The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-01-13
Something About the Man That Estab
iished TerradelphIa

iished Terradeiphis.
The Trenton State Ga,ctte gives the
following particulars about man who
has done wonderful work in Trenton
during the past two or three wears in
helping the poor. lie has built large
building in which he receives tramps and
poor people who have no homes or lodg-
irg places. Every one is expected To
work for what he recrives-saw wood.
nc. Food is supplied, baths furnished,
and religious meetings held every night.
Large numbers have been reformed and
converted
Thomas NJ Terradeli the man who
has started the nucleus of what promises
TO be practical scheme for helping the
needy 10 help themselves, and of re.
storing lost pride and energy To the lower
strata of humanity, was born in Yard
ley, Pa, ON August 10Th, 1862. His ia.
ther was shoemaker.
The family came 10 Trenton in 1859
and lived on Barnes street. Young Tom
was sent To school on lIigbce street. lie
remained at school about two years,
backing shoes and selling papers nights
aud mornings.
lie piled his vocation OF shining shoes
at Camp Perrine, when the soldiers were
quarlcred there. lie afterwards worked
at setting up ten pins in an alley on State
street, owned by l.. Wright, much
patronized by the soldiers.
When the Trenton Horse Railroad
Company began to operate lis line he
engaged with them as stable bow.
where he remained for some time and
afterwards went 10 the Phoenix Iron
Works to learn the trade OF mouder.
After year spent in the fcunGry OF
the Phoenix Iron Company, young Terra.
dell went TO learn the trade of presser in
a pottery. lie finished nothing and be-
gan everything al this period.
He finally found vocation TINT Ind
attractions enough to hold him. This
was when he went to work in the rail.
road shops at LamberlVille. He was
soon sent out ON the Pennington branch
ms fireman, in which capacity he re-
manned three years aud half, when he
was given on engine lie remained
seventeen years with the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company.
lie WAS finally taken i'll with malady
that kept him In its hold for two years.
1t WAS during his illness and in the
direst poverty that he bought the prop
erty at Perry and Carroll streets. He
lived at the time on East Canal street.
A subscription was taken up for him
among the engineers nj this period. lie
had to he propped up in bed 10 sigu the
papers for the transfer OF the property.
Without money he built house in the
rear and holds the place to the present
time.
Soon after he moved to his new plac,
Avenue Baptist Church. /, was durinl
the struggles with poverty at this pcriot
that he conceived the idca Il helpiul
men TO help themselves aud gradual,
evolved the scheme which he is now un
folding as rapidly AZ bis limited finance,
will permit. He says now that il the
good people OF Trenton will sustain hln
he will carry out his scheme to compile
ton. He wants no gifts, but moral aud
financial bolstering
TerrGdell is very peculiar man. lie
may be called eccentric. His whole
mind and beng is wrapped up in this
scheme Of his The strain upon him in
carrying uuaided, his venture TO its
present development has been enormous.
He speaks Of this freely. He says at one
tim e il affected his head, nt another his
kidney and Mt another the result was n
crampng OF hls muscles.
He found great relief in abslnning
from solid food, and for many weeks he
took no n0urishmcnt but milk and
cocoon, except on Sundays. when his
cares were dismissed aud he could cat
heartily He now eats sparingly OF
solids and tnkcs little besides milk cx-
cept on Sundays. He hopes some day to
get bnck TO his normal methods Of taking
nourishmcnt