ddixon

September 2025 Update – Hopewell Harvest Fair and Schools History Posters

30th September 20251st December 2025 by ddixon

The September 2025 updates to the History Project focused on the history of the Hopewell Harvest Fair and the Hopewell Elementary School, including poster sets for the Hopewell schools. (See Site Updates for more.) Hopewell Harvest Fair – 2025 The Hopewell Harvest Fair – 2025 was the 37th Annual, held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 … Continue reading September 2025 Update – Hopewell Harvest Fair and Schools History Posters

Hopewell Elementary School History at the Harvest Fair

19th September 20251st December 2025 by ddixon

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 … Continue reading Hopewell Elementary School History at the Harvest Fair

Hopewell Harvest Fair – 2025

17th September 2025 by ddixon

The 37th Annual Hopewell Harvest Fair is Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 9:45 am to 4 pm, at the Hopewell Elementary School, 35 Princeton Avenue, Hopewell, NJ. The rain date is Saturday, October 4. This volunteer community event has been providing fun and entertainment for Hopewell Valley families and friends since 1987. Walk the Town … Continue reading Hopewell Harvest Fair – 2025

August 2025 Update – Builders’ Guide and School Centennials

31st August 20251st December 2025 by ddixon

The August 2025 updates to the History Project included the Builders’ Guide to Hopewell Valley Construction Projects, the Toll Gate and Hopewell Elementary School Centennials, an odd Rorer Funeral Football Ladle, and additional material, especially for area schools. (See Site Updates for more.) Builders’ Guide to Hopewell Valley Construction Projects The Builders’ Guide to Hopewell … Continue reading August 2025 Update – Builders’ Guide and School Centennials

Builders’ Guide to Hopewell Valley Construction Projects – 1888-1940

30th August 202516th September 2025 by ddixon

We know the stories of some of our historical buildings – but who actually designed and built them, and to what specifications? Who designed and built St. Michael’s Orphanage and its additions, or the school buildings on South Main in Pennington, or other town halls and residences, schools and churches, banks and theaters? It turns … Continue reading Builders’ Guide to Hopewell Valley Construction Projects – 1888-1940

Rorer Funeral Football Ladle

17th August 202517th August 2025 by ddixon

So what the heck is this ladle – and why was it created? This wooden-handled ladle has a football-shaped bowl, with spouts on both sides – for ambidextrous pouring? And it’s labelled for “F. C. W. Rorer / Funeral Service” – so this cooking tool was a promotional product for Rorer’s funeral home? Rorer’s Funeral … Continue reading Rorer Funeral Football Ladle

Toll Gate and Hopewell Elementary School Centennials

3rd August 20253rd August 2025 by ddixon

We are coming up on the 100th anniversaries for two of our local schools next year – Toll Gate Grammar School and Hopewell Elementary School. Groups at both schools are making plans, so if you have ideas and historic materials to share, please do get in touch. As a start towards celebrating the centennial of … Continue reading Toll Gate and Hopewell Elementary School Centennials

July 2025 Update – New Old Views & 1941 School Newspaper

31st July 202510th August 2025 by ddixon

The July 2025 updates to the History Project included a new postcard views of Hopewell sights, a 1941 Hopewell Elementary School newspaper, and additional Hopewell photographs. (See Site Updates for more.) New Old Views: Hart Monument, Ralston Castle, National Bank A newly-discovered collection of historical postcards provides better views into some of familiar Hopewell Borough … Continue reading July 2025 Update – New Old Views & 1941 School Newspaper

1941 Hopewell Elementary School Newspaper

21st July 2025 by ddixon

For another glimpse of long-gone school days, this is the April 1941 issue of the Hopewell Elementary School student paper, The Keyhole, kindly shared by the Kolbert family (see earlier post). It is fourteen typewritten pages with illustrations by Eleanora McAlinden, including news for what each grade was doing, personal updates on some of the … Continue reading 1941 Hopewell Elementary School Newspaper

New Old Views: Hart Monument, Ralston Castle, National Bank

5th July 20255th July 2025 by ddixon

We are lucky in the Hopewell Valley to have a good selection of postcards that show historical scenes around the area. Here are three examples of newly-discovered postcards that provide even better views into some of these scenes. Many of our local historical postcards were sold through the town drug stores, including cards identified as … Continue reading New Old Views: Hart Monument, Ralston Castle, National Bank