The Hopewell Museum, Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and Hopewell Public Library will host a talk on the history of cider in early America on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 7 p.m.
The program, titled “‘To be found in every house’: Cider in 18th-Century America,” will be presented by historian and museum professional Mark A. Turdo, who has spent more than two decades researching and recreating historic alcoholic cider.
The talk will explore how cider became the most common beverage in early America, consumed by people across social classes, and how figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson sought to elevate cider-making. Turdo will trace American cider culture from early settlement through the 1790s and examine why cider remained widely accepted even during the early temperance movement.
The event will take place in person at Hopewell Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall, 80 W. Broad Street, Hopewell, with a virtual attendance option via Zoom.
Registration is required for both in-person and online attendance. Registration information is available at redlibrary.org/current-events/.
