by Douglas Dixon
This document reports end of year highlights from the 2026 additions to the History Project site, with links to more information, plus associated documents, maps, photos, and videos.
Thanks to assistance from many families and other contributors, major research projects this year included the Ferrante Dress Factory, 4 Mercer Street (Franco’s Pizza & Eagle Bakery), 18 Lafayette / Pete Hurley, and Hopewell Valley Funeral Homes. Another major focus was on documenting the histories of Hopewell Schools, and particularly the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Hopewell Elementary School. This work resulted in associated talks, History Brief reports, and archived documents and photos.
The purpose of the Hopewell Valley History Project is to help preserve local history by assembling an archive of reference material, freely shared online in digital and searchable formats for education and research.
Now into its sixth year since the beginning of the project in August 2019, the History Project has continued to grow with the ongoing support of some 150 individual contributors. Over the past year, we processed some 286 new collections of material and added 46 new blog posts on local history.
As of the end of 2024, the History Project hosted over 880 documents and maps, and 4720 images and videos, for a total of 5600 files available on the site, after the addition of 220 files over the past year.
Contents
- Local History Presentations – Ferrante Dress Factory
- Hopewell History Briefs – Ferrante Dress Factory, 4 Mercer Street (Franco’s Pizza & Eagle Bakery), 18 Lafayette / Pete Hurley, Hopewell Valley Funeral Homes / 10 Front St.
- Hopewell Schools – Central High School (Report, Handbook, Curriculum, Classroom Photos), Toll Gate and Hopewell Elementary School Centennials, Hopewell Schools History Posters, 1920s Hopewell Teachers, Hopewell Elementary School Class of 1956, 1941 Hopewell Elementary School Newspaper
- Local Features – 1894 Sleigh Races in Snowy Hopewell, 1916 Baby Book, Building World War II Bombers at Trenton Mercer Airport
- Archives and Pamphlets – Hopewell Valley Booklets, Pennington History, Hopewell House Construction in 1938, 1897 Railroad Timetable
- Image Gallery – Hopewell Schools Photo Album, Hopewell National Bank Checks, 1937-38 & c.1935 Hopewell Fire Dept. Carnivals, 2006 Downtown Pennington Photos
- YouTube Video Channel – Local Train Videos
Local History Presentations
The local history presentation in 2025 resulted from researching the The Ferrante Dress Factory building and business in the Sourland Mountains north of Hopewell Borough. Follow the links for the presentation videos, slides, and references, plus associated Briefs and other posts.
Eleven videos of History Project presentations are now available on the History Project YouTube channel.
- See History Project Events for previous presentations, walking tours, and other events
- See Hopewell Borough History Briefs for the full list of History Brief research reports, with links to associated presentation videos
- See also the External Project Presentations, with two videos from the Hopewell Museum based on History Project research (Chocolate Factory and Tomato Factory)
The Ferrante Dress Factory
The unexpected Italianate villa that stands alone in a field on Wertsville Road in the Sourland Mountains above Hopewell Borough turns out to be associated with the The Ferrante Dress Factory, that operated in Hopewell from 1934 to 1957.
The associated talk (available on video) tells a quintessential early 20th century Hopewell story: a young family – first-generation Italian immigrants – who came to Hopewell from the Bronx in the early 1930s, seeking both a good home for their family and a supportive environment for their entrepreneurial spirit. The talk also explores the larger social and business context for this small company, including the evolution of women’s dresses, the process of manufacturing dresses, and the impact of world events and government regulation.
== Read the full Ferrante Dress Factory History Brief (PDF) ==
Hopewell History Briefs
The archive of local historical materials at the History Project has been particularly helpful in researching a series of Hopewell History Brief research reports that provide historical information and chronologies on Hopewell Borough organizations, businesses, and properties – and the people that made them.
These reports draw on the materials on this site, plus other sources including newspaper archives, deeds, and census records, plus information from local contributors. The History Project site finished the year some 66 History Briefs, now also including Summery briefs with key names and chronologies.
See also the Hopewell Borough History Briefs, 2022 Edition, a single download that assembles the research work on the History Project as of the end of 2022, including 40 History Briefs, with additional maps, summaries of the collections, and references.
- See the list of Hopewell History Briefs, and associated presentation videos
The Ferrante Dress Factory
As discussed above, the The Ferrante Dress Factory History Brief was the basis for a local history presentation, also available on the History Project YouTube channel.
4 Mercer Street / Franco’s Pizza and Eagle Bakery
Franco’s / Vincenzo’s Pizza, and the earlier Eagle Bakery at 4 Mercer Street in Hopewell occupied a nondescript but rather interesting building that is built completely over a stream.
The property’s history goes back to 1881, with the construction of J. H. Piggott’s Agricultural Implement business. That original building collapsed into the stream in 1895, but quickly was replaced by the current building with a similar size and look. In the early 1900s, building was occupied by a variety of businesses, also with two to three adjacent smaller buildings.
The next major occupant was Ludwig (“Louie”) Gerhard’s Eagle Bakery, from the 1930s until 1970. Franco’s / Vincenzo’s Pizza then occupied the right side of the building from 1974 to 2020, operated by Francesco (Franco) Lettieri. The building was damaged in 2021 by hurricanes Henri and then Ida, and is now vacant.
== View the full History Brief on 4 Mercer St. – Piggott Agricultural / Eagle Bakery / Franco’s Pizza (PDF) ==
18 Lafayette / Pete Hurley Mouth Paintings
Pete Hurley was a Hopewell resident who contracted polio in 1952 and was paralyzed below his neck.
The community of Hopewell responded deeply to help support the family, and Pete was able to accommodate amazingly to his situation, including creating paintings done using a mouthstick.
== Read the full Pete Hurley Hopewell History Brief (PDF) ==
Hopewell Valley Funeral Homes / 10 Front St.
The Hopewell Valley Funeral Homes report summarizes the funeral directors and funeral homes that operated in Pennington, Hopewell, and Titusville from the late 1800s into the present.
A second report focuses on the funeral homes that operated at 10 Front St. in Hopewell Borough, starting with Israel G. Howell in c1888, Lorraine F. Blackwell, Francis C. W. Rorer, and finally Thurland B. Farr into the 1970s.
- History Brief – Hopewell Valley Funeral Home Businesses – Summary (PDF)
- History Brief – 10 Front St. Funeral Homes (c1893) – Summary (PDF)
History Briefs & Summaries
The year also saw the publication of several new Hopewell History Brief research reports wrapping up ongoing topics, including the St. Michael’s Orphanage:
These also included Summary Briefs with key dates, events, and people:
- 11 Hopewell History Brief Property Summaries: Hopewell Presbyterian around East Broad & Louellen, Hopewell Public Schools, Hopewell Public Library
== Browse the Full list of Hopewell History Brief Reports ==
== Browse the list of Hopewell History Property Summaries (by address) ==
Hopewell Schools
A major focus during 2025 was on preserving and documenting Hopewell Schools, with the ongoing help of a variety of contributors, and anticipating the upcoming centennials of Toll Gate and Hopewell Elementary School. These include a detailed report on the Central High School, associated materials including the Handbook and Curriculum, plus photos shot in the business classrooms. Hopewell Elementary School materials included History Posters of all the Hopewell Schools, research on 1920s teachers, yearbooks, school newspapers, and class photos.
Central High School 1962 Practicum Report
This astounding 70-page Central High School 1962 Practicum Report was prepared by Edith Kostron Labaw as part of the education major in the 1960s at Rider College. In addition to observations from attending school activities and individual business classes, the report also includes an array of official school documents for tracking and guiding students,, as well as the various forms and paperwork that keep a school operating.
Central High School 1961 Student Handbook
This 1961-62 Student Handbook for the Central High School includes school Rules and Regulations, descriptions of the 40-some school Clubs and Activities, and school events. It concludes with a section with school cheers, song, and pledge.
Central High School Curriculum: 1962 vs. 1976
Two books Curriculum books on the Central High School Curriculum: 1962 & 1976 show dramatic changes from the early 60’s to the mid 70’s. As the class size almost doubled from 650 to 1240, the number of Standard Electives for grade 12 grew from 38 to over 130. The number of students continuing to post-secondary education increased from 55% to 66%, and the number of different colleges that students were attending expanded from 66 to 256.
Business Classes at Central High School, c. 1966
This new collection has over 10 photos of business classes held at Hopewell Central High School from 1964 through 1971, thanks to Edith Kostron Labaw. These show two classrooms for business classes: a typing classroom with manual typewriters at each desk, and a bookkeeping classroom with a large collection of pull-down posters and other teaching materials.
Toll Gate and Hopewell Elementary School Centennials
We are coming up on the 100th anniversaries for two of our local schools next year. This Toll Gate and Hopewell Elementary School Centennials post summarizes the histories of the two schools, with links to more information.
Hopewell Elementary School History at the Harvest Fair
2026 is the 100th anniversary of the Hopewell Elementary School , which was first opened in 1926. The History Project has a complete collection of the Harvest Fair Almanacs from 1987 to 2024 (with 2025 to come), plus some pamphlets from the earlier Community Day in the 1980s.
Hopewell Schools History Posters
Part of celebrating the Hopewell Elementary School History at the Harvest Fair was the display of five poster sets with historic photos that illustrate the progression of schools in Hopewell Borough during the 1800s and 1900s, including the four grammar schools and the original high school.
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
1920s Hopewell Teachers – Scott & Scharring-Hausen
This 1920s photo of two Hopewell Grammar School teachers was contributed by Rich Anderson. It is annotated as “Mrs. Scharringhausen & Miss Scott.” Miss Scott not only was a long-time teacher, but was the principal of the Hopewell Grammar School for over a quarter century. Mrs. Scharring-Hausen and her husband were contributors to Hopewell Valley agriculture – and literature – for half a century.
Hopewell Elementary School Class of 1956
Materials from the Hopewell Elementary School Class of 1956, contributed by Rich Anderson, include the 1956 Hopewell Elementary “The Graduate” Yearbook, and two 1956 issues of Hopewell Hi-Lights school newsletter. There also are three photos of the class, annotated with the names of many of the students.
1941 Hopewell Elementary School Newspaper
This April 1941 issue of the Hopewell Elementary School student paper, The Keyhole, is fourteen typewritten pages with illustrations. It includes news for what each grade was doing, personal updates on some of the students, student writing and poetry, plus “Sense and Nonsense” with some profound and some not-so-deep thoughts, and lots of favorite jokes and riddles.
Local Features
In addition to the History Briefs and the focus on schools, the History Project also featured several other views into lives of the past, including the town turning out in 1894 for a weekend horse-and-sleigh races on snow-covered Broad Street, a 1916 baby book with details on daily life with a newborn, and the 1940s revamping of the General Motors automotive parts plant in Ewing / West Trenton into manufacturing Torpedo Bombers.
1894 Sleigh Races in Snowy Hopewell
In the midst of a long, cold, dark, snowy winter, the people of Hopewell held four days of sleigh races along Broad Street, with participants including prominent local doctors, barbers, and farmers. The excitement culminated on New Year’s Day with a judged event enjoyed by “fully 600 spectators many of which were ladies.”
== Full Newspaper Article: Broad Street Sleigh Races in Snowy Hopewell (1894) (PDF) ==
1916 Lou Etta Laning Baby Book
This charming Hopewell baby book from 1916 records the mother’s description and thoughts on the early years of her first child, including copious photographs. It provides views of how and where babies were born, first milestones in their development, how and what they were fed, and childhood ailments and how treatments.
1940s Building World War II Bombers at Trenton Mercer Airport
As the United States geared up to enter World War II after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the General Motors automotive parts plant in Ewing / West Trenton was converted into manufacturing Grumman Avenger Torpedo Bombers for the Navy. The result was an enlarged plant, and the construction of what is now the Trenton–Mercer Airport for testing the airplanes. The plant also needed workers, ramping up to over 12,000 people in 1944. The plant operated full time, around the clock and seven days a week, working ten-hour shifts to meet the production demand.
History Project Archives
The History Project Document Archives contains includes historic books and documents mainly from the mid 1800’s and early 1900’s plus other published materials, including History Briefs.
The Map Archives includes historic maps, municipal maps, and aerial images. The collection includes pages on all known key publicly available maps of the Hopewell Valley and its towns. Also see the Panoramas Collection to pan/zoom in historic and more recent aerial images, plus panoramas from drones and other ground-level panoramas.
The Pamphlet Collection contains leaflets and pamphlets distributed by local municipalities and organizations within the last 40-some years (e.g., “ephemera”).
The Property Reports are research reports organized by town and street address. These include Cultural Resource Survey documentation, and History Briefs from the History Project.
The History Project site finished 2024 with over 880 documents and maps, with 100 added during the year.
Hopewell Valley Booklets
Three additional League of Women Voters booklets were added to the Pamphlet Collection covering Hopewell Valley from the 1950s 1990s:
- 1953 Mercer County Government (PDF)
- 1963 Hopewell Valley introduction (PDF)
- 1991 Know Your Schools: Hopewell Valley (PDF)
Pennington History
New historical Pennington booklets in the Pamphlet Collection include:
- 1940 Pennington 50th – “Pennington Presents her Past and Present”
- 1957 Pennington Grammar School Graduation – 8th grade
- 1957 Pennington Grammar School Yearbook – “Blue and Gold”
- 1999 Pennington House Tour – “A stroll along North Main”
- 2024 Pennington Methodist 250th – “An Historic Sketch”
Hopewell House Construction in 1938
This 1938 construction contract and associated specifications for the house at 5 North Lanning Avenue in Hopewell Borough was contributed by the Van Dyke family. The house was based on a Sears catalog design, but was customized and constructed locally. The materials include the one-page typed contract for $5850, a second typed page of extras, and seven handwritten pages of specifications detailing the components used for the job.
1897 Railroad Timetable
A Reading Railroad 1897 New York & Philadelphia New Line timetable from Harry Abendroth is now part of the set of Railroad timetables in the Pamphlet Collection. This shows the service only two decades after it was begun in 1876, running over the still-operating local Pennington and Hopewell rail lines.
Image Gallery
The History Project Image Gallery is organized into albums of images for local towns (organized by street address), plus local places and events (e.g., Memorial Day, Harvest Fair, Railroads), Mementos of local places and businesses, and Artwork and Photography collections. There are also several historical Slide Shows.
The History Project site finished 2025 with some 4640 images, including photos, postcards, and panoramas, with 120 files added during the year.
Hopewell Schools Photo Album
A new Hopewell Valley Schools and Students album in the Image Gallery includes class photos and school scenes from the Hopewell Grammar School (Model Ave.) from 1906, Hopewell Elementary School (Princeton Ave.) from 1926, Pennington Grammar School from 1957, and Central High School from 1959. The class photos and file names are annotated with the names of the students and teachers as available.
Hopewell National Bank Checks
Several 1900s Hopewell Bank Checks contributed by Rich Anderson include two 1886 checks drawn on the First National Bank of Trenton and a 1900 check for The Hopewell National Bank.
These are simple printed pieces of paper, cancelled with a “stamp cut,” a visible cut that marks the check as processed and no longer valid. The 1900 check also has an attached IRS revenue stamp.
1937-38 Hopewell Fire Dept. Carnivals
Before the Hopewell Harvest Fair (since 1987), there was Community Day (1970s-80s), the American Legion Carnival (1960s-70s), and the Hopewell Fire Department Carnival that ran from 1911 to 1953.
This is a second image of the Fire Department Carnivals in the late 1930s: the 1937-38 Rainbow Carnival, with the raised dance floor and large tent behind.
c.1935 Mystery Fire Department Carnival
Another “mystery” Fire Carnival photo shows the carnival in the early evening, with the lighting on and people actively on the grounds.
There are no known newspaper references to such a carnival. However, since we have views of 1937/1938 and 1939, and World War II started in 1939 and did interrupt the carnivals, we can guess this carnival was earlier, around 1935.
2006 Downtown Pennington Photos
This collection of views of downtown Pennington from 2006, along North Main Street around Delaware Avenue, was shared by Tim Geoghan. Some perennial businesses still around include Vito’s Pizza, Pennington Apothecary, Agabiti’s Cobbler, Village Salon, and Blackwell Memorial Home. Other stores now gone include Sun National Bank, Pennington Hardware, and the Cup of Joe café.
YouTube Video Channel
The History Project YouTube Channel was added in 2022, and finished 2025 with 34 hosted videos plus 28 external videos of local interest. The channel features History Project presentations, contributed videos from back to the 1940s, and current-day videos including Hopewell Inn tours and demolition.
Local Train Videos
Three 2017 video clips posted by Shane Scanlon Blische show train traffic in the local area were added to the Railroad Videos:
- One of the last Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailley circus train at Hopewell, N.J.
- CSX local passing historic Hopewell, N.J. passenger station
- CSX freight at Pennington, N.J.
It’s been another busy year for the site, which has been operating since August 2019. Thanks again to the contributors who have provided information and materials to help illuminate the history of our Hopewell Valley. Please do contact us if you have – or know of – other images and materials that we can share, to preserve this history before they are lost.
History Project Yearly Highlights
Yearly highlights for the History Project, including presentations (and videos), Hopewell History Brief research reports, the Document Archives, and Pamphlet Collection, and Property Reports Collection, the Map Archives and Panoramic Aerials, the Image Gallery and Panoramas Collection, the YouTube Video Channel, and the Hopewell Valley History Map.
List of key History Project Presentations (marked by “#”), History Briefs, and other major focuses:
- 2025 Highlights – #Ferrante Dress Factory, Pete Hurley, Hopewell Schools
- 2024 Highlights – #St. Michaels Orphanage, #Smith / Rockwell / “Hopewell 57”
- 2023 Highlights – #Hopewell Inn, #Hopewell Quarry, 2022 Edition Book
- 2022 Highlights – #History Online: Seminary Ave., #Growth of Hopewell, #Hoproco Toys, Pennington Profile book
- 2021 Highlights – #Industrial Railroad Place, #Train Stations, Chocolate Factory, Tomato Factory, Chubby’s
- 2020 Highlights – #Using the History Project, History Map, Panoramic Aerials, History Briefs, Pamphlet Collection
- 2019 Highlights – #History Project, Site, Blog, Image Gallery, Facebook
For more details, see the full list of History Project Site Updates.
History Project Yearly Highlights
Yearly highlights for the History Project, including presentations (and videos), Hopewell History Brief research reports, the Document Archives, and Pamphlet Collection, and Property Reports Collection, the Map Archives and Panoramic Aerials, the Image Gallery and Panoramas Collection, the YouTube Video Channel, and the Hopewell Valley History Map.
List of key History Project Presentations (marked by “#”), History Briefs, and other major focuses:
- 2025 Highlights – #Ferrante Dress Factory, Pete Hurley, Hopewell Schools
- 2024 Highlights – #St. Michaels Orphanage, #Smith / Rockwell / “Hopewell 57”
- 2023 Highlights – #Hopewell Inn, #Hopewell Quarry, 2022 Edition Book
- 2022 Highlights – #History Online: Seminary Ave., #Growth of Hopewell, #Hoproco Toys, Pennington Profile book
- 2021 Highlights – #Industrial Railroad Place, #Train Stations, Chocolate Factory, Tomato Factory, Chubby’s
- 2020 Highlights – #Using the History Project, History Map, Panoramic Aerials, History Briefs, Pamphlet Collection
- 2019 Highlights – #History Project, Site, Blog, Image Gallery, Facebook
For more details, see the full list of History Project Site Updates.
