Hopewell Valley History Project Case Study: Public Library in - - PDF document

Hopewell Valley History Project

A new volunteer effort to collect and organize the important sources of our local heritage in digital form, and share them online for open and convenient access.

Case Study: Public Library in Hopewell

Douglas Dixon, May 17, 2020

An introduction to the Hopewell Valley History Project Using a recent project on the Public Library in Hopewell as a case study in using the resources that we have collected Thanks to: Hopewell Valley Historical Society Hopewell Museum Pennington Library 1 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

Pre Present entation

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Overview of the Project Case Study in Using the Resources: Public Library in Hopewell “Live” Demo of the Website

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These notes cover the overview and case study. Then go online to explore the websites. See the Help information under the About menu for more on using the sites. 2 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Hope Hopewell ll Va Valley His History

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Blessed with Organizations & People Preserving And Sharing Our History

• Hopewell Valley Historical Society
• Hopewell Museum
• Pennington Library
• Hopewell Public Library
• Hopewell Branch, Mercer Co. Library
• Hopewell Valley Heritage Weekend
• Trenton – Mercer Co. – N. J. State Library, State Archives
• Hunterdon Co. (pre 1838) – Archives, Historical Society
• Municipal Historic Preservation Commissions
• Historic Preservation, Architecture, Archaeology

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Museum – Hw 1909 Hopewell: A Historical Geography Hunter & Porter

We in Hopewell Valley are blessed to be surrounded by history, in the buildings and places. And we are blessed with local organizations and local people saving our history ‐ Reference shelves in Hopewell Library ‐ Archives at Museum and Historical Society ‐ Community events like Heritage Weekend ‐ Hopewell Branch Library hosts the HVHS archives ‐ Pennington and other local libraries also [co‐]sponsor talks on historical topics ‐ Trenton nearby for state, county, township, and borough materials ‐ Hunterdon nearby for pre‐1838 archives (before Mercer Co.) ‐ Municipalities supporting historic preservation ‐ Volunteers including professionals working in the area 3 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Genesis Genesis of

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the Hope Hopewell ll Va Valley His History

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Interested in investigating historical questions

• How do you get started? Where do you go?
• What are the key references? Where do you find them?

Started collecting and organizing primary references

• Building lists of sources and references
• Find online (Library of Congress, university libraries)
• Scan / photograph in municipal archives

Shared online among ourselves …

• Digital

So make a public site (!)

• Open and convenient access to digital copies

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The Project began last summer with interest in local history inspired by the Hopewell Library’s Architecture Tour and Garden Tour ‐ We went through the process of spinning up on local history ‐ Started keeping notes of things to know ‐ Started collecting materials – local, online, site visits ‐ Organized as digital files, shared among ourselves ‐ So … next step was to make into a public site 4 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

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A Volunteer Effort To Collect and Organize The Important Sources of Our Local Heritage In Digital Form to Share Online For Open and Convenient Access And Help Discover and Preserve Save Rare Documents From Oblivion Preserve Fragile Historical Documents

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The Hopewell Valley History Project is: ‐ New, from this summer ‐ Volunteer, just friends and neighbors – no formal organization ‐ Purpose is to seek out, collect, organize primary documents of local history ‐ all as Digital files ‐ to Share online for all to access ‐ With the benefit of helping to re‐discover old documents. 5 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

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Book and Map Archives The Book and Map Archives include 160 primary references for our local area, including historical books and pamphlets, documents on local history, historical and municipal maps, and aerial images. These are organized in tables for convenient exploring, searching, and viewing. Hopewell History Map The interactive Hopewell History Map brings all this information together, starting with Hopewell Boro. Explore the town by viewing addresses on a map, and then click to view associated historical information, images, and documents detailing the history and architecture of selected properties. Image Archives The Image Archives include 850 historical images from photos, postcards, and drawings showing local buildings and streets. Each image is identified by address and date, so scrolling through them shows how each property changed over time, and then moves house by house down the street.

The three sites of the Hopewell Valley History Project ‐ Main site, with reference material ‐ Image site ‐ Interactive Map site 6 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Book Book & Ma Map Ar Archiv chives es == ==

Historical Books and Documents

• Historical Books (PDFs)
• Atlas, History, Promotional, Industry, Suffrage
• Historical Booklets and Pamphlets (scans)
• Fire Dept, Library, School, Church, Calendar
• Reports (municipal)
• National Register Nomination
• Cultural Resource Survey (1985)
• Municipal – Master Plans, Preservation Plans
• Research Projects / Notes

Historical Maps and Aerials

• Atlases – County, Township (1850s)
• Towns – Buildings and owners
• Panoramic Birds‐Eye View – Fowler (1887)
• Fire Insurance – Sanborn (1890)
• Municipal – Property, Tax
• Aerials – Surveys (1920s)

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The kind of materials that we are collecting, from online, local archives, and scanning from local collectors 7 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Im Imag age Ar Archiv chives es == ==

Image Archives

• Albums by Town: Hopewell Boro, Pennington Boro
• Titusville / Washington's Crossing
• Hopewell Township
• Named by Street, number, date

Sources

• Books, Pamphlets, Booklets, Calendars [HPL]
• Photos and Postcards – Local collectors

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Site Focus on Direct Access

• Assembled – Organized archive of primary materials
• Curated – Selected sources, scanned, text recognition, edited, TOC
• Images identified by address & content
• Access – Reduced sizes for download (readability, not wall posters)
• Not Museum archive – Sharing digital copies & information

Plus images, with wonderful support from local postcard collectors All with a focus on making materials accessible 8 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Cas Case Stu Study – Finding ding In Informatio ion == ==

Example: Public Library in Hopewell Borough

• Have basic story
• Want sources, exactly when and where

Review Variety of Sources

• Books – Published history
• Newspapers – Events, narrative
• Pamphlets – History, chronology
• Cultural Resource Studies – Preservation
• Maps – When buildings appear
• Images – Photos and postcards

… Then Can Dig Further

• Papers, deeds, etc.

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Case study based on recent work for Library Week. Typically progression from general idea to local research to using the resources on the site. To end up with a solid understanding … although always can dig further. 9 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Ea Early Libr Librarie ies == ==

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Hopewell Free Public Library founded 1914 Pennington Public Library founded 1876 “Hopewell Library Company” [Pennington] incorporated May 1806 “Hopewell Columbian Library” [Hopewell] incorporated May 1806 New Jersey Public Library Commission Travelling Libraries

• Hopewell Grange serving outlying districts (early 1900s)

Private Libraries

• Mrs. Carter Library ‐ 15 E Broad at Seminary (Hopewell Bistro)
• “Mrs. M. A. Carter, Library and Fancy Goods” [Fowler, 1887]
• Dalrymple broadside (c 1900s)

School Libraries

• Sunday Schools, Public Schools [HH 9/1911]

The Tabard Inn Library

• For‐profit membership library, founded 1902
• Library Stations in drug stores and other businesses
• Lifetime membership $3, books exchange tickets 25 / $1
• W. J. Braunworth’s Hopewell Cash Market [HH ad 1910]

And there’s more – Tantalizing references to other local libraries back to the early 1800s. People really like books! 10 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Book Books == == Hope Hopewell: ll: A His Historic

• rical

al Geogr Geograph phy

Hopewell: A Historical Geography / Hunter & Porter (1990)

• by Richard W. Hunter, Richard L. Porter
• Hopewell Twp. Historic Sites Committee, 1990, 262 pp.
• Outgrowth of cultural resource survey 1984‐85
• Contents: Geography, Prehistory, Historical,

Farms, Villages, Industry & Commerce, Transportation, Community, Historic Districts

• p. 214 – Community / Governmental Institutions:

The library occupied several locations following its founding until it was given space within the newly created Hopewell Museum (see below) in 1924. The Hopewell Public Library remained associated with the museum for nearly half a century before relocating to its present quarters within the former bank building on East Broad Street (1105‐7‐4).

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The definitive book on the history and geography of the Hopewell Valley is Hopewell: A Historical Geography by Hunter and Porter. This book is published through Hopewell Township, which uses the profits to fund historical restorations. The book is an extension on their work on the 1985 Cultural Resource Survey reports

• n over 1100 historic sites in Hopewell Valley (available on the site).

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== == Loc Local New Newspaper pers – Online nline == ==

‐ Hopewell Herald – Local news and business ads ‐ Trenton Times – Regional feature articles and photos ‐ Museum & HVHS have Herald collections – But very fragile Newspapers.com (Ancestry.com)

• The Hopewell Herald, 1874 – 1955
• Trenton Evening Times, 1891–1922

GenealogyBank.com

• Trenton Evening / Sunday Times, 1883 – 1993
• Hopewell Valley News, 2007 – (only Obits)

Caveats

• Cost ~ $100/year – Search, read, download
• Missing years, missing issues, missing pages (front)
• Bad quality scans – OCR fails (partial search)

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Blessed with two local newspapers: ‐ Hyper‐local Hopewell Herald in the Boro ‐ The Trenton Evening / Sunday Times, which does a good job of covering regional communities, and includes photographs. The good news is that you can find these on line, with text search, and read and download articles. The bad news is that these charge for access (although check for free trial periods), and the coverage can be spotty. 12 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == St Starting Po Point == == HPL HPL St Story

• ry, 2015

2015

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HPL History – Old Website (2015) March 14, 1914 [1] Hopewell Public Library is founded at Broad and Mercer Streets, formerly a harness shop, now Vincenzo's Pizza. Spring, 1915 [2] Children help Hopewell Public Library move to “Fireman's Hall”

• n Seminary Avenue by carrying books in wagons.

1922 ‐ 1923 Hopewell Public Library tries unsuccessfully to buy 13 East Broad Street 1924 [3] Hopewell Public Library moves to 28 East Broad Street and shares building with the Hopewell Museum. 1965 [4] Hopewell Public Library moves to its current location in the old Hopewell National Bank building.

Every project has a starting point, with some names and places and dates. In this case, we have the story of the Hopewell Public Library, as passed down at the library, and summarized on the old website. But we’re missing precise locations, exact dates, and explanatory details. 13 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == St Starting Po Point == == 1946 1946 Chr Chronology nology

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“Hopewell Honors Miss Eleanor Weart and Miss Susan Weart”

• Nov. 12, 1946, 8 P.M., School Auditorium, P.T.A. Meeting
• Mar. 18, 1914 [1]

Library open for inspection in Mr. Harrison's office.

• Mar. 21, 1914

Open for business with 600 volumes.

• Mar. 15, 1915 [2]

Moved to Fireman's Hall (Next to Schanck's Market). 1924 Library‐Museum Association organized and purchased building at 28 E. Broad St.

• Jan. 1925

[3] Free Public Library moved in with the museum. Pennington Library: 1876 – Opened in Irving building (replaced by First National Bank building) 1929 – Moved to red brick Borough Hall building, shared with Fire Company 1909 – In “Blackwell’s Corner” with phone company and harness shop [Mid‐60’s – Bell Telephone building; 1973 next to Fire Station; 1995 to Borough Hall] ‐ Pennington Profile / Margaret O’Connell (1966, 1986)

Or your project may have multiple starting points, perhaps with conflicting information, as happens here. And, for fun, notice the fascinating parallels with the history of the Pennington Library, including association with a National Bank, fire house, phone company, and even a harness shop! 14 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Sit Site #1 #1 (1914) 914) == == Harness Harness Shop Shop, 64 64 We West Br Broad

• ad

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Hopewell, March 21 ‐ The Free Public Library was opened Wednesday in the Harrison building. [Tr Times, Mar 22, 1914] (Published Sun., March 22, 1914, article dated Sat. March 21, so opening was Wed., March 18) The library opened in the old Joe Harrison harness shop near Grange Hall on Mercer Street. The books were kept in the glass cases where Joe exhibited his finest harnesses. [Trenton Evening Times, c1949] In March 1914, John Armstrong painted a sign for the front of the library which was then located in his grandfather's harness shop on the corner of Broad and Mercer streets. [Hopewell Herald, Oct. 17, 1923]

• Mar. 18, 1914 – [1] Library open for inspection in Mr. Harrison's office [Wearts 1946]

Mercer W Broad

“Harness” shop 64 W Broad at corner of Mercer [Sanborn Fire Map, 1902]

Beden Brook (tributary of Millstone River)

So here the first library location, where we can use the newspapers to confirm the chronology. And we can use the Sanborn fire map posted on the website to precisely locate it. 15 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

#14 – 64 W Broad at corner of Mercer ‐ “J. C. Harrison, Harnesses” #12 – 2‐6 Mercer (now pizza) ‐ “J. H. Piggott Agricultural Implements”

== == Sit Site #1 #1 == == Harness Harness Shop Shop – W – West Br Broad

• ad & Mer

Mercer er

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[Hopewell, N. J. map, T. M. Fowler, 1887] Piggott Agricultural Implement Shop

• n Mercer St., c 1890

[HVHS Calendar, 5/1991] #14 – 64 W Broad [Cultural Resource Survey, 1984]

And we can use the Fowler map of Hopewell from the website to confirm our understanding, augmented by a photo. 16 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Sit Site #1 #1 == == Harness Harness Shop Shop – W – West Br Broad

• ad & Mer

Mercer er

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Cultural Resource Survey, 1984: “Blackwell House / Harness Shop, 64 West Broad Street The original c. 1865 building was (in 1875) a harness shop owned by B. Blackwell. The c. 1880 expansion added a residential unit to the earlier commercial structure ‐‐ further expansion occurred c. 1905. The commercial section of the building continued to serve as a harness shop into the 20th century.” Hopewell’s Past, Betty Gantz, 1987: “The first harness shop was run by Stephen Blackwell, then Thomas Skillman, Wm. Pittenger, C.W. Sheppard, in 1872 J.C. Harrison, I have the deed showing Harrison's living at 64‐68 W. Broad St.; Vol. 277, P491, 1898 J.M. Phillips estate, by Louis Labaw exec., Vol. 465, P111 to Mary V. Harrison, Joseph C. Jr., Ann V. Armstrong.” (p 113, 114) “There was a People's Building and Loan; its meetings were held in Harrison's Harness Shop (Mercer Street, old Eagle Bakery), March 9, 1893‐1905.” (p 181) “#14 J.C. Harrison Harness Manufactury, was at 62‐64 West Broad. He rented this house because J.M. Phillips owned the house in 1891. The Harrisons bought it from his estate in 1898. This house has always been a 'thorn', many claiming it to be older than it seems to be. The house was on the property in 1898.” (p 197)

Less visually, we can dig into the books and document archives on the website. These provide more details on dates, places, businesses, and names. Note the confusion with the pizza shop has been ongoing. 17 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Sit Site #2 #2 (1915) 915) == == Fi Firemen’ n’s Hall, Hall, 15 15 Sem Seminary ry

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“In the spring of 1915 through the kindness of the Business Men's League and the fire department, the library was moved from Mercer street to its present quarters on Seminary avenue. The work was accomplished by little boys with their express wagons.” [Hopewell Herald, Oct. 17, 1923] “The library is conveniently located on the second floor of Firemen's Hall on Seminary Avenue, which is near the center of the town and the room is given to the association rent free, by the firemen.” [Trenton Evening Times, Dec. 12, 1915]

• Mar. 15, 1915 – [2] Moved to Fireman's Hall (Next to Schanck's Market) [Wearts 1946]

E Broad

“To Be Fire Station” at 15 Seminary [Sanborn Fire Map, 1912]

For the second library site, the newspapers confirm the details, and provide the “boys with wagons” story. And another Sanborn fire map confirms the location, next to where we know Schanck’s Market was. 18 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Sit Site #2 #2 == == Fi Firemen’s Hall Hall – Imag mages es

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Seminary Avenue Fire House (c 1911) [Hopewell Fire Dept. 75th Anniv. Booklet, 1986] “Hopewell Free Public Library” (sign on ground) Current‐day 15 Seminary Ave. [Trenton Sunday Times,

• Dec. 12, 1915]

And we have pictures from the website, including the fire engine at the side of the building, and even the front of the building with the sign. 19 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Sit Site #3 #3 == == Chr Chronology nology (M (Museum)

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May 1921 – Library Week fund raiser, including Historical Pageant with 100 participants

• Feb. 1922 – “Hopewell Free Public Library and Museum Funding and Building Association”

incorporated, separate from library, to solicit funds for combined library and museum March 1922 – Library and Museum Association purchases National Bank building for $6000 (13 E Broad). Building occupied by post office and phone company.

• Oct. 1923 – Hugh A. Smith open letter offering to sell his residence (Stout House, 28 E Broad)

for the library / museum. Offered to take ownership of the National Bank building. Smith Home (28 E Broad) [Trenton Evening Times,

• Oct. 21, 1923]

Hopewell Post Office (13 E Broad) [Trenton Evening Times, March 26, 1922] Library Week, May 21 ‐ 30, 1921 program booklet

The story of the third site is more convoluted, so we’ll outline the timeline, staring with information from the fundraising pamphlet that’s posted on the website. This took multiple years of discussions around town to resolve. 20 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Sit Site #3 #3 (1925) 925) == == St Stou

• ut House,

House, 28 28 Ea East st Br Broad

• ad

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April 1924 – Library and Museum Association purchases Stout House (current Museum, 28 E Broad) April 1924 – Hopewell Museum opens to visitors in Stout House

• Jan. 22, 1925 – Hopewell Free Public Library moves to Stout House with museum.

Uses 2 rooms on west side of ground floor. [Board minutes]

• Jan. [22,] 1925 – [3] Free Public Library moved in with the museum [Wearts 1946]

“Residence of H. A. Smith” [1909 Hopewell N. J., 1909] “Public Library and Museum” ‐ postcard 1940 [SC2_033] (with front porch) Hopewell Museum ‐ current‐day (restored entrance)

“Free Public Library” [Sanborn, 1927]

And here’s a more detailed timeline of moving in with the Museum. Photos from the website show the addition and removal of the front porch on the building. 21 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Sit Site #4 #4 (1965) 965) == == Na Nati tiona

• nal Bank,

Bank, 13 13 Ea East st Br Broad

• ad

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“Back in 1965, the library was moving to 13 E. Broad St. and a February 18 story related that "the dream of many years came true in Hopewell last Saturday [Feb. 13] when the Free Public Library

• pened the door of its new headquarters. ... Only a few years before, the museum had become a

separate organization supported by donations and the library dependent upon tax money and collections from its subscribers. Each has its own board of trustees. The quarters occupied by the library were rented from the museum with the rent paid by the borough.” [Hopewell Valley News, April 20, 1989]. “Hopewell National Bank” [Healthful Historic Hopewell, 1897] “Post Office” ‐ postcard (after 1914) [WF_154] Hopewell Public Library ‐ current‐day [Feb. 13,] 1965 – [4] Library moves to old National Bank building [HPL 2015]

And the final site is much more straightforward. Photos from the website show the evolution of the building, and the growth of the ivy. 22 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == The The Hope Hopewell ll Fr Free ee Pu Public Libr Library == ==

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[1] 3/18/1914 – Harness Shop 64 West Broad [Fowler 1887] [2] 5/15/1915 – Fireman's Hall 15 Seminary [Fire Dept.] [3] 1/22/1925 – Stout House, with Museum 28 East Broad [pc 1940] [4] 2/13/1965 – National Bank 13 East Broad [HHH 1897]

So now we have a solid understanding of the story of the public library. See the full document on the website for more details. 23 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == The The Pr Project == ==

6/2019 – House Tours – Resource Guides 7‐10/2019 – Website ‐ Book & Map Archives

• 100+ files

11‐12/2019 – Image Archives

• 125 files, 285 Images

Q1 2020 – History Map, Current‐Day Images

• 140 Files, 1380 Images, 775/105 Addr/Hist

Q2 2020 – Exploring History

• 160 Files, 1500 Images

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To conclude: The Project has been active for about a year. We started last summer with a focus on collecting books and map, then added images later last year. The first quarter of this year was focused on the History Map and current‐day images (before the tree leaves filled in). And now we are able to take advantage of this material to do some of our own explorations. 24 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==

== == Con Contribu ribute == ==

Building a digital collection of our local heritage Contribute Materials

• Images – Photos, postcards, aerials …
• Pamphlets – Community organizations with history, photos
• Online – Find information, additional documents, maps, etc.

Contribute Knowledge

• Identify images
• Identify properties on maps
• Review / clarify dates, events, timelines

Contribute to Projects

• Research buildings, towns, organizations, timelines, etc.
• Organize historical information for towns (for History Map)
• HVHS, Hopewell Museum

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So we welcome contributions to this work, starting with preserving materials that you may have or know of around the area. And we need help in properly identifying and organizing materials. Or take advantage of these resources to start your own history project! 25 5/17/2020 == Hopewell Valley History Project ==