September 12
Walking tours
Historic Railroad Place Walking Tour - 1876-2026 led by Doug Dixon at 11am and 2pm in Hopewell Borough. There is no cost, but places are limited, so registration is required For more information and to register, Click Here.
Pennington Borough Historic Architecture Tour at 2:30pm led by Jack Davis and Eric Holterman. For more information and to register, Click here
Cemetery Journeys: Understanding Local Cemeteries and Gravestones - presented by Cheryl Jackson and Bob Warznak at 4pm Many think of cemeteries as forbidden places. They are actually quiet, peaceful places and outdoor art museums full of history. Not only the history of the individuals buried there, but also the surrounding community. Cheryl Jackson will discuss how her passion grew from taking photos of cemeteries to researching, reading and sometimes writing about the places she visits. She is not a professional on the subject by any means, but shows how a simple hobby turned into something of a passion. Cheryl will explain some of the things she has learned along her cemetery journeys. One of the first books she bought on cemeteries was on art and symbolism. She will show various gravestone examples along with their meanings, both local and outside of the community. She will also show examples of some local colonial stone carver masters and of local stone cutting companies, as well as the types of stones used. She will touch on the local cemeteries here in Hopewell Township, and dig a little deeper into the Pennington Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Following this presentation, we will walk around the cemetery with Cheryl noting examples of art and symbolism and the various carvers, while Bob will discuss the history of many laid to rest there. For more information and to register, Click here.
September 13
The Radicalism of the Revolution, preceded by HVHS Annual Meeting
Location: The WC Park Museum and Visitors' Center will NOT be ready. The Meeting and talk will be held at Titusville Presbyterian Church, 48 River Drive, Titusville, NJ 08560
2pm ~ Hopewell Valley Historical Society Annual Meeting.
Program includes Welcome by the President, Financial Report, and bestowing of awards.
3pm ~ The Radicalism of the Revolution a talk given by Dr. Andrew Shankman and David Niescior.
Republic, and The World of the Revolutionary American Republic: Land, Labor, and the Conflict for a Continent as well as over 20 essays on early North American and early United States history. Dr. Shankman is President of the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic and the former editor of the Journal of the Early Republic. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on early modern England, the British Empire, and colonial North America and the United States at Rutgers University-Camden.
David Niescior is a former student of Dr. Shankman. He studied at Rutgers, University-Camden between 2008-2015, earning his BA in History and MA in American History. He has presented his work, both written and otherwise, at Historic Deerfield, for The Colonial Dames of America, the Museum of the American Revolution, and the Society of American Period Furniture Makers, among others. Mr. Niescior is a tailor by trade, an historian of early America by training, and the Senior Historian at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, NJ by profession. He has practiced the trade of 18th century tailoring since 2010, and in recent years has branched into practicing elements of carpentry, joinery, turning, shoemaking, blacksmithing, and hatting. Some of his recent projects include six suits of regimental clothing of the Royal Regiment as they may have appeared in 1760, a set of bench planes based on early originals and his shoemaking tools, including his bench. Find him on Instagram @davidthemechanick.
Andrew Shankman is a historian of early modern England, colonial North America, and the American Revolution and Early American Republic. He is the author of Original Intents: Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, and the American Founding and Crucible of American Democracy: The Struggle to Fuse Egalitarianism and Capitalism in Jeffersonian Pennsylvania, and the editor of Rethinking America: From Empire to Republic, Anglicizing America: Empire, Revolution,
Kids spend a Revolutionary Crafternoon
at Mercer County Library - Hopewell Branch
September 14 & 15
Location: Mercer County Library - Hopewell Branch
Hopewell 250 Crafternoon: Pierced Tin Craft
Monday, 4-5pm
Tuesday, 4-5pm
What did people make with tin long ago? Come find out AND get creative! Inspired by pierced tin pieces in The Hopewell Museum collection, we’ll learn a little about this historic craft and make our own pierced tin-inspired creation. Join us as we celebrate Hopewell 250 with a fun, hands-on activity! Recommended ages 3-8. This is a drop-in program.
September 17
A Walk though History on Zoom
7 -8pm Join author and journalist Natalie Pompilio on Zoom as she shares stories from her book Philadelphia: A Walk through History. Moving beyond the familiar names like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, this presentation uncovers the stories of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances - including women and enslaved Africans - who sacrificed for a more just way of life. Discover history made relatable through the compelling lives of those who lived, worked and made history in America's most dynamic city.
September 18
From Titusville to Singapore, a talk by Coral Streader
7-8pm at the Titusville Presbyterian Church
Coral Streader, a niece of Roy and Alice Bidwell, who lived at 90 River Drive during the early 20th century, is visiting from England and will speak to us about their lives. Pat Brundage, the current owner of the house will host the event to be held at the Titusville Presbyterian Church.
Roy Bidwell, a dashing young man, born and brought up in Singapore, a stone’s throw from what became the super classy Raffles hotel after his father redesigned it, regularly commuted between Singapore and America as a Salesman for Ford cars in the late 1920s and 30s. Alice Stout grew up in Titusville where her sparkly personality led her to parties and fun, even as far as the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, where Alice felt the classy types hung out. By chance the two met and fell in love. From the steamy letters that began to fly between their two countries on an almost daily basis, it was clear to see that Roy was besotted with Alice as indeed she was with him, and engagement moved into marriage pretty quickly.
And the rest , as they say, is history … including painful separation during the Second World War when Alice sailed back on one of the last boats out of Singapore back into the family home with their baby John in her arms, while Roy became an internee. And so the glitz and glamour of colonial times darkly dimmed and so did poor Roy, who made it back to Titusville six years later and lived out the rest of his life with his Alice and young John at 90 River Drive. But what about his background, his siblings and his parents, and the life they each led, in part, later crossing paths with Alice. All will be revealed at Coral's talk! No family escapes drama and scandal and nor did the Bidwells.
September 19
Hopewell Harvest Fair
10-4 Be sure to visit our booths at the Hopewell Harvest Fair ~ Hopewell Elementary School, 35 Princeton Ave. and see a special program by Asher Lurie, Exec. Director of the Hopewell Museum, who will talk about the Hunterdon County Militia in 1776. For more information, Click Here
Paper Quilling
3-4pm Join us at the Pennington Public Library, 30 North Main Street, Pennington, for a fun, creative session where you'll learn the basics of this classic technique - from rolling paper coils to shaping floral petals. Guided step-by-step, you;ll craft a beautiful, custom quilled flower magnet to display at home or give as a unique gift. All supplies will be provided, beginners are welcome, just bring your curiosity and creativity. Recommended for age 10+.
Click here to register.
Note: as of 9/2/26 this event is full, but you can register for the waitlist.
September 20
Roots of American Fiddling
4-5pm, at the Old School Baptist Meetinghouse, 46 W. Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ
Acclaimed fiddler and baroque violinist Nathan Bishop and button accordion player Rob Curto bring a fresh take on our uniquely American fiddling tradition. Nathan will play 3 instruments: Irish fiddle, the resonant Scandinavian hardanger d’amore fiddle, and classical baroque violin—all styles that influenced fiddling in Colonial America. Come hear the tunes of love and longing, determination and celebration that filled the ears and hearts of early Americans! Free and open to the public.
For more information about the Old School Baptist Meetinghouse, click here.