The Story of the Hopewell Inn – and the People Who Sustained It
Presented by Douglas Dixon
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Wed., May 3, 2023, 7 pm - Free and open to the public
- Attend in person at the Hopewell Theater, 5 South Greenwood, Hopewell, NJ - Or join online virtual presentation via Zoom -> Register here for online only The Hopewell Inn, long known as the Central Hotel, had a nearly 150 year history as a part of the town of Hopewell before it was demolished in July 2022. The building was used for residential and retail, hotel and livery, saloon and apartments, luncheonette and rooming house, and bar and bistro.
This presentation explores the forgotten history of the Hopewell Inn, and of the people and families who nurtured and reinvigorated the building and ran the businesses through the years. We also will take a visual tour the building in its final form – not only the exterior and public spaces, but also the upstairs rooms and cellar – and discover clues about how the building was constructed and expanded over time.
The story of the Hopewell Inn begins in the 1870s with the Sexton sisters, who sold their family farm and opened Hopewell’s first drug store in the building.
After being converted into a hotel in 1893 and expanded in the early 1900s, the building’s heyday continued into the 1930s, when, as Gebhart’s Hotel, it became the headquarters for the world press after the Lindbergh kidnapping. Since the 1950s, the building was shepherded by multiple generations of two different families, as it evolved into a friendly neighborhood bar, restaurant, and gathering space. In addition to the building owners who focused on food and lodging, we also will remember others there who contributed to Hopewell, including Mrs. Carter’s Millinery and Fancy Goods store (and Library!), Cray’s Oyster Saloon and Livery, Funeral Director F. K. Forsythe, and Paul (“Pop”) and Bertha Gebhart’s Lunch Room. Doug Dixon is an independent technology consultant and writer, now morphed into a history enthusiast. He is a board member of The Hopewell Museum and the Hopewell Valley Historical Society.
Over the past few years since 2019, Doug has developed the Hopewell Valley History Project (HopewellHistoryProject.org), working with over 100 local contributors to collect and freely share digital copies of local historical materials. The History Project now hosts some 500 documents and maps, 3000 images and videos, and an interactive historical map of Hopewell to aid research into Hopewell area people and places. 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 Museum - Attend the event in person at the Hopewell Theater, 5 South Greenwood Ave, Hopewell, NJ. The event is free and open to the public – No registration is required. - Or attend the event online via Zoom – Register here for online only |
“Times Square” at Gebhart’s Hotel - 1932 Lindbergh press [JCD]
Doug Dixon
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When the Railroad Comes to Town:
The Belvidere-Delaware Railroad in Hopewell Valley
Presented by Robert Lawless
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Sun., Jan. 22, 2023 - 2 pm ET
In-person at the Titusville Presbyterian Church, 48 River Dr., Titusville, NJ Or on-line virtual presentation via Zoom - Register here for online only The Belvidere-Delaware Railroad ran along the eastern bank of the Delaware River from Trenton through Phillipsburg and beyond to Manunka Chunk in Warren County. The arrival of the railroad in 1851 brought significant changes to the communities along its route. These effects were not limited to economic opportunities, but also resulted in long-lasting impacts on the societal and cultural aspects within the region.
In this presentation, we will travel back in time to explore the by-gone days when the Bel-Del Railroad was an integral facet in daily life for the citizens of the Hopewell Valley. 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, the Hopewell Township Historic Preservation Commission, and the Titusville Presbyterian Church. Attend in person at the Titusville Presbyterian Church, 48 River Drive, Titusville, NJ 08560 Or attend the on-line virtual presentation via Zoom - Register here for online only |
Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotive from Down Along the Old Bel-Del – The History of the Belvidere Delaware Railroad Company by Warren F. Lee.
Bob Lawless
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