In the Beginning
Hiltonia, a residential community of 315 homes located approximately 3 miles from downtown Trenton in the western part of the City, was created in the early 1920’s by Sam Hilton, a local developer.
The original layout of Hiltonia features stately homes, wide, tree-lined avenues, large landscaped lots, with neighborhood boundaries of a canal, Cadwalader Park, and state-owned lands. Today, the beauty of Hiltonia is in the diversity of its housing stock—from fieldstone Tudors to brick Dutch colonials, Cotswold cottages, large split levels to mid-century modern ranches, as well as attached townhouses (semis), built first as workers’ cottages to provide the funding needed to jump start the rest of the development. The diversity and quality of housing stock also allow buyers at every price point to purchase in the neighborhood.
The Association began as a men’s eating club, with many members living in the neighborhood for decades. After the 1960’s upheaval in Trenton, the Association’s membership dwindled and was later revitalized by a new group of incoming residents in the 1970’s.
The revitalized Association was founded to:
1) Protect and promote the welfare of the Association,
2) Advance civic and social interest,
3) Function on non-sectarian, non-political and non-racial principles, and
4) Provide support for worthwhile charitable, civic, and cultural projects within the City of Trenton. The Association is not a 501(c)3.
The Association holds five general meetings a year in a host home; meetings showcase an organization, person, or topic of interest to the neighborhood, followed by neighborhood business. An additional five to six social events are held throughout the year. The City’s mayor as well as state and federal representatives are frequent guests at Association meetings and parties.
Recent accomplishments
- Organized a series of debates for the council and mayoral races in partnership with Beautiful Trenton and 4 neighboring community associations. The final debate also included a debate of the highly-controversial idea to sell the outlying water infrastructure to American Water.
- The Hiltonia Association was the proud recipient of the Trenton Council of Civic Associations Civic Project of the Year for 2010.
- Worked closely with the City to have Hilvista Boulevard repaved during a year when the City’s repaving program was all but shut down due to budgetary issues.
- Replaced two decorative street signs on Stuyvesant that were vandalized.
- Launched a discussion board on Google Group to allow neighbors to openly communicate with each other.
- Worked with the City to get video cameras installed in key areas of the neighborhood to help deter illegal behaviors
- Purchased signage to inform visitors of the newly installed cameras
Membership
Membership is open to any person who owns property or resides in Hiltonia.
Membership is $15 per adult or $30 per family (up to 4 adults). Dues run from January to December. Dues can be given in check form (preferred) to Hiltonia’s current treasurer, Bill Graff, 109 Renfrew Avenue.