2024 Programs
Oct. 9, 2024
Sept. 26, 2024
Sept. 21, 2024
May 18 - 27, 2024
May 24, 2024
May 22, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 8, 2024
April 10, 2024
March 24, 2024
Feb. 5, 2024
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​Sept. 21, 2024
May 18, 2024
Smith to Rockwell to "Hopewell 57" - Doug Dixon​​
Hopewell was like a Roman Circus - Lindbergh Kidnapping - Jim Davidson
HVHS Annual Meeting - Program: Dendrochonology Demystified
A River Runs By It: How Hopewell’s geography influenced the American Revolution - Larry Kidder - VIDEO
Foursquares: An iconic American house of early 20th century Hopewell - Ian Burrow - VIDEO
HVHS Spring Social - Hopewell Valley Golf Club
St. Michael's Orphanage: A Visual History - Doug Dixon - VIDEO
The European Settlement of "Old Hopewell"​ - Joe Klett - CANCELLED
The Ghost Railroad of Hopewell Valley - Bob Lawless - VIDEO
African Americans of Central New Jersey - ​Elaine Buck & Beverly Mills
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Other News & Events
Hopewell Harvest Fair
Pennington Day
Hopewell was like a Roman Circus: Hopewell, the Sourlands and the Lindbergh Kidnapping
- Presented by Jim Davidson
​Jim Davidson will share his stories of the Lindbergh kidnapping along with a presentation of many never before seen pictures of of those whirlwind weeks in Hopewell and the Sourlands.
When the Lindbergh baby was kidnapped on March 1, 1932. Hopewell became the center of the universe. Reporters from all over the world, along with their photographers descended on Hopewell hoping to get a story. Gebhart's Hotel on West Broad - pictured above- became reporters' center of activity, staying open 24 hours a day. Broadcasting and telegraph hookups were set up all over town.
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As the police searched the Sourlands for clues, so did reporters, often finding clues that were never followed up. This went on for ten weeks until the baby's body was found on Carter Road just outside of town.
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About the speaker: Jim Davidson is a renowned speaker about the Lindbergh case, and author of three books on the subject. A former Hunterdon resident and history teacher, he served as the president of the East Amwell Historical Society and as a member of the township’s Preservation Committee.
Co-sponsored by the Hopewell Public Library, Hopewell Valley Historical Society and The Hopewell Museum
Smith to Rockwell to "Hopewell 57" - A Hopewell Story - presented by Doug Dixon
What is "Hopewell 57" - that big brick building complex at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Somerset Street in Hopewell Borough, which was earlier known as Rockwell and then Kooltronic?That block along Hamilton actually has an agglomeration of buildings that developed over time as part of a quintessential Hopewell story - as an individual entrepreneur worked with the town to create a business that expanded to provide 75 years of good jobs for locals, eventually employing over 200 people.
Doug Dixon will chronicle this local saga, starting in 1900 with a group of town boosters who invested in the town to attract new business, and with Hugh A. Smith, who chose Hopewell to pursue his dream of establishing a manufacturing business. He then will trace the evolution of the small Smith company into Rockwell, and the associated development of the building complex along Hamiliton Avenue.There's some angst in the story, and the eventual sad clearing of Somerset Street due to ground contamination. But there also is an ongoing theme of community in Hopewell, town and businesses, as Smith was twice elected mayor, and Rockwell provided ongoing support for town events and groups, especially the Fire Department.​
About the Speaker - Doug Dixon is an independent technology consultant and writer, now morphed into a history enthusiast and author. He is a board member of The Hopewell Museum and the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and developed the Hopewell Valley History Project (HopewellHistoryProject.org). Since mid-2019, the History Project has collected, digitized, and freely shared local historical materials to aid research into area people and places. With the assistance of some 140 local contributors, the site now hosts some 780 documents and maps, 4,300 images and videos, and an interactive Hopewell History Map. With these materials, Doug also has authored some 40 Hopewell Borough History Briefs, over 500 pages of research reports on local organizations, businesses, and properties – and the people who made them. As a software technologist, Doug specializes in Web technology, databases, and digital media. He has authored four books on digital media, published hundreds of feature articles, and presented over a hundred technical seminars and talks.
Hopewell Public Library Speaker Series, co-sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society and The Hopewell MuseumAttend the event in person in Fellowship Hall at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church,80 West Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525. The in-person event is free and open to the public – No registration is required.
HVHS Annual Meeting; Program “Dendrochronology Demystified" -
presented by Michael Cuba
2 pm - HVHS Annual Membership Meeting with Election of Officers and Trustees​. The public is welcome to attend. Members will vote on HVHS business.
​​3 pm - Historic Preservation Program -
“Dendrochronology Demystified”
The HVHS is honored to have Michael Cuba talk to you about dendrochronology – the science or technique of dating events, environmental change, and archaeological artifacts by using the characteristic patterns of annual growth rings in timber and tree trunks.
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While this science can offer conclusive felling dates for timbers used in building, interpretation and context for this information relies on both documentary and physical evidence. Michael will use examples of recent reconstruction projects of the Dominy House, in East Hampton, NY, and the reconstruction
of one of the trusses from the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral that was lost in a fire in 2019, to underscore the importance of documentation in preservation work.
Michael is the founder of Transom Historic Preservation Consulting, a firm that specializes in the documentation and analysis of historic timber framed structures. Services include historic research and documentation, dendrochronology coring, condition reports and comprehensive conservation planning.
A River Runs By It:​ Hopewell Township’s geography influenced how residents experienced the American Revolution Presented by Larry Kidder
Did you know that George Washington’s army spent most of the war in New Jersey where it was supplied by local farmers, including those of Hopewell Township, with farm products and other supplies to help keep it in the field. Each man in Hopewell between the ages of 16 and 50 struggled to do his regular full-time job, most were farmers, while also serving in the part-time militia, a duty that often took them away from Hopewell.
The Delaware River, and Johnson’s Ferry, became involved in several key events involving local people, not just the very famous crossing. Later, Washington marched his army through Hopewell in June 1778 and held an important council of war, leading to the Battle of Monmouth, with his officers at a house
A brass relief adorning the Battle of Monmouth monument in Freehold, New Jersey illustrating Washington’s important council of war with his officers in Hopewell in June 1778
in today’s Hopewell Borough.​ Join with local author and historian Larry Kidder as he tells the story of how local geography influenced the many ways the people of Hopewell contributed to and had their lives changed by the American Revolution.
About the Speaker - Larry Kidder is a retired history teacher who has authored two books on Hopewell history and five books on the American Revolution in west central New Jersey. He is a past president of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society in which he has been active for many years. For over 35 years he has been a volunteer historian, interpreter, and draft horse teamster for Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell.
A Hopewell Valley Heritage Week eventCo-sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society and The Hopewell Museum.
Foursquares to the Fore:​ An iconic American house type dominates early 20th century Hopewell History - Presented by Ian Burrow
So common as to be barely mentioned in books on architecture, the Foursquare house is an American icon of the early 20th century. From about 1900 into the1930’s it was one of the most common types of house built in this country, but only relatively recently has its importance and distinctive character been recognized.
At least 52 of these houses still stand in Hopewell Borough today, most of them probably built between 1910 and 1930. Only 11 are shown on the 1912 Sanborn Map.​ So why are there so many of these houses? What are their defining features? Could you buy one from Sears? Who built them and lived in them, and what does that tell us about early 20th century Hopewell?
About the Speaker​ - Ian Burrow is a semi-retired archaeologist. He was born, raised and educated in England. After working there for 10 years as a professional archaeologist, he emigrated to the United States in 1988 to continue his archaeological career in New Jersey and surrounding states. He serves on the Board of the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (among other things).A Hopewell Valley Heritage Week eventHopewell Public Library Speaker SeriesCo-sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society and The Hopewell Museum
HVHS Spring Social
A Spring Social!The Hopewell Valley Historical SocietySunday, May 19, 2024 - 3:00 to 5:30 pmHopewell Valley Golf and Country ClubRefreshments by Chez Alice • Cash Bar Available Performance by Con Brio, Hopewell Valley’s premier A Cappella group. Click for flyer.
St. Michael's Orphanage: A Visual History - Presented by Douglas Dixon
What was St. Michael's Orphanage? Some know it from old photos, with the large forbidding building standing alone in an empty field. And many now know it as the over 400-acre D&R Greenway St. Michael's Farm Preserve just outside Hopewell Borough, with few visible remnants of its past use.
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In this presentation, Doug Dixon provides a visual history of St. Michael's, using photos and memories from a variety of contributors. We will "walk" behind the building to see kids playing on the playground and around the grounds. Then we will go inside the building to see the children in the nursery, school rooms, chapel, dining room, and dorm rooms.
More on St. Michael's:
St. Michael's Orphan Asylum and Industrial School was a major local institution that operated for three quarters of a century (1898 to 1973), providing support and education for abandoned and neglected children, from infants to around age 14.
The buildings are gone, but St. Michael's lives on in local memories. The building had a capacity of 450, and was home over the years to thousands of children, over one hundred Sisters of St. Francis who operated the facility, and
Children & sisters, 1928 [Klevze]
Boys Side Gazebo, 1935 [SOSF]
other live-in staff, plus families living on the associated farm. The site also hosted additional day workers and day students.Presentation slides and references for the St. Michael's presentation (History Project site).
About the speaker: ​Douglas Dixon is an independent technology consultant and writer, now morphed into a history enthusiast and author. He is a board member of The Hopewell Museum and the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and developed the Hopewell Valley History Project (HopewellHistoryProject.org).
Since mid-2019, the History Project has collected, digitized, and freely shared local historical materials to aid research into area people and places. With the assistance of some 140 local contributors, the site now hosts over 640 documents and maps, 4100 images and videos, and an interactive Hopewell History Map. With these materials, Doug also has authored some 40 Hopewell Borough History Briefs, over 500 pages of research reports on local organizations, businesses, and properties – and the people who made them.
As a software technologist, Doug specializes in Web technology, databases, and digital media. He has authored four books on digital media, published hundreds of feature articles, and presented over one hundred technical seminars and talks.
The European Settlement of "Old Hopewell" - CANCELLED
Joseph Klett, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Archives and President of The Hopewell Museum, will discuss the earliest European settlement of "old Hopewell," which included Trenton and Ewing prior to 1720.Joe will touch upon Indian villages and paths, early roads, civil boundaries, and the Quaker, Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and Baptist families that settled here starting in the late 1600s.
He will also highlight early primary sources such as land and probate records, documentation on slave holdings, etc.Hopewell Public Library Speaker SeriesCo-sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society and The Hopewell Museum
Earliest surviving Hopewell Township Minute Book, 1721
The Ghost Railroad of Hopewell Valley: A Brief Account of the Mercer & Somerset Railway
Presented by Robert Lawless
Join Bob Lawless as he recounts the origin, construction, and operations of the short-lived Mercer & Somerset Railway. Built in the early-1870’s, this railroad provided the citizens of Hopewell Valley with the means of traveling to Trenton, Philadelphia, and New York in less time than ever before. While the events surrounding the “Frog War” are the most memorable, the history of the railroad is replete with fascinating accounts related to the communities of which it served. Although service ended less than a decade after it started, many relics of the line remain as reminders
of the railroad that contributed to the prosperity of the Hopewell Valley. This presentation will provide many details about the railroad and offer a unique opportunity to those in attendance. ​All attendees are welcome to join the speaker at a post-presentation reception hosted by Sentiment Depot, held in the M&S Station Agent dwelling located across the road from the library. The opportunity to continue discussions about the Mercer & Somerset Railway will be afforded.
​Robert Lawless is a board member of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and Chairperson of the Program Planning Committee. His extensive research has focused upon the development and operations of railroads in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. Robert has worked in the railroad industry for most of his career, and presently employed by a regional transportation authority.
Co-sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, the Hopewell Museum, and the Friends of the Hopewell Branch Library.
African Americans of Central New Jersey: A History of Harmony and Hostility
Presented by Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills
Please join us in a discussion with Beverly Mills and Elaine Buck, the authors of African Americans of Central New Jersey: A History of Harmony and Hostility. Through grit and determination, the founding Black families of Sourland Mountain and surrounding Central New Jersey put down roots, built homes, established churches and navigated their lives in an unforgiving world. Through extensive research and interviews authors Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills reveal stories of the families who shaped the region for generations.
Copies of their book, African Americans of Central New Jersey, will be available for sale, as well as signing.​
Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills are the founders of the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum and co-authors of If These Stones Could Talk. They proudly received the Kirkus Book Review in October 2018 and in 2019 the New Jersey Author's Award Non-Fiction Popular Works Category. In 2020, they partnered with the Museum of the American Revolution for an exhibition titled When Women Lost the Vote. In 2021,
they received Doris C. Carpenter Award on behalf of Preservation New Jersey for their work on the March of America's Diverse Army through New Jersey and the Solomon Northup Family Award for uplifting the memory of enslaved people. Their new book, African Americans of Central New Jersey: A History of Harmony and Hostility, was released in July.​​
Co-sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, The Hopewell Museum, and the Friends of the Hopewell Branch Library. Click for flyer.