Hopewell Valley History Project
Preserving Our History
How was the Hopewell Borough area involved the Revolutionary War? Here are six still-existing local places that connect back to 250 years ago. And yes, George Washington (and his army), indeed was here! Of course, the area was not yet called Hopewell Borough in 1776, and was not a town or even a village. This … Continue reading Hopewell Borough Sites in the Revolutionary War
The April 2026 updates to the History Project included images and information on local World War II Honor Rolls and Service Flags, and fascinating 1914 Mercer County Farm and School Photos. (See Site Updates for more.) Hopewell Valley WW II Honor Rolls Have you seen the Hopewell Borough Honor Roll and Service Flag that were … Continue reading April 2026 Update – World War II Honor Rolls / 1914 Farm and School Photos
This archive of twenty early Mercer County area farming and school photos comes from the 1914 Farm & Business Directory of Mercer and Middlesex Counties (see previous post). These wonderfully evocative photos include scenes of local schools and school children, and farm scenes with different animals and crops, ranging from horse-drawn plows to more “modern” … Continue reading 1914 Mercer County Farm and School Photos
The March 2026 updates to the History Project included historical cisterns found at the Hopewell Inn, and an amazing 1914 Hopewell Area Farms & Businesses Directory. (See Site Updates for more.) Historical Cisterns Found at the Hopewell Inn In November 2025, the construction work on the exterior of the new Hopewell Inn building was nearly … Continue reading March 2026 Update – Hopewell Inn Cisterns & 1914 Farms & Businesses Directory
The February 2026 updates to the History Project included a photos of the Blizzard of February 2003, and a local connection to the Tom Thumb Wedding phenomena. (See Site Updates for more.) More Snow: The Blizzard of February 2003 These are scrapbook pages on the Blizzard of February 17, 2003, kindly donated by Edie and … Continue reading February 2026 Update – Blizzard of 2003 / Tom Thumb Wedding
Rev. 3/7/26 – Add another local Tom Thumb wedding What kind of fundraiser can you run for elementary school kids? There’s selling candy or books, or school hats or shirts, or discount cards for local businesses, or simply holding a raffle. Instead, it really would be better to have some kind of event involving the … Continue reading Tom Thumb Wedding in 1941 Hopewell
The January 2026 updates to the History Project were focused on more late1800s Hopewell trade cards that provide new information on Hopewell businesses, and in packing up the story of the Hopewell Elementary School for this Centennial year. There were also significant additions of materials to the Image Gallery and the Pamphlet Collection. (See Site … Continue reading January 2026 Update – Trade Cards / Hopewell Elementary Centennial
Rev. 7/25 – Correct change to grades K to 5 in 1997 The Hopewell Elementary School at 35 Princeton Avenue is celebrating its centennial in 2026, one hundred years after it opened in 1926 as the Hopewell Grammar School. The Grammar School originally held classes for kindergarten through 8th grade, but has changed over the … Continue reading Hopewell Elementary School Centennial
by Douglas Dixon This document reports end of year highlights from the 2026 additions to the History Project site, with links to more information, plus associated documents, maps, photos, and videos. Thanks to assistance from many families and other contributors, major research projects this year included the Ferrante Dress Factory, 4 Mercer Street (Franco’s Pizza … Continue reading Hopewell History Project – 2025 Highlights
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
