In the recent post about Hopewell School Mascots, we discussed the interesting names of some of our local schools, including Toll Gate (named for the gatekeeper of the toll road) and Bear Tavern (named for a revolutionary-era drinking establishment).
But where did the “Timberlane” name came from?
Nicole Gianfredi, principal of Timberlane Middle School, kindly relayed the story of the founding of the adjacent Timberlane Drive development, and Jack Davis then researched further and connected us with Jim and Nancy Pierson, who explained their family connections to the area and the name.
Updated 2/11/23 – Correct spelling of Moorhead
Timberlane on the Map
On the map below, the current Timberlane Drive roads are to the left of Route 31, extending both above and below Pennington-Harbourton Road (Route 623) – which is the extension across Route 206 from West Franklin Avenue in Pennington. The road underneath is Pennington-Titusville Road, the extension of West Delaware Avenue after it crosses Route 206 from Pennington.
- [North] Timberlane Drive circles up above Route 623, with about 19 houses on the loop.
- South Timberlane Drive extends down below Route 623, to Pennington-Titusville Road.
The two school properties fill most of the area along South Timberlane Drive, with Timberlane Middle School to the left of the road, and Hopewell Valley Central High School to the right (before the Hopewell branch of the Mercer County Library).
The Timberlane Development
Jim and Nancy Pierson report that the Timberlane area was developed around 1954 by Ted Pierson, Jim’s father, in partnership with George Moorhead. At the time, the Timberlane name was used for this property, as separate from Pennington, which then grew into our [North] Timberlane Drive and South Timberlane Drive.
Pierson and Moorhead bought the land from Charles McGuire, Jim’s maternal grandfather, who lived on Pennington-Harbourton Road and owned the land that is now Timberlane Drive.
The photo shows Ted Pierson and George Morehead with a Timberland Development sign around 1954. The sign has two phone numbers, 560 and 86J (a party line).
Newspaper ads from 1954 in the Trenton Evening Times offered building lots in the “Timberlane” or “Timber Lane” tract – described as choice homesites near the Pennington Circle -“dogwoods, oaks, etc., afford ample old shade.” Two such lots were 100 x 400 ft. for $1750, and 125 x 230 ft. for $2100.
By October 1954, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. (Ted) Pierson had moved to their recently completed home “in Timberlane.” They lived in their house at 13 Timberlane Drive for many years. Ted later served on the township committee and was mayor of Pennington in the 1960’s.
The Timberlane development was clearly of interest to home buyers, as reports in the Trenton Evening Times showed that at least seven additional families built homes and moved into Timberlane through 1955 and early 1956. During this period, the road was variously called Timberlane Avenue or Drive.
The new houses included a “1-story frame split-level dwelling” built for $21,000 and a “1-story dwelling” built for $14,000.
A real estate ad from 1957 selling a home glowed – “Trees, trees, trees, flaming with Autumn beauty surrounded this lovely rancher, 6 rooms, 1 1/2 baths, fireplace, porch, 2 car garage. $21,500.”
The Timberlane Name
So where did the Timberlane name come from? Was it one word or two?
The Pierson family reports that the name was selected by Ginny (Virginia) Pierson, Jim’s mother. She said that it was supposed to be “Timber Lane” (in two words), but there was a mix-up in the process and it was changed to Timberlane Drive. She picked the name because the land was wooded and she liked the sound of the name.
The Timberlane name was not common in the newspapers of the day, although there was a “Timber Lane” in Levittown, Pennsylvania, that was mentioned repeatedly in the Trenton Times around 1953.
But the combined “Timberlane” name did have a stronger presence in the culture of the time, thanks to the 1945 novel by Sinclair Lewis, Cass Timberlane: A Novel of Husbands and Wives.
The name then was reinforced when the novel was used for a 1947 romantic drama film, also called Cass Timberlane, starring Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, and Zachary Scott.
So it may be that our Timberlane name in Hopewell has an unconscious influence from literature and the cinema.
Thanks to Morris Fabian on Facebook who corrected the spelling of George Moorhead.
Thanks to the folks who contributed to these explorations of school mascots and names. Please contact us if you have more information – or other Hopewell area history materials.
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.
