The October 2024 updates to the History Project include the presentation video on Smith / Rockwell / “Hopewell 57” plus a Q&A and additional materials, new photos of the Tomato Factory, and mementos of Hopewell High School in 1927. (See Site Updates for more.)
By the numbers, we finished the month with 332 files in the Archives, including 169 documents and 163 maps and aerials. The Image Gallery now has 4289 files, and the Panoramas Collection has 50 images. The Pamphlet Collection has 326 documents, and the Property Reports Collection has 101 documents. The interactive History Map includes 775 addresses with 103 historic places in Hopewell Borough. The History Project YouTube Channel is hosting 34 videos, plus 22 external local history videos, including 9 videos of History Project presentations. Please keep the materials coming!
Smith to Rockwell to “Hopewell 57” – Presentation Video
The presentation video for Smith to Rockwell to “Hopewell 57” is available, along with the slides and references.
The talk chronicles the saga of Hugh A. Smith, who chose Hopewell in 1901 to pursue his dream of establishing a manufacturing business. It then traces the evolution of the small Smith company into Rockwell, and the associated development of the company and the associated building complex along Hamilton Avenue and Somerset Street.
“Hopewell 57” Historical Questions
Here are some questions and answers on the “Hopewell 57” / Rockwell / Smith site on Somerset Street in Hopewell, so accompany the presentation video and materials.
These discuss the growth and evolution of the site over the past 100 years, including the crazy quilt of a building, why Somerset Street is empty, the origins of the site, the “Rockwell” name, and why the business was started in Hopewell and on Somerset Street.
Understanding “Hopewell 57” – Rockwell / Smith
Local contributors have kindly responded with additional photos and information to help understand the “Hopewell 57” / Rockwell / Smith manufacturing complex on Somerset Street.
Among other images and materials, we have 1960 construction photos that that help understand how these buildings were built. And we have family photos showing the people who helped create and run the business that provided for 75 years of good local jobs.
The Hopewell Tomato Factory – Then & Now
We have some wonderful photos of the Hopewell Tomato Factory when it was in operation around 1900 kindly contributed by Joan Bratsko.
These include playful playful ladies on the side loading platform of the building, surrounded by boxes of tomatoes, and a wider view of the whole building, with crates of tomatoes stacked along the length of the building.
Hopewell High School 1927 Diploma & Autograph Book
These two new documents provide a personal view of high school life a century ago, in the 1920s. These are the diploma and autograph book of Edna Moore, who graduated in 1927 from Hopewell Township High School (then in Hopewell Borough). These were kindly shared by her son, Rich Anderson.
The diploma provides a full list of her courses, including the unexplained “P.A.D.” The only viable “P” and “D” course names from this period seem to have been Penmanship, Physics, and Drawing?
Please contact us if you have – or know of – other images and materials that we can share to help illuminate the history of our Hopewell Valley.
