Hopewell Valley History Project
Preserving Our History
The October 2025 updates to the History Project included the history of Hopewell Valley funeral homes, and several mystery photos. (See Site Updates for more.) Hopewell Valley Funeral Homes 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 … Continue reading October 2025 Update – Funeral Homes and Mystery Photos
Here are three “mystery” photos – We know generally what they are but not specifics of the dates or people or the event that the photo is depicting. These include a Hopewell Baseball team, probably from the 1940s, a group photo at the Hopewell Fire Department, perhaps 1940s, and the Hopewell Fire Department Carnival, also … Continue reading Mystery Photos – Baseball, Fire, Carnival
Undertakers and funeral homes may not be an exciting topic, but historically they were deeply intertwined in daily lives of the people of Hopewell Valley. We seek closure from death, from a gathering of family, friends, and the community to morn, remember, memorialize, and even celebrate the life of the departed. And we need help … Continue reading Hopewell Valley Funeral Homes
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
