Since its inception, the Hopewell Valley Historical Society has worked to uncover forgotten stories of the Hopewell Valley. Some of the ways you can learn about what we have found are:
History detectives
Oral histories
The Hopewell Valley Historical Society was formed in 1975, in anticipation of the nation’s Bicentennial. The Oral History Project was announced in the Society’s second newsletter, in May 1976. By the following year, the Society had purchased a tape recorder and was holding workshops for members to learn how to elicit, “senior citizens’ fond memories of the past.” As of 2024, we are well on the way to preserving the memories of 200 Hopewell Valley citizens. Click below to browse through the database of memories.
Did you know that there once were more cows in the Township than people? Look for the key word "Dairy Farms" to read Hopewellian's recollections about that and more!
Newsletters
In October 1975, the nascent HV Historical Society published its first, handwritten, dittoed newsletter describing planned projects and sharing research. As of 2024, more than 1,000 pages of the newsletter have been published covering subjects from the Abbott family to the Young Ladies Seminary. Current newsletters are a perk of HVHS membership. Archived issues are available online for all.
House Lineages
The House Lineage Committee researches the history of old houses in the Valley. Homeowners who would like to have their house researched can obtain the services of the committee. This may result in a plaque being produced for the historic house, a presentation about the property and/or a newsletter article about the structure. The many lineages produced to date form a unique and priceless resources for Hopewell Valley historians and are available online to Members.
archives
The Hopewell Valley Historical Society archives are located at the Hopewell Township branch of the Mercer County. We will be available on Fridays from noon to 4:45 pm. Space in the room is limited. Please email research requests in advance of your visit. This will allow us to gather your materials for review at a reading room table. Please comply with all safety rules mandated by the library. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Note that the Mercer County Library is closed the following Fridays in 2024: March 29, June 21, and November 29.
get in touch!
Would you like to be interviewed for our Oral History Program or have your home researched? Do you have artifacts you would like to contribute to our archives? Reach out to inquire about any of our services or holdings.