Paul Harris, interim director of the Trenton recreation department, recently told members of city council that he paid $1,000 for a balloon vendor.
Harris said he hired the vendor for a Halloween celebration because members of city council had fond memories of the original “Balloon Man” who sold helium filled balloons near the Parkside Ave. entrance to Cadwalader Park.
Many Trenton residents have recollections of not only Mendel (Manuel, Manny) Abramowitz who sold helium balloons with his family from the 1960s to the 1980s, but a Cadwalader Park that attracted thousands on weekends.
Abramowitz hawked balloons, small toys, and tchotchkes to the delight of children. Just for the record, if 5,000 people attended the Halloween event, 4000 or more made no connection between the balloon salesman and Abramowitz who passed away in 1983.
Abramowitz represented a special and much different time in Trenton when Cadwalader Park, 100 acres of splendor, matched the dream of its famous designer Frederick Law Olmsted whose list of accomplishments includes Central Park in New York City.
Back in the day, Cadwalader Park featured a monkey cage, bears, rides, and other attractions that brought visitors to the west Trenton gem. A paddock area located in the rear and outer loop of the park included farm animals, deer, geese, etc.
Remember the movie Cast Away where Tom Hanks gets stranded on an island for four years. He returns home and finds that life has moved on without him. No way exists for him to recapture a lost love affair.
Trenton has moved on from the Balloon Man of Cadwalader Park. For residents still holding memories of those special times — enjoy.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com.