The recent rehabilitation project at the Hopewell Railroad Station is the result of an ongoing relationship between the Borough of Hopewell and the New Jersey Historic Trust. Since the early 1990’s, the station has twice been a recipient of grants in aid from the Trust to preserve its form and materials. The station is one of the oldest in New Jersey and its picturesque Second Empire detailing has made it a favorite subject for artists. The building has become the visual symbol of the community and is part of the official seal of the Borough.

The presentation will discuss: the historic background of the station, the chronology of the original project including the Preservation Plan, grants from the NJ Trust and DOT, the uses of the building, deferred exterior maintenance over time, the preservation plan update, and the recent grant work. Michael Mills, FAIA, of Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC, the architect for both grant projects will discuss the project history and 1990’s restoration, and Senior Associate, Jennifer Arnoldi, AIA, will review the building conditions that the current project addressed, show work in progress during construction, and present the vision for the completed project.

Come to the Hopewell Museum on December 7th for our annual Holiday Open House, held in conjunction with the Hopewell Public Library NJ and the Hopewell Old School Baptist Meetinghouse. Visit us and see all the work that has gone on over the last year with our museum as we progress forward with our "Reimagination".

This year we will be unveiling the plans for the museum's renovation in 2025 and showing off our conservation of the Hopewell Museum's vast textile collection.

As an added program, the museum will have Revolutionary War British reenactors in front of the museum, commemorating the raids in the Hopewell Valley in early December of 1776!

Doors open at 1:00!

When the Lindbergh baby was kidnapped on March 1, 1932. Hopewell became the center of the universe. Reporters from all over the world, along with their photographers descended on Hopewell hoping to get a story. Gebhart's Hotel on West Broad became their center of activity, staying open 24 hours a day. Broadcasting and telegraph hookups were set up all over town. As the State Police searched the Sourlands for clues, so did the reporters, often finding clues that were never followed up. This went on for ten weeks until the body of the baby was found on Carter Road just outside of town.

Jim Davidson will share his stories of the Lindbergh kidnapping along with a presentation of many never before seen pictures of of those whirlwind weeks in Hopewell and the Sourlands.