of it in a archive of a Lyndhurst newspaper from 1998. In it, an older fellow reminisces about growing up in the area and closes with:

"The best was meeting my wife, Margaret Mitchell, at Roosevelt School. We went to Roosevelt, Lincoln School and High School, graduating in June 1940. Joined the Navy in Dec. 1942; were married on 4-1-43 by the Reverend Dunn, minister of the Presbyterian Church on Stuyvesant Ave., with our reception at the River View Inn. We have been married 55 years, working on 56." : Ed (& Marge) McMickle

Thank you Ed, your account may be the only remaining record of the River View Inn besides Duncan Hines'.

William Pitt Tavern

>> Reincarnated <<

Currently houses
Chatham Jewelers and Law Offices
94 Main Street
Chatham, NJ

Hines: Open all year for lunch and dinner except Mondays. A nice dinner is served in this old residence at a most reasonable price. Filet mignon, roast lamb, and the like, are served with fresh vegetables and their own pastries. Reservations Tel. 4-0610. Lunch 80¢; Dinner $1.15 - $1.45.

Listings such as this make me realize that Hines did an excellent job in navigating minor by-ways to discover local favorites such as the William Pitt Tavern. Remember, there were not many interstates yet and certainly fewer "rest-stops" in the 30s and 40s. This lead Hines out of the cities onto state & county roads, deeper into American towns. Like many 'Main Streets,' Chatham's also doubled as State Route 24.

The William Pitt Tavern (or Inn as it was also known) was originally the Crane House built 1845. As far as I can tell it was a charming spot for ladies luncheons and quality dinners but probably not frequented by many people from outside the immediate area. It was regularly listed in local papers as the choice spot for club luncheons and speaking engagements as well as being "a widely known luncheon and dinner rendezvous." (The Item, Oct. 1942 Millburn & Short Hills paper) One of the remarkable accomplishments of Hines' guide book was that it brought modest establishments such as the William Pitt to nationwide attention. I'm sure the Gibson sisters were most flattered.

In my search I uncover a curious 2 page "Historic American Building Survey" record made for Morris County from around the time it was still open. It states the following...

William Pitt Tavern ("Crane House" handwritten)
Owners: Alice E. and Janice R. Gibson
Date of Erection: About 1845
Materials of Construction: Foundation - Stone, Exterior walls - frame, Interior walls - plaster, paneling of a later date, Roof - pitch

Historical Data: This house was built sometime after 1842 when Lydia Crane acquired the property from Anna Bonnell. It was supposed to have been built for her by her brother. From Lydia Crane the property descended by will to Phoebe Crane. It was sold in 1891 by her executors to Julia Skinner for a consideration of $1,500. Julia Skinner gave the property in her will to Charlotte Secor. Her executors sold to the present owners in 1931. It is known locally as the Old Crane House. The name William Pitt Tavern was given by the present owners who operate a tea room there.

One last bit of curiosity... the William Pitt lead me to nifty online archive of vintage recipes! It seems in the 1950s Ford Motors published a collection of recipes selected from inns and restaurants around the country. What a way to promote the new American mode of travel! I am delighted to see other establishments from my Hines' book in this list as well and will tie those in later. If you would like to preview: click here to see the full listing.

This recipe appeared in the Ford Treasury of Favorite Recipes from Famous Eating Places published in 1950. The illustration is an original painting by Grant Reynard.

Ford Times Treasury of Favorite Recipes
This popular eating place was named for that great benefactor of the early colonies, William Pitt, Earl of Chatham. It is open every weekday except Monday, from noon until 8:00pm and Sundays from noon until 6:00pm.

#25 William Pitt's Coconut Cream Chiffon Pie

• 3/4 cup shredded coconut

• 1 tablespoon gelatin
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup scalded milk
• 2 cups heavy cream, whipped
• 1 baked pie crust

1. Sprinkle gelatin in cold water.
2. Combine egg yolks, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Add to hot milk. Cook in double boiler until mixture coats spoon.
3. Add gelatin to hot mixture; stir until dissolved. Chill until syrupy.
4. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites and 1 cup whipped cream.
5. Pour into crust-lined pan and chill.
6. Top pie with remainder of whipped cream and sprinkle with coconut.

Hotel Walt Whitman Coffee Shop

> > Demised < <
Corner of Broadway
& Cooper Street
(at the Bridge entrance)
Camden, New Jersey
Built in 1925 – active for about 50 years – demolished in the 1980s

Hines: Open all year. A popular eating place and prices are reasonable.

This is one of those situations in which I cannot find much on Hines' original destination, but through my research, I learn so much more about a city's history than I ever guessed—which is half the fun of this endeavor. Although little is recorded about the Walt Whitman Hotel Coffee Shop specifically, I was delighted to find that the Hotel, itself, had a remarkable life. I have included some links to amazing discoveries about Camden, NJ as well and many thanks to the folks who have made great efforts to maintain these archives online!

American Writer Walt Whitman essentially retired in Camden which is why so many things are named after him there (most obviously the bridge). Whitman said of the place:

"Camden was originally an accident, but I shall never be sorry I was left over in Camden. It has brought me blessed returns."

In his day (later 1880s) Camden was a quiet suburb to Philly. There he was visited by Charles Dickens, William M. Thackeray, and Oscar Wilde! The house is now a museum... more from this great South Jersey Blog.

Camden was once a prosperous & progressive city. Cambell's (soup) headquarters were founded there in 1869 as well as Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901. The last decades of Camden's decline are actually quite brief in the span of its history. Read an amazing time line of Camden!

"Several hotels operated here over the years, including Walt Whitman Hotel, where Red Skelton is said to have requested a room on the second floor, so he could lower his dog, rather than walk it."
: Paul W. Schopp, a local historian

The Walt Whitman was one of several impressive hotels serving visitors to Philly and local businesses. It was opened in 1929 in a remarkable effort to create a hotel essentially owned by the community. For many decades it hosted the clubs, parties and celebrations of the community as well as a large collection of Walt Whitman portraits. Some events recorded as many as 600 attendees.

The Walt Whitman was the scene of the city's fancier soirees, where [I] saw several friends get married. Our high school fraternity had its annual sweetheart ball there. The Walt Whitman brings back wonderful memories. It was a different time for Camden."
: Retired Judge M. Allan Vogelson, who grew up in Camden

The coffee shop that Hines visited was becoming a common feature in many hotels and department stores in the 1930s & 40s. He recorded similar listings in other major urban areas such as Newark and of course, New York City. Click on the article to read an account of the "new" addition of air conditioning. In the 1950s a hip cocktail lounge was added on the upper floor.

As the first cracks in the economic foundation of Camden appeared in the 1950s, some of the Hotel's neighboring theatres and businesses closed or moved. Still it hung on, even into the 1970s when it hosted a press conference with President Nixon & Governor Cahill. Although the W.W. Hotel was demolished in the 1980s, you can peruse this extraordinary archive of W.W. Hotel which really shows the breadth of activity during its "Golden Age."