Next year is the 100th anniversary of the Hopewell Elementary School (HES), which was first opened in 1926. As part of the celebration of the upcoming centennial, the Elementary School will be at the Hopewell Harvest Fair this Saturday, September 20, 2025, sharing historic photos and artifacts and hosting tours of the building.
The Hopewell Elementary tent will be by the Auditorium and Cafeteria entrances to the school, behind the Info and First Aid booths (facing the Food & Drink row).
Stop by for a building tour between 11 am to 3 pm, to see the current layout and use of the building and displays of artifacts and photos of its use over the years.
And explore the poster sets with historic photos that illustrate the progression of school buildings in Hopewell Borough during the 1800s and 1900s, including the four grammar schools and the original high school.
Hopewell Elementary School History Posters
Hopewell Elementary School, originally called the Hopewell Grammar School, opened in 1926 on Princeton Avenue in Hopewell Borough. It replaced the previous Grammar School on Model Avenue. The original building fronts on Princeton Avenue, and was later expanded with a 1968 classroom addition along Prospect Street, and a larger 1997 addition along the south side that includes the cafeteria and gymnasium.
- View the Hopewell Elementary School History poster as part of the Hopewell Borough Schools History poster set (PDF)
The Hopewell Elementary School Class Plaques poster describes and illustrates the wooden class plaques that hang along the front corridor at the school, listing the names of the members of each graduating class from 1926 to 1966 (see Hopewell Elementary School Class Plaques – 1926-1966).
- View the Hopewell Elementary School Class Plaques poster as part of the full Hopewell Borough Schools History poster set (PDF)
The set of three Hopewell Elementary School Additions posters illustrate the expansion of the school building, including aerials of the two additions to the building.
- View the Hopewell Elementary School Additions posters (PDF)
Hopewell Schools History Posters
The Hopewell Borough Schools Timeline poster shows a timeline of the schools of Hopewell Borough in the 1800s and 1900s. The top row are the four Hopewell grammar (elementary) schools, from a stone schoolhouse in the Old School Baptist graveyard (now gone) to the current Elementary School. The middle of the bottom row has the Hopewell High School (now the firehouse), plus two private schools, the Female Seminary and the grammar school at St. Michael’s Orphanage (also gone).
There also were two earlier church-associated schools in the 1700s not covered here, the Hopewell Baptist Academy (later the Runyon property) and an early schoolhouse on Van Dyke Road near out Lambertville-Hopewell Road (Route 518)
- View the Hopewell Borough Schools Timeline poster (PDF)
The set of five Hopewell Borough Public Schools History posters provide one-page summaries of the five Hopewell public schools, with chronologies of major changes and photos of different phases on the expansion of the schools.
- View the Hopewell Borough Public Schools History posters (PDF)
The complimentary set of four Hopewell Borough Public School Buildings posters feature historic photos of the four public schools still standing in Hopewell.
- View the Hopewell Borough Public School Buildings posters (PDF)
Hopewell Borough Schools History Posters
- Hopewell Borough Schools Timeline poster (PDF) – Schools from the 1800s
- Hopewell Borough Schools History posters (PDF) – Histories for 5 schools
- Hopewell Borough Public School Buildings posters (PDF) – Building photos
Hopewell Elementary School History Posters
- See associated Schools History and School Buildings posters above
- Hopewell Elementary School Additions poster (PDF) – Aerials of the additions
- Hopewell Elementary School Class Plaques poster (PDF) – Class plaques, 1926-1966
For more on local history, also visit the Hopewell Museum and the Hopewell Valley Historical Society booths.
Please contact us if you have photos, videos, other materials from Hopewell schools that we can share.
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.
More on the Hopewell Harvest Fair
Harvest Fair History
- Hopewell Harvest Fair 2025 – Harvest Fair 2024
- Harvest Fair Wooden Car Derby – 1983 – 2006
- The Game of Hopewell from the 1985 Hopewell Community Day
- 1939 Hopewell Carnival and Hopewell Fairs and Carnivals
Pamphlets
- Harvest Fair Almanacs and Community Day brochures – from 1981
- Pamphlets – Harvest Fair Almanacs in the Pamphlet Collection
Media
- Hopewell Harvest Fair – Photos
- Images – Harvest Fair album (and Community Day) in the Image Gallery
- Images – Wooden Car Derby album in the Image Gallery
