The Black Presence Within the Eastern Block of
Columbia Avenue in Hopewell Borough

 by Richard L. Porter
Completed for The Hopewell Museum
Copyright © 2023 by Richard L. Porter and The Hopewell Museum. All rights reserved.

The eastern segment of Columbia Avenue in Hopewell Borough, running between Maple and Elm Streets, was laid out and opened as a public street in 1895 (see Mercer County Deed [MCD] 204 43). In 1897 the lands on either side of this new street were subdivided into lots owned by Nelson D. Blackwell and Edward Brophy, who were operating as the Hopewell Land Association (see Laning 1897). These undeveloped lots subsequently passed into other hands, with Thomas L. Brophy prominent in this succeeding group of prospective developers. The commencement of Black settlement within the block began with the purchase of lots by Thomas E. Johnson, then the pastor of what is now the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church, and Caleb Womock in 1902 and 1903, with the construction of houses on these lots following shortly thereafter. These men and their families were followed during the next several decades by other Black men, women, and children, with the church serving as the anchor for the community and area farms, industrial Trenton, and the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad offering opportunities for employment. Many of these immigrants came to Hopewell from Virginia, notably the Banister/Chatham area, approximately 120 miles southwest of Richmond. By mid-century a total of fifteen dwellings owned and occupied by Black families lined both sides of the block. Of note within this enclave was the longevity of this Black occupation, with a number of families remaining into the latter part of the twentieth century and the early decades of the present century, with a Black presence actually continuing on several properties today.

The following provides a chronological history for each of the fifteen houses built, owned, and occupied by Black families within the eastern block of Columbia Avenue. All individuals enumerated below were identified in census listings as Black unless otherwise noted. The following citation abbreviations have been utilized:

Hopewell Herald (HH)
New Jersey Census (NJC)
Mercer County Deed  (MCD)           
Sanborn Map Company (SMC)
Mercer County Mortgages (MCM)               
United States Census of New Jersey (USCNJ)

71 Columbia Avenue

Hodnett/Brooks House—2-story, 2-bay frame vernacular front-gabled dwelling built in 1922 (HH December 20, 1922)

Sequence of Ownership

1922–1928     Fred Hodnett and Mary Johnson Hodnett
1928–1961     Fred Hodnett Estate and Mary Johnson Hodnett
1961–1976     Fred Hodnett Estate
1976–2004     Ira Brooks and Evelyn Dunn Brooks
2004–2008     Evelyn Dunn Brooks
2008–2021     Evelyn Dunn Brooks and Michael L. Brooks

Historical Detail

1910—Fred Hodnett (17; born in Virginia [VA below]; hired man; laborer) was recorded as living in the house of a white farmer in the western part of Hopewell Township (USCNJ 1910)

1915—Fred Hodnett (year of birth given as 1887; farm laborer) and his wife Mary Johnson Hodnett (1888–1961; www.findagrave.com/memorial/116493189; born in North Carolina [NC below]; servant for private family) were renting at 75 Columbia, along with a second household headed by Edward Young (son of William Young [see 80 Columbia]), his wife Luella Hodnett Young (the sister of Fred Hodnett; see HH February 4, 1920), and their four children (NJC 1915)

1920—Luella Hodnett Young died in 1920 and was buried in the Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (HH February 4, 1920)

1920—Fred Hodnett (railroad laborer) and his wife Mary were recorded as living in rented quarters on North Greenwood Avenue (USCNJ 1920)

1922—In December of that year it was reported that Fred and Mary Hodnett had moved into “their recently finished house on East Columbia avenue” (HH December 20, 1922)

1924—In late December Fred Hodnett was injured in a railroad accident involving several other Black residents of “East Columbia” who were employed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad as laborers (HH December 31, 1924)

1927—71 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1928—Fred Hodnett died in 1928 (Mercer County Estate Index)

1930—Mary Hodnett (widow) was recorded as the owner/occupant of 71 Columbia and as the head of a household that included Ellis Coles (39; born VA; railroad laborer [see 72 Columbia]), his wife Pearl Coles (37; born VA; servant for private family), and their daughter Margaret (12; born VA) (USCNJ 1930)

1940—Mary Hodnett (laundress at home) was again enumerated as owner/occupant of 71 Columbia, with her household including Ellis Coles (railroad laborer) and his wife Pearl and Hodnett’s sister Katie Wright (47; born NC; widow; laundress at home) and her daughter Willapink (13; born NC) (USCNJ 1940)

1950—Mary Hodnett was still in residence, along with lodger Sandy Evans (35; born NC; janitor at university) (USCNJ 1950)

1961—Mary Johnson Hodnett died on January 20th, 1961 and was buried in the Ewing Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times January 23, 1961; www.findagrave.com)

1976—The estate of Fred Hodnett lost 71 Columbia in a tax sale in 1976, with the property purchased by Ira Brooks (1917–2004; www.findagrave.com/memorial/45304309) and his wife Evelyn Dunn Brooks (MCD 1674 291)

2004—Ira Brooks died in 2004 and was buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (www.findagrave.com), with control of 71 Columbia passing to Evelyn Brooks (see MCD 6019 341)

2008—Residual rights to 71 Columbia held by the heirs of Lillie Bell Hodnett were acquired by Evelyn Brooks (MCDs 5876 183 and 5926 274), with a share in the property then conveyed by Evelyn Brooks to Michael L. Brooks (MCD 5926 280)

2021—Evelyn and Michael L. Brooks retained 71 Columbia until 2021 (MCD 6450 622)

 72 Columbia Avenue

Coles/Toomer House—1½-story, 3-bay frame vernacular front-gabled dwelling built circa 1947 (www.historicaerials.com)—garage recent

Sequence of Ownership

1946–1958            Ellis Coles and Pearl Coles
1958–1978            Pearl Coles
1978–1981            Margaret Coles Toomer
1981–2000            Larry J. Toomer and Flora Jean Toomer

 Historical Detail

 1913—the undeveloped lot on which 72 Columbia would be sited was purchased by Edward Young, the son of William Young (see 80 Columbia) (MCD 377 51)—it seems likely that Young, who in 1915 was living across the street in 75 Columbia, was contemplating building a house on this lot

1945—This house was not shown on the 1945 map (SMC 1927/1945)

1946—Edward Young, now residing in Trenton, sold this still undeveloped lot to Ellis Coles (1890–1958; www.findagrave.com/memorial/116523409) and his wife Pearl Coles (1892–1978; www.findagrave.com/memorial/116523409) (MCD 951 436)—Coles and his wife had been recorded as residing at 71 Columbia in 1930 and 1940

1947—An aerial photograph flown in 1947 appears to show the house to be under construction (www.historicaerials.com)

1950—the house was occupied by “Reverend” Ellis E. Coles (59; born VA; also listed as a railroad laborer), along with his wife Pearl Coles (57; born VA; maid in private home), his sisters-in-law Lelia White (69; born VA; widow) and Rose Woods (62; born VA; separated; maid in private home), and lodgers Ruby Hannah (16; born NJ) and Joan Perry (13; born NJ) (USCNJ 1950)

1953—72 Columbia was shown to be in place on an aerial photograph flown in 1953 (www.historicaerials.com)

1958—“Elder” Ellis Coles died in 1958 and was buried in the Ewing Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times November 24, 1958; www.findagrave.com), leaving his wife Pearl Coles as the sole owner of 72 Columbia (see MCD 2160 291)

1978—Pearl Coles died in 1978 and was buried with her husband in the Ewing Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times November 20, 1978 [it was noted that she, like many of her former neighbors, had been born in Chatham, Virginia]; www.findagrave.com), leaving her real property to her daughter Margaret Coles Toomer (see MCD 2160 291)

1981—Margaret Coles Toomer (1917-2002; www.findagrave.com/memorial/116523398) sold 72 Columbia to her son Larry J. Toomer and his wife Flora Jean Toomer (MCD 2160 291)

2000—Larry J. and Flora Jean Toomer retained 72 Columbia until 2000 (MCD 3877 36)

75 Columbia Avenue

Johnson (REVEREND THOMAS E.) House—2-story, 2-bay frame vernacular side-gabled dwelling built circa 1903 (MCD 254 253—NJC 1905); significant recent alterations; large west addition recent—garage recent

Sequence of Ownership

1902–1914     Thomas E. Johnson
1916–1939     William H. Johnson, William H. Johnson Estate
1951–1971      George and Ida Washington
1971–2002      James and Norma Pickens

Historical Detail

1897—Thomas E. Johnson was founding Pastor of the “First Colored Calvary Baptist Church of Hopewell” (now the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church), and in 1897 he participated in the purchase of the lot on First Street that would come to be the site of the congregation’s original church and its associated cemetery (see MCD 214 599)

1900—Thomas E. Johnson (1850–1914; www.findagrave.com/memorial/11612130; born VA; “Clergyman”) and his wife Amanda Jones Johnson (1866–1910; www.findagrave.com/memorial/11612131; born VA) were living in rented quarters in Hopewell Borough (USCNJ 1900)

1902—Johnson purchased the undeveloped lot on which 75 Columbia would be built (MCD 254 253)

1903—Johnson took out a mortgage on said property, probably to provide the financing necessary for the construction of 75 Columbia (MCM 139 103; from Index)

1904—Johnson purchased the lot adjacent to the west of his first lot, establishing the property’s current configuration with 100 feet of frontage on Columbia (MCD 271 271)

1905—Thomas Johnson (“Preacher”) and Amanda Johnson were recorded as residing within their new house at 75 Columbia (NJC 1905)

1908—Johnson also worked in construction to supplement his income, and in 1908 he was awarded the excavating contract associated with the installation of “water pipe and underground terra cotta pipe” on West Broad Street (HH July 15, 1908)

1910—Johnson remained in residence at 75 Columbia and was recorded as the “Clergyman” at the “Colored Baptist” Church (he was also listed here as Mulatto), with his wife Amanda now working as a laundress at home (USCNJ 1910)

1910—Amanda B. Johnson died later that same year (HH July 6, 1910) and was buried in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)

1914—Thomas E. Johnson died in 1914 and was also buried in the cemetery to the rear of his former church (Trenton Evening Times November 28, 1914; www.findagrave.com)

1915—the sequencing within the census suggests that 75 Columbia was then occupied as a rental by two households, with the first headed by Edward Young (31; born VA; laborer; the son of William Young [see 80 Columbia]), along with his wife Luella Hodnett Young (30; born VA) and their children Elmer (11; born VA), Martha (10; born NJ), Edward Jr. (6; born NJ), and Fred (4; born NC), and the second consisting of Fred and Mary Johnson Hodnett (later the owners of 71 Columbia) (NJC 1915; Fred Hodnett and Luella Hodnett Young were siblings; see HH February 4, 1920)

1916—William H. Johnson purchased 75 Columbia from the estate of Thomas E. Johnson (MCD 389 128)—the exact nature of the relationship between these two men is unclear

1920—William Johnson (34; born VA in 1887; railroad laborer) was recorded as the owner/occupant of the house, residing there with his wife Sarah Edwards Johnson (27; born VA; the stepdaughter of Daniel Wooding [see 77 Columbia]) and boarder William Hayes (39; born VA) (USCNJ 1920)

1927—75 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—the house was occupied as a rental by Oscar Hodnett (1895–1943; www.findagrave.com/memorial/45304278; like Jessie Barksdale [see 79 Columbia], his service as a private in the 807th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, a noted all-Black engineering unit, was memorialized on his tombstone; born VA; works in terra cotta factory; the brother of Fred Hodnett [see 71 Columbia] and Luella Hodnett Young), his wife Betsy Hodnett (32; born VA), and their six children Oscar (9), Samuel (8), Ruth (5), Martha (3), Sarah (1), and Robert (5 months) (all born in NJ except Ruth, who was born in Pennsylvania [PA below]) (USCNJ 1930) (Buck and Mills 2018)

1939—the estate of William H. Johnson lost 75 Columbia due to unpaid taxes (MCD 1085 441)

1940—Oscar Hodnett (mason’s helper) was still renting the house, with his household now including his wife Betsy and their eight children (the two youngest were the 6-year-old twins Joseph and Josephine, both born NJ) (USCNJ 1940)

1949—it was reported that it was anticipated that George B. Washington would purchase 75 Columbia in a tax sale resulting from the property’s taking a decade earlier (HHMarch 16, 1949; November 23, 1949)

1950—75 Columbia was occupied by George B. Washington (43; born in South Carolina [SC below]; chauffer), his wife Ida Washington (32; born SC), their daughter Cordelia (9 months; born PA), and his stepchildren Marshall (12; born PA) and Linda Handon (10; born PA) (USCNJ 1950)

1951—George and Ida Washington completed the purchase of 75 Columbia (MCD 899 492)

1971—George and Ida Washington sold 75 Columbia to James and Norma Sexton Pickens (MCD 1877 372)

2002—James and Norma Pickens lost 75 Columbia in a sheriff’s sale (MCD 4352 159)

76 Columbia Avenue

Terry (GILBERT) House—2-story, 2-bay frame vernacular front-gabled dwelling built circa 1912 (USCNJ 1910–NJC 1915); west addition recent

Sequence of Ownership

1909–1937            Gilbert Terry
1937–1972            Jennie Waldron Terry and Alfred Terry
1972–1974            Jennie Waldron Terry and Alfred Terry Estate
1974–1975            Alfred Terry Estate
1975–1979            Alfred Terry J.

 Historical Detail

1900—Gilbert Terry (1879–1937; www.findagrave.com/memorial/11612605) was recorded as a farmer residing in Banister, Virginia (the exact relationship of Gilbert Terry and Silas Terry [see 82 Columbia] is unclear) and as the head of a household that consisted of his wife Drucilla Terry (24; born VA), his three daughters Rosetta (13; born VA; actually Terry’s stepdaughter Rosetta Guy), Mary (12; born VA; likely also his stepdaughter), and Jennie (6; born VA), and his mother Martha Jane Terry (1825–1906; www.findagrave.com/memorial/11613326 and census records; born VA; widow and the mother of 22 children) (United States Census of Virginia 1900; there are obviously issues with the ages given to the census taker here)

Robert J. Fitzgerald (see 84 Columbia), who was married to Terry’s sister Mahala, William Waldron (see 85 Columbia), who would marry Terry’s stepdaughter Rosetta Guy, and Caleb Womock (see 88 Columbia), who was married to Terry’s sister Cornelia, were also from Banister, while William and George W. Young (see 78 and 80 Columbia) emigrated from Chatham, Virginia, which is approximately 8 miles east of Banister (see also Buck and Mills 2018)

1906—Gilbert Terry and at least part of his family had arrived in Hopewell by 1906 as in that year his mother Martha Jane Terry died and was buried in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)

1909—Gilbert Terry purchased the undeveloped lot on which 76 Columbia would be built (MCD 317 553)

1910—Terry (28; born VA; laborer in lumber yard) was residing in the house of his brother-in-law Robert J. Fitzgerald at 84 Columbia, while his wife Drucilla Terry (38) was recorded as a live-in-servant in the house of Hugh Smith (now 28 East Broad [the Hopewell Museum])—their daughter Jennie Terry (18) and her daughter Janie Terry (1; born NJ; servant) was living in the house of Joseph H. Moore, the owner of the mill complex to the west of Hopewell known as Glen Moore (USCNJ 1910)

1911—Terry mortgaged his property in Hopewell, very possibly to provide funds for the construction of 76 Columbia (MCM 195 196; from Index)

1915—Gilbert Terry (39; laborer) was recorded as the owner/occupant of 76 Columbia and as the head of a household that included Drucilla Terry (38) and Jennie Terry (housework) (NJC 1915)

1917—Terry purchased the undeveloped lot to the west of 76 Columbia, giving him 100 feet of frontage on the north side of the street (MCD 404 299)

1918—the “House and lot on East Columbia avenue” of Gilbert Terry was noted (HH August 14, 1918)

1920—Gilbert Terry (48; railroad laborer) and wife Drucilla Terry (50) remained in residence at 76 Columbia (USCNJ 1920)—their daughter Jennie Terry was now the wife of Silas Terry (see 82 Columbia)

1922—Drucilla Terry died in 1922 and was buried in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (HH April 19, 1922)

1924—Gilbert Terry was among those stricken with smallpox during the brief epidemic that affected about a dozen Black residents living in this section of Columbia Avenue during the summer of 1924 (HH July 2, 1924)

1927—76 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—Gilbert Terry (mason’s helper; name mistakenly given as Silas Terry), his second wife Jennie Waldron Terry (1882–1974; www.findagrave.com/memorial/45304328; born VA), and his adopted son Alfred Terry (1917–1972; www.findagrave.com/memorial/45304329; born NJ) were living in the house (USCNJ 1930)

Jennie Waldron Terry was the daughter of Abram Waldron (see 85 Columbia) and Elizabeth Womock Waldron (see 79 Columbia) and the sister of William Waldron (see 85 Columbia), Mary Waldron Barksdale (see 79 Columbia), and Ada Waldron Hightower (see 79 Columbia)

1937—Gilbert Terry died in 1937 and was buried in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times January 3, 1937; www.findagrave.com); he left 76 Columbia to his wife Jennie Waldron Terry and his adopted son Alfred Terry (see MCD 1987 580)

1940—the house was occupied as a rental by Clarence Bartlett (42; born NC, construction laborer [see 84 Columbia]), his wife Eleanora Forbes Bartlett (38; born VA; housework in private home), their sons Earl and Robert (14 and 8, both born in New York [NY below]), and Eleanora’s widowed mother Watty Forbes (65; born NC) (USCNJ 1940; www.findagrave.com)

1950—76 Columbia was occupied by Gilbert Terry’s widow Jennie Waldron Terry (maid in private home) and lodger Robert J. Coleman (31; born VA; divorced; later the husband of Queen Hester Coleman [see 88 Columbia]) (USCNJ 1950)

1972—Alfred Terry died intestate in 1972 and was buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (see MCD 1987 580; www.findagrave.com)

1974—Jennie Waldron Terry died intestate in 1974 and was buried with her son in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (see MCD 1987 580; Trenton Evening Times December 26, 1974; www.findagrave.com)

1975—the heirs of Alfred Terry (his widow Mary Terry, his daughter Marlene Martin, and his son Alfred Terry Jr.) conveyed full control of 76 Columbia to Alfred Terry Jr. (MCD 1987 580)

1979—Alfred Terry Jr. retained 76 Columbia until 1979 (MCD 2111 77)

77 Columbia Avenue

Wooding/Carter House—2-story, 3-bay frame vernacular side-gabled dwelling built in 1905–1906 (NJC 1905—HH August 1, 1906); rear addition recent

Sequence of Ownership

1905–1934            Daniel Wooding; Charles and Elizabeth Guy
1959–1960            John Carter and Novella Hodnett Carter
1960–1977            Novella Hodnett Carter
1977–1980            Novella Hodnett Carter Heirs

Historical Detail

1900—Daniel Wooding (1869–1962; www.findagrave.com/memorial/243160287; born VA; farm laborer) and his wife Nellie Young Wooding (1874–1920; www.findagrave.com/memorial/243161105; 24; born VA; the daughter of William Young [see 80 Columbia] and the sister of George Young [see 78 Columbia]) were listed as residing in a rental property in the eastern part of Hopewell Township (USCNJ 1900)

Wooding was a common family name (of both Black and white families) in Banister, Virginia in 1880 (United States Census of Virginia 1880)

1902—it was noted that the lot on which 77 Columbia would come to be sited was to be sold to Daniel Wooding (see MCD 254 253)

1905—this transaction was delayed, however, and in 1905 Wooding (worker in lumber yard) and his wife were again living in rented quarters in Hopewell Borough (NJC 1905)

1905—later that year Wooding was able to complete the purchase of the 77 Columbia lot, which was adjacent to the east of the lot owned by Thomas E. Johnson (see 75 Columbia) (MCD 280 460)

Daniel Wooding took out mortgages in 1906, 1907, and 1908 (MCMs 154 382, 166 133, and 171 443; from Index)

1906—in August of 1906 it was reported that “the house belonging to Daniel Wooding” had been recently painted (HH August 1, 1906)

1910—Wooding (laborer) was recorded as the owner/occupant at 77 Columbia, with his household consisting of his wife Nellie (laundress at home), their children Daniel Jr., Theodore, Ethel, and Rogers (11, 9, 7, and 4; all born NJ), and Wooding’s stepchildren (and Nellie’s children) Sarah, James, and William Edwards (18, 14, and 12; Sarah born VA, James and William born NJ) (USCNJ 1910; everyone in this household was described as Mulatto)

1915—Daniel Wooding (laborer), Nellie Wooding, and their four children were again listed in the house, with William Johnson (soon to be the purchaser of 75 Columbia) and his wife Sarah Edwards Johnson (Wooding’s eldest stepdaughter) also members of the household (NJC 1915)

1916—Daniel Wooding was ordained and put in place as the new Pastor at the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church, succeeding Thomas E. Johnson, who had died two years earlier (HH November 29, 1916)

1917—It was reported that a chimney fire at the house of Daniel Wooding was extinguished by the Hopewell Fire Department (HH November 28, 1917)

1920—Wooding (working as a railroad laborer in addition to his duties at the church), his wife, and their three youngest children were recorded as residing at 77 Columbia in (USCNJ 1920)

1920—Nellie Wooding died later that same year—her place of burial is unclear, with one source placing it in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (HH May 5, 1920) and a second in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)

Two more chimney fires were put out at the Wooding house in 1923 and 1925 (HH March 7, 1923; December 30, 1925)

1927—77 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—The house was occupied as a rental by John Carter (1907–1960; www.findagrave.com/memorial/116492943; born PA; laborer at the State Village), his wife Novella Hodnett Carter (1911–1977; www.findagrave.com/memorial/116492980; born NC; the daughter of Fred and Mary Johnson Hodnett [see 71 Columbia]), and their daughter Carrie (2; born NJ) (USCNJ 1930)

1931—77 Columbia had been acquired by Charles and Elizabeth Guy by 1931, who in that year mortgaged the property to the Hopewell Building and Loan Association (see MCD 723 551)

1934—the Hopewell Building and Loan Association sued Charles and Elizabeth Guy due to unmet mortgage responsibilities, with the Association acquiring the property in the resulting sheriff’s sale (MCD 723 551)

1940—John Carter (railroad laborer) and his wife Novella, along with their children Carrie, John, Ellis, Joseph, Reginald, and Irene (12, 9, 7, 6, 3, and 1; all born NJ), were still residing in the house—Carter was incorrectly recorded as the owner of the property (USCNJ 1940)

1950—Carter (mason at institution), wife Novella, and their six children were still living in the house (USCNJ 1950)

1959—John and Novella Carter purchased 77 Columbia from the Hopewell Building and Loan Association (MCD 1731 468)

1960—John Carter died in 1960 and was buried in the Ewing Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times August 18, 1960; www.findagrave.com)

1962—Daniel Wooding, the former owner and occupant of 77 Columbia, died in 1962 and was buried in the Ewing Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)

1977—Novella Hodnett Carter died in 1977 and was buried with her husband in the Ewing Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times July 6, 1977; www.findagrave.com)—she did not leave a will, and 77 Columbia passed to her children John Carter Jr., Carrie Carter Brooks, Joseph Carter, and Reginald Carter (see MCD 2125 762)

1980—the Carter heirs retained 77 Columbia until 1980 (MCD 2125 762)

78 Columbia Avenue

Young (George W.) House—2-story, 3-bay frame vernacular side-gabled dwelling built circa 1913 (USCNJ 1910—NJC 1915); rear, west, and garage additions recent

Sequence of Ownership

1910–1924      George W. Young
1924–1931      Gillie Young, Margaret Young Williams/Johnson, and George Young Jr.
1931–1966      Margaret Young Williams/Johnson and George Young Jr.
1966–1981      Margaret Young Williams/Johnson
1981–1983      Margaret Young Williams/Johnson Heirs
1983–1997      Lee Anna Young
1997–2000      Lee Anna Young Estate

 Historical Detail

1900—George W. Young (c. 1885–1924; HH December 31, 1924) was recorded as a member of the household of his father William Young (see 80 Columbia) in Chatham, Virginia (United States Census of Virginia 1900)

Gilbert Terry (see 76 Columbia), Robert J. Fitzgerald (see 84 Columbia), William Waldron (see 85 Columbia), and Caleb Womock (see 88 Columbia) were all from Banister, Virginia, which is approximately 8 miles west of Chatham (see also Buck and Mills 2018)

1905—the elder Young’s household, including George Young (born VA; day laborer), was living in a rented house in Hopewell Borough in 1905 (NJC 1905)

1910—George Young (laborer) and his brother Edward M. Young and their young families were living in a rented house on Railroad Place (actually the extension of that street now called Somerset Street) (USCNJ 1910)

1910—George Young purchased the undeveloped lot on which 78 Columbia would be built (MCD 342 359)

1912—Young took out two mortgages, likely to assist in the financing of the construction of 78 Columbia (MCMs 203 262 and 304; from Index)

1915—George Young (laborer) was recorded as the owner/occupant of 78 Columbia, with his household including his wife Gillie Young (26; born VA) and their children Margaret (8; born NJ) and George Jr. (6; born NJ) (NJC 1915)

1920—George Young (railroad laborer), wife Gillie, and their two children remained at 78 Columbia (USCNJ 1920)

1924—George and Gillie Young and their daughter Margaret were among those stricken with smallpox during the brief epidemic that affected about a dozen Black residents living in this section of Columbia Avenue during the summer of 1924 (HH July 2, 1924)

1924—in late December of 1924 George W. Young was killed in a railroad accident that also involved several other Black residents of “East Columbia” who were employed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad as laborers (HH December 31, 1924)

1925—the property of George W. Young passed to his widow Gillie Young and their children Margaret Young Williams and George Young Jr. (see MCD 2232 513)

1927—78 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—the house was occupied as a rental by James Waldron (22; born VA; son of William Waldron [see 85 Columbia]; day laborer), his wife Garnie Waldron (27; born VA), and their sons William, Archie, and Herbert (3, 2, and 2 months; all born NJ) (USCNJ 1930)

1931—Gillie Young died in 1931 (see MCD 2232 513)

1940—George Young Jr. (truck driver) was recorded as the owner/occupant of the house in 1940, with his household consisting of his wife Anna Young (30; born SC; presser in dress factory) and their daughter Marian (9; born NJ) (USCNJ 1940)

1950—George Young Jr. (plumber) remained in residence with his wife Anna (maid in private home) and daughter Marion (cleaner at the Institute for Advanced Study) (USCNJ 1950)

1966—George Young Jr. died in 1966 (Trenton Evening Times March 30, 1966; see MCD 2232 513)

1981—Margaret Young Johnson (she had remarried) died in 1981 (see MCD 2232 513)

1983—Lee Anna Young (the widow George Young Jr.), Marion Young Greenfield (the daughter of George Young Jr. and Lee Anna Young), and Elizabeth Johnson (the daughter of Margaret Young Johnson) conveyed full control of the property to Lee Anna Young (MCD 2232 513)

1997—Lee Anna Young died in 1997 (see MCD 3833 44)

2000—the estate of Lee Anna Young retained 78 Columbia until 2000 (MCD 3833 44)

79 Columbia Avenue

Barksdale/Coleman House—1½-story, 2-bay frame vernacular front-gabled dwelling built circa 1926 (MCD 575 291—SMC 1927)

Sequence of Ownership

1925–1970            Mary Waldron Barksdale
1970–1971            Jennie Waldron Terry and Ada Waldron Hightower
1971–1986            John R. Coleman and Queen Hester Hightower Coleman
1986–1991            John R. Coleman
1991–1992            Elaine Hunt Buck
1992–        Sharon Elaine Buck

Historical Detail 

1915—Jessie Barksdale (c. 1888–1937; www.findagrave.com/memorial/45304330) and his wife Mary Waldron Barksdale (1890–1970; www.findagrave.com/memorial/45304331) were not recorded as a residents of Hopewell Borough in 1915 (NJC 1915)

1918—In August it was reported that Jessie Barksdale, who was described as a native of Virginia, an employee of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, and as a Model Avenue resident, had been arrested as what was termed a “draft evader” (HH August 21, 1918)—this was a somewhat dubious charge under the “work or fight law” cited in the article as it was also pointed out that he was gainfully employed—it was sorted out, however, as his service as a private in the 807th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, a noted all-Black engineering unit, is memorialized on his tombstone (www.findagrave.com; Buck and Mills 2018)

1920—79 Columbia was not enumerated in the 1920 census—in that year Jessie Barksdale, his wife Mary Barksdale, and her mother Elizabeth Womock Waldron (1858–1942; www.findagrave.com/memorial/11612693; born VA) were occupying the building that had previously served as the Mercer and Somerset Railroad Passenger Station and had recently been expanded and converted to house four apartments at 41–47 Model Avenue (USCNJ 1920)

Elizabeth Womock Waldron had recently arrived in Hopewell and was the widow of Abram Waldron (see 85 Columbia) and the sister of Caleb Womock (see 88 Columbia)—Mary Waldron Barksdale, William Waldron (see 85 Columbia), Jennie Waldron Terry (see 76 Columbia), and Ada Waldron Hightower (see below) were all the children of Abram and Elizabeth Waldron (HH January 7, 1920; March 25, 1942; Buck and Mills 2018)

1924—In late December of 1924 Jessie Barksdale was injured in a railroad accident that also involved several other Black residents of “East Columbia” who were employed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad as laborers (HH December 31, 1924)

1925—Mary Barksdale purchased the undeveloped lot on which 79 Columbia would be built in 1925 (MCD 575 291)

1927—79 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—Jessie Barksdale (41; born VA; railroad laborer) and his wife Mary Barksdale (38; born VA) were recorded at 79 Columbia, along with Mary’s mother Elizabeth Waldron (70; born VA; widow) and Mary’s sister Lulu Waldron Davies (29; born VA) and her daughters Helen and Norine Davies (7 and 4; both born NJ) (USCNJ 1930)

1937—Jessie Barksdale died in 1937 and was buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times December 10,  1937; www.findagrave.com)

1940—Mary Barksdale (40; housework in private house; widow) remained in the house along with her mother Elizabeth Waldron (76), lodger Alfred Terry (1917–1972; www.findagrave.com; [see 76 Columbia]; born NJ; laborer for W.P.A. sewer contractor; the adopted son of Gilbert Terry [see 76 Columbia]) and his young family (wife Elizabeth [22; born NJ; housework for private family] and children Alfred and Marlene [3 and 2; both born NJ]), lodger Viola Hightower (22; born VA; housework in private home; the daughter of George and Ada Waldron Hightower [see below]) and her daughter Katie (1; born NJ), and lodger Randolph Feltz (78; born VA) (USCNJ 1940)

1942—Elizabeth Womock Waldron died in 1942 and was buried in the Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (HH March 25, 1942; www.findagrave.com)

1950—Mary Barksdale was again recorded in the house in 1950, as was lodger Alfred Terry (32; truck driver) and his family, which consisted of his wife Elizabeth (32; sewing machine operator in dress factory) and their children Alfred Jr. (13) and Marlene (12), and lodger Annie Williams (61; born in Georgia; widow) (USCNJ 1950)

1970—Mary Waldron Barksdale died in 1970 and was buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times November 1, 1970; www.findagrave.com)

Mary Barksdale died without leaving a will, with 79 Columbia ultimately passing to her sisters Ada Waldron Hightower and Jennie Waldron Terry (see 76 Columbia) (see MCD 1886 69)

Ada Waldron Hightower was the daughter of Abram Waldron (see 85 Columbia) and Elizabeth Womock Waldron and the sister of William Waldron (see 85 Columbia), Jennie Waldron Terry (see 76 Columbia), and Mary Waldron Barksdale (Buck and Mills 2018)—she married George Hightower, and they were listed as residents of Banister, Virginia prior to relocating to Hopewell (United States Census of Virginia 1920; 1930; 1940; 1950) (Buck and Mills 2018)

1964—George Hightower died in 1964 and was buried in the Hopewell Second Calvary Church Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times December 10, 1964)

1971—Jennie Terry and Ada Hightower, both listed as widows, sold 79 Columbia to John R. Coleman and his wife Queen Hester Hightower Coleman (the daughter of George and Ada Waldron Hightower; see 88 Columbia) in 1971 (MCD 1886 69; the Colemans were listed as residing at 88 Columbia) (Buck and Mills 2018)

Ada Waldron Hightower died in 1974 and was buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times March 10, 1974; www.findagrave.com)

1976—John R. and Queen Hester Coleman conveyed 79 Columbia to their son Milton Ronald Coleman (MCD 2023 219)—at some point later the title to the property was returned to John R. and Queen Hester Coleman

1986—Queen Hester Coleman died in 1986 and was buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times February 2, 1986; www.findagrave.com; see MCD 2596 405)

1991—John R. Coleman died in 1991 and was also buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times December 24, 1991; www.findagrave.com)—he left the house at 79 Columbia to his “granddaughter Elaine Hunt Buck” (see MCD 2596 405)

1992—Elaine Hunt Buck transferred “her undivided one half interest” in 79 Columbia to Sharon Elaine Buck in 1992 (MCD 2596 405)

80 Columbia Avenue

Young (William) House—2-story, 3-bay frame vernacular side-gabled dwelling built circa 1909 (MCD 300 73—USCNJ 1910); rear addition recent

Sequence of Ownership

1907–1915            William Young and Sarah Young
1915–1931            William Young
1931–1952            William Young Estate
1956–1959            Ella May Barnard
1959–1976 Ella May Barnard Heirs
1976–1992 Elizabeth Barnard Kidd and Goldman Kidd
1992–1993 Goldman Kidd 

Historical Detail

1900—William Young, whose household included his son George W. Young (see 78 Columbia), was recorded as a resident of Chatham, Virginia in 1900 (United States Census of Virginia 1900)

Gilbert Terry (see 76 Columbia), Robert J. Fitzgerald (see 84 Columbia), William Waldron (see 85 Columbia), and Caleb Womock (see 88 Columbia) were all from Banister, Virginia, which is approximately 8 miles west of Chatham (see also Buck and Mills 2018)

1905—William Young (born VA in 1851; day laborer) and his family were living in a rented house in Hopewell Borough (NJC 1905)

1907—William Young and his wife Sarah Young purchased the undeveloped lot on which 80 Columbia would be built in July of 1907 (MCD 300 73)—in September William Young conveyed his interest in the property to his wife (MCD 320 115)

1909—William Young took out a mortgage that likely provided monies used for the construction of 80 Columbia (MCM 185 57; from Index)

1910—William Young (farm laborer) was recorded as the owner/occupant of 80 Columbia and as heading a household that included his wife Sarah Young (56; born VA; laundress at home and the actual owner of the property), their children Nan (16; born VA; housework) and Ernest (13; born VA; laborer on poultry farm), and his cousin Rose Young (18; born VA; housework) (USCNJ 1910)

1915—William Young (laborer), wife Sarah, and their daughter Nannie Jones, along with her husband Isaiah Jones (29; born VA; waiter) and their daughters Annie and Winifred Jones (1 and 3 months; both born NJ) were residing at 80 Columbia (NJC 1915)

1915—Sarah Young died later that same year and was buried in Chatham, Virginia (Trenton Evening Times August 13, 1915)

1920—William Young (widower; laborer doing street work) was the sole occupant of the house (USCNJ 1920)

1924—William Young’s second wife Lizzie Young were among those stricken with smallpox during the brief epidemic that affected about a dozen Black residents living in this section of Columbia Avenue during the summer of 1924 (HH June 25, 1924; July 2, 1924)

1927—80 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—The house was occupied by William Young (77; day laborer), his wife Lizzie Young (38; born SC), and his stepdaughter Louise Young (12; born SC) (USCNJ 1930)

1931—William Young died intestate in 1931, with an administrator named in January of the following year (Mercer County Letters of Administration H 217; from Index)

1940—It was recorded in the federal census that 80 Columbia was being rented by the widowed Lizzie Young, whose household included her daughter Louise Young (housework in a hotel) and her granddaughters Dorothy and Patsy (6 and 3; born NJ) (USCNJ 1940)

1950—Lizzie Young and her granddaughters were living in the house in 1950 (USCNJ 1950).

1952—The property was taken over by Hopewell Borough in foreclosure sale in 1952 (MCD 1215 268)

1956—80 Columbia was purchased by Ella May Barnard in 1956 (MCD 1353 364)

1959—Ella May Barnard died in 1959 and was buried in the Ewing Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times July 6, 1959; www.findagrave.com)—she left 80 Columbia to her daughters Elizabeth Barnard Kidd, Frances Barnard Mills, and Nancy Barnard (see MCD 2082 535)

1976—Frances Barnard Mills and Nancy Barnard sold their shares in the property to Elizabeth Barnard Kidd and her husband Goldman Kidd (MCD 2082 535)

1992—Elizabeth Barnard Kidd died in 1992 and was buried in the Ewing Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)

1993—Goldman Kidd lost the property in a sheriff’s sale in 1993 (MCD 2849 109)

2011—Goldman Kidd died in 2011 and was buried in the Ewing Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)

81 Columbia Avenue 

Staton House—2-story, 3-bay frame vernacular side-gabled dwelling built circa 1916 (NJC 1915—USCNJ 1920); rear and east additions recent—barn recent (possibly an older building relocated from elsewhere)

Sequence of Ownership

1913–1938            Walter Staton
1938–1969            Walter Staton Heirs
1969–1971            Archie Waldron and Geneva Hightower Waldron
1971–1978            Lloyd Tucker and Beverlee Nevius Tucker

Historical Detail

1895—Walter Staton was living with his parents and siblings in Princeton Borough in 1895 and 1900 (NJC 1895; USCNJ 1900)

1913—Walter Staton (1880–1938; www.findagrave.com/memorial/116523377) purchased the undeveloped lots on which 81 Columbia would be built (MCD 382 464)

1915—Walter Staton was not listed in Hopewell Borough in the 1915 census (NJC 1915)

1915—Staton mortgaged the property he had purchased two years earlier, with the construction of this house likely following shortly thereafter (MCM 233 485; from Index)

1920—Walter Staton (born NC; railroad laborer) was listed as the owner/occupant of 81 Columbia and as the head of a household that included his wife Lillian Staton (1879–1959; www.findagrave.com/memorial/116523377; born VA) and their son Walter Jr. (3; born NJ) (USCNJ 1920)

1924—In late December of 1924 Walter Staton was injured in a railroad accident involving several other Black residents of “East Columbia” who were employed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad as laborers (HH December 31, 1924)

1927—81 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—Walter Staton (railroad laborer), wife Lillie, and children Archie (28; born VA; laborer for mason), Walter Jr., Manuel (9; born NJ), and Sarah (5; born NJ) were living in the house in 1930 (USCNJ 1930)

1938—Walter Staton died intestate in 1938 and was buried in the Ewing Cemetery (HH May 4, 1938; Trenton Evening Times May 6, 1938; www.findagrave.com)—his property passed to his children (see MCD 1823 853)

1940—In the wake of the death of Walter Staton the house was occupied by Lillie Staton (listed as the owner; housework in private house), her son Walter Staton Jr. (railroad laborer), with his wife Florence (20; born NJ) and their son Walter III (6 months; born NJ), her son Emanuel Staton and his wife Zelda (22; born NJ), and her daughter Sarah Staton (USCNJ 1940)

1950—The house was occupied by Lillie Staton and her son Emanuel (mason) and his second wife Lucy (27; born VA) (USCNJ 1950).

1959—Lillie Staton died in 1959 and was also buried in the Ewing Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times November 24, 1959; www.findagrave.com)

1969—Walter Staton Jr., Emanuel Staton, Mary Staton Horsey, and Sarah Staton Ruffin sold 81 Columbia to Archie and Geneva Hightower Waldron (the daughter of George and Ada Waldron Hightower [see 79 Columbia]) (MCD 1823 853)

1971—Archie and Geneva Waldron sold the property to Lloyd and Beverlee Nevius Tucker (the daughter of Earle and Virginia Nevius; see 91 Columbia) (MCD 1897 184)

1978—Lloyd and Beverlee Nevius Tucker retained the property until 1978 (MCD 2091 83)

82 Columbia Avenue

Terry (SILAS)/Brooks House—2-story, 3-bay stuccoed concrete block vernacular side-gabled dwelling built in 1926–1927 (HH January 12, 1927); rear addition recent

Sequence of Ownership

1927–1941            Silas Terry
1942–1951            James A. Brooks
1951–1977            Rosie Brooks/Gibson
1977–1979            Madeline E. Clarke

Historical Detail

1895—Silas Terry (the exact relationship of Silas Terry and Gilbert Terry [see 76 Columbia] is unclear) was residing in Hopewell Township in 1895 (NJC 1895)

1900—Silas Terry (33; born VA; farm laborer) was residing in a rented house in Montgomery Township with his wife Adriana Terry (23; born NJ) and their daughter Matilda (1; born NJ) (USCNJ 1900)

1910—Terry (42; laborer) and his family (wife Adriana [laudress] and daughters Matilda, Mildred [8; born NJ], Lylyea [7; born NJ], and Eliza [3; born NJ]) were occupying one of the four apartments in the former Mercer and Somerset Railroad Passenger Station at 41-47 Model Avenue (USCNJ 1910)

1913—Addie (or Adriana) Terry died in 1913 and was buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times December 9, 1913)

1915—Silas Terry (47; laborer) and his three youngest daughters were living in a rented house in Hopewell Borough (NJC 1915)

1920—Silas Terry (laborer in marble yard) was again living in 41-47 Model at the head of a household that included his second wife Jennie Terry Terry (the daughter of Gilbert Terry; see 76 Columbia), his three youngest daughters from his first marriage, and Jennie’s daughter Janie Terry (11; born NJ) (USCNJ 1920)

1924—Silas Terry and his stepdaughter Janie Terry were among those stricken with smallpox during the brief epidemic that affected about a dozen Black Hopewell residents during the summer of 1924 (HH July 2, 1924)

1927—In January of 1927 it was reported that “Mr. and Mrs. Silas Terry have moved into their recently constructed home on East Columbia avenue” (HH January 12, 1927)

1927—82 Columbia (the only masonry house on the block) was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—Silas Terry (58; laborer on golf course) was recorded as the owner/occupant of the house and as the head of a household that included his second wife Jennie (38; born VA), his stepdaughter Janie Terry (21; born NJ; servant for private family), and his daughter Pearl (4; born NJ) (USCNJ 1930)

1940—Terry (67; laborer on golf course), wife Jennie (47; laundress at home), and lodger Lucy Nelson (25; born VA; housework in private home) occupied 82 Columbia (USCNJ 1940)

1941—Silas Terry lost 82 Columbia in a sheriff’s sale in 1941 (MCD 823 191)

1942—The house was purchased by James A. Brooks (1883–1951; www.findagrave.com/memorial/116548127) and his wife Rosie Brooks (1891–1977; www.findagrave.com/memorial/116548127) in 1942 (MCD 834 494)

1944—It was reported that Silas Terry had died as a result of burns suffered in a gasoline explosion at the Hopewell Valley Golf Club, his place of employment, with his burial in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery resulting (HH June 28, 1944; Trenton Evening Times June 25, 1944)

Jennie Terry Terry married Moses Higginbotham and died in 1974, with burial in the Ewing Cemetery following (USCNJ 1950; Trenton Evening Times November 7, 1974)

1950—82 Columbia was occupied by James A. Brooks (born VA), who headed a large household consisting of his wife Rosie Brooks (born VA; maid in a nursing home), his granddaughter Elizabeth Garner (22; born NJ; maid in private home), her husband Paul Garner (25; born in Washington D.C.; attendant at institution) and their daughter Patricia (2; born NJ), and his niece-in-law Rosie White (25; born VA; presser in dress factory) and her son Willy (3; born VA) (USCNJ 1950)

1951—the death of the Reverend James A. Brooks at his house on Columbia Avenue was reported in the local papers, as was his burial in the Ewing Cemetery (HH February 7, 1951; Trenton Evening Times February 5, 1951; www.findagrave.com)—his property descended to his widow Rosie Brooks (see MCD 2031 833)

1977—Rosie Gibson (she had remarried) conveyed 82 Columbia to her daughter Madeline E. Clarke (MCD 2031 833)

1977—Rosie Gibson died later that same year and was buried with her first husband James A. Brooks (and under his name) in the Ewing Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times November 28, 1977; www.findagrave.com)

1979—Madeline E. Clarke retained 82 Columbia until 1979 (MCD 2118 622)

84 Columbia Avenue

Fitzgerald/Bartlett House—2-story, 2-bay frame vernacular front-gabled dwelling built circa 1907 (NJC 1905—USCNJ 1910); rear and west additions recent

Sequence of Ownership

1905–1922            Robert J. Fitzgerald
1922–1929            Robert J. Fitzgerald Heirs
1929–1944            Mahala Terry Fitzgerald
1944–1958            Clarence Bartlett and Elnora Bartlett
1958–1967            Clarence Bartlett
1967–1974            Clarence Bartlett Heirs
1974–1991            Robert Bartlett
1991–2002            Robert Bartlett Estate
2002–        Lucy Bartlett

Historical Detail

1900—Robert J. Fitzgerald (1860–1922; www.findagrave.com/memorial/11612713; this is the name that appears on his tombstone, although he was known variously as John and Robert), his wife Mahala Terry Fitzgerald (1867–1944; the sister of Gilbert Terry [see 76 Columbia] and Cornelia Terry Womack [see 88 Columbia]), and his sister Sallie Fitzgerald were recorded as living in a rented house in Banister, Virginia (United States Census of Virginia 1900)

Gilbert Terry (see 76 Columbia), William Waldron (see 85 Columbia), and Caleb Womock (see 88 Columbia) were also from Banister, while William and George W. Young (see 78 and 80 Columbia) were from Chatham, Virginia, which is approximately 8 miles east of Banister (see also Buck and Mills 2018)

1905—John R. Fitzgerald (44; born VA; farm work) and his wife Mahala Fitzgerald (38; born VA) were recorded as a residing in a rented house in Hopewell Borough (NJC 1905)

1905—Fitzgerald purchased the undeveloped lot on which 84 Columbia would be built (MCD 280 118)

1910—Robert J. Fitzgerald (47; born VA; laborer) was recorded as the owner/occupant of 84 Columbia, with his household consisting of his wife Mahala Fitzgerald (43; laundress at home) and his brother-in-law Gilbert Terry (see 76 Columbia) (USCNJ 1910)

1915—John R. Fitzgerald (laborer), Mahala Fitzgerald (47; housework), and his sister Sallie Coleman (26; born VA; general housework) were recorded in the house in 1915 (NJC 1915)

1920—Robert (57) and Mahala Fitzgerald (50) were the only occupants of 84 Columbia in 1920 (USCNJ 1920)

1922—Robert J. Fitzgerald died in 1922 and was buried in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (HH November 22, 1922; Trenton Evening Times November 7, 1922; www.findagrave.com)

1927—84 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1929—Mahala Fitzgerald purchased the house, extinguishing the rights held by her husband’s various heirs (MCD 641 558)

1930—The house was being rented by John Waldron (26; born VA; son of William Waldron [see 85 Columbia]; railroad laborer), his wife Lilly Waldron (28; born NJ), and their sons John and Paul (7 and 6; both born NJ) (USCNJ 1930)

1940—Mahala Fitzgerald (70) was recorded as the owner/occupant of 84 Columbia and was sharing the house only with Hatty Lou Reynolds, a 1-year old who was born in VA (USCNJ 1940)

1944—Mahala Fitzgerald died in 1944 and she, like her husband, was buried in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (HH August 23, 1944)

1944—Later that same year the estate of Mahala Fitzgerald sold 84 Columbia to Clarence and Elnora Bartlett (MCD 884 321)

1950—84 Columbia was occupied by Clarence Bartlett (57; born SC; laborer), his wife Elenora (52; born VA), and their sons Earl and Robert (24 and 18; both born NY and laborers for landscaping business) (USCNJ 1950)

1958—Elnora Bartlett died in 1958 (Trenton Evening Times April 20, 1958), leaving sole ownership of 84 Columbia to her husband Clarence C. Bartlett (see MCD 1965 808)

1967—Clarence C. Bartlett died in 1967 and was buried in the Ewing Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times March 15, 1967), with 84 Columbia passing to his second wife Retha Bartlett and to his sons Earl and Robert Bartlett (see MCD 1965 808)

1973—Retha Bartlett relinquished her rights to the house to Earl and Robert Bartlett (MCD 1965 808)

1974—Earl Bartlett conveyed his share of the house to Robert Bartlett (MCD 1965 810)

1991—Robert Bartlett died in 1991, naming his wife Lucy Barksdale Bartlett as his executrix (see MCD 4336 2; www.findagrave.com)

2002—Lucy Bartlett, acting as the executrix of Robert Bartlett, purchased 84 Columbia from the estate (MCD 4336 2)

2022—Lucy Bartlett remained the owner of 84 Columbia in 2022 (Mercer County Clerk Index)

85 Columbia Avenue

Waldron House—2-story, 2-bay frame vernacular front-gabled dwelling built circa 1912 (USCNJ 1910—NJC 1915); significant recent alterations after fire; front and east additions recent—garage recent

Sequence of Ownership

1910–1969            William Waldron
1969–1975            Lovey Ball
1975–2005            Archie Waldron
2005–2006            Archie Waldron and Lucille Waldron

Historical Detail

1900—Abram Waldron (1835–1920; www.findagrave.com/memorial/11612672; born VA; farmer) and his wife Elizabeth Womock Waldron (1858–1942; www.findagrave.com/memorial/11612693; born VA) were recorded as residents of Banister, Virginia in the federal census of 1900—their household also included their children Jennie (14), Mary (10), William (8), Ada (5), and Lulu (6 months), all born in Virginia (United States Census of Virginia 1900)

The entire Waldron family would eventually migrate to Hopewell, with Abram Waldron and William Waldron associated with 85 Columbia (see below) and Elizabeth Womock Waldron with 79 Columbia, while Jennie Waldron would marry Gilbert Terry (see 76 Columbia), Mary Waldron would marry Jessie Barksdale (see 79 Columbia), and Ada Waldron would marry George Hightower (see 79 Columbia)

Gilbert Terry (see 76 Columbia), Robert J. Fitzgerald (see 84 Columbia), and Caleb Womock (see 88 Columbia) were also from Banister, while William and George W. Young (see 78 and 80 Columbia) were from Chatham, Virginia, which was approximately 8 miles to the east of Banister (see also Buck and Mills 2018)

1910—William Waldron and his young family, which included his wife Rosetta Guy Waldron (23; born VA; the stepdaughter of Gilbert Terry [76 Columbia]) and their children John (6; born VA), James (4; born VA), and Norene (1; born NJ), were occupying one of the four apartments in the former Mercer and Somerset Passenger Station at 41-47 Model Avenue (USCNJ NJ 1910)

1910—William Waldron purchased the undeveloped lot on which 85 Columbia would be built in 1910 (MCD 330 202)

1911—Waldron mortgaged his Hopewell property, likely to finance the construction of 85 Columbia (MCM 195 14; from Index)

1915—William Waldron (32; born VA; railroad laborer) was recorded as the owner/occupant of 85 Columbia, with his household including his wife Rosetta Waldron and their children John, James, Norine, LeRoy (4; born NJ), and Cornelia (2; born NJ) (NJC 1915)

1920—On January 1, 1920 William Waldron’s father Abram Waldron, “who had recently moved from Chatham, Va. to Hopewell, where he took up his residence with his son,” passed away and was buried in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (HH January 7, 1920; www.findagrave.com)

1920—William Waldron (railroad laborer), Rosetta Waldron, and children John (railroad laborer), James, Norine, Leroy, Cornelia, “Lemennbelle” (4; born NJ), and Robert (1; born NJ) were recorded at 85 Columbia (USCNJ 1920)

1924—In late December of 1924 William and James Waldron were injured in a railroad accident involving several other Black residents of “East Columbia” who were employed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad as laborers (HH December 31, 1924)

1927—85 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—The house was not enumerated in 1930 (USCNJ 1930)

1940—William Waldron (railroad laborer), Rosetta Waldron (laundress at home), their son Thomas (recorded as Robert in 1920), and their grandsons Paul and Archie Waldron (16 and 11; both born NJ) occupied the house in 1940 (USCNJ 1940)

1942—Waldron’s mother Elizabeth Waldron, who had come to Hopewell with her husband Abram Waldron and had been residing with her daughter Mary Barksdale (see 79 Columbia), died in 1942 and was buried in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)

1950—William Waldron (junk hauler) remained at 85 Columbia in 1950, heading a large household that included his wife Rosetta Waldron, their son John (49; born VA; separated), their daughter-in-law Garnet Waldron (48; born VA; widow of James Waldron; ironer at laundry) and her children Richard (22), Edith (18), Alice (17), and Herbert (16) (all born NJ), and lodgers Halie Robinson (35; born VA; widow; maid in private home) and William Floyd (31; born SC; railroad section hand) (USCNJ 1950)

1969—William Waldron died in 1969 and was buried in the Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times December 12, 13, 14, 1969), with 85 Columbia passing to Lovey Ball, a widow and one of his heirs (see MCD 1985 80)

1975—Lovey Ball conveyed 85 Columbia to Archie Waldron, the grandson of William Waldron (MCD 1985 80)

2005—Archie Waldron conveyed a share in 85 Columbia to his wife Lucille Waldron (MCD 5055 238)

2006—Archie and Lucille Waldron sold off 85 Columbia in 2006 (MCD 5481 180)

85 Columbia was significantly damaged by fire circa 2015 and reconstructed circa 2018

87 Columbia Avenue

Nevius House—2-story, March bay frame vernacular side-gabled dwelling built 1914–1915 (MCD 493 274—NJC 1915)

Sequence of Ownership

1914–1976            Elmer Nevius
1976–1997            Pauline Nevius Buck/Hooper
1997–        Gloria Ann Buck/Gaddy

Historical Detail

1900—Thomas Nevius, his wife Mary Truehart Nevius, their four children, including Elmer Nevius (7; born NJ), and his mother Hannah Nevius (61; born NJ, as were her parents and her deceased husband Elias Nevius) were residing in a rented house in Hopewell Township (USCNJ 1900; the New Jersey, non-Virginia heritage of the Nevius family is noteworthy)

1905—Thomas Nevius had purchased and was occupying a house in Hopewell Borough with his wife Mary Nevius, their children (including Elmer Nevius), and his mother Hannah Nevius (NJC 1905)

1908—Mary Truehart Nevius, “a very highly respected colored lady,” died in 1908 and was buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (HH June 17, 1908)

1910—Thomas Nevius was recorded as the owner of a house on Princeton Avenue and as the head of a household that included his son Elmer Nevius and his mother Hannah Nevius (USCNJ 1910)

1914—Elmer Nevius (1893–1976; www.findagrave.com/memorial/179907540) purchased the undeveloped lot on which 87 Columbia would be built (MCD 493 274)

1915—Elmer Nevius (21; born NJ; farm laborer) was recorded as the owner of 87 Columbia and as the head of a household that included his wife Cora Bergen Nevius (1892–1948; www.findagrave.com/memorial/179907313; born NJ) and their daughters Dorothy (1; born NJ) and Edna (6 months; born NJ) (NJC 1915)

1920—Elmer Nevius (railroad laborer), wife Cora, and children Dorothy, Edna, Elmer Jr. (3; born NJ), Hazel (1; born NJ), and Verna (2 months; born NJ) in residence (USCNJ 1920; his wife and their children were all listed as Mulatto)

1924—Cora Nevius and her daughter Verna were among those stricken with smallpox during the brief epidemic that affected about a dozen Black residents living in this section of Columbia Avenue during the summer of 1924 (HH June 25, 1924)

1927—87 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—The house was not enumerated in 1930 (USCNJ 1930)

1940—Elmer Nevius (47; railroad laborer), his wife Cora Nevius (46), and their children Hazel (21; presser in dress factory), Verna (20; housework in private home), Lester (14; born NJ), and Pauline (13; born NJ) were recorded as residing in the house (USCNJ 1940)

1948—Cora Bergen Nevius died in 1948 and was buried in the Highland Cemetery (HH August 4, 1948; www.findagrave.com)

1950—Elmer Nevius (57; sub-foreman on railroad), second wife Betsy Nevius (52; born VA), his daughter Pauline Nevius (housework in private home), and his grandson Gary Hooper (2; born NJ) living at 87 Columbia (USCNJ 1950)

1976—Elmer Nevius died in 1976 and was also buried in the Highland Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times September 12, 1976; www.findagrave.com)—he left 87 Columbia to his daughter Pauline Nevius Hooper (formerly Pauline Nevius Buck) (see MCD 2087 631)

1978—Pauline Hooper’s title to the property was firmed up in 1978 (MCD 2087 631)

1997—Pauline Nevius Hooper died in 1997 and was buried at the Stoutsburg Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)—she left 87 Columbia to her daughter Gloria Ann Buck (see MCD 3407 79)

1998—Gloria Ann Buck received full title to the house in 1998 (MCD 3407 79)—a second deed acknowledged the change of her name to Gloria Ann Gaddy (MCD 3470 242)

2020—Gloria Ann Gaddy remained the owner of 87 Columbia in 2020 (Mercer County Clerk Index)

88 Columbia Avenue

Womock/Coleman House—2-story, 2-bay frame vernacular front-gabled dwelling built in 1903 (MCD 265 77 and HH August 26, 1903)—garage recent

Sequence of Ownership

1903–1950            Caleb Womock
1950–1953            Hester Hightower Hunt
1953–1986            Queen Hester Hightower Hunt/Coleman and John R. Coleman
1986–1989            John R. Coleman

Historical Detail

1900—Caleb Womock (1875–1954; www.findagrave.com/memorial/11613027; 30; born VA; farmer) and his wife Cornelia Terry Womock (1868–1948; www.findagrave.com/memorial/11613033; 29; born VA; the sister of Gilbert Terry [see 76 Columbia] and Mahala Terry Fitzgerald [see 84 Columbia]) were recorded as residents of Banister, Virginia (United States Census of Virginia 1900)

Gilbert Terry, Robert J. Fitzgerald (see 84 Columbia), and William Waldron (see 85 Columbia) were also from Banister, while William and George W. Young (see 78 and 80 Columbia) were from Chatham, Virginia, which was 8 miles east of Banister (see also Buck and Mills 2018)

1903—Caleb “Wammuck” purchased the undeveloped lot on which 88 Columbia would be built in February of 1903 (MCD 265 77)

1903—in August of 1903 it was reported that “Caleb Wammick is building a house in East Hopewell” (HH August 26, 1903)

1903—Calebe Womock (this version of the name is taken from the tombstone of Caleb and Cornelia Womock in the Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery; see www.findagrave.com) took out a mortgage on this property later in 1903 (MCM 139 253)

1905—Caleb Womock (30; born VA; farm work) was recorded as the owner/occupant of 88 Columbia and as living with his wife Cornelia Terry Womock (40; born VA) (NJC 1905)

1906—Womock purchased the lot to the west of his house, establishing the property’s current configuration with 100 feet of frontage on Columbia (MCD 289 153)

1910—Caleb Womock (35; farm laborer) and wife Cornelia (34; laundress at home) were again the sole occupants of 88 Columbia (USCNJ 1910)

1915—Caleb Womock (46; farm laborer) and wife Cornelia (55; housework) remained in place in the house (NJC 1915)

1920—Caleb Womock (53; laborer doing “Street Work”) and wife Cornelia (57) were again enumerated at 88 Columbia (USCNJ 1920)

1924—Caleb and Cornelia Womock were among those stricken with smallpox during the brief epidemic that affected about a dozen Black residents living in this section of Columbia Avenue during the summer of 1924 (HH June 25, 1924; July 2, 1924)

1927—88 Columbia was shown on the 1927 map (SMC 1927)

1930—Caleb Womock (47; laborer at “Golf Links”) and wife Cornelia (68) were recorded in the house (USCNJ 1930)

1940—Caleb Womock (74) and wife Cornelia (79; laundress at home) continued in residence at 88 Columbia (USCNJ 1940)

Caleb Womock was related to Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella, who would periodically visit at 88 Columbia during the 1940s and 1950s (HH October 14, 1953; Buck and Mills 2018)

1948—Cornelia Womock died in 1948 and was buried in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (HH April 7, 1948; www.findagrave.com)

1950—Caleb Womock remained in residence at 88 Columbia, now living with his widowed niece Hester Hightower Hunt (1912–1986; www.findagrave.com/memorial/45304326; 37; born VA; housekeeper at prep school; the daughter of George and Ada Waldron Hightower [see 79 Columbia]) and her children Robert and Delores Hunt (12 and 11; both born NJ) (USCNJ 1950) (Buck and Mills 2018)

Hester Hightower Hunt (28) had been recorded in 1940 as residing in Trenton with her husband Robert L. Hunt (34; born VA; laborer) and their children Robert Jr. (2) and Delores (1) (USCNJ 1940)—Robert L. Hunt apparently died at some point during the 1940s

1950—Caleb Womock conveyed 88 Columbia to Hester Hunt on December 11, 1950 (MCD 1130 473)

1952—Womock conveyed the lot to the west of the house to Hester Coleman “formerly known as Hester Hunt,” who was now married to John R. Coleman (1919–1991; www.findagrave.com/memorial/45304325) (MCD 1218 86) (Buck and Mills 2018)

1953—On October 31 Hester Coleman conveyed the lot to the west of 88 Columbia to her aunt Jennie Waldron Terry (MCD 1258 538)—Terry immediately conveyed the property to Queen Hester Coleman (formerly Hester Coleman) and her husband John R. Coleman (MCD 1258 465)

1953—On November 24 Hester Coleman conveyed 88 Columbia to Terry (MCD 1260 538), who immediately conveyed it to John R. and Queen Hester Coleman (MCD 1260 541)

1954—Caleb Womock died in 1954 and was buried with his wife in the Hopewell Second Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery (HH March 11, 1954; Trenton Evening Times March 5, 1954; www.findagrave.com).

1971—John R. and Queen Hester Hightower Coleman acquired 79 Columbia from her mother Ada Waldron Hightower and her aunt Jennie Waldron Terry in 1971—it was noted in this deed that the Colemans resided at 88 Columbia (MCD 1886 69)

1986—Queen Hester Coleman died in 1986 and was buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times February 2, 1986; www.findagrave.com)

1989—John R. Coleman sold 88 Columbia and the garage and lot to the west out of the family in 1989 (MCDs 2476 869 and 2491 574)

1991—John R. Coleman died in Danville, Virginia in 1991 and was brought north for burial with his wife in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (Trenton Evening Times December 24, 1991; www.findagrave.com)

90 and 91 Columbia Avenue

Cray/Lowe House (90)—2-story, 3-bay from front-gabled dwelling built in 1895 (HH June 13-1895); rear addition recent—garage recent

Deegan/Nevius House (91)—1½-story, 3-bay frame vernacular front-gabled dwelling built circa 1896 (MCD 204 262—Lanning 1897); dormers recent—garage recent

Sequence of Ownership

1945–2005            Elmer Nevius Jr.
2005–2012            Elmer Nevius Jr. Estate

Historical Detail 

90 and 91 Columbia were the first houses to be built within the block of Columbia Avenue bounded by Maple and Elm Streets, with both primarily associated with families of Irish descent—90 Columbia does not appear to have had any Black owners or occupants.

1895—The undeveloped lot on which 91 Columbia would be built was acquired by Catherine Deegan (MCD 204 262)

1895—Later that year it was reported that Thomas Deegan (the husband of Catherine Deegan) “will build a house on Columbia avenue” (HH October 15-1895)

1897—The house was shown on the Hopewell Land Association map of 1897 (Laning 1897)

Thomas and Catherine Deegan (both the children of Irish immigrants) and family lived in 91 Columbia into the 1930s (USCNJ 1900; NJC 1905; USCNJ 1910); NJC 1915; USCNJ 1920; 1930)

1930—The house was described as a “7-room frame dwelling in good repair” (HH February 12, 1930)

1945—The notation “Fire Ruins” was shown next to 91 Columbia on the fire insurance map corrected to 1945 (SMC 1927/1945)

1945—Elmer Nevius Jr. (1916-2005; www.findagrave.com/memorial/45304361; the son of Elmer and Cora Bergen Nevius [see 87 Columbia]; also sometimes referred to as Elmer Earle Nevius) and his wife Virginia Cray Nevius (1916-2001; www.findagrave.com/memorial/45304363) purchased 91 Columbia in 1945 (MCD 897 450) (Buck and Mills 2018)

1950—The house was occupied by Elmer Nevius Jr. (33; born NJ; postman), his wife Virginia Nevius (33; born NJ), and their children Beverly (2; born NJ) and Bruce and Barry (1-year old twins; born NJ) (USCNJ 1950)

2001—Virginia Cray Nevius died in 2001 and was buried in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)—her husband Elmer Nevius Jr. was left as the sole owner of 91 Columbia (see MCD 6159 412)

2005—Elmer Nevius Jr. died in 2005 and was buried with his wife in the Stoutsburg Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)—he left a will, appointing his daughters Carol Nevius Waldron and Beverlee Nevius Tucker as the executors of his estate (see MCD 6159 412) (Buck and Mills 2018)

2012—Carol Waldron, as surviving executor, sold off 91 Columbian in 2012 (MCD 6159 412)

References

Buck, Elaine, and Beverly Mills. 2018. If These Stones Could Talk: African American Presence in the Hopewell Valley, Sourland Mountain, and Surrounding Regions of New Jersey. Lambertville: Wild River Books.

Gray, Nomar. 1897. Healthful Historic Hopewell. Hopewell: C.E. Voorhees.

Hopewell Herald (HH). Multiple editions. Hopwell, New Jersey. www.ancestry.com; www.newspapers.com.

Laning, Henry. 1897. Map of Lots of the Hopewell Land Association. Copy in Gray, 1897.

Mercer County Clerk Index. https://records.mercercounty.org/RecordsNG_Search.

Mercer County Deeds. www.familysearch.com; https://records.mercercounty.org/RecordsNG_Search.

Mercer County Estate Index. https://records.mercercounty.org/RecordsNG_Search.

Mercer County Letters of Administration Index. https://records.mercercounty.org/RecordsNG_Search.

Mercer County Mortgage Index. www.familysearch.com.

New Jersey Census. www.ancestry.com.

Mercer County Deeds (MCD). www.familysearch.com.

Mercer County Mortgages (MCM). www.ancestry.com.

New Jersey Census (NJC). www.ancestry.com.

Sanborn Map Company (SMC). 1902, 1927, 1927 (Corrected to 1935), 1927 (Corrected to 1945). New York.

Trenton Evening Times. Multiple editions. www.genealogybank.com.

United States Census of New Jersey (USCNJ). www.ancestry.com.

United States Census of Virginia (USCVA). www.ancestry.com.

Websites

www.ancestry.com

www.familysearch.com

www.findagrave.com

www.historicaerials.com

www.newspapers.com

www.secondcalvarybaptistchurch.com

Copyright © 2023 by Richard L. Porter and The Hopewell Museum. All rights reserved.