Hopewell Valley History Project
Preserving Our History
The December 2025 updates to the History Project were focused on the Pete Hurley story with polio, and on sleigh races in 1894 Hopewell. There also were several updates of new briefs. (See Site Updates for more.) Pete Hurley Mouth Paintings Pete Hurley was a Hopewell resident who contracted polio in 1952 and was paralyzed … Continue reading December 2025 Update – Sleigh Ride
The people of Hopewell Borough must have been going stir crazy by the last weekend of 1894, slogging through the long, cold, dark, snowy winter. And then came another “combination snow, rain and hail storm” on Thursday morning. But the “storm-king spent his fury,” and the Hopewell Herald newspaper gleefully reported that by the afternoon … Continue reading Sleigh Races in Snowy Hopewell – 1894
The November 2025 updates to the History Project were focused on the Ferrante Dress Factory, with the talk and video, presentation notes, and full History Brief report. There also was an update to the history of the Chocolate Factory building. (See Site Updates for more.) The Ferrante Dress Factory The unexpected Italianate villa that stands … Continue reading November 2025 Update – Ferrante Dress Factory
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
