In early July, a historic class photograph was brought to the attention of Hopewell Valley School District (HVRSD) Superintendent, Dr. Thomas Smith.
The photograph was taken of the Class of 1934 of Hopewell Valley Central High School which, at the time, was housed in the current Board of Education office building on South Main Street in Pennington. The photograph was donated to the District by the Pitt family, in memory of Catherine Baldwin “Kay” Pitt (1916 – 2016), member of the Class of 1934 and former elementary teacher in Pennington.
The timing of the discovery is serendipitous, with the District presenting a building referendum scheduled for September 2016 that, if passed, will include renovation to the current front entrance of Central High School. It is Dr. Smith’s plan that, if the referendum passes and the renovation proceeds as planned, the photograph will be hung in the newly renovated front entrance, alongside a class photograph of the Class of 1919, reports HVRSD. It is the District’s intention that the placement of the two photographs will be the start of a collection of photographs honoring graduated classes of the past. The collection will be entitled “A Legacy Continues…” and will represent the enduring connection between the past and future of education in Hopewell Valley.
“From the time Mr. Pitt first reached out to me, to the day we received the picture, has been a really special experience,” Dr. Smith said. “To think someone kept a picture from her graduating class for over 80 years underscores the importance of Hopewell Valley in the lives of so many people. I hope that all the students who attend our schools today will look back on their experience in HVRSD fondly like Mrs. Pitt did.”
The District asks that any former graduates who would like to share their class pictures, please contact the district by emailing [email protected]. Submitted pictures will be placed in the new entrance of Central High School once the referendum is passed.
