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Past Programs - 2020

Hopewell Valley Historical Society regularly sponsors community programs on local history, often in partnership with the Hopewell Museum and the Pennington Library. These programs typically are free and open to the public.
See also:
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HVHS annual meeting and panel on Historic Preservation
- Sept. 20 at the 1765 Jeremiah Woolsey House (and on Zoom)

Historical Hopewell Farmhouses:
​    18th Century "Cow and the Calf" Farmhouses and Kitchens

         Fri., Nov. 20, 2020 - 7:30 pm ET
             Internet Webinar via Zoom
             In cooperation with the Howell Living History Farm
             Registration Required -> Register here (through Mercer County CommunityPass)
​(There is no cost, but CommunityPass does require that you create a account if you do not already have one. See CommunityPass registration process (PDF) for help.
Traveling through Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1817, diarist William Cobbett remarked how the farmhouses consisted of a “considerable large and very neat house… and of a small house, which seems to have been tacked on to the large one; and the proportion they bear to each other… is as nearly as possible the proportion of size between a cow and her calf.” He might have been describing anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Using Hopewell Township as a case study, and relying on buildings as evidence, this talk explores how the traditional rural New Jersey farmhouse underwent a spatial and functional transformation between 1750 and 1820. Two-story farmhouses with attached one-story kitchen wings on the gable end emerged as the regional house type of choice, and was both the product of tradition and a harbinger of change. What were the first vernacular houses like in Hopewell? How did they evolve and why? What does the “cow and calf” tell us about the evolving character of New Jersey’s agrarian landscape at the turn of the Nineteenth Century?
 
Philip A. Hayden is Principal Senior Architectural Historian at Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm based in Cranbury, New Jersey specializing in archaeology, historic preservation, and cultural resources regulatory compliance across the northeast. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College with a duel major in American History and Historic Preservation and his Master’s degree from the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture and the University of Delaware. Mr. Hayden has held curatorial and administrative positions with the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, the Historical Society of Princeton, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the New Jersey State House. His specialties range from eighteenth and nineteenth-century framing practices to twentieth-century railroad history. A resident of Rocky Hill for most of his life, Mr. Hayden is now based in Annapolis, Maryland.

Co-sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society and The Hopewell Museum, and made possible in part by a New Jersey Historical Commission history regrant from the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

Support for this program is provided in part by Howell Living History Farm, a facility of the Mercer County Park Commission. Brian M. Hughes, County Executive; Aaron T. Watson, Executive Director.
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Download Flyer (PDF)
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Henry Phillips House (formerly the Birum property)

The Hopewell Valley COVID-19 Time Capsule Project

         Sun., Oct. 4, 2020 - 3 pm ET
             Internet Webinar via Zoom
             Registration Required - See below
Dana Heller, history teacher at Hopewell Valley Central High School (HVCHS), started the Hopewell Valley COVID-19 Time Capsule Project, working together with the HVHS and the Hopewell Museum to collect objects and artifacts to preserve our local  stories and history of this pandemic. Dana will talk about the inspiration for the project, the decision process for selecting items, the items that have been collected, how and when the capsule will be stored, and the plans for opening it - in 2033, when next year’s kindergartners will be graduating high school.
 
Dana Heller graduated from Monmouth University in 2009 with a degree in secondary education and history, and from the University of Scranton in 2016 with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. She has worked at Hopewell Valley Central High School since 2009 teaching both U. S. history and World history.

Co-sponsored by Pennington Public Library, Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and The Hopewell Museum, and made possible in part by a New Jersey Historical Commission history regrant from the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
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Registration Required: PenningtonLibrary.org/timecapsule/
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Dana Heller, HVCHS
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Download Flyer (PDF)

2020 Annual Meeting of the HVHS
​     Historic Preservation in the Hopewell Valley

         Sun., Sept. 20, 2020 - Business Meeting 2:30 pm, Program 3:00 pm
             Online: Internet Webinar via Zoom - Registration Required for Online - See below
             In-person: Outdoors at the historic Granzow home (1765 Jeremiah Woolsey House)
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1765 Jeremiah Woolsey House
2:30 pm - HVHS Annual Meeting and Election of Officers and Trustees
The public is welcome to attend. Members will vote on HVHS business.
3:00 pm - Panel Session on Historic Preservation in the Hopewell Valley
The Hopewell Valley is blessed with a rich architectural and cultural heritage that contributes to its unique character as a place to live. The local municipal Historic Preservation Commissions are on the front lines of protecting and enhancing this rich heritage. These neighbors and volunteers serve a formal role in reviewing and advising on new construction and renovations for historical appropriateness. And they work together in researching and championing local historic sites.

This event features the chairs of the three local Historic Preservation Commissions: Alison Baxter of the Hopewell Borough HPC, Max Hayden of the Hopewell Township HPC, and Eric Holtermann of the Pennington Borough HPC. They will participate in a panel session with moderator Richard Hunter, president of the HVHS, to discuss the current state and future of preservation of our local historic landmarks and districts.

Download the meeting presentations:Also:
About the Panelists
Alison Baxter has been a Hopewell Borough resident for 35 years, arriving here just after finishing architecture school at NJIT and starting work at Short & Ford Architects. She still lives in the same house, and still works for S&F’s successor firm, Mills + Schnoering Architects. Appointed to the Hopewell Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) about a dozen years ago, Alison became chair the following year. While her professional life has been all about institutional work – new construction, preservation and adaptive use of courthouses, libraries, theaters and university projects - the Hopewell HPC’s work tends to be focused mainly on residential work. The official function of the HPC is to protect the Borough’s architectural heritage, but the members also see our mission as educating property owners about what makes our town and their homes special.
Max Hayden has been a resident of Hopewell Township since 1984, living in the Mount Rose section where he has restored both his house and the Mount Rose General Store where his architectural practice is located.  He has served on the township's Historic Sites Committee and Historic Preservation Commission since 1993, except for six months. Growing up in nearby Warren Township in Somerset County where his family operated a restaurant in a historic building, he worked at several firms, including Michael Graves Architect, prior to starting his own firm in 1991. His work has included many residential projects, including the Grover Cleveland House in Princeton, the Drumthwacket Coach House and the Van Zandt Mansion in Blawenburg which houses the offices of SAVE - A Friend to the Homeless Animal. His current projects include the restoration of the Titusville General Store in Hopewell and a house in Princeton where Booker T. Washington stayed.
Eric Holtermann is a principal at HMR Architects in Princeton, NJ, where he has worked on both new and historic projects for over 20 years. Prior to moving to Pennington in 1999, he was an associate at Platt Byard Dovell Architects in New York City.  At HMR, his projects have included The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms in Parsippany, The Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City, and Historic Rockingham in Kingston NJ. He also has completed many local residential projects, most within historic contexts. In 2010 Eric worked closely with the Pennington Borough Council to draft a Master Plan Element and subsequent Historic Preservation Ordinance. This regulatory ordinance, which passed by a single vote, was specifically written to discourage demolition and preserve pre-war structures within the new Pennington Crossroads Historic District.  In the 10 years that he has served as chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, the ordinance has prevented the demolition of at least 10 historic houses in the district.
Meeting Information and Registration
This meeting will be held outdoors, and also streamed online over the Internet
The rain date is September 27.  In the event of inclement weather,
​check the HVHS website and social media for updates beginning 24 hours before the meeting.
If you choose to attend online - You must pre-register below to sign up.
If you choose to attend in person - Please pre-register below to help with planning.
      Social distancing will be observed. Please bring your own chair and mask.

Women's Suffrage 100th Anniversary Celebration

         Wed., Aug. 26, 4 - 6 pm in Hopewell Gazebo Park
         South Greenwood and Columbia Avenues
         Sponsored by the Hopewell Public Library
 
Drop by Gazebo Park to join local author Nancy B. Kennedy and the Hopewell Valley League of Women Voters at a book signing and voter registration event. View a collection of photos of New Jersey suffragists and pick up a free "Votes for Women" suffrage pin. (Please wear masks and maintain social distances.)
More information - https://www.redlibrary.org/events.html

Women Win the Vote! The Suffrage Fight in Three Acts

         Tues., Aug. 18, 2020 - 7 pm EDT
             Internet ​Webinar via Zoom
             Registration Required (see below)

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment on August 18, 1920, extending the right of suffrage to women.
 
Three generations of women fought for the right as American citizens to vote. In this program, local author Nancy B. Kennedy presents the lives of three leaders who personify the suffragists of their generation: Lucretia Mott, Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Alice Paul. Ms. Kennedy's book, Women Win the Vote! 19 for the 19th Amendment , brings more of these fascinating women to life through colorful stories and vivid illustrations. In their own words, these passionate activists reveal why they devoted their lives to gaining this hard-won civil rights victory.
 
Hopewell resident Nancy B. Kennedy is a journalist and the author of seven previous books. She was born in Rochester, New York, the home of suffragist Susan B. Anthony and an epicenter of reform activity. For more information about Nancy and her books, visit her website at www.nancybkennedy.com.

Co-sponsored by Pennington Public Library, Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and The Hopewell Museum, and made possible in part by a New Jersey Historical Commission history regrant from the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

Adults and young people age 9+ are encouraged to attend!
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Registration Required: PenningtonLibrary.org/Suffrage
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Download Flyer (PDF)
Nancy Kennedy Q&A - View Original

​For more on The Women's Suffrage Movement in Hopewell Valley, also see the recent article in the HVHS Newsletter by Joseph R. Klett (PDF):

"Stranger Stop and Cast an Eye":
​     An Introduction to New Jersey’s Historic Burial Grounds

         Sun., July 19, 2020 - 3 pm EDT
             Internet ​Webinar via Zoom
             Registration Required - See below

Far from being scary, spooky places, New Jersey’s historic burial grounds are treasure troves of information for historians, genealogists, archaeologists, and art historians.  This richly illustrated presentation examines New Jersey historic cemeteries from High Point to Cape May.  It provides a chronological overview of New Jersey’s historic burial places from the colonial period to the present.  Exceptional examples of colonial, Victorian, and modern memorials are all presented and discussed.  Audiences leave with a new appreciation for gravemarkers and burial places as important sources of information about local history.
 
Richard Veit, Ph.D. is Professor of Anthropology and Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University. Rich is a North American historical archaeologist whose research focuses on the Middle Atlantic Region between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. His work focuses on commemoration, symbolism, vernacular architecture, and military sites archaeology.  He has authored or co-authored numerous articles and reviews and eight books including Digging New Jersey’s Past: Historical Archaeology in the Garden State (Rutgers Press 2002), New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones History in the Landscape (co-authored by Mark Nonestied, Rutgers Press 2008), and New Jersey: A History of the Garden State (co-authored with Maxine Lurie, Rutgers Press 2012).  In 2007 he was the recipient of Monmouth University’s distinguished teacher award.  He regularly presents on topics relating to historical archaeology and New Jersey history and has been a TED speaker.

Co-sponsored by Pennington Public Library, Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and The Hopewell Museum, and made possible in part by a New Jersey Historical Commission history regrant from the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
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Registration Required: PenningtonLibrary.org/NJBurialGrounds
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Download flyer (PDF)
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Richard Veit

Trenton’s Urban Renewal and the Struggle for Community 

         Sun., June 14, 2020 - 3 pm
             Pennington Library Internet Webinar via Zoom
             Registration Required - See Below

Lifelong Pennington resident Jordan Antebi will present  stories from his award-winning thesis “Bridging the Divide: Citizen Participation Versus Urban Renewal and the Struggle for Community,” which studied civic actors in Trenton, NJ who opposed Urban Renewal. Jordan’s thesis chronicles a turbulent time locally and nationally during the 1950s and 60s. Using “documented experiences of ordinary residents and business owners,” this talk will highlight the interconnectedness of a so-called “divided” community and its protests of social engineering.

Jordan Antebi was the 2019 recipient of the Paul A. Stellhorn New Jersey History Award, recognizing outstanding undergraduate scholarship and writing about a subject in the state’s history. Jordan received his A.B. degree in history from Princeton University cum laude in June 2019. His thesis also won the C.O. Joline Prize in American History and the Dean Hank Dobin Prize in Community Based Scholarship, as well as the Stellhorn Award.
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Registration Required (and more info):  PenningtonLibrary.org/urbantrenton

Amazing New Jersey: People and Places of the Garden State

         Sun., June 7, 2020 - 3 pm
             Pennington Library Webinar via Zoom
             Registration Required - See Below

The New Jersey colony dates from the middle of the 17th century when Dutch and English settlers bought land from the native Lenapes. For over 350 years, New Jersey has played a pivotal economic and historical role in the United States. With regions as different from one another as the Shore and the Skylands, New Jersey offers residents and tourists delightful and informative experiences everywhere.

In this talk, Rick Geffken offers his perspectives on the state’s history. featuring historical events, famous and infamous people – entertainers, politicians, and entrepreneurs – highlighted by many evocative images of locations throughout New Jersey. 

Rick Geffken has written numerous books including: Highland Beach, Gateway to the Jersey Shore, 1888-1962 with Chris Brenner, and Lost Amusement Parks of the North Jersey Shore with George Severini. He expects to publish Slave Stories from New Jersey in late 2020. He is a Trustee of the Shrewsbury Historical Society; Past-president and a Trustee of the Jersey Coast Heritage Museum at Sandlass House; and a member of the Monmouth County Historical Association.

Registration Required (and more info):  PenningtonLibrary.org/amazingnj
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Download flyer (PDF)
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Click image to play video introducing Lost Amusement Parks of the North Jersey Shore

Hopewell Valley History Project: Discover Local History from Home

         Sun., May 17, 2020 - 3 pm
             Webinar via Zoom
             Registration Required - See Below

The Hopewell Valley History Project (HopewellHistoryProject.org) is a new effort to collect and save our local heritage in digital form, where you can find over 150 primary references, including historic books, documents, maps, and aerial images. We also have collected over 650 historic images, and developed a prototype Hopewell History Map so you can interactively explore historic and current-day properties, along with associated images and documents.

This presentation will briefly explain the background of this work and provide a tour of the materials that are currently available, and then walk through an example historic investigation focusing on public libraries in Hopewell. Join us to explore the possibilities of this work for your own history questions. And please take a look around your home to see if there are other materials that you could contribute to this effort.

Douglas Dixon is an independent technology consultant and writer. Doug created the History Project and developed its websites. He is a board member of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society.

Co-sponsored by Pennington Public Library, Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and The Hopewell Museum, and made possible in part by a New Jersey Historical Commission history regrant from the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

Registration Required (and more info): PenningtonLibrary.org/HopewellHistoryProject
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Download flyer (PDF)

Tales of Blawenburg

         Sat., March 7, 2020 - 2 pm
             Blawenburg Church, 424 Route 518, Skillman, NJ 08558
             Free and open to the public

The Van Harlingen Historical Society and Blawenburg Church present a free afternoon of history for the community.  A multimedia presentation by local educator and author David Cochran will chronicle several periods in the history of Blawenburg. Also self-guided tours of the 1830 sanctuary, and Blawenburg history exhibits. More information.

Kickoff Event to Celebrate Hopewell Township’s 320th Anniversary

         Sun., Feb. 23, 2020 - Activities begin 1 pm, talks at 2:30 pm
             Hopewell Township Municipal Complex
             201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, NJ 08560
             Free and open to the public, all welcome

  • Ian Burrow on the Delaware (Lenape) Indians
  • Richard Hunter on the geography and settlement of the "valley"
  • Joseph Klett on the establishment of Hopewell Township
  • Display of original founding documents from the State Archives
  • Activities for children K-8 using wampum beads

Three historians and local residents, Ian Burrow, Richard Hunter, and Joseph Klett, will co-present on the founding of Hopewell as a kick-off to the 320th anniversary of the creation of Hopewell Township (founded on February 20, 1700).

The event will be held on February 23, 2020, in the auditorium of the Hopewell Township Municipal Complex, located at 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville NJ 08560. In the event of bad weather, the event will be postponed to March 1, 2020. The activities begin at 1 PM, and the talk will occur at 2:30 PM.
 
Ian Burrow is an archaeologist, conservationist, and former partner in Hunter Research, Inc., Trenton, N.J. He will discuss the local Delaware (Lenape) Indians, and what is known about their culture, sites, trails, and interaction with the first European settlers. He will discuss the 1688/1689 purchase and survey of the 30,000-acre Hopewell tract by Dr. Daniel Coxe, and the items paid to the Indian representatives in exchange for the land.
 
Richard Hunter is current president of Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and Principal of Hunter Research, Inc., a Trenton-based historic preservation consulting firm.  He will discuss the geography of the “valley” and how this determined the pattern of European settlement (and to a lesser extent, Native American settlement). He will address landforms, rivers, soil fertility, and the evolution of roads, the canal and railroads, water power, mill sites, and extractive industries.
 
Joseph Klett is president of The Hopewell Museum and Executive Director of the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton. He will speak about the establishment of Hopewell Township, which originally included the present-day township as well as Pennington and Hopewell boroughs, Ewing Township, and much of Trenton. He will also discuss the process and sources involved in a map of Old Hopewell and Vicinity, 1680-1720, currently in development for the Museum and Historical Society by himself and others.
 
Hopewell Township's founding documents (held by the State Archives) will be on display for the event. These include the 1688 Indian deed, the 1689 Coxe survey, the 1700 court book establishing the township, and Hopewell's 1755 royal charter. Original New Jersey wampum will also be exhibited, as well as the current draft of the map noted above and other materials illustrating the purchase of the Hopewell tract.
 
Activities for children K-8 are planned which center around wampum, the polished shell beads used by Native Americans and Europeans in early colonial times both as money, for ceremonial pledges, and for personal decoration. We will string “fathoms” of wampum, and learn how to exchange them for other trade goods.

In order for us to better plan the activities, please RSVP to hvhist@aol.com to tell us you are coming (requested, but not required).

This program is made possible, in part, by a New Jersey Historical Commission history regrant from the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

This event is co-sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, The Hopewell Museum and Hopewell Township.
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Download flyer (PDF)
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Ian Burrow
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Richard Hunter
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Joseph Klett
Hopewell Valley Historical Society
Box 371, Pennington, NJ 08534
hvhswebsite@gmail.com
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