By Ruth Luse, Editor Emeritus
The 125th anniversary celebration of Hopewell Borough’s 1891 incorporation will continue in April with events on April 13, 16 and 17.
As part of the Hopewell Public Library’s Wednesday Night Out Series, “Images of Old Hopewell: A Stroll Through Town Now and Then” will be presented by Jack Koeppel, lifetime resident of Hopewell Valley, local historian and volunteer archivist for the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, at 7 p.m. on April 13 at Hopewell Elementary School, Princeton Avenue.
This slide presentation will highlight the borough’s 19th-century character by juxtaposing the old with the new. Images from the collections of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, Hopewell Museum and Bill Frenchu are matched with photographs of Hopewell as it looks today. A special aspect features pictures of familiar buildings that slowly transform on-screen into their 19th-century counterparts.
Those attending will be treated to an imaginary stroll along Broad Street, beginning at the intersection of Broad Street and Greenwood Avenue.
“The walk will proceed east toward Hamilton Avenue before circling back to Greenwood. From there the journey will follow Broad to Louellen Street with some interesting side trips along the way.
“Viewers will see today’s familiar streetscape first,” say the presenters. “Then, with a little digital magic, places like Calvary Baptist Church, Hopewell Library and Hopewell Inn will morph into the exact scene from the past. For some buildings two earlier versions have been discovered.
“This hour-long presentation is sure to capture the interest of current residents who’ve wondered how things once looked,” Mr. Koeppel said. “Some of the photographic pairings illustrate how little things have changed while others will leave viewers amazed.”
For information, call the library at 609-466-1625.
– On Saturday, April 16, the 125th Anniversary Committee will hold a “cupcake birthday party” in the park at South Greenwood and Columbia avenues. The event, expected to last about 90 minutes, will begin at 3 p.m. It will feature food, music and a tree-planting.
The Advisory Shade Tree Committee is planning to plant a tree in Borough Park that day. Borough employees will be doing the work.
The committee also plans to give away 125 tree saplings acquired through a state grant . . . “as a 125th anniversary giveaway to commemorate the year.”
According to Jennifer Saltman, committee member, “the trees are “1- to 3-foot-high bare root tree seedlings, which are being given to New Jersey communities through the N.J. Tree Recovery Campaign to help replace trees lost as a result of Superstorm Sandy.”
The Advisory Shade Tree Committee has asked for 125 trees to mark Hopewell’s anniversary year and will give up to five seedlings per household at the cupcake event.
Committee members include Alan Fiel, Herb Ruehle, Mark Shipe, Jane McKinley, Beth Miko, Bev Mills and Roxanne Klett.
– On Sunday, April 17, at 3 p.m., the Hopewell Borough Council of Churches will hold an ecumenical service at the Old School Baptist Church on West Broad Street.
According to spokeswoman Cathy Peterson, this will be a “Special Service of Gratitude and Remembrance.”
It will feature a cappella music led by Hopewell Hall, a group that practices at Hopewell Presbyterian Church. The 10 singers are “from different musical traditions, exploring small-ensemble singing through the historical genres of American Shape Note and English West Gallery music, as well as other types of songs that are fun to sing.” Director is Annie Anderson.
According to this newspaper’s archives, “The First Baptist Church of Hopewell was organized by its trustees in 1715 at the home of Jonathan Stout. The congregation met in private homes until Henry Oxley and Benjamin Drake erected a meeting house in 1747 . . .
“In 1822, the current brick structure was built to replace the original stone building. Worship services were suspended in 1973 upon the death of its last male member, in accordance with the church’s charter. Many once-influential members of the community, including John Hart (it is thought), are buried in the adjacent cemetery.”
Another account says the church was used as a hospital during part of the Revolutionary War. “Dr. Benjamin Van Kirk tended the sick,” the account reads. “Those who died were buried in the churchyard. In July 1896, a tombstone was erected to mark the resting place of the soldiers of the Revolution.”
