The February 2026 updates to the History Project included a photos of the Blizzard of February 2003, and a local connection to the Tom Thumb Wedding phenomena. (See Site Updates for more.)
More Snow: The Blizzard of February 2003
These are scrapbook pages on the Blizzard of February 17, 2003, kindly donated by Edie and Roger Labaw, that show chilly views around their home on Columbia Avenue near Seminary Avenue.
These include scenes around the house with huge snowdrifts up to 26 inches, with the ground, buildings, and cars piled with snow.
They also show the process of digging out, and view up and down the partially-plowed Columbia Avenue.
Hopewell Elementary School Centennial
The Tom Thumb Wedding in 1941 Hopewell was a fundraiser for the Hopewell Elementary School featuring a theatrical mock marriage performed by the children, with over 100 kids taking part.
This popular tradition of Tom Thumb Weddings involved children dressed in elaborate wedding attire, performing the wedding ceremony plus a reception. It also provided the children with the experience of being part of a performance, and maybe showed them a bit about formal fashion and wedding etiquette.
The idea of a Tom Thumb Wedding stems from the 1863 wedding of ultra-diminutive 19th century actor, Charles Stratton, whose stage name was Gen. Tom Thumb. Under the management of sideshow impresario P.T. Barnum, Stratton became a national celebrity and a wealthy man.
Additional Materials
The another major addition was recent photos in the Image Gallery tracking the construction progress for the Runyon Farmstead and the Hopewell Inn.
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.
