Hopewell Valley History Project
Preserving Our History
What was high school life like a century ago, in the 1920s – Where was the school? How big were the classes? What courses did the students take? What was their life like? We know some information from newspapers, and from records in the History Project collection, including yearbooks and graduation and other event programs. … Continue reading Hopewell High School 1927 Diploma & Autograph Book
The video and slides from the “Hopewell 57” presentation on Oct. 9, 2024 now are available on the History Project site, along with the updated 25-page History Brief research paper on the facility and the street. This work is intended to document the history of this for this crazy-quilt of a manufacturing complex, and the … Continue reading Understanding “Hopewell 57” – Rockwell / Smith
The “Hopewell 57” complex at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Somerset Street in Hopewell Borough was first known as Smith Novelty, and then Rockwell and Kooltronic. This presentation – Smith to Rockwell to “Hopewell 57” – chronicles the saga of Hugh A. Smith, who chose Hopewell in 1901 to pursue his dream of establishing … Continue reading Smith to Rockwell to “Hopewell 57” – Presentation Video and References
What is the story of the “Hamilton 57” site on Somerset Street in Hopewell? How did it grow and evolve over the past 100 years? Here are some questions in anticipation of the upcoming presentation – with brief answers. The Building Q: What is this crazy quilt of a building? Was it designed as a … Continue reading “Hopewell 57” Historical Questions
The September 2024 updates to the History Project include T. Johnson Design metal works around Hopewell, Smith Novelty local business invoices c1910, 1932 Lindbergh scenes of Hopewell, and the 2024 Hopewell Harvest Fair. (See Site Updates for more.) By the numbers, we finished the month with 331 files in the Archives, including 168 documents and … Continue reading September 2024 Update – T. Johnson Designs, c1900 Invoices
This wonderful collection of invoices from 1910s Hopewell companies vividly show the interconnections of local businesses of the time. The customer here was the Smith Novelty Company on Somerset Street (the predecessor to Rockwell), which at the time was growing past 40 employees. These invoices also show how local companies viewed their own businesses, with … Continue reading Smith Novelty Business Invoices c1910
Jim Davidson’s Lindbergh presentation is this Thursday, September 26, 2024: “Hopewell was like a Roman Circus: Hopewell, the Sourlands and the Lindbergh Kidnapping.” Attend in person at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, or join the online virtual presentation via Zoom. The event starts at ## 8 pm ## (doors open at 7:30 pm).Click for more information … Continue reading 1932 Lindbergh Hopewell Scenes
— The 2024 Harvest Fair is Saturday, September 21 — The 36th Annual Hopewell Harvest Fair is Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 9:45 am to 4 pm, back at the Hopewell Elementary School, 35 Princeton Avenue, Hopewell, NJ. The rain date is Saturday, September 28. This volunteer community event has been providing fun and entertainment … Continue reading Hopewell Harvest Fair – 2024
T. Johnson Design has been operating in Hopewell Borough since 1994, creating custom metalwork designs that combine practical functionality with design aesthetics. They design for private and municipal clients throughout the region, but a number of their works are visible as iconic and familiar installations around Hopewell, as shown here. Some of these works are … Continue reading T. Johnson Design – Metalwork in Hopewell
The August 2024 updates to the History Project include the video of the “Hopewell 57” / Rockwell talk, a major update of property information to the Hopewell History Map, 1950s memories of Pennington, and more. (See Site Updates for more.) By the numbers, we finished the month with 331 files in the Archives, including 168 … Continue reading August 2024 Update – Rockwell, Grammar School Annex, Pennington
