Hopewell Valley History Project
Preserving Our History
The Calvary Baptist Church of Hopewell has been located at the center of town since 1872, through several redesigns of the facade and multiple additions, as shown below. The church continues to serve the community in quiet ways. It has hosted a live outdoor Living Nativity scene for the Christmas season since 1957. It opens … Continue reading The Calvary Baptist Church of Hopewell
The October 2026 updates to the History Project included Old School Baptist Meetinghouse, Hopewell Trolley Questions, and World War II Rationing in Hopewell. (See Site Updates for more.) Hopewell’s Historic Old School Baptist Meetinghouse Hopewell Borough is blessed to have the historic Old School Baptist Meetinghouse, including the incredibly well-preserved church and associated cemetery with … Continue reading October 2026 Update
Hopewell Borough is blessed to have the historic Old School Baptist Meetinghouse, including the incredibly well-preserved church and associated cemetery with memorials back before the Revolutionary War. The Meetinghouse was recently recognized by being listed in the National Register of Historic Places The current building at 46 West Broad Street was built in 1822, replacing … Continue reading Hopewell’s Historic Old School Baptist Meetinghouse
This front page from the Hopewell Herald in May 1942 features four articles that demonstrate the growing impact of World War II rationing regulations on hometown life in in the Hopewell Valley . The first article, “Housewives In School For Sugar,” discusses the implementation of rationing for essential foods, managed through the distribution of ration … Continue reading World War II Rationing in Hopewell
Yes, Hopewell Borough and Pennington Borough actually had trolley service – from the early 1900s through the 1920s. We know quite a bit about the local trolley companies and services, and now have posted 25-some images of trolley cars and tracks. However, we still have some lingering confusions, especially understanding where the trolley tracks ended … Continue reading Hopewell Trolley Questions
The September 2026 updates to the History Project included Local History at the Hopewell Harvest Fair and the Industrial Legacy of Historical Railroad Place. (See Site Updates for more.) Local History at the Hopewell Harvest Fair The 38th Annual Hopewell Harvest Fair was held in September 2026. This volunteer community event has been providing fun … Continue reading September 2026 Update
The 38th Annual Hopewell Harvest Fair is Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 9:45 am to 4 pm, on the grounds of the Hopewell Elementary School, 35 Princeton Avenue, Hopewell, NJ. The rain date is Saturday, October 3. This volunteer community event has been providing fun and entertainment for Hopewell Valley families and friends since 1987. … Continue reading Hopewell Harvest Fair – 2026 – Local History
= Historic Railroad Place Walking Tour =Sat., Sept. 12, 2026 – 11 am and 2 pmRegistration Required – Space is Limited – Register Here The buildings on Railroad Place in Hopewell Borough are the physical legacy of the town’s industrial past. The arrival of the railroad in 1876 drove the industrial development of this area … Continue reading Historical Railroad Place – Industrial Legacy
The August 2026 updates to the History Project included photos of the 2000 Hopewell Borough Memorial Day Parade, Hopewell and Pennington historic blankets, and the Railroad Place Historic Walking Tour. (See Site Updates for more.) Hopewell Borough Y2K Memorial Day Parade Photos This is a collection of Hopewell Borough Y2K Memorial Day Parade Photos, down … Continue reading August 2026 Update
Here’s a look back at the turn of the century, the infamous Y2K. This is a fun collection of 34 photos of the 2000 Hopewell Borough Memorial Day Parade. These are part of the Kianka collection of Memorial Day photos, kindly donated by Doug Robbins. Joe Kianka was a World War II Navy veteran, and … Continue reading Hopewell Borough Y2K Memorial Day Parade Photos
