Historic Hopewell Foundation

Breaking the Mold: Hopewell China 1920-1945

On display at the City Point Early History Museum is the NEW exhibition Breaking the Mold: Hopewell China 1920-1945. The exhibition tells the story of the pottery factory that opened in Hopewell on 1920, shortly after the 1918 closure of the E.I. Du Pont de Numours Company guncotton plant. After Du Pont's departure from the city, Hopewell experienced an economic depression, but advertising campaigns by Du Pont and the city attracted new industries to Hopewell, including the Hopewell China Corporation. Breaking the Mold details Hopewell China Corporation's business ups and downs and the process of making china at the local factory. On display are nearly 100 pieces from Hopewell China, Ostrow China, and James River Potteries-- all made at the Hopewell production factory.

Breaking the Mold: Hopewell China 1920-1945 is open:

April through October 31, 2008

Monday Through Saturday: 10a.m. to 4:30p.m.

Sunday: 1 to 4:30p.m.

The City Point Early History Museum is located at 609 Brown Avenue. Admission is $3.

The City Point Early History Museum

Located near Appomattox Manor and the Civil War headquarters of General Ulysses S. Grant, the museum is housed in the former St. Dennis Chapel. In 1887, Commander Dennis W. Mullan of the U.S. Navy arrived in City Point as the commander of a flotilla of seven iron-clad warships or gunboats that required "extensive repairs to make them serviceable." It was Mullan's assignment to City Point that brought the area its first Roman Catholic Church.

Mullan and many of his men were Roman Catholics, so it was decided to construct a place of worship for them. Bishop Keane of the Richmond Diocese purchased one quarter of an acre and construction labor was provided by the men, including shipwrights, in Mullan's detachment. The chapel was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1887. After St. Dennis was sold by the Diocese, the building remained in private ownership until 1981 when it was deeded to Historic Hopewell Foundation, Inc. Restored, the chapel was dedicated as the City Point Early History Museum in August 1994. Opened to the public in 1995, the museum is an educational asset to the Hopewell community.






				Breaking the Mold: Hopewell China 1920-1945 On display at the City Point Early History Museum is the NEW exhibition Breaking the Mold: Hopewell China 1920-1945. The exhibition tells the story of the pottery factory that opened in Hopewell on 1920, shortly after the 1918 closure of the E.I. Du Pont de Numours Company guncotton plant. After Du Pont's departure from the city, Hopewell experienced an economic depression, but advertising campaigns by Du Pont and the city attracted new industries to Hopewell, including the Hopewell China Corporation. Breaking the Mold details Hopewell China Corporation's business ups and downs and the process of making china at the local factory. On display are nearly 100 pieces from Hopewell China, Ostrow China, and James River Potteries-- all made at the Hopewell production factory.







					Breaking the Mold: Hopewell China 1920-1945 is open: April through October 31, 2008 Monday Through Saturday: 10a.m. to 4:30p.m. Sunday: 1 to 4:30p.m. The City Point Early History Museum is located at 609 Brown Avenue. Admission is $3.



				The City Point Early History Museum Located near Appomattox Manor and the Civil War headquarters of General Ulysses S. Grant, the museum is housed in the former St. Dennis Chapel. In 1887, Commander Dennis W. Mullan of the U.S. Navy arrived in City Point as the commander of a flotilla of seven iron-clad warships or gunboats that required "extensive repairs to make them serviceable." It was Mullan's assignment to City Point that brought the area its first Roman Catholic Church. Mullan and many of his men were Roman Catholics, so it was decided to construct a place of worship for them. Bishop Keane of the Richmond Diocese purchased one quarter of an acre and construction labor was provided by the men, including shipwrights, in Mullan's detachment. The chapel was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1887. After St. Dennis was sold by the Diocese, the building remained in private ownership until 1981 when it was deeded to Historic Hopewell Foundation, Inc. Restored, the chapel was dedicated as the City Point Early History Museum in August 1994. Opened to the public in 1995, the museum is an educational asset to the Hopewell community.