Happy Graduation season! Of course it’s been a bit off this year, but thanks to the diligence of the Sudlows in collecting historical materials we have an interesting comparison – the 1917 “Blue and Gold” yearbook from Hopewell High School.
The book is a delight, with fun sections including the Class Yell, Class Motto, Class Flower (Daisy), Senior Class Song, and even a collection of jokes.
And there are numerous looks into the personalities of the students, with the more formal Class Roll and Class History, plus numerous playful sections including a Class Will, Class Prophecy, Remembers[ances], Class Primer, Superlatives (strongest, sweetest, optimistic/pessimistic, “talks the most and says the least”), and Class Roast (nickname, appearance, noted for, favorite expression, hobby).
The yearbook also is illustrated, with a (very somber) class photo plus individual head-shots of the students and teachers (but unfortunately no casual shots).
The People
The High School had five teachers: Mr. Guy L. Corson (Science ), Miss Grace H. Wolfe (English, History), Miss Miriam Diefendorf (Languages), Adele B. Urbany (English, Math), and Miss E. Grace Rigg (Commercial).
The Hopewell class of 1917 had 14 students, twelve girls and two boys: Florence Allen, Ada Beney, Louie Braunworth, Anabel Cadwallader, Mary Cruser, John Oldis, Lillian Riley, Beatrice Shepherd, Wilbur Skillman, Susie Titus, Ethel Updike, Nellie Whitekettle, Permelia Williamson, and Gladys Young.
The Curricula
The yearbook also lists the class schedule and curricula. The school day ran from 9:15 to 2:55, and was broken into seven 40-minute periods, some with one block for study:
9.15-9.55, 9.55-10.35, 10.35-11.15, 11.15-11.55, [lunch], 12.55-1.35, 1.35-2.15, and 2.15-2.55.
The curricula is familiar, with a focus on English, Latin and German, History, Math (to Geometry), and Science (to Physics). And it included Drawing, both Freehand and Mechanical. But the school also had a major “Commercial” component, including classes on Typewriting, Bookkeeping, Commercial Arithmetic, and Commerce & Industry.
- Curricula (levels):
- Science – General, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography
- History (4) – Ancient, Modern European, U.S.
- English (4)
- Latin (4), German (3)
- Math – Algebra (3), Geometry, Commercial Arithmetic
- Commercial – Typewriting, Stenography (2), Bookkeeping (2), Penmanship, Commerce & Industry, Man. Training
- Drawing – Freehand, Mechanical
The Times
The class of 1917 lived through a difficult time, as World War I had been raging overseas. The United States then declared war on Germany in April 1917, the draft was enacted in May for all males aged 18 to 30 (later 45), and the first U. S. forces were arriving in Europe as the class was graduating in June.
In addition the Spanish Flu was just around the corner, spreading in the U.S. by March 1918 and killing an estimated 195,000 Americans during that October alone. The virus eventually caused at least 50 million deaths worldwide, including approximately 675,000 in the United States [CDC].
The introduction to the yearbook addresses this uncertainty of the time:
“It is with great regret that we will bid farewell to our Alma Mater to take our place in other fields. We do not know what life may have in store for us, but however high or humble a position we may hold, we will ever look back with pleasure upon the four years spent so happily within its walls.
“The conditions now confronting us are so unsettled that some of us may have to give up our personal plans and ambitions, but let us each try to do our bit for the land we love.”
School History
The High School then was located at the corner of South Greenwood and Columbia Avenues (before the building was expanded for the Fire Department).
The four-year high school course had just recently been established, and the first class graduated in 1912.
Note the High School building had three stories in 1917. It somehow was later reduced to the two stories that we are familiar with as Hopewell Borough Hall and the Fire Department. Does anyone have the story behind this?
For more on the history of public schools in Hopewell Borough, see the historical summary in the dedication pamphlet for the current Hopewell Elementary School:
More on Hopewell Valley Schools
Posts on school materials, including yearbooks, graduation programs, and plays.
- See also post on St. Michael’s Orphanage and School
Browse all School materials in the Image Album and Pamphlet Collection:
- Hopewell Schools History Posters – Hopewell Elementary School at the Harvest Fair
- Images – Hopewell Valley Schools Album – Class photos, classrooms, etc. (search by name, etc.)
- Pamphlets – Hopewell Valley Schools – Yearbooks, commencements, etc. (select by town, name, etc.)
Hopewell Valley Schools – History
- Post on Hopewell School Mascots – and the Frog – School names, mascots and logos
- Post on The Timberlane School Name – The Timberlane Drive development
- Post on Learning Your Letters – School Signs – Princeton High School (1919 / 1920)
- Post on Toll Gate and Hopewell Elementary School Centennials (2026)
Hopewell Borough Schools History – Grammar & High Schools
- Post on Hopewell Elementary School History – Hopewell Schools History posters
- Documents on Hopewell Borough Schools – Briefs and Posters
Hopewell Grammar School (Model Ave.) – 1888 – Posts & Materials
- Post on Model Ave. Grammar School Annex – Jewelry, invention, guitars, metalwork
- Post on c1912 Hopewell Grammar School Kids – Photos on Model Ave.
- Post on 1920s Hopewell Teachers – Scott & Scharring-Hausen
- Brief – Hopewell Grammar School Summary Brief (PDF)
- Brief – Hopewell Grammar School Annex Summary Brief (PDF)
Hopewell Elementary School (Princeton Ave.) – 1926 – Posts & Materials
- Post on the Hopewell Elementary School Centennial – history and additions
- Post on Hopewell Elementary School Class Plaques – 1926-1966 – Photos and names
- Post on 1941 Hopewell Elementary School Newspaper
- Post on 1952 Hopewell Elementary School – Graduation program and yearbook
- Pamphlets – 1956 Hopewell Elementary School “Hi-Lights” Newsletters
- Pamphlets – All Hopewell Elementary School Pamphlets – with yearbooks, graduation programs, newsletters
- Brief – Hopewell Elementary School Summary Brief (PDF)
Pennington Grammar School – Posts & Materials
- Post on 1950s Memories of Pennington – Mike Thomsen – Building evolution
Hopewell High School (Columbia Ave.) – 1910 – Posts & Materials
- Post on The Confusing Hopewell Firehouse – and Boro Hall and High School (1910)
- Post on 1917 Hopewell High School Yearbook – “Blue and Gold”
- Post on 1920s Hopewell High School – Commencement / Class Day books
- Post on 1924 Hopewell High School Program and Ads – Senior class play
- Post on 1927 Hopewell High School Diploma & Autograph Book
- Pamphlets – All Hopewell High School Pamphlets – with yearbooks, graduation programs, diploma
Hopewell Valley Central High School(s) (Pennington) – 1929 / 1958 – Posts & Materials
- Post on 1950s Memories of Pennington – Mike Thomsen – Buildings, school days
- Post on Central High School 1962 Practicum Report – School operations
- Post on Central High School 1961 Student Handbook – Rules & Clubs
- Post on Business Classes at Central High School, c. 1966 – Typing & bookkeeping
- Post on Central High School Class of 1966 – 2016 Reunion Scrapbook – Valley Images
- Post on Central High School Curriculum: 1962 & 1976 – Booklets
- Pamphlets – All Central High School Pamphlets – Yearbooks, graduation programs, curriculum
See also the Document Archive for additional historical school materials.
