Princeton NJ Hopewell Press Releases

D&R Greenway and Hopewell Historical Society Commemorate History of the Land at St. Michaels Farm Preserve

From left, D&R Greenway Vice-President Jay Watson and D&R Greenway President & CEO Linda Mead express gratitude to Hopewell Borough Mayor Kristin McLaughlin; Hopewell Township Mayor Paul Anzano and Hopewell Borough Administrator Michele Hovan.

Princeton, N.J.— In 2010, D&R Greenway Land Trust, with help from the community of Hopewell, preserved the more than 400 acres that today makes up the bucolic St. Michaels Farm Preserve.  But its important history will never be forgotten. For much of the 20^th-century, St. Michaels Orphanage stood in these peaceful surroundings. At its peak, in the 1930s, up to 450 children were in residence.

The Hopewell Valley Historical Society made Earth Day a good time to call attention to the history of the land at St. Michaels Farm Preserve with the unveiling of a new sign.

"The sign includes vintage photographs of people who attended St. Michaels, so  visitors may be able to identify relatives," says Richard Hunter of Hunter Research, who created the sign. "There are images of the buildings that formerly stood on the site – their locations can be estimated from the course of the old driveway and traces of buildings." The text explains how orphan children used to be raised and cared for in the Catholic community in the early 20^th century.

"Hopewell Township is proud to have been part of the coalition that preserved this unique area," says Hopewell Township Mayor Kristin McLaughlin. "The open space and stunning views alone make this site worth preserving. When one factors in the historical value of the land and the children it nurtured, the need to honor it becomes even more obvious.

"There are hints of its former glory hidden throughout the landscape," she continues, "and one feels the sense of place that the children and the adults who cared for them called home. Hopewell Township honors our rural history with many of our preservation choices. This site combines that history with an even more unique story. I encourage everyone to come, read the sign, then wander the roads and trails on the site. It really is a stunning and peaceful part of our community."

The Hopewell Valley Historical Society, through a generous donation from the Estate of Catherine Hoch and a grant from the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission, created and installed five interpretive historical signs throughout the Hopewell Valley. (The other four are located at Woolsey Park, Harts Corner Schoolhouse, Marshall's Corner and Mt. Rose Distillery.)

"The sign serves as a symbol of the collaborative effort that will keep the significance of this important property paramount for generations to come," says D&R Greenway President & CEO Linda Mead. "Its sacred history heightens awareness of how and why we preserve land for life.

"This year, D&R Greenway plans to enhance the pedestrian entrance and the 20 acres purchased in 2017 to add to the preserved land purchased earlier from the Diocese. This area on Princeton Avenue will be improved to honor the children who once lived at St. Michaels, bringing the land full circle from the orphanage to a place where children play today."

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D&R GREENWAY LAND TRUST IS IN ITS 30TH YEAR of preserving and protecting natural lands, farmlands and open spaces throughout central and southern New Jersey.   Through continuous preservation and stewardship -- caring for land and easements to ensure they remain protected and ecologically healthy in perpetuity -- D&R Greenway nurtures a healthier and more diverse environment for people and wild species in seven counties. Accredited by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission, D&R Greenway's mission is to preserve and care for land and inspire a conservation ethic, now and for the future. Since its founding in 1989, D&R Greenway has permanently preserved more than 20,500 acres, an area greater than 20 times the size of New York City's Central Park, including 30 miles of trails open to the public.

The Johnson Education Center, a circa 1900 restored barn at One Preservation Place, Princeton, is D&R Greenway's home. Through programs, art exhibits and related lectures, D&R Greenway inspires greater public commitment to safeguarding land.